I'm done with shampoo. Forever.
I have tried the all natural No 'Poo approach in the past but could never get my hair to participate. So, I went back to regular shampoo always wondering if there was a better option.
Holiday Wishes from Idina Menzel
Despite my early holiday decorating, I attempt to save holiday music until after Thanksgiving. I say attempt because every year I try and every year an artist comes out with a new holiday album and I have to reevaluate my stance.
This year I was doing good until I saw this:
10 Books That Have Stuck With Me
I was recently tagged in a Facebook post to share the 10 books that have stuck with me. I'm supposed to "not take more than a few minutes" and "not think too hard."
So, here it goes.
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire I adore the whole series and have read every book twice (starting on round 3 now with Griffin) but this is the one that turned a series I loved into a series I was obsessed with. I finished this book in broad daylight and was scared. out. of. my. mind.
- The Casual Vacancy Speaking of J.K. Rowling... her first post-Harry Potter book has stuck with me mainly because of one quote, which I would guess I quote once every two weeks. "How awful it was, thought Tessa, remembering Fats the toddler, the way tiny ghosts of your living children haunted your heart; they could never know, and would hate it if they did, how their growing was a constant bereavement.”
- The Happiness Project Changed the way I thought about life and self-improvement. It also made me a lifelong fan of Gretchen Rubin and her secrets of adulthood.
- The Omnivore's Dilemma Michael Pollan's ode to eating convinced me to abandon vegetarianism after 5 years.
- To Kill A Mockingbird The first book that ever made me feel something.
- Team of Rivals Abraham Lincoln's life offers not only the most profound lessons on how to be a good politician but also on how to be a good human being.
- Good in Bed I've never forgotten how fun this book was to read.
- The Happiest Toddler on the Block My favorite parenting book of all time, Dr. Harvey Karp helped me see kids just want to be heard.
- How to be a Woman My love for this book is well-documented.
- A People's History of the United States I'd say Howard Zinn is responsible for approximately 65% of my liberalism. This book forever changed the way I viewed the relationship between the powerful and the powerless.
What about you? What books have stuck with you?
Back-to-School Gear for the BEST School Year Yet!
Recently, I was on WPSD Local 6 Today talking about all the best gear to make this school year great for both kids and parents. From backpacks to organizational gear, I found the best of the best so you don't have to!
The Coolest Backpacks Around!
Lands' End Print FeatherLight™ Medium Backpack
One name I heard over and over again when researching backpacks was Lands' End. They have several different sizes from your littlest one to your biggest kid. The patterns are fun. The personalization is great. More importantly, every Lands' End product is GUARANTEED. PERIOD.® So, you know that whatever abuse comes this little bag's way Lands' End is there with a simple promise. "If you're not satisfied with any item, simply return it to us at any time for an exchange or refund of its purchase price."
Pottery Barn Kids My First Backpack
Pottery Barn Kids came highly recommended in a wonderful post by the Harvard Homemaker called 10 Things to Think About Before Your Child Starts Kindergarten (That Have Nothing to Do With Academics). High quality products are not a surprise with Pottery Barn but I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of patterns and size. I fell in love with their My First Backpack which falls in the just big enough but not too big range for any preschoolers starting in the fall.
Pottery Barn offers personalization and free shipping on all their products as well!
MadPax Full Packs, Half Packs, and Nibblers
Chances are if you've seen a MadPax in person you've never forgotten it. MadPax is leading the way in cool innovative designs that make the word backpack seem a little bit irrelevant. They have three sizes full packs, half packs, and nibblers in a variety of styles and colors. The Warp Speed Full Pack is the current star of the show with it's solar system design and it is sure to be a hit with kids (and, let's be honest, adults) of any age.
Even more exciting? MadPax is giving away one Warp Speed Full Pack to a lucky reader!
Mabel's Labels
Beyond "buy a quality backpack," the one recommendation I've heard from parent after parent is LABEL EVERYTHING. When it comes to labels, the best of the best is Mabel's Labels. From backpack tags to iron-on labels to dishwasher and microwave safe labels for lunch boxes, Mabel's Labels has you covered!
Mabel's Labels is giving away the Stylish Scholar Combo Pack to one lucky reader!
Keeping the entire family organized!
erin condren life planner
My love of all things erin condren is well-documented. I know it sounds weird that the Queen of Technology would love a paper planner BUT I DO. I still use my calendar app to add my appointments but at the beginning of every week I put everything in my paper planner so I can see the week. I think about my life in weeks and I've found this helps me to stay organized not only in terms of appointments but also meal plans, work assignments, and school projects.
If you've ever encountered someone who uses an erin condren product, you won't forget it. It's less of a fan club and more of a cult. Trust me. Once you go erin, you don't go back!
And OH HAPPY DAY, erin condren is giving away one life planner to a lucky reader!
Cozi App and Website
For those of you who want a high tech solution to family insanity, Cozi has you covered. A website, as well as iOS and Android app, Cozi is a one-stop shop for all your family's needs. From grocery lists to to-do items to EVERYONE's schedule, Cozi has it all. Every thing all in one place. What more could you ask for!
Cozi is giving away on one year subscription to Cozi Gold to one lucky reader!
Gear that makes lunch the most exciting meal of the day!
milkdot Printed Lunch Tote
Very few lunch totes are colorful for the young ones but cool enough for adults, but milkdot totes are one of the few. These insulated totes are well-designed with plenty of room for a full lunch, drink, and snack. Plus, I love the way they zip completely open eliminating all that annoying digging to the bottom for the special treat.
milkdot is giving away this adorable striped green tote to one lunch reader!
Laptop Lunches Bento-ware
We are big bento fans in the Holland house. My kids like variety and I find the sections help me make sure I'm covering all the major food groups for the day. Also, I love reusable containers of any kind and hate throwing away ziploc bags everyday. I've heard rave reviews about Laptop Lunches because of their durability and design. Plus, every container is food safe (aka NO lead, BPA (bisphenol A), phthalates, or PVC), microwave safe, AND dishwasher safe.
Laptop Lunches currently has a deal that with every order you get a $10 coupon to Mabel's Labels AND Lunchbox Love sampler (which I'm about to talk about below!) plus 20% at sayplease.com!
Use the coupon code: wastefreelunch for a 10% discount.
Pottery Barn Kids' Lunch Bags
This is another line that came highly recommended by the Harvard Homemaker, as well as many other moms I know. Just like the backpacks, there are a ton of patterns available but there are also four basic styles that offer something for everyone. I also love that the lining of each bag is made of PEVA, an environmentally friendly, food-safe vinyl that’s made without chlorine or plasticizers.
Pottery Barn offers personalization and free shipping on all their products as well!
I See Me! Off To School Personalized Lunch Box
There's just something about a classic tin lunchbox, especially when it can be personalized with your child's with your child's name like so many of the back to school products from I See Me!. The other feature I love about the I See Me! lunch box is the lid is also a chalkboard! Perfect for all those special little notes or reminders.
Lunchbox Love
Speaking of little notes, my child can't even read and I'm already getting requests for lunchbox notes. At 7am the pressure to write something beyond "Love you!" can be a little high, that's why I love Lunchbox Love. The company was started by two friends that wanted more positivity in the products marketed to children and features lunchbox notes with a meaningful message on the front and riddle or fun fact on the back!
Lunchbox Love is giving away a four volume set of Lunchbox Love for Kids plus 2 volumes of Riddles to one lucky reader!
Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch
Every review I’ve read of The Goldfinch has compared Donna Tartt’s sweeping 700 page novel to Dickens – the classic author paid by the word.
I won’t be any different.
If you don’t like Dickens, this book is not for you. If you enjoy fast-paced plots that distract you from daily life, this book is not for you. If you like uplifting stories awash with positivity, I repeat – this book is NOT for you.
However.
My 2014 Summer Reading Guide
I've had several people ask me recently for book recommendations. Whenever more than about three people ask me a question, I immediately turn my response into a post. It's like blogger law, y'all.
There seems to be two approaches to summer reading guides. First, many share what they plan to read over the summer. I suppose that's fine but what if what you want to read turns out to be truly awful. No, I prefer the second approach, which is the approach my friend Anne takes on her blog The Modern Mrs. Darcy.
Side note: Anne basically writes the best summer reading guide EVER because she is a prolific reader and smart as a whip. I am an amateur at this. She is the real deal. So, after you finish with reading my guide, run on over and get her's. Seriously.
I read on average 2-3 books a month. Not exactly prolific, but nothing to slouch about either. This year I stumbled across some serious gems that I think you should add to your reading list!
Why I Love the Britax Pioneer 70
I'm psyched to be on Salt & Nectar today reviewing the Britax Pioneer 70. Huge thank you to Curt Stewart at Emerging Media Productions for helping me with my first video review!
