5 Friday Favorites: October 16, 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.
Hello. It was the best of times. . . family, sunshine, the State Fair of Texas, a sea of orange and white . . .
And then alas, with about 20 seconds on the clock, it was the worst of times.
Farewell, Red River Rivalry. Our last trip in 2023 resulted in a loss for the Horns. In 2024 and 2025 the Horns were victorious. In 2026, we came in as the #1 team in the nation. Oklahoma was on the struggle bus. The vibes were high. Cue the sad trombone.
I’m so sorry Longhorn Nation. The Skinner fam pledges not to darken the door of the Cotton Bowl again.
Here’s a look at some of my favorite things from the week.
My Unlucky Top
I loved this burnt orange top I got to wear to the game. It was the perfect color. I loved the fit because it was loose without being too boxy and the material was surprisingly breathable which was helpful since it was 90 degrees and our seats were in direct sun in the stadium. It’s on sale for 40% off and comes in every color you can imagine. Maybe it won’t be unlucky for you and your team.
2. I See You’ve Called in Dead: A Novel
This novel is such a unique, wickedly funny, and surprisingly sweet look at the search for a meaningful life. It tells the story of a man who starts to attend the funerals of strangers and what he learns from them just as his personal and professional life is falling apart. The dark humor here might not appeal to everyone, but I loved it.
3.Centro on the Square in McKinney, Texas
On Friday, I met one of my college besties, Lynn, for lunch in McKinney, Texas at Centro on the Square and it was delicious. If you’re in the area Lynn and I recommend splitting the Grilled Chicken Orzo and an order of Parmigiano fries with multiple Diet Cokes while you discuss everything in the whole wide world.
4.Langley Earrings
Maybe it’s because I’m still feeling all the Texas vibes, but I think these Langley earrings with the gold stirrup design are so cute. Maybe if I would have worn them to the game, they would have offset my unlucky shirt. I guess we’ll never know.
5.Dad
The best part of visiting Texas was spending time with my dad. It has been just over three years since my mom died and I’m not exaggerating when I say it nearly crushed us, but no one hurt more deeply than my dad who lost his wife of almost 60 years. In the early days, I cried out to God often for all of us, but daily, even hourly for my dad whose heartbreak was immense and whose suffering frightened me. Today, at 86, he faces the challenges that most his age meet. He isn’t superman, but he is happy and whole, funny and vibrant.
I really hadn’t suffered significant loss until March 2023. And I’d never watched anyone I loved navigate loss until then either. I didn’t know a darn thing about how to handle it. I still don’t know much, but I do know this: God really does hear us. He really does heal us. He really, really, really does love us. So much more than we could ever imagine.
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.
-Isaiah 42:16
His promises are true, friends. They are real. Trust Him.
Have a great weekend. Hook Em Horns Forever.
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