Things I’m Loving Friday #356

Another Friday is upon us! How are you doing? We wrapped up the fourth week of the boys’ extended winter break and filled our days with the usual shenanigans around here. This weekend will be another typical weekend in the midst of quarantine as we plan to spend time around the house and outside as a family. Today is also my father-in-law’s birthday and Chase and I made him a cake yesterday so we’ll be celebrating with cake, presents and paintings from the boys later today!

Before signing off for the weekend, I wanted to quickly shares some favorites from this past week. I hope you all have a great Friday!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• UGG Mini Boots

Early in December, I discovered UGG Mini Boots and, yes, I realize I may have been living under a rock but somehow these cozy mini ankle boots weren’t on my radar under late last year. I’ve had my original pair of UGGS since college (15+ years!) and since I know they hold up incredibly well, I am extra excited about the two recent additions to my boot collection!

First, I saw these UGG Classic Clear Mini Boots on Zappos and they immediately caught my eye as a funky waterproof rainboot option for the colder months. They ended up on my Christmas wish list and I love the way you can see the warm faux-shearling through the translucent waterproof boot! It makes them look as cozy as they feel!

I also nabbed this pair of UGG Mini Logo Black Boots when I saw them on sale on RueLaLa and they’re my favorite to wear with leggings and an oversized slouchy sweater or a comfy sweatshirt. They’re so comfortable and I’ve worn them on long walks with the boys without my feet aching.

Note: I ordered a size up from my usual size in both boots to make room for thick winter socks!

• Window Crayons

I am pretty sure I’ve mentioned these window crayons in passing on the blog before in a day-in-the-life style post but they deserve a shout out in my Friday roundup of favorites as well because they’ve been quarantine gold for our family! I nabbed a pack of these window crayons on Amazon last spring and the boys still love using them to draw all over our windows.

They also get Chase practicing writing words and sounding them out (he wrote “Ryder Tomis” for “Ryder Thomas” this past week which I thought was adorable) and anything that keeps our boys entertained indoors during cold, dreary days feels like a big-time win over here!

Also, for those with older kids, I heard back from a couple of moms on Instagram who said their children love using these to practice math and spelling in a more unique/fun way!

They clean off the windows easily (I use Branch Basics streak free cleaner which is mostly water and it always does the trick) and I’ve had no issues cleaning extra marks off baseboards or doors surrounding windows either.

• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

I read this book over Christmas but never shared my overall thoughts about it since I missed a few Friday posts over the holidays and wanted to take a minute to highlight this wonderful novel today. The Vanishing Half is not only beautifully written but the story is captivating and the characters draw you in from the very beginning.

The book follows the lives of the identical twins Desire and Stella Vignes, two women who grew up together in a small Black community that largely favored light-skinned Black people. Their lives were deeply connected until, at the age of 16, they ran away together and eventually separated when Stella makes the decision to secretly live her life as a white woman and marries a white man.

Years later, Desire finds her way back home with her Black daughter while Stella lives in a white community with her blonde-haired daughter and her tremendous secret. When the twins’ daughters’ lives intersect, will lies come to the surface and Stella’s truth be discovered?

The Vanishing Half is a thought-provoking novel that kept me engaged the entire time. I couldn’t wait to read it every night before bed and now, weeks later, it still comes to my mind and makes me think more deeply about racial injustice, family expectations, relationships and the importance of the choices we make in our daily lives.

• @sharonsaysso (Unbiased Political Instagram Account — Yes, Really!)

I think we can all agree social media has led to a lot of hate, evil and anger, especially over the course of the past year. It feels overwhelming and intense, especially surrounding the topic of politics. One little glimmer of light I discovered last weekend that relates to politics on social media is @sharonsaysso. She’s positive and uplifting and shares important, timely political information from a completely fact-based, unbiased place. No, really! She is a government teacher who has studied constitutional law most of her life and you cannot tell which way she leans (and she has never shared). Sharon constantly shares Q&A-style stories featuring questions from both liberals and conservatives, answering them with only non-biased facts. I especially love when she opens up her stories for liberals and conservatives to share what they wish the “other side” understood because, more often than not, I think this serves to remind us that the majority of us exist somewhere in the middle of the two extreme sides of the political pendulum. Her account is absolutely worth a follow, especially if you’re looking for factual information related to politics and also want to feel a little bit of hope in our current political climate.

• Friday Flashbacks

One Pot Chicken Cabbage Bowl with Sesame Ginger Broth (Flavorful, Whole30 and Paleo-friendly, this recipes is one of my all-time favorites)

10 Healthy Oatmeal Recipes (Keep breakfast interesting and delicious with one of these tasty recipes that incorporate oatmeal into the mix.)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you’re loving this week?