Friday Things
1. Joseph had his first field trip last Friday – the class went to a local orchard to pick a pumpkin, listen to a story, have a snack, etc. He had SO. MUCH. FUN. It was the first opportunity I really had to see him interacting with his classmates for an extended amount of time, and it’s no wonder he enjoys school so much. He had a smile plastered ear-to-ear the whole time, the kids were running and playing together… I had such a blast just watching him and his friends :)
2. Isabelle cut her first tooth! And it looks like the second one isn’t very far behind. She’s been a little crankier and clingier than usual, but still such a sweet girl. She fell asleep on my chest a few nights ago after waking up crying not long after going to bed, and I could have stayed there all night. So cozy, so relaxing, just listening to the rhythmic rise and fall of her breaths… I couldn’t remember the last time she fell asleep on me and I totally soaked it up.
3. Dominic has decided that he doesn’t want to nap anymore, apparently. Grrrrr… I remember Joseph going through a bit of a nap regression during the month that he turned two, got over that hump, and napped consistently again for another six months or so. Dominic has only taken one nap in the last handful of days and it’s been hit or miss for at least a few weeks, gah. We still take him up at nap time and he’ll usually stay up there happily, so we’ll let him “rest” for an hour if he doesn’t sleep. But, he gets crazy cranky by the time we get close to dinner, so he totally still needs the sleep!
4. I had this realization the other day while watching Isabelle grab her toes and giggle crazily in her crib… I wish I could bottle up the innocence and pure joy that babies and little kids exhibit all day, every day. Seeing the wonder in Joseph’s eyes when he spies a blue jay on our deck, or Dominic’s excitement over seeing a box by the front door to push around… it’s all about the little things and finding so much happiness and joy in what’s in front of them. It’s really so wonderful to witness as a parent.
5. I am still absolutely in love with the Wolf Gourmet griddle that I originally mentioned a few months ago. The boys like to request pancakes every week or two, and that griddle is seriously phenomenal. It makes perfect pancakes every single time.
6. Did you see the world’s largest deliverable pizza? It is cut into TWO HUNDRED SLICES! Yowza! (It’s not cheap, either.)
7. Thank you to everyone who gave suggestions for podcast players; I started using Overcast and I really like it! Now, if you have any actual podcast recommendations, send them my way!
8. One of my favorite recipes ever >> Mocha Cupcakes with Espresso Buttercream Frosting
9. Talk to me about TOMS! Do you wear them? Do you like them? I’m looking for some casual flats to wear with skinny jeans. I love, love, love my Tieks (I have them in metallic copper, which goes with EVERYTHING and I get compliments from strangers every single time I wear them), but they are pricey, so buying multiple pairs of different styles isn’t really practical.
10. TGIF! This sweet girl was my laundry buddy last week :)
I love my Bobs witch are the Sketchers version of Toms because I find them more comfortable.. your kids are so cute!
Yes! I would love to suggest a podcast that my kids loved when they were growing up (although it was a Saturday radio program then! ) Focus on the Family has Adventures in Oddessy, a radio drama they have presented for many years. The podcasts will give you an idea of what the stories and people are about. If you like them (great character lessons and mysteries, dramatic, imaginative stories), you can buy CD’s or digital downloads.
https://www.whitsendblog.org/category/free-episodes/
I have TOMs and love them. I recently bought a pair of BOBs (it’s the Skechers version of TOMs). I think my shoe is called Pups – it has dog faces all over it. They fit really well and I like their cause – they donate to no kill shelters, but the shoes are admittedly quirky =)
I also have been purchasing Sperry’s lately too – DSW carries the brand. They are reasonably priced and I often find really good deals in the clearance section (this section sells returned and “new with defect” shoes up to 70% off). Lately, I have been wearing their Lounge Away line. Sperry is known for their boat shoes, but Lounge Away’s are a casual-but-still-nice slip-on.
For podcasts, I just finished up This Sounds Serious – it was hilarious. I found out about it on Stitcher (I don’t recommend Stitcher for listening – but I have found great podcasts while checking out their front page).
Hi Nicole, Thank you so much for introducing me to BOBs! I am checking them out!
I have Tieks, Toms, and Rothys which I love for different reasons. Tieks, especially the regular leather ones, are soft and comfortable. They hold up fairly well but do show wear. I like Toms for more causal weekends, but they are not as comfortable for long wear as Tieks or Rothys.
Rothys are the perfect compromise. Not as expenisve as Tieks, super soft and comfortable, more support than Toms, and they are made with recycled materials plus washable. I had to size up half a size though when I’m a regular 8 in almost all shoes, I needed an 8 1/2.
All birds are next on my list to try but they are more casual or sneaker like instead of ballet flat.
Hi…your children are adorable and you are so right about wanting to bottle it up at their fun ages. However as the mother of three myself, I assure you that seeing them as adult friends is wonderful as well. To see them cheer and encourage each other, listen and help out during difficult times, and just laugh with each other (usually about their parents) is also a blessing. Parenthood is hard. Different ages bring different challenges as parents but it’s always been my goal that they look out for each other (always!)
Such a wonderful perspective, thank you Maria! :)
I love my Toms! I have several pairs and they are so cute and comfortable. They come out with new designs all the time and they’re totally cheap compared to Tieks or Rothy’s.
For flats, look at the Felicia style flat by Sam Edelman. I wore a pair for 15 days on vacation in Alaska. I brought extra shoes because I had never tried this brand and didn’t want blisters. Oh my gosh! These shoes were fabulous! I have since bought 5 more pairs!
I absolutely love my Toms!!! I so recommended them!!
I just got my first pair of Tom’s but they’re not the usual ones https://www.toms.com/women/black-suede-womens-shaye-booties
I don’t wear flats, I find I need something more substantial on my feet 🤷🏼♀️😆
Hi Michelle, This comment is related to a tip you passed on from your husband re keeping raisins sealed in a plastic bag and kept in the refrigerator. I use Sun* Maid raisins that come in a 32 ounce plastic bag. This method keeps the raisins soft and separated never dried and clumpey What a great tip, it works beautifully. Thank you very much! 😃
Oh that’s so awesome to hear! You’re welcome!!
Rothy’s all the way – started buying them in May and I now have 27 pairs (😳) – the flats and the loafers are my favorites but the points are nice too for dressier times. I’m a former Tieks person but I find Rothy’s more comfortable and you can throw them in the washer (on cold only! Since they’re made from recycled plastic bottles any heat at all, such as even sitting on top of a hot dryer, will shrink them.). Most people find they end up liking their flats and loafers onormal size or the half size up if you’re between sizes and then definitely a half size up from your normal shoe size for the points.
Now podcasts – I’m a junkie but I’ll give you my top 10:
1. This American Life
2. Heavyweight
3. Serial (season 1 is my number one podcast ever but 2 and 3 are really good but can’t match season 1 – it was my gateway to podcasts)
4. Radiolab
5. Criminal
6. Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History
7. S-Town (Just a single season show)
8. Upfirst (NPR’s 10 min daily news)
9. Death, Sex and Money
10. Invisibilia
There are probably 10 more I also listen to but they’re more political ones like Pod Save America or specific topic ones like Crimetown (season 1, Providence, season 2, Detroit) or Slow Burn (season 1, Watergate, season 2 Clinton and Lewinsky scandal)
I second all of these podcasts. I would only add Dr. Death, Up and Vanished, Uncover, the last podcast on the left, and Atlanta Monster.
I like true crime and mysteries though which isn’t for everyone!
Hi there! Your Tiek shoes are pretty, but pricy too. They don’t appear to have any arch support, making them truly flats. I’m not familiar with Toms shoes, but they look a lot like Sketchers, of which I have several pairs. Most Macy’s stores have them if you want to try them on. The other two brands I like are Vionic, and Orthaheal, which actually alleviate foot pain over time. At half the price of your Tieks, they are still not what you would call inexpensive shoes, but hey…. my nanny always said there are two things worth splurging on…. your shoes and your bed, because you spend a lot of time in them.
I always love your Friday Things posts!
Learning about the world’s largest deliverable pizza is fascinating! Also, you’re like the 4th person to mention owning a pair of Tieks. Are they really that amazing and long lasting (for a pair of shoes)? I’ve been thinking of buying myself a pair for my birthday, but the only thing throwing me off is the price and not getting to try them on first.
Hi Steph, I absolutely adore my Tieks and would buy so many more colors if they weren’t so expensive! They are super comfortable and they are one of only a few pairs of shoes that survived my foot growth after my pregnancy with Dominic. They stretch and mold to my feet perfectly! As for trying them on – you can try them on at home, wear them around the house, etc… they have a great return/exchange policy.
I’ve only had one pair of Tom’s. I initially liked them but if it rains they are really slippery! They also don’t have much support. I have a pair of Olukai slip ones that I love and All Bird wool runners that are by far my favorite casual shoe ever!!!
I too love my Rothy’s! I ditto all of Jill’s comments and encourage you to try them. They are made from plastic milk containers so you can feel good about that too!
Give the slip on allbirds a try. They are extremely comfortable and I think are a bit more supportive than Toms. allbirds.com
A note about Toms: My son’s girlfriend does International Development, and I was talking to her about the fact that Toms donates shoes. She said that it’s actually counterproductive, because when they donate shoes to an African village, then no one buys shoes from the village shoemaker and he loses his job. I never thought about it that way.
Those 1000’s of poor people benefit greatly. They could never go the to the Village Shoemaker anyways to make a purchase. They have NO MONEY. Frankly, it doesn’t affect the Village Shoemaker, since the residents who have money can go straight to the Shoemaker. Any manufacturer like Tom’s does a great deed when they donate a portion of their profits to charity.
https://rothys.com
BEB…enjoy ur blog!!
I love Toms. They come in so many colors and patterns. They have new plaid colors I have had my eye on. They also have the regular ones or ones with a soft inside to keep your feet warm. While they aren’t as fancy or expensive as Tieks, they are comfortable and well priced and offer kids sizes as well.
I suggest Rachel Hollis for a podcast that you can listen to. Her podcast us called Rise. She is really uplifting to women across the nation. I just started listening to her, and I’m hooked.
I love your website by the way.
Linda Hensens
So funny you mentioned her, because just two weeks ago my sister asked if I had heard of her because she was reading her book for a group she’s in. I hadn’t, so I Googled her and started following her. I added her podcast to my list!
Toms are great. I’ve never tried Tieks. My sister loves All Birds.
https://www.allbirds.com/collections/womens?silhouette=lounger
I have Toms and like them, but they are not something you can dress up.
Try Rothys. They are comfy, machine washable, come in a ton of colors and are not as expensive as Tieks.
If you use the friend referral link below, you’ll get $20 off!
https://www.talkable.com/x/sBMY8h