6 Healthy Sweet Treat Options I Love

I have a HUGE sweet tooth and have to have dessert every single night. I will indulge here and there, but I have found a bunch of healthier options to have at night. I normally share all of these on my insta-stories, but had a ton of requests to put all of them into a blog post. What I love about all of these is that they taste just as delicious as their higher calorie counterparts so I don't have to sacrifice flavor for something more healthy. Let me know if you try any of these and which ones you love!

1. Smashmallows - I LOVE marshmallows and found these last Halloween when walking through the grocery store. They come in a few different flavors (I love them all) and are made with simple ingredients, are gluten free and non GMO. These are also amazing to use for s'mores!

2. Lily's Chocolate - I first started buying the chocolate chips from Lily's to have for dessert and then found the chocolate bars in store recently and love them even more! All of her chocolate products are sweetened with stevia instead of sugar but still taste delicious. I love the salted caramel and coconut bars.

3. Money on Honey Caramels - These are quite rich so I can only eat one or two but as a caramel lover, these really hit the spot. Instead of using corn syrup, they use honey and taste amazing. I prefer the French Sea Salt flavor out of all the options.

4. Nuts N' More Peanut Butter Spread - Peanut butter with protein. That's what this is and it is addictive! There are both peanut butter spreads and almond butter spreads in a variety of flavors. Salted Caramel is delicious and next on my list to try is the Chocolate Maple Pretzel. 

5. Smart Sweets Gummies - Out of all six of these sweet treats, I eat these gummies the most. There are sweet and sour options and I love them all equally. There are only 3g of sugar per bag, no sugar alcohols and 28g of fiber. I used to order a few bags here and there, but now I order them by the case. LOL 

6. Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars - I'm not a huge ice cream person but when I do want something cold, I really love the Yasso greek yogurt bars and greek yogurt pints. They are low-calorie and high protein because they are made with greek yogurt. I don't even think I can pick a flavor I love the most because I get a new one each time!

My July Reading List

Pajamas (on sale!) | Chaise | Rug | Side table | Mirror | Ladder | Wall bursts | Lamp

I'm back with all the books I've finished last month. To be honest, there were three additional books that I read this month that I didn't list below because they were awful. Two I couldn't finish and the third I just skimmed the last few chapters of the book because I couldn't take it anymore. LOL But the six I'm sharing below are all worth mentioning and reading! You can browse through all of my past book reviews posts here if you want more recommendations of things to read.

1. We All Love the Beautiful Girls - This book was good but wasn't my favorite out of this bunch. Mia and Michael's family and life begins to fall apart after they find out their best friend scammed them out of their life savings and their son has an accident at a party that leaves him very injured. The story is about their journey through it all and how it affects their friendships and relationships. It kept my interest but there were much better books that I read this month.

2. Redeeming Love - Wow. Wow. Wow. Based on the cover of this book, I was expecting a cheesy romantic love story but this was so much more than that! Angel is sold into prostitution at a young age and is living a life of emptiness and hatred until she meets Michael Hosea. Michael is extremely religious and feels that God wants him to be with Angel. He visits her at her brothel and tries to convince he to leave with him. After she is beaten badly one night by a client, she agrees to go with Michael and ultimately marry him. Since Angel never learned how to trust a man, she struggles with being Michael's wife. Michael stays steadfast to his commitment to God that he will love this woman and be with her no matter how hard she makes it for him. To be honest, I did not think I was going to like this book as much as I did and was so sad when it was over. Such a great (and emotional) read.

3. Not That I Could Tell - A group of neighborhood moms who are all friends get together one night to drink wine and chat around the fire pit. By the next morning, one of the mothers has vanished and taken her two children with her. Everyone is stunned by her disappearance, most of all her soon to be ex-husband who fears something has happened to her and the children. At first, her ex-husband is not a suspect but slowly becomes one as more about him is revealed. This book moved a bit slow in the beginning but the ending really threw me and it saved the entire book for me. I ended up really liking this one.

4. Then She Was Gone - This book was a bit twisted but a thrilling read. Laurel Mack is trying to put her life back together after the disappearance of her daughter ten years ago. One afternoon Laurel meets Floyd at a coffee shop and is surprised at how quickly a relationship develops between them. Floyd has two daughters and Laurel is taken aback when she meets his youngest one who bears a very strong resemblance to her daughter that disappeared years earlier. As Laurel learns more about Floyd and who he really is, her world is turned upside down. Loved this one and couldn't put it down!

5. This Is How It Always Is - Out of all the books I read, this one was my absolute favorite. Rosie and Penn have four boys and when they get pregnant for the fifth time, they are hoping for a girl. When Claude is born, they are overjoyed for his arrival and have accepted that their family will only be boys. When Claude is five, he begins to start wearing dresses and says that he wants to grow up and be a girl. While Rosie and Penn think it is just a phase, they soon learn it is not. After much discussion, they decide to let Claude begin dressing like a girl and allow him to change his name to Poppie. Unfortunately the school and community are not as accepting of this and it ultimately forces the family to move to Seattle. They make the decision to not tell anyone in their new city about Poppie and hope that in time they can reveal the truth and people will accept her. Keeping this a secret puts a great deal of strain on the entire family. The dynamics of the family and the struggles that they face trying to allow their son to be who he feels he is inside brought out so much emotion for me while reading this. It's such a wonderful book.

6. My Lovely Wife - This book is a bit twisted but a really good read. Millicent and her husband seem like the normal suburban couple with two kids and a great life. Except they like to murder people in their spare time. Eek! They decide to try and pin it on a local serial killer that has already been convicted of similar crimes in the past but that plan soon fails and they must regroup to figure out how to prevent themselves from being caught. There were quite a few twists and turns in this book and the ending was a huge surprise for me!

What are you currently reading? Any books that you would recommend?

Shop all the pieces from my post here:

A Few Must Have Baby/Kid Items To Buy From the Nordstrom Sale

There are some pretty big splurge items on sale in the kids/baby section of the Anniversary sale so i thought I would share 9 of them that I love and/or would recommend.

1. Nuna Mixx stroller - We did not get this stroller but looking back think we should have because we bought all of our car seats from Nuna. Having the matching stroller that allowed for the infant car seat to attach would have been great. I have heard great things about this stroller from a few friends of mine who have it.

2. Hooded towel - I buy Miles so many hooded towels because we use one every night after the bath and have since he was an infant. I just grabbed this one during the sale.

3. Sweatshirt and sweatpants set - The boys clothing selection wasn't as great as I would have hoped, but this set was one of my favorites. I like buying Miles full outfits because it makes getting him dressed so much easier.

4. High top sneakers - These leather high top converse sneakers are the coolest things ever!

5. Adidas set - Miles has a cute Nike sweatsuit that I bought him and he wears it a ton especially in the cooler months. This Adidas set is just as adorable.

6. Faux leather diaper backpack - I bought a backpack from Zara last year and it's the only thing I really ever use when I go out with Miles. This diaper bag backpack looks like a great option to carry all the things and be hands free.

7. Nuna Pipa car seat - We used this car seat when Miles was an infant and loved it. It's very lightweight and easy to carry.

8. Converse sneakers - I have these for Miles and they are perfect to wear with casual outfits or when we are going somewhere a smidge nicer and I want him to look put together.

9. Nuna Rava car seat - We graduated from the Pipa car seat to this Rava after much research. It came highly recommended to us and I bought this exact one from the Anniversary sale. We needed a second car seat for my mom's car and this was a great deal!

Shop all my picks here:

All the Best Home Decor Finds From the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

The fashion and beauty steals from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale are the biggest draws, but I thought I would round up all the home decor items I found from the sale that were worth shopping!

1. Duvet Cover - This duvet cover and set comes in so many colors and is so cute for your bedroom or even a guest bedroom.

2. Faux Mink Sleeping Bag - I would go camping if it meant I could sleep in this fabulous number! Hello glamping! But it would also would be great for movie night or if you need extra "beds" for when guests come over.

3. Salad serving set - Serving salad but making it fancy. LOL

4. Pouf stool - This is a great piece for a nursery or bedroom and it would go with so many different home decor styles.

5. Pitcher - While this is technically a pitcher, I would use this as a gorgeous vase.

6. Marble and wood serving board - Treat yourself to this and then head to the store and buy a bunch of overpriced cheese to jazz up a simple dinner at home. 

7. Leopard lumbar pillow - Leopard lovers don't need any reason to buy this. It's leopard and that's the only reason we need. LOL

8. Leather pouf - This is definitely a pricier item but would look absolutely amazing in a den or family room. It's a major statement piece.

9. Grey wood wastebasket - Put this in your home office or a guest bathroom to add a bit more flair. This is so much better than a boring old trashcan.

10. Aromatherapy diffuser - I actually don't have any diffusers at home but this one makes me want to reconsider. It looks so chic.

11. Clean bath mat - I bought this for my bathroom and think it's so cute.

12. Marble print throw - For the price, this is a fun throw to add on a chair or as a decorative piece on a bed or bench. I'm a sucker for all things marble print. #sobasic

13. Wine rack - This would work as a wine rack or even hold your olive oil bottles in the kitchen. It's a great way to display bottles you use regularly in a decorative yet functional way.

14. Wool rug - A great neutral rug for almost any room of the house. It would also make a great entry way rug!

Shop all my home decor picks here:

All the Books I've Finished This Past Month

Sweatshirt | Shorts | AirPod case | Bed | Nightstands | Lamps

If you are a mystery lover, today's post is going to be a good one for you! I have a few amazing thrillers/mysteries included in my recent reading list. Let's get into the reviews: 

1. Still Alice - This book was made into a film a few years ago and got rave reviews so I had high hopes about it. Sadly, I really didn't like it. Alice Howland is a professor at Harvard that is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. This story is about her life after her diagnosis and how she struggles to tell her family and also to hold on to herself while her mind is slowly slipping away from her. I don't mind books that deal with intense or sad subject matter, but this book felt incredibly depressing and anticlimactic. I kept reading it with the hopes that I would like it more as the story went on, but in the end I thought it fell flat. Maybe the movie is better.

2. The Proposal - This is your typical cute love story and an easy beach read. Nikole meets Carlos at a Dodgers game after her boyfriend of only a few months proposes to her on the jumbotron. Nikole is not in love with him and has to turn him down in front of thousands of people. Carlos and his sister pretend to know Nikole in order to allow her to escape the situation and avoid the media that is swarming her after the proposal. Carlos and Nikole decide to get together again the following week and a friendship develops that quickly turns physical. Both try to fight their feelings but are unable to and decisions must be made if they are going to take their relationship further. It's not the best book in my list but it was enjoyable.

3. Every Breath - I don't want to give too much of this book away but I have to say that the author's note really ruined the entire story for me. You will understand why if you read it. It's a great love story about two people that meet randomly at a beach in North Carolina and end up falling in love after six days of knowing one another. Sadly they can't be together because Hope is engaged to a man that she feels obligated to marry. Tru tries to convince her to be with him, but alas he returns to his native home of Zimbabwe after Hope turns him down. Decades later their paths cross again and their story continues. It's a really good book but I wish the author had not done what he did in his prologue and epilogue. Ugh!

4. All These Beautiful Strangers - This first felt like a young adult book (but in a bad way) and I wasn't sure I would like it. However, as I got further into the story it got better and better and I ended up loving this book! Charlie Calloway is a student at a New England prep school and is trying to escape her family's past and the unsolved disappearance of her mother years ago. When she is invited to join the school's elite secret society called "The A's", she is quickly thrown into hazing rituals that are dangerous and often destroy the lives of those involved. However, Charlie soon realizes that this secret society could be connected to her mother's disappearance in a distant way and she tries to uncover the truth though many people are fighting to keep it hidden. This is definitely one of my favorite books of this bunch!

5. Necessary People - I really enjoyed this book though some of the characters drove me crazy. That didn't detract from the story for me, because I was fully invested in seeing how it turned out. Stella and Violet are best friends from very different backgrounds who meet in college and hit it off instantly. Stella is wealthy and privileged, while Violet had a tough childhood wrought with abuse and turmoil. Both move to NYC after graduating, but Stella decides to galavant around the world while Violet begins building her career. By the time Stella decides to come back, Violet has risen to a executive level position in the television station she works for and finally feels like she is making her way in the world. Then Stella schmoozes her way into a job at the same television station and quickly begins her own ascent despite lack of experience and hard work. They become competitive and their relationship takes a turn for the worst.  There is a ton of deception between these two and Violet finds herself in a precarious position having to make a decision that will change her life forever. It's not a thriller per se, but it did keep me on the edge of my seat until the end.

6. The Hideaway - I love a good feel good romance novel, but this one was just ok. Sara Jenkins' grandmother dies leaving her a B&B in her will. She states that Sara must renovate the home and then decide either to keep it or sell it. Sara struggles with this decision since many of the residents of the B&B have been living there for decades. As Sara learns more about her grandmother's life and her time at the B&B, it makes her decision harder. I did like how the story followed both Sara's and her grandmother's life simultaneously and thought the author did a great job switching between different decades effortlessly.

7. The Silent Patient - My favorite book out of the bunch! I NEVER saw the ending coming and it threw me for a major loop. Alicia Berenson is a successful artist married to a famous fashion photographer, but then shoots him five times in the face and is committed to a mental institution. A new therapist, Theo Faber, has been following the case and gets a job at this institution specifically to work with Alicia, who has stopped speaking completely. Theo tries to get her to open up and tell him what happened the night of the murder. Sounds like a pretty straightforward story but it is not at all. Such a great book that I could not put down!

You can check out all my past book reviews here.

Also, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale catalog was released! You can view the full thing here.

Shop all the books I've finished:

Recent Amazon Purchases I've Been Loving

Kimono (Amazon prime find) | Shorts | Wedges | Tank | Bag | Hat (similar) | Sunglasses

Kimono (Amazon prime find) | Tank | Shorts | Bag

It's time for another Amazon round-up because I have been sharing all of these purchases on my insta-stories and needed to compile them all into one post!

1. Kimono - I really loved this kimono that I purchased recently but wanted to try a different style and print and this one was an instant hit! Both would also work as swimsuit coverups.

2. Sun hat for Miles - I had a bunch of DMs asking me about Miles' hat that he was wearing at the beach and pool recently and this is it. It has straps to attach under their chin, but Miles keeps it on so there is no need for that with him. He also looks ridiculously cute in it which is another huge benefit to it. Ha!

3. Low sugar gummies - I have a major sweet tooth and am constantly looking for healthier options to indulge in. I had heard about these low sugar/low carb gummies and ordered them instantly. I wasn't expecting to like them as much as I did, but I have already ordered them two more times since! And I have received a few messages from readers that also purchased them after seeing it on my insta-stories and they are loving them too.

4. Spirulina powder - Spirulina has so many great health benefits such as being anti-inflammatory, high in antioxidants, helping to fight fatigue - just to name a few. This powder had good reviews so I decided to try it. It has a fishy taste which can be a turnoff but I find that mixing it in with other things (like my oatmeal in the morning) helps mask the taste. It's also VERY powdery so I had to transfer it to another container because it will get everywhere. Not sure I will repurchase when I'm finished, but for now I am happy with it. If you have any other recommendations of spirulina that you use and like, leave me a comment below!

5. Liquid B-12 - I originally ordered this liquid B-12 but it was out of stock, so I ordered another that was recommended by the Medical Medium and have seen even better results! It has done wonders at increasing my energy levels. I take it once a day in the morning, but if I am feeling extra fatigued that day I will take a second dose in the afternoon.

6. Low sugar peanut butter spread - Another yummy sweet treat that is a bit more healthy is this peanut butter spread. I have a spoonful as a dessert and LOVE the taste.

7. AirPod case - I shared this case on my insta-stories a few times already and it quickly became one of my top selling items! LOL Stan and I both have AirPod cases and I am always trying to figure out which one is mine so I came across this case and ordered it immediately! It's so fabulous and fun.

8. Screen cleaner - My computer screen was in dire need of a cleaning and this stuff works like magic.

9. Acupressure mat - I struggle with neck and back pain from time to time (I've had two spine surgeries for disc issues), and had heard great things about an acupressure mat. It takes some getting used to because the disks are quite spiky and hard, but I don't find it to be painful at all.

10. Stain remover - This has been our go-to stain remover for years and I needed to repurchase a new bottle. If you need a great all purpose stain remover, this is the stuff to get!

11. Face wipes for Miles - I order these in bulk now because we go through them so quickly. I have tried a few different face wipes for Miles but always go back to these. They clean his face and hands quickly, smell amazing and are super durable.

Shop my Amazon purchases below:

A Healthy Smoothie Option For Toddlers

Maree's outfit: T-shirt | Shorts | Blender I use

Miles' outfit: Polo shirt | Shorts | Smoothie container

I shared this smoothie that I make for Miles on my Instagram recently and had tons of messages asking for an official recipe. To be honest, I use my hands rather than measuring everything out, but I regularly use the same combination of ingredients which I thought I would list below. Miles is entering the "fussy eater" phase and finding things he will eat that are nutritious can be a challenge. Anytime I was drinking a smoothie he would always want a sip so I thought about trying to come up with something that he would love. He has been a huge berry fan since he was an infant so I bought a frozen bag of berries to try and frozen pineapple happened to be sitting on the same shelf so I grabbed that too to make it a bit more flavorful. In order to sneak as much greens as I can into his diet, I like to put spinach in this smoothie and he never even notices. Ha! The yogurt and milk amounts change based on how thick or thin I am trying to make it, but I tried to give an estimate in the recipe below. If he is being very fussy and picky, I will add a drizzle of honey or a very ripe banana to the mixture to give it some added sweetness. I can normally get at least two or three servings out of this recipe and give it to him in this smoothie container which is perfect! It's easy for him to hold and is pretty spill-proof. Even though Miles loves this smoothie, it is also a great smoothie for adults so I end up saving a small cup for myself.

Here is what I use in his smoothie:

• 1 handful of frozen berries (I like a berry mix - blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc)
• 1 handful of frozen pineapple
• 2 handfuls of fresh spinach
• 3/4 cup of yogurt (sometimes more or less depending on how thick I want it to be)
• Almond milk (normally 1/2 cup or more)
• 1 spoonful of chia seeds (I estimate this is about 1/2 tablespoon)
• I use a drizzle of honey or one banana to add a bit of sweetness but he also loves the smoothie without either

I don't know how long he will continue to love this smoothie so I'm am taking advantage of it while I can. LOL I'll probably need to come up with another concoction at some point to give him options, but for now this is what I stick with. I like to make it for him at least once a week and he will continue to drink it for at least a day or two after. 

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Answering All Your Questions About CBD + The Brand Of Oil I Use and Love

CBD seems to be everywhere now and steadily growing in popularity. I was intrigued to try it as I heard it was great at helping with a myriad of symptoms especially anxiety (which I was specifically trying to address). I tried a few different brands and forms (mainly gummies and supplements) and didn't see much change. However, there are so many different formulas out there so I kept searching for one that may help. A girlfriend of mine recommended I try Wander after she had great results with it. I ordered the 200 mg oil to start with and didn't see much change initially. However, it was after I had been taking it daily for almost two weeks that I realized how much calmer I was feeling and rarely had any intense anxiety symptoms. I also have PMDD (a more difficult form of PMS) and the time before my period and often before ovulation can be wrought with strong mood swings and debilitating anxiety. After taking the CBD oil, I noticed that my mood was more stable and my anxiety was extremely low, and nothing else had changed in my diet except for adding the CBD oil. I kept using it and noticed that I continued to have the same results. I then tried the 500mg oil and I continue to feel much more calm and less anxious. 

After posting about the oil on my insta-stories, the Wander brand reached out to me and asked if I wanted to meet to learn more about CBD and their company. I said I did and was blown away after our meeting by their knowledge about CBD and their commitment to creating such a high quality product. I asked if they would be willing to answer questions from my readers about CBD and they graciously said they would love to. I am sharing all those questions and answers in today's post. 

I should mention that many of their answers pertain to their own products' efficacy and quality. They cannot speak to every and all CBD products you purchase in the market. Because it is a rapidly growing industry, not all CBD products may be manufactured in the same manner and therefore results or side effects may vary. My biggest question/concern about CBD was my fear that it would make me "high" or alter my consciousness. The founders of Wander shared with me that THC is the ingredient/compound which is responsible for making someone "high" (what people typically associate with smoking marijuana). There are CBD formulas with THC and CBD formulas without THC. Their formulas are all THC-free which made me feel much more comfortable about taking them. After using the oil for the past few months, I am amazed at how I feel and how much it has helped me. 

Below are the questions submitted by my readers and Wander's answers to each:

1. How do you know the concentration you should buy? We recommend the 500mg for first time buyers. One full dropper will give you a dose that is approximately 10mg - our recommended beginning dose.

2. Is it safe for pregnant and nursing women? CBD first gained attention for use with young children who had epilepsy. We have plenty of pregnant customers that use our CBD products throughout their pregnancy, however you should always check with your doctor to determine if it is right for you. We also cannot speak to other CBD formulas out in the market and its safety during pregnancy.

3. Would this pass a government job drug test? We cannot guarantee that any CBD product you try would pass a government job drug test since there are so many different kinds out there in the market. Our product is 100% THC free and we can verify that. We chose to make a 100% THC free product so that government workers can take advantage of the benefits of CBD.

4. I clench my teeth and hold lots of tension in my jaw - can CBD relax my jaw and lower stress? CBD is wonderful for lowering stress and relieving anxiety. I cannot speak for the clenched jaw but I imagine by relieving some of your stress, it would definitely help with the clenched jaw.

5. How long after you take it should you begin to see results or effects? You can begin to feel the initial effects 10-15 minutes after taking your dose in normal circumstances, provided that you know your dose. We see full effects coming on between 30-45 minutes after.

6. How long does it stay in your system where it's still effective? It can last from 2-6 hours, depending on your metabolism. The beauty of CBD is that the side effects are virtually non-existent. You can take as much or as little as you like.

7. How often can it be taken and how much can be taken each time? It can be taken as often as needed. I would recommend starting with our standard dosing - 10mg (one dropper full). 

8. Will it help with morning sickness? It can since it has potent anti-nausea and anti-headache properties. We have replaced Advil with our CBD formula at the Wander offices. However, as always please check with your doctor before taking.

9. Is the product full spectrum and do you have certifications to prove it? Our product is THC-free. We combine CBD with excellent essential oils to enhance the efficacy of the CBD. And yes, we have COAs on every ingredient we use, along with COAs on our products.

10. Does it help with sleep? YES! Roughly 60% of our customers have reported that their sleep has improved tremendously.

11. What if any are the side effects? There are very minimal side effects. The most common is if you take too much you get a little groggy and sleepy. It would take quite a large dose however to make you feel that way (roughly 100mg at one time which is roughly 11 droppers full of our 500mg CBD oil, or 6 droppers full of our 1000mg CBD oil). 

12. How do you use it? Do you just drop it on the tongue? You can administer CBD orally. Just a drop on the tongue on an empty stomach will help brighten your day!

13. I am allergic to trees, pollen, grass, weed and nuts - can I take CBD? We do not know of any allergic reaction to CBD. The ingredients in our all purpose CBD oil are as follows: cold pressed sunflower oil, fractionated coconut oil, lavender, grapefruit, lemon and CBD. I would recommend you speak to your doctor before trying to ensure that you are not allergic to any of these ingredients. 

14. Is it safe for my pets? And if so, how do I administer it? CBD is phenomenal for pets. You can take some oil and put it on a dog treat or put it on their food. 

15. Does it show up in bloodwork? CBD is not commonly tested for in bloodwork unless explicitly asked for. I would check with your doctor regarding the type of blood test you are getting and whether they believe it will show up or not.

If you have any additional questions, either email them to me (alittlebitetc@gmail.com) or leave me a comment below and I will update this post with the answers.

Shop Wander's entire line of products here.

An Easy Lightweight Romper For the Summer + My Recent Reading List

Romper - H&M | Sandals - Madewell | Bag - Street Level (similar here) | Bag - Sunglasses (similar here)

Today's post is going to be a combination of both an outfit post and my recent reading list. Two for the price of one! LOL Some people aren't fans of jumpsuits and rompers, but I personally still love them. I love how easy it is to get dressed and how comfortable they are. I love them for running around with Miles, going to the park or even as a pool cover-up. This one is loose fitting and so lightweight for summer, and the snap at the wrap ensures it will never fall open. To bring the comfort factor to the next level, I threw on my lace-up Madewell sandals that I've had for yearsssss. They have a rubber sole and surprisingly stay on the feet easily. 

Moving on to my book reviews - I read some really great books this past month and am so excited to share them with you. Don't forget to browse through my past reviews (there are more than 100!), if you want additional recommendations.

1. The Lost Vintage - I enjoyed this book but it wasn't a love for me. It has all the makings of a great novel but didn't quite live up to my expectations. Kate is studying for her Master of Wine examination and heads to her family's vineyard estate in France to help her prepare. While there, she uncovers a basement filled with thousands of bottles of wine that must have been hidden during WWII. Kate decides to explore more about this basement and who was responsible for hiding all the bottles. Some questions arise as to whether one of her ancestors was a collaborator with the Nazis and Kate tries to seek out the truth.

2. Where'd You Go, Bernadette - This book is being made into a movie and I am really excited to see it. I enjoyed the book but I think the movie will be able to bring the content to life even better. Bernadette Fox is an eccentric architect living in Seattle with her husband and daughter. After receiving a perfect report card, her daughter asks if they can go to Antartica as her reward. However before the trip, Bernadette vanishes and her family has no idea where she has gone. While this seems like it would be a mystery novel, it's actually quite the opposite. Bernadette has a quirky personality and the dynamics between her and her family create quite a unique storyline.

3. I Let You Go - I was almost a third of the way through this book before it hooked me, but after that I really got into it. It's a thriller but doesn't get that "thrilling" until halfway through the book so just be patient. Jenna Gray moves to a small beach town in the hopes of disappearing after being involved in a horrific hit and run accident. But the truth about the day is much more complicated than it seems, and Jenna is forced to come to terms with some painful truths about her life.

4. The Boy - My favorite book of the bunch! This was one of those good ol' murder mysteries that you can't put down. Genevieve's son is brutally murdered in their home in a small town in rural Louisiana. Detective Nick Fourcade and his wife Detective Annie Broussard much figure out who would commit such a horrific crime. As they dig deeper into Genevieve's past, questions begin to arise that make them question the validity of Genevieve's account of that night. There are so many twists and turns in this story and I could not figure out who did it until the very end. This is a page turner for sure!

5. Verity - I have been waiting for almost a year for this book to come out on audio! (It's so hard for me to find the time to sit down and read so I listen to audiobooks only) I am a huge fan of Colleen Hoover but had heard this was a huge departure from her normal content. It is definitely a disturbing read and quite a suspenseful thriller, however I was a tiny bit let down that it wasn't as good as I had imagined. It is still an AMAZING book, but I think I had built it up too much in my head. LOL Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer hired by the family of Verity Crawford to help complete the remaining books in Verity's best selling series. Verity was injured in a severe accident making her unable to finish writing the last three books. However, when Lowen begins her research, she uncovers a hidden autobiography that Verity had written unbeknowst to anyone. The autobiography sheds light on a very different Verity and her life before the accident. The ending was not what I expected and really shocked me. It left me having so many mixed feelings about my thoughts on all the characters up until that point.

6. Night Film - This book is longggggg and has its tedious moments, but overall I loved it. Ashley Cordova, the daughter of legendary horror film director Stanislas Cordova, is found dead in an abandoned warehouse and her death is ruled a suicide by authorities. Investigative journalist, Scott McGrath, who has followed her father's career over many decades believes there is more to this story. He sets off to uncover what really happened and looks to Stanislas's horror films and reclusive life as a possible explanation. Delving further into Cordova's world, McGrath comes face to face with some dark and disturbing situations that he thinks may have contributed to Ashley's death. I won't give anymore away but there is definitely some major twists and turns in this book, and really brings to light the idea that things are not always what they seem.

Shop more rompers under $50 that I'm loving:

All My Recent Amazon Buys (Hits and Misses)

Dress - Amazon (runs TTS, I'm wearing a small) | Wedges - Treasure & Bond (these colors are on sale!) | Bag - Street Level (similar here) | Sunglasses - Illesteva (similar here) | Headband - Lele Sadoughi

This looks like an outfit post even though the topic is Amazon buys - and that's because my dress is actually from Amazon! My girlfriend was raving about all the clothes she bought from there so I decided to take a browse around to see what I could find. I ended up buying this dress and another long maxi style to wear to the pool. I loved both pieces and am really intrigued to try more items in the future. If you have any recent Amazon clothing buys that you loved, let me know in the comments and leave me a link to check them out! In addition to this dress, I'm sharing all the other random things I've purchased over the past month and whether anything was a major miss. If you are interested, you can read my other previous Amazon posts here.

1. Long Maxi Dress - I wasn't sure I would like this dress because it does run very big, but after trying it on I thought it would be a great pool cover-up or outfit to wear to the beach. I tied a knot in the front and loved how it looked styled that way. 

2. Reusable snack bag - I use so many ziploc bags with Miles that I wanted a reusable option. This bag is perfect and I am thinking of getting the larger sizes next!

3. Window gels for Miles - These were a major miss for Miles because he ended up tearing them up after 5 minutes. If your kids love stickers or are at an age where they won't pull everything apart, these are a great toy. But sadly Miles was not into them and destroyed them immediately.

4. Hangers for Miles' clothes - Even though I love buying clothes for Miles, I forgot to think about what types of hangers to put them all on. Right now I have most of his clothes in drawers but some things needed to be hung and these hangers are the perfect size!

5. Fashion tape - I am never without a tin of this stuff! It is the best solution for button down shirts and dresses to keep them from gaping open. 

6. Coffee table books - I've said before that Amazon is the best place to buy coffee table books because they are so much cheaper. I did an entire blog post on my coffee table book collection and just added this one and this one to it.

7. Hedgehog toy for Miles - This is a great learning toy for helping with motor skills, color recognition and more. Miles loves putting the quills in the holes (and then will go put them in random places around the house too #toddlers).

8. Water Drawing Mat - This is great because it's a coloring mat that doesn't actually have any color so there is no mess or clean up! The mat itself is striped with various colors and you fill the pens and brushes with water to make the colors show up. 

9. Floaties for Miles - I asked for recommendations on my insta-stories of the best floaties to buy for Miles to use in the pool. These were hands down the most recommended! Sadly they didn't arrive in time for our visit to the pool yesterday but should be here this week.

10. Water table and sand table - These are both an absolute hit with him. I especially love how the sand table is raised off the ground and has a lid so it doesn't get dirty and surprisingly Miles doesn't make that much of a mess.

11. Snack container - THE best snack containers! Miles can walk around with them and they never spill. 

12. Sensitive toothpaste - My teeth recently began to feel very sensitive to both cold and hot things and this toothpaste has really been helping!

13. Cleaning wipes - I don't think I will ever buy any other type of household wipes again! These are effective, safe and the scent is minty. They make all our surfaces smell so fresh.

14. B-12 supplement - I follow the Medical Medium on Instagram and he recommended this B-12 supplement and I decided to try it. I have noticed a significant difference in my energy level since taking. There are many benefits to taking a B-12 supplement that he discusses on his blog.

15. Bubble bath - This is the bubble bath I use for Miles a few times a week and I was in need of a repurchase.

Shop all my recent Amazon buys:

What I've Been Reading Lately

Bed | Nightstand | Lamp | Marble Tray | Zebra tray | Books here, here and here

This past month's reads have been a mixed bag. Some books were by my favorite authors so I knew I would love them, a few were entertaining and a couple were just not that good. #brutalhonesty Here are all the books I've recently read (and click here for all of my past book reviews):

1. Winter Garden - I am a huge Kristin Hannah fan and loved The Nightingale and The Great Alone, so I knew I was going to love this book. And I did. To be honest, it wasn't as good as her two other books I have read, but still an absolutely beautiful novel. Meredith and Nina are sisters that live two very different lives, but are forced to come together after the death of their father to help care for their mother. But that care isn't easy because their mother doesn't welcome their attention. Their father's dying wish was for them to get to know their mother's life story so they could better understand her. And once they finally know her entire story, it changes all of their lives forever.

2. My Favorite Half-Night Stand - A cute, feel-good romantic novel with super lovable characters. It was a bit slow at the start, but once I got into the story I loved it! Millie and Reid are friends as well as co-workers that begin to have feelings for one another. In an effort to try and decide if they really should be together, they both fill out online dating profiles to see what else is out there. The story has some cute twists and turns and is an easy read.

3. My Absolute Darling - While I enjoyed many of the books I read these past few weeks, this was an absolute no. I simply could not get into it and ultimately had to quit halfway through. I was so disappointed because it had won so many awards so I had really high hopes.

4. A Million Junes - I loved so much about this book, but there is a supernatural/magic aspect to the story that can get a bit annoying at times. June and Saul are teenagers from the same town, but their families do NOT get along and both have been forbidden to ever be near each other. When they meet at a local fair one night, they try to stay away but slowly feel drawn towards one another. They set off to find out why their families don't get along and what caused the riff hundreds of years ago.

5. The Thousandth Floor - This is a young adult read about a futuristic society in NYC in the year 2118. I normally like young adult novels, but this was just ok in my opinion. It's a trilogy and after reading this one, I sadly won't be reading any of the other books in the series.

6. Daisy Jones & the Six - When I saw that this was the same author that wrote one of my favorite books of all time, I knew I had to read this as well. Taylor Jenkins Reid does an amazing job at giving her books such emotional depth and I feel so many things while reading them. This particular book was not as good as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but nonetheless I loved it. It's about a fictitious rock band that became famous in the 70's and all the trials and tribulations that they went through. It's a different kind of story setup because it's written as interviews of all the band members years later, which can be a bit hard to follow because there are so many different characters. However, I quickly learned their names and didn't have any issue following the story.

7. An Unwanted Guest - I LOVE thrillers and mystery novels, but this one felt a little bit like I was reading a game of Clue. Do you guys remember that board game? It is one of my favorites to play, but not necessarily to read. The story takes place at a quaint Inn in the Catskills and guests become stranded there after a bad ice storm closes the roads and disables all the power. One of the guests is murdered that first night and subsequently 4 other guests get killed over the next two days. Because they have no power or way to contact the police, everyone is scared that they will be next. I did finish the book because I wanted to know who was the killer, but there are much better thriller books out there to read that will keep your attention.

Favorite Toddler Toys

We are in full toddler mode now with Miles and I thought I would share some of his favorite toys and ones that we will continue to use as he gets older. Some are educational or help with motor skills and others are simply fun for him.

1. Aqua drawing mat - This is the most recent toy that I got him and it's a no-mess coloring mat! It comes with pens and brushes that you fill with water and then when they write on the mat, the color shows up underneath. 

2. Shopping cart - This was one of the main toys that helped Miles learn to walk, and is still a toy he plays with daily. He loves to push it around the kitchen and family room, and will put things in and out of it all day long. I also bought him this box of fruits and vegetables to go with it, but he tends to play with those separately right now. I think over time he will find it fun if I set up a little store that he can "shop" at.

3. Slide - I pulled the wrong image for this slide as this is the one for older kids. However, I linked the correct slide that I just bought for Miles. It's much smaller and suitable for kids as young as 18 months. I think this slide will be a good way for him to be physical and exert some energy.

4. Push car - Best toy I've bought yet! We push him in this car around the neighborhood daily and he loves it. It's nosy as heck but he doesn't seem to mind. LOL

5. Hedgehog toy - I recently purchased this hedgehog for him after my girlfriend recommended it to me. It helps with fine motor skills and as he gets older will be great for teaching him sorting and colors.

6. Lawn mower - Ok to be honest, I wanted a toy that was simply an "outside" toy. We would bring things outside to play with and then I hated having them come back inside so I thought this lawn mower would solve that issue. And it did! He pushes it around, fills it up with sticks and mulch and then we can leave it in the garage. Yay!

7. Toy workbench - Miles loves to bang on things and make as much noise as possible. So I thought this workbench would be perfect. He loves putting the shapes in their respective holes and then opening the drawer to find them. It also makes a ton of different sounds which is fun for him (and super annoying for us LOL).

8. Magnetic tiles - When we recently visited a local children's museum, these were the only toys all the little boys wanted to play with. Miles enjoys picking them up and carrying them around, but he is a bit too young to build anything yet. However, I know these will be fun for him in the next few years.

9. Foam bath toys - I struggle to find things to keep Miles entertained in the bath because he is over it after a few days. #toddlers But I bought these foam toys because they will be great to use for the next few years. They are in the shapes of different animals and have letters cut out of the middle. I don't give him the small letters yet but he loves to put the animals up on the bath wall. I don't find that he wants to chew on them (though we never leave him unsupervised), but if your toddler likes to chew, this may not be a good toy yet. 

10. Turtle sandbox - Stan bought this for Miles but it was winter and we couldn't put sand in it and use it outside. So I filled it with plastic balls to make it a mini ball pit and Miles is crazy for it! And if we have any other kids come over the house, they immediately go to it. I decided to get a sand table instead for him this summer so he could still make a mess in the sand but not be sitting in it. 

11. Inflatable duck - I bought this when he was an infant to use as a bath for him at night, but soon found that he slipped around in it too much so I brought it downstairs for him to play with during the day. Well that was the best idea I've ever had! I don't think there is a single day that has gone by that he isn't rolling around in this duck. He puts his toys in it, he "reads" his books in it and he wrestles with it. I will warn you that this is our third one because somehow it always gets a hole. Very annoying but he loves it so I keep buying it. #sucker

What are your child's favorite toys? Any good suggestions? Let me know!