– a Veronica Beard camel blazer that I’ll be wearing year-round –

– splurging on my first super-sized candle with a burn time of 250 hours –

– loving this acrylic coffee table book stand –

– loving this woven bag so much, I’ve gotten so many compliments! –

– adding these beautiful Weezie towels to my bathroom that conveniently match perfectly –

I have a little extra pep in my step this week, and I’m writing before I go to a Pilates class and get my nails done… so I mean, what is there really to complain about?

My birthday is Monday, and each year on my birthday I reflect on the past birthdays.  The blessings I have.  Thinking about how if my jr. high self could know what all was to come, how thrilled she would be!  I love that gift of birthdays, the chance to slow down for a day and soak it up.  Writing all of this as I listen to the Sunday Service choir , so perhaps that’s why I’m a little extra delicate. 😉  I have some lunch plans thanks to a sweet friend who organized it and a dinner date with Christian scheduled.  Already looking forward to them both!

I’ve also gotten back into therapy and have had two sessions so far.  We are meeting virtually several times so we can get to know each other, and then I’ll probably connect with her once to twice a month, as needed.  I don’t have a specific reason for getting back into it, but I LOVE the way it makes me feel.  Clear-headed, mature… it is for my mind what Pilates is for my body.  Afterwards I feel lighter and happier.  I really enjoy having someone to talk to who can help me discover new things about myself and how to live my healthiest, most joyful life.  Just a reminder that a lot of therapist do take insurance, so it really ends up being affordable and accessible if you have that opportunity in your area.  I found my current therapist with a simple google search!

I’ve started rewatching Parenthood on Hulu and it’s also brought me so much joy.  Who doesn’t love the Braverman family!?  If you’ve never watched and have Hulu, I can’t encourage you enough to give it a try.  I don’t think you’ll regret it.  Think This Is Us… but so much better.

I made this air fryer recipe this week and I thought it was so delicious.  Even better than I expected!  This Spaghetti Aglio e Olio recipe is also on the list for the weekend.

What’s in store for you this week?  If you have any weeknight recipes you’d recommend, I’d always love to hear!  Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

– a new linen duvet that I love so much for a refresh! –

– seeing this lamp on sale for a flash and snagging it –

– a new waterfall orchid, my last one lived for five months! –

– chic sunglasses that make me feel a splash of gen Z vibes –

– having friends over for dinner for what felt like the first time in forever –

It’s July.  And yet I feel like we just entered June!!  I know we are all always saying that (I’m very guilty of this), but I almost think this summer has flown by faster than usual now that we have vaccines available and are more able to travel and get out and about without as intense of worries.  Which is such a huge blessing!

Christian’s parents are coming into town this weekend, and I know Hudson will have so much fun with them.  He is really talking up a storm these days and it feels like he is saying new words everyday, which brings us so much joy.  It does make me a little sad to see him leaving that “baby” phase and entering full toddler zone, but the talking is so much fun that I know some of the best memories are to come.  I’m continuously grateful that he is so healthy and smart.  Not a day goes by that I am not aware of what a blessing that is.

I usually try to cook dinners 4-5 days a week, even if it’s just grilled cheese and tomato soup.  This week I’ve kind of checked out of the dinner duties and opted for takeout and date nights… and it’s been amazing.  WOW the time you have back in your evenings when you ditch the meal prep, cooking and cleaning.  It’s such a personal war between eating healthy and not spending your entire night in the kitchen.  It’s one I haven’t mastered but will likely die trying!

I recently recognized that I tend to do a lot of frustration/baggage unloading on Christian at the end of the day, as if he doesn’t have his own decompressing to do.  While he’s an amazing partner and never complains about it, I realized it might be time to find a therapist in Georgia who can hear these life frustrations and help me find healthy ways to curb them.  I have my first session today and am very excited about it!  Talking to a professional helps give you a different perspective and way of thinking that I find to be invaluable.  The time I spent with a therapist in San Francisco (more about it here) continues to bless me today, and it helps me to process situations in a level-headed and mature way.  I’m really thankful to have realized the benefits of therapy this early in my life.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  I would love to hear what you’re grateful for this week or what has blessed you!  Thank you so much for reading – XO –

– two new beauty products I’m loving: Gucci Lip in Call it a Day + Ouai Dean Street parfum –

– putting this frame where I can see the “kids” more often –

– nearly finishing this laugh out loud hilarious collection of essays –

– the cutest little toy food scale –

– the most fabulous parrot earrings from Mignonne Gavigan –

It’s Friday!  It was good to get back in the rhythm this week, and I also took half a day off work to spend some sweet one-on-one time with Hudson.  I used to have “summer Fridays” in my corporate job.  So this year I’m trying to extend that same seasonal treat to myself.  Just time to shut the computer, put down my phone, enjoy the sunshine and do something that I wouldn’t normally get to do on a weekday.  Like picking blackberries in the yard, swinging on the swing set or drawing on the aqua doodle with Hudson (these things are amazing!).

This week I unboxed a few goodies that really made my head turn.  I now have two Ouai fragrances, Dean Street (after a street in London) and Rue St. Honoré (a street in Paris).  Both really blew me away because they are so intoxicating.  Amazing for $56, a round of applause!  I also got to try many new shades of Gucci’s nourishing lipstick and am loving both shades Call It a Day and Linnet Stone.  They really feel more like lip balm than lipstick.

This week I watched The Housewife and the Hustler and it blew me away.  It was tough to watch, and things do not look great for Tom and Erika.  I am also hoping to watch In the Heights this weekend.  I saw the musical many years ago, but don’t remember it in detail.  Christian and I saw Hamilton live, but the made for TV version didn’t hold our attention.  So I’m curious is this will be the same way or not?  Was anyone else that way?

Tuesday also marked the second appointment (the first was delayed due to production) to have our new front doors installed and they arrived… the wrong size.  Which is especially concerning considered they were custom-made!?  We’ve been working on this since February, so I was definitely disappointed and am not quite sure where we’ll go from here.  However I managed to channel my inner calm and somehow was oddly zen about it.  A mix of my expectations of others getting a lower and also just being too busy to put much energy into being frustrated.  So… we’ll see what ends up shaking out, but I’m so thankful we aren’t remodeling an entire house because I have discovered it is not for me.

I’m off to a reformer pilates class for the first time in two weeks.  I’ve been doing mat pilates and other exercises, but it doesn’t feel the same.  I need that deep stretching!!  It always feels as good on my back as a massage does, and the effects last longer for me.

I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.  If you need any ideas, I have a gift guide here.  When in doubt, I’ve found baked goods or a big breakfast area always happily received!  Thanks so much for reading – XO –

– pulling out this beautiful maxi dress for a trip to the beach (I sized up one size) –

– and so many palm fronds, my favorite –

– Hudson’s power walk when I offer him a cookie –

– an attempt at a family photo (dress is Tanya Taylor from last year) –

– the sweetest baby swim sets from Sun House Children’s –

We are rounding out our family trip to 30A.  We take these big family trips each summer and this year has been a little extra special because we had to postpone last year’s trip due to covid.  So we were able to push back our trip a year and stay at the same house, which is really fun!

It’s been extra chaotic, as expected, with 7 kids under 9 (and one birthday while we were here!), but I’ve managed to snap iPhone photos along the way so I hope to put together a camera roll post with more snippets of the week.  But here are a few favorites.  Hudson being able to walk has made this beach trip much easier and more enjoyable.  Just chasing him around on the boardwalks and grassy lawn is so fun.

I put an out of office on this week and disconnected more than usual, it’s been really nice.  Truthfully I’ve enjoyed the golf cart and bike rides as much as the beach and pool.  There’s nothing that says summer like biking around in a swimsuit, drying off from a day in the water.  I mean… that’s maximum happiness for me.

I’ve been binging Mare of Easttown late at night in bed with my AirPods and it is SO GOOD.  If you’ve watched, let me know!  I’m halfway into episode 7 and there are twists and turns all throughout.  Kate Winslet is amazing.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  If you’re looking for Father’s Day gift ideas, I dedicated a full gift guide to it here.  XO –

– the most beautiful children’s play tent and matching cushion that Hudson loves –

– some lounge time in the yard with Bailey –

– this easy white dress for summer –

– rearranging some things in my home office –

– the cutest little mini bag –

It’s the weekend!!  This week has been a busy one filled with appointments, deadlines and emails in preparation to take next week off.  I so rarely fully disconnect from work for more than a day or so at a time, but 2020 taught me how important it is to allow myself that time.  So you won’t see any blog content next week other than (hopefully) a Friday’s Five with some beachy photos!

I have been so pleased with the beautiful quality of this children’s play tent and cushion.  The fabric is so stunning, and Hudson loves crawling inside and closing himself up inside.  He loves to be cozy with his sleep sack, stuffed animals, book and blankets.  So it doesn’t surprise me that he loves having that little space to himself.  I also may have recently purchased this toy salad set and cash register that I honestly just wanted to play with myself!

We are heading to the beach soon for a trip that we intended to take in 2020 but we pushed back due to covid.  So 14 of us will be in a big house together with 7 kids…. and it should be eventful.  I can’t wait to see Hudson at the beach now that it’s warm and he can really play.  I know he is going to have so much fun!

Other than that, I am really trying to take time to relax, live my life away from my desk a little bit more, be present with Hudson and spend more days off of my phone.  It’s something I really have to be intentional about or I will just truly work through my life.  And that’s not what I want to do!  Another one of the blessings that was gained from 2020, setting more firm boundaries in order to have more day-to-day happiness.  This summer I plan to take summer Friday’s,” which I haven’t done since my corporate job.

If you haven’t had a few days off the grid lately, I would really encourage you to consider doing the same!  Thank you so much for reading and have a beautiful weekend – XO –