Friday Five: My Secret Disaster + Listening to NO

It's giving self-reflection.

Welcome to the second edition of Friday Five. I’m loving creating content for you on this platform, and seeing hundreds of you sign up to join me here is a thrill. Thank you for your support, and I hope you’re loving it, too.

✨ On raising a confident daughter

Raising a girl in today’s world: AMIRIGHT. It’s a LOT and I’m constantly checking in on my parenting. I’m a big believer in tuning into your own intuition and keeping parenting books, social media accounts, etc. to a realistic and practical level because it interferes with our own intrinsic knowledge. There are SO many takes about what a mom should be, how they should raise their kids, that it pulls us away from our own knowing. And let’s not forget that keeping people insecure keeps someone making money. Something I make sure I always listen to is Lola’s NO’s. Let me explain: my biggest want for Lola is confidence and that stems from so many touch points and interactions in her life, especially with her parents. I want her to know that she has agency over her body and choices (of course, the latter comes with caveats especially as a minor) so anytime we are playing, I’m tickling her, or whatever it may be, and she says STOP or NO, I do so right away. I want her to know that her NO has power and the right thing to do is stop when she says it. It also teaches her that others’ NO means the same.

🍎 Here’s to health and keeping a routine (?)

I am on the AG1 train. File this under hyped products on the internet! That’s said with a slight tone of sarcasm. Sometimes it’s VERY hard to know if something is good, or the marketing and use of influencers/affiliate commission perks are the reason you’re interested in trying a product and seem to be seeing it everywhere, used by everyone (note: commission perks meaning influencers get huge commissions when you click their links and therefore are sharing the product a LOT). AG1 kills the marketing game, but I do like to look past the fluff and dig into what a product is really made of. It’s gor that reason I decided to try AG1. I struggle with sticking to my vitamin routine and even though I have theeee best intentions, can’t stick with things longterm. I like that this comes with a dedicated shaker and canister to make it easy! The subscription format is brilliant on their part, but not something I’m keen on. I’m looking for more energy, better digestion, general long game health outcomes… and for it to do my taxes. Asking too much? I will keep you posted if the expense is worth the results in how I feel/look etc.

📖 Notable read, or in my case, listen

Something I love doing is listening to audio books. I love listening to them while I am doing my end-of-night routine - skin care, fluffing the bed etc. and really miss having something to listen to when I’m in between books. I recently finished Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier which I found fascinating on so many levels. The journalist who wrote it, Marisa Meltzer, did an amazing job with her unbiased POV. I think so many were looking for dirt on the brand and the leadership with this book and you definitely get the insider take on all of it BUT it gives you much to think about with how women are most def held to a different standard in leadership. I’m not going to say much more, because I would like you to have your own take on it, but I will say it was a GREAT read (listen).

🤐 My secret disaster

Why does my trunk always look like this and am I alone in this?! I swear this thing is like a storage unit at this point. It is always full of in-flux things like returns that I’m putting off, slippers I haven’t found room for in my closet, a travel stroller, a dolly, random blankets “in case” and so many other random odds and ends. I opened my sister’s trunk the other day and it was completely empty! What a skill. Ok, so she does have a garage and I do not. Maybe that’s the trick! But hey, if this is you too, I see ya, mama.

👋🏽 What’s new around here

Let’s do a little roundup about things that are new around here and little things that are making our world a little better, shall we?

Lola’s vitamins - she just started these and they make getting her to start bedtime easier
Beast Blender - she is pretty, tiny, and powerful!
Natural Vicks Vapo-Rub - for those kiddo sick days (picked up at Whole Foods)
Bonne Maman Advent Cal - I try to get one every year (picked it up at London Drugs)
Plexi Monthly/Weekly Fridge Calendars - trying to keep our fam on track and in the flow

See you for the next Friday Five, and would love your clicks on the heart… tells me you read and like the content! xx E