Hello friends. I don’t know about you, but it’s our first official week of Summer break over here. Our kids are so excited to be out of school. I’m collecting book recommendations and summer activities. I’m hoping to make it our best summer yet full of picnics, reading and homemade ice cream (after we get our kitchen back, that is).
10 Things I Love
1. This week I’m excited to read The Wedding People. I’ve heard nothing but great things. The next I’m looking forward to reading The Sirens and Deep Cuts. Please send me your recent favorites from almost any genre- I love an enthusiastic recommendation so give me horrible fomo pls.
2. With the girls, I’m reading Peter and the Starcatchers. If you have any middle-grade book suggestions I’d love to hear them.
3. I forced myself to get my once-yearly Spring/Summer manicure and I got lavender. I like it, but truthfully, there’s a huge part of me that’s already ready for Halloween. I’m savoring Summer, but fantasizing about watching Practical Magic in my new kitchen…. ahhh.
4. If you’re looking for a fun summer cocktail to make I think you’ll love scrolling our cocktail page. There are so many fun ideas, all of them easy to mix up at home. My personal favorite is probably this hot pink margarita.
5. Round ice cubes are so fun. Speaking of ice, I’ve been considering getting a countertop pebble ice maker. If you have one (that you love!) let me know your review.
6. Rifle is having a 25% off sitewide sale. I love their home decor and rugs.
7. Love this saffron & cedar candle for summer.
8. If you need a Father’s day idea, this is what we do. Buy a cute album, print out all your photos of the kids with their dad and let them make a scrapbook using the photos, their own art and type out their memories and print them. We’ve done this project quite a few years and it’s always so worth the time and effort. They are treasures. Also, I love the idea of making a custom hat.
9. If you’re considering getting a Ninja Creami be sure to read our detailed Ninja Creami review. It’s my favorite novelty appliance.
10. I’m packing for a trip right now and it reminds me I love this travel makeup bag. It lays flat, which is so nice.
Yay for these posts again, i just listened to latest podcast and had to come over right away for a read! Ive just finishes Circe and The lost bookshop. Both v different books and both so lovely and absolutely great reads. I know you love a book inside a book so The lop bookshop is a good one for you I think!!
This sounds so silly, but we moved into a home with an under counter built in icemaker. I didn’t think we’d use it much, but now I couldn’t live without one and we are in Alaska!! If you’re renovating your kitchen definitely consider one. Best kitchen upgrade ever! Even beat out my hidden trash. 😉
Love the return of 10 Things I Love Sunday!! 💕💕
I am currently reading the Wedding People, too! I can’t wait to hear your review if you decide to share it on Goodreads or the pod!
In terms of pebble ice makers – I would not reccomend the pebble ice maker by Opal / GE. It’s a pricy one, and I naively thought that would mean it was the best. Its impossible to clean – even doing my diigence and cleaning it more often than recommended was producing tons of mold on the sides and falling down on the ice. It’s also super loud and disruptive. If I had my kitchen to do over, I would put in a nugget ice drawer since the tubes can be taken out and cleaned and you wont have to worry about filling a device up with water.
Miss the podcast so much ! Can’t wait to hear what y’all are up to next !
I just finished reading The Wives by Tarryn Fisher. Not what I expected at all. I thought I had it figured out and then the twist at the end! Good read!
Love the Sunday posts for Sunday reset!
I love the blog and am a big fan of the pod too! 🙂 One of my favorite current authors is Grady Hendrix, who I think both you and Emma would like if you haven’t already heard of him. I think of his work as nostalgic cozy horror. It is horror but other big parts are about friendship, southern life, and often nostalgic elements from past decades; for example in My Best Friend’s Exorcism, which is set in the 80s, the main character is obsessed with E.T.
seconding the Grady Hendrix rec!! I imagine you both might already know his work, but just in case you don’t I cannot recommend his books enough! My personal favourite ist The Southern Book Club’s Guide to killing Vampires, which focuses on the horror of suburban living in the sixities (and vampires). What I truly love about his writing is a.) that he uses his horror element to highlight and enhance elements that are already horrific on their own – being a housewife in a very traditional and patriarchal environment, being a teenage girl in world obsesses with perfect bodies, etc. – which is my favourite kind of horror and b.) that he truly honestly does fan-fricking-tastic job of writing women as fully fleshed out messy humans and in my humble opinion absolutely nailes the female experience. Truly – so, so goood!!
The Railway Children, Chronicles of Narnia, The Incredible Journey, A Series of Unfortunate Events, A Wrinkle in Time, The Birchbark House, Anna Hibiscus (a bit for younger kids but the themes are timeless & so much fodder for discussion), Roald Dahl (my personal favorite & a shorter/more gentle story is _Esio Trot_) Where the Mountain Meets the Moon & other books in the series is actually my TOP CHOICE for your family because it’s fantasy inspired by Chinese folklore! Grace Lin writes & illustrates -the pictures are stunning. She is an American of Taiwanese descent.
Thank you so much for the suggestions!
I came here also to suggest ALL those books but to highlight Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Such a fantastic book. Mensa has great book lists as well. Rascal is another great read, the Saturdays, or the Moffats are also great chill books that my kids love. Adam of the Road is a good medieval adventure. We listened to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and it’s a fantastic audio book fyi. My kids ask for it at least every other year. Anyway just wanted to also add that I’m sooooo glad the Sunday posts are back. Thank you!
For ages 9-12, my daughters and all of their friends flew through the Keepers of the Lost Cities series. Around that same age but more realistic fiction, one of my daughters was very into The Vanderbeekers series. She is now 15 and rereads the first book annually as a comfort read. Other great books that we did as read alouds in that timeframe: Charlie & Frog, Bob (by Wendy Mass & Rebecca Stead), Snow & Rose, Crenshaw, The Wild Robot 1 & 2, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook.
Highly recommend Sal & Gabi Break the Universe for a middle grade read-aloud. It’s magical/scientific/realism at its very best and has humor and SO much genuine love and affection between the characters (but not a focus on a romantic relationship). Heads up, Sals mother died a few years before this story takes place and him missing her is part of the story, but it’s addressed in a very unique way.
First, The Bookwanderers by Anna James for middle grades. It’s the start of a 6 book series and it was an amazing book to read with a 4th grade class I assist and tutor in.
For you, The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros. I am an avid reader and that book which I read about a year ago is a book I CANNOT forget and, although I lent it out and have not gotten it back, every time I see it at Target or Barnes and Noble, I pick it up and re-read sections of it.