<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="0.91" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
        <title><![CDATA[Peanut Butter Fingers - Living a Life Fueled by Healthy Food and Fitness]]></title>
        <atom:link href="https://follow.it/peanut-butter-fingers-living-a-life-fueled-by-healthy-food-and-fitness/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
        <description>Follow Peanut Butter Fingers - Living a Life Fueled by Healthy Food and Fitness, filter it, and define how you want to receive the news (via Email, RSS, Telegram, WhatsApp etc.)</description>
        <link>https://follow.it/peanut-butter-fingers-living-a-life-fueled-by-healthy-food-and-fitness</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 14:55:30 +0200</lastBuildDate>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Things I’m Loving Friday #604]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07i9CVunQ0b_HkNufprwgocM?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/E9Rq6suQ3Cq75YcZ8KCR5GW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Things I’m Loving Friday #604" title="Things I’m Loving Friday #604"> <p id="top" />Friday is here and so are my parents!! Woop! Mae and Pop arrived in town yesterday and we are so thrilled to have them here for a quick visit. We were looking at our calendars and realizing that between travel and commitments, this was a weekend we all had free and it felt well-worth squeezing in a visit even if it had to be a short one. We have plans to attend a football game this evening, take the tube out on the lake on Saturday and just soak up time with two of our very favorite people in the world.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll share more on the blog next week but until then, keep on scrolling to see this week&#8217;s roundup of favorites! And to catch up on anything you may have missed on the blog and social media, feel free to check out my <a href="https://substack.com/@pbfingers/note/p-214556623?utm_source=notes-share-action&amp;r=1670u2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">weekly Substack newsletter: Sticky Notes</a>!</p>
<h2>Things I&#8217;m Loving Friday</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0sNsGKjEfLq" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pix Brix</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7105_vsco.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-214714 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7105_vsco-786x1024.jpg" alt="pix brix" width="390" height="508" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7105_vsco-786x1024.jpg 786w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7105_vsco-230x300.jpg 230w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7105_vsco-768x1000.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7105_vsco-1180x1536.jpg 1180w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7105_vsco.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 390px) 100vw, 390px" /></a></p>
<p>Hooray for open-ended play toys! <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0sNsGKjEfLq" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pix Brix</a> pixel puzzle bricks have been such a hit with all three of our boys ever since my mom gifted them to Ryder for his birthday. They&#8217;re exactly the kind of toy I love having in our house because toys that allow our boys to create, imagine and build are the kind of toys that get years and years of use. Pix Brix mini bricks allow the kids to make everything from animals and people to buildings, fun shapes, villages and more. They also come with an inspiration booklet kids can use as a launching point that directs them through building a few fun creations before their imaginations take over and they&#8217;re off creating their own mini masterpieces! (Note: They can be a little tricky for Rhett to take apart/break down himself so keep that in mind if you have a younger one you are considering gifting these to!)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0BevOUk7LSK" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Three-Speed Rechargable Frother</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7150_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-214909 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7150_vsco-830x1024.jpg" alt="3 speed rechargable frother" width="393" height="485" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7150_vsco-830x1024.jpg 830w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7150_vsco-243x300.jpg 243w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7150_vsco-768x948.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7150_vsco-1245x1536.jpg 1245w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7150_vsco.jpg 1621w" sizes="(max-width: 393px) 100vw, 393px" /></a></p>
<p>I&#8217;ve been through the frother wringer when it comes to finding the ideal frother to mix powders into my drinks. I have my milk frother dialed in (you cannot beat the SMEG frother for hot, foamy milk for lattes), but when it comes to mixing electrolyte powders, collagen, protein powders, etc. into water, milk or almond milk, frothers I&#8217;ve tried have either felt too fast, too slow or just right&#8230; but then they&#8217;ve died and completely stopped working within a couple of months. Enter <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0BevOUk7LSK" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">this Amazon beauty</a>! It&#8217;s rechargable (a necessity for me) and has THREE speeds which is what sold me on this one to begin with. The low speed is *chef&#8217;s kiss* for electrolyte powders while the medium is great for my matcha lattes and protein powders. It mixes without overmixing (anyone else annoyed when protein powders get almost fluffy!?) and I love it so much.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0wp7HooJb5F" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Cookie Club Cookbook</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7152_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-214917 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7152_vsco-768x1024.jpg" alt="cookie club cookbook" width="398" height="531" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7152_vsco-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7152_vsco-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7152_vsco-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7152_vsco.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p>I absolutely love checking out cookbooks from the library. It&#8217;s led me to discovering some of my very favorite cookbooks and also helps give me a feel as to whether or not it&#8217;s a cookbook I&#8217;d actually use before buying it for our home collection. I can confidently say <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0wp7HooJb5F" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Cookie Club</a> is a library find worth buying for me! When it came time to return this cookie cookbook, I knew I neede my own copy because we enjoyed every single cookie recipe we made!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7153_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-214918 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7153_vsco-768x1024.jpg" alt="cookie club cookbook review" width="398" height="531" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7153_vsco-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7153_vsco-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7153_vsco-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7153_vsco.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p>The photos are mouthwateringly stunning which always adds to a cookbook&#8217;s appeal but it also helps when the boys want to be involved because they definitely gravitate toward recipes based on visual appeal. And who can resist a delicious cookie photo!? A few recipes we&#8217;ve made and loved from this cookbook so far include the edible cookie dough (dangerously delicious), brown butter chocolate chip cookies, birthday cake cookies and sticky toffee pudding cookies.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>SIX the Musical Soundtrack</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/six-musical.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-214725 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/six-musical.png" alt="" width="449" height="335" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/six-musical.png 613w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/six-musical-300x224.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 449px) 100vw, 449px" /></a></p>
<p>I am SO excited!! My college friends and I are all getting together for a long weekend split between New York City and Connecticut next weekend and I cannot wait! Our time together is only all the better because we&#8217;re going to see SIX! the Musical on Broadway! I&#8217;ve been streaming songs from this musical for years and when we were looking for a show to see during our night in NYC, I suggested SIX! My friends were all on board and I could not be more thrilled because it&#8217;s a musical I&#8217;ve been dying to see. If any of you have seen it, how was it!? Tell me everythinggg!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0GLXlNgmFhB" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hello Stranger</a> by Katherine Center</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/hello-stranger-book.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-214720 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/hello-stranger-book.png" alt="" width="270" height="392" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/hello-stranger-book.png 511w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/hello-stranger-book-207x300.png 207w" sizes="(max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px" /></a></p>
<p><em>Genre: Contemporary Romance / My rating: B-</em></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">I typically adore Katherine Center&#8217;s romance novels and find them fun, funny and upbeat. Hello Stranger is a bit far-fetched but I don’t mind suspending my sense of belief for a romance novel, especially one with a unique premise (facial blindness is at the center of the plot). I enjoyed it enough to keep reading but not enough to highly recommend it. One important call-out: The author’s note in the back was my favorite part of the whole book and captured the way I feel about romance novels so well! Don&#8217;t skip it!!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Weekly Looks</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p>A quick snapshot of a few outfits I wore this week (and the end of last week)!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/96d88225-96b8-4d23-be18-a64260dbc334_vsco.jpg"><img loadi...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:00:33 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07i9CVunQ0b_HkNufprwgocM?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[A Fun Day Trip to Greensboro, NC with Kids]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jvdCluCEjZHYXPHda3dwWx?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/OaImqT-M1j0PTCxH1FjOvWW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="A Fun Day Trip to Greensboro, NC with Kids" title="A Fun Day Trip to Greensboro, NC with Kids"> <p id="top" />Hot on the heels of our one-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge, we took the boys on a day trip to Greensboro, North Carolina! (When you have non-refundable boarding arranged for your dog and your original travel plans fall through, you take full advantage!) I&#8217;ve had a trip to the Greensboro Science Center on my list of ideas for family field trips for a while now and when I mentioned it to Ryan, he suggested we make a full day of it and explore a little bit of Greensboro while we were in the area. The idea for a day trip to Greensboro was born!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7023_vsco-2.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-214194 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7023_vsco-2-768x1024.jpg" alt="day trip to greensboro nc" width="405" height="540" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7023_vsco-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7023_vsco-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7023_vsco-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7023_vsco-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px" /></a></p>
<p data-start="541" data-end="758">We&#8217;ve heard good things about Greensboro and some very quick last-minute research led us to believe it would be a fun destination for family day trip with plenty of kid-friendly activities to make the drive worthwhile.</p>
<p data-start="541" data-end="758">Here&#8217;s a quick preview of our day: We woke up early and arrived soon after the Greensboro Science Center opened. We spent the bulk of our time at the Greensboro Science Center but also made time for a lunch stop, a visit to a local pinball museum and a fun dessert treat before making the drive back home.</p>
<h2 data-section-id="cqb3ms" data-start="889" data-end="918">Day Trip to Greensboro, NC</h2>
<p data-start="920" data-end="966">The day we spent in Greensboro with our kids was really fun and the pace of our day felt relaxed and managable. I can easily see how sometimes there might be pressure to see and do all the things when planning a day trip somewhere new but we let go of anything too ambitious and centered our trip primarily around the Greensboro Science Center. Anything else we happened to see or do was a bonus!</p>
<h3 data-section-id="1vm7ad2" data-start="1200" data-end="1241">How Far Is Greensboro from Charlotte?</h3>
<p data-start="1243" data-end="1307">The drive to Greensboro from Charlotte is about an hour and 25 minutes. From the Lake Norman area, it takes just over 90 minutes to get to Greensboro. We drove to Greensboro on a Sunday morning which meant we encountered virtually no traffic and we headed home in the early evening so traffic was virtually non-existent then as well.</p>
<h2 data-section-id="cyfd69" data-start="1486" data-end="1522">Our Greensboro Day Trip Itinerary</h2>
<p data-start="1524" data-end="1632">Here&#8217;s a quick at-a-glance itinerary of our day trip to Greensboro with kids:</p>
<ul data-start="1644" data-end="1857">
<li data-section-id="wmfz43" data-start="1644" data-end="1674">Morning: Drive to Greensboro</li>
<li data-section-id="ahomej" data-start="1675" data-end="1740">Morning through early afternoon: Greensboro Science Center</li>
<li data-section-id="4s38ej" data-start="1741" data-end="1800">Lunch: Burgers and hot dogs at Emma Key&#8217;s</li>
<li data-section-id="1v3izdg" data-start="1801" data-end="1835">Afternoon: Greensboro Pinball Museum</li>
<li data-section-id="1ed2tgp" data-start="1836" data-end="1857">Afternoon Treat: Legend&#8217;s Ice Cream and Churros</li>
<li data-section-id="1ed2tgp" data-start="1836" data-end="1857">Late Afternoon: Drive back home</li>
</ul>
<h2 data-section-id="8fzgyq" data-start="1859" data-end="1887">Greensboro Science Center</h2>
<p data-start="1889" data-end="2102">The <a class="decorated-link" href="https://www.greensboroscience.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-start="1906" data-end="1969">Greensboro Science Center</a> was a MEGA hit with our family. It combines an aquarium, museum and zoo all in one which immediately made it appeal to our whole crew. We love animals, aquariums, exploring and interactive exhibits and had the best time at this hot spot! I would 100 percent recommend the Greensboro Science Center to anyone, especially families with children of all different ages. Our kids are 6, 8 and 11 and all loved it!)</p>
<h3 data-section-id="vv3pd9" data-start="2104" data-end="2155">Our Favorite Greensboro Science Center Exhibits</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Greensboro Science Center Outdoor Zoo</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="2157" data-end="2207">The first thing we did when we arrived at the Greensboro Science Center was make our way to the outdoor zoo.We were visiting on a hot day and knew checking the outdoors spots off our list first was the smartest choice to avoid the intense heat. What we did not expect was to stumble upon a large outdoor wooden play area which was the perfect spot to stop for some free playtime after a 90-minute drive. The Kiwanisaurus Treehouse Adventure is an ADA-accessible outdoor playground featuring four interconnected treehouses and four crow&#8217;s nests.</p>
<p data-start="2157" data-end="2207"><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7017-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-214202 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7017-1-768x1024.jpg" alt="greensboro science center" width="398" height="531" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7017-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7017-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7017-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7017-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p data-start="2157" data-end="2207">Our kids had a blast navigating bridges, nets, and hoops above lifesize dinosaur replicas. (Zip lining and ropes courses are also available in the outdoor zoo area and likely would&#8217;ve been a priority for us had our kids all been a little older.)</p>
<div class="n6owBd awi2gc" data-sfc-cp="" data-sfc-root="ep" data-hveid="CAIIAAgACBUQAw" data-complete="true" data-copy-service-computed-style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Noto Color Emoji&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);">
<div class="iqywt" role="list" data-sfc-root="ep" data-complete="true" data-copy-service-computed-style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Noto Color Emoji&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);"><!--TgQPHd|||[]--></div>
</div>
<p data-start="2157" data-end="2207">Of course the animals were a big highlight of the zoo portion of the Greensboro Science Center. We felt extra lucky because the cats within the zoo all seemed to be extra alert, playful and fun to watch when we were there. We had the best time observing the playful serval kittens that were born last spring. They reminded us so much of the pouncing, playful kittens we&#8217;ve been fostering lately but obviously much bigger. They had all of us cracking up!</p>
<p data-start="2157" data-end="2207"><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7011_vsco-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-214198 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7011_vsco-1-768x1024.jpg" alt="Greensboro Science Center Zoo" width="399" height="532" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7011_vsco-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7011_vsco-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7011_vsco-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7011_vsco-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li data-start="2157" data-end="2207">
<h3>Greensboro Science Center Aquarium</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p>As big-time lovers of marine life, we adore aquariums! The aquarium within the Greensboro Science Center was not massive by any means but it also wasn&#8217;t a tiny little place. It felt modern and clean and featured large tanks filled with vibrant fish, rays, sharks, octopus, sea horses and more! The boys thoroughly enjoyed the touch tanks and watching the penguin feeding.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7026.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-214178 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7026-768x1024.jpg" alt="greensboro aquarium" width="400" height="533" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7026-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7026-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7026-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7026.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Butterfly Garden</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7039_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-214164 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7039_vsco-768x1024.jpg" alt="greensboro with kids" width="397" height="529" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7039_vsco-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7039_vsco-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_7039_v...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:00:22 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jvdCluCEjZHYXPHda3dwWx?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[15 Great Wolf Lodge Tips for the Best Family Trip]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hI-pNq9BDtwki83i92uZvE?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/gvCWb0gHB1gQEYBBu_SHXmW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="15 Great Wolf Lodge Tips for the Best Family Trip" title="15 Great Wolf Lodge Tips for the Best Family Trip"> <p id="top" />
<div class="min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="62967aff-e97c-54ce-bb5e-7a302235b2a5" data-turn-start-message="true" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5.6-sol-wm">
<div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden">
<div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling">
<p data-start="249" data-end="764">When our original Labor Day weekend plans changed at the last minute, Ryan and I scrambled to put together a fun weekend for our family since we already had non-refundable boarding arranged for our dog and wanted to make the most of the time off. We tossed around a few options but the minute the words &#8220;Great Wolf Lodge&#8221; left our lips, the decision was all but made when our boys flipped out and said, &#8220;Yes! Yes! Yes!&#8221; As seasoned Great Wolf Lodge visitors (we&#8217;ve easily gone 7+ times at this point), Ryan and I knew enough to know that booking last minute is often the BEST way to book a stay at Great Wolf Lodge, assuming they have availability. And they did!</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="62967aff-e97c-54ce-bb5e-7a302235b2a5" data-turn-start-message="true" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5.6-sol-wm">
<div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden">
<div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling">
<h1 data-section-id="174x283" data-start="766" data-end="817">15 Great Wolf Lodge Tips for the Best Family Trip</h1>
<p data-start="249" data-end="764">We nabbed a room at the Concord, North Carolina location of Great Wolf Lodge for a fraction of the price of the typical room. When I mentioned this on Instagram, my DMs were very quickly flooded with requests for more Great Wolf Lodge tips we&#8217;ve come to learn over years of visits to this family-friendly hot spot! So that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re chatting about today: 15 Great Wolf Lodge Tips! These are the tips we&#8217;ve picked up on from trial and error, in-person experiences and years of visits with three boys ranging in age from babies under one year old to a tween who is now 11 years old.</p>
<p data-start="249" data-end="764"><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img_4794-1-e1701438010233.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-99160 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img_4794-1-e1701438010233-941x1024.jpg" alt="Great Wolf Lodge review" width="402" height="437" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img_4794-1-e1701438010233-941x1024.jpg 941w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img_4794-1-e1701438010233-276x300.jpg 276w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img_4794-1-e1701438010233-768x836.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img_4794-1-e1701438010233.jpg 1123w" sizes="(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px" /></a></p>
<p data-start="249" data-end="764">In case you&#8217;d like to check out a more in-depth review-style post with FAQs I&#8217;ve received about Great Wolf Lodge, this post may also be worth a read: <strong><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/great-wolf-lodge-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Great Wolf Lodge Review</a></strong></p>
<p data-start="249" data-end="764">Also worth noting: Our family was invited to Great Wolf Lodge for a media visit in the past but we’ve paid for our stay and returned to visit many, many times over on our own as well. This post is not sponsored or affiliated with GWL in any way and is an honest rundown of our experiences as repeat patrons of the Concord, NC location.</p>
<p data-start="249" data-end="764"><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_2289_vsco-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-101966 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_2289_vsco-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="Great Wolf lodge tips" width="628" height="471" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_2289_vsco-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_2289_vsco-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_2289_vsco-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_2289_vsco-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_2289_vsco-1.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /></a></p>
<h2 data-section-id="8sam5e" data-start="1338" data-end="1375">Great Wolf Lodge Tips for Families</h2>
<p data-start="1377" data-end="1498">When it comes to booking a stay at Great Wolf Lodge and making the most of your time at the resort, there are few things are worth mentioning that can make a big difference in both your family&#8217;s overall enjoyment of your time at Great Wolf Lodge as well the amount of money you spend or can potentially save.</p>
<p>Please note that the Great Wolf Lodge tips I am sharing below may be specific to the Concord, North Carolina location as that is the only location we have visited as a family, however there are lots of GWL locations all over the United States and many appear to be very similar.</p>
<h3 data-section-id="1hw0e7v" data-start="1500" data-end="1558">1. Look for a Great Wolf Lodge Discount Before Booking</h3>
<p data-start="1560" data-end="1566">This is my number one tip when it comes to saving money at Great Wolf Lodge! If you are flexible with the dates of your visit, certain times of year are more expensive than others and booking during an off-peak time will save you hundreds of dollars &#8212; truly!</p>
<p data-start="1560" data-end="1566">We&#8217;ve found the summer months and the holiday season to be the most expensive (but December is SO FUN because the lodge is transformed into a winter wonderland!) while January through March and September through November are typically the less expensive times of the year to visit. We&#8217;ve also had great luck booking discounted rooms at Great Wolf Lodge when we&#8217;ve booked at the last minute (48 hours or less before our stay).</p>
<p data-start="1560" data-end="1566">Additionally, Great Wolf Lodge is wonderful about offering a lot of seasonal sales and promotions we&#8217;ve found through their email lists as well as following them on Instagram.</p>
<h3 data-section-id="ax986e" data-start="1782" data-end="1822">2. Consider Visiting During the Week</h3>
<p data-start="1824" data-end="1935">If you have weekday availability, that&#8217;s often also where you can save the big bucks! Planning a trip to Great Wolf Lodge during the week or during non-holiday times of the year will help you snag lower prices and you&#8217;ll also enjoy the benefits of shorter lines and a less crowded water park.</p>
<h3 data-section-id="jmgimn" data-start="1937" data-end="1967">3. One Night May Be Enough</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/da65efbe-d342-4858-9c13-7495b2699055-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-101970 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/da65efbe-d342-4858-9c13-7495b2699055-1-673x1024.jpg" alt="" width="398" height="606" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/da65efbe-d342-4858-9c13-7495b2699055-1-673x1024.jpg 673w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/da65efbe-d342-4858-9c13-7495b2699055-1-197x300.jpg 197w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/da65efbe-d342-4858-9c13-7495b2699055-1-768x1168.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/da65efbe-d342-4858-9c13-7495b2699055-1-1010x1536.jpg 1010w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/da65efbe-d342-4858-9c13-7495b2699055-1.jpg 1315w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p>Our family has stayed at Great Wolf Lodge one night and two nights and, for our family, one night is our sweet spot. Why? We only live 30 minutes away, so it’s not a long journey to get to Great Wolf Lodge (it’s one of our favorite <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/day-trips-from-charlotte/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">day trips from Charlotte</a>) and, honestly, we don’t sleep great when we go. We stay up late because our kids want to take advantage of all the activities (like the 9 p.m. snowfall in the lodge during Snowland) and then they’re all up before 7 a.m. because they’re so excited to start the day.</p>
<p>Also worth noting: If rooms are available, Great Wolf Lodge will often roll out a super-discouted rates on a second night stay when you&#8217;re there. This has happened to us almost every time (except a couple of times during the holiday season) and we&#8217;ve been offered a second night stay for $150, so keep that in mind if you might be on the fence about extending your stay and have some flexibility. You can also often pay for a late checkout (2 p.m.) so you can leave our belongings in your room if you know you&#8217;ll want to go back and forth a lot which can be handy especially if you&#8217;re flip-flopping back and forth between the water park and other activities.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s how we maximize one night at Great Wolf Lodge: We arrive in the late afternoon on our arrival day so we can do the water park and a few activities on day one. Then we stay all the way up until dinner time on the second day and maximize the heck out of the water park and additional activities. During our most recent visit, after check out, we just locked our belongings in the car and went bac...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:21:52 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hI-pNq9BDtwki83i92uZvE?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Things I’m Loving Friday #603]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hBg0FTcDReANpYy2wYO37D?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/Hb7J9W-Tua2V9s_gVLQGaWW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Things I’m Loving Friday #603" title="Things I’m Loving Friday #603"> <p id="top" />Hello, hello! A three-day weekend us upon us and while our initial plans to head to the mountains with friends got postponed until October, Ryan and I threw together a last-minute plan for the weekend that should be a fun one. We grabbed a deal on a room at Great Wolf Lodge and also hope to tak the boys apple picking, as a handful of orchards in the area open this weekend. Do you guys have any plans for the next few days?</p>
<p>As for last week, all of our fall activities began so it was a little taste of what fall in our house will look like on a weekly basis with school, sports and piano in full swing. Thankfully it all feels managable and the boys are into it! But now it&#8217;s time for my weekly roundup of favorites, Things I&#8217;m Loving Friday style. Let&#8217;s do this!</p>
<h2>Things I&#8217;m Loving Friday</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://pbfingers.substack.com/p/sticky-notes-a-peanut-butter-fingers?r=1670u2&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sticky Notes: A PBF Weekly Newsletter!!!</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pbfingers-substack.png"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-213643 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pbfingers-substack.png" alt="pbfingers substack" width="367" height="625" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pbfingers-substack.png 490w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pbfingers-substack-176x300.png 176w" sizes="(max-width: 367px) 100vw, 367px" /></a></p>
<p>How many of you have signed up for blog post emails and never received them or randomly stopped receiving them without warning? A LOT, judging by the emails, DMs and comments I’ve received over the years. So I&#8217;m doin’ it! I created a <a href="https://pbfingers.substack.com/p/sticky-notes-a-peanut-butter-fingers?r=1670u2&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">newsletter you can subscribe to via Substack</a> that will actually be reliable and that will serve as a “home base” of sorts where you can see a roundup of any blog content you may have missed that week, links and finds I’ve shared on social media, meal ideas and anything else my mile-a-minute brain feels like sharing at any given time. I&#8217;m calling the newsletter &#8220;Sticky Notes&#8221; and my goal is for it to serve as a hub you can visit if you&#8217;ve taken some time away from the blog or social media or when you might simply want a quick overview of anything you may have missed! I hope it&#8217;s a helpful resource and I&#8217;m also very open to your feedback if there&#8217;s anything you would like to see me include in Sticky Notes!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Blog Talk Friend Catch Up Time with Brittay and Lexi</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_8908_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-213567 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_8908_vsco-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="391" height="521" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_8908_vsco-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_8908_vsco-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_8908_vsco-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_8908_vsco.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 391px) 100vw, 391px" /></a></p>
<p>A highlight of my week occurred on Wednesday morning when <a href="https://www.ahealthysliceoflife.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Brittany</a>, <a href="https://lexiscleankitchen.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Lexi</a> and I got together for several hours. I first connected with Brittany through the blog world when we moved to the Charlotte area over a decade ago (she&#8217;s since moved to South Carolina) and Lexi and I became fast friends when she moved to the area from Boston four years ago. I value our time together so much from a work perspective but also from a friendship perspective. Blogging is a weird but wonderful job and it&#8217;s so incredibly helpful to be able to connect in-person with women who do what I do and openly share, encourage, root each other on 100% and brainstorm together. I always leave our time together feeling so energized. These two are every bit as positive and genuine as they come acoss online!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><strong><a href="https://go.shopmy.us/p-83235379" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Stickerbox</a></strong></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6896_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-213749 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6896_vsco-768x1024.jpg" alt="Stickerbox" width="399" height="532" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6896_vsco-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6896_vsco-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6896_vsco-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6896_vsco.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px" /></a></p>
<p>Stickerbox was the hit of Chase&#8217;s birthday this year but all 3 boys love it and think it&#8217;s the coolest! (It honestly blew our adult minds as well!) You tell <a href="https://go.shopmy.us/p-83235379" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Stickerbox</a> out loud what design you want it to make and within seconds it prints out a crazy-accurate sticker depicting the sticker design you requested. Our boys get very specific with their requests &#8212; we&#8217;re talking &#8220;make a sticker of a sailfish jumping over a little fluffy dog&#8221; and it does it time and time again. It&#8217;s wild and has been an instant hit with their friends, too. They&#8217;ve created stickers to decorate just about everything but especially love putting them on their school folders. Keep this one on your radar if you&#8217;re looking for a unique gift this holiday season. (It&#8217;s currently $20 off for Labor Day weekend!)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0Qmy1Vya1Az" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Summer Fridays Lip Stain</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6899_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-213750 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6899_vsco-768x1024.jpg" alt="summer fridays lip stain" width="391" height="521" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6899_vsco-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6899_vsco-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6899_vsco-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/img_6899_vsco.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 391px) 100vw, 391px" /></a></p>
<p>Holy heck this <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0Qmy1Vya1Az" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Summer Fridays lip stain</a> is LEGIT. It&#8217;s everything I want in a lip stain: Precise, extremely long-lasting (through eating and drinking, too!), pigmented enough to bring my dull, lifeless lips back to life and it doesn&#8217;t feather/bleed out into my lip lines (thank you, aging). The tip has two sides &#8212; one is more pointed for a super-precise line while the other side is a little feathered for a softer application. I prefer the precise line for the outside of my lips and the feathered side to shade them in and have truly been blown away by just how long color stays on my lips when I use this stain. My favorites are the <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0Qmy1Vya1Az" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">rosette shade</a> for a deeper color when I&#8217;m going out or wearing a little more makeup while I prefer the <a href="https://go.shopmy.us/p-83807823" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">slipper shade</a> when I am not wearing makeup or just want a more subtle pop of light color on my lips. I like it best with a little <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0dE0D79Pl2f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">lip balm</a> on top. So pretty!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az03hxqKSBLVJ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Dolly All the Time</a> by Annabel Monaghan</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dolly-all-the-time.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-213564 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dolly-all-the-time-664x1024.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="463" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dolly-all-the-time-664x1024.jpg 664w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dolly-all-the-time-195x300.jpg 195w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dolly-all-the-time-768x1184.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dolly-all-the-time.jpg 973w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>
<p><strong><em>Genre: Contemporary Romance / My rating: A</em></strong></p>
<p>I adore Annabel Monaghan as an author. Her books are the perfect blend of light and breezy but with a few nuggets that feel a little deeper. Her dialog between characters is full of witty banter that adds a lot to the entertainment factor of her stories and often makes me chuckle as I read. As much as I loved <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0jJ9KlSDezP" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nora Goes Off Script</a> (it&#8217;s one of my favorite beach reads!), I&#8217;d rank <a href="https://amzlink.to/az03hxqKSBLVJ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Dolly All The Time</a> right up there with it! The book...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:19:51 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hBg0FTcDReANpYy2wYO37D?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Celebrating SIX!]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07gNq-GHVcZUSifMM2zWgO-P?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/095Qr3vEoH876sIIs3lpOGW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Celebrating SIX!" title="Celebrating SIX!"> <p id="top" />We spent a big portion of our weekend celebrating Rhetty Spaghetti, our very favorite SIX year old!!!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6661_vsco.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-213022 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6661_vsco-772x1024.jpg" alt="rhett 6 years old" width="399" height="529" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6661_vsco-772x1024.jpg 772w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6661_vsco-226x300.jpg 226w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6661_vsco-768x1019.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6661_vsco-1157x1536.jpg 1157w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6661_vsco.jpg 1507w" sizes="(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px" /></a></p>
<p>Six streamers on his bedroom door for six years!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/202d36b4-5c12-40c1-abc1-879aa7af6e43_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-213023 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/202d36b4-5c12-40c1-abc1-879aa7af6e43_vsco-721x1024.jpg" alt="Rhett's Room" width="399" height="567" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/202d36b4-5c12-40c1-abc1-879aa7af6e43_vsco-721x1024.jpg 721w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/202d36b4-5c12-40c1-abc1-879aa7af6e43_vsco-211x300.jpg 211w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/202d36b4-5c12-40c1-abc1-879aa7af6e43_vsco-768x1090.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/202d36b4-5c12-40c1-abc1-879aa7af6e43_vsco-1082x1536.jpg 1082w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/202d36b4-5c12-40c1-abc1-879aa7af6e43_vsco.jpg 1206w" sizes="(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px" /></a></p>
<p>The last thing Rhett said to me the night before his birthday was, &#8220;Don&#8217;t forget my birthday streamers,&#8221; further proving traditions don&#8217;t have to be elaborate or fancy to be meaningful.</p>
<p>Our little Rhetty Roo turned six on Saturday morning and surprised all of us by selecting bowling for his birthday activity.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6688_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-213025 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6688_vsco-767x1024.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="534" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6688_vsco-767x1024.jpg 767w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6688_vsco-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6688_vsco-768x1025.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6688_vsco-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6688_vsco.jpg 1499w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>Has he ever bowled before? Unclear&#8230; but we don&#8217;t think so and he certainly could not remember ever bowling before. But my goodness bowling was what he wanted to do on his special day so bowling was what we did! And we had so much fun doing it!</p>
<p>We arrived at our local bowling alley in the late morning and the boys were so into it. And hallelujah they didn&#8217;t seem to care where they fell in the rankings because I could&#8217;ve easily seen bowling morphing into a disaster if they got too into beating each others&#8217; scores. They thankfully cared more about strategizing and came up with a system that seemed to work well: First, they&#8217;d chuck a heavy ball down the lane to knock down as many pins as possible. Then they would follow it up with a lighter ball they could more easily manage to target their remaining pins. Each kid got at least one strike and/or spare (with bumpers!) which sealed the deal in making bowling a blast in their eyes.</p>
<p>After bowling we hit up the arcade and played our hearts out until I hit a wall and could not get out of that place fast enough. I said to Ryan that arcades for me are like Target for him: It&#8217;s all fun and games until something clicks inside of me and it&#8217;s time to go&#8230; NOW. Get me back out into the sunlight STAT.</p>
<p>After the arcade, we made our way back home where Rhett declared he wanted to spend the rest of the day swimming in the lake and playing backyard soccer. Chase gave Rhett goalie gloves for his birthday because somehow the tiniest member of our dude crew is the one who loves playing goalie. The kid is fearless out there and my mama heart is selfishly kinda hoping goalie isn&#8217;t Rhett&#8217;s favorite position for life because can you imagine the anxiety!? During every single World Cup game I felt so stressed out for the goalies and I cannot even imagine how their parents felt watching them play. Heart rate = 200 bpm, surely.</p>
<p>We rounded out Rhett&#8217;s birthday with family movie night and birthday cake!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6774_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-213024 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6774_vsco-720x1024.jpg" alt="julie rhett" width="400" height="569" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6774_vsco-720x1024.jpg 720w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6774_vsco-211x300.jpg 211w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6774_vsco-768x1092.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6774_vsco-1080x1536.jpg 1080w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6774_vsco.jpg 1406w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>Rhett wanted to watch a few episodes of Grizzly and the Lemmings, his all-time favorite Netflix cartoon, and then we watched the finale of our latest Survivor season together.</p>
<p>Over the summer we got so into watching old seasons of Survivor as a family and it&#8217;s been so, so fun! Discussing the players and their strategies and watching the challenges brings me right back to the early 2000s when I loved the show as a teen. I should mention that there are some episodes that make me and Ryan cringe &#8212; some language and adult-ish stuff &#8212; but they&#8217;ve also led to some really great conversations about honesty, treating others with respect, etc. Plus it&#8217;s awesome for family movie nights to now incorporate shows we, as adults, enjoy a little more.</p>
<h3>Sunday</h3>
<p>Sunday was &#8220;activity day&#8221; in our house with soccer and piano taking over most of our day.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6803.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-213027 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6803-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="394" height="526" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6803-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6803-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6803-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6803.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px" /></a></p>
<p>Somehow meet-the-team and the first soccer team scrimmages popped up on Sunday for both Chase and Ryder&#8217;s upcoming soccer seasons. This will be Chase&#8217;s first season playing a level up from recreational soccer, as he is hoping to make his middle school team next year and expressed a desire to improve and work toward this goal for the first time. He&#8217;s always loved soccer but not at the expense of giving up his weekends and free time and rec has been a great fit for him (and our family&#8217;s priorities) for years. This new program isn&#8217;t as intense as travel soccer but seems like it will be a perfect fit because it only requires one practice and one game a week but the coach is a paid coach with more experience. He&#8217;s excited and we are, too!</p>
<p>We had all of 10 minutes to make a beeline from Chase&#8217;s soccer scrimmage to his first piano performance. He dumped a bottle of water over his head, toweled off and changed his shirt and was good to go!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6816.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-213026 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6816-706x1024.jpg" alt="" width="395" height="573" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6816-706x1024.jpg 706w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6816-207x300.jpg 207w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6816-768x1114.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6816-1059x1536.jpg 1059w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6816.jpg 1206w" sizes="(max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px" /></a></p>
<p>Chase played &#8220;Seven Nation Army&#8221; by The White Stripes and we were so proud! He was confident and composed and watching him play a song he&#8217;s worked hard to perfect brought us so much joy. It was also a lot of fun to watch the other students from his music school perform, especially a little boy I can only describe as a true piano prodigy who sang and played his heart out at the end. A mini Billy Joel in the making!</p>
<p>After Chase&#8217;s piano performance, we headed home and I tackled some household chores while Rhett began working on the birthday Lego kit he got from my parents. Ryan, Chase and Ryder headed back out about 30 minutes later for Ryder&#8217;s soccer session. (Chase went along to play soccer on the sidelines with Ryan.) By the time everyone was back home, it was time for showers, jammies and early bed times.</p>
<p>Bed time stor...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:44:34 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07gNq-GHVcZUSifMM2zWgO-P?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Things I’m Loving Friday #602]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hg-BL9RJLzuo41McruRy_8?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/AueBpBVIPjgwljl07L-GL2W0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Things I’m Loving Friday #602" title="Things I’m Loving Friday #602"> <p id="top" />It&#8217;s Rhetty Spaghetti&#8217;s birthday eve!! Tomorrow our youngest little man is turning S-I-X so you know we&#8217;ll be celebrating the heck out of our little guy all weekend long. We&#8217;re leaving the day&#8217;s plans up to Rhett and they&#8217;re also a little weather depedent so we&#8217;ll see what we get up to! We also have plans with friends this evening so this weekend should be a good one all around.</p>
<p>For now let&#8217;s dive into this week&#8217;s roundup of favorites, Things I&#8217;m Loving Friday style! Keep on scrolling to see a short roundup of the things that are making me smile most this week!</p>
<h2>Things I&#8217;m Loving Friday</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="http://movesapp.com/movesplus?utm_source=influencer&amp;utm_medium=friend-of-moves&amp;utm_campaign=movesplus&amp;utm_content=julie-fagan&amp;via=julie-fagan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Moves+</a> (the Moves Workout App + Now with Meal Planning!)</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6603.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-212316 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6603-559x1024.jpg" alt="Moves+ review" width="398" height="729" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6603-559x1024.jpg 559w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6603-164x300.jpg 164w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6603-768x1408.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6603-838x1536.jpg 838w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6603.jpg 1091w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1f06666e-c2c4-4ebf-9311-6f5337b45d8e_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-212317 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1f06666e-c2c4-4ebf-9311-6f5337b45d8e_vsco-655x1024.jpg" alt="moves+ big mac tacos" width="402" height="628" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1f06666e-c2c4-4ebf-9311-6f5337b45d8e_vsco-655x1024.jpg 655w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1f06666e-c2c4-4ebf-9311-6f5337b45d8e_vsco-192x300.jpg 192w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1f06666e-c2c4-4ebf-9311-6f5337b45d8e_vsco-768x1201.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1f06666e-c2c4-4ebf-9311-6f5337b45d8e_vsco-982x1536.jpg 982w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1f06666e-c2c4-4ebf-9311-6f5337b45d8e_vsco.jpg 1206w" sizes="(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px" /></a></p>
<p>As some of you may know, last year I fell in love with the <a href="http://movesapp.com/movesplus?utm_source=influencer&amp;utm_medium=friend-of-moves&amp;utm_campaign=movesplus&amp;utm_content=julie-fagan&amp;via=julie-fagan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Moves app</a> for my workouts when I was looking for a well-rounded expert-backed program that incorporated strength work but also mobility training. I had TFL pain in my hip/glute and working with a physical therapist helped me realize mobility work was no longer &#8220;optional&#8221; for me from a longevity standpoint if I want to be injury-free.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t have endless hours available to me to do workouts + physical therapy exercises + mobillity + some cardio + flexibility work so I wanted to find a solution that would allow me to combine a lot of these things into one timeslot in my day. The Moves app checks all of these boxes and I absolutely love it. And now it just got BETTER because now there are macro-friendly meal ideas incorporated right into the app with the addition of <a href="http://movesapp.com/movesplus?utm_source=influencer&amp;utm_medium=friend-of-moves&amp;utm_campaign=movesplus&amp;utm_content=julie-fagan&amp;via=julie-fagan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Moves+</a>. This was a no-brainer add-on for me as I loved the recipes the app shared through their challenges. Now having access to 300+ meal ideas in an easy-to-read and easy-t0-follow format has me feeling all the more jazzed about this app. It&#8217;s such a valuable resource and I cannot recommend it enough!!!</p>
<p>Also, for anyone who is already a Moves app subscriber ($20/month), the addition of Moves+ ($25/month) is optional and prorated with your existing subscription, so you&#8217;re not paying twice! And it includes the Move Together fall challenge (typically $50 and so worth it!!) for free!!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>DIY Birthday Wrapping Paper</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bb803d69-90e1-4f17-bcc4-6f898be577b8_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-211970 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bb803d69-90e1-4f17-bcc4-6f898be577b8_vsco-576x1024.jpg" alt="diy wrapping paper" width="401" height="713" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bb803d69-90e1-4f17-bcc4-6f898be577b8_vsco-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bb803d69-90e1-4f17-bcc4-6f898be577b8_vsco-169x300.jpg 169w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bb803d69-90e1-4f17-bcc4-6f898be577b8_vsco-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bb803d69-90e1-4f17-bcc4-6f898be577b8_vsco-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bb803d69-90e1-4f17-bcc4-6f898be577b8_vsco.jpg 1125w" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a></p>
<p>From picking out presents to making homemade cards, we try to get the boys involved in the gifting process when it comes to their friends&#8217; birthdays. We like to think that this encourages the boys to think more deeply about their friends and their likes and interests. It also makes birthday gifting less of a mom or dad task and more of a responsibility for the boys when it pertains to their friend&#8217;s birthday. (Ryan and I both genuinely enjoy gifting to others andreally hope to pass this down to the boys.) They&#8217;ll often make little gift toppers (<a href="https://amzlink.to/az0ZiO3cZmxeP" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">name keychains</a> or <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/things-im-loving-friday-588/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">melty bead keychains</a> are a favorite!) but also really like decorating presents when I wrap them in this <a href="https://go.shopmy.us/p-77705328" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">black kraft paper</a> and set them up with some <a href="https://go.shopmy.us/p-77705595" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">acrylic paint markers</a>. Sometimes they&#8217;ll decorate the presents with stickers or puffy paints (when we think ahead and they have time to dry) but in general they just seem to enjoy personalizing the outside of the gifts they give and I love seeing their creations!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Dolly Parton&#8217;s <a href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Imagination Library</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dolly-parton-imagination-library.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-212311 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dolly-parton-imagination-library.png" alt="" width="459" height="285" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dolly-parton-imagination-library.png 736w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dolly-parton-imagination-library-300x186.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" /></a></p>
<p>I know I&#8217;m far from alone in feeling like the world lost a bright light following the passing of Dolly Parton this week. She radiated generosity, love, kindness, intelligence, and a spunkiness we collectively all seemed to recognize and adore. As an avid reader, I remember when I first learned about Dolly Parton&#8217;s <a href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Imagination Library</a>, an organization founded by Dolly dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting free books to children from birth to age five. I was so moved by the organization&#8217;s mission and have loved watching it grow; it now spans five countries and gifts millions of free books each month to children around the world. I wanted to highlight this program on my blog again here just in case you&#8217;d like to <a href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">sign up to participate</a> or join me in donating to such a wonderful organization in Dolly&#8217;s memory.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0bPoDaQz2YK" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau</a> by Kristin Harmel</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/stolen-life-of-colette-marceau.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-211937 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/stolen-life-of-colette-marceau-659x1024.jpg" alt="" width="296" height="460" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/stolen-life-of-colette-marceau-659x1024.jpg 659w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/stolen-life-of-colette-marceau-193x300.jpg 193w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/stolen-life-of-colette-marceau-768x1193.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/stolen-life-of-colette-marceau.jpg 966w" sizes="(max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px" /></a></p>
<p><em><strong>Genre: Historical Fiction / My Rating: B </strong></em></p>
<p>I typically adore Kristin Harmel&#8217;s historical fiction novels and while I had no trouble flying through this novel, I felt like it was very predictable and the big reveals were not in the least bit surprising to me. That being said, it&#82...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:00:53 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hg-BL9RJLzuo41McruRy_8?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Week of Weeknight Meals: August 2026]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07ibWE0Fo7PNoNdAaiLqzvhY?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/ePcKnL1K3CA76sIIs3lpOGW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Week of Weeknight Meals: August 2026" title="Week of Weeknight Meals: August 2026"> <p id="top" />The boys are back in school and while this came along with a <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/last-of-the-firsts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whirlwind of emotions</a>, there are undeniably some upsides for me from a work perspective. School days = Work days for me which opens up more time for blogging and the resurrection past blog series that have fallen to the wayside. Hooray!! I&#8217;m back at it today with a my <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/tag/week-of-weeknight-meals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Week of Weeknight Meals</a> series!</p>
<p>I began this series years ago to provide a glimpse into what a one week of dinners looks like for our crew each month. Pictures are snapped right before we eat &#8212; no fancy food photography allowed &#8212; and, as always, nearly every single meal is easy to make and not too time intensive. Last week our meals included everything from fish taco bowls and air fryer chicken to tofu fried rice and even a simple microwavable pouch meal. Hopefully something will pop out at you below if you&#8217;re looking for some dinnertime inspiration!</p>
<h2>Week of Weeknight Meals: August 2026</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Monday: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken + Southwest Salad</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6391_vsco.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-211917 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6391_vsco-753x1024.jpg" alt="chickek thighs" width="400" height="544" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6391_vsco-753x1024.jpg 753w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6391_vsco-221x300.jpg 221w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6391_vsco-768x1044.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6391_vsco-1130x1536.jpg 1130w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6391_vsco.jpg 1471w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>This meal was a breeze to throw together and we loved it! I just marinated chicken drumstick medallions in barbeque sauce all day before sprinkling them with garlic salt and cooking them in <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0Db1uvAdtcj" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">our airfryer</a> at 370 degrees for about 20-22 minutes. (FYI for anyone who lives near a Harris Teeter, I swear by the $5 1-pound packs of organic pasture-raised chicken drumstick medallions from Smart Chicken. They tasted just like chicken thighs and you cannot beat the price.) On the side was a simple southwest salad made with lettuce, cheddar, crushed tortilla chips, salted sprouted pumpkin seeds, avocado and southwest ranch dressing.</p>
<p><em><strong>On the boys&#8217; plates: </strong></em><em> </em>Chicken, spinach and cucumber slices with ranch for dipping, tortilla chips, pear slices</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Tuesday: Tofu Fried Rice</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6304_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-211918 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6304_vsco-798x1024.jpg" alt="tofu fried rice" width="398" height="511" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6304_vsco-798x1024.jpg 798w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6304_vsco-234x300.jpg 234w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6304_vsco-768x985.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6304_vsco-1197x1536.jpg 1197w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6304_vsco.jpg 1559w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p>The air fryer came to the rescue again on Tuesday night! After marinating cubed firm tofu in teriyaki sauce (we love <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0uvoHy0XVUd" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">this tofu</a>!), I cooked it in the air fryer until the outsides were nice and crispy. I then added it to fried rice I made with cooked rice tossed with a bag of frozen stir-fried cauliflower rice. I added a little extra soy sauce and ginger to give it a little more flavor and then drizzled teriyaki sauce over the top before serving.</p>
<p><em><strong>On the boys&#8217; plates: </strong></em>This meal was once I knew the boys would not like at all so they had quesadillas with green beans and orange slices.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Wednesday:</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6375_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-211916 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6375_vsco-836x1024.jpg" alt="quinoa lentil stew" width="404" height="495" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6375_vsco-836x1024.jpg 836w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6375_vsco-245x300.jpg 245w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6375_vsco-768x941.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6375_vsco-1254x1536.jpg 1254w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6375_vsco.jpg 1633w" sizes="(max-width: 404px) 100vw, 404px" /></a></p>
<p>Ryan had a work dinner on Wednesday night so I kept things extra simple and heated up a pouch of organic lentil and quinoa stew I ordered through <a href="http://thrv.me/r2h7YX" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Thrive Market.</a> I added some extra leftover chicken and beans to the mix to beef it up a bit before sprinkling it with cheese and digging in.</p>
<p><em><strong>On the boys&#8217; plates</strong></em><strong>: </strong>ALDI Simply Nature organic white cheddar macaroni and cheese, carrots and grapes</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Thursday: Fish Taco Bowls</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/82e88c34-8f20-445b-bda5-d7870aba290b_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-211914 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/82e88c34-8f20-445b-bda5-d7870aba290b_vsco-690x1024.jpg" alt="fish taco bowls" width="401" height="595" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/82e88c34-8f20-445b-bda5-d7870aba290b_vsco-690x1024.jpg 690w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/82e88c34-8f20-445b-bda5-d7870aba290b_vsco-202x300.jpg 202w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/82e88c34-8f20-445b-bda5-d7870aba290b_vsco-768x1141.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/82e88c34-8f20-445b-bda5-d7870aba290b_vsco-1034x1536.jpg 1034w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/82e88c34-8f20-445b-bda5-d7870aba290b_vsco.jpg 1206w" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a></p>
<p>We were fortunate enough to leave <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/key-west-summer-vacation-with-kids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Key West</a> last month with bunch of fish from <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/key-west-summer-vacation-with-kids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase&#8217;s birthday fishing trip</a>. We&#8217;re slowly making our way through our freezer stash and on Thursday night I used some of our thawed snapper to make fish taco bowls. They were easy enough to make &#8212; I just baked the fish in the oven after sprinkling it with taco seasoning &#8212; and then we added an assortment of toppings including caramelized onions, avocado, lettuce, rice, black beans, cilantro and a cilantro lime ranch drizzle.</p>
<p><em><strong>On the boys&#8217; plates:</strong> </em>Deconstructed fish tacos with sliced strawberries and carrots and ranch/hummus (depending on the kid) for dipping</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Friday: Grilled Flank Steak with Asparagus and Biscuits</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6432_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-211915 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6432_vsco-855x1024.jpg" alt="grilled flank steak" width="399" height="478" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6432_vsco-855x1024.jpg 855w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6432_vsco-250x300.jpg 250w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6432_vsco-768x920.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6432_vsco-1282x1536.jpg 1282w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6432_vsco.jpg 1669w" sizes="(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px" /></a></p>
<p>We grilled out on Friday night! I marinated flank steak in a simple marinade that included soy sauce, maple syrup, lemon juice and olive oil and then he grilled it while I prepped some asparagus and homemade biscuits using Pamela&#8217;s baking mix.</p>
<p><em><strong>On the boys&#8217; plates:</strong></em><strong> </strong>Ryan grilled the boys hot dogs along with our steak that they had with the biscuits, cucumber slices and watermelon</p>
<p><strong>QUESTION OF THE DAY</strong></p>
<p><strong>Have you made any slam dunk dinners lately? Please share below! </strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/week-of-weeknight-meals-august-2026/">Week of Weeknight Meals: August 2026</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com">Peanut Butter Fingers</a>.</p>]]></description>
                <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:00:14 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07ibWE0Fo7PNoNdAaiLqzvhY?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lake Norman State Park Hiking]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07ibWE0Fo7PNoAWlBfkq6SaY?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/ePcKnL1K3CDeyXPM9b8Ay2W0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Lake Norman State Park Hiking" title="Lake Norman State Park Hiking"> <p id="top" /><em>Lake Norman State Park is one of our favorite places to go in the Charlotte area when we&#8217;re looking for a gorgeous lakeside hike. The myriad trails provide stunning hikes year-round as the vibrant foliage in the fall is gorgeous, the lake views in the winter months are plentiful thanks to fallen leaves and the lush greenery in the summertime offers plenty of shade when hiking feels extra HOT!   </em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4002-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-200030 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4002-1-768x1024.jpg" alt="Lake Norman State Park Hiking" width="400" height="533" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4002-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4002-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4002-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4002-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>As you guys know if you’ve been following this blog for more than a hot second, Ryan and I absolutely love hiking. It’s something we fell in love with when we were dating and it’s a hobby we’ve continued to enjoy for years. We’ve scoped out awesome hiking trails every place we’ve lived – when we lived in Orlando we loved Weikwa Springs and our favorite Ocala trails were located in Silver Springs State Park – and it didn’t take us long to find a favorite hiking trail after we moved to the Charlotte area.</p>
<p>When you ask many Charlotte residents where to go for great hiking relatively close to the city, many people will point you toward the Whitewater Center (love it!) or <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/crowders-mountain-state-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crowders Mountain</a>. Crowders Mountain is a great recommendation and a wonderful hike but it’s almost always a little too popular to feel like you’re getting away from everything and enjoying the quiet calm of nature.</p>
<p>Our go-to recommendation for those who want to get out and explore and experience some of the best hiking in the area is to make the drive up to <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/lake-norman-state-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lake Norman State Park</a> in Troutman, North Carolina and hike the Lake Shore Trail!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lake-Norman-State-Park-Hiking.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" style="background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;" title="Lake Norman State Park Hiking" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lake-Norman-State-Park-Hiking_thumb.jpg" alt="Lake Norman State Park Hiking" width="435" height="658" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>For today’s blog post, I wanted to break down a handful of the trails you can find within Lake Norman State Park as well as a few other things you may want to do within the park in case you find yourself in the area!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/LAke-Shore-Trail-LKN.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone" style="background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;" title="LAke Shore Trail LKN" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/LAke-Shore-Trail-LKN_thumb.jpg" alt="Lake Shore Trail Lake Norman State Park" width="589" height="393" border="0" /></a></p>
<h3>Lake Norman State Park Trails</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong data-start="568" data-end="588">Lake Shore Trail</strong> — This is Ryan and my favorite trail!! It&#8217;s a 5-mile loop; moderate; good for lake views, a longer quiet hike, birdwatching, and adventure! There are lots of little outcroppings on this hike where you can get right up close to the lake, throw rocks along the beaches, etc. In my mind, this is the perfect hiking distance for a long morning or afternoon hike that feels both challenging <em>and </em>rejuvenating. The hike is one large loop which I also appreciate since I’m not the biggest fan of out-and-back trails. (You get to see more with loops and I don’t find myself fixating on when I’ll get to the turnaround point.) The Lake Shore Trail is also extremely well marked with both mile-markers and white diamond blazes (more than 400 of them!) hammered into the trees to make it easy to know you’re on the right track at all times.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/img_0805_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-191226 alignnone" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/img_0805_vsco-768x1024.jpg" alt="lake norman state park hiking" width="397" height="529" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/img_0805_vsco-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/img_0805_vsco-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/img_0805_vsco-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/img_0805_vsco.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li data-section-id="1cnz01" data-start="904" data-end="1039"><strong data-start="906" data-end="942">Lake Shore North–Short Turn Loop</strong> — 2.6-mile loop; moderate; good for a medium-length hike toward the swim-beach side of the park. We love do to this one with the boys!</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_3996-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-200029 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_3996-1-768x1024.jpg" alt="hiking lake norman state park" width="400" height="533" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_3996-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_3996-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_3996-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_3996-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li data-section-id="pvrm7o" data-start="1041" data-end="1176"><strong data-start="1043" data-end="1079">Lake Shore South–Short Turn Loop</strong> — 3.2-mile loop; moderate; good for a medium-length hike toward the campground side of the park. This is another one of our favorites to do with the kids!</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4001.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-200007 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4001-768x1024.jpg" alt="lake shore trail" width="390" height="520" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4001-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4001-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4001-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_4001.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 390px) 100vw, 390px" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li data-section-id="pvrm7o" data-start="1041" data-end="1176"><strong data-start="278" data-end="293">Alder Trail</strong> — 0.8-mile loop; easy; good for a short woodland walk, young children, and visitors wanting a quick hike near the visitor center</li>
<li data-section-id="pvrm7o" data-start="1041" data-end="1176"><strong data-start="427" data-end="446">Dragonfly Trail</strong> — 0.25-mile paved loop; easy and accessible; good for strollers, wheelchairs, toddlers, and a very brief nature walk</li>
<li data-section-id="l35qjo" data-start="725" data-end="902"><strong data-start="727" data-end="767">Lake Shore Trail and Group Camp Spur</strong> — 6.3-mile loop; moderate; good for hikers wanting the park’s longest hiking-only route and additional shoreline and woodland mileage.</li>
</ul>
<p>One big perk for the animal lovers out there: Lake Norman State Park is very dog friendly! We always see dogs trotting along on various trails and our dogs (all three of them &#8212; even teeny Pepper!) have absolutely loved the days we&#8217;ve spent at Lake Norman State Park.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sadie-Julie-Hiking.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" style="background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;" title="Sadie Julie Hiking" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sadie-Julie-Hiking_thumb.jpg" alt="Sadie Julie Hiking" width="457" height="667" border="0" /></a></p>
<p><em>(Hi Sadie!) </em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_5282_vsco-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-100334 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_5282_vsco-1-784x1024.jpg" alt="" width="398" height="520" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_5282_vsco-1-784x1024.jpg 784w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_5282_vsco-1-230x300.jpg 230w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_5282_vsco-1-768x1003.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_5282_vsco-1-1176x1536.jpg 1176w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_5282_vsco-1.jpg 1531w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p>In the summertime, I think the dogs especially love the way many of the trails offer multiple lake-access points where pups can hop in the water to cool off for a bit before continuing their hike.</p>
<h3 data-section-id="vtrj7n" data-start="1178" data-end="1210">Itusi Trails</h3>
<p data-...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:00:59 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07ibWE0Fo7PNoAWlBfkq6SaY?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Breakfast Hash Recipe]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07iNxCk1fELd68aaIZUMRPZz?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/gG9Lzfd61Lz0iXInng3y9WW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Breakfast Hash Recipe" title="Breakfast Hash Recipe"> <p id="top" />Have you heard certain foods or meals referred to a &#8220;stick to your ribs&#8221; kind of foods? The hearty, filling foods that seem to stay with you and leave you feeling nourished&#8230; and sometimes sluggish? Well, that&#8217;s this breakfast hash but minus the whole sluggish part. We&#8217;ll save the sluggish feeling for breakfast plates filled with cinnamon rolls and piles of pancakes.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-11-scaled.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-11-683x1024.jpg" class="aligncenter wp-image-210670" alt="breakfast hash recipe" width="398" height="597" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-11-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-11-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-11-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-11-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-11-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-11-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p>This breakfast hash is the perfect mix of filling and nourishing breakfast favorites &#8212; eggs, crispy cubed potatoes, bacon &#8212; paired with good-for-you vibrant veggies that work their magic and make you feel just plain GOOD after eating a plateful. And, like any decent breakfast hash recipe, it&#8217;s easy to make, customizable depending on what you have on hand and works just as great as a busy weekday morning breakfast as it does for a slow Sunday morning meal.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-12-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-12-683x1024.jpg" class="aligncenter wp-image-210671" alt="breakfast hash" width="399" height="598" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-12-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-12-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-12-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-12-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-12-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-12-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px" /></a></p>
<h2>Breakfast Hash Recipe</h2>
<p>To me, a decent breakfast hash must check a few boxes. I want a breakfast hash that comes together fast and uses easy ingredients I likely already have on hand. Ideally a breakfast hash is made in a single skillet or frying pan and balances a bunch of savory flavors with myriad textures from vegetables, proteins and potatoes. We&#8217;re talking crispy on the outside but tender on the inside potatoes. Bacon that&#8217;s cooked first so it&#8217;s not too soggy&#8230; and then you get the benefit of using the bacon grease to fry up your potatoes. We&#8217;re using our heads here, friends, and the flavor will speak for itself!</p>
<h3>What Is Breakfast Hash</h3>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Breakfast hash is a skillet dish made by combining diced potatoes with ingredients such as meat (often bacon, sausage or corned beef), vegetables and eggs. It is known for its crispy texture, hearty homecooked flavors and its ability to be easily customized.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">The word “hash” actually comes from a French word meaning “to chop,” which makes sense as most of the ingredients in a hash recipe are chopped into small pieces before cooking. Potato hash may include bacon, sausage, ham, leftover chicken or steak. Corned beef hash is another classic version that combines chopped corned beef with potatoes and onions. (My mom would make corned beef hash regularly when we were kids and it was one of my all-time favorite breakfasts!)</p>
<p>Breakfast hash has been a popular recipe for both home cooks and restaurants to serve because it&#8217;s incredibly versatile and transforms basic ingredients into a filling meal. An added bonus: It’s also a wonderful way to use leftovers. Cooked vegetables, roasted potatoes and extra meat can all find a delicious second life in a breakfast hash recipe.</p>
<h3>Are <span class="il">Hash</span> Browns Healthy For <span class="il">Breakfast</span></h3>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Homemade hash browns can absolutely be part of a balanced breakfast when thoughtfully prepared. Of course their nutritional value depends largely on the cooking method, portion size and ingredients used to make them; McDonald&#8217;s hash browns are not the same as the hash browns you might make in your kitchen, ya know?</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Potatoes provide carbohydrates (energy!), potassium and vitamin C while cooking them at home allows you to use your preferred oil and adjust the amount of butter and salt to your dietary preferences. Pairing hash browns or potato hash with eggs, lean protein and vegetables can also create a <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/high-protein-breakfast-recipes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high protein breakfast</a>, as well as a more balanced and satisfying meal. If you’d like to add more fiber and nutrients, replacing some or all of the potatoes with diced sweet potato can be a good option.</p>
<h3>What Is <span class="il">Breakfast Hash</span> Made Of</h3>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">The ingredients in a breakfast hash can change depending on the recipe, but most versions include a few basic components:</p>
<ul data-spread="false">
<li><strong>A base:</strong> Diced potatoes, shredded hash browns or sweet potato</li>
<li><strong>Protein:</strong> Bacon, sausage, ham, steak, corned beef hash or a plant-based option</li>
<li><strong>Vegetables:</strong> Onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini or broccoli</li>
<li><strong>Eggs:</strong> Scrambled directly into the skillet or cooked separately and served on top</li>
<li><strong>Seasonings:</strong> Salt and pepper, paprika, garlic powder, herbs or your favorite seasoning blend</li>
<li><strong>Optional toppings:</strong> Cheese, avocado, fresh herbs, salsa or hot sauce</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-14-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-14-683x1024.jpg" class="aligncenter wp-image-210673" alt="how to make breakfast hash" width="399" height="598" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-14-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-14-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-14-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-14-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-14-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-14-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px" /></a></p>
<h3>How To Make <span class="il">Hash</span> <span class="il">Breakfast</span></h3>
<h4>Use a Large Skillet to Avoid Overcrowding</h4>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">A large skillet gives the ingredients room to make contact with the hot cooking surface. If the skillet is overcrowded, the potatoes will release moisture and steam rather than becoming golden and crisp. A 12-inch skillet works well for this breakfast hash.</p>
<h4>Cook the Potatoes First for the Best Texture</h4>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Potatoes generally take longer to cook than the other ingredients, so give them a head start. In this recipe, the potatoes cook in the rendered bacon grease, which adds a wonderful savory flavor. Wait until they are tender and browned before transferring them to a plate.</p>
<h4>Let the Potatoes Sit Undisturbed to Get Crispy</h4>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">It can be tempting to stir the potatoes constantly, but leaving them alone for several minutes at a time is the key to developing a golden crust. Allow one side to brown before turning the potatoes and repeating the process.</p>
<h4>Cut Ingredients Evenly for Consistent Cooking</h4>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Try to dice the potatoes into similar-size cubes so they finish cooking at approximately the same time. Cut the onion and bell pepper into evenly sized pieces as well. Smaller potato cubes will cook faster, while larger pieces may take longer than the suggested cooking time.</p>
<h4>Add Vegetables After the Potatoes Start Browning</h4>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Cooking the vegetables separately from the potatoes helps preserve their texture. Once the potatoes are crisp, transfer them to a plate and sauté the onion and red bell pepper. Add the spinach near the end because it only needs a minute or two to wilt.</p>
<h4>Season in Layers for Better Flavor</h4>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Rather than adding all the seasoning at the end, season the individual components as they cook. A little salt and pepper on the potatoes, followed by more seasoning on the vegetables and eggs, creates a more evenly flavored breakfast hash.</p>
<h4>Finish With Eggs Cooked to Your Preference</h4>
<p>This recipe uses scrambled eggs, which makes it easy to combine everything in the same skillet. You may also make small wells in the finished hash, crack eggs into them, cover the skillet and cook until the whites are set. Fried or poached eggs are also delicious served on top.</p>
<h3><span class="il">Breakfast Hash</span> Brown Recipe</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/breakfast-hash-1-scaled.jpg"...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:39:20 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07iNxCk1fELd68aaIZUMRPZz?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Things I’m Loving Friday #601]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jvZnv-Qw0wLaPeL2qpKFR1?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/EKS8U6HGgcJLsvxMjerhGGW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Things I’m Loving Friday #601" title="Things I’m Loving Friday #601"> <p id="top" />Friday is here and with it the first full week back at school for all three boys is coming to a close. I&#8217;m so, so happy to report this week was a good one. Rhett marched into kindergarten like the confident little youngest brother he is, bouyed by feel of his big brothers at his side and the knowledge that his teacher was the same beloved teacher Ryder had before. We celebrated with after-school doughtnuts and lake swimming and eased back into the school year before the craziness of fall activities begins.</p>
<p>Our weekend ahead is relatively open but with super-hot temperatures raging right now, I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;ll spend most of our time in the pool or lake. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead and I&#8217;d love to see ya back here on Monday!</p>
<h2>Things I&#8217;m Loving Friday</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>This or That Day (Final Mom + Rhett Friday)</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/e9c2f3ea-7bd2-43da-bb10-85aefc9a370e_vsco.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/e9c2f3ea-7bd2-43da-bb10-85aefc9a370e_vsco-576x1024.jpg" class="aligncenter wp-image-210494" alt="this or that day" width="393" height="699" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/e9c2f3ea-7bd2-43da-bb10-85aefc9a370e_vsco-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/e9c2f3ea-7bd2-43da-bb10-85aefc9a370e_vsco-169x300.jpg 169w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/e9c2f3ea-7bd2-43da-bb10-85aefc9a370e_vsco-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/e9c2f3ea-7bd2-43da-bb10-85aefc9a370e_vsco-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/e9c2f3ea-7bd2-43da-bb10-85aefc9a370e_vsco.jpg 1125w" sizes="(max-width: 393px) 100vw, 393px" /></a></p>
<p>For the past few years, every Friday was a &#8220;Mom and Rhett&#8221; Friday, as the big kids headed off to school and Rhett&#8217;s preschool had off on Fridays. Our Fridays together were simple but wonderful in their simplicity. As Rhett&#8217;s first day of kindergarten approached, I realized our Fridays together were coming to a close. I found myself wanting to make our final &#8220;just the two of us&#8221; Friday feel a little extra special and figured he&#8217;d love a &#8220;This or That&#8221; day! When I mentioned the idea to Rhett last Thursday at bedtime, he absolutely lit up. He then started throwing out ideas for &#8220;this or that&#8221; choices and surprised me when his ideas were all simple but special things we&#8217;d do togehter on a typical Friday: A walk with Comet, board games, puzzles, baking something, building something, etc. I absolutely LOVED that this was where his head went because what better way to spend our final Friday together than to spend it doing all the things we&#8217;ve loved doing together for years? We filled our day with a scooter walk with Comet at a local park. We played Outfoxed for the 100th time. We curled up on the couch and flipped through a cookie cookbook until a recipe for edible cookie dough caught Rhett&#8217;s eye. We whipped up a batch, eating more than a few spoonfuls of dough when it was done. It was simple but it was special&#8230; just like all of our Mom and Rhetty Fridays.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0R9aacZLytK" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/376ae017-152a-46ce-aa59-bf27a79aa7d0.jpg"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/376ae017-152a-46ce-aa59-bf27a79aa7d0-576x1024.jpg" class="aligncenter wp-image-210749" alt="baking cookbook for kids" width="395" height="702" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/376ae017-152a-46ce-aa59-bf27a79aa7d0-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/376ae017-152a-46ce-aa59-bf27a79aa7d0-169x300.jpg 169w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/376ae017-152a-46ce-aa59-bf27a79aa7d0-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/376ae017-152a-46ce-aa59-bf27a79aa7d0-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/376ae017-152a-46ce-aa59-bf27a79aa7d0.jpg 1125w" sizes="(max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px" /></a></p>
<p>I think our boys have cracked the code on how to get sweet treats in their life on a regular basis: Just ask Mom if she wants to bake something together. I&#8217;ve always enjoyed baking and it&#8217;s something that all three boys seem to enjoy as well. From the mixing to the taste-testing to the finished product, baking is more than just making cookies or cakes together; it&#8217;s an activity, an experience and something we&#8217;ve loved doing together since the boys were young enough to stand by my side on their little kitchen helper cooking stand.</p>
<p>Fast foward to having three bigger kids in the mix and now they&#8217;re more proficient <em>and</em> more opinionated about what we make together. They love flipping through my collection of cookbooks for new recipes to try (Cookie Club is a recent addition we&#8217;re loving) and we&#8217;ve found a lot of favorite recipes this way! One cookbook they come back to time and time again is a cookbook I actually got for them: <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0R9aacZLytK" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs</a>. It&#8217;s easy to read and understand and packed with lots of kid-friendly recipes. We&#8217;ve made a ton of recipes from this cookbook and they all turn out so, so well! While the cookbook is a baking cookbook, it&#8217;s packed not only with sweet treats and desserts but rolls, pizza recipes and more savory baked goods as well. We&#8217;ve loved it!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0ytXgTbvGUI" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tom Lake</a> by Ann Patchett</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/tom-lake-book.jpg"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/tom-lake-book-682x1024.jpg" class="aligncenter wp-image-211034" alt="" width="293" height="440" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/tom-lake-book-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/tom-lake-book-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/tom-lake-book-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/tom-lake-book.jpg 999w" sizes="(max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px" /></a></p>
<p><strong><em>Genre: Contemporary Fiction / My rating: A- </em></strong></p>
<p>If only I&#8217;d finished reading this book before sharing my <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/everything-i-read-this-summer-ranked/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">summer book rankings</a>, this book surely would&#8217;ve claimed a top spot. What a cozy, warm hug of a book! This is another one that I read before bed and also listened to the audiobook version during my walks with Comet/household chores and I&#8217;m honestly not sure which version I preferred! (Meryl Streep is the narrator of the audiobook and of course does a phenomenal job.) The book is just a lovely escape of a novel but with plenty of intrigue sprinkled in as the narrator, a woman in her late 50s, recounts the summer she spent with a famous actor to her three adult daughters. There is so much warmth and love in this novel but the undercurrent of youth, young love and this missteps and lessons we learn along the way made this novel one I deeply enjoyed. About halfway through the book, I found myself texting my mom who gravitates toward mysteries above all other novels to please give Tom Lake a try because it felt like so much more than a woman&#8217;s story about her past. The mother-daughter relationship dynamic, the peek into an actor&#8217;s life, the way the book kept circling back to the play Our Town, the movie star intrigue, and the trusting, deep love between the narrator and her husband all swirled together to make Tom Lake a novel I absolutely loved from start to finish.</p>
<p><em>Note:</em> My college friends and I were split on this one! One of my girlfriends described this book as &#8220;great storytelling, just no major excitement&#8221; when we were texting about it. Tom Lake is definitely more of a character development novel so keep that in mind because I can see how this book is one some would love and some would find borning. I&#8217;m in the L-O-V-E camp for sure!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3>Tubing On the Lake!</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/image.jpg" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-211210" width="929" height="1150" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/image.jpg 929w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/image-242x300.jpg 242w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/image-827x1024.jpg 827w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/image-768x951.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px" /></p>
<p>At long last, the lake was high enough for us to get our boat out last weekend!!! Woop, woop! While we&#8217;ve absolutely made the most of a super-low lake this summer and still managed to swim and kayak, we&#8217;ve missed boating and jumping off our dock. When Ryan realized the recent thunderstorms we&#8217;ve had were enough to finally raise the lake level enough to get our boat out, our weekend plans were all but decided! We stopped by West Marine last Saturday morning and left with a giant tube, determined to get out on the water and whip the boys around! To say they had a blast would be a serious understatement and I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve smiled or laughed so hard this summer. We&...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:27:49 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jvZnv-Qw0wLaPeL2qpKFR1?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Everything I Read This Summer: Ranked]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jkIwto50QN5kxxD8v6_czl?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/ra2FqnSEkwn5Q3xwzW4WhmW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Everything I Read This Summer: Ranked" title="Everything I Read This Summer: Ranked"> <p id="top" />Summer may not technically be over yet, but with all three boys back in school it feels like our summer season has come to a close. I may be cutting summer a little short but I was feeling the itch to chat all about books on the blog today so that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re going to do!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/summer-book-recommendations-1-e1786979626389.png"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-210487 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/summer-book-recommendations-1-e1786979626389.png" alt="" width="446" height="485" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/summer-book-recommendations-1-e1786979626389.png 610w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/summer-book-recommendations-1-e1786979626389-276x300.png 276w" sizes="(max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px" /></a></p>
<p>I read a decent number of books this summer, though admittedly less than usual because I was often so darn tired by the time my usual bedtime reading rolled around since our summer was filled with travel, visitors and later-than-usual bedtimes for the boys. Hopefully the fall season will bring a little more reading back into my life, but I still managed to read a handful of books, many of which I thoroughly enjoyed.</p>
<p>Below you will find everything I read this summer ranked in order from the books I enjoyed most to the ones I&#8217;d probably pass on if you&#8217;re looking for your next read. As always you&#8217;ll find a mix of genres below &#8212; everything from contemporary and historical fiction to mysteries and romance &#8212; and I hope something below pops out at you if you&#8217;re looking to fill up your library holds list! Happy reading, fellow bookworms!</p>
<h2>Everything I Read This Summer: Ranked</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0JmSrKFlUxp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Calamity Club</a> by Kathryn Stockett</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/calamity-club-book.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-205386 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/calamity-club-book-680x1024.jpg" alt="calamity club book" width="298" height="449" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/calamity-club-book-680x1024.jpg 680w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/calamity-club-book-199x300.jpg 199w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/calamity-club-book-768x1157.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/calamity-club-book.jpg 996w" sizes="(max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px" /></a></p>
<p><em><strong>Genre: Historical Fiction / My rating: A </strong></em></p>
<p>The best way I can describe <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0JmSrKFlUxp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Calamity Club</a> is to say it’s simultaneously very long and yet not long enough. I love, love, loved it. From start to finish, this book had me absolutley enamored and deeply rooting for both main characters. I spent the first half of the book not really knowing where it was going but also not caring because I adored Meg and Birdie so much. I ended up getting the audiobook version of The Calamity Club through my Libby app halfway through reading it and then went back and forth between the book and the audiobook, as I read before bed at night but listen to audiobooks while multitasking during the day.</p>
<p>For this book, I felt like the audiobook version took my enjoyment of the story to another level. The women reading as Meg and Birdie did such a phenomenal job adding dimension to the character’s voices in a way that had me reading in <em>their</em> voices in my mind when I would switch back to reading this book. This book is officially claiming my top spot for my favorite book of the year so far! It was captivating, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, unexpectedly funny at times and a truly memorable read.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0PTV8hK9Rh5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Academy</a> by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-academy-book.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-203161 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-academy-book-683x1024.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="450" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-academy-book-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-academy-book-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-academy-book-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-academy-book.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>
<p><em><strong>Genre: Contemporary Fiction / My rating: A </strong></em></p>
<p>I enjoyed the heck out of this book! I was looking for something light and fun for the summer and <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0PTV8hK9Rh5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Academy</a> nailed it. It was the kind of book that reads like a New England boarding school drama show you cannot help but binge on Netflix. I looked forward to reading it before bed every night and cannot wait to dive into the second book in this mini series once it’s released this fall.</p>
<p><em>From Amazon: </em>It’s move-in day at Tiffin Academy and amidst the happy chaos of friends reuniting, selfies uploading, and cars unloading, shocking news arrives: America Today just ranked Tiffin the number two boarding school in the country. It’s a seventeen-spot jump—was there a typo? The dorms need to be renovated, their sports teams always come in last place, and let’s just say Tiffin students are known for being more social than academic. On the other hand, the campus is exquisite, class sizes are small, and the dining hall is run by an acclaimed New York chef. And they do have fun—lots of parties and school dances, and a piano man plays in the student lounge every Monday night.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az0dI74iX8HLP" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Unmaking of June Farrow</a> by Adrienne Young</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/unmaking-of-june-farrow.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-210479 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/unmaking-of-june-farrow-664x1024.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="447" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/unmaking-of-june-farrow-664x1024.jpg 664w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/unmaking-of-june-farrow-195x300.jpg 195w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/unmaking-of-june-farrow-768x1184.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/unmaking-of-june-farrow.jpg 973w" sizes="(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px" /></a></p>
<p><em><strong>Genre: Mystery/Romance/Magical Realism / My rating: A-</strong></em></p>
<p>Having previously read and mostly enjoyed <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0rLssYhTZSQ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Spells for Forgetting</a> by Adrienne Young, a few of you encouraged me to read <a href="https://amzlink.to/az0dI74iX8HLP" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Unmaking of June Farrow</a> by the same author. I&#8217;m glad you nudged me this way because it was such a creative book that read like so much more than your typical love story. It involved time travel in a way that felt fresh and intesresting and an underlying mystery was woven throughout the story that piqued my interest and kept me engaged and excited to flip thorough the pages.</p>
<p><em>From Amazon: </em>In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm—and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors.</p>
<p>It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there but June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own.</p>
<p>After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<h3><a href="https://amzlink.to/az039N4ZWjmvr" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Here’s to Us</a> by Elin Hilderbrand</h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/heres-to-us-book.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-204743 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/heres-to-us-book-625x1024.jpg" alt="" width="298" height="488" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/heres-to-us-book-625x1024.jpg 625w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/heres-to-us-book-183x300.jpg 183w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/heres-to-us-book-768x1258.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/heres-to-us-book.jpg 916w" sizes="(max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px" /></a></p>
<p><em><strong>Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance / My rating: B+</strong></em></p>
<p>Something about summer has me craving easy, breezy books and Elin Hilderbrand...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:00:13 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jkIwto50QN5kxxD8v6_czl?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Last of the Firsts]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jR4xCdUCmJrE25WNqBfx9-?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/mmnBugYtEpvo7M0t9cHpFmW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Last of the Firsts" title="Last of the Firsts"> <p id="top" />I&#8217;m sitting here at my favorite local coffee shop after dropping the boys off at school. All of them&#8230;. at the same elementary school&#8230;. for the first time ever. And the tears are flowing. Not from them &#8212; oh no &#8212; but from me.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6272_vsco.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-210452 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6272_vsco-715x1024.jpg" alt="rhett kindergarten" width="384" height="550" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6272_vsco-715x1024.jpg 715w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6272_vsco-210x300.jpg 210w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6272_vsco-768x1099.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6272_vsco-1073x1536.jpg 1073w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6272_vsco.jpg 1397w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p>
<p>How did we get here? How is my last baby off to kindergarten? Everyone warned me it would go so, so fast and they were painfully, acutely right. Even though I knew it would go fast because I had the proof standing right in front of me &#8212; proof in the form of toddlers who were no longer babies and big kids who were no longer toddlers &#8212; these milestone moments have a way of knocking me off my feet and, truthfully, they hurt. They hurt in the way it hurts when a birthday rolls around and you realize you&#8217;ll never have access to the 4-year-old version of your kid again. They hurt in the way your heart squeezes when your child stops saying &#8220;lello&#8221; and replaces it with the correct but oh-so-grown-up pronunciation &#8220;yellow.&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6072_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-210454 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6072_vsco-783x1024.jpg" alt="ryder second grade" width="400" height="524" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6072_vsco-783x1024.jpg 783w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6072_vsco-229x300.jpg 229w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6072_vsco-768x1005.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6072_vsco-1174x1536.jpg 1174w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6072_vsco.jpg 1529w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>Part of me thought today would be a day I&#8217;d feel relief. I&#8217;ve spent more than 11 years cramming the non-motherhood pieces of my life into small pockets of &#8220;me time;&#8221; brief windows of free time I&#8217;d grasp through nap times, preschool drop offs, gym childcare and occasional help. It felt intense, impossible at times, stressful for sure but, for the most part, absolutely overflowing with joy. It never felt possible for me to have a to-do list with everything checked off but it also didn&#8217;t matter because LOOK at what I got to pour my heart into everyday: A family I love in a way I will never be able to capture into words.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6053_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-210453 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6053_vsco-685x1024.jpg" alt="chase 5th grade" width="393" height="587" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6053_vsco-685x1024.jpg 685w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6053_vsco-201x300.jpg 201w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6053_vsco-768x1148.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6053_vsco-1028x1536.jpg 1028w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_6053_vsco.jpg 1338w" sizes="(max-width: 393px) 100vw, 393px" /></a></p>
<p>Ever since the boys were toddlers, Ryan and I have said the same lines back and forth with them before bed. &#8220;I love you bigger than a rocket ship!&#8221; &#8220;I love you bigger than the moon!&#8221; and so on. Over the summer I joked that Ryder rage baited me one night when he jokingly said, &#8220;I love you more than you love me.&#8221; Oh heck no, my child. I very matter-of-factly told him that was impossible. My love for him and his brothers and his dad is bigger than Ryder&#8217;s eight-year-old brain could ever imagine.</p>
<p>&#8220;Is it really bigger than a rocket ship?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Much, much bigger,&#8221; I assured him. It&#8217;s a soul-squeezing kind of love that bubbles over on days like today. Days that remind me my children are growing up, exactly the way I hoped and prayed they would. But that doesn&#8217;t mean watching them confidently walk into their elementary school &#8212; my three no-longer-little-kids in a row &#8212; doesn&#8217;t serve as a gut-punch that ALL of this is finite. It&#8217;s all so beautiful and wonderful but my gosh why can&#8217;t it all just slow down?</p>
<p>I read this quote that I&#8217;ve been thinking about a lot: &#8220;The hardest part about parenting is raising the one thing you can&#8217;t live without to be able to live without you.&#8221; Ooph isn&#8217;t that the truth? Because that is the goal, right? To raise kind, confident, loving, hard-working, independent, thoughtful humans who can go out into the world on their own and make a positive impact. Ryan and I have repeatedly talked about how this phase of life we&#8217;re living right now is golden to us. We&#8217;re holding onto it hard while trying to get better at letting go, little by little. But man, it sure does wreck me sometimes.</p>
<p>For now, I&#8217;ll just sit here with wet eyes, feeling so grateful for motherhood and the way I&#8217;ve been given the gift of a love so big can make me ache so much.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/last-of-the-firsts/">Last of the Firsts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com">Peanut Butter Fingers</a>.</p>]]></description>
                <pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:35:34 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jR4xCdUCmJrE25WNqBfx9-?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Kool Park Pool + The Quarry at Carrigan Farms: Two Final Summer Break Adventures]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hQVc5Kv38y1wpyW97guT9A?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/IX67hGR_vLIl-5X2fnnyV2W0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Kool Park Pool + The Quarry at Carrigan Farms: Two Final Summer Break Adventures" title="Kool Park Pool + The Quarry at Carrigan Farms: Two Final Summer Break Adventures"> <p id="top" />What a good weekend. From start to finish this weekend was filled with summer fun. We were determined to sneak in two final summer break adventures and both were quintessential summer fun involving swimming and sunshine: Kool Park Pool and the Quarry at Carrigan Farms! For my local friends, both of these spots are 100 percent worth a <a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/day-trips-from-charlotte/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">day trip from Charlotte</a>!</p>
<h2>Kool Park Pool</h2>
<p>On Friday, the boys and I drove about an hour away to Hickory, North Carolina. I recently heard about a local community pool in the area that was open to the public for a small fee. What really piqued my interest was the fact that this pool had a number of diving boards which seem to be almost an anomaly these days. As a former diver, I LOVE diving boards and knew jumping from high heights would thrill the boys so we made a visit to <a href="https://koolparkpool.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kool Park Pool</a> happen.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5741_vsco.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-209042 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5741_vsco-804x1024.jpg" alt="kool park pool" width="398" height="507" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5741_vsco-804x1024.jpg 804w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5741_vsco-236x300.jpg 236w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5741_vsco-768x978.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5741_vsco-1207x1536.jpg 1207w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5741_vsco.jpg 1571w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p>The pool itself isn&#8217;t anything fancy by any means but that is part of its charm. Kool Park Pool has been open for 90+ years and took me right back to my days of lifeguarding at Birchwood Community Pool in Palatine, Illinois in the early 2000s. There was concrete everywhere, four diving boards, a not-too-fast-but-still-really-fun slide built into the side of the pool and lifeguards who were keeping everyone safe but not overcorrecting if that makes sense? Kids were allowed to jump and play and just be kids and I felt like for the afternoon the boys and I were transported back to a simple &#8217;90s summer. It was one of my absolute favorite days I&#8217;ve had with them all year!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5809_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-209039 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5809_vsco-755x1024.jpg" alt="kool park pool hickory nc" width="397" height="538" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5809_vsco-755x1024.jpg 755w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5809_vsco-221x300.jpg 221w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5809_vsco-768x1042.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5809_vsco-1132x1536.jpg 1132w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5809_vsco.jpg 1474w" sizes="(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5800_vsco.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-209036 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5800_vsco-750x1024.jpg" alt="kool park pool slide rhett" width="400" height="546" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5800_vsco-750x1024.jpg 750w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5800_vsco-220x300.jpg 220w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5800_vsco-768x1049.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5800_vsco-1124x1536.jpg 1124w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5800_vsco.jpg 1464w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>When we arrived at Kool Park Pool, the high dive &#8212; a 15-foot monstrosity &#8212; caught our eyes immediately and I had to laugh when 5-year-old Rhett of all the kids was the first to make a beeline for it!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5831_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-209041 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5831_vsco-598x1024.jpg" alt="kool park pool high dive rhett" width="397" height="680" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5831_vsco-598x1024.jpg 598w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5831_vsco-175x300.jpg 175w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5831_vsco-768x1316.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5831_vsco-896x1536.jpg 896w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5831_vsco.jpg 1167w" sizes="(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px" /></a></p>
<p>He didn&#8217;t hesitate for one second and jumped right off, emerging from the water exclaiming, &#8220;It felt like jumping into outerspace!&#8221; We all followed suit and jumped off the high dive before trying out the low dive, a medium dive and a traditional 3-meter diving board (a typical &#8220;high dive&#8221; that was dwarfed by the 15 foot high dive).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5786_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-209038 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5786_vsco-682x1024.jpg" alt="high dive at kool park pool" width="395" height="594" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5786_vsco-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5786_vsco-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5786_vsco-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5786_vsco-1023x1536.jpg 1023w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5786_vsco.jpg 1332w" sizes="(max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px" /></a></p>
<p>Fun fact: The high dive at Kool Park Pool was once a metal tower dignitaries used to watch rocket launches at Cape Canaveral. Apparently in the 1960s the son of the man who originally opened the pool submitted a bid on metal items from Cape Canaveral not knowing what all it included. His bid won and when the metal items arrived, he discovered he had purchased a 15-foot tower and had it transformed into the diving tower.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5816_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-209040 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5816_vsco-739x1024.jpg" alt="kool pool hickory" width="400" height="554" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5816_vsco-739x1024.jpg 739w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5816_vsco-216x300.jpg 216w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5816_vsco-768x1064.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5816_vsco-1108x1536.jpg 1108w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5816_vsco.jpg 1443w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>The pool has a smal amount of food and treats for sale, bathrooms and showers but they were 100 percent fine with people bringing outside food into the pool which we appreciated since we packed a picnic lunch to enjoy during our afternoon visit.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5746_vsco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-209037 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5746_vsco-747x1024.jpg" alt="kool park pool rhett julie" width="395" height="542" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5746_vsco-747x1024.jpg 747w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5746_vsco-219x300.jpg 219w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5746_vsco-768x1053.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5746_vsco-1121x1536.jpg 1121w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_5746_vsco.jpg 1459w" sizes="(max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px" /></a></p>
<h2>Carrigan Farms Quarry</h2>
<p>Our second adventure of the weekend took us to the <a href="https://www.carriganfarms.com/open-swim/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Quarry at Carrigan Farms</a> in Mooresville, North Carolina. Carrigan Farms is a fifth-generation family farm our family loves visiting at different times of the year for different reasons.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2488de4c-38b1-4f9b-9f84-751606f60c6f.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-98494 aligncenter" src="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2488de4c-38b1-4f9b-9f84-751606f60c6f-768x1024.jpg" alt="carrigan farms" width="398" height="531" srcset="https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2488de4c-38b1-4f9b-9f84-751606f60c6f-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2488de4c-38b1-4f9b-9f84-751606f60c6f-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2488de4c-38b1-4f9b-9f84-751606f60c6f-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2488de4c-38b1-4f9b-9f84-751606f60c6f-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /></a></p>
<p><em>Flashback family pic at Carrigan Farms! </em></p>
<p>In the spring, Carrigan Farms is a hot spot for strawberry picking. In the late summer/early fall, it’s a must-visit for apple picking in our area. In October, they offer pumpkin picking and hayrides to their pumpkin patch. Despite our many visits to Carrigan Farms...]]></description>
                <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:55:09 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hQVc5Kv38y1wpyW97guT9A?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Things I’m Loving Friday #600]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jNI7SUu0b7Y23v5mJBMBbC?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/8pHRIM9cPH_AtVqgD8jfBGW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Things I’m Loving Friday #600" title="Things I’m Loving Friday #600"> ]]></description>
                <pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:13:32 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jNI7SUu0b7Y23v5mJBMBbC?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Key West Summer Vacation with Kids]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07gLwJDPiXYNiWeAz6S70lLV?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/CjJCkRfvf-rzL0IYfzhtVmW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Key West Summer Vacation with Kids" title="Key West Summer Vacation with Kids"> ]]></description>
                <pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:19:07 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07gLwJDPiXYNiWeAz6S70lLV?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Recent Looks #14]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jABTPDTNCzUzP4DRGWh0FW?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/5Ypx1Lz0c8cNetbtMVukT2W0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Recent Looks #14" title="Recent Looks #14"> ]]></description>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:44:39 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07jABTPDTNCzUzP4DRGWh0FW?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Things I’m Loving Friday #599]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07ixva67xGpKL85wgT1fwCaj?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/f2nJ722Rzsj0OBIDfEURjGW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Things I’m Loving Friday #599" title="Things I’m Loving Friday #599"> ]]></description>
                <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:58:51 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07ixva67xGpKL85wgT1fwCaj?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Currently: July 2026]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hyRL4OpjLzgEi0K6ZcnzXi?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/AtMpKb9i2fmJxze1iuSTpGW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Currently: July 2026" title="Currently: July 2026"> ]]></description>
                <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:55:15 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hyRL4OpjLzgEi0K6ZcnzXi?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Things I’m Loving Friday #598]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hyRL4OpjLzgBcqVr-N_hpY?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/AtMpKb9i2fkSf7fyFYBun2W0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Things I’m Loving Friday #598" title="Things I’m Loving Friday #598"> ]]></description>
                <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:07:46 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07hyRL4OpjLzgBcqVr-N_hpY?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Certified Scuba Diver, Carowinds and A Simple Sunday]]></title>
                <link>https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07giTDin2ZMAnLna3sLS5IiZ?utm_source=follow.it</link>
                <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-loaded/v1/_QD9ykK4USvJAOk1S47u-GW0GqTRQSgk" border=0 width="1" height="1" alt="Certified Scuba Diver, Carowinds and A Simple Sunday" title="Certified Scuba Diver, Carowinds and A Simple Sunday"> ]]></description>
                <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:29:07 +0200</pubDate>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/rEWKlIZB07giTDin2ZMAnLna3sLS5IiZ?utm_source=follow.it</guid>
            </item>
            </channel>
</rss>
