I hope everybody is having a fabulous weekend!

Our Saturday was pretty busy. We woke up and went to the last summer Market on the Square downtown (we got there too late, so there wasn’t anything that we wanted/needed) and had brunch at Spot of Tea before heading to the Civic Center for “Babypolooza.” While brunch was tasty, we were disappointed in the baby event; we saw it advertised in Babies ‘R Us the other night, but we otherwise wouldn’t have known about it. They had a few interesting vendors (and I really wish I’d waited in line for a complimentary massage by Massage Envy!) but I was expecting more free baby swag, haha.

We drove over to Fairhope because I saw something about “Christmas in July,” but it was crazy hot and humid outside and there was nothing Christmasy to be found. We did go see “Begin Again” (great movie—and really good music, too!), grab some ice cream at Marble Slab, and do some grocery shopping. We old folks really know how to spend a Saturday night! 😉

Today we’re just hanging around the house doing some cleaning, crafting for Baby M’s nursery, and prepping for the work week. Before I go, I’ve got some recipes and articles that caught my eye. Happy reading.

.Recipes.

Sugar Brookies via Shugary Sweets

Since I’m still craving sweets lately, these look delicious. Now we don’t have to choose between brownies or sugar cookies!

Thai Mango Cabbage Wraps via Cookie + Kate

I love mango and peanut sauce, and I need more Thai food in my life now. These have tofu, but I think they’d be great with chicken for us non-vegetarian folks, too.

Whipped Double Chocolate Chip Chia Pudding via How Sweet It Is

I’ve become a huge fan of chia puddings (blended or whole), and with all that chocolate (+ the addition of Greek yogurt, which I’ve never thought of), this looks incredibly tasty.

Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Herbed Ricotta via Foodie Crush

I love how sandwiches (with good bread) can be the perfect blank slate and meal, and this version looks perfect for summer and its bounty of produce. I’d eat this for a meal again and again.

Vanilla Almond Butter Protein Granola via Running With Spoons

I didn’t realize until last week that making homemade granola is actually pretty easy (just don’t burn it!). This version looks delicious and will probably be my next attempt.

.Health & Wellness.

High Performance Charter Schools May Improve Students’ Health via NPR

Interesting article, but I definitely think the higher performance and improved health are correlative rather than a result of one or the other. Children whose parents care enough to enroll them in advanced schools are likely to have parents who care about their child’s nutrition and well-being in general, whether they’re low-income or not. And while some children rebel no matter how well-intentioned their parents are, I imagine that the children enrolled in these high-performing schools care about their success in all areas of life, not just in the classroom. I also think its likely that these children have such demanding studies that they lack some of the free time that other kids have to act out and try risky behaviors.

What’s Up With That: Why Does Sleeping In Just Make Me More Tired? via Wired

Throughout my pregnancy, I’ve been sleeping later on the weekends—and loving it!—but generally, I’ve noticed this idea to be true. Unless I just really need to catch up on sleep, my body knows it needs 7-8 hours, that generally fall somewhere between 10 PM and maybe 9 AM. I feel groggier if I get too much sleep or sleep odd hours of the day!

Globe-Trotting Virus Hides in People’s Gut Bacteria via NPR

More fascinating stuff regarding the microbiome and bacteria/viruses.

 .Food & Nutrition.

Are These 10 Trendy Health Foods Worth the Hype? via Huffington Post

Some of these I enjoy (chia, flax, wheat germ, etc.), but others are just too expensive for me.

14 Fad Diets You Should Absolutely Never Try via Huffington Post

Wow. Just, wow. The last 2 in particular are absurd.

 .Body Image & Mental Health.

No Makeup Is Cool, But Is It Realistic? via Fitting It All In

I really enjoyed the original article that Clare linked to, her commentary, and the discussion in the comments. Honestly, I wish I was one of those girls who didn’t wear makeup daily, but it really does help me feel “put together.” Maybe it’s because I started wearing makeup at a very young age (in middle school—after a trampoline accident rendered my face quite messed up the night before school pictures!), but I feel much more attractive and confident than when I’m bare-faced. I’m also fair with light eyelashes and eyebrows, so wearing a bit of mascara, eye-liner, and eye-brow powder makes me look much more awake! I do think there’s a double standard out there, though, and while women shouldn’t need to wear makeup to feel successful or be taken seriously, we all judge each other based on our appearances. It’s human nature (and an evolutionary tactic that attractive, symmetric, etc. animals are more likely to find mates, reproduce, and, in humans’ case, advance throughout schooling and careers).

.Fitness.

47 Crazy Fun Plank Variations for a Killer Core via Greatist

I never realized how difficult planks were until enrolling in my barre class at 14 or so weeks pregnant! Granted, they’re probably more difficult for me than they would’ve been previously, but I love the challenge. These are some awesome variations.

8 Things to Do to Speed Up Your Metabolism via FitDay

I’m lucky to have a speedy metabolism naturally, but for those who don’t, some of these are good tips. I think staying hydrated and moving around throughout the day are two of the simplest steps to try.

.Pregnancy & Parenting.

I blamed my wife for our messy house, I was wrong for many reasons via The Washington Post

This article has been floating around my Facebook feed the last few days, but I think it’s a good one. Growing up, my parents did not keep the cleanest house, but I can guarantee they don’t regret their choosing to spend time with me instead of dusting or scrubbing.

Banish the Playdate via Huffington Post

Yes! I think part of the whole “playdate” mentality stems from safety and sprawl (I was lucky to have my childhood best friend 2 houses from mine in our quiet, safe neighborhood, but that isn’t the reality for a lot of families today), but I agree that kids should just be allowed to be spontaneous. Scheduling fancy crafts is ridiculous compared to riding my bike down the street, ringing the doorbell, and asking if my friend could come out and play. Let kids use their imagination and entertain themselves! And no iPads!