Things I'm loving: Part 2

Hello and Happy Saturday! I hope everyone has enjoyed their weekends so far. I'm long overdue on posting some of the things I'm loving right now. So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorites...

• My fiancé and I travelled to the East Coast earlier this week for some business and were lucky enough to get some downtime during our trip. One day we were walking around Boston and I quickly realized that I didn't dress warm enough for the chilly weather (rookie mistake). I popped into an H&M to grab a light sweater and came across this H&M Knit Tube Scarf. Guys, this is like a socially acceptable blanket that you wrap around you. Incredibly soft and thick, it's also reversible (the pattern on one side looks dark grey while the other side looks light grey) and the best thing is, is that it's under $20! The neutral colors also compliment pretty much every outfit. It's definitely quickly becoming one of my fall (and soon to be winter) staples.

• My 5 year old son loves, loves, loves LEGOS. I love seeing his intelligence and creativity come into play whilst building them. But the novelty wore off for me after spending a small fortune on them, him constantly losing pieces and their tiny assaults on the bottoms of my bare feet (those little parts hurt!). Enter MAGNA-QUBIX 3D building sets. These are Amazing with a capital A. Durable magnetic building cubes encourage my son to strengthen his fine motor skills by designing, stacking, building and "clicking" together the brightly colored pieces. The manufacturer assures to provide "innovative magnetic building sets designed to encourage off-screen imaginative free play and fuse science, math and creativity." You can choose from a 19, 29 or 85 piece set (I initially bought the 19 piece set to make sure he liked them but know I'll be buying a larger set for him for Christmas - I found them at Target). Definitely a parenting win. It doesn't hurt that I really like playing with them, too. 😀

• Bad breath happens. And I feel like I never really become aware of it until I'm about to walk into a meeting, go on a date with my honey, or have my child point it out to me (#parentlife). I typically have some gum on hand, but for the times when I can't be smacking on gum, Listerine Ready! Tabs Chewable Tablets are a lifesaver. These fresh mint chewable tablets transform in my mouth from a solid to a liquid in seconds. Just pop one in your mouth, chew it, swish the liquid like you would normal mouthwash, swallow and ahhhhh...fresh breath. They are stronger than traditional mints or gum so your mouth feels much more clean and fresh. I keep a pack in my purse so I'm always ready for my bad breath moments.

•  If you're looking for a book that beautifully captures America's increasingly divided cultural nature, you *must* pick up Pulitzer Prize-winner journalist Eli Saslow's Rising Out of Hatred. The book tells the story of how white-supremacist ideas migrated from the far-right fringe to the White House through the intensely personal saga of one man who eventually disavowed everything he was taught to believe, at tremendous personal cost. With great empathy and narrative verve, this is a book to help us understand the American moment and to help us better understand one another. Click here to read the full synopsis.

• Apples are in peak season right now and I'm *loving* it! We're fortunate enough to live close to an orchard and are able to go pick our own. But, if you're unable to pick your own apples, the ones at farmer's markets or the grocery store are equally delicious right now. My personal favorites are Honeycrisps, Galas and McIntosh's. I pack one in my lunch every day to enjoy after my meal, love thinly slicing one on some peanut butter toast and sprinkling with honey and cinnamon, or chopping and putting into my oatmeal with walnuts. I'm definitely a summer girl at heart, but really appreciate the beauty and gifts of fall.

Wishing you all a lovely rest of your weekend!

xo, R