Friday things (I like and don't like) 2/21

I don't like: 

Clip dot style/pattern/material.  J.Crew did this a few years ago. Lots of dresses and tops in clip dot and I think it's really weird. And there's a texture component I don't like. 

This is a toddler dress...Gymboree maybe?

Teach Your Child to Read. I don't like this book. I tried it with Wells. I find the fonts weird and unnecessarily confusing. We did like 20 lessons and then we were both bored. I believe I did it when he was in kindergarten, but by the beginning of first grade he was reading. I may try it with Sutton some day so I'm not ditching it, but I've seen a lot of discourse lately about how great it is. My professional opinion is that it's nothing special. 

Speaking of reading, Wells comes home with chupacabra books from the school library constantly. Great, whatever, build those nonfiction skills, but he's at an end of 1st grade, beginning of 2nd grade reading level and these are 4th grade level books. Why is no one checking what kids get and putting limits on it? He can't read them. Our librarian in Colorado used to let kids get two books a week: one had to be at their level they tested on, the other could be whatever they wanted. Our library now has board books for the little, little kids and I've had third graders come back to class with...board books. 

Corded mixers. For Christmas, I asked for a cordless mixer. It has a battery you charge like a drill or power tool. It's amazing. So much easier than a corded hand mixer and my very unpopular opinion might that that no one needs a stand mixer. I use mine once a year at this point. I've definitely gotten my money's worth over the years, but it lives in the cupboard. 

I went to Aldi the other day and remembered we needed some more hand soap. I thought I would just get this and then I looked at the back: it has blue dye and red dye in it. That's insane, right?

Moving on to things I like: 

Since we had snow this week, all of our appointments were rescheduled for Monday because all of Missouri locked down for 3 days. Scout got a recheck at the vet and his infection is all better. 

Since I had sent back my birthday present (a ring I didn't like when I saw it in person), I got this the other day at the PX. I was looking for a few things, but saw this and thought wow, a wallet is something that I do actually have a need for. The last wallet I bought was in 2012 in the Grand Cayman. Two years ago, I got a card wallet to make life easier since the 2012 wallet was kind of bulky. ...and so I've found myself using a card wallet as a wallet for the last two years and it definitely has never worked well but I didn't realize what a problem it was until I came across this. Weird right? 

(This a $200+ Coach wallet, it was half off because it's on the military base, and they were also having a 20% off sale.)

Sutton is really into "tutus" so my inspiration for spring looks something like this: 

I love this so much but it was completely sold out in her size.

My mom sent this for her birthday. 

To all the parents who say they will buy their kids neutral clothes, I see you. That won't last forever. She loves nothing more than things that are purple, have hearts on them, and preferably include tulle. 

Linking up for Friday Favorites...