Things I’m Loving Friday #416

Hey friends! How are you doing? Did you have a good week? Ours was business as usual over here along with some house-related meetings peppered in the mix. The big decision this week was related to our countertops. We’re going with a stained wood island and white cabinets in our kitchen and wanted something neutral and simple but with a little interest. I’m 95 percent sure we settled on this beauty:

We’ll also be using this as a slab-style backsplash because I am all about eliminating as much grout as possible in the kitchen for easy cleaning/cooking messes. I also love that the above slab will add some elements of movement to the kitchen through the faux-veining. (We’re going with quartz rather than marble because we want a low maintenance kitchen.)

As for our weekend plans, they’re currently up in the air! I am sure I’ll fill you guys in on whatever we get up to over the weekend next week but until then, scroll down for this week’s roundup of Things I’m Loving Friday favs!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Feedly App (For Blog Reading)

A couple of months ago, when my phone bit the dust and I had to get a new one, I tried to update my new phone with my apps and the Bloglovin’ app I’ve used to read my favorite blogs for years would no longer update. I was so bummed! I quickly realized reading a personal blog is something that brings me joy every day in a way I don’t get from following the exact same bloggers on social media so I set out to find a replacement ASAP. Enter Feedly!

Feedly makes it easy to subscribe to my favorite blogs all in one spot and I am already taking advantage of the ability to save and categorize blog posts so I can easily go back and read the posts that jumped out at me when I am looking for specific recipes, book recommendations, etc. Also, I especially love using Feedly to subscribe to blogs that are not updated on a consistent basis because I know I’ll always see the latest updates from my favorite bloggers even if several weeks (or months or years!) go by between blog posts. I highly recommend it if you’re an avid blog reader like me!

• Crayola IDEAWorks

(Bodysuit: LUSH via Stitch Fix / Sandals: Amazon / Jeans: Old Navy)

Last night was so special! I had some one-on-one time with Chase and since he’s the child I struggle to find pockets of solo time with the most because he’s in school the longest every day, I was really looking forward to our time together! We ventured out to Crayola IDEAWorks at Camp North End for their media night and it was the most engaging experience that totally captivated Chase! It’s an interactive experience that’s a little hard to describe to be honest. We were given wristbands to scan at various stations to earn badges and learn more about our creative minds. Experiences ranged from mixing paint colors on a screen to virtually paint a car, house and shoes to creating products, drawing and coloring, building forts and more. It is an event that seems geared toward older children (they say four and up but I think even 4-year-olds might be a little young to get the most out of it) and when we left Chase asked if we could go back today! Clearly he had a blast and I was grateful for some special time with my biggest kid.

• Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

My rating: A-

You know I cannot stay away from Christina Lauren novels for long! After a super-short break, I found my way back to one of my favorite author duo’s novels this week and devoured Twice in a Blue Moon in a flash. It had all the elements of a Christina Lauren novel that I’ve come to expect and love: Light enough to feel like an escape, romantic without being cheesy and a creative storyline that easily held my attention the entire time.

About Twice in a Blue Moon: Tate Jones is the long-lost daughter of the most famous actor on the planet. Following a scandal, Tate is whisked away to a small town where she is raised in a place where no one other than her best friend knows her true identity until she reveals it to her first love during a whirlwind vacation in London. When her secret is revealed to the media, she is livid and her heartbreak and anger come flooding back when she runs into her first love on the set of a movie she’s set to star in 14 years later.

• Play Date with Lexi (from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen!)

Yesterday afternoon the boys and I had plans to meet up with Lexi and her adorable daughter at a local park! I’ve been blog/Instagram buddies with Lexi for years and connecting with her in person was such a treat! (She’s the mastermind behind one of our family’s all-time favorite recipes and one I’ve recommended on PBF a million times. You have to try her Paleo Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli if you haven’t already!)

Lexi is just as great in person as she is online and we had such a great time chatting a mile a minute while the kids played. Blogging is a weird job that can feel misunderstood and most communication with fellow bloggers is done via phone (texts, DMs) so the chance to talk to a blogging friend I respect so much in person is always such a treat!

• Friday Flashbacks

Favorite Toddler Muffin Recipes (I’ve become a muffin-making machine since having kids and these are some of our boys’ favorites)

10 Outdoor Activities To Do With Kids (We live outside this time of year and these are some of our favorite ways to make the most of our time outdoors with the boys.)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you’re loving this week?