My earliest memory of Halloween was the year I was Belle. My grandma, who I was convinced had the talent to craft anything, made me the classic yellow dress. She added colorful jewel embellishments which made it extra awesome. I was shocked to find out not all families participated in Halloween festivities. I knew about the scary stuff, but my Halloween was a Belle dress, free candy, pumpkins, and the Peanuts special on TV. The costume changed, but the fun and sugar overload remained. Continue reading
thoughts
Happy Fall Y’all
Driving home recently my three-year-old shouted, “I’m so excited to go apple picking!” This excitement, the daily question of when we’re also going pumpkin picking, and his intent to wish people wherever we go a happy fall means a dream is coming true: I’ve passed on my love of this season. Double win, the baby’s fascination with our autumnal wreath and other decor tells me he’s on the right track too. I love the small parenting victories. Continue reading
Out of Office Reply
Between preparing for a family vacation, working on a group project with a looming deadline, and everyone in my household deciding it was a fine time to be sick, there is no post coming this month. (Or can I count this???) Instead, I’m choosing rest. If anyone reading feels overwhelmed and exhausted, I hope this may encourage you to find rest. Whether it be cutting yourself slack on your self-imposed deadlines or trusting that no IS an acceptable answer to what someone else is asking of you.
Rest.
Progress Report: Goals
I don’t have a habit of making New Year’s resolutions, but I did set a few goals for 2019. Now that it’s about to be halfway through the year, I’m happy to say it’s been going well. I’m disappointed in myself, however, to have taken this long to recognize my goals have an alliterative theme. Continue reading
Nothing
I didn’t know what to write about this month. I even had a break from other projects that gave me a little extra time to sit and figure it out, but all my ideas stayed filed under “maybe later.” To be honest, I really wanted that extra time to relax, so I did. After all, inspiration often strikes when I’m not looking for it. This time? Nope. So here I am, on the final day of May, writing about nothing. Continue reading
Filling Fear
As a rule-follower, I am often so scared of getting into trouble that even the thought of it is enough to make me anxious. Naturally, I used to think a cavity would get me in trouble with the dentist. Every six months, a pounding heart and sweaty palms would accompany me to my routine dental exam and cleaning, and each visit always ended in relief. The hygienist even threw around comments about my “perfect teeth.” I was consistent in this way into adulthood, to the point where I naively assumed I was set for life. In reality, I was set for 28 years, 42 weeks, and three days. Continue reading
Every Moment
When my firstborn was seven months old, we went on vacation for a week. A feat, for sure, and full of good memories, but when we returned home, he looked so much older. What the heck was in that beach air?
Now, I look at his baby brother who is too quickly nearing that same age and decide time is a fleeting, fickle thing. “They grow up so fast,” new parents hear from well-meaning family, friends, and strangers. “Cherish every moment.” Continue reading
Restart
Two years and two kids later…
Hello, poor neglected blog. Life has been full.
Repeatedly, the busier my schedule, the less writing I accomplish. One of my goals this year is to get back to writing regularly, beginning with reviving my blog. I’m starting small, aiming for at least one post a month (sneaking in at almost the last minute, January). I’ll be wrapping up topics and ideas started before my break and am considering a fresh look in addition to new content.
Although a brief check-in to start, I’m back.
One Year Later
Last year on Mother’s Day I got to give my mom the news that I was joining the ranks of motherhood. As a woman who adores and spoils (in the best possible way) all of her grand-babies, you can imagine that she took the news all but jumping up and down, shouting for joy rather well.
That technically first Mother’s Day for me was full of excited anticipation for the little one who might one day proudly gift me handprint crafts, weed bouquets, and sticky breakfasts in bed. Now that he’s here and though a little young for those things yet, he leaves me no less in awe of the fact that this is my life now. I am a mom. I get to be his mom. I could not be happier. Motherhood is awesome.
But it is also hard. Continue reading
Vacation Hesitation
Who doesn’t love vacation? Traveling somewhere new, seeing the sights, relaxing without paying heed to a clock all make for a fantastic experience. As a kid who loved to read, I imagined one day I would grow up and travel around the world to some of the places in my books. A few of my childhood travel dreams have come true, but I’ve discovered it was a lot simpler back when I had parents in charge of all the details to make a trip happen. Though I haven’t yet refused to travel because of the more stressful parts of the process, there are a few things that can make me hesitate to venture far.
Amidst the Babble 