Getting a head start/Taking one for the team/blog?

Friday, July 3, 2026

Happy Friday to you! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites from the week.

Tom is off today so that is my first favorite. One thing he/we is/are doing is going to have a custom belt made for Tom at the belt bar where Mason works. This was Mason’s idea for Father’s Day. You get to pick your leather color, your hardware, and your stitching color. Tom is a belt guy so this will be so special for him – I hope!

The theme of this week was the heat and mainly staying at home, but I did have several things I would call my favorites!

  1. A fresh pedi!

Everywhere you look in the summer you are exposed to feet pics! Sorry that I too, am joining in! I got a fresh gel pedicure and used white white (don’t remember the name but it might have been OPI Alpine Snow) with some “chrome” on top. The chrome came out of a little pot the tech rubbed on with their finger after the gel was sealed.

I do think a gel pedicure is a good investment in the summer because the bug sprays and the spray sunscreens can take off the polish or dull it. My last one lasted over 5 weeks!

It’s hard to tell the chrome is on there from this photo but it makes it just a little sparkly.

2. A little help with a fresh mani!

In my quest for a new mani solution, I got my fingernails shaped up and polished with this original illuminating nail concealer from Kur Londontown that I ordered on Amazon. I used this for years before press ons to give me a “your nails but better” look. Gel/Dip don’t appeal to me right now because of the removal process. Press ons aren’t doing it for me anymore.

This still looks perfect as I type this post on Thursday and I had it done on Sunday!

3. Target wandering

I took a wander around Target this week. These r,w,b Nerds gummy clusters are fun. My sisters and I put these in a drink we made in the Airbnb last week! I like to buy red, white, and blue products and make a little charcuterie board or a few snacks even if it’s just Tom and I.

I love seeing the new flavors and the World Cup themed snacks.

4. My Chobani creamers!

I did try a new Chobani flavor – Cookie Butter! So good!

And, this is my current favorite so I re-stocked.

I appreciate it but I don’t know about blueberry coffee. Excuse me, it’s “American Blueberry”. I have heard of blueberry lattes, though.

They are pricey at $5.69 but that is less than a coffee out and this lasts much longer.

I also picked this up – the best protein pasta I have tried. It’s delicious and your family won’t know it’s protein pasta!

5. Cooking/Experimenting!

I made my own Mexican rice this week and it turned out pretty much like the Mexican restaurant version. You cook your rice in chicken broth and add tomato paste.

I also tried my hand at authentic Mexican restaurant queso. It’s close. I need deli cheese next time. I’ve got this! I told Tom we might never have to go to a Mexican restaurant again! Wait – that would be sad!

I also tried a new to me German dish. It’s like a flat meatball and is called Frikkadellen. I paired it with a German cucumber salad and German potatoes. The flat meatballs are served with German mustard. I boiled Yukon Gold potatoes and then chopped them and cooked them in a skillet wtih some butter, bacon, and onion. Tom really liked this meal!

I made a good dinner salad this week, too!

6. Shopping!

This could be a post of its own, but I used the Prime Days as a way to stock up on makeup products that are working for me. I start with the Lumi and Sun Bum (taught to me by Jenn) then do the Elf Halo contour, add blush sticks (I use two and layer), then do brow pencil and brow gel, then eye liner, then lipliner, then on days where I’m going somewhere eye shadow and brown mascara. I add a lip gloss or a light something on my lips (not pictured). This is a 5-minute face for me.

7. Connecting with People!

I had a coffee out this week with a former student and it was great to catch up. This former student is now in her 40s and recently moved back to the area with her husband and two kids.

I also had a 3 way call with both sisters – we need to do that more! I had a long overdue phone call with my cousin, too!

8. Reading!

This book has me hooked this week! I have been spending more time indoors due to the heat but I’ve been entertained by this, for sure.

9. TV!

I also started Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders new season on Netflix and Elle on Prime.

10. My shadow Eddie Otis!

Eddie Otis and I walk the playground in the early morning and then I’ve been trying to take him in the car to a new place to sniff in the afternoon.

Good sniff at my former school’s practice field:

I look cool in my necklace fan?

I also like to spritz myself with my trusty spray bottle! Do you have one?

I’ve been loving my hair clips this summer.

Even though it’s really hot, Eddie Otis likes to sunbathe, too.

Another day, another field trip to a nearby park…

He won’t jump down from the car until I clip his leash on.

I froze some vegetables in water for him to play with and he enjoyed the bowl more than the ice…

11. Interesting side quests? I think the young people are saying that.

I heard that McDonald’s had “dirty soda”. They only have it with regular (not diet) Dr. Pepper so it is quite caloric at 330 calories. I bought it and a plain diet Dr. Pepper to make my own and do a taste test. The McDonald’s was slightly better and creamier but mine was really close and only 50 calories I would guess. So, I will be making my own!

12. A few more things I bought!

I bought Eddie Otis a new dog puzzle. I just worry he is bored in the heat.

This is the only brand of hand soap I have been buying. Love this smell!

And, I did some pre-gaming for the 4th!

This is an excellent idea! You heard it here!

I made the pretzel Rolo things!

Happy 4th to you!

Amy

30 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. Happy 4th to you as well. Your nails look great! I don’t think I’ve read anything at all this week… that is so unlike me. But it’s been busy!

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    1. Thank you! Thank you! Oh – that is unlike you! I hope you get some great weather and outdoor reading time. We are still in a heat wave but I think it breaks tomorrow or Sunday.

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  2. Happy 4th to you! I was at a local sporting event last night that was teeming with patriotism and has got me in the 4th partying (tame!) mood!! Love your favorites- so many good ones. I like your polish and cookie butter is one of my favorite things ever AND favorite dirty soda flavor. I’m sure that creamer is divine and would make a hecka dirty soda ingredient!! The belt sounds like a great idea for Tom as was that meal. Have a great 4th and weekend!!

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    1. And to you! How fun! Thank you so much! I didn’t even think to add the cookie butter to the Dr. Pepper! Great idea! I hope the belt turns out great for him!

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  3. Happy 4th! Love your nails! In the summer I really like that neutral look. I found a dupe for that Kur polish, will order it today and let you know if it’s any good.

    I’ve heard a lot about that The Calamity Club, but I think I’ll wait until the paperback comes. I’m still into reading fantasy (right now I’m on part three in the Fourth Wing series).

    Great idea with the belt! (Father’s Day is in November in Sweden.)

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    1. Thank you and to you, too! I do, too! Oh – let me know!
      My Calamity Club is a library book. Do you have a summer library card for Florida?
      I’m not into fantasy – sorry! I know they are popular!
      Thank you!

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      1. I have to check if there’s a library near-by!

        I absolutely get that people aren’t into fantasy, but for me it’s such a great way to escape the world for a while!

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      2. You should! I bet you would qualify or your MIL is since she has an address there. You might need to bring proof like a bill!

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  4. What a great week! That picture of E.O. carrying that bowl got me. I love all the makeup things you bought with the Prime Days sales last week. Thanks for the shout out! I want to do another makeup post soon…I may add it to my Fashion Files post that I link up with on Tuesday. Happy Friday to you! Enjoy the day with Tom and Eddie Otis!

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  5. Trav is off today too and I didn’t realize until he slept in a bit, haha! Your food looks amazing…chef Amy ! I used prime days to stock up on a few staples too. I didn’t buy anything else otherwise. The belt sounds like a unique & fab gift. Happy 4th!

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  6. My sister in law got me addicted to those red white & blue nerds clusters. They are so good! I have quite a collection of claw clips for my hair. When it’s hot and humid I can’t stand my hair on the back of my neck! Have a Happy 4th of July! 🎆🇺🇸🧨

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  7. The custom belt for Tom sounds fantastic, what a great gift! Your pedicure looks great, I need my toes doing again, I do them myself and they last about a month. Those Nerds are so cool! We get Nerds over here but not the gummy cluster version. I have heard good things about The Calamity Club. I love the sound of the Dirty Dr Pepper. We don’t even get the normal Dr Pepper in McDonalds here in England.

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  8. I have never thought of doing a gel pedicure. I bet it lasts forever! Love the picture of EO in the sun. Mollie goes to lay in the sun even if I am just letting her out for a few minutes. All I can think about is how hot her black coat must be in the 100 degree sun! All of your food looks delicious. I like the PW recipe for Mexican rice. Here is a queso recipe I have enjoyed before. And I want to check out this German cookbook from the library when we get a copy. Have a happy 4th!

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    1. I’m new to it! It does! If my toenails didn’t grow I could have gone weeks longer with the same one. Thank you! That black and brown coat get so hot! I need to try PW’s. Her recipes are always so good. I have had fun learning some German recipes this year!

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  9. Have a wonderful weekend, Amy! So, the nails…do you take the polish to your salon, or do you do it yourself? My fingernails peel when I polish them, but I’d almost be willing to try this. Strangely, my toenails never peel. I do gel on them because it will last 5-6 weeks, if not longer!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. You too! Well, this was the first time I’ve done this – take regular polish to the salon and I asked them to clean up my cuticles, file, etc. Then, I feel like I can do my own for a while. I tell you – I think their topcoat is magic. I wash a lot of dishes and one week later and most of the nails are perfect – look like gel. The gel pedi is so nice! I am new to it!

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  10. happy 4th! Good catching up 🙂

    you always give me good ideas about how to entertain the dogs – mine eat ice all the time – never thought about freezing something inside the cubes!!

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  11. Happy 4th of July! Wow, it looks so hot for you guys over there; meanwhile, we are fffreezing over here. I bought one bottle of Mrs Meyer’s multi-surface spray when we were in the USA in 2025, and I use it about once a week to clean the kitchen benchtops and sink. It’s so precious because we can’t get it over here, so I’m rationing it like gold. Love the scent! I bet the hand soap smells amazing too.

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  12. Happy 4th of July! Love the puppy photos, as usual. I have a pedi scheduled for next week and need to puck a fun color. I really need to try the Chobani creamers – I bet the blueberry one would make a delish dirty soda!

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    1. Thank you and I hope you had a happy one, too. Nice! I like hot pink, neon yellow, white, or a shade of blue. Those are kind of my summer colors. That is a great idea!

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  13. Oh you know I love the pretel/rolo combo! I made and posted that same pasta a week or so ago and agree it is very good. Your pedicure looks so good and for your nails, did you take your polish in to the nail salon and have them use it or did you do it yourself? It looks so good. Did you use a top coat? I have this color, but mine only lasts a few day or two before little chipping starts. Happy 4th friend!

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    1. The pasta is so good but no can do on the cottage cheese. I couldn’t do it. I took my own polish in and had them do it. I needed cuticles done and all. They did such a good job with an amazing top coat they had. I will do my own with my top coat and I’m ok with only a few days.

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