Before we start, you need to know that…

A: Brett’s been asking me to feature his best Amazon picks on the blog for, like, two years.
B: If you follow on Instagram, you’ll know I tease him a lot about his Amazon purchases. Brett’s Amazon Picks is practically a trademarked phrase.
C: Brett loves Amazon like Kanye loves Kanye.

That said, you should also know that Brett’s Amazon picks are often weird random items, sandwiched between “As Seen On TV kitchen gadgets” and “Elephant Gift Stocking Stuffers” in the abyss of Amazon search pages. Scanning our recent Amazon orders has become a favorite entertaining pastime of mine, often followed by, “BRETT!!! SERIOUSLY?”

May I submit Evidence A:

His explanation was a simple, “What? I thought they’d be funny.” Recently I noticed he had ordered a can of spray oxygen–wait, let me repeat that–A CAN OF SPRAY OXYGEN that promises to “boost your mental sharpness.” I kid not. However, in his defense, he has scored some really cool things, thanks to midnight search sessions and his Amazon search method that, I’m sorry to say, is classified information. And while I cannot help but roll my eyes when I open a box to find another set of salt and pepper shakers that look like Mason jars (“because you love jars, right?”), I have come to appreciate his quirky Amazon buys and the way he uses it to show love. Last summer, when we were at my dad’s cabin, he sent Amazon care packages with little things he thought of on his own–a summer wardrobe of Barbie clothes for Nella’s dolls, “mosquito repelling stickers” that didn’t work, some washi tape for Lainey’s scrapbooks. And who else in the world can say they own a pair of large mouth bass slippers? Not many. Proud to be a member of that club.

With no further ado, I give you Brett’s favorite finds on Amazon, most of which I’m pleasantly pleased with. I’ve followed his list with my own favorites and things I frequently get questions about on Instagram–to balance out the random gadgets.

1. Microfiber Sweeper Broom
   This was during his Broom Obsession of 2017 that ended after three purchased brooms and a come-to-Jesus from his wife. After I cut him off, I admitted that this broom really is amazing for wood floors and that I’m glad he bought it. We can go a long time between vacuums with this baby.
2. A Tomato Clip
   Yep, you read that correctly. A clip. For your tomatoes. So you can keep them in place while you cut them. Because lots of people complain about keeping their tomatoes in place while cutting??? (note: so many question marks). I’m not sure, but I do know that when this arrived, Brett was stoked, and now whenever he sees me cutting a tomato au naturale, he yells, “Wait, wait, wait,” runs to his kitchen gadget drawer, pulls this thing out and hands it to me with a satisfied smile that suggests he just solved the world’s biggest problem.
3. Lobby Dustpan
   Purchased shortly after his broom obsession (“What? It’s a dustpan, not a broom.”), this makes me feel like a professional janitor, and I love it. We sweep a lot with three kids, and this saves our backs.
4. The Grate Taco
   I have nothing to say about this. But you need to know that as I’m in my office putting this list together, Brett’s yelling things to include from the kitchen, and he’s adamant I include his grate taco. I can’t.
5. Ace Can Opener
   Excitedly, he enters office. “Oh, oh! Tell them about the can opener. The best can opener in the world. Write that.”
6. Flameless USB Lighter
   “How did you even find this, Brett?”
   “I know, isn’t it cool? No flame. And it charges instead of butane.”
7. Solar Torch Lights
   Another obsession period, these were purchased during the “Light Fixture Phase” that is, I’m sorry to say, still going. Cabinet lights, under counter lights, landscape lights–the man loves him some lights. These ones scored him some high fives from the neighbors and, okay, me too. They’re solar, and the light looks just like a flickering tiki flame. He’s very proud of these babies.
8. Rabbit Wine Corks
   Let’s just say when people come over our house for parties, Brett likes to take them to the wine bottles and give them a 10-minute sales presentation on these corks. He thinks they are the greatest invention on earth.
9. Rainbow Detangling Brush
   This one’s just sweet because, unbeknownst to me, he researched brushes that don’t hurt for detangling Nella’s hair and found this. And the girls love it, and every time they express their love for it, he says, “See, I know Amazon.” And he calls it “Daddy’s brush.”
10. Egg Circles
    For the record, I don’t understand these. I like my fried eggs to fall where they may and firmly stand behind the “eggs aren’t supposed to be perfectly round,” but Brett considers these one of his greatest finds and uses them when he makes us breakfast sandwiches.
11. Silicone Pot Strainer
    Okay, okay, I’ll give him this one. I actually think this purchase may be the beginning of his gadget phases, but we do use it a lot and skip rinsing a colander thanks to this nifty little snap-on strainer.

Mama’s turn. These are the things I get asked the most about on Instagram, but also some Amazon secrets of mine that I love telling people about.

 

1. The Summer Backpack
   After an extensive search for the perfect backpack for summer travels, I landed on this one and I’m obsessed. First, it’s only $32.99. But the best part is that it’s super cute and is the best backpack to keep me organized–so many pockets! Technically, it’s a diaper bag, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s deep and roomy, so it holds my camera and an extra lens plus whatever else I like to carry. And it has a slot on the side for travel wipes, so I can pull a wipe from the pocket without opening the bag–which I’ve found is the most convenient little feature with three kids and constant messes. I’ve told several friends about this who’ve also bought it and texted me that they love it.
2. Wooden Tetris
   I’ve had this on other lists in the past, but I still love it–a wooden mind teaser puzzle that’s really just a real life Tetris game. We have two so two players can race to finish theirs, and we leave it out so guests can play while they’re hanging in the kitchen.
3. Best Affordable Kids Quality Underwear
   I fell in love with these underwear and ordered a few packs once I saw how great the quality was. They’re the good thick cotton, not like the thin ones that tear away from the elastic band. I love the fabric waistband and the sweet simple prints. I get these ones for girls and these ones for Dash.
4. Enamel Cup Set
   I fell in love with Best Made Company’s Seamless & Steadfast enamel cups but am currently choosing not to afford a whole set of them. I did find these ones though which are perfect–still fun and campy. We use them for everything–water glasses, entertaining, wine, cocktails.
5. Mesh Produce/Beach Bag
   These bags are super versatile, and I keep them in my garage. They work for the farmer’s market, grocery store or, my favorite, the beach. I can throw sand toys in them and give it a good shake to get the sand and ocean water out of it.
6. Floating Picture Shelves
   We use these in our living room to display framed photos, but they also work great in a child’s bedroom or playroom to display children’s books.
7. Wall Hanging Note Roll
   Every time this shows up on Instagram, I get so many direct messages asking where I got it. I’ve seen them pretty pricey other places, and this one was under $40. I love it and use it all the time. It’s displayed in the main area of our home, and it’s where we write out our seasonal bucket lists, display favorite quotes and notes to each other and draw art.
8. Pom Pom Earrings
   Loving this current pom pom trend and riding it out with these fun earrings under $10.
9. Our Driveway Chalk
   This is what we use for all our sidewalk chalk drawings. It’s super pigmented and offers 64 different colors. It takes longer to wash off, but it does eventually come off. And besides–we like our masterpieces to last.
10. Kids Retro Knee Socks
    These turn any kid outfit into a cute fashion statement. I love them with dresses or shorts, and lately Nella’s been pairing them with little Birks. Three pairs for $12.
11. Wooden Camera
    Super affordable ($11) and adorable both for play or display in a kid’s room, we love this little camera and all the colors it comes in (this rainbow one!). Nella and Dash each have one.
12. Bluetooth Microphone with Speaker
    Alright, grandparents, aunts, uncles, listen up. Next birthday, Christmas, gift giving event–don’t know what to get the kid you love? THIS IS IT. #12 and #13, and it works for all ages. Microphone and disco light. We use these two things all the time. Dance parties, sleepovers, random Tuesday night when Nella and Dash are bored. You can play music to the speaker from your phone, and the microphone works really good. Turn off the lights, turn on the disco light, play some music and hand the kids the microphone. Entertainment for at least an hour. I’ve featured these on other lists, so this is a repeat, but that tells you how much I believe in this little duo.
13. Disco Light
    See #12.

This post is sponsored by StoryWorth. I’ve worked with them for several years now, and it’s been one of my favorite partnerships because it is so easy promoting what this company does–collecting the stories of our loved ones for us. Since my first StoryWorth post, I’ve received countless e-mails from readers asking, “Can you direct me to that company you love that collects the stories again?”  Because when it comes time for your parents’ or grandparents’ birthdays or, say, Father’s Day (hint hint), if you’re looking for a meaningful gift that lasts, StoryWorth offers something so unique and special–a year of collecting your loved one’s stories–the ones you might not think to ask–and a way to share those with family and preserve them forever. Read on, and I’ll tell you more. 

This year, we will be spending the July 4 holiday in Muscatine, Iowa. I don’t currently know anyone in Muscatine, but, thanks to Brett’s dad and hundreds of hours of research about his family roots, we know that Muscatine is where many of Brett’s ancestors settled. There’s a graveyard with Hampton tombstones there to prove it, their stories of love and hardship and passion lost over time. The bits and pieces that have been painstakingly uncovered through studying a trail of historic documents will be celebrated though, with the gathering of family and some meaningful rituals that will honor their stories.

This is one of my favorite things my family shares with Brett’s family–a deep appreciation of the stories of our parents’ and grandparents’ past. That appreciation only grows the older I get and the more I understand that time is fleeting. I want to know as much as I can about the people I love while they’re here. While my grandpa left us diaries, hundreds of sermon notes and e-mails that are now preserved in archive folders, there’s still so much I wish I would have had the chance to ask him before he died–so many stories we were never told because we never asked.

(my missionary grandparents with their four boys)

StoryWorth was created with this very wish in mind, by a father who was living miles away from his own father when his son was born and realized he wanted to do something to help preserve his father’s memories for his son. StoryWorth was born, and this is how it works:

• Every week, the loved one you’ve chosen to receive a StoryWorth subscription receives a question through e-mail. You can write your own questions, invite family members to submit questions, choose from hundreds of questions StoryWorth has written and arrange them however you like or let StoryWorth do all the work and choose the questions for you. Some StoryWorth question examples: What is one of the bravest things you’ve ever done, and what was the outcome? What was your first date like with your spouse? Who had the most positive influence on you as a child? What are some choices you made about how to raise me?
• All your loved one has to do is reply to the e-mail with their answer. They can write as much or as little as they like. They can record their answer if they’d rather talk than type. They can attach photos. They can let the e-mail sit for a couple days and respond to it when they find the time. It’s all set up to make it easy and manageable for the recipient.
• When the reply e-mail is sent, every e-mail address you’ve added to receive the replies will get an e-mail with your loved one’s story. For my grandma’s subscription, our stories came in like clockwork because she so looked forward to sharing them. Every Monday morning, the aunts and uncles, grandkids and cousins would get that beloved weekly e-mail: “Grandma has shared a story.” I’d sit with my coffee and start my week learning about the things my grandma had been through and the advice about life she had to give. It was priceless. 
• StoryWorth archives every story shared throughout the year of your loved one’s subscription. And each subscription comes with a book at the end of the year–all the stories and photos shared that year, printed and bound for you to keep.

My favorite thing about giving a StoryWorth subscription is that it’s really a gift to so many people. Asking your loved one to share his stories is such a wonderful way to say that you love him and that the things he’s been through matter, and the return gift–your entire family getting the chance to hear the stories and the preservation of those beautiful memories for your kids and grandkids to read for years to come–you can’t put a value on that gift.

For Father’s Day, StoryWorth is offering $20 off a subscription, normally a $79 value but $59 through Father’s Day.  StoryWorth has extracted so many beautiful stories for our family, for both my side and Brett’s, and it’s a company many of my friends have subscribed to now because of how many times I’ve sung their praises. I love what they do. So if you’re looking for something meaningful for your dad or grandpa or husband for Father’s Day this year, consider the gift of story-telling.

For our family, we know that stories are precious gifts, connecting us to our heritage. And next weekend, we will be celebrating that heritage with our dads and grandpas and looking forward to a summer of collecting more memories and more stories.

Making s’mores is, for us, as synonymous with summer as sunshine itself. and while the epitome of a good s’mores night involves toasting marshmallows around the campfire with cousins in northern Michigan, we don’t wait until our trip to get started on our summer s’more memories. We have a s’mores maker that is really fun to pull out for family nights, but we actually made a fire in the fireplace the other night for our s’mores wars. Clarified, I made a fire in the fireplace the other night–Brett thought a fire in the fireplace in June in Florida with a bunch of people in our house was–and I quote–“a little bit ridiculous.” To which I replied, “Moments and memories, Brett.” And no, this isn’t the first time the “A little bit ridiculous” vs. “Moments and memories” discussion has come up in our home.

This year on our Summer Bucket List, we have “Concoct a New Kind of S’more” which started out as “Oh hey, let’s use a Reese’s instead of Hershey’s” and ended, as all the best ideas do, with a party and a plan that has, let’s say, expanded. 

So here’s how it goes. You invite some friends over. You spread out every possible thing you could turn into a s’more on a table. Think cooking show and the theme is creative s’mores. The rule is you have to keep one regular element of a s’more, but you can change anything else. So if you have a graham cracker base, you don’t necessarily have to have the marshmallow and the chocolate square. If you use a marshmallow, you can switch out the graham cracker, etc. Each contestant must invent a creative s’more, give it a name and list the ingredients. Contestants can then taste each other’s concoctions, give them a point value from 1-10, and whoever has the most points wins the S’more War and the recipe goes into the Family Hall of Fame S’mores Cookbook. Here’s what we used:

And favorites:

The Berry Bliss…(graham crackers, cool whip, fresh berries)

Lainey’s Monkey Butter Baby… (almond butter, cool whip and chocolate on graham crackers–sooo good!)

And Heidi’s Salty Delight–toasted marshmallow with chocolate in between salty pretzel crips with a fresh raspberry on top. HEAVEN. Other fun concoctions: “The Savage,” “Sweet Explosion” (it had pop rocks) and “The Schlooby Dooby Delight”.

And Nella’s gaze as she looks at a table of sweets? That is the look of love.

But I have to admit, my summer-loving heart still loves a classic s’more best.

We are in Austin, Texas this week cooking up some fun with Ruby’s Rainbow, and I can’t believe how HOT it is! Happy Summering!