1) Tuft and Needle
Dan worked for Select Comfort when we got married, and we got a great deal on a mattress out of it. Well, after over a decade of sleeping on it, it was no longer our favorite mattress. So a couple of years ago, we researched some of the new "mail order mattress" companies (you've probably heard of lots of them--Leesa, Purple, Casper, Lull, etc) and decided to give Tuft and Needle a try. And we LOVE it. The mattress is amazing and their customer service is outstanding. Well, they have expanded their line of accessories, and just recently we got their sheets and I got a pillow. We were VERY excited to find sheets that fit (since most mattresses are super thick these days, most sheets are made to accommodate them and they didn't fit the T&N mattress very well). And I've been very pleased with my pillow--it's soft but supportive. So if you're in the market for a new mattress or pillow, give them a try! Everything has a 100-night trial period to make sure you love it. :)
2) The Nester
I don't think I've ever included a person in my top 5 lists, but I guess there's a first time for everything. Myquillyn Smith, otherwise known as "The Nester" is my favorite person these days when it comes to my house. Her first book, The Nesting Place, is a great introduction to decor and style, and her second book, The Cozy Minimalist Home, is coming out next Tuesday and I'm super excited about it. Her goal in this book is to show that "cozy" doesn't need to mean "cluttered," and "minimal" doesn't need to mean "cold." Follow her on Instagram (@thenester) and preorder her book here!
3) Podcasts
I started listening to The Bible Binge when it began last year, and it is the perfect mix of educational, inspirational, and hilarious. It's hosted by Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden of The Popcast (see below) and they do a really good job of balancing making me laugh and making me think. :)
The Popcast is Knox and Jamie's first podcast, but I had never listened to it until I started listening to The Bible Binge. It's a hilarious weekly pop culture review, and I promise you will not get through an episode without cry-laughing. (It's a fun one to listen to while I walk--I think people driving by must think I'm crazy).
Emily P Freeman is one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram, and her podcast The Next Right Things is one of my favorites to listen to. Her voice is so calming, and episodes aren't long or overwhelming. She's a gem.
The Simple Show with Tsh Oxenreider is a new one for me (although Tsh isn't new to me), but I'm really enjoying it. I listened the other day while I was decluttering my boys' room because I knew she had done a three-episode series with The Lazy Genius (another podcast fave, but I've already told you that...) and I really enjoyed it.
4) Books!
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman is so quirky and delightful! You'll love this character, her orderly little world, and a glimpse into her socially awkward mind. :)
I ADORED Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, so I was very excited for The Great Alone to come out, and it did not disappoint. Set in Alaska in the late 70s and beyond, it's an amazing tale of frontier survival.
I talked about Annie F Downs' Remember God briefly on Facebook after I read it (actually listened to it) because it was so well-timed with Will's birthday (which is always a complicated time for me as we are also approaching our season of grief). It chronicles a trying year in Downs' life where she recounts God's faithfulness through trials. She's a beautiful writer (and also really fun to listen to!).
I read The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher Heuertz in preparation for an Enneagram workshop that he did at our church. In hindsight, being pretty new to the Enneagram, I probably should have started with something a little more straightforward and basic, but this was a really great book. And I'm glad I read it before the workshop--it made everything he talked about make a little more sense. :)
Ruth Reichl's Garlic and Sapphires was a "green light" from The Popcast's Jamie Golden. Ruth was the food critic for the New York Times and then the editor in chief at Gourmet magazine. The book recounts Ruth's time as food critic and her many disguises and reviews. It was so enjoyable to read, and it made me want to go eat in fancy restaurants. ;) It also includes some recipes, which was really fun.
5) Pumpkin bread!
I discovered this recipe from Smitten Kitchen last year and it's one of our favorites. I love it because it uses a whole can of pumpkin, so you don't have to figure out what to do with what's left after you measure out one cup. :) (Also, I make this gluten-free by substituting the wheat flour cup for cup with gluten-free and adding xanthan gum). You can find the recipe here. Enjoy!
Here's to fall, whether it feels like it or not, and the cozy hygge days that are just around the corner. :)
