Hello mates!!! How are ya? How was your week? We’re particularly psyched for in the present day as a result of Ryan returns! He’s been in India for work since final Thursday (he left the day after we acquired again from Disney — ooph!) and we’ve missed him tons. The 16.5-hour time distinction won’t ever not blow my thoughts after we talk throughout his travels to India (he’s mainly residing a full day forward of us and goes to mattress quickly after we get up) however fortunately we’re nonetheless in a position to chat twice a day.

The boys acquired it of their head that they wish to make him a welcome house cake (he doesn’t arrive house till after they’re in mattress tonight) so baking a sprinkle cake is on our agenda for in the present day, in addition to normal Friday college commitments and martial arts.

As for the weekend forward, I’ve plans to have fun a good friend’s birthday after which Ryan and I’ve a double date deliberate with one in all his childhood mates and his spouse who might be in Charlotte for the weekend. It needs to be a very good one and we’re actually glad we’ll all be again collectively once more!

I hope you’ve an exquisite weekend, my mates, and luxuriate in my first roundup of Friday favorites in 2025!

Issues I’m Loving Friday

eucalyptus shower sprayeucalyptus shower spray

This bathe spray is a kind of easy luxuries that makes me really feel so extremely pampered and relaxed. I like a sizzling, steamy bathe this time of 12 months and a few sprays of this eucalyptus oil bathe spray because the steam in my bathe begins to build up makes my complete bathe really feel like a high-end spa. Whereas a number of totally different oil/scent choices can be found (all made with 100% pure important oils), the eucalyptus is essentially the most spa-like for me and transports me again to the unbelievable spa expertise I had in Las Vegas final 12 months. It’s the definition of a little indulgence = huge happiness “modest splurge” for me!

Final weekend, after Rhett went to mattress, since Ryan was in India, the large youngsters and I had a “sneaky sleepover” in my mattress and cuddled as much as (lastly!) watch stream the film Depraved collectively! I believed the film may be a little bit an excessive amount of for Rhett however the huge youngsters had been actually curious about watching it with me after listening to the soundtrack and listening to me clarify the plotline I remembered from the musical I liked a lot.

I’m positive that is no shock to fellow Depraved fanatics on the market, however I believed the film was unbelievable!!! I’m so glad I used to be lastly in a position to see it and had a lot enjoyable singing alongside to the songs (a perk of streaming it in mattress) and Chase and Ryder acquired actually into it as nicely. We’ve been taking part in the soundtrack continuous at house once more all week lengthy and all of us get a little bit too excited when “Defying Gravity,” “Widespread” or “What Is This Feeling?” come on. Additionally, the “It’s me… It’s MEEEEEE” half!? Chills everytime.

My ranking: B / Style: Romance 

There may be a lot I favored about this e book: A peek into the screenwriting trade. (<– My favourite facet of the e book!) A susceptible, uncooked and intriguing foremost character. Snicker-out-loud dialog. Stunning and memorable writing. However there one foremost factor that held me again from completely loving this (steamy!) e book: It was irritating. I’m all for will-they-won’t-they plotlines between characters and whereas this one was very emotionally fraught and complicated in a approach I haven’t learn in different novels earlier than, it felt very drawn out (particularly within the second half of the e book) and went on a little bit too lengthy for me to take pleasure in. The e book wasn’t loopy lengthy nevertheless it felt just like the creator actually tried to squeeze each final morsel out of the principle character’s battle to embrace love. I understand that is very possible real looking within the “actual world” nevertheless it detracted from my general enjoyment of the novel and the way in which I felt about the principle character general.

From Amazon: 

Helen Zhang hasn’t seen Grant Shepard as soon as within the 13 years since the tragic accident that certain their lives collectively ceaselessly.

Now a bestselling creator, Helen pours all the pieces into her profession. She’s even scored a coveted spot within the writers’ room of the TV adaptation of her widespread younger grownup novels, and if she will be able to cover her imposter syndrome and overcome her author’s block, absolutely the remainder of her life will fall into place too. LA is the recent begin she wants. In any case, nobody is aware of her there. Besides…

Grant has achieved all the pieces in his energy to maneuver on from the previous, together with constructing a life throughout the nation. And whereas the panic assaults have by no means fairly gone away, he’s nicely favored round city as a screenwriter. He is aware of he shouldn’t have taken the job on Helen’s present, however it’ll open doorways to growing his personal tasks that he simply can’t cross up.

Grant’s precisely as Helen remembers him—charming, humorous, widespread, and lovable in ways in which she’s by no means been. And Helen’s precisely as Grant remembers too—sensible, stunning, closed off. However working collectively is messy, and electrifying, and Helen’s dad and mom, who’ve by no means forgiven Grant, do not know he’s within the image in any respect.

When secrets and techniques come to mild, they need to reckon with the truth that theirs was by no means meant to be any sort of love story. And but… the key to creating peace with their previous—and themselves—would possibly simply lie in holding on to one another within the current.

It’s the ultimate roundup of Prime 10 weblog posts + favorites in 2024!

Prime 10 Weblog Posts

Your Prime Favorites

december 2024 best sellersdecember 2024 best sellers

 

last minute disney vacationlast minute disney vacation

On Instagram, I acquired a handful of messages asking me for Disney attire + different hyperlinks throughout our Disney journey however I wasn’t the very best about responding to DMs in real-time whereas we had been within the parks. I apologize for the delay however in the present day I’m going to do my finest to tack what I keep in mind folks asking about onto the tip of this weblog submit under.

Since our journey was so final minute, I did a Goal pick-up order the day we booked our journey for Mickey tees for the boys and one for me however all the pieces else was stuff we had from final 12 months that we re-wore or had been in a position to cross down from child to child. (I’ve liked the children’ Disney attire from GAP, Hole Manufacturing unit and H&M essentially the most for those who’re in a position to store forward!)

double bob strollerdouble bob stroller

BOB Double Stroller: Value each dang penny. We’ve had ours since Ryder was a child (6+ years in the past) and have taken it all over. It’s a monstrosity, sure, nevertheless it’s the very best dang stroller we’ve even owned by one million miles. It holds a ton (we added this Amazon handlebar attachment for water bottles and quick access snacks — it’s approach higher and greater than the one offered by BOB) and it’s snug for the boys and simple to push for the adults, even after we max it out with three youngsters (one within the “soar seat” which isn’t a seat in any respect however in some way nonetheless works to carry one in all our youngsters in a pinch). LOVE it and would extremely suggest it one million occasions over to these with two (and even three!) youngsters!

millenium falcon ride chase juliemillenium falcon ride chase julie

Epcot Cosmic Rewind reviewEpcot Cosmic Rewind review

On Julie: Pink Mickey Lengthy-Sleeve Prime / Goal White Mickey Tee / Minnie Ears / New Stability Sneakers (ceaselessly my favourite for many strolling!) / Pink + Pink Coronary heart Beanie / Garmin Lily 2 Watch (I owe you guys an replace on this one — I LOVE IT.)

Star Wars Hollywood Studios Ryan Chase RyderStar Wars Hollywood Studios Ryan Chase Ryder

On Ryan: Inexperienced Mickey Tee / Goofy Film Tee

On Chase (9yo): Goal Grey Mickey Tee / Goal Tan Mickey Tee with Pink Embroidered “Mickey”

On Ryder (6yo): Goal Grey Mickey Tee / Pink and White Mickey Baseball Shirt (GAP from final 12 months)

On Rhett (4yo): Goal Inexperienced Classic-Impressed Mickey Tee / Goal Numerous Mickeys Tee / Mickey Socks (GAP from final 12 months they usually’re not obtainable anymore however they do have Minnie socks!) / Mickey Pajamas

Southwest Shrimp Soup (The pics from this 2014 recipe lastly acquired a little bit refresh! It’s nonetheless a big-time winner, particularly for those who’re in search of a protein- and veggie-packed recipe.)

southwest shrimp soupsouthwest shrimp soup

Breakfast Meal Prep Recipes (For anybody else as soon as once more hopping on the meal prep prepare!)

Breakfast Meal Prep RecipesBreakfast Meal Prep Recipes

Query of the Day

What’s one factor you’re loving this week? 

What’s one factor you’re trying ahead to in 2025?