Tag: friday favorites

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #70

Happy Friday and happy first week of December! The Christmas season is here and I am here for it. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this time of year! My holiday calendar is slowly filling up and it begins this weekend with a Christmas concert, I can’t wait!

All is calm, all is bright.

As we begin the weekend, here’s some things that I have been loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea or a fun roundup of Friday Favorites!

Credentialed Podcast– I am slowly jumping on the podcast bandwagon. Certain podcasts, I will listen to on the day they come out, while others, I will listen to when I have the time. I recently started listening to the Credentialed podcast by Justine Ward and Jillian Mele, they are two former reporters who decided to go back to school to get their MBA’s. There’s only a few episodes out and most of them have been about their background and decision to leave the news business. While I love my job, it’s been interesting to hear their stories and decisions to pursue other careers. Definitely worth the listen if you are interested in news, sports, or making a career change.

Fall/Winter Dress– I picked up this Calvin Klein dress from Marshall’s and it’s the perfect dress for fall and winter. I love the color (it’s a mix between a dark orange and light red), the style could work in the fall and winter with or without a blazer depending on the weather and it fits true to size. You can easily wear this to a cocktail party, to church or even dress it up with pumps and some bold jewelry for a holiday party.

Plus, it pairs great with a bright red jacket.

You can’t go wrong with red jacket!

Virgin River Returns– After the fall premiere, Virgin River released some holiday episodes/ specials. I haven’t had a chance to watch the episodes yet, but I plan on starting them this weekend. I like how they planned for some episodes mid hiatus. Not only does the series continue with some updates but I can’t resist a good holiday themed episode. I’m looking forward to cozying up by the fire and catching up. If you have watched or are planning to watch, what are your thoughts so far?

Pinterest Christmas Ideas– Pinterest has been one of my favorite apps lately for all things holiday fun. I have been scouring it for Christmas recipes, holiday decoration ideas and just holiday scenes. I have found recipes to bake, meals to try, and hot cocoa drinks to taste. I always find such creative ideas on Pinterest for the holidays and it really gets my creative juices flowing when it comes to trying new things. You can follow my board here.

Tell me: what’s something fun you have tried from Pinterest?

Side Dish Meme– Ending Friday Favorites with this meme I saw on Facebook. If you have lots of holiday parties or get-togethers coming up, this is your reminder to give yourself some grace.  I love to spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking, but it’s not for everyone. If cooking and baking causes you stress, alleviate some of that by heading to the store and picking up something pre-made to bring to your holiday part. The holidays are meant to be a time to spend time with family and friends and soak up traditions, try not to stress about the little things. December can be hectic and busy, give yourself permission for grace this holiday season.

That’s a look into life lately, lots of fun and festive things, plus a laugh or too! I hope you have a wonderful and festive first weekend of December!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #69

Hello All! Happy Friday and happy Black Friday!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and loved ones. I hope the day was filled with loved ones, good food, and lasting memories. I enjoyed spending the day with extended family and continuing some traditions too. I also ran my first Turkey Trot which was so fun! 

Turkey trotting!

Yesterday was all about Thanksgiving and today is all about getting ready for Christmas by decorating our home. 

A delicious, Thanksgiving spread!

This weekend we will be enjoying a second Thanksgiving dinner with my immediate family which I am looking forward to.

Baking season has begun!

Today’s Friday Favorites post is a mix of holiday fun, some shows to binge watch and a good movie, there’s certainly something for everyone as I link up with  Erika and Andrea .

Book Club: The Next Chapter– My mom and I had a girl’s movie night a few weeks ago and watched Book Club: The Next Chapter. We saw the first movie when it came out a few years ago and we thoroughly enjoyed the sequel. It follows the four friends as they embark on a long overdue trip to Italy, however, no trip is complete without a few hiccups. There’s some fantastic one-liners, beautiful scenery and above all, great message about friendship. We watched it on Amazon Prime and I would definitely recommend it for your next movie night.

The Crown Returns-The first part of the final season of The Crown came out last week and I started watching it right away. Without giving too much away, it begins right where the last season left off. I think Peter Morgan has done a phenomenal job with the series and this past season. I have been following along with Elizabeth Holmes’ Crown commentary. She provides so much insight and information about The Royal Family and The Crown. You can find her here if you want to follow along more.

The Crown is BACK

Halloween Candy Cookies– I am always on the hunt to try new recipes and I found one from another blog and had to try it. If you still have some Halloween candy lying around or if you want to go buy some candy, this is such an easy and tasty recipe. It’s basically a chocolate chip cookie dough recipe with any of your favorite candies. I added Milky Ways, Twix, M&M’s, kisses, and chocolate chips. I opted not to add any peanut based candies due to allergies, but these cookies were a hit! Here’s the recipe if you want to try them for yourself.

Apple TV Christmas Special– From Halloween to Christmas, I am getting into the holiday spirit with Apple TV’s Christmas Special. If you are a fan of Ted Lasso, you will love this special. There’s appearances from the cast of Ted Lasso, there’s singing, dancing and Christmas cheer! Here’s the preview if you haven’t seen it yet. There’s Christmas specials are always so creative and fun. I’m looking forward to the lighting of the Rockerfeller Christmas Tree next week. Now, that Thanksgiving is over, I’m in full on Christmas mode. 

Festive Christmas Shirt– Speaking of the holidays, I got a new graphic t-shirt to wear leading up to Christmas. I always have luck with festive t-shirts from Old Navy. I picked up this shirt along with a few other articles of clothing a few weeks ago. I love adding some holiday cheer to my wardrobe even if it is only for a few weeks out of the year. These festive shirts bring me so much joy. There’s so many different patterns and styles, there’s something for everyone. Also, as a side note, Old Navy’s pajama collection is great this year, there’s something for every member of your family-including pets!

Had to get my pup in for a photo too!

That’s a look into life recently. Some movies, baking, binge-worthy shows and getting into the holiday spirit!

Tell me: are you in full on Christmas mode yet?

Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Black Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #68

Hello All! 

Happy Friday!

This week flew by. November has been filled with work projects and events, seeing friends, preparing for the holidays and lots of deep cleaning and organizing. It’s been busy but I have been loving and embracing this slower season before the chaos of the holidays begins (which I love too).

Here’s a few things that I have been loving as I link up with Erika and Andrea or a fun roundup of Friday Favorites!

The Bodyguard-This is an older show, but new to me. Have you watched or heard of The Bodyguard. It came out in 2018 and is a limited series on Netflix. It’s all about a bodyguard for a government official in Great Britian, however, she starts receiving threats once he is assigned to her detail. She is targeted by bombings, shootings and car accidents, but the question remains, why? There’s only six episodes so you can easily binge through it in a week or over the course of the week. I personally finished it in a week but could have finished it sooner if I had more time. There were some major cliffhangers through the series and lots of plot twists. Themes of government corruption, espionage, PTSD, and love were all found in the series. Definitely worth the watch!

New Black Leggings– I have been on the hunt for some solid black leggings to wear around the house or when running errands. I found an inexpensive pair at Marshall’s, and I have been loving them. They are fleece-lined, but also thin so if you do decide to wear them in warmer weather, you won’t be sweating in them. They are soft and almost conform to your legs, so it doesn’t feel like you are wearing leggings. They one downside is that they aren’t high waisted, but I wasn’t necessarily looking for a high waited legging, but besides that, I love them!

Purple Sherpa-I have been on the hunt for a sherpa since the beginning of the fall, but never found what I was looking for when it comes to putting something on a chilly day. I popped into Old Navy last week and found lots of good deals (more coming in the next few weeks) but I finally found the sherpa I was envisioning, and it was a huge win for me! Here’s some of my favorite details, first, I love how warm and cozy it is, perfect to pair with leggings, jeans, or even sweatpants. It was a great price and style, and lastly, I fell in love with the color. I don’t have too much lavender, so I’m looking forward to bringing a new color in my wardrobe.

New Mascara– I am always trying out different brands when it comes to makeup. I have my favorite products that I use all the time (hello Sephora foundation and concealer), but for other products like mascara, I like to change it up and try new things. I saw this Maybelline mascara advertised on the TODAY show and wanted to try it. It has a thinner and smaller brush which I like since it lengthens your lashes and separates them more. I like the coverage it provides and how it doesn’t clump easily. I only need a coat or two and then I’m good to go. It’s fairly affordable and I can get it from most drugstores and big box stores. 

S’more Popcorn– Rounding up this edition of Friday Favorites is some S’more’s popcorn. We picked up a bag of this flavorful popcorn for a fundraiser and I was excited and intrigued to try it. In my opinion, there’s not a strong S’mores flavor found throughout the bag. There is seasoning on every piece of popcorn, but it’s not exactly marshmallow, graham cracker and chocolate. I would categorize this popcorn more as a sweet and salty mix. There’s a lot of flavors and it’s great to munch on during a movie night or for a post lunch snack, but I wouldn’t choose it if you just want the S’mores flavor. Regardless, it was still tasty and a great snack.

That’s a look into some of my favorite things from this week. Some snacks, some clothes and some beauty products!

Tell me: what are you looking forward for the final weekend before Thanksgiving? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #66

Hello all!

Happy Friday! We made it through Halloween week! This has been a busy week for me, so I was ready for the weekend. I finished a big project on Monday, celebrated Halloween on Tuesday and had some doctor’s appointments spread throughout the week too. These next few weeks will be busy between some big work events and projects, Thanksgiving and the start of Christmas shopping, so I’m trying to take the slow and steady days where I can. 

We had some days in the 70s and I had to take advantage by enjoying the outdoors.

Anyways, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and focus on the here and now and some fun favorites for this fall week as I link up with Erika and Andrea or a fun roundup of Friday Favorites!

New Fall Candle- I typically get my candles from Marshall’s, T. J. Maxx or even Michael’s. However, thanks to a sale and being a rewards member, I got a candle for a great price from Bath and Body Works and I am obsessed. This three-wick candle was perfect for October and is even better for November. The pumpkin-apple scent is like fall in a cup. It’s not too strong and the scent lasts even after you blow out the candle. I have been burning it in the morning and when I am unwinding or relaxing and it has been such a fall treat. I don’t always use holiday scented candles, but I know this one will last me all through the next month, just in time for a new scent for Christmas!

My new favorite candle.

New Lotion and Spray Scent– This candle wasn’t the only new scent I was smelling this week. It was time for a change for my body lotion and spray from Bath and Body Works. I’m enjoying the last of the Gingham series with Gingham Fresh. So far, I like that Gingham Fresh is subtle and not too strong which is helpful if you just want a little refresher.  You may remember I have enjoyed Gingham Gorgeous and Gingham Vibrant so far this year. I will have to use this one for a bit before I decide which is my favorite. Stay tuned! Next month, I will be breaking out the Winter Candy Apple for the holidays! I can’t wait!

New scent for the next few months.

Quaker Oats- From new scents to foods! I can’t believe this is a favorite for me, but never say never. I never liked oats or oatmeal growing up, but I have been trying a lot of new foods over the past few months and that includes quaker oats. I’m not a fan of oatmeal, but I have been enjoying it in cookies and protein balls. I used quaker oats to make chocolate and peanut butter no bakes and then apple oatmeal cookies which were both so tasty and healthy too. I also took a try at making protein balls off a recipe I found on Pinterest and have been loving them too, again the perfect mix of healthy with some sweet and salty. I’ll be on the lookout for more recipes to use oats, if you have a favorite recipe, please feel free to share with me!

New favorite treats!
And cookies

Pumpkin Pop Tarts– We are still in full on pumpkin season over here and I have been trying all kinds of pumpkin flavored foods. I was never a big fan of pumpkin, only in moderation, but it has been growing on me this season. I tried pumpkin pop tarts this season and really enjoyed them. The pumpkin flavoring wasn’t overwhelming, it was subtle but had that pumpkin spice feel and taste to it. I only tried them in room temperature and not heated up, so the flavoring could change, but if you are a pumpkin fan, consider picking them up the next time you are out and about.

Fall in your mouth!

The Crown Trailer– Any Crown fans out there? The new trailer for season 6 dropped last week and I can’t wait for part one. You can watch the trailer here. I am interested to see how they depict the months leading up to Diana’s death and the aftermath of it. I think the series has done a great job of staying true to the story. As much as I can’t wait for the final season, I also don’t want the series to be over. It has been such a good show to watch over the years and I’ll miss it when it’s over.

You never know what your favorite things will be, some weeks it’s fashion, other weeks, it’s food and scents. I hope you are recovered from Halloween and are still enjoying some candy as we make our way into a new month!

Have a great weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #65

Hello all and happy Halloween weekend! I know Halloween falls on next Tuesday but I feel like this weekend will be a weekend full of celebrating. I know I plan on making some fun Halloween treats, popping some popcorn and enjoying a Halloween movie or two!

Fall out of my kitchen window is BEAUTIFUL!

As the week wraps up, I have a fun roundup of Friday Favorites for you as I link up with with Erika and Andrea .

Love in the Air– If you want a break from Halloween or fall movies and are searching for a light rom-com, I have just the pick for you! Love in the Air on Netflix is all about a woman who takes over her mother’s flight company in Australia. However, it’s on the brink of being closed and being bought by a larger company. After a rocky start when the potential new owner comes to visit, sparks begin to fly between the two. You can figure out the ending from here, but my favorite part was seeing all the beautiful sights in Australia, the entire continent looked gorgeous! If you are looking for a movie to escape for 90 minutes, this is it.

Such a cute movie!

Just Eat– Jessie James Decker’s new cook book, Just Eat, dropped last week and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I love browsing through cookbooks and choosing recipes that look good and attempting to make them on my own. There’s so many sweet and savory recipes that I can’t wait to test out these for myself and my family. Just paging through the book has my mouth watering. I have really enjoyed getting more comfortable in the kitchen and trying new recipes. I grew up helping my mom in the kitchen with cooking and baking and as an adult I have enjoyed the process of attempting family-favorite recipes and trying new ones too. 

Latest cook book!

Fall Graphic T-Shirt– I briefly mentioned this shirt in my post on Wednesday, but I loved it so much I had to make it its own favorite! I browsed so many stores for a cute, fall graphic t-shirt and thanks to YOUR recommendations I found exactly what I was looking for on Amazon and I scored a great deal on it on Prime Days! I got this shirt. I love the fabric, how it fits and how it’s just enough fall cheer without going overboard, plus it was very affordable, what more could you ask for in a shirt? I already have a few graphic t-shirts for Christmas, but I may have to check out Amazon again to see if there’s any new styles.

Burt’s Bees Almond and Milk Hand Cream– I always have hand lotion or cream on me, whether it’s at my desk, in my car or in my purse. My hands get dry in the winter and even in the other months of the year, I like to keep my hands moisturized. I have been using Burt’s Bees Almond and Milk hand cream every day and have been really enjoying this lotion. Just be warned, it is a thick and heavy cream which is great if you have really dry skin. Because it is so heavy, you only need a little bit for your hands. I always feel better after applying some lotion at the start and end of the day and this has been a good product to try and use. 

My new favorite and cream!

Kerry Washington “Thicker Than Water” article on Shondaland- I talked about Kerry Washington’s memoir, “Thicker than Water” coming out a few weeks ago and her interview with Robin Roberts. I haven’t had a chance to read “Thicker than Water” yet, but it’s on my to be read list. Recently, Washington did an interview with Shondaland about how Shonda Rhimes encouraged her to write a book in the first place. I’ve really been enjoying seeing Washington on her press tour and all the different guest moderators at her events. This article gives more insight into why Washington decided to write the book in the first place and some of the things she reveals throughout it. After all this prep, I’m looking forward to reading Washington’s book soon.

That’s a look into some of the things I have been loving this week. Some fall stuff, some shows and books and beauty products! As we gear up for Halloween-weekend, how are you celebrating? Scary movies? Costume parties? Lots of candy? I hope you have a fun and festive weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #63

Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week! I’m in full on fall mode over here and am trying to pack in as many fall activities as possible.

Fall in a small town!

Last weekend, I made the most of the fall weather and conditions and took a fall drive to see the leaves changing and did a fall train ride too. It was the perfect way to spend a Sunday and make the most of a fall day. We are halfway through October and if you have a fall bucket list, how is yours coming along? I am slowly but surely checking things off.

Beautiful day for a train ride
Nothing prettier than leaves on the ground!

Today I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s edition of Friday Favorites.

Here’s a few things I’m loving this week!

Lupin- One of my favorite shows to binge watch is back! Lupin is set in France and is French but is dubbed in English and has subtitles. Season three follows Assane Diop, a thief as he robs from the the wealthiest people. He is sneaky and savvy, always has a plan and a disguise. This season is all about reconnecting with lost family. My favorite thing about the episodes is when they show him pulling off the heist. Definitely a binge-worthy show to try if you are looking for something new on Netflix.

A great show to binge watch!

Love at First Sight– This was such a cute movie that popped up on my Netflix feed. My mom and I watched it one night and LOVED it! Love at First Sight is a cute rom com all about fate and being at the right place at the right time. When a young girl misses her flight in the U.K., she immediately books another, thanks to that flight she meets a fellow traveler and they hit it off. Turns out, the two are on the same flight and agree to swap numbers, however, due to a mix-up they never exchange numbers. Will the two reconnect and find each other in London or was it just a chance encounter on a flight? You will have to watch to find out!

The cutest rom-com!

Hello Beautiful– Remember that stack of books I got from the library a few weeks ago? I’m still making my way through it. I have been going back and forth between lighthearted books and some heavier ones. I have read about Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano on numerous blogs through the summer and couldn’t wait to read it for myself. It was definitely a heavier read and it took me longer to make it through compared to a chick flick, due to the depth, but it was so worth it. Without giving too much away, it’s a modern day take on Little Women. It follows four sisters and their lives from children to adults and how they grow close and apart, evolve and change. The book is told from four different perspectives and spans across decades. This book was so moving and really leaves you reflecting on the power of family and relationships. It was definitely worth all the hype.

Such a powerful story!

Counting the Cost-My free, three month trial of Audible is almost up, and I’ll have a whole review coming soon, but until then, I am currently listening to Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar Dillard and wow, I can’t stop listening. As I mentioned before, when I listening to Jinger’s book, I followed the Duggar family growing up and like many others was fascinated by them. I continued to follow them as their family went through some ups and downs and was eager to read the books by Jinger and Jill. While Jinger’s book focuses more on her faith journey, Jill’s focuses more on her life, how she’s grown and evolved and her perspective about her family and a lot of the events that transpired in recent years. I really love that I’m listening to the audiobook version and can hear her telling her story. I feel that she really pulls back the curtain on a lot of big moments in her life which I appreciated. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and finished it in less than a week, whenever I was driving or running, I have it on. If you do plan on reading it, I recommend the audiobook version.

My current favorite thing to listen to.

The Crown Trailer-The new trailer for season 6 of The Crown dropped this week. You can watch it here. I can’t wait for it, even though it’s the final season and I don’t want it to end! It will be broken up until two installments starting with Diana’s death and ending with Will and Kate in University. Even though the teaser was short, it got me excited for what this new season will bring! November can’t come soon enough!

That’s a look into some of my favorite things from this week! Some books, a movie, new scents and all the fall fun! Tell me, how have you ben making the most of the fall season?  What’s been your favorite fall activity? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #60

Hi friends! Happy Friday! I hope you had great week! Yesterday, was in the 80’s and I took advantage of it by getting in lots of time outside and going on hikes! It was the best way to savor the past warmth of summer!

Soaking up the last rays of summer!

I can’t believe how fast September is going by.  We are more than half way through the month and fall begins on Saturday!  As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for another edition of Friday Favorites!

This week’s post is a mix of fall fun, some new finds and I need some help from you too! Let’s dive into it!

The Lazy Genius podcast-I know I am late to the game on this one, but I started listening to episodes of the Lazy Genius podcast. I have listened to an episode here or there, but have started to listen to them in my weekly rotation. I like how they are only about a half hour long, there’s practical tips and a quick recap at the end. Some of my favorite episodes have been about morning and evening routines, handling a busy season and meal prepping. Kendra also has such a calm and soothing voice that I’m instantly relaxed when I listen.

85 cent Blizzards– Now through Sunday, Dairy Queen is offering 85 cent small blizzards through their app to celebrate their fall flavors! I tried their snickerdoodle cookie dough blizzard and it delicious! We had a 70 degrees day this past week and it was the perfect way to celebrate the warm weather and enjoy a great deal. 10/10 recommend getting a blizzard this weekend to celebrate fall flavors!

Fall blizzard for the win!

Searching for Fall Graphic Tee-Shirts– Speaking of clothing, I’m on the hunt for a cute fall graphic tee shirt or two! I have a few holiday ones I wear around the Christmas season, but I want a few to wear this fall. I love pairing a graphic tee shirt with leggings or jeans, but I haven’t any cute fall ones yet, so for those who wear graphic holiday tees, where do you get them? Amazon? Target? Walmart? Someplace else I’m missing? What are your favorite brands or styles? I would love to find out where I can get some cute shirts to add to my fall wardrobe! Thank you in advance!! 

The Mother-in-Law– The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth. It only took me a few weeks, but I got my hands on another Hepworth book. I was looking for another book with some mystery and intrigue and this one delivered. When the matriarch of a well to do family dies by suicide, everyone in the family is stunned. However, not everything is what it seems, when she may not have died by suicide after all. Family members are questioned, secrets start to spill out, and it turns out there may have been different people who wanted her dead. I was taken back by the ending and I’m sure you will too. If you are looking for a good book with twists and turns, this is it!

New Books from the Library- This may be one of my favorite things from the week. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am an avid reader. I always have a book with me whether it be an audio book or a physical book, although, I do prefer my physical books as opposed to audio or digital. I love reading and getting lost in stories. I typically go the library once a week to either drop off or pick up a book or two. I went to the library this week because several books that were on hold finally came in. My stack of books to be read looks exceptional right now and I can’t wait to dig in and start reading. The only problem I have is which one to start with first! For those who are readers like me, let me know what your favorites are from the stack! Lots of book reviews are coming soon!

We love new books from the library!

What a fun week of Favorites! I’m looking forward to a long weekend with some fall fun mixed in too! The leaves are starting to change and fall fests are starting up soon, that means all the hot apple cider, hayrides, leaf peeping and fall walks! 

Tell me, what are your favorite things about fall/ things to do! 

Let me know in the comments below! Happy Fall-ing!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #59

Hi all! Happy Friday!

Are you in fall mode yet? Are you savoring the pumpkin spice season or soaking up the final days of sunshine? Last week, we had temperatures near the 90’s, so I’m still soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the outdoors for as long as I can.

Final ice creams of the summer!

My summer was a busy one, so I made it a point to schedule a lot of my yearly appointments for September once the summer slowed down a bit and to be honest, I’m glad I did. It’s been nice to take care of appointments and checkups when children are back in school, and the calendar is a bit more open, and routines are back in place. Needless to say, my days off have been filled with ALL the appointments, but I did manage to sneak in some fun too!

It’s never a bad day for a walk!

As we gear up for the weekend, I’m sharing a few things I’m loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea for another edition of Friday Favorites.

Virgin River Back– The new season of Virgin River came out last week, but I didn’t have a chance to watch it until this past week. I have been loving this season so far. For those who watch, it picks up right where last season ends. I really like how each season flows right into the other. A few storylines get wrapped up in the premiere, but new characters and problems arise in the premiere too. I’m anxious to continue the first half of the season and I’m already looking forward to part two when it comes out in November.

Sally Hepworth’s The Soulmate– I have only read a few of Hepworth’s books but have devoured them all. Her latest book, The Soulmate came out in the spring, and I have been waiting to check it out at the library. Once I got my hands on it, I finished it in five days, some nights, even staying up late to read one more chapter. It follows the story of a family who lives in a quiet seaside town. When a woman dies after falling from a popular cliff, questions arise about her death. Was she pushed? Did she fall? Did she take her own life? Secrets are uncovered between two families and connections are made that you won’t see coming. There’s a lot of mystery to this book and it’s a bit of a thriller, but not too much so that you won’t be able to sleep at night. After reading this book, I want to read more of Sally’s books!

Cover Girl The Exhibitionist Mascara-I wear a lot of makeup for work and I’m always open to trying new products, especially when it comes to mascara. I have my staples that I use day in and day out, sometimes like to experiment with new styles. I have been a fan of Cover Girl and their products and one of my friends told me about their Exhibitionist Mascara. I have been using it for a few weeks and have really come to enjoy it. I typically use their lash blast mascara, so it took some getting used to using a thinner brush, but I have found that it makes my lashes look longer. It has great coverage and it’s long-lasting. I’m not sure if I will use this one forever, but it has been good to change it up over the past few weeks.

Black Mary Jane Shoes– I’m not in fall mode yet, but I have made a few recent purchases that is getting me there. My mom spotted these black Mary Jane ballet flats at Marshall’s and they were calling my name. I love how they are a sturdier shoe, there’s a strap on them and you can wear them with so many different outfits. I can see myself wearing them with dress pants, a skirt, even jeans in the fall. I love how they are versatile enough to be dressed up or down with them. I love to browse T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s just to see what things they have in stock.

Simplified Launch– This was one of my favorite weeks as it was Simplified Launch Day this past Wednesday! I am a weekly-yearly planner gal, so I got to pick out my goodies for 2024 and order them on Wednesday. Simplified also dropped some new products that I browsed. Each launch they always bring out so many fun and creative products, I have to reign myself in from buying them all. This was my planner pick for this year. I love the message behind it, the pattern and all the detailing. I can’t wait for my products to come in.

This was a busy week, I finished a big project at work, had some appointments, and work functions thrown in too, so I was more than ready for the weekend! I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend or you are enjoying a nice relaxing weekend in. Either way, I hope it’s a great one!

I’ll see you here back next Wednesday! Happy Weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #58

Happy Friday friends! We made it through the first full week of September. How was your week? Productive? Relaxing? Getting adjusted into a new routine? No matter how your week went, I hope it is ending on a high note and you have something fun planned for the weekend. If you are a football fan, then I’m sure you are gearing up for a big weekend as the NFL season officially begins! I’m hoping to catch some of the game this weekend.

As we say hello to the weekend, here’s some things that I’ve been loving as I link up with Erika and Andrea for another edition of Friday Favorites!

Cuticle Lotion– I love doing my nails and through the years, I have tried different brands and tools and colors while giving myself my own at-home manicures and pedicures. I have been using this cuticle lotion by Burt’s Bees and have really been loving it. I use a cuticle oil when I don’t have any polish on, and I have been using this lotion on my cuticles as well. Typically, I will change my nail color once a week and on the days when I don’t have any polish on, I will put on the oil in the morning and the lotion at night (or whenever I have time through the day). I like that the lotion isn’t too thick or heavy and I have found that it has strengthened my cuticles. I have used it with polish on but prefer to use it without polish. I only have been using the travel/ sample size and it’s been working well. After I finish the sample size, I will see about investing in the full size, I’ll keep you posted.

Hair Drying Bow– Another beauty product for you this week, I shower at night and try to have my hair fully or mostly dry before bed. I got this hair drying bow and I have been using almost every day. I like how it absorbs the water in my hair after I’m done washing it. There are also essential oils infused in the wrap which leaves my hair smelling good too. Plus, it doubles has a headband which holds my hair back if I’m doing things before bed like reading or watching tv. I think I got this one from Marshall’s or T.J. Maxx, but I have seen ones similar at those stores and Target and Walmart. It’s a fun beauty accessory that has a purpose.

Rice Cakes– I know I am late to the game with this snack item, but I recently discovered Rice Cakes and I have really enjoyed them as a lunch snack. They aren’t super flavorful, so I typically add a spread on top. Since I have been eating them at lunch when I am home, I have been spreading some peanut butter and my homemade strawberry jam on top. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty and low calorie too! I know people eat them for breakfast a lot or even as a snack. Since I am new to the rice cake group, tell me, if you are a fan, what do you eat them with? What’s your go-to spread and flavor? I’m open to trying everything!

An easy go-to lunch or snack!

Ear Bud Cleaning Kit– Whether you have Air Pods, Wireless headphones or even regular ear buds, a cleaning kit is a huge help. I got this ear bud cleaning kit a few months back and it has all the tools to clean out headphones, earpieces, even smart watches. There are so many different brushes, fine toothpicks, and other items to really give your headsets a good cleaning. I wear an earpiece for work every day and use some of these tools to clean them out. I have done a thorough cleaning of my Apple Watch and its band and used some of the tools as well. If you use headphones daily, I highly recommend getting a little tool kit to keep things clean. 

A must need for headphones or earbuds!

Sunday Scroll– I mentioned before how I have really been enjoying following some of my favorite bloggers and writers on Substack. It’s a writing platform that has brought me so much joy to read posts from some of my favorite people! Emily Ley recently launched a Sunday Scroll series where she shares some of her favorite books, links, articles, and favorite things. You can learn more here. It only takes a few minutes to read, but it’s been fun to learn new things and find new items. Definitely a light read/ scroll during the weekend.

This week has been a fun one with lots of fun favorites too! I hope you have a great weekend! See you back here on Wednesday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #57

Happy Friday Friends and Happy September!

Even though we are in a month associated with fall, I’m holding onto summer for as long as I can. I hope you have something fun planned for Labor Day weekend and the end of the summer season. This weekend, I plan on spending time outside, getting in some pool time and some family time too.

Soaking up summer with every last ice cream!

Before we get to the weekend, I want to share some things I’m loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea for another edition of Friday Favorites.

Becoming Free Indeed– A few months ago, I mentioned I am trying out Audible for a free trial and one of the first books I listened to was “Becoming Free Indeed” by Jinger Vuolo. I grew up watching Jinger Vuolo on 19 Kids and Counting and I have continued to follow her after the show ended. I was interested to read her book about her faith and life and decided to listen to the audiobook version to hear it read in her voice. Through the book, she mostly focuses on her faith and how her relationship with God has changed through her life. She doesn’t focus too much about her family or the drama that has surrounded them in recent years. Overall, I thought it was interesting to hear her perspective about her faith and relationship with God. 

Brown Flats– I got my first taste of fall with this purchase. I was on the hunt for some sturdy but fashionable flats and found them at DSW, they are by Kelly and Katie. I love the extra cushion and support they provide, plus the dark brown allows them to go with dress pants, skirts, and even jeans. Plus, the gold buckle is such a cute accessory. These shoes and fall fashion will make saying goodbye to summer a little less painful.

Katie Couric’s Wake Up Call Newsletter– This isn’t new, but this is something I use every day and wanted to share. One of the first things I do when I get up is check the top news headlines. I get them from various apps and sources, from my local news app, to USA Today, Twitter (X), and then Katie Couric’s Wakeup newsletter that gets sent into my inbox every morning. It covers national and world headlines along with some entertainment news and then some features. It takes only a few minutes to read, but it brings me up to speed every day. You can learn more and subscribe here, definitely a great source if you are looking to get a comprehensive scope of news.

A look at the newsletter

The Morning Show Season 3 Trailer- The new season of the Morning Show begins this month. I’m excited for this upcoming season especially after seeing the trailer that was released last week. It looks like this season will be filled with drama, a cyber attack, some new faces and a lot of morning news. It’s been interesting to see how the show has evolved and changed since its begun and how it brings in what’s going on in the world into the show. I’m excited for some new shows to watch!

Laundry Crystals– Call me crazy, but I love doing laundry. I always like to stay on top of laundry with six people and I’m always interested to see what things are out there to keep my clothes fresh. I have been using these Purex laundry crystals in my washer to keep my clothes fresh. I have used the Unstoppables brand in the past too and have enjoyed how they keep my clothes smelling fresh. They are just a little something extra that keeps my clothes smelling fresh after a wash.

There you have it, a look into some of my favorite and sometimes practical things that I am loving this. As we say hello to September, what things are you looking forward to this month? Let me know in the comments below! I hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable Labor Day weekend!