Things I’m Loving Friday #490

Friday is here and we are ready for what we’re dubbing “Home Weekend.” After a few back-to-back weekends of guests, Halloween craziness and travel, Ryan and I are determined to stay close to home this weekend and knock out some household to-dos. We’re planning to fill our days with super glamorous things like yardwork and taking down fall decorations and, hopefully, decorating for Christmas both inside and outside, too.

I hope to have a weekend recap to share with you guys on the blog on Monday but, until then, I hope this week’s roundup of Friday favorites makes you smile! Enjoy your weekend, my friends!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Platform Slippers

(Slippers: Amazon / Leggings: Lululemon / Cardigan: Amazon / Bag: Free People)

There are certain cozy household comforts that call to me more than others. Throw blankets, a seasonal candle, a fuzzy robe, comfy pajamas… I love them all so much. Slippers absolutely fall into this category as well and I’m always on the lookout for slippers that look cute but also function well out of the house as I am often in and out with the boys and Pepper in our driveway. When I saw these platform slippers, I thought they looked cute enough to wear for school drop offs in addition to slipping on inside when I’m hanging out at home. I love them so much! They took a little longer to ship than most Amazon purchases but they were worth the wait. I love the light tan color (they look nearly identical to the $130 Ugg Tazz Slippers I could not find in stock anywhere in my size in the light beige color) and I think they look cute with leggings, joggers, sweats and even jeans. (Note: I’m typically an 8 or 8.5 in shoes but I ordered these slippers in a size 9 and was very glad I did. I’d recommend sizing up in these!)

• Return of Dove Peppermint Bark Chocolate Promises

I majorly lucked out at Target earlier this week when I walked past the holiday candy aisles and saw a man stocking the shelves with my beloved Dove Peppermint Bark Promises. I cannot tell you the joy these little chocolates bring me every year! They’re perfectly creamy and minty with a tiny crunch from peppermint candy pieces. I bought 12 bags and I’m wondering if that will be enough to tide me over until the next holiday season when I can replace my stash again? I might have to pick up another couple of bags just to be safe. Gosh, I love those things so much!

• Theme Week at Burn Boot Camp

(My pajama onesie is 50% off at Old Navy right now! I wear this thing non-stop around the holidays! It oddly comes in handy.) 

I love a reason to lean into a fun theme so when my local Burn Boot Camp announced a theme for each day of the week in honor of their 5-year anniversary, you know I was all about it. Honestly, anytime a gym does a theme week, I am reminded of Jazzercise with my mom because Jazzercisers are the queens of going all-out for a themed workout! It just makes the gym a little more fun and even though I was a little hot in my long-sleeved holiday onesie on pajama day, I still had a blast!

• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

My rating: A

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano is one of the best books I’ve read in years. It kept me reading late into the night because I felt deeply invested in the characters and relationships in this novel. The writing is wonderful and the way the author touches on love, familial bonds and grief made me want to highlight certain passages so I could remember the author’s poignant words. (It was a library rental for me, otherwise I would have! It’s also a book I can see myself re-reading in the future which is something I almost never do because there are too many good books out there.) If you’re struggling after the loss of a loved one, I think this book might be a read you would enjoy as the author’s words about loss and grief felt so deeply accurate and really stuck with me.

From Amazon:

William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him—so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.

But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?

• Around the Internet

Blog Posts: Best Fictions Books / Honey Dijon Roasted Root Veggies / Pecan Swirl Ice Cream Pie / Easy Crockpot Family Dinners / No Bake Healthy Pumpkin Cookies / Pumpkin Bread

Current Sales:

50% off The Styled Collection (on top of sale prices!) with code LTK50: I went to town on this sale for holiday + future gifts! My exact order: Smiley Checkered Robes (for the boys) / Pink Strawberry Robes (for my nieces) / Smiley Children’s Blanket (for 2 friends having babies this spring) / Buttery Pumpkin Blanket (for our family — only $20!) / Butterfly Blanket (for one of Chase’s girlfriend’s birthdays)

Up to 20% off Caraway Cookware: The stunning pots, pans and bakeware we trust and love

40% off everything + 50% off holiday pajamas at Old Navy

30% off clothing, shoes and accessories at Target: Some items I own and love: High Rise Joggers / Comfy Cargos /Ribbed High-Neck Tank (You guys know how obsessed I am with this one! Only $6 on sale and great under sweaters + cardigans.) / Tapered Jeans / Pullover Sweater (I love this so much I have it in 3 colors now!) / Hoodie Sweatshirt (I have the light purple and it’s beautiful. I sized up!) / Kids’ Relaxed Fit Joggers (I know these say they’re for girls but I bought these for Rhett and Ryder because they are a slimmer fit and love them. Super soft and they don’t look too big/sloppy on slim kids.) / Mock Neck Turtleneck Sweater (slouchy, cozy and comfy!) / Kids’ Fleece Jogger Pants (These also say they’re for girls but they’re definitely unisex and I bought them for Chase for a not-too-boxy jogger on his slim frame.)

 

• October 2023 Top 10

A while back I began sharing a top 10 list at the end of every month as a way to give you guys a glimpse back into some of the blog posts you may have missed or some of my favorite finds you may have had on your radar that got lost in blogging and social media mayhem. See below for October’s top 10!

Top 10 Blog Posts

• Easy Cheesy Crockpot Chicken Corn Chili
• Girls’ Weekend in New Hampshire
• Books I’ve Recently Read and Loved (2023)
• Recent Looks #4
• Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew
• DIY Memory Boxes
• Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins
• Winning Cornbread Recipe
• A Wednesday Afternoon Check In
• Cinnamon Apple Pie Ice Cream

Your Top 10 Favorites

• Target Comfy Cargos (After months of searching, I finally found the perfect pair of comfy cargos!)
• Free People Quilted Carryall Bag (The lightweight bag that holds a TON! Perfect as a carryon for travel but I also use it as my work bag when I work from a coffeeshop as it easily holds my laptop and much, much more.)
• Target High Rise Joggers (With a true high rise — over my belly button — these joggers are equal parts trendy, cute and comfy.)
• Crossbody Bag + Letter Patches (I shared this DIY gift idea on IG for one of Chase’s 8-year-old girlfriends and love how many of you are doing this one, too!)
• Target Tapered Jeans (My first pair of Target jeans and I love them! They’re a great in-between jean for those who want something a little slouchy but not oversized/sloppy.)
• Duck Duck Dance (A game for toddlers that Rhett reaches for over and over again!)
• Marble Stone Drying Mat (Aka the dish drying mat that’s not a total eyesore on your kitchen counter)
• Julep Eyeshadow Stick (The eyeshadow I use to run over my eyeliner to give it a slightly undone/smudgy look)
• Slouchy Duster Cardigan (The long, comfy sweater I’ve been pairing with everything this fall.)
• Hanging Toiletry Bag (A travel game-changer. So helpful for organizing lots of toiletries.)

 

• Friday Flashbacks

Pumpkin Icebox Cake (Such a simple dish and a fun alternative to pumpkin pie this holiday season.)

Chopped Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts Salad (Finally a salad you can prep ahead without worrying about it getting wilted!)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you are loving this week?