Hello and happy Friday!
Looks like we made it! If you have a school-age child, you know exactly what I mean. The first week of school can be just about as hard on the parents as the kids. Everyone’s adjusting their schedules, managing expectations, and still wondering where summer went to.
Now, instead of taking “me” time with coffee and my News feed in the morning, I’m back to making my teenager’s school lunch before she leaves for school at 7:10 a.m.. Yep. I still make her lunch every day. Why? Oh, I don’t know. She’s certainly responsible enough to do it, but it’s one thing during her day I know she’ll enjoy (she’s a food lover just like her mom) and it makes me feel good knowing she’s eating healthy instead of crap from the vending machines. I’m just waiting for her friends to get their drivers licenses when her take-lunch-to-school plans will likely be seriously curbed.
But until then, I’m good with making killer sandwiches each and every morning. (get my tips for making your own here.)
In gearing up for getting back into the school swing, I asked Ali to read one book before school started. Just one. This one. She would have loved it. But nothing. Not one crack of the cover. I was a huge reader at her age but somehow, that gene did not transcend.
Which made it even more painful when we were in the check out line at Urban Outfitters and I overheard a mom heatedly reply to her daughter that she could only get one poetry book instead of the 3 her daughter wanted. POETRY! Her teenager wanted to read poetry for goodness sake! GET HER THE DANG BOOKS!
Teens are challenged with finding their passions, and acting on them. And just like adults, they’re also challenged with connecting to others because the function most behind the invisibility of their phones. Back in my day, *cue the old lady lecture* we had to talk on the telephone and learn how to address a letter and walk 5 miles uphill in a snowstorm to school.
But seriously, I wonder if teens will ever learn to truly converse with each other? Or discover new passions inspired by being so bored you actually do something you didn’t think you’d like? Are the outside social distractions and one word texted answers to blame? Or is it just chalked up to being a sullen teen? Or likewise, spiritless adults.
That’s why I found this article about parenting teens in this cell phone age interesting.
I totally connected with the author’s claim that telling your kid “You can do anything!” has been replaced with, “Will you just do … something?” I’m taking his tips and trying them out myself. If you have a teen, pre-teen, or even younger child (they grow up so fast these days!), you may want to as well. And then apply it to yourself.
But enough about my teen and me, myself and I. Let’s dig into this week’s list of Friday Faves.
Everything you’ll be watching on Netflix this fall.
He’s taking his grandma to visit all of the U.S. National Parks and Instagram is falling in love with Grandma Joy.
After 15 years of blogging, this is what it feels like to shut it all down.
10 unexpected reasons to drink more water.
I don’t want to add more gadgets to my kitchen, but this watermelon slicer looks pretty cool. Does anyone have it and does it really work?
I often forget to go to Pinterest to see what recipes of mine readers are Pinning. If you’re curious, here’s what’s getting pinned now.
This mini non-stick fry pan is my FAVE for flipping one over easy egg at a time. 1450 reviews and counting…
Wow! Pow! Kung pao cauliflower!
and…
Eat more plants = eat cauliflower tacos.
This chicken stir fry has me all wonton it all! (doh!)
So much flavor in this simple salad.
I’m not much of an ice tea fan, but I could totally drink this.
This grilled salmon is so perfectly corny. (and so am I.)
These look like some killer tacos.
and…
I love these with everything Mexican.
Keep on celebrating summer with a sheet pan shrimp boil.
These homemade bread sticks take me back to the Little Caesar’s days.
I’ve been totally into eggplant this summer, so obviously I’m into this recipe.
I’d be more than happy to have these chocolate chip cookies delivered to my door.
How to make the Insta-famous rolled ice cream at home.
Here’s why you should find a productivity song.
Great gift idea: I am dying over this ombré Jenga game!
Move over Marie Kondo, this new organizing show is going to be hilarious AND helpful. (love their stories on Insta.)
and…
This past weekend I cleaned out my bathroom drawers and threw out an entire kitchen garbage can of old/unused/pasttheirprime beauty products. You should too. Check out this 31 day decluttering challenge and get it gone!
but then…
Sephora is having their 15% off VIB sale…soooooo I promised myself to only stock up on my fave basics. (enter SUMMERSAVE at checkout through August 27)
- My always and forever fave blush.
- This glycolic peel I bought in Paris and need to restock.
- My can’t go out of the house without eye brow pencil.
- I can’t commit so I always go for the travel size eye shadow palettes like this one.
Hello bob. Fall’s best fresh new haircuts.
My fave boutique is having their 20% OFF anniversary sale! (Enter code 6YEARS at checkout.)
- LOVE this dress. Would be so cute with sneakers.
- Layered coin necklaces…on trend.
- This cozy sweater is just begging to cocoon in cooler weather.
- This Korean skin care bundle. YES!
Three types of toxic mom friends, and how to deal with them.
And, 101 Monday motivational quotes. Save for later…
And now, off to enjoy the weekend. I hope you do too!
Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.
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Yp
Tis Thursday!
Sabrina
thank you for all of these, and am skipping straight the the sangria recipe, triage, other will follow
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
ME TOO GIRL!
Cindi
We have that watermelon slicer, and, yes, it works! :)
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
SO COOL!