Hello, friend!
This weekend we celebrated my son's and husband’s birthdays as well as our 11th wedding anniversary. Our celebrations were pretty low-key this year because we also said see you later to my younger sister, who is making a big cross-country move. I scheduled this post because we’re currently en route to drop my daughter off at her first sleepaway camp. I’m excited for her, but also a little nervous, mostly about how she’ll manage any homesickness and the total lack of screen time. It’s been a busy couple of days, but things are about to slow down significantly. This upcoming week at camp will culminate in my daughter’s tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Scheduling the second half (how?!) of our summer is tight. I’m doing my best not to obsess over my Google calendar.
R - Reading
🎧 Audiobook: Ashley Poston’s newest magical realism romance, Sounds Like Love. It features a rockstar/songwriter romance without falling into overdone tropes. If you enjoyed Under Your Spell by Laura Jane Wood but wanted actual magic, give this one a go!
I also listened to When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. It was a re-read for me in anticipation of the 2nd novella coming out this fall. I preferred reading over listening, but the audiobook helped me with some of the Polish phrases. You can read my original review here.
We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han was narrated by two of the actors from the Prime Video series, Lola Tung and Christopher Briney. Briney needs to do more voice acting. I could see him narrating romances. It was a quick read too. At just over 6 hours, I finished during my work day at 1.5x speed. I’m excited for the Season 3 premiere. I’m team Connie baby.
📕Physical Copy: I was smitten with What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon from the first page. I absolutely loved her writing and the way Dani and Wouter’s reconnection unfolded. The characters had such tender relationships with their families and the things they bonded over. There’s a big focus on culture and art in this story that spoke to my wanderlust. I’m eager to check out Solomon’s backlist from the library.
📱Kindle: Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource by Samuel Bloch, a non-fiction book about shade that is part science, history, urban design, and social justice commentary. This book stood out to me on NetGalley and is related to my professional interests. As someone passionate about not being hot, I’m fascinated by Bloch’s discourse.
E - Eating
Wing Stop (their Ranch dressing is divine)
meatloaf, peas, and mash
creamy dijon chicken and brussel sprouts
veggies and couscous
steak on the grill to celebrate birthdays
birthday cake
Mexican food out with friends
P - Playing
I am surprised that I actually like Benson Boone’s new album! Also, we finally got the full album drop from The Dare. I still can’t get party 4 u out of my head and my kids have been asking me to play the song Run It by Jelly Roll from the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie on repeat. The new F1 soundtrack is making me want to see the movie!
O - Obsessing over
Baublebar’s waterproof bracelet stacks. I love this colorful look. Adding to my wish list immediately.
R - Recommending
The new Disney/Pixar film Elio. We saw it in theaters opening weekend, and I think the beginning sequences were some of their best animation yet! My kids really enjoyed it, but my husband and I didn’t resonate with the storyline as much as some other films. My rising 2nd grader seemed to grasp that Elio didn’t feel like he fit in anywhere. For that reason, I recommend this for school-age kids trying to figure out their place in the world. The story provides some good opportunities to talk about different family and friend struggles.
T - Treating myself
This week’s at-home manicure: 1 coat of O&J Saltwater Taffy and 1 coat of O&J Olive Y’all for a bit of shimmer. I like the slightly transparent effect.
I also had a haircut and a blowout! I love all the plants in my salon’s studio. My stylist also gave me a little scalp treatment, which felt luxurious.
Hope you had a great weekend!
Elsewhere on the Internet: Goodreads / Storygraph / Pinterest
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omg that bracelet stack is too cute. I'm inspired!
My sister also had the adenoid surgery, it helped her tremendously!