Friday Favorites:: Edition 14

Houston Moms "Friday Favorites:: A Weekly Glance at Our Favorite Things" #houstonmoms #houstonmomsblog #momsaroundhouston

Hello, hello. In honor of making it to Friday this week, I’d like to celebrate by sharing “a few of my favorite things” with you. Full disclosure:: I’m an unabashed Anglophile {it might be evident} even though I didn’t declare my love for The Crown nor the Duchess of Cambridge this go round. 

Wind Down Sip

No, not wine down. To truly relax and unwind before bed {or before school pickup}, I love a piping hot cuppa. This Dream by the Fire tea by The Republic of Tea is perfect for fall and winter. The cinnamon and vanilla flavored red rooibos is like curling up with your favorite blanket. The fact that it is decaffeinated means that it is not detrimental to my sleep. I always use a kettle to heat my water to make sure it is steaming hot.

In My Ears

America’s therapist—and Texas’ own—Brené Brown, is often the voice I hear coming through my AirPods. I appreciate her lessons, her honesty, her fangirl moments, and mostly, her laughter! She is a deep thinker who is equally relatable and compassionate. When I want to decompress and learn at the same time, I pop in my AirPods, press play on the newest episode of her “Unlocking Us with Brené Brown” podcast via Spotify, and head out on a 5K walk. 

When I Need to Laugh

Without fail, The Graham Norton Show always delivers. I was introduced to the BBC talk show while living in Australia, and I just adore British humor {or humour, if you will}. Without successfully finding it on US television, I have settled for following it on social media. When I say that it is the best thing on Facebook, I’m not lying. Graham is a master interviewer, and I love that all of the guests are out and interacting with one another; it leads to the best moments. He generally mixes Hollywood stars in with local favorites like Hugh Grant and Olivia Colman, and the result is comedic genius. Go watch a few clips and let me know when you stop smiling.

A Sweet Treat

To go along with my tea in the evening, I usually indulge in a little something sweet. For ten months out of the year, it is some sort of dark chocolate. But as soon as the Christmas treats hit the stores, my nightly indulgence is Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark. Nothing else will do. I love it so much that I used to order bags of it online and send them to myself via a mail forwarding company when we lived abroad. 

A Local Gem

My favorite local spot just happens to indulge my love for plants, and it does so beautifully. I live west of Houston, out in Richmond, where we are fortunate to have Enchanted Gardens nursery. My kids love to visit the resident goats, Dave and Herschel, and chickens while I browse. If you are in need of houseplants, succulents, herbs, trees, pumpkins, Christmas trees, or just your run-of-the-mill flowers and shrubs, you will not be disappointed in their selections. And if you are looking for a gift, their gift shop, pre-made fairy gardens, and beautiful succulent combination pots will have you covered. I realize this sort of sounds like an ad, but I am just a really satisfied customer. When my vegetable garden had pest problems, I simply showed a picture to one of the staff members, and they told me exactly what I needed and how to resolve the issues. You don’t find that sort of help in most big box stores. Sometimes I go simply just to wander around and gather inspiration.


Houston Moms "In Case You Missed it"

 

Dear Baby, It’s 3 AM:: This isn’t the first time I’ve rocked you to sleep tonight, baby, and I doubt it will be the last. It’s only three A.M. you see and you’ll wake up again.

When #5 Turns 5:: 5 Motherhood Lessons I’ve Learned:: Contributor Alissa reflects on her youngest child turning five, and she shares the top 5 motherhood lessons she’s learned over the years.

Fetching Cokes and Ice Cream:: Life Cycles and Granny Chronicles:: Contributor Joi’s Granny is now 95, and in this beautiful tribute, she shares how a lot has changed since she first wrote about her.

Progress Report :: Does this New Homeschool Mom Make the Grade?– Britney takes a hard look at her first semester of homeschooling and grades herself. Check out how she fared {and maybe offer her some grace} by clicking the link above.


To find more Friday Favorites, check out these other posts


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Houston Moms "Friday Favorites:: A Weekly Glance at Our Favorite Things" #houstonmoms #houstonmomsblog #momsaroundhouston

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Christy G
Christy grew up in Cajun Country. After graduating from LSU, she worked as an editor for a Louisiana chef. After Hurricane Katrina devastated her home state, she assisted in the recovery efforts, which ultimately moved her to Houston. Christy and Ryan were married in St. Lucia in 2006. Five years later, after welcoming their first child, Lilla {March 2011}, she became a high school English and Photojournalism teacher. After Flynn {March 2013} joined their family, Christy became a stay-at-home mom. Soon after, the family jumped at the chance to move to Perth, Western Australia. After almost four years, they relocated to Santiago, Chile. Both places {and their wines} hold a special place in her heart. Christy enjoys cheering on her beloved LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints, texting friends in complete sentences, taking heaps of photos, planning vacations, advocating for our planet, and cooking delicious meals in her kitchen.

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