Hey girl. Treat Yo Self is a series that focuses on inexpensive indulgences that make you feel good without feeling guilty. Because when momma’s not happy, nobody is happy. Today, we’re diving into beauty and skincare and exploring the awesomeness of jade rollers. We talk about the benefits of jade rollers, the myths, and why you should add one to your skincare routine.

A couple of months ago my friend Ashley and I were coworking when we ordered jade rollers on a whim… like you do. They’ve been all over Instagram and looked so cool and luxurious—like a tool for the fanciest and most relaxed of ladies. On the verge of major burn out mode, I wanted to be that lady! So when we found the things on Amazon for under $10, it seemed like a no-brainer.

Insta ladies and articles online were claiming that jade rollers do everything from depuffing your face to boosting circulation and helping your skin absorb creams and serums. Not all of the claims turn out to be 100% true, but honestly, it doesn’t matter. I am obsessed!

I rounded up 10 books that make great gifts for new moms (or even dads), whether you’re looking to make them laugh, feel all warm and fuzzy, or calm their nerves with some bestselling advice. 

When I gave birth to my first daughter, I was completely terrified. I had no idea what to expect. I mean, I knew I would give birth and that it would be somewhat painful and that there would be a tiny person that I had to take care of and teach how to be a good human at the end of it all. That stuff was scary enough on its own, but what about all of the unknowns?!

I grabbed all of the books I could get my hands on and, with a highlighter and notebook at my side (in true nerd fashion), dove right in.

In a lot of ways, it helped me. It let me get a better understanding of the things I could learn about (baby gear, changes to expect in my body, etc), which made things slightly less overwhelming. I just wish that instead of only reading practical books full of tips and facts, I also read from parents in the thick of it. Parents laughing at the absurdity of it all would have helped to take the edge off. Parents writing about their uncertainty would have made me feel less alone.

I try to keep all of this in mind when I talk to new or soon-to-be moms. There are so many things they might need reassurance about. Books come in handy for that and make great gifts for new moms.

That said, try to think a little bit about what they might need reassurance about. Has she been worrying about how she’ll get baby to sleep? Is she so nervous that she’s taking everything too seriously? Does she have that deer in the headlights look that seems to say what the hell did I get myself into?! These are all things to keep in mind before gifting a momma-to-be a book (which, by the way, you should totally pair with a gift to pamper her, like this homemade body butter).

To help you out, I found ten books that get rave reviews and broke them into categories.

Read an excerpt from the first chapter of Abbi Waxman’s new suburban satire, Other People’s Houses, which unravels the hilarious havoc an affair wreaks on an upper-middle-class LA neighborhood.

Looking for a fun read to sink your teeth into?

Abbi Waxman, the author of The Garden of Small Beginnings, has a new book coming out tomorrow and it sounds like Lianne Moriarty-level juiciness!

Other People’s Houses is a hilarious new novel about a suburban neighborhood and the affair that unravels their community.

Told through the perspectives of four families, the novel shows how the affair exposes all sorts of insecurities and strife within an upper-middle-class LA neighborhood. So far, it’s gotten some rave reviews with PopSugar calling it “A smart, thoughtful look at marriage and suburbia” and Booklist saying that “Once again, [Waxman] manages to take a far-reaching topic and sprinkle it with spicy dialogue, adorable kids, and characters who feel like best friends. . . Recommend to those who like to turn pages quickly without sacrificing complex characters.”

Possibly the most attention-grabbing review for me though came from Kirkus: “Charming yet provocative. . . . This is a voyeuristic (in a nice way) and humorous trip through what is usually hidden behind closed doors. Waxman is a master at purveying the wry humor that rides just below the surface of even the tough times.”

Sign. me. up.

I’m super excited to be able to give you a sneak peek at an excerpt from the first chapter of Other People’s Houses! Check it out below.

We are always looking for books to add to our To Be Read list. We look for books of all levels: picture books, beginner chapter books, middle-grade fiction, and books that busy moms can enjoy. Figuring I can’t possibly be the only one out there who is hunting for good reads for a variety of age levels, I put together a list each month of the books my family has been reading. Sometimes our thoughts on them will be gushy and glowy. Other times they’ll be lukewarm. Either way, we’ll let you know if we think they’re worth your time.

Nothing about this month was particularly leisurely for me. March was filled with birthdays and snow and school closures. But we did manage to squeeze in some solid reads in the middle of all of the madness. Here’s a little peek at what we read… 

We are always looking for books to add to our To Be Read list. We look for books of all levels: picture books, beginner chapter books, middle-grade fiction, and books that busy moms can enjoy. Figuring I can’t possibly be the only one out there who is hunting for good reads for a variety of age levels, I put together a list each month of the books my family has been reading. Sometimes our thoughts on them will be gushy and glowy. Other times they’ll be lukewarm. Either way, we’ll let you know if we think they’re worth your time.

I can’t believe it’s March already! February seemed to fly by, but we did manage to squeeze in some good reads…