What I’m Reading:

American Royals and Majesty – Katharine McGee

I read the first book in this series, American Royals, several months ago, and finally got around to picking up the sequel, Majesty. Both books tell the story of the world that would have been, had America been founded as a monarchy.

I found the premise of an American royal family delightfully entertaining, and was very much sucked into the characters’ relationship drama. It’s a light read, full of romance, intrigue, and a great villain, and I read both books in a single evening. These would be great vacation or road trip books, or fun to read with a friend (and a glass or two of wine).

The Daughters Of Yalta – Catherine Grace Katz

The Daughters of Yalta tells the story of Sarah Churchill, Anna Roosevelt and Kathleen Harriman, all of whom accompanied their famous fathers to the Yalta conference with Stalin towards the end of WWII.

This book was packed with fascinating historical tidbits, but what I enjoyed the most was the insight into the lives and minds of three young women who supported, stood-in for, and were sometimes critical of, their famous fathers. It was truly eye-opening and a little bit shocking (especially the part where Roosevelt jokes with Stalin about the “Jewish situation”), and it is definitely something I will be talking about for months to come.

It was so refreshing to read a book that put women at the forefront of history, especially one that was written by a woman I had the privilege of mentoring when I was a senior in high school. There is nothing more thrilling than discovering that people I knew and loved during my childhood and teenage years have grown up to do some truly amazing, and impactful, things in the world.

What My Kids Are Reading:

Once Upon a Unicorn’s Horn – Beatrice Blue

Our library opened this past week for in-person visitors, and this book was featured on the “new books” shelf that the librarian had curated. I missed these curated shelves so much, and it was such a treat to pick out a book that I knew the librarians had read and loved.

Once Upon a Unicorn’s Horn tells the story of a young girl who lives in a magical forest, and comes across some flying ponies on her morning walk. One of the ponies can’t fly, and the little girl tries to think of something to cheer him up. She and her parents decide to bring him an ill-fated ice cream cone, which ends up smashed on the tiny pony’s head–much like a “horn.”

The story is so simple and silly, but also a good reminder of the power of kindness, and the possibility of magic.

What I’m Listening To:

Unruffled: “Why Bribes and Threats Aren’t Helpful (And What to Do Instead) – Janet Lansbury

I found this podcast to be helpful, and a good reminder of some important parenting truths. Lansbury talked about the importance of setting clear boundaries for children, so as to prevent a lot of unwanted behaviors from ever happening in the first place. She also talked about how “the relationship we’re building with our children is the most important tool we have” when working with kids, which, as a former teacher, really rang true to me.

When I was teaching middle school, I learned (mostly through trial and error) that consequences and rewards only work if your students also like you (or, at least respect you). Being kind to students, gaining their trust, and trying to understand where they’re coming from (even when their behavior seems totally incomprehensible) is a crucial first step in managing behavior. The same goes at home, which is something that, especially at the end of a long day, or an even longer week, I oftentimes need to remind myself of.

My only issue with this episode is that it included “And What To Do Instead” in the title, but didn’t actually provide many practical alternatives to bribes and threats. Personally, I do make a conscious effort to build a trusting and understanding relationship with my daughter, but sometimes, we need to get to swim class on time, and she is still refusing to put the swimsuit on. My normal reaction to such a situation, is to remind her that I will have to “help her body” into the swimsuit if she decides not to do it on her own, but as she gets bigger (and I get more pregnant) this option will be available to me less and less often.

I would have loved if Lansbury could have gone through a few typical scenarios (Aka: My kid won’t get ready for school, or she won’t stay in her room for “quiet time,” or she refuses to brush her teeth), and explained what would work instead of bribing, when the activity you are asking kids to complete is not optional, or one that you can sit and discuss indefinitely.

What I’m Eating:

Healthy-Liv Sweet Potato Lentil Chili

I started making this chili when I was pregnant with my daughter almost four and a half years ago now. It’s healthy and filling, and great for pregnancy, since lentils are bursting with protein and high in folate. The recipe includes hearty ingredients like sweet potatoes and black beans, and plenty of spice. This recipe will leave you with a BOATLOAD of chili, so I usually freeze some, or make sure to have a few guests over for dinner whenever I make it.

Fit Men Cook Egg White, Nut Butter and Zucchini Brownies

If you aren’t following Fit Men Cook on Instagram yet, I’m not really sure what you’re waiting for. My friend introduced me to their account a few weeks ago, and it is one of my new favorites. The “Fit Men” of Fit Men Cook provide heath and fitness tips, mental health reminders, and amazing recipes. And they aren’t terrible to look at either.

The Egg White, Nut Butter and Zucchini Brownies were easy to make (especially if you use a food processor for the zucchini instead of grating it by hand) and absolutely delicious. These brownies allowed me to sneak a serving of vegetables into my kids’ diet, and that in itself is always a win.

What I’m Wearing:

Amazon Nighgown Dress

I know I probably shouldn’t be doing all of my shopping at Amazon, but I’m at a stage of my pregnancy (16 weeks) where it is difficult to find anything that fits. Most of my normal clothes are too tight, or too short, but I’m not quite big enough for maternity items yet.

This Amazon Nightgown Dress is only $30 and flattering for basically every body type. It comes in about a bazillion different colors (I own it in three), and is so comfortable. It’s long enough that I will probably be able to wear it for most of my pregnancy, and flattering enough that I’m sure it will be a postpartum favorite as well.

Hatch Maternity Overalls

While, as I said above, I’m not quite big enough for most maternity clothes, the Anytime Overalls from Storq Maternity are an important exception. I ordered them almost immediately after my first ultrasound, and they are already my new favorite closet staple. They are a cozy, and pretty substantial (there won’t be a lot of piling after washing, as I have seen with other, cheaper versions of this look), and the adjustable straps in the back allow these to be worn throughout an entire pregnancy, and postpartum period. They are so cozy, and have deep pockets that are perfect for storing all of the rocks my daughter collects on our afternoon walks. They are cozy enough to wear around the house, but also cute enough for brunch (which is where I wore them today).

Old Navy Dresses

I have been ordering the majority of my kids’ clothes from Old Navy for years (the prices can’t be beat, which is important when 9/10 outfits will be destroyed by spaghetti sauce in a matter of weeks). But for some reason, I didn’t start buying clothes for myself there until recently. Old Navy offers a ton of elastic-waist and/or empire-waist dresses that are perfect for my current stage of pregnancy (since they make room for the growing belly), and will also look cute after baby arrives. Most of the dresses below, including the one I am wearing in the first picture on this post, are linked on my LiketoKnow.it account, as well as in the clickable images below!

That’s all for this week guys! Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week full of good books, good food, and Halloween fun!