Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.
Melinda
Friday Quote
Category: Fun
#Weekend Music Share-Robin Williams Makes an Insane First Appearance | Carson Tonight Show
Be prepared to laugh so hard it hurts!
Robin was the brightest star with humor in his blood. He shared his talent with us and we are thankful. His life was cut too short from mental illness.
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Wordless Wednesday-Snow Day
Thank you for joining me on Wordless Wednesday and I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Melinda
We’re Starting Off 2026 With A Bang
We have spent 23 years building our finances around living comfortably in retirement and beyond and buying a new house. David retired last April, our house is paid for and we have no debt, just as we planned and saved for.
Yesterday we made an offer on our first house and now David is pulling all the financing together for a mid-February move-in date. I am so in love with the house and have dreamt of living in a one-story without a pool for the longest time.
The seller accepting our offer is just the start. We plan to move into new house, then upgrade our house and sell it. This will be a longer process but I’m screaming inside with excitement.
I’ll give an update if the offer is accepted. We went in with a low offer because it’s been on the market for over a year and no one is living there. The market is down and continuing to go down in our area. Now is the time to buy before the market swings upward.
Melinda :)
Daily Writing Prompt
Daily writing prompt
If you started a sports team, what would the colors and mascot be?
That’s a great question because I’m not into sports. I watch a tiny bit of football or golf with my husband on occasion but not a fan of any. I do appreciate the great play’s in any sport, that is the excitement of the games.
Of the college & professional football teams, most mascot’s are boring. I would chose an animal like a leopard, koala, or a marine animal and a color combination that works best for the animal. If I had the ability to make the decision, I would teaming up with an appropriate charity or conservation organization with a percentage of money from each game, or concessions to make a difference and educate the public with out having it crammed down their throat.
Melinda
Fun Facts That Will Amaze You
I’m so glad you are enjoying Fun Facts. I learn something new each week, even if it’s weird. I love hearing your comments!
Contrary to popular belief, it’s really, really hard to see the Great Wall of China from space, particularly with the naked eye. (nasa.gov)
The first footprints on the moon will remain there for a million years. (nasa.gov)
Days on Venus are longer than years. Due to its slow axis rotation, it takes 243 Earth days to spin once; but it only takes 225 Earth days to go around the sun. (nasa.gov)
Humans could never “land” on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune because they are made of gas and have no solid surface. (natgeokids.com)
But you could ice skate on one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, which is covered in ice. An Axel jump would take you 22 feet in the air! (nasa.gov)
Keep the feedback coming, I sure enjoy your comments each week.
Enjoy!
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-She’s Gone (1976) – Hall & Oates
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Daily Writing Prompt
I’ve been a car lover since high school after meeting several guys how had awesome and fast cars. It’s not just fast cars that catch my eye, I’ve been to many types of local cars shows or car club meeting over the years. It’s hard to pick one car when I appreciate so many however being the owner of a 1963 Corvette fully restored would blow my mind.
At every Corvette meeting, I would chat up every owner of a 1963-1967 Corvette, they are the same body style but 1963 is the year I was born. Adding icing to the cake. I also love many old salon type cars, for that matter I enjoy cars old and new.
If you are thinking about buying a Corvette, I suggest you drive one and get in and out many times. The car lays close to the ground and getting in and out can be awkward at times. I bought a white Corvette in my early 30’s not thinking about logistics, like getting in with an umbrella or taking a older client to lunch.
I had to take care of a baby for a half a day, my friend managed to get Cowboy’s tickets on Thanksgiving day. I wrangled the car seat in and headed to my brother’s for our gathering. The baby was a huge surprise from me and the only thing I had to do was change a diaper and found out later it was on backwards. All the women kept passing the baby around that I had little to do, which is great since I know nothing about babies except you feed them and shortly after it’s time for a diaper change.
Go Corvette!
Melinda
Have A Blessed Christmas
Growing up I couldn’t wait to arrive at my Grandparent’s house for Christmas. My Granny would go over the top with food and sweets. We opened our presents on Christmas Day. They usually bought lots of clothes. I still have all of their ornaments, they are frail, and I don’t use them but I have them to look at and bring back old memories.
Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the son of God. Please take a minute to think of the reason for the season.
Around 12 years old
Have a blessed Christmas, I hope you have family and friends to celebrate with and enjoy a good meal by starting with thanks to God for sending his only son who died for our sins..Melinda
Let’s Celebrate The Holiday Season With Music
Trisha Yearwood – “Christmas Time Is Here”
Melinda
Christmas Eve Traditions
Growing up our family didn’t have any traditions, we just waiting for Santa. If we were celebrating Christams with my Grandparents and the holiday fell during the week, Gramps had to work and we had to wait all day until he came home from work, it felt like forever.
At 27, I decided to make Christmas Eve a celebration as well. Presents were opened in the early evening followed by a table full of hard meats, cheeses, crackers, olives and desert. For me it was an evening to make special memories more centered on relationships, walks down memory lane, expressing joy and love.
On Christmaas we have a full meal focused on the birth of Jesus and how blessed we are.
What are your Christmas Eve traditions? I love to hear all the ways people celebrate.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-Manger Scene
Thanks for joining me on Wordless Wednesday, I appreciate you.
Melinda
Looking For The Light Reflections On 2025
Before we move into the new year, I want to thank you for your kindness. I stopped judging my blog’s success by the numbers, engagement is what’s most important to me. You’ve contributed greatly to the success of Looking for the Light and I thought a glace at the numbers would reflect your contribution.
Looking back
In 2025 to date there have been 35,034 views
686 Post
16.2K Visitors
21.9K Likes
4K Comments
137 countries stopped by to date
39 Referreral Sites
You have brought me enlightenment, support, motivation and inspiration with each of your posts.
Numbers are a form of measurement however that is not how I judge the health of my blog. Engagement in the form of likes and comments are how I judge if my blog is successful.
Each conversation makes me smile, when a new country visits it intrigues me, having long tern followers are special and all of these help me grow.
Here’s to 2026!
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-King Tut- Steve Martin SNL 1978
What fun SNL was in the past!!!!! Look at the success on a langly young man.
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Wordless Wednesday-Let’s Take A Dip
Welcome to Wordless Wednesday, I’m gald you stopped by.
Melinda
Let’s Enjoy The Holiday Season With Music
Gwen Stefani – You Make It Feel Like Christmas (Official Music Video) ft. Blake Shelton
Melinda
Gluten-Free Vanilla Chai Latte
This recipe sounds so good, I could use one right now!
Ingredients
2 black tea bags
2 cups full-fat coconut milk
1 tsp. raw honey
1 tsp. pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cardamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
How to make
Steep both tea bags in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Remove and discard
Meanwhile, warm the coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat to your discard bags
Pour the warm milk into a high-powered blender and add the brewed tea, honey, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla extract. Blend until the latte is combined and slightly frothy, about 1 minute
Pour into two cups and enjoy.
Melinda
Reference:
The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.
Repost
Orange Ginger Honey Mini Cakes — A Little Slice of Christmas Sunshine By Guest Blogger Popsicle Society
Following Ribana is an all encompassing journey of travel, book reviews, creating recipes and so much more. When she shares a recipe, she walks you through the process in words and incredable photos. Be sure to visit her blog and go hungry!
Melinda
Fun Facts That Will Amaze You
I’m so glad you are enjoying Fun Facts. I learn something new each week, even if it’s weird. I love hearing your comments!
The different colors of Froot Loops cereal all taste the same—they’re not individual flavors. (time.com)
What’s inside a Kit Kat? Broken Kit Kats that are damaged during production—they get ground up and go between the wafers inside, along with cocoa and sugar. That’s a way to not let anything go to waste! (today.com)
Pound cake got its name because the original recipe required a pound each of butter, flour, sugar and eggs. That’s a lot of cake—but it was meant to last for a long time.
The difference between jam and jelly is that jam is made with mashed up fruit while jelly is made with fruit juice. (bonapetit.com)
Preserves are like jam but made with more whole fruit. Marmalade is preserves made from citrus fruit
Enjoy!
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-John Mayer with Keith Urban-Don’t Let Me Down
John Mayer’s music rocks my world.
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Let’s Enjoy The Holiday Season With Music
Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime
Melinda
Awards-A Blast From The Past
There was a time when giving awards to other bloggers was common place and were fun to participate in. Many bloggers may not have seen the old awards so I thought it would be fun to share. This post is not about me, it’s about blogging history.
Have you noticed that some older post no longer include the image? WordPress why?
Blogger Recognition Award
The Sunshine Blogger Award
Dragon Loyalty Award
Once a Victim Now a Survivor Award
Brave Heart Award
Most Influential Blogger Award
The Creative Blogger Award
No Strings Attached Award
Treasure Trove Award
Word Press Family Award
The Disability Award
It’s a shame the images are not available anymore, some were very creative.
The awards date from 2015 to 2020, here’s to the good old days.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-Blue Eyes
Melinda
Daily Writing Prompt
Choosing one is a difficult task because there were so many great cartoons when I was little. The one that sticks with my is Popeye, eating his spinch for strenght and declaring “I am what I am”. My memory of every episode doesn’t come to mind but Popeye had a positive attitude and always pitched in to make things right.
Melinda
Pumpkin Spice Latte
YUMMY!!!!!!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more for sprinkling
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 to 4 shots espresso or strong coffee (1 shot for normal strength, 2 for strong)
* Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
- Add the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice to a medium saucepan and whisk to combine. Put the saucepan over medium heat and slowly whisk in the milk to combine. Bring the pumpkin milk mixture just to a boil.
- Pour the mixture into a blender and whiz on low to medium for 30 seconds or until frothy.
- Pour 1 shot into each mug (2 shots if you want it stronger) and top with half of the pumpkin milk mixture.
- Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
Cook’s Note
To make the recipe vegan or dairy free you can use almond or other plant-based milk and top with coconut whipped cream.
Enjoy
Melinda
Reference:
https://www.foodnetwork.com/fnk/recipes/pumpkin-spice-latte-7936633
#Weekend Music Share-Blues Brothers: Soul Man -SNL 1978
What a great classic tune. Their physical style of humor is still the best.
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Wordless Wednesday-Ladybug
Thank you for joining for Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you again soon.
Melinda
Apricot-Glazed Chicken with Spring Vegetables
- Level: Easy
- Total: 35 min
- Active: 35 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Nutrition Info
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 4)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 bunch asparagus (about 1 pound), ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
12 ounces snow peas, trimmed (about 2 1/2 cups)
3 tablespoons apricot preserves
4 teaspoons dijon mustard
4 scallions, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Directions
- Cut each chicken breast into 4 or 5 large chunks; season with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. Add the chicken and cook, turning, until browned on all sides and almost cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove to a plate.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Add the carrots and 1/2 cup water. Cover and simmer until the carrots are crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover and increase the heat to medium high. Cook until the water evaporates, 1 minute.
- Reduce the heat to medium and melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet. Add the asparagus, snow peas and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook until the vegetables are crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Return the chicken to the skillet along with the apricot preserves, mustard, scallions, tarragon and lemon zest. Simmer, tossing, until the preserves are melted and the chicken and vegetables are glazed; season with salt and pepper.
Yummy!
Melinda
Reference:
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Overview
Nutritious vegetables and chunks of lean meat simmering in their own juices come together to create a simple yet hearty slow-cooker dish that’s perfect for chilly weather.
Ingredients
2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 cup low-sodium beef stock1/2 cup red wine
One 15-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, in juice
2 russet or Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 celery stalks, diced
2 carrots, diced1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Tools
Measuring cups
Liquid measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Chef’s knife Cutting board
Can opener Vegetable peeler
Resealable plastic bag
Large skillet
Tongs
6-quart slow cooker
Wooden spoon
Directions
Working in 2 batches, combine the beef and flour in a resealable plastic bag; seal and shake until the beef is completely coated with flour. Set aside.
Heat the 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (see Cook’s Note). Working in batches and adding more oil as necessary, add the beef in a single layer and cook, turning occasionally, until the beef is nicely brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer the beef to a 6-quart slow cooker.
Add the stock and red wine to the skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon, and continue to boil until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Transfer the liquid to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 4 to 6 hours. The beef and vegetables should be tender.
Cook’s Note
Alternatively, use a slow cooker that can be placed on a stovetop to sear the beef.
Yummy! Perfect cold weather meal.
Melinda
Reference:
The link takes you the recipe.
Melinda
Reference:
Fun Facts That Will Amaze You
I’m so glad you are enjoying Fun Facts. I learn something new each week, even if it’s weird. I love hearing your comments!
The wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles was watched by 750 million people worldwide in 1981; sadly, 2.5 billion watched her funeral in 1997. (bbc.com)
With 3.572 billion viewers, half the world’s population watched the 2018 FIFA World Cup of soccer (or football, as many international fans call it), which is held every four years. That number is on par with the 2016 Summer Olympics; but only a quarter of the world watched the less-popular Winter Olympics in 2018. (fifa.com)
There are no muscles in your fingers: Their function is controlled by muscles in your palms and arms. (assh.org)
The hardest working muscle in your body is your heart: It pumps more than 2,000 gallons of blood a day and beats more than 2.5 billion times in a 70-year life span. (heart.org)
Enjoy!
Melinda
Looking for the Light 