0:07
Favorite Toys for Kids, Week Updates, Explosive Diarrhea + More Fun!
Happy Friday!
It’s been a SHIT WEEK.
It started off with a huge storm on the 4th of July that took out many trees on our street. It took out our power and blocked us from getting out of our street. Our child was supposed to have surgery this week but the slot was given away - long story that ended in me calling patient relations too many times. Our fire alarms kept going off on Monday night for no reason and a million other stupid small things that have now left me feeling pretty numb inside. But, we push on!
This weekend I am off on a planned college girlfriends weekend in New Hampshire. I am excited to relax for a little while and try to take some deep breaths. Monday is surgery day for our child that was diagnosed with OCD. If you can, we would love any good vibes you want to send our way ❤️
Added more to my Poshmark closet this week.
One of my favorite things about this community is that you have so many great recommendations and this newsletter doesn’t just need to be my voice, it can include yours too! So, I’m starting something new. Each week I’m going to ask one question and then take your answers and weave them into the following week’s newsletter.
This week’s question is:
I hope that this question may inspire others to get into something new this summer that makes you feel happy :)
*respond by hitting the “message Lynzy” button below
Last week’s question/answers are below!
“Favorite and most played with kids toy is magna tiles! The opportunities are endless!”
“They play for hours with their dad’s old Star Wars toys from the early ‘90s. Both our 5-year old boy and 3-year old girl love them!”
“Yoti mini! It’s a great, screen free way to entertain kids. My 6 and 10 year olds both love it. Great for car rides too because you can use headphones on them.”
“We love board games and Ticket to Ride and Catan are currently high on the list”
“Love this hive mind feature! 9-month old at home and number one toys for him are stacking rings and a pot and silicone spatula he can bang on the pot 🤪”
“Bubbles, bikes, and anything with water play!”
“Legos!”
“The toys my girls still play with again and again are Magna Tiles and Baby Dolls.”
“Our kids love playing Capture the Flag with friends!”
“My kids have been obsessed with Rubik’s cubes lately…”
I know, everyone is freaking out about this nationwide right now because who the hell wants days/weeks of explosive diarrhea. NOT ME.
Cyclosporiasis is a parasite that is spread through water or food contaminated with feces. The main symptom is watery, often explosive diarrhea. You can also get fever, stomach cramps nausea and vomiting. Sympstoms usually show up within one week but ranges 2 days - 14 days.
We do not currently know the source of the current outbreak.
Here are a few facts that may help you:
this is treatable with antibiotics (Bactrim) so if you are feeling very ill, please get seen by your provider.
cook it or peel it when it comes to your food right now
canned or frozen veggies and fruits are safe swaps
I would skip any bagged lettuce
Washing helps reduce risk but risk is still there
You cannot catch this from anyone else
Pets cannot get this
Buying local is low risk - so do that if you can!
Monday: Grilled Cheese with veggies - something easy!
Wednesday: Chicken Crust Casear Salad
Thursday: Street Corn Steak Rice Bowls
Friday: leftovers
I promise to have some outfits soon. Right now I am just trying to get through each day and my outfits are the least interesting thing about me ;)
Laundry Sauce at Target: Save $15 when you spend $50 on home care items
My favorite laundry detergent pod scent here
Anthropologie: 30% off new fall arrivals!
Cotton Batwing Shirt is the perfect buttondown, digging the shape of these utility pants, + this basic cotton sweater
Athleta: 30% off Performance Styles
Mesh Racer Shorts, Signature Rib Tee, Salutation Shorts, + this one shoulder built in bra tank
The VintageSoft line at GAP is a dream and now 50% off!
For sale updates - you can subscribe to my “sale alert” substack here.
TOP: One Shoulder Ribbed Tank
PANTS: Zara Skort
SHOES: TKEES Mia Napa Sandals
ACCESSORIES: Handmade Sasi Bag, Ana Luisa Earrings, Baja Sunglasses
TOP: Gap Linen Tank
SKORT: Linen Skort
SHOES: TKEES Mia Napa Sandals
ACCESSORIES: Silk Bandana for Hair, Gemma Anklet, Ana Luisa Earrings, Baja Sunglasses
READ || The End of Reading is Here | The Atlantic → Yikes! Pick up a book this week……
“Some 2,000 years later, under very different circumstances, the darkness is gathering again. Americans, once members of a proudly literate society, read much less than they used to. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, which conducts the most comprehensive survey of the nation’s reading habits, fewer than half of all adults reported having read a book of any kind in 2022. Only 38 percent read a novel or short story.
3:23
How We Manage the Bedtime Scaries
This post is brought to you by Amazon Kids+.
Bedtime can be one of the toughest parts of the day when you have kids.It’s not just getting them into bed, it’s helping them transition from playing and running around to actually winding down. Someone wants one more story, someone else isn’t ready for bed yet, and before you know it, bedtime has become a negotiation.
I should start by saying that I am not a sleep expert.
I’m just a mom of four who has spent nearly a decade putting kids to bed.
I’ve tried a lot of things. Some worked. Many didn’t. What worked for a toddler didn’t work for a preschooler. What worked for a preschooler definitely doesn’t work for my oldest child now. Bedtime evolves as kids grow.
But over the years, I’ve realized that while the tactics change, the principles stay surprisingly similar.
These are the things that have made the biggest difference for our family.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that kids do better when they know what’s coming next.
Our routine isn’t elaborate. We don’t have a color-coded bedtime chart hanging on the wall.
But our kids generally know the flow: get ready for bed, brush teeth, pajamas, wind down, sleep.
The less guesswork there is, the easier the transition tends to be.
One of my favorite parenting truths is that kids can’t have great days without great nights. When my kids are rested, everything feels easier. They’re more patient with each other, more focused at school, and frankly, more pleasant to be around.
That’s one reason I’ve been excited about Sleep Studio on Amazon Kids+, which was designed to help kids wind down and get the rest they need. I love anything that supports the routines we’re already trying to build because consistency is what usually moves the needle in our house.
One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was believing that I had to manage every single part of bedtime myself.
When you have four kids, that approach becomes unsustainable pretty quickly.
Over time, we’ve worked really hard to build age-appropriate independence into bedtime. The more ownership kids have, the less bedtime feels like something being done to them.
That’s why I like that Sleep Studio lets kids ask Alexa to play their favorite sleep stories, calming sounds, or meditations themselves. It gives them a sense of control while still keeping them focused on winding down.
The content comes from trusted brands like Moshi, Headspace, and Calm, so there are hundreds of stories, sounds, and mindfulness activities to choose from.
As a parent, I also appreciate that I can manage everything through the Amazon Kids Parent Dashboard. I can customize wind-down playlists, set start times, and even have Alexa provide gentle reminders that bedtime is approaching.
And honestly? Anything that reduces bedtime resistance is a win in my book.
When we only had one or two kids, bedtime often looked like all of us moving through the routine together, baths, pajamas, stories, and bedtime as one big group effort. But with four kids spanning different ages and stages, we’ve found it works much better to divide and conquer.
My husband and I split responsibilities based on what needs to happen that night. Sometimes one of us takes the younger kids while the other helps the older ones. Sometimes one parent handles baths while the other starts bedtime stories. The exact division changes, but the principle stays the same:
Bedtime is a shared responsibility.
Neither of us is the “bedtime manager.” We both know the routines, we both know what needs to happen, and we work together to get everyone settled for the night.
With four kids, there isn’t one perfect way to do bedtime. But having two adults who can jump in and take ownership of different pieces of the process makes a huge difference.
I’ve learned that kids can’t go from full-speed kid mode to asleep in thirty seconds.
They need a transition.
I know I do too.
The last part of the evening should feel different from the rest of the day.
For us, that often means stories, calming sounds, quieter activities, and fewer demands.
This is another place where Sleep Studio has fit naturally into our routine.
6:10
Your Summer Holiday Survival Guide ☀️
Once we get through this overwhelming last week or so of school admin, we then have six (or more) weeks of them home. No school run. No packed lunches. No morning shouting about socks. But also… so many weeks to fill.
If you’re already mentally rehearsing the “I’m bored” chorus, you’re not alone. I’m right there with you. So I’ve pulled together the things that actually get me through — the cheap-eats, the cheap days out, and a small reminder that you’re allowed a bit of time to yourself too.
Bookmark it, screenshot it, send it on the group chat. Whatever works.
After making what feels like ten meals a day at home, letting them make a mess at someone else’s table is definitely restorative. Deals change, so always double-check before you go:
Save this to your favourites 🤍
Following on from my summer savings post last week, a few more bits worth a look:
Tastecard — money off meals at thousands of restaurants, cinemas and days out too.
Kids Pass — discounts on attractions, cinemas, restaurants, soft play, bowling, the lot. If you’ve got a few days out planned, it pays for itself pretty quickly.
Zoo memberships — ZSL (London Zoo and Whipsnade) do a family membership that gets you into both as many times as you want. Worth doing the maths as two visits and you’re basically even.
National Trust and English Heritage — around £13.25 and £11 a month respectively for family membership. Hundreds of places between them, and most have a decent café and a patch of grass to run off some energy.
And check what’s local — a lot of climbing walls, trampoline parks, and activity farms do unlimited summer passes for a set price. Not always shouted about, but worth a Google.
The thing I love about memberships is that they take the pressure off. You can rock up for two hours, feed the goats, and go home. No guilt, no stress, just an easier yes when someone asks what we’re doing today.
With this current weather, the UK seaside is looking more attractive than ever. Honestly, some of our beaches are the best in Europe. Add a bit of sun and you’re not really missing anywhere.
A few of my favourites:
Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk — the pastel beach huts, pine woods behind, miles of sand at low tide.
Camber Sands, East Sussex — dunes, shallow water, easy day from London.
Christchurch and Bournemouth, Dorset — seven miles of sandy beach, gentle water, and crabbing galore. Hard to beat for a family day.
Woolacombe, Devon — three miles of golden sand, gentle rollers, and rock pools at either end. A proper all-day beach.
Rhossili Bay, Gower — the view alone. Windswept in the best way.
Bamburgh, Northumberland — castle-on-the-beach territory, wildly underrated.
Daymer Bay, Cornwall — kid-friendly, gentle, warm rock pools for hours of fun.
And if the weather is genuinely playing ball, it’s worth thinking about a few nights away. A holiday park or an place near the coast can be surprisingly doable, even booked last-minute.
A few worth a look that you may not have come across yet:
Hoburne Summer Sale — up to 25% off selected 2026 breaks. Family-run, quiet parks, easy pace, everything you need on-site including kids entertainment. Coast, countryside, caravans or lodges, take your pick.
National Trust cottages — 25% off last-minute stays with code LASTMINUTE. Everything from fishermen’s cottages in Cornwall to a lodge at Attingham Park. Worth a browse!
⭐ Canopy & Stars — treehouses, cabins, shepherd's huts, the lot. Every place personally inspected, and you can book with a 25% deposit. Lovely for a mini reset in nature.
A quick reminder of the bits I always pack. Inflatable foot pillows so smaller ones can sleep flat on the plane. Hanging seat-back bags so toys aren’t buried in the bottom of the tote. Bento boxes to keep the snacks lasting as long as possible!
And if you are off very soon, here is my list of last-minute essentials, packing cubes are a must.
Six weeks is long. You’re allowed to want thirty minutes to yourself. You’re allowed to book the thing. You’re allowed to close the bathroom door.
Don’t forget the value of those around you too, a couple of hours at friends house, or a visit to the grandparents can provide that attachment respite we all need.
Meet The Wellbeing Collection — a lovely little business in South London run by Lisa, a single mum of two who gets the need for some time to relax. She specialises in waxing and Indian head massage, and she also offers hair play therapy which sounds like heaven!
Her whole thing is that self-care doesn’t need to be a full day at a spa. Thirty minutes counts. Just make sure you fit some relaxation in for you.
I was off in Cannes doing the schmoozing rounds, so Hannah was holding the fort for a proper Yorkshire reunion.
In honour of Pride, we’ve got Geordie Shore’s Nathan Henry and his mum Bev sitting down together. Nathan opens up about the years he spent filtering himself on TV, and the moment he finally came out on camera.
9:29
Jackie Tohn Was a Jewish Summer Camp Superstar
Jackie Tohn is back on screen in “The Floaters,” a comedy‑drama that opens this July. The film follows her character Nomi, a rock‑star who’s kicked out of her band and recruited by her best friend to run a Jewish summer camp called Camp Daveed. There she tries to steer the camp’s misfit “floaters” while dealing with crumbling facilities and a rivalry with the neighboring Camp Barack, led by a polo‑wearing, golf‑cart‑riding Daniel.
The interview reads like a warm chat about Tohn’s own camp history. She grew up in a family that lived the camp life—her dad worked at Camp Alamar and later at Camp Roosevelt, and her mom was the camp mother and driver. Tohn recalls performing at talent shows, making a gumball‑machine in the woodshop, and singing camp anthems, all of which shaped her love for the setting of the new movie.
Beyond the camp nostalgia, Tohn shares a personal health update. After her father’s lumps were found and genetic testing revealed a BRCA1 mutation, she got tested herself and learned she carries the same mutation. She’s since had a double mastectomy, a decision she describes as both emotional and practical, and she uses the experience to talk openly about cancer risk and prevention.
The conversation also touches on her friendships on set, especially with co‑stars Sarah Podemski and Seth Green, and her excitement for future projects that blend Jewish joy with humor. The overall tone is one of genuine enthusiasm for camp culture, personal resilience, and the simple pleasure of sharing stories with friends.
10:33
The Post Office Is Releasing a New Hanukkah Stamp this Year
The design for the U.S. Postal Service 2026 Hanukkah stamp was revealed last month — and the story behind it has us kvelling.
The first Hanukkah stamp was released in 1996. (It’s worth noting that the first Christmas stamp was released in 1962.) That design — a colorful, collaged menorah that was jointly issued with Israel — served as the de facto Hanukkah Stamp until 2004, when the USPS changed to a roughly bi annual design update. This year’s stamp is a delightful illustrated dreidel on a turquoise background, created by freelance illustrator and illustration professor Lisa Perrin, whose rabbi commented “KVELLING KVELLING KVELLING” when Lisa posted the stamp on Instagram.
Perrin submitted six different illustrations of menorahs and dreidels, and arrived at the final design with help from USPS Art Director Antonio Alcalá, who created the 2024 Hanukkah stamp and whose mother escaped from Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport.
In their official announcement, the USPS notes that the folk art style of the dreidel reflects Perrin’s Jewish heritage. “Jewish folk art has long been a source of inspiration for me,” Perrin told Kveller. “My Master’s Illustration thesis was inspired by Ashkenazi folk tales, symbolism and language. I love looking at historical ketubah designs, and traditional Jewish paper cutting and woodcarving. For my thesis I hand lettered my favorite Yiddish expressions and created illustrations inspired by life on the shtetl. Any time I can connect my creative work to my personal culture and heritage it means a lot.”
This particular work had an even more personal connection: Perrin’s father, Michael Perrin, is a lifelong stamp collector. “[He] has been urging me to pursue illustrating a stamp for my entire creative career — and not subtly,” Lisa said. “After years of nudging, I reached out to some art directors for the United States Postal Service, introduced myself and work, and explained that a stamp would mean a lot to my father. Remarkably, that worked!” Lisa told her USPS contacts that something Jewish would be especially meaningful. “Thus, the Hanukkah stamp was born.”
Naturally, Lisa’s father was verklempt. “A U.S. federal stamp honoring Hanukkah drawn by my Lisa!” he kvelled to Kveller. “Eight days is not enough!”
This year’s Hanukkah stamp will be available Sept. 29. Lisa’s work can be found on her website, where you can also contact her and beg her to bring back her beautiful Jewish food packaging calendar.
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The post The Post Office Is Releasing a New Hanukkah Stamp this Year appeared first on Kveller.
