Though the weekend ahead is supposed to be full of rain and thunderstorms in Charlotte, I am really looking forward to the next couple of days. We don’t have anything on the agenda and my only request for Mother’s Day is to spend time with Ryan, Sadie and the boys so that should be a simple one to fulfill. I’ll be sure to check in next week and share a recap of the fun but until then, please see below for my usual roundup of things I’m loving this week!
Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mamas out there!
Things I’m Loving Friday
Apparently the Mother’s Day Gift Guide I shared on my blog this year inspired the birthday gift my sister gave to me because she scooped up the mustard yellow bow slides and surprised me with a pair. I thought they were so cute when I saw them online but was honestly shocked by just how comfortable the slides feel on my feet! They’re slightly cushioned and I adore the knotted bow and stitch detailing. I paired them with this jumpsuit for my parents’ Kentucky Derby party last weekend and loved the summery look!
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Ahi Tuna Encrusted with Bagel Seasoning
I saw this pseudo-recipe pop up all over Instagram a while back and I thought it was genius! I knew I had to give it a try! I thawed some sushi-grade wild-caught ahi tuna steaks I found at ALDI and then seared them in Bagel Seasoning and the tuna was unbelievably good! It reminded me of the sesame-encrusted tuna you find at restaurants. Next time I want to incorporate it into a bowl with sticky rice, cucumber, ginger and soy sauce and make a poke bowl-inspired dish.
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I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagán
In a world of perfect lives and relentless comparison, reading I’m Fine and Neither Are You felt like a real look into relationships and struggles that build and sneak up on us in everyday life. The book follows the life of Penelope Ruiz-Kar, a woman who is doing it all but feeling rundown in the process, as she faces a shocking tragedy that reveals that the seemingly perfect life of her best friend, Jenny, was little more than a perfectly curated image. Inspired to make a change in her life, Penny and her husband, Sanjay, commit to improving their marriage through total honesty but the process quickly becomes more intense, difficult and emotional than Penny anticipated.
I loved this book because of the growth that occurs throughout the novel. While the beginning of the novel is heavy, I found myself rooting for Penelope and Sanjay and my feelings about their marriage grew and softened right along with their relationship. Penelope and Sanjay’s marriage is far from perfect but both partners slowly open up about what they need from each other and seem committed to making changes in a realistic way, while recognizing they are both flawed themselves. The author writes in a way that made me feel like I was somehow getting a peek into a real person’s marriage. I’m Fine and Neither Are You is thought-provoking, real and raw with complex characters that evolve in a believable way.
I briefly mentioned Chase’s love for Slap Jack in a previous post but I wanted to highlight this six pack of kid’s card games in today’s post because it’s been such a hit with Chase! I don’t know why I never thought to play card games with Chase but it wasn’t until one of my friends mentioned how much her daughter loves playing Go Fish that it even crossed my mind. I ordered a pack of six popular kid card games and Chase is very into Memory, Go Fish and Slap Jack at the moment. It’s been such a fun way for me and Ryan to play with Chase and apparently card games can be great for developing skills like matching, counting, making pairs, taking turns, recognition, etc. which is an added benefit!
I’m just going to leave it at this: If you need to laugh out loud, watch this video. So much truth!!!
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True Made Foods Vegetable Ketchup
Have you guys tried this ketchup? It’s made with tomato puree and a blend of vegetables (butternut squash, carrots, spinach) as well as cane sugar, vinegar, salt and spices and it is GOOD. I was majorly skeptical when I tried it for the first time but the flavor is spot-on for a “normal” ketchup and it even passed the picky 3-year-old taste test. I am now on a mission to try their BBQ sauce to see how that one holds up but if it’s anything like this vegetable ketchup, my hopes are high!
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Friday Flashbacks
Crowd Pleasing Vegetable Quiche (Just in case you need a yummy brunch recipe for Mother’s Day this Sunday! This one is a personal family favorite!)
Killer Cardio Total Body Tabata Workout (A one-two-punch of a workout that will get your heart rate up while making your muscles burn!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing making you smile this week?
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My 3 year old has been loving games and puzzles lately, so I’ll have to pick up a pack of Go Fish cards! I used to love that game.
I’m loving 1st birthday party planning. Just got all the supplies to make a tutu and banner/tutu for the highchair. So fun 🙂
Hope you have a nice Mother’s Day!
aw birthday party planning is so, so fun!!! are you doing a theme?
Just had to say a big thank you for posting about the card games!!! I scooped up a set after you posted about it last time and my 3.5 has been LOVING it too!! (Like playing Go Fish at dinner time, bringing outside to play with neighborhood friends hahaha). Thank you so so much for always sharing such wonderful finds, truly appreciate it! ♥️
Of course! So glad your little one is enjoying them, too!
Thank you for that Life with a Newborn video link, I needed that! I’m a first time mom with an almost 5 week old and I identified with every aspect of that video. 😂
It is FOR REAL 😂 The newborn days are all kinds of crazy & I just love how that video makes you laugh about the insanity
Talk to me about frozen sushi-grade tuna. Frozen fish has always kind of freaked me out but I’m trying to get past it since it’s so practical! The ALDI version is worth it??
ME TOO! BIG TIME! But Ryan has a friend who is a chef and said many, many sushi restaurants (esp those not near the ocean) are using flash-frozen fish which made me feel a little better about giving it a shot and I was SOOOO impressed! I also think the fact that the packaging of the ALDI tuna said “sushi-grade” right on it made me feel a little more confident and it was fantastic!
I ordered those cards – thanks! The video is hilarious!!!
Oh my gosh, YES! Go Fish is SUCH a huge hit amongst the preschool crowd I’m learning! HA! Who knew?? They make so many different cute decks of it too. My niece actually has an oversized deck that’s got the cutest silly fish on each card, so it just makes the game a little less…bland! We are loving that the rain has moved out and it’s supposed to be pretty but cooler all weekend, so I’m hoping to squeeze in a good run 🙂 Also, we just started watching Chernobyl (spelling?) on HBO last night, and OMG – definitely worth checking out! Happy Mother’s Day weekend, Julie!
Sooo…don’t watch the new born clip in your open work cube at lunch without earplugs.
Your co workers witll hear ummmm…let’s just say you’ve been warned!
Thanks Julie!
I’ve had raise sandals in my care for weeks, so guess I should buy them now!
That book sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing- always love your recs!
“Mom can I have my baby back?” “No!” Lol!!! That’s me when I hold my grandchild. 🙂
hahaha! grandmas are the best! 🙂
Happy Mother’s Day Julie! I hope you’re enjoying your day! Those espadrille bow slides are adorable and perfect for the summer and also, that ketchup sounds great – definitely the kind I’d like to buy!