Sunday Reflections
Happy Sunday, friends! Welcome to Sunday Reflections, a weekly lifestyle post.
Sunday Reflections is where I share what is on my mind from the past week (and maybe week ahead) and when I can discuss many topics.
Today, I have for you thoughts on clothing…a delicious cookie recipe from a friend…and the blessings I experienced this past week.
So, I hope you will get a cozy spot and morning comfort beverage and join me for Sunday Reflections!
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: NO ONE WOULD KNOW
My reflections did turn to linen this past week, as I shared with you in this post, Researching a Trend at Old Navy, a linen top I purchased for very little and for cardholders right now it is half off.
This is the LINEN BLEND CROPPED POPOVER SHIRT and I originally saw it as an “around the house, maybe the grocery” top to battle summer’s heat.
However, I was asked to dinner one hot summer evening this week, and I decided to try it with my Eileen Fisher Organic linen Latern Pants in branch brown.
And I really liked it. The linen did not wrinkle more than the more expensive organic version and looked very nice all evening long.
I will wear this top more often through the remainder of the summer. I do not think anyone would know it is a very inexpensive top.
Also, while I was at Old Navy, I also tried on their Oversized Sweatshirts...mainly because it had a Monday Message on it!
But, if you like oversized sweats during colder months…these are very comfy and come in solid colors as well as fun messages.
There is one for Sundays…and I love the idea of slow down Sundays!
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: COOKIES AND CLOTHES
I had to share with you these easy, delicious cookies that my friend, Addie, made for her Monday event last week.
They are delicious for those who like coconut…and she made two versions, the regular coconut and the toasted coconut.
Then she took a vote…the majority joined with me and selected the toasted coconut version as the best…yum, so good.
Mr. B loves coconut and I will make these for him soon.
Before I came here, I had heard about small businesses that became more than just a business, but actually a community.
A place where people enjoyed to go to see others and talk about their lives.
Addie’s is such a business…truly a community and the first one I have ever felt this way about.
Do you have a small business in your town that you would describe as community?
If so, please tell us about it?
I wore colorful tops this week that I have purchased at Addie’s Boutique…light weight, natural fabrics in bright colors that make me smile.
These definitely speak my personal style adjectives. Outfits that say I am polished, creative, approachable, joyful and current.
For anyone in or around Abilene Texas, Addie’s Monday event this week includes a food truck!
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: WEEKLY BLESSINGS
There were so many blessings this week. I encourage you to make sure you get out and about often to enjoy each day.
Last week in our town, Barnes & Noble opened a new store and it is awesome….I love walking into the excitement and aromas of a new bookstore.
Abilene now has more than one and all are special. I plan to take my grandsons to this one this week and I know they are going to love it as well.
I discovered a new green tea with depth and flavor that I like over others.
Green Tea is something I drink iced during the day. This Miracle Tree Moringa Organic Tea is delicious.
I steep it with two bags and then drink it iced…I have also made it in a sun tea bottle.
This tea was a blessing this week for me on my new healthy lifestyle journey.
Another blessing is that it is Hatch Chile Time here.
I get excited when I see them hit the groceries….they are delicious in all types of foods.
Particularly, soups…beans…chile…tacos…
The flavor and mild heat is what has captured me about this particular chile.
My biggest blessing might seem small to some, but is a huge gift from the Lord to me…giving me a “desire of my heart.”
For over forty years living in the warmer climate of South Texas, I desired to live where I could have morning coffee outside.
And now, in a slightly cooler climate of Northwest Texas…it’s happening!
I love to sit on my patio…sip on my coffee…listen to the birds…and the rooster crowing down the street…and spend quite time with the Lord.
Most days, there are cool breezes that blow….even if it hits triple digits later in the day.
Such a blessing.
I try to count those blessings daily in order to practice gratitude.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: SCRIPTURE FOR REFLECTIONS
This is one of my favorite Scriptures in the Bible.
I will be praying it this week for myself …as I have done before.
I pray that the Lord will clothe me in strength and dignity…and help me to laugh at the days to come…and to speak with wisdom and faithful instruction.
Join me in this prayer for yourself and wait and see what the Lord will do.
Thank you for joining me today for Sunday Reflections…I hope your week is full of blessings…please leave any of your reflections here….
I hope to see you tomorrow…until then….
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS & KEEP SMILING!!!
By Pamela Lutrell
For all your shopping, please use the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way and show support for this blog.
My “business is a community” is a bead store about an hour away. Our local store, after fostering numerous serious jewelry makers, opening a gallery, etc, was forced to close. One group, of which I’m a part, banded together with our local rock club, and now we are the biggest sub group within it, and we get together every Tuesday. Once we discovered this store, the owner reached out to me. Several times a year, we get together with a beginner friendly project. She helps with that, buys us scones and coffee, and even buys a bakery cookie my husband likes because he drives several of us, including a couple of people who could not come otherwise. It’s always a treat and we call it Kamp Kim. We exchange photos of finished projects, and I’ve recruited new members/friends of our group from the store. The efforts of small business should not be ignored; they work hard and make for a lively community. I love your fish top! I think you will find that Old Navy mixes well with other things, but doesn’t last very long. I tend to buy more from there for summer, because the heat, humidity, and sunscreen ruin all clothing faster. I’ve also had some good cotton jackets from them, and their workout wear is pretty good.
I love your story, Linda. Thank you for sharing. And you are right…the efforts of small business should not be ignored. They are vital.
Love coconut macaroons! Just yesterday I asked to go to dollar store to get some. I don’t want to heat up the kitchen. They sell out fast Excellent quality.
Love that fish top on you , I have a similar color in floral reminds me of yours.
To beat the heat I go as soon as daylight on the porch and see a pair of cardinal redbirds singing 6am with coffee.
We love our cardinals too, Debra. I am the same way right now about the oven…has to be a special reason to heat it up!
Glad you were able to get the branch color EF pants on the anniversary sale. You will get a lot of use from that color. How cool to have a shop like Addie’s that a community. She’s a very special woman to have created this kind of place. Wish I could join you on a Monday. I haven’t come across anything like that here. The closest is the yoga studio. I love this week’s scripture reflection. It fits with my morning. A few weeks ago I saw a first rate production of “Beautiful, the Carole King story”. And the final song (before the sing-along) was “Beautiful”. The opening lines have been running through my head every morning “You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face & show the world all the love in your heart.” reminding me that no matter what I need to smile. Happy Sunday.
I’ve made this coconut macaroon recipe many times, but have never tried toasting the coconut first. Will have to try that. I have drizzled chocolate over them which is very tasty, more like a Mounds bar. These triple digit temps here in South Georgia have us staying inside too, but very thankful for our AC. I’m like you and do love to explore bookstores. Even walking into our public library I get a calm, uplifting feeling surrounded by books. That may be part of my book stacks at home! We eventually donate them to the library used book store, but I hate to part with them. I do read downloaded books from Amazon or Libby, but much prefer to hold one in hand. Love all of your blouses you’ve shown us today, especially the very colorful one from Addie’s.
I am a huge Carole King fan, Kathie. Mr. B and I both loved the musical and the reason I went was because her music has been a big part of my life. Thanks for sharing that opening line…I will hum it all day today.
I will always prefer to hold my books…even a fiction book gets markups from me. I underline quotes that resonate with me and circle words that need to be looked up and studied. Can never have too many books around…or too many bookstores and libraries to enjoy. Thanks Celia.
Pam, my best friend and I have always said that Carole King wrote the songs of our lives. I’ve downloaded the soundtrack along with the albums I already had and sing along at the top of my lungs which can make even an awful, terrible, no-good day turn around.
Pamela, you look great in your outfits! I’m enjoying mixing and matching Old Navy items as well. Because of the heat, I’m wearing linen or gauze and a lot is from Old Navy. I disagree with the reader that felt that these garments fall apart sooner. As long as I hang to dry my linen and gauze items, they look like new. I can’t hand wash anything anymore so I don’t buy items that must be washed that way. My very low budget for clothes makes it imperative for me to shop carefully online at Old Navy, Kohls and JCP. I’ve added Quince for a few things and Nordstrom Rack. I’m 80 years old but still like to dress comfortably and smart. I’m petite but you and I have similar taste in some clothes. My color palette is cool and it has been harder to find this season. So I have a lot of white and natural and with a little more color from the sun on our early dog walks, these light airy items have become my favorites.
I am singing with you, Kathie! I can still see her album on my turn table in my dorm room…
I also hang dry and so far Old Navy holds up well! Thanks Sydney.
I like what Kathie said earlier about the Carole King song. We do have to get up every morning with a smile on our face. I am trying to do that some days it’s kind of hard. But this was a good reminder.
Looks like a great cookie recipe. I think coconut is refreshing and the recipe looks pretty easy. I’m going to try it.
Your dinner outfit is Texas summer perfection! Can you tell us about the necklace you wore? Accessories like that can really elevate an otherwise basic outfit and make it dinner-worthy. There are few places more exciting to me than a bookstore or library, and I’m pretty sure that she who dies with the most books wins. My 1920’s Craftsman-style home has built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace, and I also had room for a large bookshelf in my guest room. My future collection will have to fit into those spaces, but I have several empty shelves for now, just waiting for new book friends to come home. Last Sunday I attended a book tour talk by a favorite author and got copies of all his books signed, which was such a thrill. My “community-in-a-business” is my physical therapist’s clinic. I’ve been seeing her for so long I’ve become friends with the staff and also with some of the other patients. We often visit while doing our assigned exercises, and occasionally adjourn to the diner next door afterward to continue a conversation. It is such a blessing to walk into a place where you not only receive the service or product you need, but also feel like everyone there is glad to see you when you arrive. I treasure time spent outdoors, and it is definitely harder to find this time of year in Texas. Even though the past couple of days have been near 100 degrees, there has been a good breeze and my yard is very shady, so I’m still having my morning caffeine on the front or back porch. I’m looking forward to the first fall morning when I need to take a light blanket out to the porch – here’s to our mutual survival of the hot days to come!
Tomorrow morning we will all be singing Carole King!
I have to ask…who was the author? Would love to know. The necklace is an oldie but goodie given to be years ago from a Dallas jewelry designer and I love it!! I never would have guessed your community business. Sounds amazing!
Pam, I’ve been living in my Old Navy linen blend pants all summer. The heat and humidity here in New Orleans can really do a number on you so I’ve been constantly rotating through the four pair I own. These were a purchase last summer and they have held up really well as have the other Old Navy things I own. I machine wash linen on gentle and hang to dry. Not sure if keeping things out of the dryer is what makes things last longer or not, but it seems to work fo me.
Thanks for sharing, Yvette. This is good to know!
So glad you wore that new top for an outing instead of just around the house. With your statement jewelry, it is great.
Enjoyed your post today, and thanks for reminding us to pray for ourselves. I have a new health issue and yesterday I really felt sorry for myself. Today I prayed, wrote on My Chart to a different doctor and am looking forward to seeing what God will do.
And I will pray for you as well, Audrey! I hope you feel better very soon.
Regarding the longevity of Old Navy items, my “Jess” is 37 and I’m still wearing pieces I bought when she was in high school, including dresses, sweatpants and sweaters. I would agree that their inexpensive summer tees often develop small holes with washing, but I mainly buy those for grandkid time, and I usually buy them on sale for $5 to $7, so that’s not a huge issue for me.
Pam, I went to see author Tyler Merritt speak at a church in my area. He is the author of I Take My Coffee Black and This Changes Everything, as well as a children’s book on racism titled “A Door For Me.” He is also widely known for a viral video he made titled “Before You Call the Cops.” We studied ITMCB at my church during a summer of community conversations on racial justice in the wake of the George Floyd murder and the Fort Worth police shooting of Atatiana Jefferson. Fans of author/blogger Jen Hatmaker will also recognize him as her boyfriend of three years. I just got tickets today to see Jen speak in Dallas later this year!
Thanks for circling back to share! Love to know what everyone reads!
I am so humbled and flattered that you feel like our little shop is “community.” Offering a sense of community is one of the most important things to me in our shop. Your words are so encouraging to me. Thank you. And thank you for your willingness to be a part of our little shop.
PS: You’re adorable in the 🐠 top.
PPS: I hope your guy likes the macaroons! 🥥
Peace & Joy to you, my friend.
I need that fish shirt and can’t find it!