Power Nap #111
traveling with toddlers? WE GOT YOU!! / so many movie reviews!! / embracing my Monica
Embracing my Monica
Hey friends! Do you watch FRIENDS? It is my go-to to have on in the background while I cook or get ready for bed. Something I have been thinking (and laughing) about is how I am a Monica. On the show, she is the Type A - systems-oriented - ultra-competitive - neat freak. Were personal spreadsheets the norm in the 90s, I believe Monica would have had one. We had a planning call today for 2026 with the NTK team and one thing I hope to embrace more in the coming year is my Monica-ness. You see, I want to appear more Type B because I think it will make you like me more…make me more “approachable,” but at the end of the day your girl is all about sanity in systems. But you know what? Those systems are doable and approachable, and I hope they help you. Speaking of spreadsheets and systems…
Here’s how I have been tracking Christmas gifts for ELEVEN YEARS! Including how to keep track of where you hide them! I wrote a step-by-step post showing you exactly how to make your own, including a template link you can directly edit! Click the button below to get the template and step by step guide to make it your own.
In Case You Missed It
Here’s what I do with dish sponges to make them last longer.
You’re going to want this recipe for Tate’s Fall Cake. This summer I created the Tate’s Dulce de Leche Icebox Cake and when I saw their Pumpkin Spice Cookies I knew I had to create this version.
Episode 3 of Was It Worth It!? This week I tried the rotary cheese grater and caused quite the controversy with the cheese shredding community.
“Being enthusiastic is worth 25 IQ points.”
- Kevin Kelly
The Perfect Gifts for the Home Chef!
This Power Nap is brought to you by Material Kitchen!
If you have been around here any length of time, you have heard me talk about Material Kitchen. Their kitchen scissors and their peeler were both in 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!!
Material Kitchen also 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!
By the way, they are having a BIG SALE right now!! Up to 35% off!!
Thank you for sponsoring The Power Nap, Material Kitchen!
Nate’s Movie Reviews
First, newer movies:
Bad Guys 2 (2025) -- Saw in theaters with the kids. Meh. I swear the Wolf’s voice sounds just like George Clooney to me. And the character reminds me of Danny Ocean.
KPop Demon Hunters (2025) -- It was definitely different than watching your typical Disney, Universal, or Pixar movie (quirkier in different ways, felt “foreign” with some of the humor and animation). I was surprised at what I took as the strong implicit Christian undertones: Idols kill joy; shame and guilt slowly destroy while confession brings freedom.
A House of Dynamite (2025) -- A lone, unattributed nuclear missile is launched toward the United States, forcing government and military leaders to scramble. Some will be disappointed by the ending, but I liked it. Side note, Volker Bertelmann did the score, and I thought it was excellent. He also did Conclave and both share the style (which I like): short, sharp, and dark. Super suspense building. Get a taste of the style here.
Weapons (2025) -- My Halloween horror watch. I was pretty glued in. From GPT: seventeen children from the same classroom inexplicably walk out of their homes at exactly 2:17 a.m. and vanish. What happened? And where are the kids? I don’t really watch scary movies, and I had to look away a few times due to gore.
Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) -- Of course I wanted to like this but it was just bad.
Older movies:
Big Fish (2003) -- Rewatch with the kids. I have always loved this movie. From GPT: At its heart, it’s a reminder that even the tallest tales can hold the deepest truths about love, legacy, and understanding our parents.
The Sentinel (2006) -- Michael Douglas as a Secret Service agent who is having an affair with the First Lady and being framed in a plot to assassinate the President. Kieffer Sutherland and Eva Longoria try and track him down and find the truth. it’s a decent popcorn watch if you enjoy D.C. intrigue and shootouts.
Fair Game (2010) -- Drama based on a true story about CIA agent Valerie Plame, exposing a government cover-up tied to the Iraq War. Naomi Watts and Sean Penn star. It was ok.
After the Sunset (2004) -- Watch with Kate. Pierce Brosnan is after one last big diamond heist and FBI Agent Woody Harrelson is out to stop him. But I think the actual goal of the director may have been to see how many different times they could work Salma Hayek into a shot wearing a bikini. If that was in fact the goal the film was a resounding success.
Parasite (2019) -- Rewatch with Kate since it was ranked the best movie of the century by NYT. It is good. It blends dark comedy and thriller pacing with unnerving precision. Its shifts from satire to suspense to outright horror keep you off balance. Korean subtitles.
Nate’s Neighborhood Naturalist Update
Like much of the Midwest and East Coast, Charleston had its first cold snap of the season. Freezes can be rough on the Charleston plants, so I thought I’d share some photos of some flowers I’ve seen along the greenway in the past month or so. (The greenway is about a 10 mile paved path that we use to get around our side of town. It’s bordered by marsh, ditch, brush, woods, etc., so there is a lot of wildlife.) The purple plant is pickerelweed, an aquatic plant that pops up in the ditches. In the middle, the small lavender-blue daisy-like flowers with yellow centers are wild asters. And those broad, heart-shaped leaves belong to elephant ear, also known as taro. It’s a tropical wetland plant that thrives in low, damp spots like ditches or the edges of streams.
Stressed about Traveling with Toddlers/Young Kids?
“I know a lot of us have travel plans on the horizon for the holidays, so I wanted to share what helps keep my kids occupied in the car or on the plane. For reference, I have a 7 year old, 5 year old and an 18 month old. First, Kate’s beloved mesh bags are the MVP for holding activities and snacks so definitely a must have for organization. For the big kids (ages 5 and 7), they each get these clickable markers (no lost marker caps!), they share these jelly blocks, these mini magnetic tiles, this travel felt board, and a Where’s Waldo Book (throwback!). They also get a sticker by letter book, for our 5 year old we do this kind and for our 7 year old, this. For our 18 month old we rely heavily on Ms. Rachel (do what you gotta do people) and for toys we have this fidget toy, these pop tubes, and these spinner toys for the tray table or plane window. Also, we definitely use screens when we travel, we really like the amazon fire because it’s inexpensive and durable. I will say it’s not as intuitive as an ipad but it works good enough for us and you just can’t beat the price!”
I’ve used an app called “Santa’s Bag” since 2016 for tracking Christmas gift giving. It’s similar to your spreadsheet but has some awesome features like carrying over gift ideas from previous years, budgeting, marking gifts with tags like “stocking stuffer” or “from mom and dad” or “from Santa”. You can track if it’s just an idea, if it’s been ordered, shipped, received, wrapped and given. So many features for the free app! I just wanted to share this as an alternative to your spreadsheet (but similar idea). Thanks for always sharing your wisdom Kate & team!
OMG House of Dynamite! Best 15 first minutes in cinema lately BUT thats all...hated the rest 🥴🫠