Things I’m Loving Friday #445

Hey friends! How are you? How was your week? This week absolutely FLEW by for me due, in large part, to the fact that it felt like we hit the ground running with no downtime after last weekend’s race. Thank you guys for your kind comments and support on my Half Ironman race recap post, especially those regarding my dad. Your prayers mean more to our family than you realize and I continue to be so moved by your kindness toward our family. Thank you, thank you!

As far as the weekend ahead, we’ll be filling our days with soccer (Chase has a game tonight and a make-up game tomorrow afternoon), fall fun (pumpkin carving?) and a trunk-or-treat event at Rhett and Ryder’s preschool. Anyone else feel like there are a million Halloween-related events this time of year? I swear by the time Halloween actually arrives our kids will have worn 5,000 different costumes from our costume bins in addition to their “real” costumes from this year.

I hope to have a recap to share with all of you on Monday but until then, keep on scrolling to see my weekly roundup of favs, Things I’m Loving Friday style!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Half Ironman Swim Photo

I stumbled upon the coolest photo from last weekend’s Half Ironman swim and just had to share it here. It was taken by @kevincolliecreative and captured the curves and organized chaos of the first part of the swim course so well. See those tiny dots waaay out on the right side of the course? One of those is very likely me with my head up unsure where the heck I was going. Haha!

• ELEMIS Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm

Consider me influenced! I think every influencer on the planet has talked about ELEMIS at some point but it wasn’t until last week’s Prime Day preview sale that I figured it was worth a try and ordered one to try for myself. What finally convinced me? The application process just sounded so unique. To use this cleansing balm, you rub it all over your face and then use a damp towel to wipe your makeup and the dirt of the day away. The whole process sounded oddly luxurious and relaxing and I’m happy to report that using this cleansing balm at the end of the day feels nourishing, hydrating and lovely. Applying the balm feels almost spa-like and as someone who finds washing my face kind of tedious, it’s nice to have a product on hand that I genuinely look forward to using at the end of the day. I still prefer my regular cleanser in the shower (this one or this one) but have been loving this for washing my face at the end of the day.

• Ultra Mini UGGs

(Hoodie: Amazon — the same one I blogged about in tan last month. I’ve been wearing it so much that I ordered it in gray, too. / Hat: Nike / Leggings: Lululemon Align Super High Rise / Boots: UGGs / Bag: Target — sells out a lot but it’s restocked often!) 

I bought my Ultra Mini UGGs last winter and they are my go-to cold weather shoe right now. They have a lower profile I adore but still have the cozy warmth of traditional UGGs on my feet. I think they’re more flattering on my legs (traditional UGGs give me cankle vibes) and I reach for them non-stop when the weather gets cold. They sell out all the time but are currently in stock in most sizes here! I have the chestnut color.

• The First Mistake by Sandie Jones

My rating: B+ 

My propensity to gravitate toward mystery + suspenseful audiobooks lives on with my latest audiobook find! I listened The First Mistake by Sandie Jones through the Libby app (highly recommend this app for access to free books through your local library) and it was the kind of book that kept me guessing until the very end. While I figured out certain twists in the book I didn’t find it overly predictable and enjoyed the creative plotline.

From Amazon: 

THE WIFE: For Alice, life has never been better. With her second husband, she has a successful business, two children, and a beautiful house.

HER HUSBAND: Alice knows that life could have been different if her first husband had lived, but Nathan’s arrival into her life gave her back the happiness she craved.

HER BEST FRIEND: Through the ups and downs of life, from celebratory nights out to comforting each other through loss, Alice knows that with her best friend Beth by her side, they can survive anything together. So when Nathan starts acting strangely, Alice turns to Beth for help. But soon, Alice begins to wonder whether her trust has been misplaced . . .

• Friday Flashbacks

Egg White Oatmeal Protein Pancakes (I made this recipe for an afternoon snack twice this week. An oldie but a goodie.)

A to Z Family Workout (A fun way to get the whole family moving! Let your little ones yell out a letter and do this one all out of order!)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you’re loving this week?