Things I’m Loving Friday #477

Hello from the Sunshine State! Florida certainly has delivered on the sunny weather front and our boys are sporting summer tans, sun-kissed cheeks and salty hair non-stop. Our kids love Florida year-round but Florida in the summer is something special for our beach and pool-loving kids. We’ve been soaking up all the family time we can lately and the extended time we spend in Florida in the summer is something we look forward to all year!

Today will be an extra-special day for our family because Chase turns 8 years old tomorrow and we’re kicking off his birthday celebrations with a family farm day today! Hopefully he’ll enjoy a day of farm animals, wagon rides, bounce houses, pony rides and outside playtime!

I hope to share more on the blog next week but until then, keep on scrolling for this week’s roundup of Friday favorites! Enjoy your weekend, my friends!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Beach + Pool Days

The pool and the beach are two of our boys’ favorite places to be and with temperatures that make you feel like you’re on the surface of the sun, water-based activities reign supreme during our summertime Florida visits! We’ve spent countless hours in the sun, sand and surf and it’s been a blast. It’s fun to see what appeals to each of the boys; Chase loves nothing more than catching little fish, crabs and other creatures in the tide pools, Rhett loves making “drip drop castles” in the sand and Ryder is all about swimming in the pool for hours. Even Pepper got in on the beach action during the dog-friendly early morning hours on Jax Beach!

• Seamless Racerback Tanks

Sometimes taking a gamble on apparel with minimal reviews pays off! That certainly was the case with this three-pack of seamless tanks I ordered on Amazon. Though there were only 24 reviews, they were great and most mentioned the crazy-soft fabric and comfort level of the tanks. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was looking for a comfortable tank that could work for workouts, lounging and also look cute under jumpsuits, rompers and slouchy sweaters. I loved the ribbed look of the tanks and figured I should give them a shot. The minute I slipped one on, I was sold! They’re comfortable enough to sleep in (truly!) and I’ve been wearing them on repeat during our time in Florida. I keep checking back for a restock because I’m determined to nab the white and gray tanks to add to my collection, too. For those who also love the True & Co. racerback bra I previously mentioned, it works perfectly under these thanks! Also, for sizing reference, I ordered an XS/S and the size worked well for me. I have a very small chest so keep that in mind if you have a larger bust!

• Jeremiah’s Gelati

Ever since Jeremiah’s opened up near my parents’ place a few years ago, it’s a must-visit spot for us when we come to Jacksonville. It takes me and Ryan back to our college days when we’d visit the Jeremiah’s across the street from UCF on a weekly basis. You can’t go wrong with cookies ‘n’ cream, Scoop Froggy Frog (mint chocolate chip) or cotton candy mixed with their vanilla or swirl soft serve ice cream.

• The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

My rating: B- 

This book fell solidly in the “meh” category of novels for me. It’s the kind of book you continue reading because it’s interesting enough but it falls short in a lot of ways, most notably in the investment category. I never felt fully invested in the book and I think a lot of that had to do with the lack of character development and the fact that I never really cared about any of the characters in this book. They were all a little flat and the entire story felt surface-level but it had enough intrigue in it to keep me plugging along.

The book begins when three couples depart for Portugal for the wedding of Ali and Will. Rachel is married Jack, the groom-to-be’s brother and her long-time best friend Noah is married to her current best friend, Paige. Everyone is sharing a stunning villa as the big day approaches and while the trip should be perfection thanks to stunning views and long-time friendships, secrets quickly begin to emerge and questions arise that have the friends questioning everything, most notably each other.

• The Blame Game by Sandie Jones

My rating: B

I flip-flopped back and forth from reading The Blame Game at night to listening to the audiobook version during small pockets of time while multitasking during the daytime. It was a super fast read with lots of twists and turns up until the very end. I found it a little predictable at times and lacking in character development and believability but it was entertaining enough that I found myself looking for moments to pop in an ear bud or flip through a few pages before bed.

Naomi is a psychologist specializing in domestic abuse, a career she chose, in large part, due to her traumatic past. She cannot help but feel invested in her clients lives and their safety to the point that she occasionally oversteps and lines are blurred between her professional and personal lives. She soon finds herself offering the vacant flat she and her husband own to her client Jacob who desperately needs to leave his abusive wife. When Jacob goes missing, Naomi is confused and worried… and then she’s a suspect.

• Friday Flashbacks

Cinnamon Ice Cream (My favorite homemade ice cream recipe! The best served with warm oatmeal apple crisp!)

Where to Meet Mom Friends (Without family near us in North Carolina I don’t know what I’d do without the mom friends I met after Chase was born. They are a huge blessing in my life and this post details where/how I met most of them!)

Question of the Day

What is one thing making you smile this week?