Though the forecast for this weekend is snow-free, it should still be a good one. We’ll be filling our days with a birthday party for one of Chase’s friends, family adventures and more. Before signing off for the day, I still wanted to take some time to dive into my weekly roundup of favorites in this space. As always, please let me now what you’re loving this week in the comments section!
Have a fantastic weekend, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Indoor Bounce House Fun
During the holiday season, Ryan told me he wanted to get the boys a bounce house. Initially I was 100 percent against this idea because it seemed like something we might use a couple of times a year that would just end up collecting dust. Ryan ended up finding this Little Tikes Inflatable Bounce House on super sale on Black Friday and I am here today to say I stand corrected. He selected the perfect size bounce house because it’s small enough to inflate inside our house, making it the perfect indoor entertainment for two energetic boys. It inflates easily with the press of a button and is already getting a ton of use. Good call on this one, Ryan!
The Freshly Picked Diaper Bag Wristlet was a little gift to myself and I’ve been so happy with this purchase! As some of you may remember, I began using my JuJuBe diaper bag wristlet every single day after Ryder was born. I still stand by my love for this wristlet and maintain that it’s BEST for keeping diapering essentials on hand. It easily holds a few diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, hand sanitizer, a small snack or two, my card case and my phone. I love the way it easily allows me to make any bag a diaper bag and began almost exclusively relying on it for Ryder’s diapering needs.
Well, clearly Amazon knows me too well because I kept seeing the Freshly Picked Diaper Bag Wristlet pop up as a recommended product for me. It caught my eye for months because it was so beautiful and looked like a more polished version of my other wristlet. Since I often carry only my wristlet around with me, I loved that fact that this one looked classy enough to carry as a clutch if I went out without my children but still had all of the functionality and space I needed as a mini diaper bag wristlet. It’s been a great find and I am loving it!
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The Bachelor + The Bachelor on Netflix
Let me preface this “Things I’m Loving” feature by saying this: Yes, I am watching this season of The Bachelor and yes, I agree with the general consensus that this season is a big dull dud. I think Peter is a good guy but his decision making skills and wishy-washy demeanor are hard to stomach sometimes. As for his final three women — what are your thoughts? I truly don’t see it working out with any of them (HOW is Victoria still there!?) but my favorite is Madison. She seems the most genuine but I just don’t see them meshing well in the long run so it’s hard to say I’m really rooting for her when I feel like she’s so sweet and would be better suited for someone else. It looks like the drama will only further increase next week so we’ll see how it all unfolds!
Anyway, the real point of all my Bachelor-related rambling is to share that Jason Mesnick’s season of The Bachelor from 2009 is on Netflix. Who knew!? I typically stream The Bachelor at the gym as mindless entertainment and did just that earlier this week. You guys, I cannot get over how much the show has changed in 11 years! The women seem way more interested in the guy versus becoming Instagram famous and even though I know enough to know reality TV is never really real, it just felt more genuine somehow. Less over-the-top dramatic? More relatable women? I don’t know but whatever it is, watching this old season has me wishing The Bachelor and The Bachelorette would go back in time a little bit. Do I sound like a total mom right now? Haha! I also love watching this season knowing he chooses one of the women to marry and that they went on to have a family together so it feels like the whole premise of the show actually “worked” for his season, ya know?
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Movies from the Library for Family Movie Night
As I’ve mentioned in this space before, family movie night is a BIG deal in our house. We do not allow screen time during the weekdays (for no other reason other than the fact that it makes our children morph into terrors) but on Saturday and Sunday we’ll often do family movie night. Chase gets SO into it and even though our movie nights typically look like one movie spread out over two evenings because we have a 20-month-old “watching” with us, it’s something we all look forward to almost every weekend. We turn to Netflix and Redbox for a lot of our movies (Chase and Ryder love selecting movies from the Redbox “movie machine” — is this the 2020 version of a visit Blockbuster?) but I’ve been so impressed with our small local library’s collection of family-friendly DVDs. We’ve checked out everything from The Incredibles and Frozen to Toy Story 4 and more. Checking out movies from the library may already be on your radar but if it’s not, consider this another reason to get a library card and give your local library a visit!
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The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
I have another book recommendation coming your way today! The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is a funny, charming, creative and fun-to-read novel about an exhausted and overworked librarian whose husband returns after abandoning her and her two children for three years. When Amy sees John at a local convenience store, she doesn’t know what to think. When he tells her he wants to spend a week with the teenage children he’s abandoned while she can take a week “off” from work and motherhood, she’s even more confused… but very intrigued.
Amy soon finds herself saying goodbye to her children as she heads off to New York City for a librarian conference that morphs into a journey of self-discovery, adventure and, most surprising to Amy, love. One week away turns into a summer off and Amy begins to love the person she’s becoming and her new life. Amy soon find herself struggling with the idea of returning to a life where she was merely existing rather than thriving, though not returning is not an option for a mother who loves her kids so deeply.
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Friday Flashbacks
Paleo Coconut Crisps (Every time I make these, I am reminded how much I love them! Crunchy, lightly sweet and a coconut lover’s dream.)
Upper Body Dropset Workout (An upper body burner, dropset style!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing making you smile this week?
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How does family do with supporting your no screen time decision? Do they give you a hard time about it? I’m dealing with this right now and could use some encouragement.
Hi Jess! Since our families don’t live near us, this actually doesn’t come up a ton but when they do visit, we’re usually hanging out with them and they support us. It’s harder when we go visit since they’ll often have TV on in the background and Chase, in particular, is like a moth to a flame with the television. I’ve just tried to kindly ask if we could switch it off if no one is really watching and usually they’re totally okay with it. We are also admittedly more lax about screen time when we have visitors in town — also, if we leave my mom with the boys, she knows we don’t like screen time and we prefer she avoid it, we but we also let her know that if she’s overwhelmed by them, she can use it. I am sure I’d be a little more vocal about no screens with family if it was something we were dealing with regularly but we don’t live nearby it hasn’t been a big thing (so far, at least)! Oh and them seeing what a change it makes in our boys attitudes helps them get on board because noooobody likes extremely fussy, whiny kids. Haha!
I totally get this–I noticed my 5yo daughter would get really obsessed after watching any non-PBS Kids cartoon at other kids homes. So, we only let her watch a PBS kids in the AM before school and one after school. These don’t seem to obsess her the way other shows do! She’s engaged, but when it’s done, it’s totally ok. It’s really interesting. So, if you ever need a quick 20 minutes, I highly suggest trying this out. PBS shows are made to be slower, quieter and less “frantic” so it stands to reason that they wouldn’t cause that same reaction. Plus…they are all really, really good. 🙂
And one more thing, sorry lol! Check out Hoopla and Kanopy Kids! they are streaming services from your local library! So many amazing movies, books read aloud (literally the entire Scholastic collection is available on Kanopy!) and great stuff for adults too! Lots of foreign films and older movies. Great free services from the library!!!
Can you please share the recipe of Paleo Coconut Crisps in your next blog?
Hi — if you click the text “Paleo Coconut Crisps” in the above post it’s hyperlinked and should take you right to the recipe!
Ahh, that book sounds so incredible and definitely like one I’d enjoy! Literally seconds after reading through your description of it, I requested it from my local library! Can’t wait to read it; thanks so much, Julie, for your suggestion!
hope you love it! one of my best friends texted me earlier this week when she saw me mention it in my weekend recap post and said she loved it, too, so i hope it’s a hit for you as well!
I just read this book too and loved it!
I’m so happy you are watching The Bachelor! I know you and Ryan don’t watch much TV but are you watching this season of Survivor? It’s incredible! (All former winners!) There have only been two episodes so far. Also, Dateline looks really good tonight! I know you sometimes watch that.
I actually love following the Bachelor spoiler guy, Reality Steve. He isn’t always right (of course I won’t give anything away!) He thinks he knows the ending this season but he isn’t 100 percent sure. I completely agree with everything you said about this season… and desperately wish they’d go back to the old format! The girls seemed so much more mature in the earlier seasons and truly looking for love, not Instagram jobs. Sigh. I’ve never missed a season!
AH yes the little tykes bounce house! Like you we got one to use indoors for an energetic little one during the winter. Sadly after a while it does not really hold its inflation very well any more. It’s about 75% what it used to be. So he isn’t as interested in it anymore. 🙁
oh bummer! how long have you had it? so far so good with ours but we’ve only been using it since christmas.
Happy friday!! Long time reader but first time commenter! I love your book recommendations..your blog is the first place I go when I start the search for a new novel! I’ll have to check out The Overdue Life of Amy Byler. I’m about 75% done with the latest Elin Hilderbrand (they’re good but can start to get a bit repetitive). Shameless plug here for a second (you can totally delete this if not allowed!), have you heard of Color Street Nails? I’ve been using them for a bit and they are a mama’s dream. Let me know if you want more info and I’d be happy to share! Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
I am with you on The Bachelor. I haven’t watched the last three seasons because I don’t feel like it’s as genuine anymore. I loved so many of the older seasons but I just can’t get into it now. Everyone seems so young (I’ve never felt older at 30) and focused on their next chance at fame.
totally agree — two of my friends and i were talking about how we wonder if the show would begin to feel a little more like the it used to if they cast mostly women OVER 27 years old versus soooo young.
Did you see that Clare Crawley from Juan Pablo’s season is the next Bachelorette? She is 39 so I’m hoping the season has a more mature feeling…and I liked her on other Bachelor shows!
I love your post! That wristlet is so very beautiful! My sweet twin sister and her husband are trying for a little one, and I so hope I can surprise her with this one day soon. My husband and I are excited to start a family in the not-to-distant-future, so I’m always appreciative of your recommendations. We watch these cartoon movies ourselves and love them! A book I recommend is Suffer Strong. It’s co-written by a husband and wife regarding their lives following her brainstem aneurysm at only 26 years old. They’re in their late 30’s now, have two children, and they speak about their faith and how they’ve handled this devastating change to their young lives. It’s very powerful! Have a great weekend, Julie.
I have a two year old who doesn’t watch TV either. All of my friends think I’m crazy, but I stand behind our decision and really think her behavior, sleep, language, creative, etc. is stronger because of it. Anyway…I’m excited for family movie night, but I am concerned that it will be a slippery slope. Obviously not for your family. When did you begin family movie night? Do they ask to watch tv during the week? I don’t want to start watching tv each day, but I love the idea of a night to relax, look forward to, and snuggle. Thanks for sharing, sometimes I feel alone with the no screen opinion, but I completely stand behind it just like you!
Oh yes! I’m so so passionate about it for MY kids but totally get why others use it for theirs — it just really affects our boys too much to make it worth it. As for movie night, I’m not sure when we started that — I think maybe over the summer? Chase really looks forward to it & will occasionally ask for a movie during the week but when I say, “That’s just for the weekend” in an upbeat voice he just rolls with it because he knows that’s the rule. It’s not really a battle probably because he knows it’s not really an option, ya know?
I love the idea of a movie night, so fun and special 🙂 I know I feel so much better when I don’t watch much TV so I can’t imagine how much it impacts kids. Glad you have been using the library for movies as well! I put new releases on hold that I want to see but not bad enough to pay for them online haha. It’s usually a nice surprise when it becomes available 3 or 4 months later.
I’m expecting my first babe and love the idea of the wristlet since I’m generally a minimalist! What do you do about the diaper pad/ changing pad though?!
You could use a thin receiving blanket that would fold up pretty small!
you could also carry some type of wipe, like Handzies, that are basically soap and water that you don’t have to rinse, and just wash the changing surface!
THIS SEASON OF THE BACHELOR! UGH. I really feel like the show is 90% producer lead when people like Victoria are still on at this point. I think he is most compatible with Hannah Ann, but of course I LOVE Madison, I think the last 2 will be M and V, and i think he will propose to M. Hannah Ann ( i think he thinks) is too young for him. but this season is DRIVING ME MAD!!
We too had a bounce house when our kids were little. Best thing we bought with 2 active kiddos and long Chicago winters.
One thing your boys might also love for the summer is the inflatable water slides. Our kids LOVED it and we had the best play dates at our house. Once they outgrew it we passed on to our cousin with little boys and they are still using it! Just a thought in case you are looking for something new for them for the yard.