5 Friday Favorites: July 16, 2021

 

 It's time for my Friday link up with A Little Bit of Everything and Momfessionals. 

On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick.

Hello from somewhere in the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia! I continue to live out of a suitcase this summer while we shuttle the kid around the country to watch him play baseball. I have never been to this area so I'm excited to explore it during the hours that I'm not sweating my tail off in the bleachers. I was told that there is a Gone with the Wind Museum here which thrills me to pieces. I'm also informed that the Coca-Cola factory offers tours where I can go to express my undying gratitude for the production of Diet Coke. Then the employees can thank me for their salaries and health insurance. My traveling companions do not seem to share my excitement for these two destinations, so those might be solo adventures for me. In any event, I continue to embrace the post-Covid world by traveling to as many places as I can and smiling at all the people without my mask. 

The best part of road trips is that sometimes you find out that your journey will be taking you directly through a town where someone you love lives. Sometimes it's your very own son who is just trying to live his life without his mother texting him that she's afraid he's not eating enough these days and she'll be there shortly to take him out for a steak. ;-)  The best part of this week was getting to stop over in Knoxville for a quick visit and dinner with Kyle and his girlfriend. Pause for a cute picture of my Wednesday night dinner dates. 

Now, I've got to hustle because I'm off to the ball park in a few minutes. Here are some of my other favorite things from this week.

1. Tom Brown's Body Podcast

When you've been on as many road trips as I have this summer you're in need of something to keep you going. This podcast is a really good one. Skip Hollandsworth of Texas Monthly goes to Canadian, Texas to investigate the 2016 disappearance of a popular teenager. It's not an uplifting story, but Hollandsworth handles his interviews with the townspeople with compassion and kindness. It's great storytelling and will keep you occupied while you sit in traffic.

2. A Couple of Books for In-Between Games

Stephen King's memoir, On Writing, is listed on just about every single "Best Books for Writers" list I have ever seen. I've had it on my "To Read" list forever and was lucky recently when my friend, Rob, gave me a copy. I've not read a word of any of King's novels, but this is a really interesting look at his early career and writing process. Of course, I could never expect to write like the brilliant master that King is, but he gives some very useful, practical advice to us non-geniuses. He's also pretty darn funny. I'm loving this read.

Also, just keeping with the Atlanta theme, if you have never read Gone with the Wind, you must. It is in my top ten books of all time. It's intimidating because it's long, but it's an incredible novel. The movie was amazing, of course, but there is so much more to the book.  

3. Knox Rose Eyelet Top

I love a white top for the summer and this Knox Rose White Eyelet Top from Target is so pretty. It's lined and also comes in navy, yellow, and red. 

4. Essentials for Living with a 16 Year Old Sweaty Human in a Small Space for an Extended Period of Time

If you're going to be living in a Courtyard Marriott for a week - especially with a 16 year old who has been playing baseball in the heat - you're going to need to plan for it. There are a few things I've learned are helpful for this life. 

If you've read here long enough, you know that I love candles and seem to buy a new one every week. I'm not sure how the hotel would feel about me burning a candle in the room though, especially as I have a tendency to forget I lit one. The Capri Blue Volcano candle is the GOAT of all candles, but in the interest of not being implicated in an arson situation by the Marriott Corporation, I think a room spray is a better idea. Luckily, there is now a  Capri Blue Room Spray which might just be the key to Drew and me living in harmony this week.

Another idea is to put these Diva Glamorous Sachets in the drawers, bed, and even in your son's suitcase or catcher's equipment bag. I've expressed my undying love for the laundry detergent and these sachets have the same amazing scent. Does my 16 year old athlete want to smell like something called Diva Glamorous? Perhaps, not. Do I think his teammates would actually appreciate it? I do.

A less expensive option is your good ol' Glade Plug-in. I like the Clean Linen scent.

5. A Fun Graphic T-Shirt

Some of the people I follow on Instagram are in Nantucket and Cape Cod and all manner of lovely beach resort-y places. They're wearing crisp linen pants and sweet sun dresses with light cardigan sweaters draped over their shoulders. Unfortunately, I would stroke out in the heat if I tried to sport that look here, never mind the fact that my white linen pants would have baseball dirt all over them. It's all tshirts and shorts all the time around here. 

I do not have this shirt, but my friend Christine posted it recently when she wore it to a basketball game and it cracked me right up. Unfortunately, I don't think I could pull this shirt off because my husband and son would take one look at me in it and say, "You are a stone-cold liar." 

Anyway, I am off right now to be a better version of myself. I will repeat this mantra today over and over again. I just hope both teams have fun. And maybe I just want my team to have a tiny bit more fun. Because you know what's fun? 

Winning. Winning is fun. 

Your prayers that the Holy Spirit will give me all the sportsmanship He can deliver are appreciated. Have a great weekend!

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