Crowdsourcing California Adventure (& Friday Links)

We’re taking off and driving south this weekend to take the kids to Disneyland! I’m probably as excited as they are. It was our birthday present to Skyler, who—though her reaction was pretty blazé—has started to look forward to it more since seeing Hudson’s excitement build. This morning she asked me if today we were going to Thailand, so the whole concept is clearly a little unclear.

We’ve taken them to Disneyland before—Hudson when he was still a toddler, and Skyler before she turned three—but we’re staying at the resort for a couple of days and so it will be the first time we’ve taken them to California Adventure. In fact, I’ve only been to that park once, when it first opened. They hadn’t even built Cars Land yet. So I’d love to hear all of your tips for spending a day there. I’ll be sure to report back…

Some links of note…

How to keep your white canvas kicks clean (aw, reminds me of my Keds-wearing days).

Black artist- and entrepreneur-owned Etsy shops to support, and 13 black-owned small businesses.

This resonates WAY too much.

Practice listening to be better at conversation.

Scandinavian road trip, anyone? (P.S. Our drive on the West Coast of Sweden)

Will you be watching the Olympics? What to eat while imagining your triple salchow.

Also, Molly Yeh’s Olympic-themed cake (if you dare). The video is amazing.

What screen-time experts do with their own kids.

“What I learned from trying (and failing) to quit Instagram.”

The take-home: “Be kind. Read more books. Spend time with your family. Crack jokes. Go to the beach. Hug your dog. Tell that special person you love them.” (No, you’re crying.)

Last-minute and DIY valentine gifts.

For my good friend, Emarie, who loves to swear.

The siren song of balloon sleeves. I think this top might belong in my closet.

Also, last-minute valentines for kids. And a winter-citrus-themed galentine’s dinner.

Zadie Smith: “Racial homogeneity is no guarantor of peace, any more than racial heterogeneity is fated to fail.”

Expanding on that post about odd beauty treatments… a vagina facial.

Our next read for book club. Anyone read it?

Have a great weekend!

P.S. More Disney tips: Skyler’s first trip to Disneyland and a family visit to Disneyworld. Also, staying at the Aulani and making homemade Dole Whips.