What I Love This Week

cupcakes

On Friday I turned 34 and I realized that one thing they don’t tell you when you’re growing up is that someday the greatest threat to your personal safety will be your child’s fingernails, and that’s a shame. This week I’ve sustained multiple facial injuries at the hands of my son and in hindsight, they seem preventable. But you just can’t be upset with someone who scratches you and then smiles and coos and puts his entire, wide-open mouth over yours, now can you? You can’t! My birthday was simple and lovely. I got a massage, wandered around Target for an hour while listening to a podcast, then we had Five Guys for dinner—I couldn’t have asked for more!

Abbeville Power Loom Dark Blue Area Rug

Another exciting thing happened on Thursday: we finally put a rug down in our family room. Remember how I told you that James has begun rolling everywhere and trying to pull himself out of his seat and how any day now he’ll be doing back handsprings off the couch? Well that really motivated us. We need to soften every surface we can. And look it only took us a very brief year and a half of living in the house! The rug is beautiful and I’m so happy with it, which makes me realize, yet again, that so much contentment can come from stopping the endless searching and simply making a decision.

READ

Deleting Facebook Won’t Fix the Problem
When we tell people to get off the platform, we recast a political issue as a willpower issue.

“It’s possible that #DeleteFacebook might actually play into Facebook’s hands, by recasting a political issue as a willpower issue. As Ms. Richards asks, thinking of her son overseas, should the burden of fixing Facebook, and data privacy in general, really fall on her? Or is telling people to delete their accounts on a platform to which there are few alternatives the digital equivalent of ordering women to smile more if they want to get ahead at the office?”

Is Clutter Also Making You Bad With Money?

“‘It’s common that a cluttered home and messy financial health go hand in hand,’ she says. ‘Clutter is a representation of procrastination and unmade decisions.’ This seems logical: If we can’t get our belongings in order, then other aspects of our lives that require similar skills — like bills and budgeting — are probably in rough shape too. But if we fix one, does that help fix the other?”

Moms, Are You Victims of ‘Invisible Labor’?

“It’s one thing to be responsible for pick-up and drop-off at practice. If it falls through, it’s not that bad. But if you’re responsible for making sure your child isn’t cutting themselves or falling into depression, and you feel like it’s only you that’s on vigil here, that’s got to be very onerous because the stakes are so high,” she explained.”

LISTEN

Cold Podcast
If you like true crime or murder mystery or anything in the vein of Dirty John, you will love Cold. It’s tragic and gripping and now I need to go to Utah to find Susan.
Susan Powell disappeared from her home in December of 2009. Her body has never been found. The man suspected of killing her was never arrested or charged. This begins the complete story of the search for Susan.

Uncover Season 1: Escaping NXIVM
CBC documentarian Josh Bloch investigates NXIVM, a self-help group (cult) led by Keith Raniere, talking intimately with a high-level former member, to reveal how Raniere won the endorsement of actors, politicians and even a visit from the Dalai Lama.

“This Is Water”
In 2005, David Foster Wallace gave this commencement speech to the graduating class at Kenyon College. It’s moving and meaningful, and a reminder that mindfulness is all we really have and all that really matters.

WATCH

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (Netflix)
The Fyre Festival was billed as a luxury music experience on a posh private island, but it failed spectacularly in the hands of a cocky, millionaire con man. Wired describes it perfectly: “One of the best stories in recent memory was the debacle known as Fyre Festival, a music event promising supermodels and luxury that failed so spectacularly that two documentaries were released about it, both in the same week.” Yes, there are TWO documentaries (one on Hulu and one on Netflix), but from everything I’ve read, the Netflix one is better. You can watch the trailer here.

FIND

Magic Eraser
If you haven’t tried the Magic Eraser, you’re probably thinking, “how great can it really be?” I thought this, too, but then I got one and discovered that it is indeed magic in sponge form. I’ve used it all over my house, but it’s made the most significant difference in the shower in our master bathroom, which had staining that I couldn’t fix no matter what I used.

Abbeville Power Loom Dark Blue Area Rug
The walls of my family room are a cool-toned gray (Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams) and my couch is a very light gray, but the rest of the room is a mix of wood tones, whites, creams, and blues. This rug fits in perfectly. It has the light and airiness I was hoping for with a beautiful vintage look. It’s soft and thin (absolutely get a rug pad) and I love the subtle warmth of the ivory and tan tones mixed with shades of blue.

MAKE

Healthy Banana Muffins
Roasted Cauliflower and Farro Salad with Feta and Avocado
3 Easy Avocado Toast Recipes
Citrus Shrimp Bowls
Homemade Panera Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken

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9 thoughts on “What I Love This Week

      1. Danielle

        No problem! It cannot hurt them at all, even if the plate rubs against their skin. I usually do it on my daughter when she’s asleep, but today I tried it while she was awake and she was totally unfazed. Amazing!

        Reply
    1. Andie Mitchell Post author

      Oh the photo of the rug is from Wayfair so I’m sorry to say I don’t have details on the chair! I tried to take a photo of the rug in my family room and each one was hilariously bad (photographing interiors is not my strong suit :) so I figured I’d leave it to the professionals.

      Reply
  1. Linda

    Andie, really enjoying this newsletter, you broaden and enlighten my world by what u share in your newsletter, helps me to target an overwhelming world of information… thanks!

    Reply

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