Linking Up

A random list of things I've been loving lately or have found interesting....

*Like so many other women, I've been living in these sandals this summer.

*Mere and I read this book together and it was a really wonderful story. Jillian's voice is incredibly raw and filled with emotion. From her website, "In her younger years, Jillian Lauren was a college dropout, a drug addict, and an international concubine in the Prince of Brunei’s harem, an experience she immortalized in in her bestselling memoir, SOME GIRLS. In her thirties, Jillian’s most radical act was learning the steadying power of love when she and her rock star husband adopt an Ethiopian child with special needs. After Jillian loses a close friend to drugs, she herself is saved by her fierce, bold love for her son as she fights to make him—and herself—feel safe and at home in the world."

*We've started a little tradition of going out to breakfast one morning on the weekends and we've quickly discovered some favorite spots. South Block Smoothie just opened a new, beautiful location by East Falls Church and their acai bowls are so, so yummy. We also love Le Pain Quotidien and I'm on a mission to recreate their chia muffins because I could eat them every day!

*CP and I have been watching True Detective every Sunday night and I've never loved to hate a TV show so much! I don't even know what it is that keeps me coming back every week. I think I secretly hope that everything is going to click at some point and the fifty different plot lines will all miraculously merge and make sense....but no. (Spoiler: the show ended and I was still so, so lost.)

*Have you heard about JCrew's Mercantile? It's not quite clear how the new, lower-priced branch of the company will differ from the already existing factory stores, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to offer.

*What a beautiful photography project.

*Locals- two new exciting openings coming soon! Astro doughnuts and fried chicken is coming to Falls Church and Duck Donuts is coming to Arlington! (ps. can someone please explain the difference between doughnut and donut?)

*We drink a lot (!!!) of coffee in our house and love our Keurig machine. We've tried lots of different coffee pods, and these are hands down our favorite.

*As the school year approaches, teachers are getting some buzz in the news. Many of you have probably seen this video and then there's this. I think both stand on their own and don't need additional commentary.

We can't end on a womp womp note, though, so here's a photo of Avery!! I'll have an update on this little girl up soon :)