Do you know what mantra has been really helping me lately? Two things can be true at the same time. Maybe you need to hear that one, too. You can be celebrating mom, and still be sad on this day; for a thousand reasons, or none at all. I hope this finds you with a full heart, but in case you need a top-off, we have a round-up of our favorite finds of the week: a new smoothie super-booster, an unbelievable book recommendation, and tons of inspiration for today, and your week ahead. Happy Mother’s Day to our incredible Pack. We 💙 you!

Making.

After finishing the new Glucose Revolution book by the Glucose Goddess, I am all about managing blood sugar spikes and have implemented a ton of her easy, effective, research-backed hacks! Of all the smoothie recipes I have developed through the years, one ingredient I hadn’t tossed in the blender (until today!) is apple cider vinegar. Let’s try it together!

Spoiler: it’s way more delicious than I was expecting, and it adds a little sass to the smoothie. Here’s what I did:

• 1 cup of frozen squash (use anything you have on hand). I went with butternut squash – high in potassium and fiber (great for reducing blood sugar)
• 1 pitted date
• 1 tsp. mexican vanilla
• 1 T. apple cider vinegar
• 3 T. superseed blend (flax, chia, omegas + coconut)
• swirl of maple sugar
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup vegan milk of choice

Watching.

I’m still in shock from the Ozark series finale. No spoilers, but if you watched, will you leave us a note in the comments and tell us if you were happy with how it ended?? Up next, we’re watching Elisabeth Moss’ new series on Apple TV – Shining Girls. She is wildly gifted as an actress, and I have heard great reviews so far. I don’t know about you, but all of these subscriptions add up so I like to jump around to make sure we’re using what we pay for 😅.

Reading.

The Great Alone is absolutely outstanding. If you have read anything by Kristin Hannah, then you already know A) she is an unbelievably talented author, and B) they all read like a sad melody. Of all of her novels I have had the pleasure of devouring – this was my favorite (thus far). If you’re like me, you might feel slightly discouraged by the fact that it tips the scale at nearly 600 pages. But trust me when I tell you, it goes too fast, and you’ll end up wishing there were 100 more. I so enjoyed her depiction of Alaska, getting to know so many beautifully developed characters, and most all of, Leni, and Large Marge. 9.4 ⭐️

Listening.

I am a longtime superfan of Dr. Huberman, and this week he was making the podcast rounds on all my favorite shows. It’s funny, normally when the same guest does the circuit, I will listen to one interview and opt out of the rest. But in this case, I felt like he had so much to say, and I really wanted to study the valuable research and nuggets of wisdom he is kind enough to share with all of us. If you’re into wellness and healthy living in any capacity, I can’t nudge you enough in his direction. More like a loving push 😆:

Feeling.

Trying.

10 Joy Jolts I Journaled This Week – A new weekly series we started here on NixonPack.com. I hope it adds a smile to your day!

How To Choose A Bedtime Read That Will Help You Drift Off, From Sleep Experts.

Now that shopping for mom is over, we need to start ideas for Dad. I love this duffle! And thinking about these for Jon.

The most awesome advice. Even if you read the first 4 – so worth it!

The Coastal Grandmother Aesthetic Is a Lifestyle, Not Just a TikTok Trend. Goals 😍

If your hair hates humidity like mine does, this is the only clean product I’ve tried that works!

The details of this exterior design, right down to the fence (art!), and my favorite blooms of all time 😍.

I went through four leashes until I found the one. This is awesome for pullers, and keeps them too close to cause a problem 😆.

What Is Mindful Listening? (It’s Not As Easy As We Think)

A Cardiologist Says You Should Break These 6 Aerobic Exercise ‘Rules’

7 of the Most Underrated Summer Destinations in the U.S.

I currently have 16 cans of chickpeas in our pantry because I have a deep-seated fear of running out of them 😅. Going to try this recipe!

Are You Chronically Agreeable? Here’s Why the People-Pleaser Attitude Will Slowly Corrode Your Soul 😳.

To my beautiful madre, my mother-in-love, my three extraordinary grandmas, amazing aunts, and all of the women who have mothered me or Grey in all the ways - Happy Mother's Day. Women are the most willful warriors. You're all things wonderful, and today we celebrate you 💙.