(The boys’ fish pajamas were a gift from Mae and are so cute I cannot handle it! They’re also crazy soft and so realistic which made them a big hit with our fish-loving kids.)
I hope to snap some pictures and recap our weekend on the blog but until then, keep on scrolling for this week’s roundup of favorites, Things I’m Loving Friday style!
Things I’m Loving Friday #519
We’ve had this rotating snack tray for years but I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it in a TILF post! That had to change today because it’s such a helpful little thing if you have a child who likes snack but also likes to be in control of their snacks. We save this rotating snack tray for road trips, stroller walks, etc. — aka times when we are all about snacktime taking a little longer and also doubling as toddler entertainment. The button is easy enough for Rhett to press to rotate the snacks himself. And he always gets a big kick out of seeing all of the options we use to fill his tray! Even the big kids still get into this one from time to time.
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Summer Bugs Be Gone: Electric Racket Fly Swatter + Fruit Fly Blue Light Trap
During the summer months, small bugs like fruit flies and house flies somehow find their way into our home every single year. They’re pesky and annoying but we’ve found a few things to help keep our home bug free. Up first: An electric racket fly swatter. Last year when we were browsing around a local home goods store, Ryder saw the racket and asked to get it. I think he just thought it looked cool. But I figured it was worth a shot for getting rid of house flies zooming around our house. It works like a charm and our big kids get so into it! We keep it under our kitchen sink. And I swear if a house fly ever makes it into our home, it doesn’t stand a chance thanks to our big kids and this racket!
Up next: Fruit fly blue light traps! I ordered these thanks to a recommendation from my sister. And have two plugged in in various spots in our kitchen. One is permanently plugged in by our sink. And the other is right above the fruit basket in our pantry and they WORK. The light attracts the fruit flies at night and have truly eliminated any kind of fruit fly problem from our home this summer.
These non-toxic color-changing tablets are a gem of a find for kids who love water play. Our kids love adding them to their bath water, the above Lovevery tubes (from a past play kit) and to big tubs of water for water play outside. (They use them to make oceans, car washes, lava, etc.) I first discovered them when I was reordering tablets for our favorite color-mixing bath toy for the boys. I’ll never stop recommending that one for kids who love water play and bath time because it’s still a hit with our boys. It’s also a great way to teach little ones their colors. And all about what happens when you mix different colors.
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Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
My rating: B- / Genre: Mystery
I hit what I refer to as the library jackpot with this book — both the book and the audiobook were available to download at the same time. This fact, coupled with the sticker I noticed denoting the book as a previous Reese’s Book Club selection, was all I needed to give the book a shot. As I began reading, the book had so much potential. Complicated relationships, a murder, little clues to pique my interest… but from there it just kind of dragged. I liked the story enough to read it (and it wasn’t short at all). But I feel lie a full third of the book could’ve been edited down and I would not have missed a thing. The book felt unnecessarily long which detracted from the plot. It had me wishing it would move along at a faster pace.
Mother-Daughter Murder Night begins when Lana Rubicon, a successful businesswoman living in Los Angeles, is diagnosed with cancer. Having prided herself on her independence and success for years, she’s reluctant to admit she needs her daughter, Beth, during her treatment. Lana moves 300 miles north to Beth’s small town and into the bedroom of her teenage granddaughter, Jack. She’s bored out of her mind until Jack is roped into a homicide investigation following her discovery of a body during one of her kayaking tours. Lana is determined to prove Jack’s innocence in the murder and solve the mystery herself. Lana’s amateur investigation ends up involving her daughter and granddaughter. And as the women begin digging deeper, they uncover secrets lies that could put all three of them in serious danger.
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Friday Flashbacks
Favorite Podcasts for Kids (Sharing our boys’ favorite podcasts appropriate for all ages with notes about each one)
Collagen Baked Oatmeal (This recipe got a lot of love again last week and fed our crew of 6 kids for a few mornings)
Question of the Day
What is one thing making you smile this week?
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Love your kid recommendations always!
OMGish the fruit flies drive me insane. We use the blue lights also, but I’ve found that setting a trap with apple cider vinegar and dish soap in a plastic wrap dish works the best.
Have a good weekend!
Where are your bar stools from?? I was wondering if you could do a post on styling and decorating your home with young kids or share the best resources you found for inspiration when you designed your house?! I have a similar style to you.
Thanks Julie!