My first “Friday Favorites!” Every Friday, I will share some of the things I’ve been loving lately! Here are some of my favorites from this week:
1. Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman
I’m currently reading book 4 of the series. I read the first book Unwind some time ago and found the story captivating. It’s a futuristic dystopian series geared towards adolescents and young adults (aka my favorite kind of books haha).
When I needed something to read a few months ago, I decided to check out the rest of the series from my local library.
The story follows three teenagers who are set to be “unwound”, meaning all of their body parts will be harvested and transplanted into other people. This was society’s “solution” to the civil war between Pro-life and Pro-choice.
Human life could not be terminated from conception until age 13. From ages 13 to 18, their parents or guardians had the right to “unwind” them for any reason. Since the unwinding process kept every part of the body, life didn’t technically end. Morbid, right?!
The characters’ lives intersect and the reader follows along as they fight to survive. If you enjoy YA dystopian novels, then give this book a try!
2. Exercise Ball
I’ve been using my exercise ball regularly to prepare myself for labor. The 3rd trimester of pregnancy has been rough on my body, but this exercise ball helps me stretch out my sore muscles, relieves some of the pressure and discomfort I am feeling at 38 weeks pregnant, and it will hopefully help the baby get into the optimal position for birth! It is also just fun to bounce on! I use this one!
3. Baby Jogger City Select Stroller
I found this stroller on Facebook Marketplace a few months ago, and I love it! The large, air-filled wheels make going over bumpy sidewalks or gravel a breeze! My other stroller would get stuck on or be super difficult to maneuver over rough terrain and uneven sidewalks. One downside is that it is a little heavy for me. I struggle getting it in and out of my trunk, but maybe that just means I need to work on my arm strength haha!
I needed a double stroller for when the baby arrives. I found one that had the extra seat attachment so it can be used as either a single stroller or double stroller. I also bought the car seat attachment pieces to add to the stroller for when the baby is too small for the regular seat.
This stroller makes walks so much more enjoyable! It’s easy to push, has plenty of storage space, and has several configurations that will allow me to use it for several years!
4. Bissell Multiclean Vacuum
My old Bissell vacuum was starting to fall apart, so I found this vacuum to replace it. With three messy boys who like to leave crumbs everywhere, I feel like I am constantly vacuuming my house!
I have two vacuums. One light-weight battery-powered vacuum by Shark that does a great job of picking up the daily crumbs and dirt on hardwood and low-pile rugs, and the corded Bissell for deeper cleaning and carpets.
This Bissell is so easy to maneuver compared to my old one. It has plenty of power to get my carpeted rooms clean without leaving any crumbs or dirt behind. I also like that the hose is easy to remove and use as a wand to reach high places or under the couch. I’ve used it a few times to suck up gross spiders…
Another benefit is the tangle-free brush! While we don’t have any pets right now, it is amazing how much of my hair used to get caught in the brush of our old vacuum. I haven’t noticed anything getting stuck on the brush with this one! It is a great vacuum at a great price!
5. Coiled Rope Baskets
I have several of these coiled rope baskets from Target throughout our house. I use them to organize my son’s toys on his toy shelf in our family room. I have one in my bathroom to hold some of my postpartum items, and one downstairs to hold some diapers and wipes for the new baby. I just bought several more for the nursery closet shelves, too. Suffice to say, I love these baskets! They are so versatile, come in several sizes, and look great in any room!
The ones I’ve used for my son have held up really well, so I don’t need to worry about the baskets getting broken or torn apart like all the cardboard boxes and plastic bins that have been destroyed in my house over the years by rambunctious boys…Anyway…I think I’ll buy a few more!
