THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

HAND-DRAWN LOVE / 56 BY MADDY NYE VIA DESIGNLOVEFEST

THINKING ABOUT: Life with a toddler like Max is a lot like babysitting a drunk little frat boy 24/7. Emotionally he's either blissed out or on the brink of another meltdown. When I'm not ensuring his safety and preventing him from another wild stunt, I have to listen to him talk about the same four topics OVER and OVER, and he gets super testy if I don't act interested. Dude, I get it! You love planes, trains, trash, and trucks. Sigh. For some reason this analogy has helped me come to terms with this chapter of my life.

THANKFUL FOR: On Monday I got the chance to talk to someone I met a few years ago via blogging on the phone and it made my heart so happy! I'm usually pretty shy and stray away from this sort of stuff, but when she suggested we chat, I just kind of went with it and I'm really glad I did. Nervous jitters and flushed cheeks aside, she was just as gracious and humble as I imagined, so it was easy to relax and our conversation was very organic. I couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed because I rambled SO stinking much. I suppose my brain couldn't keep up with my thoughts. I was stupid giddy, but it was such a bright spot to my week!

WATCHING: Daylight Savings Time is kicking us in the pants. By the time we get Max to bed, we'll start watching something on the DVR but we end up dozing off and missing the entire show. I still haven't seen the RHONJ reunion. Did somebody say weak sauce?

EATING: It rained yesterday and the high was 65 degrees. Pinch me! That sort of crazy combination was practically begging for me to dust off m' cardigans and whip up a fresh batch of chili. Naturally, I found comfort in doing both and it was divine! While donning this sweater, I dabbled with Skinny Taste's Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili and it was a huge hit. My only recommendation would be to double down on the spices, but you can adjust the recipe to your liking. I kind of LOOOOOOOVE cumin. From the look and taste of things, I guess I can officially say It's FALL in Swell Rio, Y'ALL!

LISTENING TO: As I mentioned yesterday, we got family pictures taken this past Saturday and they feature a T-6 (the plane FB flies) in the background. While we were waiting for our turn to get photographed, we walked around the hangar and Max got the chance to kiss and hug one of the planes. His idea, not ours. Ha Ha! I'll admit it was incredibly precious in that moment, but we didn't realize that it might become an issue later this week when our dear tot decided it's necessary he kisses and hugs ALL of the planes (static displays, planes flying in the sky, etc.). Whenever we go on our morning strolls or we leave the base and head into town, he becomes upset because he wants to get up close and personal with any aircraft he lays eyes on. I've tried to explain to him countless times that we don't always get the privilege of smooching the planes as we'd like. Slowly but surely our flying floozy is beginning to understand. Instead of freaking out or fussing, I hear Max settling with air kisses and hugs instead. Oh dear!   

READING: It should come as no surprise that I cling to words. In times of joy and sadness, I like to work through my feelings by writing. I always have. And when I can't find accurate words to explain what it is that I'm experiencing, I'll hunt for the right quote to help navigate my feelings. I try to keep things light in this corner, but the election results on Tuesday left me disheartened. If you felt similarly, you might find solace in these words from Dr. Martin Luther King's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech...

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.

This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

LOVING: I snagged this Pintucked Lace Pencil Skirt in Emerald Pool on promo (30% off) this week, and I'm hopeful it will be perfect for upcoming holiday parties. Luckily I'll have my mom and sister around for some honest feedback when it arrives. Woo Hoo!

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!