Ryan has been gone on back-to-back business trips for 10 days but is returning from India late this evening. A fire occurred at the boys’ preschool late last week at the time of pick-up and thank goodness everyone is okay. We are feeling so fortunate everyone was alright but the preschool experienced damage and has been closed all week and will be closed next week as well. (From there we are awaiting updates.) I’ve been in major mom mode without too many breaks but feel very grateful my mom, sister, nieces and nephew planned a visit to come our way while Ryan was in India and extended their visit which was the biggest blessing. My Aunt Laurie also came in town so we’ve had a full house! Little blessings that feel like big blessings.
Like all Friday blog posts, today’s roundup of Things I’m Loving serves as a reminder to look for joy in the little things in everyday life. Below you will find some things that are making me smile right now and I hope you’ll share a little bit about what you’re loving lately as well in the comments section of this post. Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Family Time
You knew this one would be number one on today’s list, didn’t you? The extra time with my mom, sister, nieces, nephew and aunt was the highlight of my week. We filled our time with visits to some of our favorite local hot spots, including Sweetwater Farms, Patterson Farms, Hope Park and Discovery Place Kids. The boys absolutely loved playing with their cousins and my mom, sister and I stayed up way too late after the kids’ bed time just talking and catching up. It’s hard to sneak in adult conversations with all the kids around so we treasured our evenings together. I’m so grateful they made the trip up to see me and the boys and their visit absolutely flew by!
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Family Photos
Two weeks ago we booked a mini session for family photos through a fundraiser at the boys’ preschool. The photographer, Yulanda, did such an incredible job and it was one of the easiest family photo sessions we’ve had to date. Pictures were snapped in less than 15 minutes and booking our photos for 9:30 a.m. was amazinggg since our kids were all happy and energetic versus the fussy and tired kids we’ve had on our hands when we’ve booked “golden hour” photos at sunset in the past. I’m convinced morning mini sessions are where it’s at with kids! And now our holiday card photos are d-o-n-e!
(Cardigan: Amazon / Tank: Target / Slip skirt: Target / Shoes: Kork-Ease but old / Bag: Cuyana)
I’m feeling this cardigan and have been pairing it with everything… and I mean everything. A midi skirt? Yes! Jeans? Yep. Leggings and sneakers? So cute! Sweatpants around the house? Of course. It somehow seems to work with so many different looks and is the perfect throw-it-over-anything cardigan for fall. I have it in the khaki color in a small and it still has a slouchy, oversized fit so I’d recommend staying true to your typical size even if you’re looking for a slightly baggier look. I love this one so much!
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His & Hers by Alice Feeney
My rating: B+
Talk about a whirlwind of a book! His & Hers is filled with twists and mystery and plenty of page-turning intrigue that lasts right up until the very end. It’s a murder mystery that left me clueless about the identity of the murderer for the vasty majority of the book which only served to increase my interest. While I saw the major twist coming it didn’t make the book any less enjoyable and it’s a novel I’d recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller.
From Amazon:
When a woman is murdered in Blackdown, a quintessentially British village, newsreader Anna Andrews is reluctant to cover the case. Detective Jack Harper is suspicious of her involvement, until he becomes a suspect in his own murder investigation. Someone isn’t telling the truth, and some secrets are worth killing to keep.
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Friday Flashbacks
Chia Seed Oatmeal (My mom’s oatmeal recipe and my absolute favorite for a filling bowl of oatmeal with a lot of texture.)
Easy Marinated Pork Chops (Simple, incredibly flavorful and perfect for busy weeknights.)
Question of the Day
What is one thing making you smile this week?
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Oh my gosh! A fire! That is so scary. I was wondering what was going on when I noticed you hadn’t posted. Glad everyone is okay and Ryan is on his way home.
We have a family camping trip on the horizon for the weekend. Lord help me! I’m terrified of snakes.
Beautiful family photos.
Goodness your nephew is a solid chonk! Love it!
I’m so sorry to hear about the fire! I am glad everyone is all right, and I hope the preschool opens again soon. It can be so disruptive for everyone to have something like that happen. It’s also a lovely gift of how long I’ve been reading this blog (well over a decade, and still check it daily!) that I had a hunch something was up because of the recipe post and the book post – I hope that’s not too strange a thing to say, but it’s that sense of a friend texting you and even if they don’t mention it, you know something is different. I am glad Ryan returns soon and hopefully you get a much needed break!
Not strange at all — honestly made me smile bc it’s always so nice to feel closer to readers. Clearly you can pick up on things behind the scenes when they’re a little crazy. 💕 thank you for being here for so long!
Your pictures look amazing!!!
Thank you!
Hi Julie! Your family pictures are absolutely gorgeous! I will be traveling with my adult daughter to the Charlotte area next week, can you recommend some of your favorite activities in the area? She may be moving there in January, looking for some fun options 😊
Thank you!
Is she outdoorsy? The Whitewater Center is so so fun and has free hiking trails! If you’ll be staying closer to the city, Freedom Park is fun to stroll around — be sure to grab coffee and a morning glory muffin from Sunflour Bakery before you go!
Glad everyone is okay! Fires are so scary.
I love your pork marinade. I’ve been using it on chicken as well. I also make a little extra “marinade” and use as a sauce for rice/pasta.
What does Ryan do for work??