THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

VIA

THINKING ABOUT: I still remember what it was like when they first placed Max on my chest after he was born. I'll never forget the moment my heart burst into two pieces or those deep feelings that came over me as I realized I created this tiny human, and my desire to raise a son that's both brave and kind. But if I was able to rewind to October 8, 2014 and have a moment with that scared new mom overwhelmed in a hospital bed all over again, I think I'd tell her to just wait. When it all feels like TOO much, WAIT for the first time your child tells you that you're his "best friend." WAIT to hear him tell you earnestly, "I have so much fun with you!" After a few years of pouring everything I have into this tiny but tenacious soul, nothing could have prepared me for what my heart might feel when he was finally able to communicate that what I've been doing has meant something to him. That reward has been invaluable.

FEELING: We're headed to Marfa tomorrow and I'm beyond excited! The best part?! Beesly gets to come with. Eek! This will be the first time we've done this, and I couldn't think of a better place for the four of us to enjoy TOGETHER! If you've been to the quirky town, you know it's a low-key location for our family to relax. The last time we visited, I was 32 weeks pregnant with Max and it was the final stop on our Texas babymoon. It's crazy to look back at photos and absorb all that's transpired over the past three years.

THANKFUL FOR: Despite the many drawbacks to social media, I appreciate how it's used as a tool to disseminate information in times of need as we've seen with Hurricane Harvey this past week. For instance, I learned about a simple opportunity to help those in need via one of my favorite artists (Donald Robertson) when he shared the following information in an Insta Story on Tuesday...

#ICLEANEDOUTMYCLOSETFORHOUSTON

1. Go through your closet.

2. Anything new/newish and clean that you can spare, pack up and ship to:

SOUTHSIDE SKATEPARK

510 IOWA STREET

HOUSTON, TX 77587

*The Southside crew will get your donations to those in need.

With a move on the horizon, my closet could certainly benefit from a healthy purge, so I plan on helping in the effort this weekend. 

LISTENING TO: As embarrassing as it is to confess, I've listened to Taylor Swift's latest single, Look What You Made Me Do, more than I care to admit. Despite the fact that it's VERY catchy to listen to while I'm spinning, I've been getting a kick out of all the Arrested Development and Beyoncé memes the Internet has provided as a result of the hokey lyrics and cryptic music video. Thoughts on the song? Are you mourning the death of "Old Taylor", or would you very much like to be excluded from this narrative altogether?!

WATCHING: Fellow Bravo fans! Is it just me, or is this season of The Real Housewives of Orange County painfully stale?! Lydia never added much value to the show anyway and it feels as though Peggy has been sorely miscast. I'm not making excuses for Vicki's ongoing bad behavior (the norm with her), but the show really sucks when Tamra and the OG aren't getting along. Hey Andy, when do you foresee the entire group hanging out again? If not, what's the point in filming another season? Watching them avoid each other at functions where they continue to hawk their products and businesses doesn't motivate me to tune in, which is unfortunate because the RHOC used to be one of my favorites in the franchise. Tell me I'm not alone in feeling this way.

EATING: Earlier this week I threw together Tasty Thin's Asian Chicken Chopped Salad and it was a BIG hit. The recipe was wicked easy and could have been simplified even more if I would have remembered to get a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store. Thankfully, I had a few chicken breasts in the freezer and popped them in the crockpot at lunchtime for a few hours with some bone broth and seasoning. You could argue that step was just as painless as going to the HEB with a toddler anyway. Ha Ha! One reader commented they would add cilantro and chopped snap peas the next time they make the salad, and I plan on doing the same.

READING: For those of you who have truck-obsessed tots, I highly recommend the board book Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. It's become a necessary step to our nighttime routine as we watch crane, cement mixer, dump truck, and bulldozer sign off after another rough-and-tough day of construction play. The book is also the latest inspiration behind Max's "excavator hugs." Don't ask. We're still trying to figure it out as well, but he scoots around like he's on tracks and his arms act as the front bucket??

LOVING: The classic three-quarter length closet staple got a fun and flattering update with this adorable Tie-Back T-Shirt. Gimme.

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