I’m hoping to check in and blog when I can but if the blog is a little quiet over the next week or two, it’s only because I’m unplugging and immersing myself in family time. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and are out there enjoying all the fun summer things! Keep on scrolling if you’d like to check out this week’s roundup of Friday favorites!
Things I’m Loving Friday
I have a very hate-hate relationship with phone tripods. I’ve tried a handful over the years and find them to be a pain to set up and also challenging to maneuver when I’m trying to record videos or take pictures. When I saw this magnetic phone tripod pop up as a recommended item for me on Amazon, it seemed like a much better option. It easily collapses and folds up to be the size of a super-thick credit card. It works well if you have a MagSafe iPhone/case and a strong magnet holds your phone up vertically or horizontally. I loved having this one on hand during our Hilton Head vacation with the boys two weeks ago, as we could quickly snap family pictures without asking strangers. Plus, it’s already coming in handy when I need to film quick videos for Instagram Stories and don’t want to have to awkwardly prop up my phone.
This water trampoline was the big birthday gift of the year for our summer birthday boys! Ryder got to open it on his birthday and when I tell you it has far exceeded our expectations already, I mean it! It inflated easily (it comes with a pump that was honestly better than the one we owned already) and the material itself is thick and sturdy. Perhaps the best thing about this water trampoline is the way our boys like to use it two different ways: Both as a water trampoline but also as a mini pool of sorts when you flip it upside down on top of the water. It collects a small amount of water inside and the boys play with the trampoline just as much when it’s flipped over as they do when it’s right-side up as a trampoline. While it’s not cheap (I paid $300 for the 10ft size — it’s currently on sale for $275), it was way more affordable than most other options out there and the quality is still very much there!
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Weekend Visitors
I didn’t have the chance to type up a weekend recap to share with you guys on Monday but we had such a wonderful four days with our friends Merri and Andrew and their two children. Whenever they come to visit we always have a blast and this time was no different. We truly lived outside in the lake, on the boat and at the pool and I think we were all water logged by the time Sunday evening rolled around!
We also managed to sneak in an adult’s only night which was so freaking fun! We went out to dinner and sipped our drinks as the sun set and just laughed and had the best time. We are so, so grateful they made the 11+ hour drive to come spend a long weekend with us.
A few days after Merri and Andrew’s departure we received a host/hostess gift that had our entire family flipping out: A giant shipment of ice cream! Ice cream is our family’s love language and when we opened up a box of freezing cold and creamy Graeter’s ice cream, we could not have been more thrilled. After a passionate discussion where we all shared our favorite ice cream flavors over drinks during their visit, Andrew insisted Graeter’s makes the very best so we could not wait to give it a try. I can now wholeheartedly confirm it’s fantastic. It’s everything I want in a bowl of ice cream: Rich, creamy texture, deep flavor that wows on the first bite and makes you immediately want to come back for more, and absolutely ZERO iciness. We’ve already tried five of the 12 pints included (they did a custom pack of their favorite flavors) and we’ve been blown away by every single one. You better believe I am keeping this in mind as a host/hostess gift to give in the future!
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American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Genre: Fiction, Suspense / My rating: B+
Ooph what a read. I was stressed out, emotionally wrecked, on the edge of my seat, depressed, hopeful, heartbroken and very much wrapped up in this book from start to finish. American Dirt is the kind of novel that takes off running from the very beginning and never slows. It’s far from a light read but rather a story full of grit and perseverance, horrific realities, a mother’s love, grief, death and unthinkable atrocities. It also felt like a particularly poignant read, especially given current events in the United States, however it’s also worth noting that this book is apparently quite controversial. I had no idea about any of the controversy surrounding this book (it came out in 2020) until I went to link to it for this blog post. The controversy surrounding American Dirt is complex and you may read more about it here before deciding whether or not you wish to read this novel, as it definitely had me thinking more critically about my thoughts and opinions on the novel once I was done reading it.
From Amazon: Lydia lives in Acapulco. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while cracks are beginning to show in Acapulco because of the cartels, Lydia’s life is, by and large, fairly comfortable. But after her husband’s tell-all profile of the newest drug lord is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.
Forced to flee, Lydia and Luca find themselves joining the countless people trying to reach the United States. Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?
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Friday Flashbacks
Berry Crisp (If you use raspberries or strawberries and blueberries and pair this one with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s a festive red, white and blue Fourth of July dessert! Bonus: Frozen berries work just as well in this one.)
Simple Sides for Your Summertime BBQ (For anyone with a summertime cookout on the horizon!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing making you smile this week?
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I found American Dirt to be a thought provoking story, and did not interpret it as intending to represent every immigrants experience. But it certainly made me think about the reasons people emigrate and what they are willing to endure to find safer places. The book The Only Road tells a similar story but is designed for middle grades and is based on a true story. I highly recommend it! I don’t think the boys would be ready for it, but I think you would enjoy it. The story is harrowing but provides hope and a happier ending. It’s an incredible book! https://www.amazon.com/Only-Road-Alexandra-Diaz/dp/1481457519/ref=asc_df_1481457519/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14326004049252255441&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017533&hvtargid=pla-2281435177818&psc=1&mcid=1ba5882758d3386c9d4e42eefd037155&hvocijid=14326004049252255441-1481457519-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14326004049252255441&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017533&hvtargid=pla-2281435177818&psc=1
Nice post