Things I’m Loving Friday #548

Hey friends! Happy Friday to you! After a brief unintentional hiatus last Friday, I’m back in action today with my weekly Things I’m Loving Friday roundup of favorites. My first favorite: SPRING BREAK! With Easter so late this year, our boys’ schools planned a very late-in-the-year spring break and we are beyond ready for some time away from the hustle and bustle of a typical school week. We’ll be heading to Sarasota to stay with Ryan’s mom and Les for spring break again (we leave next week) and cannot wait!

As for this weekend, we have some fun things on the agenda. Ryan arrives home from Texas today (he thankfully is feeling much better and was away on a quick work trip) and we’ll all be heading off to the soccer fields together for Chase’s game tonight. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Things I’m Loving Friday #548

• Hoppy Floppy’s Happy Hunt (+ Easy On-the-Go Games)

We’ve entered the phase of life where our younger two boys aren’t solely entertained by tiny toys at Chase’s soccer practices and games. We now have some easy-to-play games in our arsenal to entertain them and a favorite we’ve been carting to games recently is Hoppy Floppy’s Happy Hunt.

It’s a game we’ve had for years but we put it away after Easter each year and bring it back out a month or two before Easter every year so it always feels fresh and new. The boys can play it by themselves without a grownup (even Rhett) and as long as your child knows colors/can match colors, they can play!

A few additional on-the-go games we love that all 3 boys can play (ages 4, 6 and 9): Crazy 8s (our #1 favorite!), Memory (this travel version is genius), Wooden Shapes Puzzle (not a game but this one thoroughly entertains Rhett and Ryder), Go Fish + Old Maid

• Matching Sets

Pink matching set: Sundry (Rhett said I look like bubblegum in this one which I am pretty sure that’s a 4-year-old’s version of a compliment so I’ll take it.)

 

Green matching set: Target pants + Target sweatshirt

Tan matching set: Amazon

Bright coral set: Target shorts + Target tank + Target sweatshirt + Target sandals

Matching sets have a bit of a chokehold on me at the moment. As someone who works from home and dresses for mom life mayhem every day, I’ve found matching set to be an incredibly comfortable yet practical way to dress. A coordinated set feels slightly more pulled together than mismatched sweats and a baggy sweatshirt but still maintains all the coziness I want when I’m working at home or running around with the boys. It’s kind of like an acceptable way to wear pajamas in public and I am hear for it.

• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Genre: Coming of age fiction / My rating: A

Despite so many glowing recommendations, I put off reading Demon Copperhead when I read the synopsis of the book online because I knew it was going to be a heavy read. Yes, it was, but it was also an intensely moving and captivating coming-of-age story about a boy born to a teenage addict mother in rural Appalachia. The author’s ability to write as Damon, or Demon as he is much more commonly known, felt so believable. She captured his wit, resilience, determination and intelligence but also his flaws, frustrations and struggles in such a human way. This book touched me and made me think deeply and I know it will be one that will stick with me.

From Amazon: 

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

• The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense / My rating: B-

I will forever remember The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides as one of the few books out there that genuinely left me completely shocked. As I’m sure most avid readers out there can attest, especially those who have read their fair share of thrillers, it’s hard to feel genuinely shocked by a novel… and I’m not talking just a little surprised but rather totally floored. The Silent Patient did that for me so my hopes for The Fury by the same author were sky-high.

Alex Michaelides has a gift for roping a reader in immediately and creating captivating plotlines that keep you guessing and flying through the pages. Unfortunately with The Fury, the “twists” weren’t as shocking but almost more annoying and I’d love to elaborate more but I know I’d give away too much if I dive too much deeper. Suffice it to say, The Fury was a fast and entertaining page-turner but far from a favorite for me.

From Amazon: 

This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember.

It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder. We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered. But who am I? My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.

• March 2025 Top 10

A roundup of your favs from March!

Blog Posts

• How To Make Salmon Bites
• Breakfast Meal Prep Recipes
• Carrot and Apple Slaw
• Day Trips from Charlotte
• One Week of Kid Breakfasts in 5 Minutes or Less
• High Protein Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Picture an Hour: A March Tuesday
• High Protein Breakfast Burrito
• A Day at Magic Kingdom: Our First Time with Kids
• Banana Bread Protein Pancakes

Top 10 Favorites

• Weighted Vest (I wear my 15 lb. vest for my daily walks with Pepper to help increase my bone density.)
• Memory Milestone Box Labels + File Box + File Folders (The only way we keep the boys’ art, school projects, medical records, etc. organized.)
• 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!)
• Target Buckle Sandals (Equal parts comfortable and cute. Loving them paired with jeans, sundresses, skirts, shorts, etc.)
• Target Sweatpants + Sweatshirt (The matching green lounge set I’ve been wearing on repeat)
• Satin Stripe Pajamas (The Amazon find that feels like a luxurious gift to myself when I wear them.)
• High Waist Bikini (Looks like the Beach Riot suit but with more booty coverages which I appreciate. It’s also mom-life friendly.)
• Beauty By Earth Sunless Tanning Lotion (Non-toxic and looks so natural. I use the medium-dark shade.)
• Amazon Matching Set (Lightweight and comfy — perfect for travel, playdates, coffee shop work days, mom life, lounging at home, etc.)
• ALOHA Bars (The protein bars I eat every single day. My link saves you 20%!)

 

• Friday Flashbacks

Non-Toy Easter Basket Gift Ideas for Kids (A few ideas for items your kids will actually use but also really love!)

Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad (So good, especially topped with salmon or grilled chicken.)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you’re loving this week?