Friday Favorites [7.31.2026]

 

Happy Friday, friends; this one hits different for me since I worked all week! I hope all of you had a great one; I want to hear about it at the end of this post, so stay tuned. Here are some favorite things and moments from this week...

Family dinner was a favorite this week because it happened at Drew's and Mallory's apartment. We swam and then ordered pizza for dinner; her parents were there as well as her twin sister. This was such a fun night, and I love that Mallory posted these pictures on social media, calling me one of her favorites. 

Being back at work was a favorite this week! It was so good to see my colleagues again, and to catch up. Our admin team is so fun and had us do fun little things like this card you see above, and even sending us out on a scavenger hunt. 

Leaving so early may not be a favorite, but sitting here was and talking on the phone. I talked to Chris on this day, since it was a day he stayed home from work because of his back.

Finding rain boots at school was a favorite; I was going to buy some this year, but now I don't have to since I found these. I walked around like this for a while to make sure they fit. 

This little eagle is my favorite!

Chick Fil A milkshakes are a favorite of mine; I got this after a dental procedure on Tuesday afternoon.

Scripture writing plans are a favorite of mine! I play on doing this one in August.

Lastly, our town hall is my favorite. I went here Tuesday night for a library board meeting after the dental appointment. It was a LONG day! And so was yesterday, on that note. It was orientation day, and I helped my friend Heather unpack/decorate her room (after doing the same thing on Monday and Tuesday for Karen), and I was beat when I got home. I'm sitting at work today and doing online training for the entire day; I leave at 2:30 for a meeting at the middle school, and then it's my weekend!

How was your week? What was a favorite for you? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends; love to all.

Jen

 

my 2026/2027 school year syllabus

 

Happy Thursday, friends! I thought I'd talk about something a little different today instead of doing the usual weekly happies post I've been doing on Thursdays. This post idea was inspired by the one and only Amy, also known as my personal stylist, dear friend and confidante, color specialist, and blog influencer. Here is my "syllabus" for the new school year...I hope you enjoy reading this and that you're inspired in your own life to make this own kind of list or plan for your year. (August really is like a second new year!) 

I will set my alarm to go off at my favorite time of day: five a.m. and I will try to be out of bed promptly, but when that doesn't always happen, I will give myself grace to sleep in a bit longer.

I will go about my normal morning routine each morning of the week; I will drink my favorite and only cup of hot coffee first thing and I will make the time to do something I love to do each morning, which having a devotional time of reading and prayer, and reading blogs. I need to have enough time to leave my kitchen and home clean before I leave. 

I will dress in outfits that I love and feel confident in; I will only wear things that I know are comfortable enough for me to move around all day, and I will wear only the shoes that never hurt my feet. I will do my best to look put together and cute, while not sacrificing the comfort that is important to me.

I will remember to have ibuprofen in my lunch bag for the times when I am aching from all the walking.

I will be better at food this school year! I will be better about packing healthy lunches and for having a plan for dinner each night of the week by Sunday afternoon. My current Sunday schedule will help me with this: it's church, grocery shopping for anything I forgot to order, meal prep for both dinner that night and for the nights to follow, family dinner at five p.m. each week, then packing up for Monday as I clean the kitchen when my sons leave.  

I will keep saying "yes" to after work events with my work family!

I will have plenty of things to do for the times when I am bored as my student does her independent work. I will keep notebook paper, pens, blank copy paper, a journal, and a book with me at all times. I will keep extras in my work bag and I will keep a few things in the bag that I take with me everywhere she goes. 

I will do my best to assist her teacher in fourth grade this year! I've gotten to see her teacher Robyn this week at work; one day when I got home, I went to Facebook to see how old Robyn is, and y'all. She is a year older than Jonah and Noah; she will literally be like one of my kids, not that I expect to mother her at all. I look forward to getting to know her better and I will try to develop a sweet friendship with her since we'll be together nonstop. I love younger people, and I consider her that. I am really excited about this part of the job! She's precious and I already love her. 

I will communicate with my student's mom by sending her pictures from time to time. I wondered how I would feel if it were my child at school for most of the day, knowing of her illness...and I had the thought to just start communicating with her. I know if it were me in her shoes, I would love an occasional update and maybe a picture of her smiling and having fun. That being said, I will not let this get the better of me, and I will give myself grace for when I'm busy or forget. My focus is the student herself, after all. 

I will try my best to display all the fruits of the Spirit each day as I work and go about the day: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I will remind myself of this constantly as I'm with some students who have annoying tendencies. 

I will be prompt each day, and I will not succumb to the complaining that I hear a lot.

I will not speak of students in a way that is anything less than respectful and loving to them.

I will enjoy my thirty minute break each day to the very best of my ability; I will find a quiet place to unwind or I will see if a friend is available for me to eat with. If a friend isn't available, I'll find somewhere to hide that is quiet and I'll read my book while I eat. 

I will use my free early leaves this school year! This is something I didn't know about last year until late in the year, but essentially I can leave by three one afternoon every month (or every other month) and get paid for the full day.

I will use my personal days as mental health days! This just takes planning beforehand. Mine are already reserved for the days when I'll be traveling. 

I will do my best at everything I do, working as if for the Lord and not for men; I will also have fun and laugh a lot when I mess up, which will be all the time. I will be excited to see my kiddos each and everyday and I will happily hug them when they run up to me and I will encourage them. I will have a smile on my face and I will thoroughly enjoy being back in fourth grade with M for the school year. I won't judge anyone, and I will try to put myself in their shoes when it's something I don't quite understand.

These are the things I want to accomplish for the 2026/2027 school year. (I'm sure I'll add to this at some point as the days progress, so stay tuned for more of this kind of thing.) 

Thanks for reading my blog today, friends! I'll see you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites. Love to all!

Jen 🖤🖤

the Wednesday hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm linking up with Joyce for today's hodgepodge post. I'll jump right in! 

1. What was the last thing you celebrated? The last thing I celebrated was Chris turning 44 a couple of weeks ago! I loved spoiling him for his birthday and bought him several things: a new slim leather wallet (purchased from Amy's son while I was in Louisville), some shorts with tee shirts to go with them, a new Bible (this one made him emotional because I wrote in it and put our picture in the front), and some swimming trunks with a tank top to wear with it at the pool. 

Additionally, I am a fan of celebrating the small things, too! I celebrated with my work besties on Monday, when we celebrated being back at work by going to lunch out. I will do that again today and again on Friday when we celebrate surviving the end of the first week back. 

2. July 29th is International Day of the Tiger. Besides the wild animal itself, what's the first person/place/thing you think of when you hear the word 'tiger'? I thought of myself when I heard this word, which is something new in the last couple of years. I have been docile most of my life and had learned how to keep the peace in my life due to life's circumstances and status of my personal life for 28 years. After my life changed, apparently all of that changed in me as well. I became a fighter and a defender of both myself and for what was right and owed to me. I remember someone telling me that I was a different person, one who was almost unrecognizable, and I just smiled and agreed that yes, I was indeed a different person. Life and certain situations will do that to you! Also, the Katy Perry song came to mind...the one whose lyrics in the chorus are, "and you're gonna hear me ROAR".

3. The expression 'eye of the tiger' describes someone with intense focus, determination, and the drive to succeed. What area of your life are you currently bringing that kind of energy to? The first thing I thought of is that I am this way at work. I love to have fun, laugh, and cut up with the best of them, but when it comes to my job, I hone in on what I need to get done, and I do exactly that. I was this way on Monday when I helped my work bestie get her room in order. She was overwhelmed by the amount of things in the room and bathroom, and I just dove in and got started. 

4. What was the last meal you cooked? The last meal I made was last week...I made a big dinner for my family to eat here that night. For the rest of the week I lived on leftovers and whatever it was that Chris wanted to make. 

I might not be cooking much these days, but sourdough bread baking counts, right? 

5. Describe July using exactly five words. 

July was relaxing, productive, fun, fast, and refreshing. I was thankful to dog sit and have pools to swim in! That is relaxing to me. It was productive with all that I got done in my house before going back to work! It was a fun month of being with my people. It was fast, because the two weeks flew by when SLC ended; finally, it was relaxing to me, because I enjoyed leisurely mornings at home and meeting up with friends for lunch. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. On Monday at work, after the first meeting, we were sent out on a scavenger hunt on the town square; I rode with Heather and Karen, and this was us performing our first task. It was hotter than Hades in this little cabin! 

I love that our admin team is so much fun, particularly our new principal! She loves to have fun and laugh, which I love as well. This was fun!

I'm excited to read your answers to the questions this week! I'll see you back here tomorrow, friends. Love to all! 

Jen 

fashion files & more of what I'm saying "yes" to this week

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! I'm talking about more things I'm saying yes to this week. I'm also linking up with Amy for the weekly Fashion Files and Joanne for Tuesday Talk. I'll jump right in! 

I wore this easy dress on Monday when I met an old co-worker for lunch. I had lunch with her and ran a few errands while I was out. 

I wore this for my dental appointment Thursday. I got hot in leggings! I don't love wearing pants in the summer months. Ha! 

New bracelet love...

...and new ring love, too!

I wore this to lunch on Friday with one of my best friends; it was supposed to rain some, which is why I threw on these pink Dr. Scholl's sneakers.

And you know I always include when I get a new nail color! My nails is Show Us Your Tips by OPI, and my pedicure color is also an OPI one, Baggy Jeans Baby. I love them both, and they blend well...the second one is a bit more gray, which is what I wanted. 

And now for the second portion of today's post...here's more of what I'm saying yes to this week:

• going to bed early so I can get up early
• preparing lunch and my work bag the night before
• easy dinners
• nights spent relaxing more at home while I get used to work again
• more reading
• more time journaling during my priority time during the week
• more grace for myself when things don't go exactly as planned
• writing reminders to myself so that I can remember the appointments I have after work this week
• enjoying being back at work with my people and getting things in order for the classroom I'll be in
• the notifications my watch sends me seeing that I'm back to walking a ton of steps everyday once again
• quiet lunches at home and the chance to put my feet up
• phone conversations
• good news from doctors appointments
• time with Chris after work ❤️
• enjoying the fun admin team I have at my school

What are your thoughts on things that you're saying yes to this week? I'd love to hear about them! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all! 

Jen