Things I’m Loving Friday #596

Friday is here and so are our friends!!! Merri and Andrew arrived in town with their two kids and will be staying with us through the weekend. We had the best time when they came to visit last summer and have been awaiting their visit with lots of excitement! We’re have an adults-only night out planned for this evening (woop!) and lots of water fun planned for the weekend. It should be a good one!

And now you know what time it is: Things I’m Loving Friday tiiiime! Keep on scrolling if you’d like to check out some of the things that made me smile this week!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Andar Wristlet Wallet

(Wallet: Andar / Earbud case: Amazon)

My mom absolutely nailed it with this birthday present. I haven’t used a traditional wallet in years and prefer a smaller coin pouch/wristlet situation for my license, credit cards, insurance card, etc. I’ve been using this $8 Target card case attached to my keychain for years and it’s been great. (I’m now using it to keep gift cards organized and would definitely recommend it!) I mentioned to my mom that I was looking for an upgrade but I am incredibly picky because I wanted something not-too-bulky but still functional with the ability to hold multiple cards that are easy to slip in and out (important!), a keychain component and a place for a small amount of emergency cash. This Andar wallet wristlet check every single one of my boxes and I love that it has a powerful magnet to keep it closed… and it’s beautiful, too!

• Kid Surprise Boxes

For Christmas this year, one little surprise I had so much fun putting together for my nieces and nephews were personalized mini travel boxes. I’m not sure I ever shared them on the blog (maybe just Instagram?) but I filled them with an assortment of small travel entertainment items and they went over well on Christmas!

I get a lot of joy out of assembling little goodies I think kids will use and enjoy and couldn’t resist putting two mini busy boxes together for Merri and Andrew’s kids to open during their visit this weekend. They’re nothing too fancy and filled with simple surprises like fidget toys, snacks, Hot Wheels, sunglasses, a little purse, etc. but they always seem to be a hit!

As for supplies, I use these clear pencil cases from Target and personalize them using my Cricut Joy. Easy peasy!

• Replacement + New (On Sale!) Owala Water Bottles for the Boys

Amazon Prime Day sales came in handy when it came to water bottle replacement/gifting for our boys! Ryder lost his water bottle recently and Rhett needs a bigger size water bottle for kindergarten next year so I ordered these two bright Owala water bottles for our younger two dudes. These bottles have worked well for our family for years. As a mom, I also really appreciate them because they’re easy for our boys to refill because they don’t have to unscrew the top and can just pop them open and refill them through the spout itself. The boys also like the fact that they can chug water from them or sip them through a straw. And they’re leakproof!

• VBS Camp

Ya know what feels great? Dropping off your kids off at a camp they look forward to all year long! Chase began going to a local VBS camp when he was in first grade and now Rhett and Ryder are all in on the magic, too. They know how to do it right at this camp! Every 1/2-day camp is filled will music, crafts, sports, water fun, a crazy snack shack (this is a highlight every day), Bible stories, silliness and worship. It’s upbeat and energizing and we truly plan our summer travel around it!

• Amazon Prime Day Sale: Top Finds + What I Ordered

Amazon Prime Day ends TODAY! (You may see my roundup of sale picks here: Amazon Prime Day 2026!) In case you’re curious, below I am sharing your top favorite finds from this year’s Amazon Prime Day sale so far! And for the nosy people out there like me, you may see everything we ordered over the past couple of days here: Everything I Ordered on Amazon Prime Day. (Be prepared to see a lot of pantry and household staples. Ha!)

Your Top Amazon Prime Day Finds

• Samsonite Freeform Luggage (10/10 quality. We now have four of the roller carry-ons and one large checked back from this luggage line. It’s held up so well for our family for years! )
• Supergoop! Sunscreen (Our family’s favorite sunscreen for yearsss! Zero white cast, applies smoothly with no stickiness and protects skin so well. The spray is extra steeply discounted at 30% off — our fav for on-the-go + easy reapplication.)
• Ultra-Fast Charger (BEST charger I’ve ever used. Recharges my iPhone SO much faster than any other charger I’ve tried.)
• Boswell Glass Air Fryer (The non-toxic glass air fryer I use multiple times a week! It’s big enough to cook food for our entire family in one batch — hooray!)
• Nude Strappy Sandals (My most-worn sandal of the summer.)
• Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Containers (The glass food storage containers with a super tight seal that we’ve had and loved for years.)
• Glass Oil Sprayer/Pourer (I haven’t bought a spray can of oil in years! This works so, so well. Note: The “oil” word on the front is a sticker I just left off mine for a plain look.)
• Row Your Goat Card Game (10/10 for family fun and easy to learn!)
• Stanley Mini Cooler (I love this mini size. It’s big enough to fit 3 Bentgo kid lunch boxes and 2 slim ice packs.)

A little tip: I’ve enjoyed browsing the “lowest price in 365 days” section for the ultimate deals this year. Some top super-sale finds we have and love in our house:

HOME

• Tineco Wet/Dry Vacuum (We’ve had and loved ours for years and I credit it for being the only reason we have clean hardwood and tile floors. It vacuums up liquid spills, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. It’s was especially handy during toddler and puppy days.)
• Fellow Electric Kettle (I gave this to my dad for Father’s Day because he loved ours so much. Easy to use — no learning curve for guests! — and beautiful on the countertop.)
• Caraway Non-Toxic Bakeware (I started with the mini bakeware collection but now have the entire bakeware collection because I love it so much. As someone who uses cookie sheets and bakes and roasts veggies regularly, it’s been worth its weight in gold for our family.)
• Stanley Mini Cooler (I love this mini size. It’s big enough to fit 3 Bentgo kid lunch boxes and 2 slim ice packs.)
• Rotary Grater (I use this multiple times a week to grate carrots, cheese, zucchini, etc. as well as thinly slice cucumbers, radishes, etc. Easy to clean as every piece is dishwasher safe.)

KIDS

• FlipSlide (A light up flip-it-around game our big kids love. Great for road trips!)
• Owala Water Bottle (Easy for kids to open and refill themselves — our kids refill them directly through the drinking spout)
• Kids’ Kindle Paperwhite (The e-reader Chase uses every single day!)
• Bentgo Kids Lunchbox + Kids LunchBox with Icepack (Our fav lunchbox for the preschool/kindergarten age + one with an icepack option to keep lunches cold)

BEAUTY

• Paula’s Choice Exfoliate (Powerful but gentle, I’ve used this 3-4x a week for years and have noticed improved skin tone and reduced redness since incorporating it into my skincare routine. It’s also supposed to help combat enlarged pores, wrinkles, blackheads and aging… I mean I’ll take ALL of that!)
• Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (The GOAT concealer!! There’s a reason this one is so hyped. I’ve been using it for years and it truly does offer the best coverage.)
• Summer Fridays Lip Oil (Hydrating, glossy without being sticky and beautiful on the lips.)
• Salt & Stone Deodorant (The deodorant that blew up my college friends’ group text! I’ve never been a deodorant super fan until this stuff! Santal & Vetiver and Saffron & Cedar are my favorites, but I recommend the mini discovery set if you’re new to the brand.)

FASHION

• Short Sleeve Button Down (So classy and cute! It’s not nearly as cropped as it looks online. You may see it styled on me here.)
• Stripe Sleeve Tee (I love the pop of interest the stripes add to the sleeves of this tee. It’s comfortable, flattering and hits at the perfect spot on the arms and top of your pants. See it on me here.)