This Week’s Friday Five: A Few Random Things I’m Loving Right Now
Foot alignment socks (yes, really), a sweet gift from my mom, and a powder room upgrade...
It’s the last weekend before I take my baby back to college, and I won’t lie—I’m kind of dreading it. And not just because it means a 12-hour drive. I’m actually looking forward to that, since it means 12 hours of uninterrupted time together, plus an overnight at my parents' house (which happens to be exactly halfway between here and Nashville—so convenient!). I’m also hoping to see my brother and his family for a quick visit while we’re there.
The dread feels different this year. Now that she’s more established at school with good friends, a new on-campus apartment, and an internship on the horizon, it’s no longer about the unknown. It’s just that I know how quiet the house feels when one of my kids isn’t living here, and I’m not looking forward to that.
Summer has felt way too short, but I guess it always does. I love summer. It’s my favorite season, and I can never get enough of it. Why I live north of the Mason-Dixon line is a valid question. (Hint: I married a Philly boy. And Philly boys don’t leave Philly.)
Back to this weekend... it’ll be a preview of the months ahead. My younger daughter is headed to the beach for one last summer hurrah, and my older daughter will actually be away too, attending a wedding. So I guess it will feel more like a flashback to last fall, with just the three of us again for a few days. It’s rare for all five of us to be home at once anymore, but I suppose that’s just the cycle of life.
One of my friends at church put it this way: “You realize one day that you aren’t Number One anymore…” And I think that perfectly sums up this bittersweet season of parenting young adult kids. I know it’s the goal of motherhood, but the day that realization hits, it cuts a little.
Whew, that got serious quickly! I didn’t sit down intending to write all that out, but maybe I needed to get it off my chest.
Let’s move on to lighter topics…
Friday Five
I’m taking Fridays off from blog posting this month, but I still wanted to pop in with a quick Friday Five! These are just a few little things that have been bringing me joy lately.
1. Foot Alignment Socks
Tell me you’re 53 without telling me you’re 53… 😆 I saw these advertised on Instagram (of course I did) and ended up ordering a pair from the My-Happy Feet website, but they’re also on Amazon.
The ORIGINAL Foot Alignment Socks are designed to separate, stretch and align your toes to minimize the harmful effects of daily foot stress due to improper, narrow and confining footwear.
I’ve been wearing them for a couple of hours in the evening, right before bed. (I usually fall asleep in them and then rip them off sometime in the middle of the night, lol.) It’s too soon to say whether they’re helping, but I have fussy feet, and I’m hoping these might ease some of the pain and stiffness I often wake up with in the mornings.
2. Soft Services Bestsellers Discovery Kit
I’ve been using the Soft Services Buffing Bar for a while now, and I love it. It’s done wonders for the bumpy skin on the backs of my upper arms and the scaly patches I’ve started noticing on the fronts of my calves lately. (So far, this list is full of lovely visuals, haha!)
Recently, they reached out and offered to send me their Bestsellers Discovery Kit, and of course I said, Yes, please, and thank you! It includes TSA-friendly sizes of their three most popular products: the Buffing Bar, Smoothing Solution, and Speed Soak. It’s perfect for travel, or for testing them out before committing to the full sizes. I can’t wait to try the other two!
3. Guest Towel Holder Tray + Disposable Bathroom Napkins
I keep these in my powder room as an alternative to the hand towel that hangs nearby. It just feels a lot more sanitary to offer a disposable single-use option, especially when we have a big group over and everyone’s using the same towel for hours on end. (And let’s be honest, I rarely remember to change it out mid-party.)
The damp hand towel still ends up hanging in disarray by the end of the night… but at least people don’t have to use it. And the tray with disposable napkins looks nice, too.
4. cloth and stone Flap Pocket Zipper Shacket
I’m super excited about this recent fashion find, and I can’t wait to start wearing it. The lightweight chambray fabric is perfect for this transitional season, and I love the classic trucker jacket shape with the oversized flap pockets and updated front zip.
It would actually pair really well with that new brown stripe dress from Gap Factory, so I can start wearing it now while the weather still feels summery.
5. Pomegranate Mod Lemon Table Runner
My mom bought me this gorgeous table runner when we were shopping in Camden, Maine last week, and I love how it looks on my kitchen table. The lemon print is so cheerful and fresh, and perfect for summer.
They also make matching tea towels, and I’m fully prepared to stalk the website until they’re back in stock.
And that’s a wrap on this week’s Friday Five! I’d love to hear what little things have been bringing you joy lately—feel free to share in the comments.
Have a fabulous Friday!
xx,
Jo-Lynne
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Hang in there, I also had a hard time taking my kids back to college each year. But now they are full adults, both are married and one had a child this year. Life is full of wonderful surprises! Just try to enjoy the journey!
I’m feeling this a little - about to drop off my oldest for his 2nd year, and although he is much more settled and it is less of the anxiety from “unknowns” and 1st collegeyear… I feel a little melancholy. It is great to see him so settled and I am thankful, but bittersweet bc they really start needing us less & the house changes without them. I have 2 still at home and they are getting social & independent too. I’m reminding myself to be thankful for all the beautiful phases God gives us in life.
I love the shacket - may have to order! Where is your dining table arrangement from? So pretty.