Happy new week. I don’t have a weekend update so I was creatively thinking about what to post instead. I don’t know about you guys but I always appreciate suggestions from others when it comes to everything from playlists to books to podcasts to articles and more…so I thought I’d do a round up of things I’ve been listening to and reading this summer.

listening to: music on heavy rotation

I am almost always listening to low-key/chill music when I’m working on the computer and one of the first things I tell Alexa to do when I walk in the house is, “play X on Spotify.” I put together a playlist for y’all with some of my favorite songs for background/relax music. I also love this playlist on shuffle for a home yoga practice or for a long meditative walk.

If you missed my recent workout playlists, be sure to check them out. They are super fun and motivational! Here’s a link to JUNE and JULY.

reading: best summer reads so far

Summer reading has certainly not been super deep or meaningful but these easy, breezy reads have been enjoyable for bedtime, breastfeeding and beaching.

• Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale
• The Ladies’ Room by Carolyn Brown
• That Month in Tuscany by Inglath Cooper

All courtesy of my grandmother’s loaned Kindle, which has hundreds of books on it!

listening to: podcasts

I listen to podcasts alllll the time…when I’m walking, driving in the car, folding laundry, doing food prep, traveling, etc. Here are some favorite episodes as of late!

• The 30 for 30 5-part series on Bikram Choudhury
• Food Blogger Pro: How to Get Your Content to Stand Out on Pinterest with Yuka Ohishi 
• The Birthful Podcast: Structural Body Changes During Pregnancy & Postpartum with Molly Deutschbein
• The Goop Podcast: Postpartum Anxiety & the Motherhood Shift
• Oprah’s Supersoul Conversations: Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love
• The Longest Shortest Time: BONUS Katie Couric and Sheryl Sandberg on Living Option B 
• Oprah’s Supersoul Conversations: Elizabeth Gilbert, Part 1: Your Life’s Calling and Part 2: What Is A Soulmate?

reading: around the web

• Hospitals Know How To Protect Mothers: They Just Aren’t Doing It via USA Today
• Mercury Retrograde: 10 Things Not To Do {7/26 to 8/19} via Elephant Journal
• The Vindication of Cheese, Butter and Full-Fat Milk via The Atlantic

listening to: audiobooks

If I’m not listening to a podcast, I’ve got an audiobook cued up on my Audible app. Here are four that I have been listening to in recent months.

• Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant To Be by Rachel Hollis. This was highly recommended and an easy listen with some great reminders about personal power and taking responsibility for your life and your health and happiness.
• The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Dr. Shefali Tsabary. I am not even halfway through this one but REALLY loving it.
• Tears to Triumph by Marianne Williamson. This is probably my third listen of this book. It is so, so good for anyone going through a difficult time.
• Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown. How can you not take something away from Brene Brown’s work? She’s so gifted at what she does and her work is a service to the world.

your turn

Please share your favorite summer reads and listens so far. I’d love any book or podcast suggestions you might have!