I hope all of you had a good week. Though my week was clearly a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster, I am looking forward to what I hope will be a good weekend with Ryan, the boys and Sadie. Ryan arrived home from a work trip last night and we’re planning on a low-key family night at home along with some homemade apple crisp! Saturday will be a full day but a fun one thanks to a birthday party we have on the agenda followed by another (adult) birthday celebration at a brewery on Saturday night. Sunday is up in the air but that’s how I like my Sundays!
As for today, I’m taking the boys to a local pumpkin patch with some of my friends and their children because clearly I cannot get enough of all the fall fun this time of year. With a high of 69 degrees and sunshine in the forecast all day, I think it will be a perfect day to spend outside! I hope you all have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Daisy Jones & The Six was unlike anything I’ve read before. I selected the book after looking for another novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid since I enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo so much. To say I was blown away by Daisy Jones & The Six is an understatement. I thought the book was immensely creative and believable. It feels like you’re reading a memoir and the book is written through a series of interviews with an iconic band from the 1970s. (As I began reading, I actually Googled the band to see if they were real because it felt so real… and now I wish Daisy Jones & The Six existed because I want to listen to their music!) I was immediately invested in the story line and found myself wanting to talk to everyone about this book because it captivated me so much. The book follows Daisy Jones & The Six from the band’s beginnings to the reason behind their split following their Grammy win. The characters are captivating, the “interviews” are thought-provoking, humorous at times and incredibly interesting. Read this book ASAP!
We had a few dreary days in Charlotte this week and I took that as the perfect excuse to break out some of my favorite cold-weather beverages. During the fall and winter months, I love making myself a cozy mug of hot cocoa or tea in the afternoons and it’s one of those little things that somehow makes me really happy. (As I sipped on a mug of hot cocoa yesterday, I was reminded of this throwback post: Little Indulgences = Big Happiness. Hot cocoa or a hot chai latte in the afternoon should definitely be added to my list!) Two of my favorite fall and wintertime hot beverages include Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Cacao Mix and their caffeine-free Mushroom Chai Latte. (I order them on Thrive Market or Amazon, depending on where I find the better deal.)
The hot cacao is made with reishi mushrooms “to support occasional stress and restful sleep” while the chai latte contains turkey tail mushrooms (great for gut health) and calming reishi mushrooms. Above everything else, I just love the flavors! I make mine with almond milk and top it with whipped cream. So good! Side note: Have any of you guys found a whipped cream in a can with simple ingredients? I obviously want sugar and cream in there but not all of the other additives so many contain. Of course nothing beats homemade but I’m not looking to whip up a big batch of whipped cream every week so the can is preferred from a convenience/longevity standpoint.
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Ryder’s Latest LOVEVERY Box
A couple of months ago, I mentioned our love for LOVEVERY Play Kits after my mom signed Ryder up to receive a few of the kits for his birthday. His latest delivery was another slam dunk and I am seriously so impressed with everything about this company and the play kits they create. Not only are the toys and puzzles absolutely beautiful and made with organic cotton, sustainably forested wood and baby-safe plastics, but the thought behind every item in a LOVEVERY play kit blows me away every time. It’s so clear experts created these play kits (they’re designed by researchers, academics and practitioners in the fields of psychology, development, occupational therapy, and education) because the toys and activities always seem to fall right in line with Ryder’s developing skill sets and excite and engage him.
Ryder just received his “Pioneer Play Kit” for toddlers age 16-18 months (they have playkits for babies and toddlers from newborns to 2 years old) and everything from the race car ramp to the threadable bead kit and felt bug tree activity is blowing him away. I feel like every time one of these kits arrive, I’m texting my mom to tell her how awesome they are and clearly felt the need to highlight them on the blog again, too. It was such a great gift for Ryder and I thought it might be worth putting on your radar again with the holidays coming up in case you have any little ones to shop for this year! The toys in these play kits are the kind of keepsake toys I’m planning to hold onto for years.
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Leg Day Workout
Dare I say I actually enjoyed a leg day workout? Who am I!? Yesterday’s Burn Boot Camp leg day workout was the kind of leg day workout I enjoy — one I can feel in my booty and one that passes by in a flash! The minute I got done with the workout, I made a note of it in my phone because I want to have it on hand to do again at the gym in the future. Here are links to some of the exercises that might be a little less familiar from the triple set workout if you’d like to give this one a try: Weighted Dumbbell Mini Band Pickups (done while holding a dumbbell) / Single Leg Lunge with Hop / Medicine Ball Bridge / Mini Band Clamshells
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Around the Web
Food: Sheet Pan Rosemary Chicken / Vegetable Mac and Cheese / Spiced Apple Sheet Cake with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream / Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili
Fitness: Total Body Cardio + Strength Workout / 4-Week HIIT Bootcamp / 5 At Home Workouts
Weekend Sales: Up to 60% off everything at GAP + Extra 10% off with code GETMORE — A GAP Instagram ad totally got me on these navy star joggers and two leopard skirts — this one and this one (I’m planning to keep one and return the other)
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Friday Flashbacks
Healthy Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato Muffins (Kid approved and freezer friendly!)
Paleo Coconut Crisps (Sharing these because I made them again this week and oh my gosh they are so good.)
Questions of the Day
What is one thing making you smile this week?
What is the last book you read that totally blew you away and felt different from anything else you’ve read in a long time?
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Honestly, I finished reading this book months ago already and I am STILL thinking about it because of how much of an impact it made on me and it made me realize so many things I was doing that was contributing to me feeling badly about myself. The book is called “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone,” by Lori Gottlieb. It’s written in a such way that had me so eager to finish the book in almost a single sitting!
Love books like that! Thanks for sharing!
I liked that book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, too…but the language was so bad, especially towards the middle. I’m not sure I can finish it. It reminds me of that saying, “You are speaking so loud, I can’t hear what you are saying.”
Currently reading Know My Name by Chanel Miller. She was the woman involved in the Stanford rape case a few years ago and recently revealed her identity. Her writing is captivating and I can’t put it down. Thank for your book suggestions. Reading is my mental break from raising 5 and 3 year old boys!
We just received our first Lovevery kit for my son’s first birthday and I am also so impressed!! I love the booklet that comes with it that helps parents know how best to play with the kids and help with their development!
Me too!! I’m seriously so impressed with this company and their products. They’re so well thought out and the quality is fantastic!! Glad you guys are loving them, too!
i felt the same way about Daisy Jones and the Six! I literally recounted the story to my husband after I read it because I had to tell SOMEONE about it, there’s rumors they are making it into a mini series which I think would play well!
I’m currently reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and it is SO good! Like I have trouble remembering to get off at my train stop good! It’s also heart-wrenching and I’ve teared up multiple times.
For whipped cream, you need to get one of these machines. It keeps in your fridge for a few days and everyone loves adding it to stuff. It’s almost too easy to keep grabbing. I took a few days off and made this a four day weekend and told myself I was going to download a new book. I will check out Daisy Jones. Thanks!
EurKitchen Professional Whipped Cream Dispenser w/Leak-Free Reinforced Aluminum Threads for Max Durability and Safety – 1-Pint Cream Whipper (Black) – Use Standard 8 Gram N2O Chargers (Not Included) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017XZYC2Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_m2CQDb5KXGZ3C
How did I never know that thing existed!?!? What!? Whipped cream is honestly in my top 5 fav foods and that looks like a game changer!
It totally is! It was a Christmas gift for my husband and he says it was the best gift ever. He whips it up himself all the time. We even take it to peoples homes when we bring dessert. They all love it and are like little kids serving their own whip cream. Enjoy! Get a couple of extra chargers so you always have one on hand.
This is how “we” (baristas) make it at Starbucks!! A couple pumps of vanilla syrup heavy, heavy whipping cream, and add a charger. Terrifying at first- but amazing!!
Just put Daisy Jones & the Six on hold at the library! Your review has me really intrigued!
I believe you’ve already read Educated, but in scrolling through the list of books I’ve recently checked out from the library, that was the first one that came to mind in terms of leaving a big impression on me. I read it almost a year ago now, and I still think about it.
I did read that and thought it was fantastic. I also found myself Googling everything about that family when I finished it!
I loved Daisy Jones and the Six. I think it may be my favorite book of the year
Same! Definitely one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
I read they are making Daisy Jones into TV show with the accompanying soundtrack from the book. Reese Witherspoon producing (so you know it’s gonna be good!) So we’ll actually get to hear those songs from the book! I’m so excited! I am reading another Reese’s Book Club book, The Whisper Network. Very good so far!!
YESSSSS! This is amazing news! As I was reading it, I thought it was the kind of book that would make a great movie (or, in this case, a show)!
If you listen to the audio book, they have some music at the end as a little teaser!
Adding Daisy Jones to my list! Trader Joe’s makes a new coconut whipped cream in a jar. I haven’t tried it yet but I’ve heard good things.
Daisy Jones was so good! I love the pic of Ryder playing with his new toy. Would you be able to share where you got that rug from?
I recently discovered an author named Katherine Center. Things You Save in a Fire was really good, and am part way through another one she wrote called How to Walk Away. So far just as well written as the other. Have loved many of your recommendations so wanted to pass these along in case you had not heard of her!
I loved Daisy Jones! It was like reading the best episode of VH1s Behind the Music that was never made. I tried to read it slow so I could savor it, but I flew through it! I’ve been recommending it to everyone!
Yes!! I was the same way… not wanting it to end!