CURRENTLY VOL. 1
J.Crew Always Chambray Shirt: I have purchased this top twice now (the first one I tore while playing beach frisbee some years ago) & it has consistently remained a staple in my wardrobe. The material has structure enough to make it flattering but is soft enough to keep you comfy. The quality is also fantastic (just don’t wear it while playing beach frisbee okay?). I currently love it with a loose tank layered underneath. And I may or may not wear it 4 out of 7 days of the week.
Bright Starts Lots of Links: Buddy is at the stage where he loves putting any & everything in his mouth & these links allow us to give him that access in different ways. We have used them to extend the toys on his play gyms so he can chew (“gum”?) on them & he loves it. We also use the links to keep toys within his reach on his car seat. They come in fun colors & different textures so even on their own they manage to entertain him. P.S. His FAVORITE thing to have hanging on the links is this fun Nuby Safari Friends Baby Teether.
Homemade Donuts: A few weekends ago I decided to get ambitious & bake a bunch of donuts & I am so glad I did because not only are homemade donuts friggen’ yummy, but they are also way easier than I thought. All you need is a donut pan (I use this one), some pretty normal baking ingredients & a recipe. I tried this one, this one, & these Banana Bread Donuts with Browned Butter Caramel Glaze were my favorite. I plan to try these Oreo Donuts & these S’more Donuts next. If making your own donuts has even interested you in the slightest- go for it! You will be so delighted. (By the way I find all of my donut recipes on Pinterest if you want to follow along there!)
13 Reasons Why on Netflix: We stumbled upon this show a few weeks ago & were immediately sucked in for several reasons. Initially it was the cliff hanging, dramatic-mystery feel to it & our desire to understand more. But even within the first episode it got my husband & I discussing life for teenagers in the current day and age & what that will one day mean for us as parents. Both of us left high school right before the debut of social media, & we are both so interested by the impact it has in kids’ lives because we were right on the cusp of that generation (when we were freshmen in college Facebook was brand new & exclusive only to college students). Even more importantly, the show confronts challenging topics regarding emotional health, suicide, sexism, sexuality & sexual abuse, bullying & substance abuse & other prevalent issues that aren’t widely discussed. If you end up watching the show there are some pretty graphic scenes, just as a heads up. I also recommend watching the 30-minute interview with the cast & producers afterwards.
I Love You Rituals by Becky A. Bailey: I’ve been a big fan of Becky Bailey since my work in early childhood education began 8 years ago & I find her insights just as valuable (perhaps more?!) as a new parent. What I love about this book is the first few chapters give a brief overview of the author’s behavior philosophy & then the majority of the book is the “I Love You Rituals”, which are fun, intentional ways to strengthen your bond with your child & develop their social-emotional skills. A few weeks ago I shared some parenting/child development books on my Instagram that I am interested in reading & asked if anyone would be interested in doing a virtual book study. The response was exciting! In a few weeks I’ll be sharing a more detailed review of this text with some questions to discuss. If you are interested in joining in feel free to get your hands on a copy of the book & dig in.