The Gilded Margin

Favorites Friday| The Gilded Margin

If you know me, you know I’m always recommending something. A book I couldn’t put down. A local place I think everyone should visit. A TV show that’s consumed all my free time. Or some random purchase that somehow made life a little easier.

So I thought…why not make it a Friday tradition?

Every Friday, I’ll share a handful of things I’ve genuinely been loving. Some links in these posts may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them at no extra cost to you. It helps support The Gilded Margin, and I only recommend things I’d tell my friends about anyway. If I’m recommending a book, you’ll also find a link to my Bookshop storefront.

So, here’s what made my week a little brighter.

Book Corner

I’m currently reading Kingdom of Ash, and I honestly don’t want it to end.

I’ve reached that point where every chapter feels important, and I keep telling myself, “Just one more,” before realizing another hour has disappeared. The world-building, the friendships, the sacrifice—it’s everything I hoped the finale would be. I’m not finished yet, so no spoilers, but I already know this is going to leave me with one of those major book hangovers.

Before this, I finished Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but it also reminded me why Colleen Hoover isn’t one of my favorite authors.

I think she’s incredibly talented at creating emotional, high-stakes concepts. The hardship her characters face feels impactful, incredibly difficult to overcome, and realistic. That’s something that always draws me in because life rarely wraps itself up with a perfect bow.

My biggest criticism is that I always find myself waiting for a bigger payoff. She spends so much time building the emotion and tension that I’m expecting a climax that completely wrecks me. Instead, I usually finish her books feeling like the ending was quieter than everything leading up to it.

I loved the imagery in Reminders of Him. I loved the themes of forgiveness, grief, redemption, and second chances. I just wanted the conflict and resolution to carry the same emotional weight as the premise.

I can absolutely understand why so many people love her books. They just haven’t become favorites for me.

What I’m Binging

I’m currently binging The Bear.

Not because I just discovered it—I loved it from the very first season. The new season finally dropped, and I’ve been looking forward to diving back in.

One of the reasons I love this show so much is because I relate to Carmy more than I probably should.

Not because I’m a chef.

But because I understand what it feels like to carry impossible expectations. To constantly raise the bar for yourself. To put more pressure on yourself than anyone else ever could.

I know what it’s like to work in a profession where the expectations are high, the stress doesn’t magically disappear when you clock out, and you’re constantly trying to get it right.

While our careers couldn’t be more different, I understand the perfectionism, the drive, and even those moments where you wonder if you’ve lost some of the passion that brought you there in the first place.

That’s what keeps me coming back to The Bear. Underneath all the chaos, it’s really about people trying to heal while still showing up every day.

Movie Night

This week I also took the kids to see the new Toy Story movie.

I walked in expecting a fun afternoon together. I walked out feeling unexpectedly nostalgic.

Watching characters I grew up with through my kids’ eyes reminded me just how quickly life moves. One minute you’re sitting in the theater as a kid, convinced your toys come alive when you leave the room. The next, you’re sitting beside your own children, watching them laugh at those same characters.

It made me feel like I was experiencing two versions of life at once—the child I used to be and the mom I am now. Those are the moments I hope my kids remember someday.

What’s on Repeat

Drum roll…

The Black Eyed Peas.

Not one song. The albums.

I honestly have no idea what started it, but this week I somehow fell down a Black Eyed Peas rabbit hole, and I’ve been loving every minute of it.

Every song brought back another memory. It reminded me of middle school dances, riding around with friends, and an era where these songs were absolutely everywhere.

Sometimes you don’t need new music. Sometimes you just need to revisit the soundtrack of a different season of your life.

Worth Every Penny

This week reminded me that some of the best purchases are the practical ones.

We spent time back-to-school shopping with my ex-husband, picking out school supplies, clothes, and even fishing poles for the kids. It ended up being one of those unexpectedly good family days. The kids were excited, and honestly…so was I.

There is just something about fresh notebooks, brand-new crayons, sharpened pencils, and new backpacks that makes me ridiculously happy every year. I think I get just as excited as they do.

My favorite purchase this week, though, was a tiny pill organizer for my purse.

A dispatcher recommended it to me, and now I can’t imagine not having it.

Instead of carrying separate bottles of allergy medicine, Tylenol, Excedrin, and Tums, everything fits neatly into one compact case. It’s one of those purchases that isn’t flashy, but every time I use it, I think, “Why didn’t I buy this sooner?”

Sometimes adulthood looks like getting ridiculously excited over organization, and I’m completely okay with that.

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That’s it for this week’s Favorites Friday.

Now I want to hear from you.

What’s a local place I need to visit? What are you reading right now? What show are you binging? What song has been on repeat this week? And what’s one random purchase that has made your everyday life easier?

Leave me a comment—I love finding new favorites, and I have a feeling you all have some great recommendations.