Friday Faves

I haven’t done a Friday Faves post in a long time, and I’ve been carrying around this love for worldly things that have been making me happy with no place to let it spill. Worldly as opposed to, you know–love and joy and health and nature. If you already have those, then might I suggest a cute hat to go with them. I must add, Brett walked in as I was putting this together and the conversation went like this:

Brett: What are you doing?
Me: Doing a favorite things list for the blog.
Brett: When are you going to let me do one of those for the blog?
Me: You want a favorite things list? For real?
Brett: Yeah, I’m serious. I even have a name for it…”Brett’s Picks.”
Me: That’s amazing. Wow. Good name.
Brett: You’re mocking me.
Me: Not at all. But, like, what would you put on this list? Because all you buy are gadgets and weird things. Like those hairy monster feet flip-flops you got might not go very far with my blog readers.
Brett: I’ve found lots of cool stuff and you know it.
Me: Name one.
Brett: That clip-on pot strainer thing. You have to admit, that was a jackpot. Maybe the best thing we bought all year.
Me: Really, the pot strainer? I’ll think about it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you BRETT’S PICKS: A POT STRAINER.

Now on to mine.
(for the record, I told him I’m happy to share more when he’s ready) 

1. 52 Lists for Happiness. I love this little journal so much because it’s a no pressure journal. The open-ended possibilty of blank pages is wonderful, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. If you’re in a journaling rut, this is the perfect way to get writing again with creativity training wheels. The lined pages (with sweet little watercolor illustrations) present list prompts–like “List what makes you happy right now” or “List the things in your life you are actually able to control” or “List the movies, books and TV shows that make you feel happy”–and all you have to do is add things that come to your mind. I keep mine (with a pen hooked to it) on the coffee table, and I pick it up often–starting new prompts as well as going back to add to old ones. And when you’re finished with it–a great keepsake to look back on or pass to your kids.

2. Giant Bubble Mix and Wand. Spring and summer are a great time to add some new outdoor activities. You can make these giant bubble wands with some dowel rods and thick string and the solution with Dawn dish soap, baking powder, corn starch and glycerine. But, if you want the easy route as we did, this kit has everything you need. My kids have so much fun with this. The bubbles are HUGE–like people could climb inside them. And they seem to be a bit more stable than regular bubbles, so they actually hold their shape as they float off.

3. AMAZING Cosmetics Concealer. My favorite thing in my make-up case. I switch up make-up a lot and try new things, but once I found this, it was a done deal in the concealer department. You only need a tiny bit, so the tube lasts forever. And this concealer doesn’t budge–doesn’t smear or rub off or get cakey. I just dot the itty bittiest dot where I need it and blend it well with a foundation brush.

4. The “Me, Me, Me” Epidemic: A Step-by-step Guide to Raising Capable, Grateful Kids in and Over Entitled World. I’m not a huge parenting book reader and am often put off by parenting advice books just because there’s no “right way” to raise kids, and I’m wary of people who think they figured it all out. But this doesn’t come from that approach, and the advice and tips and stories are such great prompts to keep in the mindset of  “Un-Entitling” as the author calls it. From the intro: “There’s a force that can rob from our kids not only their imagination, energy and determination, but also their ability to live rich, fulfilling  lives. It’s the forece of entitlement, the idea that life owes us something, and it’s wreaking havoc on our kids’ generation. Children of all ages feel entitled to receive the best of what life has to offer without working for it, to have their whims catered to by their parents and a path paved for success.” I’m slow reading this book (picking it up off my nightstand in between the other books I’m reading), and loving how it’s making me think.

5. Revlon Matte Balm in Enchanting. Current favorite lipstick. The perfect nude–a nice saturated matte with a nice peachy pink tint. Smooth and minty and at about $6, you can get one for your purse and one for your bathroom.

6. Auric Blends Love Perfume Oil. Long story, but I have a friend who wears the most wonderful perfume that so set her a part, even my kids would catch a whiff, smile and say “smells like Aunt Rebecca.” She paid a pretty penny for it from a little Midwest boutique, but somehow–in a quest that involved another friend equally obsessed– we found what we swear is the same perfume in a glass vial on the shelves of Whole Foods. Best part? It’s $7. I can’t find it at our Whole Foods anymore, but I did found it on Amazon for less than $10. I keep mine in my car for when I forget to put perfume on.

7. Childhoods Clothing Tank Romper. Every summer, I find a piece for Dash that becomes such a favorite, we wear it and then wash it fast so we can wear it again. This is definitely our piece this year–so much that we got one in two different colors. I love the ease of one-pieces, but they’re often hard to find in sizes about 3T. This one goes up to 5T, is super soft and comfortable, and he can easily take it on and off himself to use the bathroom without undoing any buttons.

8. Straw Summer Boater Hat. I’ve been looking for the perfect summer straw hat and wanted a stiffer boater style, but every time I found one, it was sold out. I had my eye on this beautiful one from Gigi & Pip, but it’s unavailable. This Sole Society one is a close second and has a great price.

9. Sam Jones Off Camera Podcast. My friend Katie texted me a couple weeks ago and told me she was obsessed with Sam Jones Off Camera and knew that I would be too. You can watch the episodes on Direct TV, but I prefer the podcasts so I can work while I listen. SO many great intimate discussions (I’m only 3 in but want to listen to them all) with artists and how they fearlessly create, free on iTunes.

10. Who What Wear Eyelet Dress. Don’t get me started on this line. In fact, when I pass the Who What Wear racks at Target, I have to whisper to myself, “Just keep walking, just keep walking.” I don’t think there’s one piece I wouldn’t wear–designer style details at Target prices. I love “wow” embellishments, and there are so many in this line–unique details on necklines, sleeves; ruffles, neck bows–all of it. I’m in love with the sleeves on this dress, and they make it in a shirt as well.

11. Fake Bake Flawless Self Tanning Liquid. So, I’m not sure if the ingredients in self tanning lotions are good for your skin all the time, but for occasional sun-kissed moments, I’ve never used a better sunless tanning product. It’s actually a liquid you spray on and comes with gloves and this mitten that’s key for blending.

12. dv Grommet Slides. Target’s getting out of control with their cool stuff. The metal grommets on these slides give them a nice edge, and I love that they slip on without bending down to adjust straps or ties.

13. Cheese Cutter. I was at Heidi’s one afternoon when she started making me an appetizer plate–as she does for anyone who stops by–and she rocked my world when she pulled these out and effortlessly cut some sharp cheddar into perfect squares in a matter of seconds. “What are those and how do I get some?” They’re kitchen scissors with a built-in cutting board in the blade, and they have completely transformed how we make cheese plates. When my sister visited, she saw me use them and quickly pulled her phone out to order some, and now I feel like it’s the information I’ve been given to disperse to the world to change lives.

 

*This post is not sponsored and I don’t get anything from anyone for linking to them but, as always, if I use an Amazon link on this site, it’s an affiliate link that kicks a tiny bit back to our family. I won’t link to something unless I love it or find it useful, which is why I didn’t link those damn hairy monster flip flops because, Dear God, you don’t need them and neither did my husband.