Hello and happy Friday! How was your week? Mine was a good one in large part to the SUNSHINE and slightly warmer temperatures (60+) that made an appearance. I swear I don’t think winter has me down much until a couple days of gorgeous weather arrives and lights me up inside.

We spent as much time as possible outside- walks, soccer practice, playing on the swing, and the girls even decided to collect gumballs and do yardwork for cash, earning them $10 each. Rain moves back in today but I’ll carry that sunshine with me. We have friends coming over for game night tonight and a full Saturday of soccer and basketball games. But first, here are this week’s FIVE that I am excited to share with you!

Super Flattering Bathing Suit

I struggle with buying bathing suits. I prefer a one piece with good booty coverage which automatically puts me in the matronly category, but I found THIS ONE that checks those boxes and is cute. It’s a little more trendy than my usual picks, but it was so flattering on that I couldn’t resist. It comes in a bunch of colors, holds everything in place, and runs true to size.

New Garden Pods

A couple weeks ago I took apart my AeroGarden and my Click and Grow Garden, gave them a good scrubbing, and “planted” my new pods. They are starting to sprout up and I’m really excited for the new selections. I planted parsley, cilantro, basil, and dill, since those are my go-to herbs. I also planted oregano, thyme, and rosemary, as well as peppermint and lavender for the girls to use for their homeopathic “potions” they’ve been into lately.

You can read the comparison between the two garden systems here. I don’t think I’ll ever be without them on my counter. It encourages me to use herbs daily and the kids love watching them grow, too. One day I’ll try to sharped my skills for outdoor gardening, but until then, these countertop gardens fit the bill beautifully.

The Love of a Dog

After we lost Koda, I really wasn’t sure if I’d want to open my heart to a dog again. We waited five years, then decided we needed to get one “for the kids.” And we were right; the kids are obsessed with Finley, but I just might take the cake.

She turned 17 months old this week (I only know that from my puppy chat text thread with her littermates’ pawrents (see, aren’t we dog people obnoxious?! ;)), but over these 17 months she has wiggled her way into our lives and hearts so firmly. She’s my constant companion, snuggling next to me when I’m on my computer in the morning, my full time walking buddy, and my shadow when I’m cooking (with good reason; I tend to “drop” a lot of food).

Finley is a feistier and more stubborn dog than Koda was (if I remember Koda’s earlier years correctly), but I love that they’re so different. Finley hasn’t replaced what Koda meant to us, but she’s brought the joy of a dog back to us and we never realized how much we missed it.

Amazing Storage Containers

Have you ever had a purchase that you knocked out of the park? One you wavered on, then committed to, then smiled every time you used it from there on out? That’s how I feel about these pantry storage containers.

Why they are the best: They seal airtight easily without a little o-ring that will inevitably fall off and get lost and cost you your airtight seal. Each container has a special feature that makes using it easier, from a magnetic flour leveler, to a terracotta disk to keep your brown sugar soft, to a sprinkler gadget to use your powdered sugar in beautiful ways. They line up neatly, narrow yet deep, and hold more contents than you’d guess. I could go on…

Greek Layered Hummus Dip

Super Bowl Snackday is upon us! Whether you’re attending a rager or cuddling up on the couch, having a snack makes things fun. I’m bringing one of my favorite crowd pleasers to my friend’s house on Sunday, Greek Layered Hummus Dip. If you want to be trendy, you can put it on a wooden board, but I’ll be sticking the the old fashion dish method.

Other dips that I recommend: white chicken chili corn dip, layered Mexican dip, caramelized onion dip.

That’s all I have for today; I hope you have a wonderful week. Thanks so much for stopping by! <3