The ultimate at-home adventure gym, why lentils are the next cottage cheese, my fave sunny day hats, and more mom things from around the internet
It's alllllmost Friday, mamas!
I hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! Our day included a few tantrums (from both me and my toddler 😂), lots of duck chasing, ice cream eating, and delivering flowers to some of our fave mamas.
Keep reading for my review of an at-home adventure gym we are obsessed with, my new fave on-the-go high-protein lunch, three hat styles you should probably have in your closet (or in your car), plus, this week’s book club pick! Hope you enjoy <3
CLICK IF…
Your kids love hummus, here’s how to sneak in extra protein
You’d appreciate a little history lesson on an incredible children’s book initiative from the 1930s
You need a strategy for getting out of doing the bedtime routine tonight
Your toddler won’t stop doing the stiff board thing when you’re trying to buckle their car seat
Your kiddoes love The Very Hungry Caterpillar / You need a creative birthday cake idea
REVIEW: The Ultimate Adventure Gym
We’ve been testing out the most incredible play gym from Avenlur over the last few weeks. And, to give you an idea of how amazing it is, it’s the sole reason I’ve been able to finish my coffees in one sitting recently. Dare I say, The Alpine Adventure Gym is the ultimate mom hack.
We currently have it set up in our three-season room, which has been the most reliable activity during spring's unpredictable weather. (Now the rain can't keep my girl away from her swing and slide!) But its permanent spot will one day be in our new house’s playroom (hopefully!) soon. (IYKYK that in this housing market, you need to do a lot of manifesting.)
The directions for building the adventure gym are straightforward and clear thanks to many helpful illustrations. All of the pieces are numbered with stickers which is crucial, but if you’re a bit of a Type B mom like me, you may forget to take them all off after building. (See above 🤪)
Putting it all together is a bit of a time commitment — it took me most of an afternoon — but trust me, it’s worth it. (Anyone else love the adrenaline rush of successfully putting together a piece of furniture? It's literally one of my favorite pastimes.)
Here are my key takeaways from our first few weeks with The Alpine:
Avenlur combined everything these active toddlers love in one design: climbing walls, rope ladders, a swing, a slide, and more. (See it in action here!)
The slide (which can be flipped over for a rock climbing experience) can be attached in three different spots on the gym, so you can customize to fit your space best. Plus, the overhead monkey bars (also where the swing hangs from) can be adjusted to three different heights as your child grows.
Up on the little landing area are fun extras like gears, counting toys, a clock, and whiteboard areas — so it's great for burning off energy and sneaking in some learning and creativity. It even has a musical twist with a wooden xylophone attachment!
The premium wooden design is nice and neutral, the only color being some pastel details, which blend in easily with the rest of your space.
And if you’ve got a baby in the mix, there’s a soft cloth baby swing you can add on at checkout so they don’t miss out on the fun.
It is more of a splurge item, but the quality certainly feels like this will last long beyond its 5-year warranty!
MOM MEALS: Lentiful
I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen how obsessed I am with these instant Lentiful lentils. (Step aside cottage cheese, lentils are getting ready for their moment in the spotlight!) The concept reminds me of a grown-up Easy Mac, but way healthier, with tons of protein and fiber. Just add boiling water (my go-to) or microwave with water, and they’re ready in minutes. Perfect as a portable snack or a 200-calorie meal. I’ve even brought a Yeti of hot water on days I only have time to eat in the car — so much better than drive-thru food. My favorite flavor is French Mirepoix, but the Homestyle Chili is great too. I just ordered more from the Lentiful site and can’t wait to try them!
SAVE or SPLURGE: Sunny Day Hats
We moms spend a lot of time outside, whether at playgrounds, school drop off, or soccer games, so I think we can all agree that protecting our skin is essential. I am not the best at remembering to put on SPF before leaving the house (I'm working on it!), but I very, very rarely am found without a hat. I was just texting with a friend last night about my fave hats, so I was inspired to share my top 3 must-have hat styles for spring and summer, at various price points. My go-to is the Vix Paula Hermanny bucket hat (literally for years now), because it is SO easily packed in luggage or a diaper bag.
The Black Cap: LuluLemon, $38 | Chord, $125
The Raffia Bucket: Calia, $28 | Vix Paula Hermanny, $128
The Panama Hat: H&M, $15 | Gap, $50
MOM MAIL BOOK CLUB: First 100 Words
Of course, we love books with illustrations, but the First 100 collection uses real photos and images of common objects that TRULY help your little ones learn their first words. This three-book set includes our faves (First 100 Words, Numbers Colors Shapes, and First 100 Animals), but the Nature Words edition is super fun for this time of year, too. It’s great to pull one of these out at the end of the day to highlight some things you saw throughout the day, encouraging word/image recall. The books are small and easy to hold, making them great car seat reads, too. And as always, these make perfect baby shower gifts!
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Thank you for subscribing to Mom Mail! Until next week <3
Xo, Mads