Things I’m Loving Friday
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Girls’ Weekend in Scottsdale, AZ
Talk about an epic 40th birthday trip! Last weekend I headed to Scottsdale, Arizona and met up with three of my best friends in the world. They’re three women who know me inside and out and with whom I can be so completely myself. They know me, they know my family and we behave more like sisters than friends. (We joked about how you feel like you have to be “polite friends” with new friends for a while until you can just be YOU and dang is it nice to have all of that weird stuff out of the way.) Carrie, Michaela and Leah are truly some of the biggest blessings in my life. We all met in elementary school and despite living all over the country (North Carolina, Illinois, Colorado and Idaho), we try hard to get together as a complete foursome annually.
Scottsdale, Arizona is where we met up in February last year and the warm, sunny weather, coupled with the ability for all of us fly direct to Phoenix, had us re-booking a similar trip this year. This year we got together to celebrate all of our 40th birthdays and opted to stay at the Fairmont Princess rather than a VRBO. My gosh was it incredible. The four of us stayed in one of the Privado Villas and were completely blown away. Our studio room was big enough for all of us (it had two beds we didn’t mind sharing) and included a lot of perks (an incredible breakfast buffet, a nightly charcuterie board, complimentary drinks upon arrival, access to the spa). The Fairmont Princess property also has six pools (and most offer food and drink service) and we were in heaven. I cannot recommend this hotel enough for a luxurious weekend away.We’re seriously considering replicating our exact trip for our getaway next year, too!
Soccer season started for Chase on Wednesday (Ryan is coaching!) and I was on a mission to find a big bag to use for kid activities and travel. Chase has his own soccer bag (this $17 Amazon gem), but I wanted my own bag for game days (for snacks, water bottles, little brother activities, a lightweight blanket, etc.) that had a zip top and was also washable since I know I’ll be putting it through the wringer. I took a chance on this $22 XL canvas tote and it’s impressed me so much. (It reminds me of a lighter weight version of the L.L. Bean totes but for a fraction of the price.) I’ve been able to overload it with everything I need when we’re out and about with the boys and think it would make a great carry-on option as well. As my brother-in-law says, “I can always use another vessel to carry things,” and I agree with this wholeheartedly, especially since having kids.
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Weighted Vest Walks
(Vest: Amazon / Sweatshirt: Amazon / Leggings: Beyond Yoga but old / Watch: Garmin)
The weighted vest bandwagon? Yep, I’m on it! I know I’ve shared the impact the book Outlive had on me one too many times, but one of the takeaways that really stuck out at me was the benefits of “rucking” — aka walking or hiking with a weighted pack or vest on your back. I became further interested in weighted vest walks following a DEXA scan that revealed I have osteopenia. According to the NIH, “walking while wearing a vest weighted with up to 8% of your body mass increases loading of the skeletal system, and causes increased bone formation and decreased bone resorption in weight-stable adults.” Knowing that something as simple as throwing on a weighted vest before my walks with Pepper could help with my bone density was all the information I needed to read to figure it was worth a shot. I bought this 15-pound vest (I read that you should aim for about 10% of your bodyweight so I went with the closest weight option) and have been enjoying it for 2-mile walks with Pepper. It doesn’t feel too challenging but I do notice the extra weight in a good way and if it’s good for my overall health and my bone density, I’m all for it.
Also, the above photo has kind of a funny story — I threw my vest on before my walk yesterday and had Rhett with me (he was riding his bike). Can you believe the vest is upside down!? I had no idea until someone sent me a message after I shared the photo on Instagram and I thought to myself, “Surely no.” But yep, sure is! I’ve easily worn this vest 30+ times and had no idea I wore it upside down for 2 miles yesterday. That’s what being distracted with a kid will do to my brain, I guess! Thankfully you guys made me feel better on IG saying you’ve done the same. Sooo if you try this vest and are ever in a rush and wear it upside down, just know you’re in good company.
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February 2025 Top 10
A roundup of your February 2025 favorites!
Top 10 Blog Posts
- Daily Perspective + Mood Boosting Ideas
- Breakfast Meal Prep Recipes
- A Very Valentine-y Weekend + Favorite Things Gift Exchange
- How to Make Salmon Bites
- One Week of Kid Breakfasts
- Day At Magic Kingdom: Our First Time with Kids
- How to Make German Pancakes
- Wednesday In Real Time Check In
- Banana Bread Oatmeal Protein Pancakes
- Easy Orange Juice Chicken Marinade
Your Top 10 Favorites
- Rotary Cheese Grater (I use it multiple times a week to shred carrots, thinly slice cucumbers, grate cheese, etc. Bonus: It’s so easy to clean — everything can go in the dishwasher!)
- Craft Storage Bin (with tall enough inserts to fit markers, colored pencils, etc.)
- Youth to the People Hydrate + Glow Mask (My face soaks this stuff up before bed every night. It’s so incredibly moisturizing and feels incredible, especially during the dry winter months.)
- How Great is Our God Children’s Devotional (Our big kids always ask me to keep reading when I read this to them over breakfast. So great for kids who love nature, animals, science and God.)
- Calcium + Magnesium Gummies (The calcium supplement I settled on after lots of research. Delicious and high-quality.)
- Collapsible Tote (A huge hit from a past favorite things party! We’ve all loved ours for various reasons. Most love them for travel/road trips but I use mine to store our boys’ costumes.)
- Gorjana Poppy Gem Necklace (The necklace I gave for our favorite things exchange and the one I haven’t taken off since my birthday last year!)
- Anthropologie Icon Juice Glass (The cutest little juice glass — for anyone else out there who is a sucker for adorable drinkware like me!)
- Bracelet Hair Ties (Hair ties that look like bracelets around your wrist)
- Vintage Round Sunglasses (One of Amazon’s creator favs from last year.)
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Friday Flashbacks
Turkey Vegetable Meatloaf (A family favorite in our house!)
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Overnight Oats (I had this for breakfast twice this week. Forever a fav!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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I saw the children’s devotional in your recommendations and just thought I’d mention that if your younger boys are into classic kids books, there’s a Berenstain Bears devotional that my five year old just loved. We actually originally checked it out from the library but ended up buying it because he liked it so much. Hope you have a great weekend!
Thank you so much for this recommendation!!
Love the Princess! I live here and take advantage of the deeply discounted rates in the summer. Did you go to the pool that has a sand beach? I also think their spa is the absolute best in the area. The magnesium massage is heaven.
We missed that pool somehow! We loved the spa rooftop pool and the main large pool but visited a few other as well. We’re really hoping to go back next year!
I was in Arizona last week as well visiting with my mother-in-law in Sun City. We did a ghost tour in Scottsdale one evening and it was really interesting. We learned some history about the city and the lore behind it. Highly recommend. It was only an hour long so not a big commitment for your evening.
That sounds so fun!
I walk 5 miles a day with my 20 lb vest! I can’t live without it! A bonus for me is that it helps my posture so much. Mine looks more like a SWAT vest so my teenagers tease me, but I love that thing!
Oh this is amazing, Laura!! i also have said I feel like a member of SEAL team 6 when I wear my vest — haha!
Loving the little black bag in the pic of all of you. Do you have a link to share?
Can I ask why you got a DEXA scan? I was under the impression you didn’t need one until later in life.
Yes! Osteoporosis is very prevalent on my mom’s side of the family and in my 20s, I was told I have osteopenia. At the time I just kind of ignored it but when I mentioned it to my doctor at my annual physical, he said he supported my interest in a DEXA scan to see where I am at right now with it and it revealed I still have osteopenia… only now I care a lot more than I did when I was 20!