Tuesday Goodies & Tiny Wins

Hi friend! Welcome to a fresh, new week! We had such a great week and weekend. I’m learning to lean into doing more ‘nothing’ and it’s been so good for my soul. Even in little pockets, I can feel my need to distract myself diminishing.

Here’s an example: Saturday night Jordan wanted to watch a movie with us. We picked a movie we could all agree on – Airplane Mode, then I sat and watched the whole movie without getting up, without looking at my phone, and without folding laundry. My instinct is always to bring down the laundry to fold while watching a movie. No! Just sit and enjoy the movie! Why is that hard?!

Honely, it felt so good to just sit there all cuddled up for the duration of the movie.

And, at the pool, when the kids and Elliott were playing a game of HORSE basketball, I asked if I could join in. Now I’m terrible! at basketball, but I didn’t want to just sit on the sidelines, I wanted to join in.

It ended up being so good because James was coaching me and actually helped improve my shot. I’d never learned how to properly throw a basketball, and I was thrilled to have my teenager be the one to teach me. And he seemed genuinely invested in helping me learn.

These are tiny, but mighty wins in my book!

There is time for work and to-do lists and vegging out, but there also needs to be A LOT more single-tasking and distraction-free living. That’s the new season of life I’m embracing.

Tuesday Goodies

If you haven’t been following me on Instagram Stories, you’re missing out on a fun series I’ve been doing there every Tuesday called “Tuesday Goodies.”

These Goodies are things I find useful in my day-to-day life, and you might too.  It’s nothing extravagant, just little things that make life a bit sweeter. I share these “goodies” on Stories every Tuesday, so you can catch them live there.

I’ll save all of the Goodies on my blog here, so you can reference them every week.   I’ll also save them to a Story Highlight called “Goodies”.

I’ve decluttered so many things in the past and now I am very intentional about the things I bring into my home. Some of these goodies are new purchases, some are tried and true things I cherish.

Dish Towels • Coffee Mug • Spoons • Tarte Lip Plumping Oil • Brow Pencil • Toiletry Bag

Dish Towels • I’ve been needing new dish towels and figured if I’m going to be buying something that I use on a daily basis, I want it to be the best and something that puts a little smile on my face. These dish towels from Anthopologie do just that!

Coffee Mug • Similarly, my coffee mug collection has been whittled down to my very favorite few mugs, plus the ones my kids like to eat ice cream out of. Since I’m so passionate about my morning quiet time with coffee, I treated myself to a new coffee mug. I’m weirdly particular about the cup I drink from, especially coffee. It has to be a good size with a handle that’s easy to hold and feels good in my hand. And of course, this one is just too cute with the florals.

Spoons • It’s the simple pleasures in life like stirring your coffee and tea with cute bistro mugs. These spoons are also perfect for desserts and ice cream.

Tarte Lip Plumping Oil • I’m a big Tarte fan and love the Maracuja Juicy Lip. This is similar, but it’s a lip plumping oil specifically designed for mature lips because it instantly plums and smooths those tiny fine lines.

Brow Pencil • I’ve tried several brands of brow pencils and this one by Revitalash is the one I come back to again and again. I like how it goes on, the soft brown color is my perfect shade and it stays put all day.

Toiletry Bag • Elliott and I are a road trip to Fredericksburg for the weekend and I couldn’t resist this feminine toiletry bag! I definitely have a bag problem!

Barefoot Dreams Blanket • Crinkle Cutter • Packable Visor • Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer

Barefoot Dreams Blanket • This cozy throw needs no introduction. I just scored this white one on sale and I like the light color for summer. But it will also be a great ‘winter white’ at the end of the year.

Crinkle Cutter • I’m not usually one for kitchen gadgets, but I really like this crinkle cutter. I use it on sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, zucchini, squash, and cucumbers so far.

Packable Visor • This packable visor has been a favorite for years. I like how portable it is and how well it shields your face from the sun.

Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer • I gifted this to Elliott since he’s so great on the grill and at cooking steaks. It’s a wireless smart bluetooth meat thermometer that connects to your phone via the app. You can set up alerts and notifications based on the temperature so you don’t have to keep checking. And, the algorithm can estimate the ideal cooking and resting times for your food.

Glasses • Napkins • Plates • Chargers • Umbrella

Glasses • Napkins • Plates • Chargers All of these things make for great al fresco dining since the glasses are plastic and the plates are melamine.

Umbrella • Dang, we’ve been getting a lot of rain lately! After so many years with my old umbrella, it finally needed an upgrade. It was one of those tall ones that didn’t collapse and that ended up being annoying when you want something compact. This one folds up little and expands with the push of a button.

Basket • Silver Slides • Oribe Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo • Scalp Brush • R+Co Detox Rinse

Basket • I bought this basket with the intention for using it for eating outside to hold utensils or condiments, but we’ve ended up using it to store our markers. Easy access for coloring – something Jordan and I enjoy doing together.

Silver Slides • I’m so glad I got these metallic slides. I don’t have anything like them and they dress up any outfit, while still being incredibly comfortable.

Oribe Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo • The back of my hair gets so oily and it’s hard to wash clean. This cleansing shampoo comes out like a mousse and gets my hair SUPER clean. It feels so light and fresh when I use it.

Scalp Brush • When I wash my hair, I like to use this scalp brush to get my scalp clean and free from all the sweat and product build up.

R+Co Detox Rinse • Because the Oribe Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo is strong, an alternative is to use this rinse AFTER you shampoo and condition your hair and it gets all the pollutants out of your hair.

Photo Album • Rice Cooker • Real Touch Hydrangeas • Pot • Clear Heels & Here

Photo Album • This was the photo album I used for the special scrapbooks I made my son for 8th grade graduation. I compiled photos and memoribilia from PreK3 all the way to 8th grade. A labor of love for sure.

Rice Cooker • My Grandma Nola always told me I needed a rice cooker, but remember I said I don’t like extra kitchen gadgets – so I thought I could just cook rice on my stove top in a regular pan. But, then I started making poke/shrimp/protein bowls with rice and kept burning it.

I invested in this rice cooker and dang! I should’ve listened to grandma all those years ago. So easy and literally PERFECT rice every time without even having to think about it.

Real Touch Hydrangeas • One of my favorite flowers and I do have a trick for keeping them alive, but I do love these faux hydrangeas that are “real touch”. That is, they look and feel so real, not like the cheap plastic flowers you’ve seen before.

Pot • Adore this little terra cotta pot, so cute with the scallop detail.

Clear Heels & Here • I’m sure you’ve seen me wearing these clear heels on repeat. They give you legs for days since they disappear on your feet.

Lap Desk • Dinner Plates • Bamboo Glass Food Storage Containers • Coffee Glass • Yellow Stanley

Lap Desk • This has been my couch companion for years and it’s still going strong. I use it when I’m eating on the couch or for coloring.

Dinner Plates • These white plates are so minimal and perfect!

Bamboo Glass Food Storage Containers • Finally invested in the bamboo lidded glass containers. I’m having an issue with them though- the lids are tough to remove because of the suction and there’s no lip to grab. But, they sure are pretty and environmentally friendly.

Coffee Glass • I’m definitely into iced coffee more and I just add two tablespoons of half and half and a squirt of International Delight cold foam. So yummy!

Yellow Stanley • I didn’t see what all the fuss over Stanley was, but I saw a gorgeous light pink one and got it, then really liked it so much that I got a second – this pale yellow. I fill them both each day and keep one upstairs and one downstairs.

Steamer • Ankle Tab Socks • Huggie Earrings • Floral Earrings • Digital Timer

Steamer • For quick steam jobs or traveling, this compact steamer gets the wrinkles out fast!

Ankle Tab Socks • My preferred socks for sneakers. No ankle rubbing, so no blisters or sores.

Huggie Earrings • These petite earrings make a statement even though they’re small.

Floral Earrings • These are larger, but still lightweight and the style is so pretty!

Digital Timer • I use this all the time in my office for deep work and periods of focus. It’s amazing how much it helps me stay on track!

I hope you found this post useful! I’ll have a new Tuesday Goodies coming up for you tomorrow!

Have a fantastic day friend!