Things I’m Loving Friday #372

Good morning and Happy Friday to you! I’m so, so pumped for the weekend because my parents arrived in town last night and will be staying with us through Monday. All day long the boys kept asking their status — Are they driving yet? Are they in South Carolina yet? — and were thrilled to see them when we arrived home from soccer last night. I’m not sure what our weekend plans hold at the moment as we’re trying to be mindful of my dad’s knee replacement surgery but whatever we get up to, I know it will be fun since we have a good time simply just hanging around at home together.

I’m hoping to have a weekend recap to share with you guys next week but until then, here’s a short roundup of some things that made me smile this week, Things I’m Loving Friday style!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Chase’s Preschool Graduation

We officially have a preschool graduate in our house! All week long I kept thinking about how this was Chase’s final week of preschool ever and it had me feeling all kinds of emotional. (He, thankfully, was nothing other than excited to perform some songs for us at graduation and celebrate at his party with his friends.) Chase’s graduation took place at lunchtime on Wednesday and it was the sweetest lowkey ceremony, complete with a few songs from the class, the usual graduation ceremony for the kids, a couple of prayers and a car parade at the end where we all drove off with our graduates in decorated cars with a firetruck and police car leading the way!

My favorite part of the graduation happened when Chase’s teacher read off individual blessings for every kid in the class. She clearly knows Chase so well because her blessing called out a lot of his favorite things and some of the attributes we love most about him. I’m glad I have it on video because it was so special to us!

(Chase + Claire — they were in every preschool class together!) 

After graduation, we celebrated the kids at a local park before heading off to one of his classmates’ house for a pool party. I actually had our wonderful babysitter come watch Rhett and Ryder so I didn’t have to bring Chase home for naps for his brothers and some special time with my big kid was so nice! His preschool, his classmates and his incredible teachers have been such a blessing to our family. (I’m just grateful I have two more kiddos going through that place so it doesn’t feel like too final of a goodbye!) I can’t think too much about the fact that Chase is officially entering elementary school but he’s definitely ready even if it means he’s growing up waaay to fast for me!

• Soccer Shots

Apparently this was a week of endings in our house because the boys’ Soccer Shots season came to a close on Thursday afternoon as well. My friend Lauren organized lessons for five families in her front yard and it was such a bright spot in our week every week. One HUGE bonus was the fact that Chase and Ryder were able to practice at the same time (Coach Mike was incredible and created practices and games that worked for our group of kids ages 2-5) and I know we’re all going to miss it this summer!

Our boys love practicing their skills with their pop-up soccer goals and Chase, in particular, has dramatically improved recently which has been so fun to watch. Ryder just melted my heart on the field during every practice because whenever it would be his turn to practice scoring a goal, he would shoot the ball and then immediately look over at me with the biggest proud smile on his face before sprinting back to Chase for a high-five.

• ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint

I had this skin tint on my radar because it seemed to pop up on a bunch of lists for best clean beauty products. I held off buying it because I still regularly use and love my Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel Cream and thought the products would be similar. Thank you to my mom for gifting me with the ILIA Super Serum for my birthday because I love it and feel like it is quite a bit different from other skin tints/tinted serums/foundations I’ve tried in the past.

First, I LOVE the way it feels when I apply this to my skin. My skin drinks it up and I truly feel like it’s improving my skin as I apply it thanks to Hyaluronic Acids, plant-based Squalane, and Niacinamide that work together to even tone, soften fine lines and imperfections and plump the skin.

The first time I applied it, I was thrown for a loop because it does not instantly absorb into the skin. Once I read the “how to use your skin tint” instructions, it was a game changer. Give the super serum 30-60 seconds to absorb and adjust to its true color (it applies lighter than you think you need at first) and then it will dry into a beautifully dewy finish.

It’s the perfect base for days when I want a natural look that also offers a bit of coverage in a way that allows my skin to breathe without looking like I’m wearing a ton of makeup. I love this for day-to-day wear and apply it first thing in the morning because I’m all about taking advantage of the SPF 40 coverage! If I want more coverage, I use my Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue (it layers well for additional coverage) but this skin tint super serum has a more dewy look that’s great for everyday wear.

• Shiver by Allie Reynolds

Thank you to my blogging buddy Anne for recommending this thriller to me! I finished Shiver in two nights — it was a seriously fast-paced read — and I loved so much about this book from the twists and intriguing characters to the glimpses into life as a professional snowboarder and the flashback format. (I actually Googled the author once I was done reading to see if she had a background in snowboarding and she does! She was once a freestyle snowboarder in the UK top ten.) There are several twists in this book and I don’t want to give away too much but I will say that this book will leave you guessing right up until the very end.

The book follows Milla, a thirty-something young woman and ex-snowboarder, who finds herself accepting an invitation from a friend to a reunion at Le Rocher, a small ski resort in the French Alps, and a place she never thought she’d visit again after the horrible events that transpired 10 years ago.

It doesn’t take Milla long to regret accepting the invitation as she and her four former friends quickly realize something is off and eerie about the deserted resort and the invitations they all received. Soon they find their cellphones missing only to realize they’re stranded at the top of a mountain and the icebreaker game they’re instructed to play immediately sets off accusations, suspicions and memories they’d all like to forget — memories of their friend Saskia who disappeared on the same mountain 10 years ago.

• Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Just in case you’re hoping to take advantage of some of the Memorial Day weekend sales, here are a few that caught my eye:

APPAREL / ACCESSORIES:

Old Navy: Up to 50% off (My favorites from my most recent order: Extra High-Waisted Lightweight Sweatpants + Extra-High Waisted Raw Hem Jeans — they’re a “hot deal” and only $15 today!!! Ryder loved the “ocean shirt” I got for him and these drawstring shorts fit both boys well.)

Nordstrom: Half-yearly sale up to 50% off

Gap: 50% off tanks, tees and dresses

LOFT: 50% off tees, tanks and shorts, 40 % off everything else

Aerie / American Eagle: $20 bikini tops + bottoms

Macy’s: 20% off everything with code MEMDAY

Athleta: 20% off swim

ASOS: Up to 50% off + $30 off $150, $50 off $200 (For any expectant mamas, their maternity clothing is great! Some of my fav maternity clothes when I was pregnant came from ASOS!)

Revolve: Up to 65% off favorite styles

HOME:

Wayfair: Up to 70% off

Overstock.com: Up to 70% off (Our living room rug is on super sale! We have the gray/ivory color and you may see it in action here.)

Serena & Lily: 20% off with code DIVEIN (My favorite baskets — with lids! — to hid the boys’ toys are on sale.)

Studio McGee / McGee & Co.: 20% off sitewide

• Friday Flashbacks

Question of the Day

What is one thing making you smile today?