I am constantly brainstorming ways to have fun with blogging. My latest idea is to devote one day a week to my current loves. These loves will include things serious and silly, philosophical and practical, truly meaningful and downright materialistic. Think: books, ballerina flats, baby stuff. I figure this is an easy-breezy, feel-good way to kick off the weekend. TGIF!
♥
1. Happier At Home by Gretchen Rubin
In this delightful follow-up to her bestselling book The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin explores the connection between the ever-elusive concept of happiness and the idea of home. I was fortunate to receive an early copy of this gem and appropriately savored it during a quiet time when I was home with my family. Full of wonderful quotes, insights, and connections, I highly recommend this book for thinkers and all who are curious about, yes, being happier at home.
2. Sequined Sweats for Kids
I’ve never been one to dress my girls in super-fancy little numbers, but I do love a mix of tomboy and feminine sparkle. This shirt is from Crew Cuts and costs $39.50. If you like this look, also check out this patriotic sparkly star sweatshirt from Children’s Place and this cute sequined tee at Old Navy.
3. Green Juice
After two weeks of vacation eating (think: neon gummy worms and discarded quesadilla crusts at the airport), I am literally craving green. My favorite is a mix of kale, spinach, cucumber and celery with an apple (or Splenda) to add a little sweetness. I’m a big fan of the Green Love and Mellow Love options at Organic Avenue.
4. Molly Ringwald can write.
Two or so weeks ago, Mom proclaimed that she had a book I would love. Next thing I knew, I was clutching Ringwald’s “novel in stories.” I had read Ringwald’s piece in the New York Times and was impressed and intrigued. Sure enough, Mom was right. When It Happens to You is not only passable, but quiet and brilliant. Highly recommended for lovers of character-driven modern fiction. Beautiful stuff. Really.
5. Vince Camuto ballerina flats
Okay, so I am a big fan of Lanvin ballerina flats but at upwards of $500 a pop, they are not exactly affordable. But these guys? I think they look just as hot, but for a fraction of the price (on sale now for $59.99 here.) And they are comfy. I have them in black and a metallic faux skin, but I am contemplating adding the Lapis True Suede to my collection. Fab for running around with the kids and meeting my agent for lunch. Definitely cute enough for date night.
6. Stroller Traffic Emails
If you live in a city and have wee ones under foot, check out Stroller Traffic, an email subscription site that keeps you in the loop with the latest and greatest parenting information, products, and advice. There are different editions for different cities and the content is extremely well-curated. There is also a sister site Scooter Traffic for those of us city moms with preschool-aged kiddos.
7. Pinkberry Chocolate Hazelnut Frozen Yogurt
Okay. The night after arriving home from our absurdly comedic family travels, I took a little walk after the girls were tucked in and decided to treat myself to a little Pinkberry. I saw there was a new flavor: Chocolate hazelnut. Now, I am more vanilla than chocolate, but I asked for a sample and the rest is history. I’m officially in love. I figure it’s all good since I’m also swilling green juice, huh?
So. Do you like the idea of ADR Friday Loves? What are you loving these days? Anything goes… blogs, books, totally frivolous goodies. Happy weekend, all!
LOVE this idea! Looking forward to Fridays now.
Have you seen The Decoy Bride? It’s fluffy and definitely in the romantic comedy category. And it’s fun – and funny, too. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1657299/
Love it. Grand idea! Hmmm, all the ones I’ve seen recently have been docs. Maybe Bill Cunningham New York” about the fashion photographer for the Times or “Indie Games.”
Let us know what you end up watching….maybe in next week’s Friday Loves?
LOVE THIS. Love, love, love. xoxo
You can’t add splenda to green juice. It’s against the rules.
What about Truvia? Would that be against the rules? Are there other good green juice places you can link to?
Wonderful new feature here Aidan! And I’m pleased to hear that Molly can write. One of my greatest pet peeves is when celebrities decide to ‘write a book’ just because they can. (Or can’t, as the case most often is.) Will have to pick up her book.
I love this idea. I think I find blogs so fascinating because we get insight to people who are so different, so far away, yet we can still say , “hey! I have those shoes!”. I am all about the common link – materialistic or not.
I have yet to try the green juice/smoothie idea, maybe it is time. Maybe with some honey or agave nectar to add some natural sweetener. I am all for sweetening but Splenda leaves a strange aftertaste for me.
Love this idea.
And thanks for the reminder that I need to get back to my green smoothies!
Love this new segment!!!!
Love this. Just ordered two pairs of Vince flats!
Quirky all-over-the-board movie recs: Sunshine Cleaning, Dan in Real Life, Drive (violent, but oh so good), The Girl Next Door, The Nines, Lars and the Real Girl, Smiley Face, Crazy Stupid Love, Easy A, Definitely Maybe, Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist. PM me if you need elaboration.
Love this idea. Many of your loves are mine. Just got Gretchen’s new book yesterday and can’t wait to start it. My daughter sported one of those sequined t-shirts this week. And I just eyed Ringwald’s book in the store and was on the fence about it, but now I will check it out.
I love that you are constantly mixing it up. Truly inspiring. Thanks!
Love this! Just ordered a pair of flats too
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Love this!
Read an interesting book this summer called “Somebody Elses Daughter” by Elizabeth Brundage that stuck with me.
i love this idea! and i love the ballet flats. you might have inspired me to buy some…..
I, too, love this new idea! I pre-ordered “Happiness at Home” after reading Gretchen Rubin’s first book, and can’t wait to read it. You’ve also inspired me to check out Molly Ringwald’s new book! Thank you!
I love this. You have great taste as I have noticed so many times whenever you post things like this so having a Friday dedicated to your faves is going to make me love Fridays even more. So glad you are back and blogging- you were missed in the blogsophere!
Love this! I’m always in the market for a good ballet flat. Do the Camutos run true to size?
Thanks also for the Ringwald recommendation. Adding it to my list.
This is great! I especially love the ballet flat recommendation. I just looked at the website and I want every single color and pattern.
I heard Molly Ringwald on the radio yesterday. She was in SF to promote her book, and was interviewed by a pretty smart guy named Michael Krasny, on his daily NPR/KQED show, Forum. You can hear the interview here, if you’re so inclined:
http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201209061030
One thing that he was saying was that he’s read a lot of books by celebrities, and he’s really impressed by her writing. He compared her to Raymond Carver, which made her happy because Carver is a big influence on her. So now I’ve got her book, and ‘What We Talk About When We Talk About Love’, by Carver, on hold at the library. Thanks for reminding me, because I was in the car when I heard it, and I’d forgotten.
I’m currently reading another book of short stories (not my usual genre), titled ‘Stay Awake’, by Dan Chaon. Highly recommended, but sad. Another writer of short stories that I adore is Aimee Bender. Actually, she had a novel out a couple of years ago that I really liked a lot, too. Recently finished a novel, Canada, by Richard Ford, which made me remember what an amazing turn of a phrase guy he is. Wow.
Movies…did you see ‘Like Crazy’? Kind of a sleeper, but I really liked it. ‘The Descendants’ was a lot better than I expected it to be. ‘Run Lola Run’ is older, but quirky and interesting. ‘Another Earth’ is quirky and newer. I liked it a lot. ‘The Kids are Alright’ was also a lot better than the previews made it look like it would be to me.
My recommendations?
An overnight or two alone with your husband. Haven’t done this in far too long: http://jellyjules.com/?p=4506
This lamb dish. Seriously, seriously good. Lamb is stupid expensive, but you can do this with less expensive cuts as well. http://jellyjules.com/?p=3938
If you have time (and I’m not suggesting you do, with your little ones…my only child is 16 and I work from home), find a way to donate some of it. I started delivering for Meals on Wheels a few years ago when I was between jobs, and fell in love with it. Happily when I started my job, they said I could take a long lunch one day a week and continue. It’s easy, and the people I deliver to are so wonderful. It makes me feel good. If you don’t have that kind of time, give blood.
Fun post
Well I must say it is good to have you back after your month break:). Sounds like it was a good one. I don’t usually comment but wanted to tell one of my very favorite writers that I love her new Friday Loves blog! So fun! Can’t wait to see you soon. Xo
Love this new column. Count me in for the Vince flats and the green smoothies.