💌 shared notes | august monthly musings (no. 15)

A cozy, full-of-everything catch-up from both of us – saved for the first Saturday of each new month.

It’s hard to believe that it’s the last full month of summer – where did the time go?! It seems like every year summertime passes faster and faster (though especially quick this season since newborn life is a total blur), but with the kiddos starting three-year-old preschool at the end of the month & B heading back to work after maternity leave, we’re soaking up these special sunny days 🥹☀️

We have so much to look forward to this month! Our friend and her husband moved to Australia a couple years ago & they’re visiting the states, so we’re going to get together so our kiddos can play and we can meet each other’s new babies! We’re also having our annual family photo shoot (with the new additions!), heading to preschool orientation so Aves & Cam can meet their teachers, and planning an IRL back-to-school shopping experience (challenging ourselves to not just order everything online) since we loved our before-the-school-year shopping trips with mom as kids! 🍎🥹

We’re so excited to spend this Saturday with you. Now, grab a coffee or tea (B just beautified her matcha game with this very inexpensive, yet very chic matcha bowl set, thanks to a birthday gift from Kel!), share a fun snack or homemade treat with your kiddo (if you’re also in this season of life) & let’s catch up! 🤍

xo,
Brooke & Kelcy

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links we can’t stop sending each other, products, links, current faves

• For anyone else on their postpartum journey, these wearable pumps & this countertop bottle washer are the MVPs in our households (especially when busy with life in general + toddlers / preschoolers).

• We’re also super curious about upping/replacing our LMNT hydration game with the Perelel hydration powder to up our milk supply & just feel better all around. If you’ve had a good or bad experience, message us to let us know! Also, pro tip: add some coconut water to your regular water/hydration powder mix for even more benefits :)

• If you’ve been following along on Kel’s very important (haha) summer sun hat search, she decided on the “Inca” & has been loving it! It’s perfect for summer – or really any season in San Diego ☀️

• We’re trying to commit the cute word mispronunciations our kids say to memory since they’ll start saying everything correctly before we know it. We spotted these cute custom prints that highlight mispronunciations, so we’ve added the custom art to our wish list to always remember “eph-el-ent” 🐘 & “extral” (extra special).

what we’re watching

• B is on the final eps of her blast-from-the-past Friday Night Lights watching experience, and while it’s sad it’s coming to an end, it’s a good reminder that sometimes watching old shows can be just as fun and exciting as watching new ones. Any ideas for what to start next?! Maybe Gilmore Girls? Send us a message!

• It’s been three years since Kel headed to the villa (during her last maternity leave), but postpartum life has brought back a fave guilty pleasure show: Love Island UK – since we just can’t get behind USA... We’re only two weeks in, but it seems like it might be one of the most dramatic seasons yet? Who else is watching?!

• Another fun favorite that brings us back to college is Off Campus – they’re pretty much on campus the entire show (we’re only four eps in though), but it lives up to the hype if you like young adult dramas / relationship shows… and there’s a season two coming that will highlight two of the supporting characters as the leads!

If you have any show or movie recommendations that you’ve loved (new or old!), send them our way! Leave a comment or message us – we always love getting new recs.

what we’re reading

• We’re still reading Yesteryear & excited to finish that up to read The Heir Apparent next – or whatever our book club decides is on the docket at August’s meeting!

• Not a book, but book-related, B got us these cute Kindle covers & it just makes reading even more chic and fun. They have so many different options but we chose the #23 blue & white stripes + #24 latte & white stripes. Highly recommend!

We also love new book recs! We’re part of a book club, so we’ll share what we’re reading the first Saturday of each month in this Monthly Musings series & hope you do the same!

what we’re listening to

• Besides the Tangled soundtrack in the car for drop-offs/pick-ups, we’re trying to get back into our favorite playlists we’ve curated over the years: Kel’s favorites include Easy Breezy Beautiful + (Indie)pendent & Free on Spotify!

• We really enjoyed Molly Sims’ latest podcast ep with Nancy Meyers’ daughter Annie Meyers-Shyer about her journey from fashion PR to stay-at-home mom to accidental home influencer + her new book (now on our wish list!).

• Another interesting podcast listen is Jay Shetty’s wife Radhi’s episode with Jenna Zoe all about human design (we definitely see more alignment with this vs. astrology – it’s so fascinating ✨). We’re projectors (like Radhi & Jenna!), so it was extra fun to listen!

what we’re eating/drinking

• Kel has been having lotsss of DoorDash meals thanks to postpartum life (and friends giving new-baby gift cards – thank you to those reading this who have made our days/nights!), but our go-to meals for cooking have all been from Jenn Lueke’s Don’t Think About Dinner cookbook since everything is so easy, healthy & delicious – plus most recipes come together in under 30 minutes!

• B tried to make homemade burritos to healthify her go-to bean & rice burrito local taco shop craving, but it’s WAY harder than it looks to make your own tortillas. We are on the hunt for either store-bought burrito-size tortillas that don’t have a million additives or an easy recipe to make them in bulk at home.

• Homemade “gelato” and popsicles! Did you know you can just blend together frozen fruit with greek yogurt (plus a sweetener like honey or maple syrup, if you wish!) & voila – you have a tasty summer treat that comes together in seconds?! It’s a perfect high-protein snack-time option for the kiddos & adults too 🤍

little joys

• Watching our three year olds singing in their car seats (when they don’t know we’re looking in the rear-view mirror) 🥹

• Seeing what Avery & Cameron choose for Family “Friday Movie Night” each week – Cars, The Lion King, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin are favorites right now, but we’re excited to expand even more & also bring back their old favorites like Moana.

• Friends, family, past clients, and neighbors showing up during this season of postpartum. When Kel and her husband got home from the hospital with their newborn, they had neighbors dropping off food, lactation cookies, and “just because” treats at their door + gifts for baby and big sister & DoorDash credits sent via text. A little reminder that some love from near & far goes a long way in making someone feel special in such a special / tiring / vulnerable time 🤍

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Thanks for spending part of your Saturday with us – it means more than you know. Whether you’re sipping coffee, chasing toddlers, or just enjoying a slow scroll, we’re so happy to be a small part of your day.

See you in your inbox soon! 🤍 We’ll be back with more design inspo, tips for new moms from the midst of postpartum life, and more – so whether you’re into those topics or choose to skip, be on the lookout for more from us via email!

xo,
Brooke & Kelcy
Shared Notes by The Inspired Abode

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