Uh Oh, I didn’t like your favorite book…
I guess this is a quarterly now?
Hello! It’s so great to be with you again after a couple of months. We’ve got a great issue this time! I hope you’ll take a little break for yourself and read through it to the end!
Here’s a little something I wrote about putting off personal dreams for joint dreams and how I deal with the dichotomy of loving what you have while also wanting something different.
Next, my attempt at a shortlist of book recommendations that I can definitely stand behind! Unless you end up hating the book, then I also hated it as well.
Recent Reads I Loved:
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum—another mystery/thriller based around a podcast. The audiobook is a delight, kept me guessing. An all around fun experience.
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt—please, if you are a parent, buy this book and keep a copy of it. I am doing my best to keep my children’s childhood, exactly that—a childhood. And this book just bolstered my confidence and motivation to do it.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah—another harrowing tale from Kristin. I know very little about all the history we have here in the United States, but books like this really help. They inevitably send me on research benders and fact finding missions for the era in which they’re set.
Books I Loved Less:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden—um, the internet had me convinced Freida(or should I say, Sara?) was too icky for me, but this book felt incredibly light as far as creepy stuff goes…
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 1—so much hype for so little payoff. I’m being dramatic, it wasn’t that bad. It was just…uninteresting. For nearly the entire thing until the last couple of pages. As I said to a book buddy, yes I will read the entire series because curiosity will not allow me not to.
Books My Kids Loved:
Whatever After Series—a new favorite and so fun.
Cornbread and Poppy—another delightful buddy series.
We just finished reading the illustrated version of The Sorcerer’s Stone with the kids and they loved it. They keep rereading it and reciting their favorite scenes.
Books I Want to Read because I know they’re probably good(this list is going to be so long, how am I ever going to read all the books):
American Fantasy by Emma Straub—Emma’s writing is everything deep, but also bubbly and warm. Can’t wait.
Love by the Book by Jessica George—another book about an author. Sign me up! Do I read these books because I want to be an author and think that proximity=possibility? Yes.
The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke—to be honest, this cover is what’s getting me. It better be good.
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan—I forced my brother to give me his list of books and this was a favorite. And it’s next on my list now.
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke—I love me a polarizing book. Can’t wait to form a strong opinion about this one and argue with internet strangers about it.
Where my money went:
The kids’ teachers are getting these cute bags stuffed full of summer stuff including travel sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses and some gift cards as an end of year gift. As a teacher myself, I would love this gift. It’s practical, useful, but also things I tend to talk myself out of buying because I don’t technically neeed it.
If you’re really looking to splurge for the teachers in your life, go for this bag in one of their favorite colors. Make sure to get the email and text promo codes! They are such a great deal! I’ve had the medium and large size with regular handles and zip tops and loved both!
The best notebook for kids! One side of the pages are lined, the other is blank. Perfect for writing stories or having space for captions for drawings. Trust (as the kids say).
I found a perfect summer/sunburn solution. I’m sure you’re way ahead of me, but in case you’re not these are perfect!
Speaking of swimming and sun and summer, these are the perfect boys swim trunks! Instead of that chafe-causing mesh they have this great brief like inner short.
I found a frame that fits a portrait and a landscape 5x7 photo which is just lovely.
Food for reading:
This recipe is from YummyToddlerFood.com.
That’s all, snackers!
Thank you so much for the privilege of your time! I’ll see you when I see you!
Talk soon!
