Retail Therapy for Mom and Baby

I am taking Glennon Melton's advice and not writing from the open wounds, and waiting to share until a little more peace and healing and settling has happened in our lives. Just know that while this month has been the hardest and most trying that we have ever had, we are all alive. I am more grateful for that than I ever have been. Both LB and I are very bodily (him: knee surgery, ICU stay. Me: car accident) and spiritually sore at the moment. And truthfully, wrung out. 

So I am sharing what new fun things I have bought as a form of light retail therapy in the past few weeks. (#coping). If I didn't spend money at Amazon or Target I would be a wealthy woman. I mean that genuinely and truly. 

LB sucks at Mother's Day. Period. He has had two tries and he just blows it each time. So, I have taken the reigns and decided to just celebrate myself as a damn good mom this year. Here's what I got for myself: 

• This adorable recipe box. I posted about it on Instagram and I am thrilled. 
• Bath salts. They smell divine and not too feminine/floral-y. 
• Earrings. I have a dirth of gold/rose gold jewelry and have been liking little pops of it more and more. 
• Eyelash growth voodoo magic. Jury is out still but I just started using it. 

And because part of Mother's Day is that I am a mom... here is the Lyla goodness that she is digging lately. 

• This sweet yoga book. They do yoga at her school and she is really into it. 
• Really good, easily spreadable organic-ish sunscreen for kiddos and family. I reeeeeeeally like this stuff. Best we have tried. 
• While it is creepily funny to watch your one and a half year old baby run around with a knife, she loves to chop vegetables and she can't be stopped. 
• A great water table. All kids love them. They just freaking do. I am not creative enough to make one of these on our own and for $40, this thing rocks. 

So like I said. A little low-key retail therapy for the Bennett Fam. What are you digging lately? If you tell me it will make me happy for even 5 minutes, I'll do it. I'll buy it. 

Good Reads: June 2015

Howdy howdy. I have slowed down my pace somewhat on reading because my last crop of books wasn't anything excellent. It's funny how I can get discouraged with reading so quickly- I think it has to do with the money aspect (spend $10 for something you didn't love: boo!).... which is why I am finally discovering .... the Denver library! Hahhahaa. They have e-books on there as well as the old school paper back versions. I certainly appreciate the convenience of my kindle, but have grown more patient with getting titles in order to save some cashola. Here's what got consumed by yours truly over the last few months:

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage

People LOVE Ann Patchett and I would definitely love to get coffee with her one day, but this book just didn't get under my skin like I wanted it to. It really is a collection of short stories, some of which I loved and some of which I (cough cough)... skipped/skimmed. I will say that if you have ambitions as a writer, it is a must read.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Hausfrau

Dark. Dark. Dark. And f'd up y'all. And more f'd up-ed-ness. If you are already depressed, avoid this book. If you are a housewife who looks around and wonders at how many ways you can F up your life, avoid this book. If, however, you enjoy a spicy, sexy-ish, sad, psychological tale, then dive on in. (I have no idea what rating to give this).

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

It's What I Do

Loved, loved, loved this beautiful book. As someone who loves photography, but knows literally nothing about it, this book was inspiring, educational, moving, and suspenseful. It's part history lesson, part biography, part HELL YES GIRL POWER, and all about finding that passion and pursuing it no matter the barriers.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10. 

The Knockoff

Eh. Just like every other chick-lit book out there really. It's like a Devil Wears Prada updated for 2015. I did appreciate the nugget of truth in the book about how horribly we 20s and 30s folk treat 40s and 50s folks who are definitely interested in learning about technology, but who also have a TON to offer if we will just listen to them. A good quick read.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10. 

Americanah

This book is so INCREDIBLY good that I want to savor it like a cupcake. I don't care what your ethnic or genetic or political or ideological or religious background is, if you truly want to gain an insight into the following issues then I demand you read this book immediately: inherent bias, racism, class and gender bias, immigration, the struggles immigrant populations face, love, America, Nigeria, first world v. third world, our obsession with stuff, how said stuff WILL NOT actually make you happy, America's PERVASIVE racism, and how to be a better human.

I mean it... it's convicting and life-changing and glorious.

Rating: 10 out of 10. 

Got any gems you've come across lately!? I am looking for new reads for the summer!