Things I’m Loving Friday #540

Hello, hello, and Happy Friday to you! Today is an especially exciting Friday over here as I am off to the mountains with four of my friends for a girls’ weekend getaway.

My friend Lauren’s parents are traveling and offered their home to our crew for a weekend away and we cannot wait to unplug, get a little pampered (we have facials booked for today), explore Blowing Rock, hike and just enjoy some uninterrupted time together (a rarity, as our typical time together includes lots of kids running around).

I’m leaving right after the boys’ school drop offs today so let’s dive right into today’s roundup of Friday favorites, shall we?

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Dry Face + Lip Solutions: Youth to the People Dream Mask + Laneige Lip Mask

My skin and lips have been next-level dry this winter. Thankfully, I’ve been using two products I think I are helping restore some much-needed hydration to my face and lips. I mentioned this lip mask last year and continue to believe it works wonders on my lips when they feel dry, tight and cracked. I just smear it all over my lips before bed at night and within two days they feel sooo much better.

A new-to-me discovery has been this Youth to the People Dream Mask. Ryan and my sister actually both gifted me the exact same hydrating mask for Christmas and clearly both know me well because it’s quickly become something I crave rubbing into my face before bed at night. It’s like a gigantic glass of intense hydration for your face, but creamier, richer and more luxurious than your typical facial moisturizer. You apply it like lotion — just rub it into your skin — and my face seems to suck it up instantly. It uses a combination of clean ingredients to revive dehydrated skin, target dullness and uneven skin tone, and locks in moisture for glowy, more plump-looking skin. This mask will be an instant re-order for me when I run out.

• Rotary Cheese Grater

I was toying with ordering the viral rotary cheese grater for months and finally pulled the plug when I saw @ourhomepaige talk about how easy it was to clean. When Paige showed how easy this grater was to break down and mentioned how you can throw everything in the dishwasher, I was sold. You guys, I cannot tell you how much use I’ve been getting out of this thing since I first ordered it back in September. (I haven’t taken my food processor out one time since then because this thing is a million times more convenient and easy to clean.) I thought I’d use it most for shredding cheese (store-bought shredded cheese is pricier and also uses anti-caking agents which I don’t freak out about too much but if I can shred my own, I thought why not?) but I’ve used it the most for veggies! It makes shredding carrots a breeze (I love shredding carrots and apples for a delicious slaw) and super-thin sliced cucumbers are wonderful in cucumber salads. The boys also love helping with this one and it’s quickly become one of those kitchen tools that far surpassed my expectations.

• White Shirt Extender

Heart sweater: Amazon / White shirt extender: Amazon / Boots: Target / Leggings: Lululemon

Talk about a genius little hack! I saw this idea on Instagram for extending the length of your tops for a layered look and couldn’t order it fast enough. You see what looks like a button-up white shirt under my red sweater in the above pic? It’s really just like a little half-shirt! So smart, right? I love a layered look but don’t always want the added bulk or heat from additional clothing under my sweaters so this was such a fun find for me! I also love it for adding length to my sweaters if I’m wearing them with leggings and don’t want my booty out. For size reference, I’m wearing a medium and it’s a little longer in the back than it is in the front.

• Chilly Penguin Dog Toy

I’m reporting for Pepper on this one! We gave Pepper this Chilly Penguin toy for Christmas (yes, our pets get a Christmas surprise or two as well) and she absolutely flips for this thing! We fill it with chicken broth, freeze it and then give it to Pepper as a special treat and the minute she sees this bright blue penguin coming her way, she gets so, so excited. We’ve filled it with a smear of Buddy Budder as well and I think Pepper’s whole world is a little happier when she has a peanut butter-filled penguin in her life.

• January 2025 Top 10

Sharing January’s roundup of your favorites from the past month!

Blog Posts

• Breakfast Meal Prep Recipes
• How to Make Salmon Bites
• Easy Orange Juice Chicken Marinade
• Last Minute Disney Vacation
• Egg White and Oatmeal Protein Pancakes
• A Day at Magic Kingdom: Our First Time with Kids
• One Week of Kid Breakfasts In 5 Minutes or Less
• How to Make German Pancakes
• Banana Bread Protein Pancakes
• Top 10 Books I Read in 2024

Your Top 10 Favorites

• Rotary Grater (See above for why I love this thing so much!)
• Time-Stamp Water Bottle (the only way I can guarantee I’ll drink enough water throughout the day — it’s truly made the biggest difference for me)
• Epicurean Cutting Board (non-toxic, slim and dishwasher safe — my dream cutting board!)
• Gel Crayons (a craft-time favorite in our house — like coloring with lipstick!)
• Lego Toy Storage Organizer (I bought this based on your recommendations and it’s been so helpful for storing the bazillions of Legos we have in our house.)
• Pink Heart Beanie (Such a cute and fun Target find)
• Equip Protein Powder (I’m so picky with protein powder but this is my current fav! My code PBFINGERS will save you 15%!)
• Valentine Juice Glasses (because I absolutely adore adorable drinkware)
• Flat2Fast Cars (the hit of our boys’ Christmas stockings this year)
• Have You Filled a Bucket Today? (our favorite book for teaching our boys about kindness in a way they understand)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you are loving this week?