We’re kicking off our weekend with a house full of kids — our boys are all having playdates here today — and are anxiously awaiting Ryan’s arrival back home. Ryan was in San Antonio for work last week and Philadelphia for work this week but thankfully both trips were fairly short and no more work travel is on the horizon for him until June.
As for our weekend plans, we are pet-sitting our friends’ bearded dragon (a huge highlight for our boys) and have tickets to a kid-friendly play at a local theatre. We’re also hoping the rain will hold off a bit so we can plant our garden! Last spring was our first foray into gardening and we all got so into it and are hoping to have another fruitful (pun intended) summer.
I hope you guys have a fantastic weekend and enjoy today’s roundup of favorites!
Things I’m Loving Friday
Ryan gave me my first Skylar candle for Christmas this past year and apparently I raved about it so much that he knew I would be thrilled with another one for my birthday. The vanilla scent isn’t a traditional vanilla but rather a warm, welcoming vanilla with hint of woodsiness I adore. It makes the candle smell extra cozy I have never in my life had the scent of a candle fill a room the way this one does. Sometimes I’ll light a candle and only really smell it if I’m standing right next to the candle but this candle carries in the best way. We can smell the scent but it’s not overpowering and just adds the perfect touch of woodsy vanilla warmth to our home. A 10/10 candle!
Buckle up, my friends, because most of the items featured in today’s post are birthday gifts I received from friends and family. Up next: My new 8” mini Caraway pan! My parents gave this one to me to add to my collection of non-toxic Caraway pans and bakeware and I am absolutely thrilled because I love the size of the skillet for frying up a couple of eggs, a few sausage links, a single grilled cheese for myself for lunch, etc. The size of the pan is great and, in true Caraway fashion, it’s gorgeous. Also, Caraway previously gave me a code to pass along for 10% off — PBFINGERS10 — I have no idea if it still works, but it’s worth a shot if you’re interested in any of their cookware or bakeware!
Earlier this week, I got together with a group of my girlfriends to celebrate the two of us in our group with April birthdays. They were all so kind and generous with their sweet gifts, though the one I’m about to mention is already gone. I think I’ve walked by Alter Eco chocolates a million times at Target and Whole Foods and for some reason never gave them a try until my friend Amanda put a bar of Alter Eco mint creme truffle thins in a gift basket for me. Oh my gosh this chocolate bar was fantastic. I absolutely love the combination of chocolate and mint (as evidenced by the way I freak out over Dove Peppermint Bark Promises every holiday season) and this one was so perfectly rich and minty without being too over-the-top strong on the mint flavor. They also nailed the texture with this one, as it’s soft and decadent and perfectly melts in your mouth. This one will absolutely be making it into my cart the next time I see it in the candy aisle.
Genre: Historical Fiction
My rating: A
There is a reason everyone is recommending this novel right now. It’s beautifully written, tragic and informative and, honestly, it felt like an important read. While I am someone who admittedly loves historical fiction novels, I hadn’t read one that took place during the Vietnam War before The Women. This novel begins in the mid 1960s when nursing student Frankie McGrath attends the send-off party for her brother before he leaves to fight in Vietnam. Having grown up in Coronado Island, California, Frankie is used to a country club lifestyle where the focus of most young women is on marrying well and having children. It isn’t until her brother’s best friend tells her “women can be heroes, too,” at her brother’s goodbye party that Frankie realizes she can also play a part in the war. Intrigued and inspired to make a difference, Frankie signs up to join the Army Nurse Corps.
She arrives in Vietnam overwhelmed and undertrained but she is committed and determined and soon becomes one of the most skilled surgical nurses alongside her roommates-turned-friends, Ethel and Barb. The three women see tragedy after tragedy and Frankie experiences love, heartbreak, trauma, grief, shock and hope as she continues to learn and provide the best possible care to everyone in her path.
As her time in Vietnam comes to a close, her feelings about leaving the war behind are mixed. Despite letters from home telling her how about anti-war protests, Frankie is unprepared by just how unwelcome she feels when she returns to California. No one wants to hear about her time in Vietnam and she struggles with feeling both proud of her service and, somehow, ashamed. While the war wages on, Frankie realizes she has her own battle to face at home as she tries to find her way in her old life when she’s anyone but the woman she was before the war.
I was completely captivated by Frankie’s story from start to finish. I fiercely rooted for her and was heartbroken again and again both by the horrors of Vietnam and by all Frankie was forced to endure (over and over again… seriously, the woman just could not catch a break). I also loved the way the author wove twists into the story… some I saw coming but one I definitely did not and it was the kind of twist that made me want to throw my book across the room. I also cannot say enough good things about the author’s writing. She clearly pours immense time and effort into her research and paints the most vivid pictures with her words. She constantly references music we all know from the time period, as well as hair styles, popular fashion choices, car models and more to help transport the reader to the late 1960s and ’70s. The Women will, without a doubt, make my list of best reads of 2024.
Last year I began sharing a top 10 list at the end of every month as a way to give you guys a glimpse back into some of the blog posts you may have missed or some of my favorite finds you may have had on your radar that got lost in blogging and social media mayhem. A handful of you said it was helpful so I’m doing the same again in 2024. Please see below for April’s top 10!
Top 10 Blog Posts
Your Top 10 Favorites
- Refillable Water Balloons (Hands down our boys’ favorite pool toy of last summer. Currently on sale for 39% off + an additional 20% off with a clippable coupon.)
- Free People Ziggy Overalls (The comfy-yet-flattering overalls I’ve been wearing on repeat.)
- Paula’s Choice Exfoliant (I gently pat this onto my skin 2x a week and swear I’ve noticed improved skin tone and reduced redness. It’s also supposed to help combat enlarged pores, wrinkles, blackheads and aging… I mean I’ll take ALL of that!)
- KUR Illuminating Nail Concealer (A dream in a bottle for making damaged nails look perfectly manicured and healthy.)
- Walmart Cane Cabinet (I love that you guys continue to love this affordable piece of furniture. It’s gorgeous in person and we paired two side-by-side and keep them filled with easily reachable kid craft supplies, activities, games and puzzles.)
- Tangle Teezer (A magical brush that glides through knots.)
- Botanic Tree Glycolic Acid Cleanser (A new-to-me cleanser I love that deeply exfoliates and works to fade dark spots, scarring, redness and discoloration.)
- Anthropologie Chicklet Bracelet (Such a happy, colorful bracelet — these are the ones I stack together and wear all the time.)
- Amazon Linen Jumpsuit (Comfy and cute! I love this jumpsuit paired with sneakers or sandals and a tee or tank for a casual but still put-together look. I have it in beige and black!)
- Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum (aka my way of gently dipping my toes into incorporating retinol into my skincare routine)
Question of the Day
What is something you are loving this week?
