Things I’m Loving Friday #544

Good morning and Happy Friday to YOU! How are you? How was your week? I’m home with all three boys again today (it’s a teacher workday at the big kids’ school + Rhett never has school on Fridays) and they’re psyched for a three day weekend. Our weekend plans are fairly clear with the exception of a soccer game for Chase tonight and the big phase one belt test he needs to pass to work toward earning his purple belt in martial arts on Saturday. I’ll try to snap some pictures because I realize it’s been a hot second since I’ve shared a weekend recap around here!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and for those of you who stopped by today to check out this week’s roundup of favorites, keep on scrolling!

Things I’m Loving Friday #544

• Satin Striped Pajamas

When it’s time for bed, I will occasionally grab sweats and a tee to sleep in but when I take the time to put on real pajamas — you know, the matching set + crazy comfy fabric kind of pajamas — it feels like a luxury, especially when I slip into them after a hot shower or a bubble bath. Over the past few years, I’ve found myself sleeping in “real” pajamas more and more often. And it feels like the easiest form of self care for myself at the end of a long day.

I ordered these striped satin pajamas back in September and adore them. They glide right over my skin and the material is the kind of super-silky material that feels amazing all year long. I even ordered a pair for my mom to wear. And sent them to her in a little post-surgery recovery package and she said she’s loving them as well. I sized up in the pajamas for both of us (I’m wearing a large) and was glad I did. I do not love pajamas that feel too tight anywhere on my body.

• Painterland Sisters Skyr Yogurt

There’s no shortage of high-protein yogurt options on the shelves at the grocery store these days. But so many of them are filled with ingredients I’m not crazy about. When I saw a new organic skyr yogurt pop up on the shelves at my local Publix, I flipped it around and was pleasantly surprised by an ingredient list I recognized and the high protein content. I added a few to my cart and have continued to buy them on repeat for the past two months. They’re incredibly creamy thanks to the 6% milkfat, sweet without tasting too sugary, and packed with billions of probiotics. I’m just hoping they’ll roll out more flavors (I’m dreaming of a coffee-flavored yogurt!). And also larger container sizes at my local Publix soon because I’m such a huge fan.

• 20% off ALOHA

Earlier this week, I shared a mega-haul of ALOHA finds I ordered off their website on Instagram when I panic-ordered a ton of their seasonal white chocolate peppermint protein bars after seeing they were no longer in stock on Amazon. They’re my absolute favorite protein bar — I eat one every single day — and I was worried I wouldn’t have them in my life until the holiday season later this year. After I shared a video of Rhett spending 30+ minutes playing with the boxes of protein bars I ordered, ALOHA sent me a DM and offered a 20% off discount to me that I can pass along to you guys should you be ALOHA fans or wish to try their products, too!

My favorite ALOHA bar flavors include white chocolate peppermint, chocolate mint, lemon cashew, oatmeal chocolate chip, maple sea salt and chocolate caramel pecan. These bars are far and away my favorite protein bars. The ingredient list is solid (nothing artificial) and they have a high amount of fiber in addition to protein. Which isn’t always easy to find in a protein bar. A bonus: Our boys like them, too!

• The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Genre: Historical fiction / My rating: A-

My gosh this book just about wrecked me. I was so morally conflicted the entire time I read this book. And was so stressed out and heartbroken. It was the kind of book I could not stop reading because I just had to find out what happened in the end. An important warning: This book has a LOT of trigger warnings (miscarriage, stillbirth, loss, grief, child-related trauma — all the things) and it honestly is not a book I would’ve read had I not gone into it blind based on the recommendation of a friend.

I downloaded it from my Libby app, started reading and got hooked. Even though it was fairly clear from the beginning that this one was going to be a hard one to get through. This book is beautifully written. And would be an incredible discussion book for a book club if your heart can handle it. Just be prepared to be wrestling with yourself the entire time, especially if anything involving children breaks you.

Synopsis

The Light Between Oceans follows Tom Sherbourne as he returns to Australia after four years serving on the Western Front. Tom accepts a job as lighthouse keeper on an isolated island called Janus Rock. And falls in love with a passionate, loving young woman named Isabel. The two marry and Isabel follows Tom to Janus Rock where they start a life together and pray for a baby. After multiple traumatic losses, they begin to wonder if a baby will ever happen for them when a boat washes ashore, carrying a dead man and a crying baby. Isabel is convinced the baby is the answer to their prayers. She begs Tom not to report the boat, the man and the baby. Tom is greatly conflicted but Isabel’s love for the baby is immediate, deep and strong. And Tom finds himself falling for the child, too.

After raising the baby as their own for two years, Tom and Isabel take her to the mainland to meet her grandparents and come face to face with the reality of their deception when they learn about a man and a baby who went missing years earlier, leaving behind a devastated wife and mother whose life has never been the same. The Light Between Oceans is a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss and impossible choices.

• One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

Genre: Mystery/Suspense / My rating: B-

Ruth Ware has a talent for writing books that immediately rope me in. The premise of One Perfect Couple is instantly captivating: Lyla, a scientist, and her actor boyfriend, Nico, are selected to be part of a reality TV show where couples compete against each other on a private and very remote island. Lyla only agrees to do the show to help Nico’s career. And assumes she’ll self-sabotage early on and return to her work. Only things do not go as planned. After the first couple’s challenge, tempers flare and a storm hits the island, cutting everyone off from the real world… and possibly their chance at survival.

Talk about a creative plot, right!? I was all-in on this book but my interest slowly began to temper off as the pages went on and on… and on. One Perfect Couple felt unnecessarily long. And didn’t really have a lot of mystery components that left me wondering how things would turn out. There was really only one part of the book I didn’t figure out on my own. But it all felt fairly predictable. And I missed the need to use my super-sleuth abilities to figure this one out. I’d opt for other Ruth Ware novels over this one if you’re new to this author’s work. (If you’re looking for a place to start, I really enjoyed One by One and The Death of Mrs. Westaway.)

• Friday Flashbacks

Recent Beauty Favorites (A collection of beauty finds I have and love)

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Chicken Curry (High protein and veggie-packed!)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you’re loving this week?