Kate's Monthly Take - August 2019

We are settling back in from vacation and reality can be a harsh adjustment…although I think I feel this more than the kids. August is a busy month right before school starts with our last camps, loads of birthday parties, squeezing in those last summer bucket list items, school shopping, and more than a few changes at work for me. To say that I’m feeling overwhelmed is an understatement but hopefully, making manageable to-do lists will help!

Enjoy my Monthly Take!

Kate's Monthly Take - August 2019

Mood

  • I’m trying to remember this especially at work where I sometimes I feel like a live an entire day before even arriving at the office…”Your Energy Introduces You, Before You Do.”

Currently Coveting

  • I’m itching to get rid of all my kids plastic plates and bowls and replace them some traditional enamel plates and bowls. I have my eyes on these but am trying to hold off until my youngest is three…hopefully, in a moment of weakness I don’t throw all our existing ones in the trash!

Favorite Product

  • After surviving a mostly screen free 2000+ mile road trip with three kids 7 and under, I’m sharing some of the products that helped make it possible. This Magna-Qubix set was a huge hit with my 4 and 2 year old. We actually have two sets the 19 and 29-piece versions and they entertained them both for hours. George liked to build things with them while Maggie liked the shaking sound that they made. They are of decent size so big enough that they are not easily lost and don’t end up in Maggie’s mouth. Magnetic Fun travel tins we are also a favorite this trip, we brought along a couple different themes and everyone loved them. George isn’t typically a big fan of comics but this Magnetic Marvel version kept him entertained. And finally, our oldest could be nicknamed the “sticker queen” as she loves to play with stickers when we travel. This Melissa & Doug Make-A-Face set and this Paint by Stickers Unicorns & Magic book were her favorite this trip. So much so that she still played with them for an entire hour after we got home.

Design Pick

  • Have y’all seen Drew Barrymore’s launch of Flower Kids? It’s her kids focused furniture line and it’s adorable, colorful and on trend at an affordable price. I’m personally swooning over this pear bookcase and this rainbow version because I obviously need more book storage in my life. In the launch of the line I also spotted these cloud shaped headboards that I think would be perfect for a pair of twin beds in a childs’ room but I can’t find them for sale anywhere. The hunt will most certainly go on as I think they need to find a place in my storage unit for that pretend future home of mine!

What I'm Reading

  • I finished two books on our vacation but the The Tuscan Child was my favorite. Naturally, it has me dreaming of Italy and crossing my fingers that someone picks up the movie rights. Next up, is the Three Women, which sounds both fascinating yet depressing but an entirely accurate and sad representation of three different women.

What I’m Listening To

  • Ooh La La, by the Faces was often requested on our road trip and I have to say it’s an excellent choice for a road trip soundtrack.

What We're Reading the Kids

  • We’re celebrating a little bit of diversity this month with these two fantastics books: All The Ways to Be Smart and Incredible Jobs You’ve Never Heard Of. Most of my life I believed there was only one way to do things yet in reality, there are so many other ways to lead a fulfilled life. I’m hoping we can teach our kids that from the onset and these beautifully illustrated books help us achieve that goal.

Instagram Handle

  • I’ve been cooking with a lot of recipes from What’s Gaby Cookin so naturally, I like to follow her. All of the California girl, fresh food recipes that you could ever want and her ever popular weekly meal plans can be found on Instagram! I almost always find something to try!

Guilty Pleasure

  • We have a plethora of fantastic empanada shops in Chicago but 5411 Empanadas is one of our favorites. They have this purple potato, honey and ricotta limited edition empanada that is so good I had to wrestle George for it!

I Need A Vacation

  • Our summer vacations are most often spent at the beach or at the lake but I can’t help but hoping that when the kids are a little bit older that we can visit Jackson Hole Wyoming and then head up to Grand Teton National Park. I wouldn’t mind a pit stop at the Four Seasons before a stay in something a bit more rustic like Teton Valley Ranch Camp.

Shit My Kids Will Eat

  • Kid Tested & Approved - We haven’t cooked much in the past couple of weeks but while on vacation we did make this Basil Vinaigrette from What’s Gaby Cookin and it was so delicious. We put it over grilled chicken, grilled corn and a tomato and avocado salad. Honestly, it would really go with almost anything…especially it if was fresh off the grill!