The Friday Five: 4/29

This week was a fun one: my toddler decided that he BOTH wanted to wake up an hour early and fight bedtime for an average of 90 minutes/night. It took A LOT to break through my sleepless-night haze to positively affect me, so you know these are good.

1. The Dropout (Tv show, Hulu). I ate up the original podcast that kicked off the Theranos craze, and was worried that the tv series would get too theatrical or absurd (not needed, this story is wild enough). This show is pitch-perfect, no notes. Give Amanda Seyfried every award.

2. Apples as a snack: I am not reinventing the snack wheel here, but this week I have been all about a snack first introduced to me in my waitressing days (by a fantastic bartender who played mama bear to her college lady-servers, always making sure we ate and were hydrated. Not all angels wear wings- some wear bar aprons.) Sliced apple, sprayed with lime juice, sprinkled with sea salt + chili powder.

3. Banana Republic keeps the hits coming (linked): BR's return to form has been jump-started by it's trend-right bold colors, over-sized silhouettes, and safari staples...but their long-term comeback will be buoyed by what made them a must-shop 10 years ago-: perfect casual basics. This long-sleeve is fitted but forgiving, stretchy but doesn't slouch. So many long sleeves are too loose at the wrist to wear with jewelry without hiking up the sleeve, but this stays fitted all the way through. Great with jeans and accessories now, excellent under a 3/4-sleeve blazer when the temps go down. Get every color, then get the dress version!!

4. KCcustomCo baseball caps (linked): I will never hit an outdoor park without a baseball cap (the wind has been insanity in KC lately). I once went to a weekend outdoor playdate without a hat on, and one of my best friends didn't recognize me (she was joking...halfway). I needed a pop of color in my rotation, and this is so fun. Bonus points that it supports local artisans. Their other custom merch makes me wish I didn't bite on the Stoney Clover x Target collab so hard- but if you missed that, their monogrammed goodies are even brighter and sunnier than SC. A great Etsy shop!

5. Spring = the Target shoe section gets goooooood (linked): It's no secret that Target's shoe section has long been a great spot for designer-inspired footwear at a much better price point. Late spring, however, is where they really hit their stride: tons of designer dupes to wear all summer long, with a price point that still leaves you some money left over for a pedicure. Run, don't walk- their Bottega dupes will sell out fast.