Peanut Butter Fingers - Living a Life Fueled by Healthy Food and Fitness

Kool Park Pool + The Quarry at Carrigan Farms: Two Final Summer Break Adventures

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:55:09 +0200

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 day trip from Charlotte!

Kool Park Pool

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 Kool Park Pool happen.

The pool itself isn’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 ’90s summer. It was one of my absolute favorite days I’ve had with them all year!

When we arrived at Kool Park Pool, the high dive — a 15-foot monstrosity — 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!

He didn’t hesitate for one second and jumped right off, emerging from the water exclaiming, “It felt like jumping into outerspace!” 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 “high dive” that was dwarfed by the 15 foot high dive).

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.

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.

Carrigan Farms Quarry

Our second adventure of the weekend took us to the Quarry at Carrigan Farms 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.

Flashback family pic at Carrigan Farms!

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...

Things I’m Loving Friday #600

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:13:32 +0200

Our final full week of summer break is coming to a close today and I’m unsure how I feel about it. The work side of me is looking forward to a routine, more regular blogging (I’ve missed this space so much!) and more time to focus on parts of PBF I’ve neglected for months. But the more prominent side of me is wishing for more time. More schedule-free days. More afternoons at the pool, more sunshine and more chances to simply soak up time with the boys. Their ages have made this summer my favorite yet — a sentiment I hope I feel for every single summer to come — but right now the boys are in this beautiful stage of still being very much kids but also so clearly their own people without some of the hands-on neediness that comes along with toddlers and babies. (I loved those years so much, too, but this is a sweet spot I could truly live in forever.)

We filled our final full week of summer break with so much summer fun. It was a good one from start to finish and included a handful of sleepovers at our house with the boys’ friends, lots of fishing, play dates, pool time and KITTENS! (More on the cats below!) The one bummer is that Ryan was in India all week for work but he arrives home this evening and we’re so ready for him!! (Ryan flew to India the day we got back from Key West like such a freaking trooper.)

As for this weekend, we have a few things on the agenda but we’re also hoping for some chill time as we prep for back-to-school madness next week. Keep on scrolling if you’d like to catch up on a few things we’re loving around here this week!

Things I’m Loving Friday

Our Foster Kittens: Maple and Waffles!

Wanna know what happens when you show up at the pet store to buy crickets for your leopard gecko and find out a local animal shelter has a influx of cats and is in desperate need of fosters through the weekend? You end up leaving with two 3-month-old kittens. Meet Maple and Waffles, two of the sweetest kittens on the planet. We absolutely adore this brother-sister duo and they’ve been such a spunky, cuddly, fun addition to our household this week.

Long story short, we went to the pet store for crickets for our leopard gecko and found out that the animal shelter they partner with was in desperate need for more room for their cats, as they were getting an influx of rescues on Thursday. There is a cricket shortage in the area (yes, really), so we ended up leaving the pet store with zero crickets and two cats (yes, really).

We brought Maple and Waffles home on Monday with the understanding our home is not the right fit for a longterm home for the kittens for a myriad of reasons. Of course now we adore these little babies and would love, love, love to help them find a perfect home. We’ve had them in our house for five days now and they’ve been absolutely fantastic with the boys. They’re playful and hilarious together but also do so well when the boys hold them and pet them. They’re a blast and a half to watch together and have all of us laughing as they pounce, climb, jump and spook each other. I am MORE than happy to help fascilitate an adoption for these kittens because they are so wonderful and deserve to live in a loving forever home. We are hoping and praying they find a loving family to give them the best life… and if they could be adopted together, our hearts would soar because they’re such a sweet duo.

Biscuit Donut Holes

When I was a kid, and even into my teenage years, my mom used to make homemade donut holes using canned biscuit dough for breakfast in the morning after I’d have friends sleepover. They’re one of those special core memory breakfasts I associate with childhood, the excitement of sleepovers with close friends and, now that I’m older, a mom who loved me so much that she wanted to sprinkle extra special experiences into everyday life. Fast forward to being a mother myself, I cannot resist making fun breakfasts for the boys and their friends when they have sleepovers at our house. Sometimes this looks like cinnamon rolls (the viral cinnamon rolls with heavy cream we love) or, if we’re feeling extra fun, my mom’s biscuit donut holes!

These donut holes are really easy to make. First you just need a can or two of biscuits. Cut the biscuits into quarters and then roll the pieces between your hands to form them into a circular donut hole shape. Then you’ll just fry them up in oil (vegetable or canola oil work well) in a skillet, turning them as they start to brown which happens FAST! From there, the fun really begins as you can then dip your donut holes into a variety of toppings. We love glaze (just powdered sugar mixed with a splash of milk), cinnamon-sugar, sprinkles and icing. Glaze and powdered sugar are always the most popular and tastiest, especially when you roll one in the glaze and then toss it in the powdered sugar. A double whammy of deliciousness!

Glass Tumbler

While my unicorn mug has yet to exist, I am seeing some progress on the non-silicone/plastic tumbler front! There are more and more ceramic and glass options out there these days and while they do feel a little bit like a disaster/crash waiting to happen when I try to juggle too many things in my hands at once, I cannot deny I’m loving them! Since I am very much one of those people who like to have multiple different beverages going at all times, I am embracing my glass tumblers for my “special” beverages — aka my iced matcha lattes and...

Key West Summer Vacation with Kids

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:19:07 +0200

We just got back from a week-long family vacation in Key West, Florida and it was equal parts HOT and wonderful! Our family of five visited Key West with my parents and filled our days with snorkeling, fishing, scuba diving, swimming and lots of island exploration. (Key West is super walkable which we LOVED.) It was a fantastic way to round out our summer before school starts next week!

Key West Summer Vacation with Kids

My dad has been visiting Key West almost every single summer for decades with his scuba diving buddies so when Chase (who turned 11 on the trip!) got scuba certified last month, we knew we wanted to make a trip to Key west happen so Ryan, my dad, Chase and I could all dive together. My mom and dad’s prior trips to Key West helped us plan a family vacation we loved as they had a lot of knowledge about the island, where to stay, kid-friendly places to eat, family-friendly activities and more.

Is Key West Good for Families in the Summer?

Okay first let’s address the main concern with a visit to Key West in the summer: The heat! We’ve had a family vacation to Key West on our radar for years but didn’t pull the plug on planning a trip to Key West until this summer for one main reason: I wanted our three boys to be strong swimmers before we visited the island because I knew our trip would include a lot of swimming and, ideally, a decent amount of ocean swimming and snorkeling.

Was the heat unbareable? Not at all. Was the humidity 10/10? Definitely. Were we sweating at all hours of the day? Yep! But I think a think a few things helped: 1. The majority of the activies we planned revolved around water and the ocean. 2. We did a lot of our walking/island exploring in the morning or early evening versus during the heat of the day 3. When we were exploring, we weren’t shy about popping into shops for air conditioning relief (and often a sweet treat!) 4. We packed portable fans, water bottles filled with ice and cooling towels to help keep us cool. 5. We lucked out with a decent number of overcast days so we weren’t dealing with 100-degree super-sunny heat.

Visiting Key West in the summer comes along with a decent number of perks outside of the obvious (beautiful island, clear ocean waters, etc.). Prices for accommodations are less expensive than the winter months (peak tourism season) and restaurant reservations are easier to grab last-minute. We also commented on how the island felt vibrant and lively but not at all overcroweded which was a plus! We had two cruise ships come through Key West during our stay and while we noticed a slight influx of people on these days (particularly on Duval Street), it was never too busy to feel fun.

Also, as someone who is a bit of a baby about cold water, I LOVED the fact that the ocean was warm and there was no “oh my gosh this water is freezing” shock to my body when I’d jump in. Honestly, this was huge for me because I love swimming and the ocean but when I’m in cold water, it’s all I can think about. I would truly plan a trip to Key West in the heat of the summer for this very reason alone!

Top Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Key West (Summer Edition)

The top kid-friendly things to do in Key West will naturally vary depending on your kids’ interests but when we were researching the island we found a solid mix of family-friendly activities that would appeal to a wide range of interests. From snorkeling and beach time to visits to an aquarium, butterfly conservatory, parrot rescue and shipwreck museum, we found it really easy to fill a week-long family vacation in Key West with plenty of kid fun.

Key West Water Activities to Beat the Heat

If swimming in the ocean isn’t high on your list of fun things to do, I would hesitate to visit Key West in the summer. It’s very hot in the summer months and the ocean is where it’s at for fun in Key West when it’s 90+ degrees outside. Most of our time on the island centered around the ocean and swimming and we loooved it!

Snorkeling in Key West: Ryan booked our crew on a 1/2 day snorkling adventure through Fury and we loved it! We lucked out with the boat being only 1/2 full (note: I do think it would’ve felt too crowded if it was fully booked) and had a great time snorkeling in clear waters at a protected reef located less than 30 minutes from shore. We saw a TON of fish and healthy coral and every single person in our crew loved this activity. If we would’ve had more time, we would have looked into snorkeling at Dry Tortugas National Park as well.
Key West Eco Tour: If we were to return to Key West, I’d highly consider booking an eco tour through Honest Eco. We stumbled upon Honest Eco boats at the marina on the last day of our visit and when I researched their experiences, they seem amazing and right up our alley. They include various eco tours led by biologists — kayaking, sunset sails, snorkeling adven...

Recent Looks #14

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:44:39 +0200

Well hot dang it’s been a while since I’ve shared a Recent Looks blog post on PBF! We’re talking months — my last one was back in January! — so I figured it was high time to roundup some outfit pics and share them here. Since we’re making up for lost time today, you’ll see a lot of pics from the spring and summer months below which hopefully will be okay with you guys since the spring looks might be of interest as we look ahead to the summer-to-fall transition (aka you’ll see some jackets, jeans, etc. and not just clothes meant for summer heat).

As always nearly everything — actually every single thing — I’m sharing below checks my comfort requirement box and many of these outfits are mom-life approved. These Recent Looks roundups serve as a way to honor my throwback bathroom mirror outfit pics I used to snap at work and share on the blog more than a decade ago! Memoriessss!

Note: You may also browse more frequently updated outfits with sizing info on the “My Outfits” tab of my ShopMy page!

Recent Looks #14

Outfit #1

Occasion: Coffee with friends + Solo coffee shop work time

Outfit Details: Pants: Albion Fit (code PBFINGERS10 saves 10%) / Top: Target / Shoes: Steve Madden / Bag: Clare V.

Outfit #2

Occasion: Dinner out with friends

Outfit Details: Dress: Skatie / Sandals: TKEES / Purse: Amazon

Outfit #3

Occasion: Trampoline park with the boys

Outfit Details: Top: Splits 59 / Pants: Splits 59 / Bag: Amazon / Sneakers: Reebok

Outfit #4

Occasion: End of school picnic

Outfit Details: Tank: Aerie / Skirt: Target (but old) / Sandals: Beeks / Bag: Clare V. (sold out but this one is similar)

Outfit #5

Occasion: Preschool Easter egg hunt

Outfit Details: Cream Denim Jacket: aerie / Jeans: FRAME (PBFINGERS15 saves 15%) / Shoes: Birkenstock / Bag: Clare V. (sold out but this one is similar)

Outfit #6

Occasion:

Things I’m Loving Friday #599

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:58:51 +0200

Hey friends! How’s it going? Did you have a good week? We had a good one over here complete with the usual summer shenanigans — pool days with friends, downtime at home, sweatin’ hot backyard soccer, puzzles, books, board games, building toys and me over here just trying my best to find little pockets of time to check in with all of you!

Our weekend plans have all of us feeling a little extra excited as we’re heading off to Key West tomorrow for scuba diving, snorkeling and fun in the sun with my parents. I’ll try to snap pics and share a recap of our time in Florida once we’re back but until then, you may find this week’s roundup of Friday favorites below!

Things I’m Loving Friday

Cordless Rechargable Rattan Light

How cute is this cordless rechargable rattan lamp!? It was an impulse buy at Walmart a couple of months ago and I’ve loved the addition of this little lamp to our kitchen counter. I’m not sure if it’s me getting older or what but I’ve become increasingly sensitive to harsh overhead light and really love the soft glow of a lamp. There is an on/off touch sensor on the top of the lamp and it can cycle through warm or cool lights — and it’s dimmable! I’ve been super impressed, especially for a lamp with a $19.99 pricepoint!

Genius Square

Attention puzzle lovers and those with kids who love puzzles! I have a solid game recommendation for you! Genius Square was a Christmas gift for Chase last year that ended up being a slam dunk for our whole family. It’s easy to learn and can be played alone or against another person. It has tetris vibes as you’re working to fit all the pieces around little circular blockers. There are thousands of combinations so the game never feels repetitive and even Rhett at almost 6 can play!

Busy Boxes/Travel Boxes for Kids: Items We’ve Included

I shared this on Instagram after I received a handful of DMs asking me to share what all I’ve included in the busy boxes I’ve made for the boys, my nieces and nephews, the boys’ friends, etc. I rounded up a collection of small items I’ve included in past busy boxes in one spot on Amazon here: Travel/Busy Boxes for Kids. All of these items fit into the clear hard pencil case from Target! Also, this list includes a variety of items across all ages (toddlers to big kids) so hopefully you’ll get some ideas if these boxes have been on your radar.

JetLag (YouTube Show): Season 17 & Season 13

Oh my gosh what a FUN show!!! We are tip-toeing into a new era with our boys as they get a little older where we’re increasingly able to find shows to watch together as a family that Ryan and I genuinely enjoy. (Some past favorites: All the Sharks and Is It Cake?) We recently discovered the YouTube show JetLag and while it’s not a kid show (they bleep out some bad words here and there), it’s still a show we feel comfortable enough watching with our kids. (Rhett at almost 6 is the least engaged but the big kids are all in!)

In the two seasons of the show we’ve watched (season 17 and season 13), teams of two compete various challenges to try to train stations across Taiwan (season 17) or European countries (season 13). There are a lot of different hurdles that pop up along the way and silly things that happen that make it more than just a basic travel show. The first season we watched was Taiwan Rail Rush (season 17) and it honestly made all the travel headaches we had getting to the Azores more exciting for the boys because all of the sudden we felt like we were on our own JetLag adventure — riding on high speed trains in Portugal, navitaging our own headaches and buying local treats to try just like they do in the JetLag “Snack Zone.”

Note: We’ve only watched season 17 and season 13 so I cannot speak to the other seasons of the show but we really enjoyed those two. I’d recommend starting with season 17.

Weekend Sales

20% off RUTI Core Collection: Sale includes my favorites pants in all the land — their On the Loose Work Pants! You’ve seen me wear these a billion times for good reason. The fit CANNOT BE BEAT. The fabric is perfect and the comfort level is 10/10. They also now make them in petite and long!! I wear a size 6.

$20 Off Certain DSW Shoes: I have these Nikes, these Fyre boots and these Nikes and love them all. (I sized up in both pairs of Nikes.) And the slip-on New Balance sneakers we’ve bought over and over again for the boys for YEARS are on clearance.

30% off aerie + free shipping (today only) with code EXTRAAA: If you have an aerie account (just an email login) everything is 30% off! I bought this set (

Currently: July 2026

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:55:15 +0200

Hi friends! I’m coming to you this morning before we hit the ground running! It’s another camp-free week over here but our day will be a full one thanks to all-day pool plans we have on the agenda with ome of our best friends. I’m hoping to squeeze in a quick workout and a walk with Comet before we head out so let’s get this blog post rockin’! I’m feeling chatty and a little scattered today so how about a chatty, scattered blog post!? A “Currently” style blog post is calling my name today, so let’s catch up with a collection of things currently going on around here.

Currently: July 2026

Currently Reflecting On: World Cup Joy!

To say our family enjoyed the World Cup this year is a huge understatement. The boys’ natural interest in soccer coupled with so many games airing at decent times for us to view them live and the collective joy of the world coming together to root for their favorite country (and then their second favorite, third favorite, and so on) was just so fun! The boys loved picking a team and learning all about the players and the countries and Ryder in particular got really into the flags, drawing and coloring team flags for every game once we hit the quarter finals. We also loved hosting a group of 30ish friends at our house yesterday for the final match even if it was waaay less exciting than the third place game the day before (how wild was that!?)!

I think a huge part of the joy of the World Cup extends beyond soccer as the boys broke out the interactive LeapFrog Magic Adventures globe toy we’ve had for years nearly every day to find the countries competing that day. They’d walk into the kitchen spouting new facts about the countries competing and proudly proclaim who they were rooting for and the various reasons why that country was “their team” now.

Now I’m left with one question: What are we going all-in on next!? We love the Olympics in our house, too, but we’ve got another two years before those happen again so let me know what we’re all cheering for next because we’d love something fun to fill this World Cup void!

Currently Reading:

By Myself: The Calamity Club by Kathryn Sockett

This loooong book came very highly recommended by a couple of my college friends. I just started reading it and while I have no idea where it’s going, I’m enjoying it so far. There’s no denying Kathryn Sockett is a talented writer.

With the Kids: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Series by Judy Blume

The very first book I remember a teacher reading aloud in class when I was a kid Tales of a Fourth Grade nothing and the little brother Fudge-centered books that followed. I lucked into finding a couple at our local used book store and couldn’t wait to read them with the boys because I remembered thinking they were so funny as a kid.

The humor of these books certainly holds up BIG time as our kids absolutely crack up at Fudge’s antics and the silly things that happen in these books. But now, as a mom and as a picky parent, I am finding I have to alter the way some of the characters speak to each other as they can be quite disrespectful and the way even parents and kids communicate back and forth in the book isn’t my favorite. (I’ve also heard there’s a Santa spoiler in the Superfudge book so we’ll be skipping that chapter because we’re a Santa fam.) Anyway, I say all this to say, they’ve been really fun and nostalgic for me to read with the boys even though I’ve had to be a little creative as the narrator.

Currently Exercising: When I Can

(Top: Splits59 / Leggings: Nike but old)

Do you guys feel like you’re more or less consistent with exercise during the summer months? Travel, hosting friends and family and minimal camps for the boys means my normal routines are basically blown up in the summer making exercise all over the place. I’ve found a groove that works for me and it’s commiting to four days a week when we are home. Anything else is just icing on the cake! I’m still very much enjoying Madeline Moves’ Weekly Moves app. I am exclusively doing the 30-minute version versus the longer option and feel like this is a better and more realistic/managable fit for me. I will also pepper in my own workouts from time to time and it’s working well for the summer.

Currently Drinking: All The Things

I love a fun beverage and have a few in my current rotation that I’m loving:

Morning: Whole Milk Latte

Earlier this week, we realized that our family has less than a month left of summer break before all three boys are back in school. Summer is flying by and we are certainly making the most of it over here! We spent the past week swimming, playing backyard soccer, fishing, watching the World Cup, hanging out with friends, playing board games and eating daily popsicles.

Our weekend plans include a visit to a new-to-our-area slime museum, a kid birthday party and our own World Cup watch party! It should be a good one. As for today, I’m stopping by the blog to share this week’s roundup of favorites. Please keep on scrolling if you’d like to check them out! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Things I’m Loving Friday #598

Active Skin Repair

Summer is the season of scratches, scrapes and bug bites in our house. At any given time, it feels like each kid has a handful of battle wounds from playing hard. This Active Skin Repair works overtime to cleanse wounds and speed up healing in a non-toxic, no-sting, pain-free way. Our kids don’t flinch when I break a bottle of this stuff out to spray on a scrape or skin irritation. It relies on Hypochlorous Acid (the same stuff in my fav Tower 28 spray I use to keep my skin in check when I’m super sweaty but can’t shower right away) and Hyaluronic Acid, both naturally produced by the body to help support healing and promote skin barrier function. We’ve loved it!

Collaborative Board Games

Last weekend, after I went through all of our games and puzzles, I realized something: Leaving a new (but old) game or puzzle out on the kitchen counter in the morning has a 100% success rate in prompting our kids to reach for them. What’s old is new again! Our kids have always loved games and puzzles but having them out and easily accessible undoubtedly inspires more play with some of their forgotten gems. I shared this sentiment on Instagram earlier in the week along with a handful of the collaborative games our boys love and a bunch of you reached out appreciating the recommendations so I wanted to highlight them here, too.

These cooperative/collaborative games are games where kids work together toward a common goal versus competing. They’ve been hugely helpful for eliminating sibling battles and intensely competitive emotions over the years. Here are some of our favorites:

Outfoxed:

A fun and exciting game where kids work togehter to catch a thief. This is the one that has the most longevity as even our oldest son (almost 11) still enjoys it! Plus, it’s enjoyable for adults, too!

Hoot Owl Hoot:

An adorable game where kids work to get little owls back into their nest before the sun rises.

Snug as a Bug in a Rug:

A seriously cute game where kids spin a wheel and try to get all the bugs under the rug before stink bugs arrive! This one is extra awesome because you can actually alter the rules and make it easier or more advanced based on your kids’ ages and skills. It was fun in the younger years but has grown well with the boys.

Count Your Chickens:

Kids work together to gather up a bunch of baby chicks and bring them back to their coop. This is especially a hit with our 5-year-old right now.

Dinosaur Escape:

For kids who love the game memory, Dinosaur Escape is a fun game that combines memory, matching and speed. The goal is to find each dinosaur’s hidden match so they can make it to safety before a 3D volcano puzzle is completed.

The Academy by T.Z. Layton (Soccer-Themed Series for 7- to 13-year-olds)

No, no, not The Academy book I just mentioned I loved in last week’s TILF post! This one is Chase’s new book series obsession! He’s been all-in on The Academy series recommended to him by Jack, his fellow soccer-loving best friend. (Jack’s mom is a teacher and knows her book recs so she deserves the credit for bringing this one into their lives.) Soccer has always been Chase’s favorite sport. Couple Chase’s innate interest in soccer with World Cup madness, and his interest in soccer is sky-high.

This soccer-themed series captivated him from the first couple of pages and he begins and ends every single day by reading a few chapters. I asked Chase to tell me what he likes about this series so I could share it with kids who might be interested and this is what he said: “It’s really entertaining and fun to read. The soccer games in the book are easy to picture in your head and exciting.” So there ya have it!

America’s Sweethearts (Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Show on Netflix)

Anyone else remember Making the Team, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show that first debuted in the early 2000s? I remember watching that show with friends in college and we all LOVED it. (Apparently it ran for years!? Somehow it fell off my radar after college though.) Anyway, fast forward a decade and a half or so and America’s Sweethearts on Netflix is every bit as captivating. I love watching the dancer’s talent and the drama that unfolds as the new season’...

Certified Scuba Diver, Carowinds and A Simple Sunday

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:29:07 +0200

Things I’m Loving Friday #597

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:00:26 +0200

Hey friends! How are ya!? How was your week? Ours was a good one. We arrived home from Jacksonville where we spent the Fourth of July with family (more on that below) and then Chase dove headfirst into scuba camp on Monday! He’s already passed his written exam and, should everything go well today with his practical test in the water, he’ll be scuba certified by the end of the day!

Rhett and Ryder only had one camp all summer (the VBS camp they did 2 weeks ago) so I had the little guys with me all week. We made the most of our time together with lots of pool and lake time, a trip to an indoor play place, some friend playdates, backyard soccer and more.

As for the weekend ahead, we have a few fun things on the agenda (Carowinds!!) but for now I want to chat a little bit about some things that made me smile this week, Things I’m Loving Friday style! Enjoy your weekend, my friends!!

Things I’m Loving Friday

Fourth of July Weekend in Florida

We weren’t sure if our plans to make it to Jacksonville Beach to see family for the Fourth of July weekend were going to happen when I was selected for jury duty. The night before I was set to report to the courthouse, I was told I was no longer needed so our plans were back on! We made our way to Florida on Wednesday night and spent a long weekend with some of our very favorite people on the planet!

We filled our days with hours and hours of beach time (we majorly lucked out with AWESOME waves for boogie boarding and surfing), pool time, backyard cookouts at my sister’s house, Mae’s annual summer t-shirt crafting, World Cup watching (we’re all so into it!!!) and plenty of cousin fun!

It was such a good long weekend and while it was sad to say goodbye, we’re looking forward to a trip to Key West with my parents at the end of the month for some fishing and scuba diving (hence Chase’s certification journey)!

Favorite Tinted SPF For My Face

In the summer months my desire to put on makeup plummets. A face full of makeup of a sweatin’-hot day? No thanks! Thank goodness for tinted SPF because it’s the only thing I wear on my face most days. I have three tinted SPFs I find myself reaching for over all others and figured I’d highlight them here today with a little more detail! These three tinted SPFs are all summertime skincare staples for me. I apply tinted SPF to my face every single morning and re-apply again in the afternoon/before any pool or beach time.

Iris&Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50: I discovered Iris&Romeo Weekend Skin SPF after falling in love with this clean beauty brand’s mascara. (Shout out to this serum-infused peptide mascara for anyone who loves long, fully, fluffy lashes!) It’s SPF and skincare in one and combines mineral SPF 50, brightening vitamin C and niacinamide to help even out skin tone and smooth texture. It makes my skin look refreshed, luminous and well-rested while still very natural. It’s the kind of product I use that makes me feel like I’m applying something very beneficial to my face which is a win in my book! Also, this is a random but this is also my favorite sweaty activity SPF/skin tint for the gym option! I put SPF on in the morning no matter what, but this one feels the best on my skin when I know I’m going to sweat. (I use shade universal.) Note: Code PBFINGERS20 saves 20% site wide!

Tower 28 SunnyDays Skin Tint SPF 30: I discovered Tower 28 Sunny Days Skin Tint during a girls’ trip when I tried out my friend’s skin tint! I ordered it on the spot a year and a half ago and have been loyal to it ever since! (I use the shade 20 Mulholland.) It’s the option I use when I want something the blurs well on my skin and while it’s incredibly light, it offers just enough coverage to make my skin look less blotchy and, well, old.

Supergoop! Glowscreen Soft Radiance Drops SPF 40: This is my favorite for under makeup or when I want a solid base SPF that almost works like a primer. Also, if I’m going to the beach or pool, this is the one I’m reaching for as it feels a little thicker and more like a traditional SPF in a “this is definitely going to help prevent sun damage” kind of way. It’s also absolutely gorgeous on the skin and truly seems to brighten up my overall complexion. I use the sunrise shade year-round and switch to golden hour as my skin gets more bronzed in the summer months. Note: If you order this SPF or anything Supergoop!’s website my code PBFINGERS1o will save you 10%!

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