Jul 18, 2026 · 3 min listen · Last updated July 18, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief for July 18th. Hey, Chloe. July 18th. Ten stories — one trial, three reviews, six takes you can actually use. Let's get into it. First, from Motherhood Musings. Caramel apples -- a Halloween tradition!.
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Daily Parenting Brief · July 18th
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Caramel apples -- a Halloween tradition!
I’m glad you asked about caramel apples—here’s the quick rundown. The piece is a personal recipe share, not a study, so think of it as a tried‑and‑true kitchen guide rather than scientific evidence. The author makes about fifty apples each Halloween, using Granny Smiths, brown sugar, milk, butter, a pinch of salt, and vanilla, then whisks the mixture for 10–15 minutes until it thickens.
The key steps: prep the apples, insert sticks, heat the caramel to a boil for two minutes, whisk until glossy fades, then dip quickly before it hardens.
A friend helps hold each apple while the other drips excess caramel, making the process smoother.
If you try it, double the recipe (except the salt) for a larger batch, and enjoy the sweet‑tart combo that kids love. Happy Halloween!
Motherhood Musing: Am I an old-fashioned kind of parent?
FAFO parenting—“F‑Around and Find Out”—is a style that lets kids feel the natural consequences of their choices. The idea is simple: warn them, then step back and let the outcome teach the lesson, whether it’s getting wet without a raincoat or learning to retrieve a misplaced toy.
The approach leans on the belief that experiencing real‑world results builds resilience and respect for boundaries, without turning the home into a punitive arena. Parents still talk through the incident afterward, keeping the relationship warm and collaborative.
Proponents say this method reduces the need for constant catering, making family meals and daily routines smoother and less stressful for everyone.
10 clever ideas I discovered while photographing homes for our book
Hey, I just got back from shooting 24 family homes across LA, London, and the Northern Rivers, and a bunch of simple ideas kept popping up.
Adding cushions to dining chairs makes meals linger longer; a full‑wall cork board turns a hallway into a living bulletin board for art, notes, and calendars. Kids love having their own linen‑covered cork in their rooms, and keeping board games near the table nudges them into play. Wall‑mounted shelves and a curtain
November Updates: Here's what I'm reading/watching/eating/enjoying this month...
I’m feeling the November rush too—school’s wrapping up, graduations, concerts, and a calendar that looks like a marathon. Between Quin’s high‑school ceremony and Marlow turning 13, I’m carving out tiny pauses: a post‑dinner walk, a few minutes with a book, or just sitting with the dog’s ears. Jodi Wilson’s new book, *A Brain That Breathes*, feels like a gentle reminder to keep breathing.
I just got back from the U.S. launch of our own book, signed copies at Diesel Bookstore in Santa Monica, and spent a relaxed evening with my old friend Belinda watching *Nobody Wants This*. The local soccer league is back, and even though we’ve lost a couple of games, it’s nice to be on the field with other mums.
Reading lately? I finished *My Friends* by Fredrik Backman on the plane—nice but not a favorite—and *We All Want Impossible Things*, which is heavy but full of humor and tenderness. I’m eyeing Maggie O’Farrell next.
If you’re up for a virtual mother‑hood chat, I’m planning a Zoom on Friday the 14th at 7 am AEDT (8 pm London, noon LA). It’s a paid‑subscriber thing, but I love how those sessions spark real conversation. Let me know if you’d like to join or have topics in mind.
**A quick reminder that I’m hosting an online conversation on Zoom tomorrow. We’re coming with questions to ask and answer, experiences to share, and it will be a beautiful gathering of mamas. Join me at 7am AEDT Friday (link to join is at the bottom of this post). If you’re not a paid subscriber, it’s not too late to upgrade and join us. Hope to see you there! xx
One morning last week, Michael saw our jar of quinoa on the shelf, realised it’s been a while since we made anything with quinoa, and decided to soak the quinoa all day to be ready to cook for dinner that evening.
Watch the recording: This month's motherhood conversation
Huge thanks to the women who tuned into our online conversation this morning. It was so wonderful to see you all there — some new and familiar faces! I loved getting to chat and connect with everyone.
In this conversation we each took turns sharing one of the biggest joys of our current stage of motherhood along with a current challenge we’re experiencing.
Here in Australia, we don’t have Thanksgiving standing in the way of starting Christmas early, and yet I still hold off until December 1st despite my children’s pleas. You gotta give these kids something to look forward to, right?!
But come December, the box of Christmas decorations comes out, and it’s always such a sweet reminder of all the cherished things we’ve collected over the years, many that come from little shops and Christmas markets in Europe (sigh).
I thought I’d share some favourites with you below, in case you’re looking to add to your collection of Christmas decorations.
We have
It’s a busy time of year. Christmas is looming, the school year is wrapping up, and even our kids are feeling stressed with exams and end-of-year performances.
This past weekend, we had a moment in our house where one teenager was crying because she was confused about her science exam study notes, another teenager was complaining about period cramps, one child (Wilkie!) was begging relentlessly for a labubu (help!), another child was complaining about Wilkie and I had just realised the kids had left the freezer door open all night and everything inside was thawed out and dripping water everywh
My friend Natalie Walton shares 5 things she's loving right now
If you’ve been following along for a while, my good friend Natalie Walton will not really require an introduction. We’ve been friends for a long time, since she joined as a regular contributor to the Babyccino blog in 2009 (I lived in London and she lived in Sydney).
I couldn’t resist showing a few photos from Christmas mornings past, back when all my kids wore matching jammies! 🥰
Every year in the run up to Christmas, we ask the kids to create Christmas lists and to write down their gifts in order of preference. I’m always pleasantly surprised by how realistic their wish lists are in terms of their wants, and it’s helpful to have a list of specific items (especially when it comes to the teens).
This past weekend, all the lists were taped up on our fridge and I started my Christmas shopping.