Hot dad jeans & hugging elephants

Also in here: the weird gift I want for my birthday

Hi lovelies! I’m trying something new today, will you let me know what you think in the poll at the end?

Lots of fun links, including an A+ book and three popular snacks, but first, a few photos to show you…

We had the *most magical time* visiting the Great Elephant Migration on Sunday after church. We couldn’t get enough! It’s a MUST if you’re in the LA area. (Sadly it’s leaving on August 1st, this is its last stop on a nationwide tour.) One hundred life-size elephant sculptures spanning four blocks in Beverly Hills! The installation is totally free, and you can walk up and touch each elephant.

My kids naturally gravitated toward the ones their own sizes, and hugged them and patted them as though they knew each other. I can’t explain it? It was just so beautiful.

We started on Rodeo Drive at the front of the herd and made our way all the way to the very last little elephant in front of BH city hall.

Most of them were mothers, aunties, and babies. Just like us :)

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shopping

• Alert! Two Handpicked reader favorite dresses (one, two) are marked down during Tuckernuck’s sale.

• Floral cutout tank. What a showstopper.

• Writing this off as an heirloom.

• The funny gift I’m asking for for my birthday: tote bags. Yes, the flimsy, cheap ones you get at a free merch table. Don’t people usually have too many of these? Somehow we have none in my house. Got my eye on this simple Matisse book bag, one from my favorite cookie shop, and, if I’m getting fancy, a bag that says says Steele on it (fun!). And for heaven’s sake look at this precious Hungry Caterpillar version.

• Nate’s nonexistent proclivity for shopping prohibits him from buying himself this boyfriendy shacket, despite how cute he’d look in it. Especially with these lowkey sexy jeans.

• Okaaayyy, these floral hair claws!

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art

• How beautiful is this Swedish floral cabinet! (via Emily)

• A striped marble candy counter, GASP.

• I’m very much not a Star Wars person, but Nate thought I’d like the show Andor, so I gave it a try. Turns out I LOVED it. This 4-minute video reminded me how deeply artistic the show really is.

• Just ordered some pastel crayons, here’s the first thing I drew :)

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motherhood

• These and these are getting me through the summer.

• Four out of four Steele kids recommend pink lady apple chips!

• New book that charmed my six-year-old: The Hare Who Wouldn’t Share. Thanks to Sarah and her terrific newsletter for this one.

• Raise your hand if you are a fun mom.

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just for fun

• Biodegradable confetti!

• Not to brag, but.

• Turning matches into mini flowers.

• Congratulations to TCF’s coconut cream pie cheesecake for being the best dessert on the entire earth.

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last thing

• Most popular link last week: my July dress

• I hope something good happens to you today.