Power Nap #106
I can get behind the #1 candy!! / the therapy of old movies / inTENtional trip freebie!!
On rewatching old movies…
A few years back, I found myself re-watching Meg Ryan movies and I remember writing something to the effect of “I can’t explain why, but all I want to do is re-watch old Meg Ryan movies.” A reader sent me an email explaining that re-watching something familiar could actually be really good for my brain — almost like my nervous system was craving something familiar and I didn’t know it. Looking back, that particular season held a ton of unknowns. My mind was looking for a break, for something comforting it could count on. This past month, I have found myself craving anything familiar. I abandoned the new show I was watching for Friends reruns. This morning I put on Pride and Prejudice and simply let it play on the TV while I did stuff around the house and the way my heart rate slowed the moment that opening song started playing. This is not a life-saving suggestion nor am I trying to say that an old movie will solve all of your problems. But if you are like me and your brain feels heavy and there’s a pile of laundry that needs folding (not to mention a pile of work emails to tend to) and soccer practices to juggle and you still don’t know what’s for dinner and the world feels like it’s burning down, take this small suggestion for what it’s worth: put down your phone, and put on your favorite old movie. Let it play as you fold the laundry and reply to the emails and prep the food and figure out the rides for soccer. This is nothing huge, but sometimes the most helpful things are small. What would your movie be??
(Jess here — I watched Sweet Home Alabama last night to regulate my nervous system and it was just what the doctor ordered. Personal all time favorite movie. Josh Lucas does no wrong.)
In Case You Missed It
It’s pumpkin cream cold foam season! I re-shared my favorite at home recipe with only 4 ingredients. Recipe here.
Hear me out: all the flavor of an oatmeal raisin cookie…in a protein packed smoothie. Recipe here.
I co-hosted The Carpool Podcast with Kelly this week. I joked with her that I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life!
Speaking of podcasts - all of the podcasts I have gone on this year to talk about the book are found here!
This Power Nap is sponsored by Material Kitchen!
If you have been around here any length of time, you have heard me talk about Material Kitchen. Their kitchen scissors were one of my top 5 kitchen items of 2024, and there’s a very good chance their chef’s knife will be in my top 5 for 2026. When I get a new product to try, I set it out next to the item I already have and allow time to show me which I like better. I cannot believe I am saying this, but for the last year I have reached for the MK Chef’s Knife over my other two chef’s knives every single time. Also, the green color is just. so. pretty!!
EXCITING NEWS!! Material Kitchen just came out with the MK Free Board: This new cutting board is 100% plant-based, totally free of permanent micro-plastics, and dishwasher safe. Paired with my favorite knives, it’s basically a fall refresh for the kitchen all in one. And, yet again, the blue color is just. so. pretty!
Thank you for sponsoring The Power Nap, Material Kitchen!
Things Nate Found Interesting
If you are new, this segment is where we put articles we found interesting. It doesn't mean we necessarily agree with everything in every article (sometimes we even disagree!). Also, we do our best to link to free articles, but occasionally articles may require a subscription or require you to create a free account.
Eleven-year-old Oklahoma boy can perfectly imitate fifty different birds. (the CBS Evening News video in the link is worth watching) via Marginal Revolution
This candy has overtaken Skittles as the top candy on the market. WHAT A BRAND RENAISSANCE! via Sat Post (I won’t make you click on the link; it’s Nerds!)
Interesting: Eleven million US households now raise chickens, up 2x since 2018. via the Friday Update. Honestly, I’m surprised it’s only up 2x. Seems like I know 100 more people that keep chickens now than did 15 years ago.
Meet the members of “the Dull Man’s Club.” “Several million members in a number of connected Facebook groups strive to cause dullness in others on a daily basis. In this club, they wear their dullness with pride. The duller the better. This is where the nerds of the world unite. Posts that contain bitmoji-avatar-things are far too exciting, and will probably get deleted.” “Alan Goodwin in the UK recently worried that seeing a lesser spotted woodpecker in his garden might be ‘a bit too exciting’ for the group.” Where do I sign up?
Spend five minutes with the hermit thrush. Tell me you aren’t more relaxed. via The Browser
Calling Aaron Sorkin fans!! They are making a The Social Network II. Yes, Sorkin will write and direct. Big, if true.
Speaking of old movies, Robert Redford passed this week. He was 89. One of the greats and one of my favorites. I recommend everyone watch Spy Game, The Sting, The Natural, or A River Runs Through It (Redford directed and narrated) in his honor. “Technology gets better every day. That's fine. But most of the time all you need is a stick of gum, a pocket knife, or a smile.”
via Boston Country Mom:
inTENtional Trip
Before our ten-year-old birthday trip with John Robert (if you are new, we made the decision to take each child on a trip when they turn ten) a Power Nap reader (Raeanne) reached out with a resource she had made to help make her own ten-year-old’s trip more special. She sent it to me and I was blown away! It gave us the idea to have ten important people in JR’s life write him a letter (this was awesome! we had teachers and coaches as well grandparents and uncles and friends). This guide is written from a Christian perspective, but there are plenty of nuggets and questions you could ask regardless of your faith. I shared with you all about this and many of you wanted it as well, and Raeanne was kind enough to make it into a freebie!!
In Raeanne’s words: The InTENtional Trip Packet is a free discipleship tool created to help parents and caregivers connect with their adolescents in meaningful, Christ-centered ways. Whether you’re planning a weekend away or just carving out one-on-one time at home, this guide equips you to have 10 impactful conversations that nurture faith, character, and connection.
To get this incredible resource, all you have to do it go to this website, scroll toward the bottom of the page, enter your email and information and the free guide will be sent directly to your inbox.
HEY! If you see this the first link the the intentional trip (the one ABOVE the photo) works great. not sure what happened to the other two. they are all fixed now! sorry about that.
Father of the Bride! I’ve successfully passed along my love for it to my daughters and found my old dvd and now they love to watch it on roadtrips and I get to happily listen along 😊