happy Sunday everyone. We know it happens every year, but wow, May got here fast! Well, it’s almost here 🙂 Em is out getting ready to shoot, which you know she loves, and has a lot of other fun projects going on too. But what we’re most excited about today is sharing the reader swimsuit entries we received! Everyone looks gorgeous and has great tips, so get ready for the tips below. Let’s jump in!
This week’s home tour Is pure joy and beauty. amazingly talented dabito Is in Architectural Digest with his New Orleans home. As expected, it is full of colour, patterns, art, whimsy and much more. What’s even more unreal is that this is a new construction. You have to see the pictures and read the story of how this house was built!
From Emily: Two gifts our kids loved. For Christmas, both of our children got CrunchLabs KitAnd they are very good. If you don’t know, mark robert (an engineer and now a huge YouTube star) created CrunchLabs based on his passion for curiosity within science. Their YouTube is one of the few that we allow our kids to watch what they really want to watch. He is very smart and charming and does not talk to children. CrunchLab Kit is the perfect level of complexity with huge payouts. We don’t need any help at all, and yet the kids really persevere and complete every single task. They’re usually something really interactive that ends up feeling like a toy (this month was a propulsion device). This next gift makes a great gift for kids. For our Easter baskets, Brian (uh, I mean the Easter Bunny) bought Charlie Light-up Tetris gameWhich has proven to be a lot of fun and is still considered cool by tweens (I guess because it lights up and is giving off neon light decorations, maybe?). We bought one from West and Arrow, but Amazon has plenty of options that look like a lot of fun too. I’m always glad when my kids “play” with a toy vs. wanting new technology (which we push back on – the battle is real). This would be a great gift to give to children’s friends on their birthday.
From Mallory: If you’ve ever been to Mendocino Farms, you know how delicious their curry couscous is… Austin and I love prepping lunch each week, but making something that gets better and better while it’s in your fridge is definitely challenging. We were craving pearled couscous (typical, I know..), so I decided to shoot my shot and make kendo version at home. You guys, this was so easy and delicious. There are lots of versions of this recipe (… LA Times Someone adds brown sugar to the spices, so I added a pinch, and it made it incredibly delicious). Sweet, spicy, creamy, acid – it’s all there, and it gets better as the weeks go by. We cooked up some chicken thighs for some protein, and it’s a chef’s kiss. We’re excited to add it to our meal prep routine!
From Arlene: Over the past few weeks, we’ve spent untold amounts of money on things that are undoubtedly not attractive or sexy. Bathroom trash cans, plungers, cabinet door bumpers, etc. But some of the functional things we’re replacing after our move are exciting to me, even if they’re not decorative. Case in point: ours New KitchenAid Dish Rack. As much as I imagine a world where I don’t have a dish-dryer on my counter, there’s no scenario where we’re hand-drying everything as if it were being washed immediately. So, we need a dish rack, and it’s sturdy, just the right size, and has a slanted draining tray on the bottom so the counters don’t get wet. I got mine on a deep sale a few weeks ago, but honestly, I would have paid more for it now that I have it.
OUR 2026 READER SWIMSUIT REC!!
it is tamarind top And cardiff floor With carving design. I’ve had this suit for about 5 years and wear it all the time! As someone with larger busts, I was specifically looking for a top with adjustable cross-back ties, which gives it a more secure feel, even though it’s not a high support top. I like that the bottoms have subtle side bands – they’re soft and don’t dig in or create any bulges where the edge of the suit meets the skin. Simple but special, if you like 🙂
I like swimsuits with more coverage on the bottom, and so I like Hapari’s sets. shorts Come in 5 colors (all separate listings/links) that mix and match with different styles and colors On the top. I like that I can get a little extra coverage on the bottom without having to layer board shorts over bikini-style bottoms, which I did before I was introduced to Hapari. And yes, two pieces make going to the bathroom easier! I have purchased several (at least 6) of these sets and will continue to purchase! At the time of this writing, they are having a big sale where all items are $10, but if you miss it, you can still usually get a good sale price. I’m wearing a medium both top and bottom, true to size.
i have been one J.Crew Lana Swimsuit Ever since I wore it, preacher! Perfect coverage in the back without being too cheeky, and the deep V is sexy without being too revealing. The material is exactly the same as the more expensive Left On Friday suits I’ve tried. They come in long torsos, which is a must for me, and probably the best part of J.Crew suits is always having a discount code!
i’m obsessed with it this kapshi suit From Amazon for $40. I’m wearing this on an active weekend in Big Sur, in and out of the river, playing with the kids, but I still feel sexy and glamorous!
Instead of a photo of me in my suit, I thought I’d recommend an entire brand. I only wear it left on friday Bathing suit. The compression is amazing, they last for years (I add a new piece or three every year), you can wash and dry them, and they stay in perfect condition. And you can mix and match all the pieces! If you see me in a suit, it’s guaranteed it’s from Left Wing on Friday. 🙂
the reason i love this suit The thing is, I have lost 25 pounds since I bought it. And it still fits! I used to wear a size 12, but now I’m a size 8. Summersalt is online only, so they have to be really good at the cut, fit, and stretch of their suits to accommodate a wide range of body shapes and minimize returns… I have a second Summersalt suit in the same color and two matching coverups, and I’m so glad they all still fit. Will definitely be buying more suits from them when I’m in the market again!
bought this suit In May 2019 and wear it to the beach, pool, paddle boarding and kayaking with a rash shirt. It still looks new. I have about an hourglass figure, long torso, C cups. A friend of mine bought this on my recommendation and she is very happy with it. She is more athletic and less busty.
From Caitlin: Here’s one for all my personal finance experts: I couldn’t be happier with myself robinhood gold card – So much so that I have even switched to their banking product. On the card front, I’m going back 3% across the board – no worries about hitting specific categories every quarter – and I’m very happy with the point redemption opportunities. (One point = one percent when I cash out and use my cashback to buy stocks — plus I earn 3.35% when I leave it at my brokerage uninvested!) But get this: The new banking benefits are incredible. I’m earning 3.5% on my checking account (!!!) and 4.25% on my high-yield savings with a ton of extra perks (no ATM fees, free checks, cash delivery, the list goes on!). I know Robinhood has an interesting reputation in more traditional financial circles – it’s seen as a platform for kids to put money into junk stocks – but man, I’ve been using the card for a few years and recently switched off my direct deposits and daily banking, and it just feels good to feel like my uninvested emergency fund is growing, too. Take a look and see if it’s a good fit for you!
From Marli: One of my favorite bags This tote is from Primecutwhich is a local Portland woman-owned business. Maybe I’m a little biased because one of my best friends works there, but their bags really are the cutest. They’re introducing some new products for spring — enter the most adorable bag charms — that I’m super excited for. If you want some handmade, colorful stuff in your life, they are a great business to support 🙂
From Gretchen: M’s recent denim shorts post on Friday reminded me how much I love and wear them. AGOLDE PARKER SHORTS. I’ve been breaking them whenever I get a chance. They have a structured, button fly (my favorite) and wear perfectly with a dress that isn’t too wild. I have the smaller pair and wear them to death, but I’m thinking about getting this one too Parker Long’s After seeing them on M. If they have the same fit as the ones I tried, with a slightly longer leg, then to me, they are worth spending the money!
From Jess: I too have fallen victim to makeup tricks all over the internet, but I have to say I love (mostly) the results of the following. This one. Now, I wasn’t looking for makeup tips to take “better” photos as this creator is doing; I just wanted to feel warm, soft and glowing. I also had a similar version (or similar) of most of the products, which also made me want to try, but honestly, after seeing the results, I thought it was worth starting from the beginning. FYI, I left out the freckles and the lip thing. Instead, for the lips, I bought another my favorite transparent matte lipstick In Amour Fou, which looks very bright on the stick but goes deep and is very beautiful. i had mario’s makeup eyeshadow palettewhich is my absolute favorite, but i bought her liquid bronzer And powder bronzer She recommends. I also picked up this powder blush In Amore instead because I preferred the tone (this is liquid blush I use in hope). oh, and this is my concealer And my regular setting powder (In Cherry Peach) It works great. it is My Favorite $7 Mascara (in dark brown) and My Sweet Victoria Beckman Eyeliner (in terracotta). Now, I like my highlighter but don’t love it, so here is one She recommends. i use this for my eyebrows this pencil (It’s very thin, which I like) and This $10 Brow Gel. I know this is a lot of information, but I always find it helpful when people tell me what they actually use. And if you’re like me, you’ll feel silly how many times you have to watch this reel to get all the tips, but you’ll be happy with the results 🙂
Thanks for spending a bit of your day with us, and see you tomorrow for a very fun update!
Opening Image Credit: Photo by Caitlin Green | From: All the ways we styled our farmhouse fireplace mantel (+ lots of helpful ideas)
