Thursday Things #92

Pretty, practical, and a bunch of funnies.

Welcome! Every other Thursday, I share a handful of things I'm loving, reading, watching, listening to or just discovered. In other words . . . what I'd text you about if I had your number or mention if we met up for coffee! I'm so glad you're here. :)

---

Hello from the very hot and humid Sunshine State! ☀️

I’m at the beach with family for our annual reunion, so we’ll keep it short and sweet today . . . there are books to read, waves to stare at, and dessert(s) to eat. The good news is, so far I’ve avoided turning into a lobster. The bad news is, pride goes before a fall.

Catch me over here humbly applying SPF 100 throughout the day. (Yes, I’m very careful. Yes, I still burn. Yes, I grew up in Florida. Yes, it’s an unfortunate combo. But here we are with exactly two looks: ghost or lobster.)

I think (hope) (pray) this might turn out to be the first no-sunburn + barely-any-heat-rash year, though. Fingers and toes crossed, please Lord. I’m the MOH in my best friend’s wedding when I get back to Birmingham so carefulness has reached a new level. Mission: don’t look like a bright red version of Ross in the wedding pics.

So far, success.

(She says with great humility, knowing the tide can turn in a ten minute window.)

Onto the things. This week: Pretty, practical, and funny.

Pretty: lock screens.

A few photos from the beach, in case you want a summer lock screen! 💛 I’ll keep taking them and post more in IG Stories once we leave.

TO DOWNLOAD:

Hold down on the image until there's an option to “save photo." If you have an iPhone, go to Settings → Wallpaper → Choose a New Wallpaper → All Photos. Select the image and then shrink it (think: the opposite of zooming in). This will allow the full image to show.

Practical: Upside.

I’ve shared this before but am here again to tell you that Upside literally pays off—whenever, but especially if you have a summer road trip. I use it every time I fill up my car with gas and have saved almost $200 in the last few years. ($189.57 to be exact, so says the app.)

It’s actually really simple. Whenever I need to put gas in the car, I quickly check to see if a local station is partnered with Upside. If so, it’ll display the cash back rate. This varies by place—one station might be 8 cents per gallon while another is 14. Then I ‘check in’ to say I’ll purchase from that location in the next four hours. After I make the purchase, I open the app again to confirm. If your card is linked, it automatically takes care of the cash back. If not, you snap a picture of your receipt so they know how many gallons you purchased. That’s it! You can also use it for local restaurants. Unfortunately, there aren’t many that participate in my city. But the gas stations alone have been a money-saver for sure.

This isn’t sponsored, just on my mind with all the summer driving. (Although: Dear Upside, if you’re magically reading this, I like you. Let’s talk.) But! I checked the app the other day and saw they’re running a summer special for new Upside users → an extra $15 bonus the first time you make a purchase. The code is 9JG7E (this link should also work: https://upside.app.link/9JG7E).

Funnies: because we could use a laugh or two.

A handful of vidoes/memes I’ve saved on IG . . .

“This is gonna need to sit next to you.” Spot on though.

Have I watched this 27 times and is it still funny? Yes.

Siblings carpooling to school. Where’s the lie?

Knock knock, daisy. 😂

Dare you not to smile.

---

Extra: words from Amanda Dykes.

In what world do I get to host an article from one of my favorite authors + then chat on a live Zoom call days later?

This one, apparently.

Are you joining the call next week? I’d love to see you there!

Here’s the info + Amanda’s post:

---

And now back to watching birds swoop low over the sea, gasping when dolphins surface (😍), procrastinating the writing of an important wedding toast, and of course—reapplying sunscreen. Happy Thursday!

Have a good thing to pass along? Click below to share: