A Midweek Smorgasbord
books and links and FOOD
I’m sending out this quick and random collection before we head into the long holiday weekend (in the US). I won’t be sharing a Sunday edition on the 26th, so I’ll see you in your inbox next week!
First things first: the best book list of the year is here! Without fail, the annual NPR Book Concierge provides unmatched under-the-radar reads for my new year reading list. I race to the romance section first, then browse by various filters until my eyes can’t take in any more. I love it.
Next, an answer to a question I’ve received a few times since sharing my gift guide for 0-4 year old bookworms: what are the big gifts your family loves and uses almost daily? As someone who aims to cut clutter every chance she gets, I totally understand the spirit behind this question, and thanks to considerate & generous family members, I have stuff to recommend!
Learning Tower: Theo got this for his 1st birthday, and he’s climbed up to use it every single day since. It’s great for hand-washing, meal prepping, lunch and snack eating, coloring, crafting, and generally participating in the heart of our home. I cannot recommend this enough. Get a nice one—it’s worth every penny.
Nugget Play Couch: I’m sorry y’all, but this is every bit as good as they say. This is a more recent gift, but Theo already loves when we reconfigure it for imaginary play—and we hope to get a lot of use out of it over winter. The Yourigami Couch on Amazon is on sale for Black Friday, and I’ve seen some favorable reviews.
Play Kitchen: At just $99, the Ikea play kitchen is a steal! It also happens to blend in well with a variety of design aesthetics, so having it in the middle of your living room isn’t so much of an eyesore. We have so much fun playing “pizza” and making soup.
Balance Bike: Theo is still working on his balance bike skills, but we plan on bringing it indoors this winter to practice. My mom happened to find a Strider bike for $20 at the thrift shop in perfect condition, so keep an eye out at your local secondhand store or Facebook marketplace.
Play Table: We’ve had this cute play table for over a year thanks to my in-laws, but I feel like Theo is just now falling in love with it for coloring, doing puzzles, and setting up toys. It’s also great for play dates and a “kid table” when we have little guests.
Cut to me, bawling happy, nostalgic tears after reading this featured article about my high school drama teacher, who remains one of the biggest influences in my life and was a huge reason I went into education. You don’t need to know Maralynn personally to appreciate the read—her warmth radiates through the piece and its accompanying photos.
I’m nosy, so I love seeing what other families are making for holiday meals. Here’s what we’ll be eating on Thursday, with a few notes:
Turkey: I know. Turkey is generally overrated. BUT my parents cook the turkey the night before, store it in the fridge in all the drippings, and then heat it up in the crockpot the next day so it is not dry.
Mashed potatoes: made with cream cheese and a lot of butter.
Stuffing, salad, and brussels sprouts au gratin.
Soft sourdough dinner rolls (assuming my timing is correct and all goes well with my starter).
Some sort of dessert made by my sister-in-law (an excellent baker). My guess is pumpkin cheesecake bites—should I report back if I’m right? My dad also requested browned butter sourdough chocolate chip cookies.
I’m excited to share my “best of” lists over the next several weeks, and I’m looking forward to taking a couple of weeks off in December to rest, refresh, and soak in time with family. Stay tuned for exciting announcements for the new year, a special paid subscription sale, and reading wrap-ups galore.
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To find out more about my current reads, favorite things, and life updates follow me on Instagram. If you’re interested in reading classic literature with accessible guidance and a cozy community, check out the Novel Pairings podcast and Patreon.
I second the Nugget. We got it when our kids were 4 and 7 and it was all the rage. I was a little nervous that they were too old for it but I was so sick of my couch cushions always being on the floor! I'm happy to report that even now, at 10 and 7, they still play with it almost every day and it has held up amazingly well.
I can’t wait to buy Myles kittle furniture 🥹 Hope I can convince my wife to buy these when the time comes. We almost purchased the Bentley Trike for his first Christmas.