Things I’m Loving Friday: #549

Hello from Florida (yes, again)! Ryan, the boys, Pepper and I high-tailed it to Jacksonville Beach after school on Thursday for a few days in Florida. Our time in Florida is going to be a bit of a whirlwind. Ryan and I are leaving the boys with my parents tomorrow and will make the four-hour drive to Boca to spend Saturday night with our college friends in support of our close friends’ annual fundraiser for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. It’s a cause that’s incredibly important to us as we come together to remember their perfect son and if you happen to be in the area and would like to join us, we’d love to meet you and support this worthy cause together.

Then, on Sunday, we’ll drive back to Jacksonville Beach to spend the day with my family and celebrate my 40th birthday. Yep, the big 4-0! I can’t believe it but, in another breath, I can and I’m feeling grateful for 40 years.

Before signing off for the weekend, I wanted to share a roundup of a few small things I’m loving this week in true Things I’m Loving Friday style. Keep on scrolling if you’d like to check them out and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Carry-On Bag/Beach Bag

(Carry-on bag: Amazon / Matching set: Amazon / Sneakers: New Balance / Carry-on Suitcase: Samsonite)

What a gem of a bag!! I ordered this bag when I was looking to consolidate our stuff prior to our trip to Sarasota. I wanted one bag I could use for just about everything from a carry-on bag to a beach bag. I am such a sucker for pink + orange/red together and when I saw this bright striped bag on Amazon, it called to me because it felt so joyful and happy! (It also comes in many additional patterns and colors.) The bag ended up far exceeding my expectations for a myriad of reasons. Not only is it waterproof, but it’s also quite large so it holds a ton… BUT it has so many interior and exterior pockets you can use to organize your stuff that it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Also, it has a zipper closure on top which I especially appreciated when using it as a carry-on bag.

• Clear Backpacks for Travel

These clear backpacks have been so helpful for our boys for travel. I am someone who can get overstimulated by too much stuff, especially when it comes to too much stuff hidden in the abyss of a giant bag. I maaay have been projecting this onto our kids when I ordered them these backpacks but I liked the idea of a slightly smaller backpack (one our 4-year-old could carry himself) and the clear style of the backpack has been so helpful when it comes to the boys easily locating whatever travel entertainment thing they’re after in their bags. The front pouch is big enough to hold whatever snacks I packed for them for the flight and then the back section is filled with our go-to travel toys, games, books, etc.

• The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang

Genre: Historical Fiction / My rating: A-

After seeing Gina so highly recommend The Lotus Shoes, I added it to my library holds list and dove in when it became available earlier this week. The book follows Little Flower who, as a young child, is sold as a maidservant (muizai) to Linjing, a daughter of a prominent family. Little Flower believes her bound feet, something virtually unheard of for a muizai, and her extraordinary talent for embroidery, a skill typically reserved for high-class ladies, will help her one day marry out of her role as a muizai. Only Lingjing has other plans as she comes to realize what an asset she has in Little Flower as her muizai. What follows is a story of two women whose lives are deeply entwined and filled with heartache, jealousy, betrayal and moments that absolutely shattered my heart. The book captivated me from start to finish as it is filled with no shortage of drama, intrigue and even unexpected suspense at times. As a fan of historical fiction, I also found it fascinating and heartbreaking to learn more about Imperial China in the 1800s and think those with a love of historical fiction would enjoy this book very much.

• Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Genre: Romance / My rating: B+

I enjoy most of Ali Hazelwood’s steamy romance reads due, in large part, to the way she sprinkles a bit of science and academia into the mix in a way that feels unique to romance novels. Are they super believable? Not really. Are they fun to read and great escape novels? Absolutely. Not In Love follows Rue Siebert and Eli Killgore, two people who met up one night for a mutually agreed upon hookup that never happened (despite their intense mutual attraction), only to run into each other the following morning at Kline, Rue’s workplace where she works as a biotech engineer. Rue’s job is one she loves, and one she’s worked hard to secure, and when she learns Eli’s company is in the throws of a hostile takeover of Kline, she’s immediately knows whatever attraction she felt toward Eli the night before is something she can never act on out of loyalty to her boss and close friend. But that’s easier said than done when Eli and Rue continue to be forced together and forced to reckon with their growing attraction… and the steadfast loyalty they both feel toward their jobs and the people around them.

• Friday Flashbacks

Thoughts on Four (I received a few DMs on Instagram when I mentioned my sister is pregnant with baby #4 asking me whether or not we’re still considering another baby. The very, very short answer is no. We’re almost certainly done having children but that doesn’t meant this was an easy decision for us to reach. So many of the thoughts I had two years ago that I shared in this past blog post still ring very true for me.)

Arugula and Beet Salad (The salad I made most often last year! Excited salad season is upon us again!)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you’re loving this week?