A new series I'm reading, a game we all love, and nontoxic cleaner that doesn't smell like lavender and patchouli
the weekly R.E.P.O.R.T 3.13.26
What is the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T? I wanted to create a fun weekly format to share food, reads, hobbies, items, shows and more that I’m currently loving or making my life easier. I also want to hear from YOU. What are you enjoying? Comment on the post anything you’re loving in a R.E.P.O.R.T category.
I officially finished all eight Emma M. Lion books! Phenomenal. I started and am about half way through the first book in the Imirillion series called The Queen’s Gambit. (No, not the chess show on Netflix.) The series is written by Beth Brower before she wrote Emma M. Lion, and it actually fantasy believe it or not. The book involves a young Queen with the threat of war and her navigating the specifications of that threat. One thing I like about Beth’s writing is that she only slowly reveals characters to you. There’s always something you really want to know about them and she only gives you little nuggets along the way leaving you to want more.
Last year I read Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time and loved it but know I’m not in the season for high fantasy with a lot of world building. (Big fan of the Hobbit and Chronicles of Narnia.) I decided to do one more month with kindle unlimited since I read seven books on the first month of it making the price worth it. This series was on there and thought, why not? They are shorter fantasy and clean. So far it is a little slow but most fantasy books are in the beginning. The Good Reads reviews say it takes off in the second book. As always, I’ll keep you updated!
If you wonder how I read with a newborn and two other kids, I do it on the kindle app on my phone or audiobooks. My phone is always with me and I can read with one hand while feeding a baby. My phone “bricks” at 4pm and I try to use one or two feedings to read as well as at night after the kids go to bed for just a chapter or two to settle my mind. I genuinely try to replace social media with reading as much as I can. You’d be surprised how much you can read!
Check out Good Reads review here.
Eating has been so boring lately ha! I have been eating my Chinese Chicken salad on repeat. I promise to share as soon as I type up the recipe.
BUT…
I wanted to share Callie Sall’s Gluten Free Party Mix. We served this over the weekend and it’s always a hit at parties. At least one person asks me for the recipe every time I serve it. It’s super easy and no one knows that it’s gluten free.
We’ve actually been playing a lot of games lately. My kids LOVE games but we don’t have a ton of space to store them. I’m a huge fan of the vintage bookshelf games for saving space on classic games. I’m bummed they don’t have them at Target right now because I got two of them for under $12 each at Christmas time. Right now some of our favorite games are:
Shark Bite (great for little kids. we are loving this game right now!)
Trouble (teaches winning and losing and counting to 6)
Clue (7-8 and up)
Chess (I actually don’t know how to play but my husband and child can!)
Another GREAT game that we love is the American Girl’s Trivia Game. We found one on eBay for about $20. It’s so nostalgic to play if you read the books as a kid. My child can now beat me because I’m a little rusty on the details of some of the books.
I have been using KoalaEco products in my home for a little bit now and I’m truly obsessed. I cannot get over how good they smell. It’s so fresh and NOT smelling like lavender and patchouli. (Why do all nontoxic brands lean into those two smells?!?) My favorite smell is the mandarin peppermint but I want to try some more. I’ve really enjoyed the laundry detergent and hand soap a lot. Everything smells really fresh without an overpowering smell and it really cleans well. I particularly love it for towels and bedding.
You can get the spring starter set 15% off right now here. (Which the set is already saving 20%!)
I’ve finally found a decent less expensive “non toxic” shampoo and conditioner. I recently ran out and ordered this brand on Amazon for $25 for both shampoo and conditioner. I’ve been using “nontoxic” shampoo for over a decade and have tried a LOT. So far this one seems great! Check the brand out here because there are several options depending on your hair type.
I guess you could say I “treated” myself to a Kindle Unlimited membership. I don’t think I’ll keep it long term based on what books are available but I’m trying to read a new series this month so it’s worth it. So far I’m on pace.
I found that reading really helps lower any weird postpartum anxiety that pops up. I’ve really enjoyed actually slowing down enough to read and not just do audiobooks so that I’m still “productive” while reading. It’s been a “treat” for my nervous system.
Let me know any of your recommendations below! I would love to hear them.
