THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

HANDLETTERING VIA NICOLE WAGECK

THINKING ABOUT: Can anyone tell me why J.Crew had to go and mess with their classic chino shorts? The color selection is far better than last summer, but the mixed reviews from dissatisfied customers regarding the thinness in material is unfortunate. Have you tried them? What did you think? Are they really THAT bad? We're getting to the point where shorts will be unavoidable soon (hello, triple-digit highs!), so I will more than likely have to give them a shot because I have NO idea where else to purchase my go-to style of shorts. I prefer a 5" inseam sans cuff (because who wants to draw MORE attention to the thigh region anyway?!).

THANKFUL FOR: Twenty-four hours prior to leaving Swell Rio, I was eager to download a few movies, TV shows, and apps to keep Maxwell entertained on our flight. Unsure as to what might catch his attention these days, I found myself Googling "toddler garbage shows" and that's when I had my first encounter with Blippi—a bow-tie and suspender-wearing man that bounces around the screen with oodles of energy and goofy mannerisms while discussing everything from outer space to what goes on at your local recycling center. Y'all, I'm not going to even try to be humble when I tell you that it was a total mom win. I struck GOLD with this goober of a guy and even though I've had to listen to his obnoxious jingles on repeat, I can't be mad about it. Now, to better understand what it is I'm talking about, I encourage you to take a look at Blippi's site and you'll get a good idea of the new level of crazy we've reached in the Fine household. Yeah, it's pretty bad, but good in a toddler secret weapon kind of way. Max is entranced by Blippi's voodoo.

WATCHING: Bravo fans!! Are you watching Sweet Home Oklahoma and loving it as much as I am?! Pumps (OMG, PUMPS!) is like a gift from God—or maybe just Andy Cohen. If you're not watching it, I can assure you that you're missing out. Real Housewives of Orange County devotees, like yours truly, probably remember when Vicki G. shared her brutally honest opinion about the Sooner State?? Ha! Something tells me the OG of the OC just didn't hang with the right people when she visited, because this trio can definitely whoop it up Bible Belt style—even if that requires a rubber glove before lighting up and an embarrassing collection of sippy cups.

EATING: I'm toying around with the idea of participating in another round of Whole 30 next month. After Flyboy and I tried it last year, I managed to keep my sweet tooth in check (for the most part), but it appears I lack all self-control these days and I could really use a reset. My brain says gimme ALLLLL the sugar!!! Unfortunately, Flyboy has opted out of joining me, which is kind of a bummer because it definitely makes meal planning and prep a lot easier in addition to being most cost effective. I completely understand where he's coming from, but it's made it hard for me to fully commit. Has anyone tried similar programs that they've found beneficial? I just need something that helps me crave the good stuff more than I find myself craving the really bad stuff.

LISTENING TO: Trust me when I tell you that I'm not trying to win a contest when I describe how bad Max's tantrums have become, but I've yet to witness a performance from other toddlers that are quite this explosive. If you know of a child that might rival mine, I'd love to meet the tot and proudly pass the baton to his/ her mother. You guys, our trip back to Texas was so baaaaaaaaaad. We had ONE stop with an hour layover and it resulted in one woman coming to check on us in the bathroom (because Max's screaming was so loud) and another who stopped me later to ask if she could get me a water (because I was trying to straddle my son and strap him into the stroller for what felt like five minutes). Of course this was the busiest terminal I've ever been in with Max and it didn't matter where I looked because 95% of the people around us were staring. It took everything inside me to muster a fake smile and fight back the tears with an "I've totally go this!" approach as my kid refused to hold my hand and then proceeded to work his way out of the stroller harness. When Max's behavior finally de-escalated and it was time to board the plane, I could feel my entire body shaking for what felt like 30 minutes. We've had some pretty awful meltdowns in our past, but this took it to a whole new level. Looking back, I'm still not sure what triggered the behavior (it could have been a handful of things), but this acting-out has continued since we returned home and I'm at a loss once again. I'm afraid that Max's size and strength paired with a newfound lung capacity that would put his colic days to shame could be enough for him to be a physical threat to himself and those around him. You know it's bad when the neighbor kid (five years old) asks Flyboy why he hears Max screaming so much and why our kid is so loud. Gulp!

READING: Over the past week, I received a handful of messages from friends who wanted to ensure I saw the video of Ludacris rapping Llama Llama Red Pajama. Have you seen it yet?! You guys, it's EPIC! I was mostly touched that so many people thought of me when they heard about it (how sweet are m' peeps?!), but my face literally begins to ache whenever I watch it because it's double-barrel grin-inducing. Would it be too much to ask to get a refresh on Goodnight Moon or Little Blue Truck?!

LOVING: I recently incorporated Laura Mercier's Radiance Foundation Primer into my makeup routine, and it's the best decision I've made in awhile. After moisturizing, I apply a little of this and I'm in awe of its brightening effect. My CC cream not only goes on smoother and lasts longer, but it also gives a subtle glow that makes my complexion appear fresh and revived instead of tired and dull. I started out with a trial size to see if I liked it, but ended up purchasing the larger tube so I don't have to go without it.

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!