Hey! I love reading recommendations/lists of people’s favorite things, and, as I have been in a major state of magpie-like consumption the past year (as I’ve been raising a wee little one), I thought I would start sharing some of my favorite things with you!
This recipe for Funfetti cookies by Broma Bakery. It’s quick, it’s easy, it has a hint of “Christmas cookie” about it, it doesn’t require you to premix your dry ingredients, you just dump and stir, baby. Make them! You won’t regret it. (I would bake them for 9 minutes instead of 11, though, but it depends on your oven and preference for cookie softness/crispiness.)
The Mother Artist by Catherine Ricketts. This is the book I’ve needed since my son was born. It is a comfort, a delight, an inspiration. I am reading it slowly, savoring its wisdom. I’ve cried multiple times while reading and then felt charged up and ready to immerse myself in my life.
The Steely Dan Essentials playlist on Apple Music. When it comes to music, my son loves just about everything, but he is partial to “Dynamite” by BTS, the Bluey theme song, and anything by Steely Dan. And let me tell you, there are some bops on this playlist! If they can redirect a toddler’s tantrum into some booty-shaking, they can bump up the smile-level on your day, too.
The Wild Rumpus Room. This bookstore for children (and all ages, really) is a treasure that we are lucky to live five minutes from. Bodie and I walked in together and requested help finding books about balls (his favorite). The bookseller brought us a stack of books from all different parts of the store. Bodie settled on Spot Goes to the Stadium. It’s very sweet. Not only are the people who work there kind, the animals they keep there are, too! Two cats, a mourning dove, a parakeet, and two chinchillas live there (all rescues) and it is so fun to visit them. If you happen to be in the Twin Cities, you must visit this whimsical bookstore. Anytime is wonderful, but around Halloween is spectacular as the decorations are ALL OUT. The Rumpus has been a favorite of mine since childhood and I love sharing it with my son. (Please note the small purple door for tiny people :D)
Learning how to make sourdough bread with a starter I made from scratch. I will write more about my newfound love of baking in an upcoming letter. For now, let me just say that baking bread is something I never thought I’d be able to do (who knows why), but I just decided to go for it, and lo and behold: I did. Here’s your nudge to just bake the bread. You can take that metaphorically, if you’d like.
Well, that’s all from me at the moment. There are loads of other things I love, and I intend to share them with you in the near future! What have you been loving lately? I’d sure like to know.
With love from my kitchen table,
Kaia