Things I’m Loving Friday #553

Friday is here! And my parents are (almost) here, too! My mom and dad hit the road early this morning (we’re a family of early birds) and should be arriving around lunchtime today. We are so, so happy we’ll have Mae and Pop with us for a few days! I’m sure we’ll fill our days with plenty of family fun but I’m also particularly excited for a grown-ups only dinner we have planned for this evening. Kid-free time with my parents is hard to come by but we have childcare booked and are ready for a fun night together!

As for our weekend plans, they’ll be consumed with family time, which is just the way we like it. We’re hoping to get the boat out for the first time this season as well now that we’ve had some maintenance done to get it up and running again.

I hope you all have a good weekend and, for my American readers out there, I hope you will take some time along with our family to remember those who so bravely and selflessly gave their lives for our country this Memorial Day weekend. We truly are the home of the free because of the courageous men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Divided Plates with Lids

I’ve had these divided plates for years and mostly used them for snack plates for the boys but for the past few months, they’ve been given a second life when a thought occurred to me. Our big kids are always starving after school and I’d typically bring a banana and some kind of a bar, yogurt or nut butter packet in the car with me to pickup. This never seemed like enough food, as they’d inevitably rummage through the snack bag I always keep on hand for another bar. I feel like we fly through the packaged snacks we buy and was determined to find a way to amp-up their after-school snacks with more fruits and veggies and more satiating options. Bless these trays because they make it so easy! I typically come to pickup now with a sandwich, fruit, veggie (with salt, hummus or ranch for dipping) and something snacky (go-tos are pistachios, almond flour crackers, cheddar bunnies, granola bites) and they’re a million times more satisfied until dinner rolls around.

• Homemade Bubble Solution for GIANT Bubbles

My mom is truly the queen of coming up with simple activities our boys absolutely flip over time and time again. Last year she arrived at our house with a big jar of homemade bubble mix for GIANT bubbles and we could not get over just how huge the bubbles produced from this recipe got when the boys ran around the yard with their bubble wands. We forgot about the bubbles for a few months but then Rhett receive a bubble gun from his teachers for his preschool parade and their love of bubbled returned! I whipped up a fresh batch of the bubble solution and just like that the boys are all bubble obsessed again.

• The Haters by Robyn Harding

Genre: Mystery/Thriller / My rating: A-

Right after I finished reading The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding, I found The Haters by the same author through my Libby app and flew through it as well. I ended up liking this one even more than The Drowning Woman, as it kept me guessing right up until the very end. The Haters is about an author who publishes her first book, only to find herself horrifically harassed by someone online who rallies people to tear down her book with bad reviews that end up impacting her personal life, too. It’s an everyone’s-a-suspect kind of book that I absolutely flew through!

• Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Just in case you’re shopping the sales this weekend in preparation for summer, here are a few that caught my eye:

APPAREL:

Old Navy: 50% off everything (I have and love this tee + these athletic shorts majorly impressed me when I ordered them last year, especially for only $10 + I have this crinkle gauze skirt and love it with a knotted tee or flowy tank but also as a swim cover-up + these shorts + these shorts  have been great for our slim boys + I rounded up a few more items that caught my eye here!)

Beyond Yoga: Up to 75% off sale + extra 25% off sale (This is the sale I shop every year for Beyond Yoga!!! They include the best items in their sale selections, not just the cast-offs! I have and love this twist tie dress + these space-dye leggings + this dress is my all-time favorite athletic dress — I have it in green and just ordered the coral.)

Target: Up to 40% off clothing + 30% off swim + 40% sandals (I have this pair and this pair and love them. Just ordered this trendy pair! And I cannot tell you how much I love these comfy $10 shorts. I have them in 4 colors!)

Land’s End: 50% off + $10 off totes (For those who also love pink + orange, this tote is so cute!)

Nordstrom Rack: Extra 25% off clearance (I saw some especially great deals on kid shoes — Nike, adidas, Crocs, Natives, etc.!)

Abercrombie: 25% off everything + extra 5% off with code AFSUMMER

Madewell: 25% off + Extra 40% off sale (The description on these curvy shorts sold me! Narrow waist + roomy in the hips + thighs.)

Athleta: 40% off shorts, tanks, tees and dresses + up to 60% off sale 

J.Crew Factory: Up to 70% off + 60% off clearance (Eyeing this hat!!)

BEAUTY:

ELEMIS: 25% off side wide + Free gifts on orders $130+ (Just stocked up on the facial resurfacing pads I use every single morning + the moisturizing makeup primer that makes my skin look healthy and glowy!)

Living Proof: 25% off + Free jumbo dry shampoo on orders $80+ (The only dry shampoo I’ve used for years! The absolute best for making my hair look freshly washed.)

Paula’s Choice Exfoliant: 20% off on Amazon! (This splurge-worthy item became a pivotal part of my skincare routine last year. One bottle lasted me an entire YEAR. I use it 2-3x a week and swear it improved my skin tone and reduced redness. It also works to combat enlarged pores, wrinkles, blackheads and aging — I’ll take all of that!)

Beauty By Earth: 20% off + an additional $10% off with a clippable coupon on Amazon (My fav clean-ingredient sunless tanning lotion! It applies like lotion and gives your skin the most gorgeous bronze color.)

KUR Illuminating Nail Concealer: 25% off on Amazon (It’s a pricey nail polish but there’s nothing better for making damage nails look healthy and beautiful again.)

FOOD FAVS: 

ALOHA: 25% off sitewide! (Time to stock up on my favorite protein + high fiber bars!)

Clean Simple Eats (I saw on IG they’re announcing their sale today so keep an eye out! I use their Simply Vanilla protein powder in my protein pancakes, smoothies, oatmeal and yogurt bowls.)

• Friday Flashbacks

Simple Sides for Your Summertime BBQ (For anyone planning on hosting or attending a big cookout this weekend!)

Berr

Berry Crisp (If you’re looking for an easy and absolutely delicious dessert to make as well this weekend, let it be this one!! Bonus points for the red + white + blue!)

Question of the Day

What is one thing making you smile this week?