FROM: STELLA

1. We had a big snow this week in Maine and I am loving the winter weather. It’s mostly stayed above 30 degrees so just warm enough to be outside but not so warm to melt the snow. Colby is obsessed with his baby sled and we are very excited to finally have invested in a pair of mittens that he can’t pull off.

2. Last week I finished listening to the audio version of Matthew McConaughey’s book, Greenlights. I loved the book and felt like it was meant to be listened to. My husband also read the book and we’ve now fallen down the rabbit hole of watching lots of MM movies including old favorites like The Wedding Planner and post-McConaissance films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Mud. It’s been really fun to have a theme to our movie nights and I’m looking forward to more.

3. I enjoyed this reddit post about kids + finance. It’s always interesting to read about some else’s journey especially while trying to navigate my own.

4. I made this White Bean Chicken Chili in the Instant Pot and am adding it to my list of go to winter meals. It’s delicious!

FROM: LAURA

TO: STELLA

1. The first episode of Under the Influence with Jo Piazza came out this week and I was hooked before I even listened. Diving into the world of mom-stagram (mommy influencers on Instagram), the eight-part series is seeking to pull back the curtain on how so many mothers are profiting off of their “normal, everyday lives.”

2. I’m lusting after these cocktail glasses (that are listed as water glasses? but are definitely made for Instagram-worthy cocktails). My husband and I have slowly but surely been upgrading our dishes and glassware. We already have two new rocks glasses, but maybe these gem-like glasses are next to live in our cabinet.

3. Last week I recommended the book ‘The Office of Historical Corrections,’ and this week I am still recommending that, and now paired with The Stacks podcast episode covering it. I love all of Traci’s podcast episodes, but the book club episodes always feel extra lovely like I’m part of a bigger group all reading along with her and her guest. (Speaking of guest, Deesha Philyaw is on with Traci to discuss, and she is the author of ‘The Secret Lives of Church Ladies‘, another collection of short stories, that I cannot wait to read!)

4. I’ve had a few tough mornings with Ernie this week, where his wants and desires are just not being communicated correctly and therefore, not met. I think it’s probably very hard to be a pre-verbal toddler who has strong opinions but no way to express them. That being said, it is also very hard to be a parent of that toddler. My mother sent me this article on a “quick fix” to a toddler tantrum, which, admittedly is a great headline, but also sounds like a good tactic I’m going to deploy… soon.