The Shortlist: Vol. I, No. Three
Happy Birthday to Me.
Today, I turn 43. An age you never think about. 21, 30, 35, 40 . . . . but 43? Never crossed my mind.
I will need to spend some time thinking about how to make the most of this fresh trip around the sun. Hopefully, while sitting by a pool drinking a Pina Colada, at least in my dreams. More likely it will be while drinking an iced tea next to a kiddie pool.
Ah, yes, 43. There you are.
A Quick Audiobook // Every day, I read or skim 500-1,000 pages for my job. As a result, I almost never want to read in my free time. My eyes simply refuse to accept more text without rebellion. So I recently decided to take my Mom’s lead and begin listening to audiobooks, but some of these books…19 hours long at 1.2x speed. Woof.
Luckily, a few clever people have made shorter books for those of us who want to finish a “read” in one sitting. Evidence of the Affair is a light, easy journey into the 1970s and two marriages that are struggling for different reasons. At just over an hour-and-a-half, it’s a great book to finish on a long walk, while cleaning the house, folding clothes, or taking a medium-length drive.
A Vibrant Salad // Want a delicious salad that is packed with vegetables and bursting with flavor for your next barbecue? Looking to serve a relatively easy side dish that looks fancy? This Spring Couscous Salad from Munching with Mariyah is fantastic. You can add almost any green veggie you have on hand (I used some micro greens and asparagus that were not long for the world), and it always turns out perfectly.
A Funny TV Show // It took me a few episodes to get into Hacks, but once I did, I loved it. Following a shrewd 70-something comedienne and a hapless, but talented 20-something writer as they search for comedy gold, the show’s most recent season is a tough watch, but finishes strong. If you need a show to fill the summer TV gap, this is perfect for the airplane or a long car ride.
A Home Decor Idea // Now that Sloane is a little older, she loves to see photos of family and friends. She’ll spend 30-minutes watching as I bring up pictures of loved ones on my phone. I wanted a way to display photos that didn’t feel cheesy. So when I spotted this Polaroid wall on Instagram, I knew that was it.
You can snap up rails on Etsy and add photos at your leisure. I bought this Polaroid printer so I can use photos from my phone. I may also snap up a vintage-looking camera for Sloane to use when she gets older.
Have a lovely weekend. xo, aB
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