Nikki Johanek – Visual Designer

A month’s journal on too much tv, life and naturally, mama things.

These past few months have been a whirlwind, and I don’t know what it is about the “fall” vibes, but they always seem to spark new intentions or inspiration to write, illustrate, or pick up something new. So here we are, my little online journal. For this Fall entry, my intention is to reflect on too much TV, life, and, of course, all the mama things that come with it.

This fall has been full of fun and unforgettable moments! We tried DeLu Thai in Downtown Phoenix (so delicious!), got Maximo a child bike seat for our family bike rides, and had a photo session with Raina. We also celebrated my cousin’s Quinceañera (the boys' first one!), hosted a Halloween gathering with friends, and enjoyed several movie nights in the backyard with the projector. We went all out for our first official family Halloween costume as The Addams Family, attended a few trivia nights, took three ceramic classes, and went to a Halloween party. Plus, we’re planning a white elephant party for our friends. It’s been such an eventful fall—so festive, so social, and so much fun!

As for baby life– It’s been filled with lots of baby milestones. Since Maximo started walking just a week after his birthday, we’ve been spending a lot of time at parks and enjoying the outdoors (now that the weather is nice). He’s become quite the social butterfly, always eager to get out of the house. Maximo is very friendly, loves to skateboard and bike (he went on his first Skaters Who Bike Ride with Dad and loved it), and is always up for hanging out anywhere that’s not home. Since turning one, Maximo is still taking two naps a day (we’re waiting to see when he’s ready to drop down to one). He’s obsessed with fruit—especially grapes—and has already gotten one molar, with another one coming in on top. He loves saying “Dougie” whenever he sees a dog, enjoys trying to put on shoes, and loves grabbing people’s fingers to walk them around. Water is another big hit, and he’s always standing on things (his handboard is a favorite). He’s also been experimenting with utensils and crayons, which is fun to watch. Every day, we see his personality shine more and more. One thing’s for sure—he’s a true Libra!

TV—

Nobody Wants This (Netflix), I finally jumped on this after hearing about it nonstop, and I thought it was the sweetest thing ever! I usually don’t go for shows like this so quickly—two podcast hosts talking about their sex lives, relationships, and picture-perfect homes and lifestyles in LA, with one of them falling for a handsome rabbi. But I think I caught it at just the right time in my life. It was the perfect break between my other shows, and I ended up really enjoying this sweet, idealized story.
Rings of Power (Prime Video), If you're a LOTR fan, you absolutely have to watch this. The first season was a bit of a slow burn, but the second season really hit all the right notes. As one of the most expensive shows out there right now, it delivers all the CGI magic you'd expect. The worlds, stories, and characters are stunningly beautiful. It’s fascinating to explore the backstory of how the rings were made, along with many other details that add so much depth to the LOTR universe. Season 2 truly brought out the best in each character, offering the depth and story I was hoping for. Plus, the battles were intense—there was so much action, it was hard to lose interest, in my opinion.
The Penguin (HBO), I’m a huge fan of Oysters, Clams, and Cockles on Spotify and Instagram. They cover some amazing series, and right now, they’re diving into The Penguin on HBO. I’m really enjoying it! I wouldn’t say it’s one of my all-time favorites, but I do love the filming, the actors, the story, and overall, I appreciate a show with some depth. It’ll be interesting to see how this series ties into The Batman, especially since it’s setting up The Penguin to be the villain in the second movie. I wasn’t a fan of the first film, but this series has definitely got me excited for the sequel.
What We Do In The Shadows (Hulu), I love having a “Halloween” show to watch throughout October. As an Arizona girl, it’s hard to get into the fall or Halloween spirit with the heat, so I was excited when this show unexpectedly popped up in its final season. I was surprised there was no marketing or buzz around it, but as always, it’s an easy, fun watch. I will say I’m sad to see this series go—this season is one of the funniest I’ve seen and brings such a fresh take on comedy that no other show delivers. I highly recommend it!
Bobs Burgers (Hulu), I’m a huge Bob’s Burgers fan, so I was really excited to hear that their new season was coming out this month. I love watching their Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas episodes for an extra festive touch throughout the year. So far, this season has been exceptional, and I’m so happy with it! Last season was a bit of a letdown, so I’m grateful to see them back to telling their classic Belcher stories.
Other easy watches: Love is Blind (Netflix), The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On (Netflix), Sweethearts (HBO), Shrinking (Apple TV), and Abbot Elementary (Hulu).

let's get into things i've been loving—

Sony A7, my old trusty camera… I recently put down my film camera because, honestly, I need to invest in a new, reliable one. I bought my previous camera off eBay, and while it had some quirks, it’s served me well over the past almost two years. But it’s definitely time for an upgrade. So, naturally, I’ve picked up my Sony, which has been great at capturing all the moments of life.
Thule Yepp 2 Maxi Child Bike Seat, we’ve been taking Maximo on bike rides, and we’re so lucky that he loves it! It’s been amazing biking to parks, visiting our favorite local spots, or simply enjoying the day together. It’s such a fun activity to share with our one-year-old. Kevin has also been taking him to skate parks while biking, and it’s adorable to see their little setup with the skateboards. We try to bike as much as we can before the Arizona summer heat hits, since it gets so intense here. Kevin also took Maximo on his first Skaters Who Bike ride, and Maximo loved it! I’ve attached the YouTube video below—so excited this is his first footy so please watch! :)
Mayra’s Studio, my Tia’s ceramic studio is beautifully set up outdoors in Tempe, and it’s been so much fun to join the classes (and sometimes photograph them). She’s hosted two fall open studios, and I had the pleasure of creating my own pumpkin piece, which I can’t wait to display on our TV stand. If you’re interested in taking a class, Follow her on Instagram — she’s the best!
Hatch - Spanish Lullabies: Canciones de Cuna, if you have the Hatch sound machine for your baby, I absolutely recommend checking out their beautiful collection “Spanish Lullabies: Canciones de Cuna”! Maximo loves dancing to them. I often play these whenever we’re in his room playing together. Maximo’s favorites are “El Barquito” and “Los Elefantes”, but they’re all so good.

Things I added to my cart, hoping we'll love—

Piccalio- Mini Chef Foldable Helper Tower, I’m looking forward to adding this to our baby gear. I know our little guy is going to love having easy access to wash his hands, and hopefully, he’ll enjoy helping me cook (or at least cutting his veggies).
Ikea- Child’s Table + Sensory Table, I’m looking forward to having this outside so Maximo can play with all the things. We’ve taken him to the Children’s Museum, and it’s been so fun watching him engage with the huge sensory tables there. I’ve been getting excited about setting up similar activities for him at home. Now that he’s 13 months, I can already see his attention span changing, and I’m excited to introduce this as a new activity for him.