It’s April break, we’re sans childcare for the umpteenth time in the last few years, our plans to visit friends in Montauk were thwarted by them getting COVID, and we’re still working. Is it 2020 all over again?
Keeping it quick with twelve recommendations to get you (me?) through the week.
To subscribe to: Husband/wife creative duo Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis both have new newsletters and they’re extremely enjoyable. Cue annotated lyrics, little doodles, thoughts on slowness. (Subscribe to his: Machine Shop and hers: Slowpoke)
TV mind games: I literally can’t stop thinking about the season finale of Severance, which we just finished on Monday night. Best season cliffhanger of all time?
To watch: Also deep in Life + Beth (Hulu) and the Amy Schumer/Michael Cera relationship is very sweet.
Timeless gags for kids: Gave the kids whoopee cushions in their Easter baskets and, unsurprisingly, they have a lot of staying power. The fart joke never gets old.
Brain games: Another Easter hit were these Brainquest trivia card packs. I got Julian the one for 5-6 year olds, and Ada the one for 7-8 year olds. They are perfectly aged, travel well, are fun for the kids to do both solo and together.
A better citrus: Jacob got a giant bag of these grapefruit-pomelo hybrid fruits at Costco and dare I say they are better than both individual fruits? Apparently known as the Melogold.
Currently reading and loving: Angela Garbes’ new book, Essential Labor, which is about the perpetually relevant topic of mothering—mothering during the pandemic, how society sees (or doesn’t see) the mother, and why caring and caring for others matters. (Out May 10th, but you can preorder here!)
To read on a plane/train or in a waiting room: I also read the first two Bridgerton books, The Duke & I and The Viscount Who Loved Me, and while I’d say their underwhelming compared to the level of production on the TV show, they are perfect too-tired-to-read-literary-stuff material and I’m not sad I read them. I was surprised by how much the show diverted from the narrative of book 2!
Extraneous home decor: Trying to find a reason or a place to put these gorgeous handwoven lampshades in our house.
Something to listen to: I’ve been really enjoying photographer Jimmy Marble’s playlist, Cool Spring, with the kids. Pro-tip: he has many great playlists.
Kid-fashion: Are toddlers in fanny packs too on-the-nose? Considering these for summer adventures for the kids.
Pop-up Magazine has announced its spring tour dates for Oakland, LA, NYC, and Portland. Excited to check it out for the first time.
Rec for me: what’s your favorite alcohol-free beverage that still feels like a treat?
See you next week!
Totally ordering those Brainquests for my niece and nephew, great reco! :)
And it's definitely not high-brow, but I treat myself to a bright red Fanta Fruit Twist on hot summer days, ice-cold it is delicious, fizzy, sweet, with a hint of peach? tangy fruit flavour
Olipop and Recess are two favorites in our house