Weekend Reading – February 17th, 2018

Happy Sunday! After a long week of travel, I’m happy to be back in Brooklyn with Bo and Katie. So far we’ve spent the weekend doing some things around the house, catching up with friends and enjoying lots of cuddles with Katie. She is doing her best to army crawl everywhere possible so life has quickly taken on a faster pace. Today we’re heading into the city for brunch with friends and then tomorrow, Bo and I are enjoying a day date since Katie’s nanny share family doesn’t have the day off for President’s Day. Our plans include going to Aire Ancient Baths, a leisurely lunch and then going to the movie theater for the first time since Katie was born!

This week, instead of Friday Favorites, I’m sharing some weekend reading which includes recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • I’m trying to incorporate more strength training into my weekly workout routine and this 20 minute Metabolism Boosting PopSugar video was the perfect thing to kick-start my motivation! I was dripping sweat by the end of the video, loved the intense but short routine, and I only needed a yoga mat and a set of 10-pound weights.
  • After seeing Little Fires Everywhere on many different lists I finally bought it a few weeks ago. I finished it in just a few days, as the characters hooked me immediately. The author did a wonderful job developing each of the characters and inter-twining the story lines as she shared the tale of the Richardson Family of Shaker Heights, and the people who came into their lives and changed everything they knew.
  • It’s been a month since I upgraded my moisturizer to Beautycounter Adaptive Moisture Lotion. Even during a week of three flights and far too little sleep, this was able to keep my skin hydrated all day long without looking greasy or causing any breakouts.
  • I finally started meditating last month and it was a game changer especially in January when I was dealing with some minor insomnia. While there are many different apps that you can use, I liked that Headspace’s offers a complimentary Basics 10 session pack. You can even change the duration of each session – 3 minutes, 5 minutes or 10 minutes. For the first few days I did 3 minutes before going to bed but by the 10th day, I was meditating for 10 minutes.
  • I heard about this New York Times article from no less than ten friends and family members the day it was published. The tiny Vermont town of Norwich has produced 11 Olympians and it isn’t due to their state-of-the-art training facilities or level of rigor. Instead, most parents stress enjoyment and participation over expertise and have created a  supportive community instead of a competitive atmosphere.
  • After the horribly tragic event that took place in Florida this week, I have to share this article which discusses the changes Australia enacted following a mass shooting in the 1990s. Regardless of political affiliation, everyone I’ve spoken with since the shooting agrees that something has to change. Whether the number is 6 or 18, the startling and scary statistic regarding the number of school shootings that have occurred this year alone is shocking and unnerving.
  • Three months later, these high rise jeans are still my favorite and I recently ordered a second pair in a different wash and am keeping my eye out for a white pair to wear this Spring and Summer.
  • Speaking of Summer, I just ordered a new cover-up and swimsuit after falling head over heels for Lilly Pulitzer’s vibrant prints and flattering designs!  When I went through my closet and dresser last month, I parted ways with most of my beach attire since it was either faded or didn’t fit anymore. While I refuse to buy more than I need, I’m hoping to find two cover-ups and two swimsuits for the Summer! Any recommendations for mom-friendly swimsuits? So far a number of my friends have recommended Athleta.  
  • A few weeks ago, one of my co-workers recommended that I give Apple AirPods a try as they are great for the hours of conference calls I have as well as listening to music, books, or podcasts on-the-go. After a week of using them, I can’t figure out why I waited so long! I love that they synch easily with any device, turn off when I take them out of my ear and have a convenient carrying case that doubles as a charging device. The sound quality is surprisingly good and they are snug enough to use for HIIT workouts. I will most likely not use them for workouts regularly as I fear that my excessive sweat would ruin them. The battery life is around five hours but I haven’t had an issue since anytime I have them in their case they are charging.
  • For years, going to the grocery store each week has been one of my favorite activities. I love discovering new items, exploring the shelves and finding the perfect produce. But, since Katie was born this has become more challenging and that combined with the winter weather, lack of car and work travel, going to the grocery store has become an arduous chore. We joined Instacart Express using one of their new member codes (click link for your own code) and were amazed at how easy it is. We have access to ten different stores (Whole Foods, Fairway, Key Food, Green Grape, Costco, etc) locally and the groceries are delivered within 2-3 hours even on a busy day like Saturday. I’ve been checking and so far it seems like most groceries are the same price they would be in store. Have you tried Instacart? Do you use another delivery service? 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

Share Button

Follow:

4 Comments

  1. Lisa February 19, 2018 / 4:48 am

    Not sure if it’s still on your radar, but would love a post on your thoughts on screen time with Katie. Hope you had a great weekend with your family!

    • ashleyd February 20, 2018 / 12:51 am

      It is on my radar along with a long list of other topics that I’m trying to make my way through, slowly but surely. Thanks Lisa!

  2. Laura February 19, 2018 / 5:48 pm

    Day dates are the best when you have a child! My husband and I take a few a year. Have you looked in the group Moms Demand Action? I just joined this weekend in light of the most recent shooting and I hope we can finally make a real change regarding gun laws in the US! Check out Albion Fit for swimsuits. They have a beautiful one pieces that are great when you have a child pulling on you!

    • ashleyd February 20, 2018 / 12:51 am

      Thank you for the recommendations Laura!

Comments are closed.