Blisters, Bathing Suits, and Being an Optimist
Power Nap #123
Thank you for reading The Power Nap! I’m Kate — a mom of 4 sharing practical solutions to make your home life and kitchen run smoother. This space is where I share my best tips & tricks, write from the heart, and capture anything you might have missed if you don’t follow me on social media.
Last week’s Power Nap was a favorite of mine. I texted the team after people started commenting and said, “Guys!! People have such good ideas and insight into the fast food question!” I really loved reading and responding to your comments. Just want to say thank you for being here and reading and being a part of this space. The world feels super heavy, but things like feeding your hangry kids still have to happen, and I am really grateful for a space to get to workshop those things with you. Speaking of workshopping, I got this question in the comments I want to tackle:
In order to keep the Power Nap to a quick read, I answered this here! Click to read, or if it’s not pertinent to you, keep scrolling for more Power Nap goodness!
The Power Nap is free each week, and sponsors like Lands’ End help make that possible! Thanks for sponsoring this Power Nap, Lands’ End!
I just want to tell you that Lands’ End continues to blow me away. Obviously it is no secret we love their totes (so much we wrote an entire blog post on it). Then last year I got not one…not two…but three of my bathing suits were from Lands’ End. And every time someone complimented me I would shout at them, “It’s Lands’ End!! Can you believe it?!” All this to say: please don’t sleep on their bathing suits. I have this exact yellow bikini top and bottom suit from last year and it’s a top 3 bikini for me. I really like this use of the maroon bottom with a tankini top, as well as this scalloped top and bottom. Nate actually went online all on his own and ordered a men’s suit! (And YES, if you are thinking, “Wow, that’s a long inseam!” You are correct. A marriage battle I have fought and lost for 12 years is for Nate to show a little more thigh. Sigh.)
In Case You Missed It
I’m trying something new for FebrWEARy. Wanna do it with me?
The perfect Valentine’s treat that I make every year.
This is my #fancylunch meal prep for the week. Watch on Instagram, Youtube, or view the recipe.
I write most often from my walking pad. The key is to get a tall standing desk!! No hunching over! I tried many and this one is by far the best. It’s out of stock right now, but is very similar to this one!
Loft’s new Denim line is…awesome?! Kate got to try the new Loft Rivete denim and it. is. great!!! And the price is even better! This barrel jean is wildly similar to my favorite Mother Half Pipe Barrel (it has to do with the way they do the stitching on the side!) I sized down one full size. If you’re looking for something a little less barrel, try these!! (Thanks Loft for being a Power Nap sponsor, and PS — their jeans are currently 30% off!)
The Rivete High Rise Barrel Jeans — runs large! My sweater is super old and shoes are Madewell.
“Tend to the small things. More people are defeated by blisters than by mountains” - Kevin Kelly
Things Nate Found Interesting
If you are new, this segment is where I put articles I find interesting. It doesn’t mean I necessarily agree with everything in every article (sometimes I even disagree!). Also, I do my best to link to free articles, but occasionally articles may require a subscription or require you to create a free account. I try to note when that is the case.
21 Facts about Throwing Good Parties. I don’t have any particularly strong opinions on most of these, but I did like this one: “Let me repeat that: Parties are a public service, you’re doing people a favor by throwing them. Someone might meet their new best friend or future lover at your gathering. In the short term, lovely people may feel less lonely, and that’s thanks to you. In the long term, whole new children may ultimately exist in the world because you bothered to throw a party. Throwing parties is stressful for most people, but a great kindness to the community, so genuinely pat yourself on the back for doing this.” Via The Browser
Yes, there is a parallel parking world championship. Here’s a recap from one contender. Fun fact, Kate is an excellent parallel parker. My theory is that growing up in a place like Charleston, you have to be. Where I grew up in Pennsylvania, I really didn’t have to do it very often. Also via The Browser.
Yet another reason to be an optimist: Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity. I read that Elon Musk said recently, and I agree, that “I think for quality of life it is actually better to be on the side of being an optimist and wrong rather than a pessimist and right.” via Marginal Revolution.
“The average U.S. car commuter is spending a record 63 hours annually stuck in traffic. That’s the most since 1982, when the dataset begins.” Oof. Via Snippet Digest.
I would love to hear your answer to this question that I’ve heard a podcaster constantly ask as his final question to guests: “What is the kindest thing anybody’s ever done for you?” My answer: When I was young, I spent a ton of time at other neighbor’s houses. Now that I am older, I am realizing that this is a real sacrifice because having another kid in your house eating your food, drinking your drinks, stinking up your couch, etc. etc., is not always easy or fun. I’m certain I showed up unannounced, overstayed my welcome, and wasn’t particularly polite. But it was HUGE for me in getting to spend so much time interacting with great families. And I think it shaped the kind of friend, father, and husband I am now in many ways. So if the Oylers, Boozers, Benders, Keaths, and more are reading this…THANK YOU!
Is there anything Miss Mouth’s Can’t Do?
So many of y’all got to meet Hannah on the book tour — she’s been on the NTK team since last December and helped us with the book launch & book tour. She’s based in Charlotte, NC and actually went to school with Jess! (Kate, Jess, and Hannah are all Tarheels!!)
Hey y’all, Hannah here! My daughter’s high chair straps had gotten embarrassingly gross. Like, stand-up-on-their-own-from-crusty-dried-yogurt gross.
After huffing and puffing on all fours in front of the high chair while using an old toothbrush to get the gunk out, I felt a little too much like Cinderella for comfort. I thought to myself, “There HAS to be a better way to do this…”
I saw my travel size Miss Mouth’s Hate Stains spray on the counter (that I typically keep in my diaper bag) and heard angelic choir music from the heavens as a lightbulb went off. I removed all the straps from the high chair and soaked them in a mixture of super hot water, a cap full of vinegar, and several generous sprays of Miss Mouth’s for one hour. The clear water quickly turned an ominously dark grayish color. Yikes.
An hour later, the straps were SO soft and all of the dried food gunk had soaked off on its own. I let them air dry for another hour and we were back in business. No intense scrubbing, and no singing mice sidekicks required. If you have any other hacks for using Miss Mouth’s, I’m all ears!
Kindest thing anyone has done for me is to save a piece of Dairy Queen ice cream cake when I was off nursing one of my babies. When my oldest son was a newborn, I came out at our family Christmas to an empty cake box and really didn't care...but now my husband's uncle puts a piece in the freezer for me every time there is an ice cream cake at a family function since we now have 4 children so there has been a lot of nursing little ones over the years. Such a small, genuine gesture!
Nap time newsletter is one of my (few) instant opens every week. Love this space! And Nate’s contributions always make me think.