5 Friday Favorites: January 23, 2026
It's time for my Friday link up with A Little Bit of Everything and Momfessionals.
On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick.
Happy Friday! How’s everybody doing? Most of us are bracing for a snowstorm. I turned on the news the other day - which I almost never do - and basically this is what the media had to say about it:
This is why I never watch the news. Irresponsible? Perhaps. But I’m finding that limiting cortisol spikes is rather important, so I’ll be channeling the brilliant Andy Dwyer from Parks and Rec for the foreseeable future.
In addition to my “Ignorance is Bliss” attitude, here are some favorite things from the week.
Fernando Mendoza’s Epic 4th Down Run for TD
Carmen Mandato, Getty Images
I didn’t think I’d stay up for the entire National Championship Game Monday night, but gosh, I’m glad I did. When that precious, adorable, gem-of-a-human, Fernando Mendoza ran for a touchdown on 4th down, I sat up in bed yelling, “OH NO! HE’S NOT GONNA MAKE IT! HE’S NOT GONNA MAKE IT! OH NO!” which shows how much I know because the boy bounced off one guy, spun around, put his hand down to keep himself up and dove into the end zone like the superstar he is. Then I said to Steve, “I cannot believe he did that. Can you believe he did that? I cannot believe he did that. Oh my gosh. I cannot believe he did that. Can you believe it? I can’t believe it,” approximately forty-six times. Everything else on TV in 2026 has been the absolute worst. This kid - his humility, his courage, his joy, his faith - is a hero for our times. Indiana’s success was such a bright light in the darkness. Gosh, I love college football.
2. Half Zip Hoodie - One from Vuori + a Dupe from Amazon
I’ve mentioned the Vuori Restore Hoodie before. I got a grey one early last year and then a white one for Christmas. Even though it’s an expensive brand, since about 99% of my life is spent in my Vuori joggers and hoodies,the cost per wear for a person who has decided that pants with buttons are a form of torture is mere pennies a day. The Restore is on sale today in very limited sizes and colors. It might be worth a shot to see if your size is available.
Also, I had a friend tell me that this hoodie from Amazon is a real close dupe for the Vuori although it is a full zip. I love this blue-grey color and it’s only $35.99.
3. Ripple on Netflix
I don’t know how I came upon this show on Netflix, but I like it. It’s pretty corny, but corny is what I’m looking for these days.
4. Quest Salted Caramel Protein Powder
As I discussed last week, I’m constantly on the look out for more protein options since the Internet keeps yelling at me about it. This Salted Caramel protein powder from Quest is really good mixed with yogurt and almond milk for a fake milk shake.
5. Knoxville, Tennessee
Last weekend we had the best time in Knoxville. Joe, Kyle and Kyle’s girlfriend, Merrill met us there. Unfortunately, I took zero pictures of my people, but I continue to enjoy the fire out of this phase of life. I figured worried and lonely would top my list of emotions when I thought about sending them out into the world, but the reality is those are way down on the list. We also got a chance to have an amazing dinner with our cousins and then visited our sweet Aunt Barbara and Uncle Max who all live there.
I didn’t know how much I would miss visiting Knoxville after Kyle graduated from the University of Tennessee a couple of years ago. We’ve gone back a few times and every time, I’m automatically absolutely delighted as soon as we roll into town. Despite my aversion to that disgraceful shade of orange they wear around there, the town has really grabbed ahold of my heart.
We went to the Tennessee vs. Kentucky basketball game and for 39 of the 40 minutes of the game it was a darn good time. The Vols dominated the first half and were leading for the entire game until the very last minute. In what was a massive bummer, they ended up losing the game. This had the Skinner fam looking a bit like this as the clock hit 0:00.
Alas, Merrill and I decided to remedy the situation by doing some shopping at my favorite shops on Gay Street, Bliss and Mast General . We also hit some of our favorite Market Square restaurants, Tupelo Honey and Not Watson’s. I’d never been to the bar at the top of the Embassy Suites, so when we headed up there Friday night, I was thrilled to get such a beautiful view of the city.
Good Ol’ Rocky Top gets 5 Stars and 2 Thumbs Up from me.
Last but not least, here’s a little bonus favorite. Despite my effort to keep my head in the sand and my joking about being uninformed, I am quite aware of the absolute chaos happening in the world right now. I honestly do not mean to make light of the unrest. I’m just absolutely never ever going to jump into that in this space. Protecting the vibe, as it were.
I saw this on Instagram on Monday and I would like to wallpaper my house with it. It’s really the only way I have ever been able to move through the world. I think my momma modeled this approach to life and she was objectively the best person I’ve ever known. So despite any evidence to the contrary, I’m going to continue to try my best to look at the world like she taught me to.
Y’all have a blessed weekend. Thanks for reading.
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