THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEVI MANDEL

FEELING: We visited a toy store in Lewes back in December and it resulted in four adults enamored by a bucket of Floof. Are you familiar with this "indoor snow" because it was the first time I'd seen or heard of it?? The texture is hard to explain, but it's so satisfying to play with. I ended up ordering a tub on Amazon "for Max" and we've had the best time sitting around and playing with it. I highly recommend! Also, the clean-up is easy for those interested.

THANKFUL FOR: I woke up Sunday morning with a really bad migraine (no tot soccer updates, unfortunately...) and spent most of the day in bed. The Botox has helped tremendously, but I'm two weeks away from my next appointment so the injections I got back in November have more than likely worn off at this point. Max was a total trooper and essentially took care of himself. He played around me with his Legos while Beesly and Netflix acted as his babysitter.

THINKING ABOUT: Max continues to blow holes through the knees of his pants and it's driving me bonkers. Is it normal for boys this age? I noticed most of his knit pants were reinforced in that area when he was a baby and just learning to walk. He would fly around the house on his knees at age one and there wasn't a hole to be found. Now he pretends to surf on throw pillows and perform ninja kicks that typically result in him landing on the floor. It's crazy! I may look into iron-on patches to place inside his pants to help reinforce the pairs still in tact because I feel like I'm buying pants nonstop and the selection for boys isn't great to begin with. Fellow moms, help a sister out.

READING: I realize that Nanny Poppins would be so disappointed in my approach to finding books at the library, but I'm more of an aesthete than bookworm or bibliophile, so let me live my life Mary!! No, a cover is NOT the book (such a great song!!), but the illustrations in these beauties led me to a few adorable reads worth sharing. In fact, I will more than likely end up buying the following titles because we loved them so much.

Neon Leon

My Snake Blake

Hello, Mr. Dodo!

Idea Jar 

The Lost Picnic

LISTENING TO: Max likes to wake up each morning and tell us about how he had to "work the night shift" again and keep an eye out for a pesky T-Rex that roams around the neighborhood named "T-Bone." This storyline has gone on for several months now. It's one of my favorite things to discuss with him in the A.M. because he gets really detailed and animated once he describes the previous night's shift and the specific duties it entailed. I occasionally ask him if I can join him on the night shift sometime, but apparently this isn't even an option because I haven't been properly trained. Perhaps he knows about this blog and is afraid ol' jabberjaws over here will dish all his dino secrets??

WATCHING: Bravo fans everywhere had a serious case of FOMO when footage began to surface of Andy Cohen's epic baby shower this past Saturday. While OGs like Bethenny and LVP were MIA, Rinna dancing on the table and Kyle doing the splits was everything I needed from the event and more. I don't follow many of the housewives on Instagram, but you better believe I was stalking ALL of them closely when I caught wind of what was going down at The Palm.

EATING: My parents are coming to town this weekend (HALLELUJAH!), so mom and I might head to PA on Saturday to visit Terrain and make a pit stop at Trader Joe's on our way back. I'm eager to load up on some essentials because we're only two weeks into this deployment and I have no clue how to cook for one person. My diet is absolute crap. I essentially devour whatever Max eats, and I wouldn't consider the four year old's "meal plan" fuel for my body.

LOVING: I swear Madewell's Reid Ballet Flat in Leopard Calf Hair has been backordered since September. I know this because I used a birthday gift card THREE MONTHS AGO on a pair and waited patiently for them to arrive at the beginning of the month. I considered canceling the order several times, but I'm glad I didn't because these flats are so stinking comfortable. I wore them for the first time last Friday while we were running errands and they required zero breaking in. This is rarely the case with most flats, so I was impressed and very glad that I opted to wait.

How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!! 

WHAT I'M WEARING WEDNESDAY

Is anyone ever REALLY prepared for a snow day? In the event I was given a heads up, here's what I'd keep handy.

SNOW DAY ESSENTIALS:

Am I Dreaming Sleep Mask $18 via Ban.do

Speckled Mint Sweatshirt $70 via J.Crew

Dreamy Pajama Jogger Pant $70 via J.Crew

Boom Chicka Pop Popcorn $3 via Target

Domino Magazine $13 via Domino

Wild Art $16 via Amazon

Cuba Libre Nail Polish $10 via Catbird NYC

Peach & Lily Sheet Masks (Set of 3) $15 via Violet Grey

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe via Lil Luna

Porter Mug $25 via Amazon

Capri Blue Volcano Candle $27 via Amazon

Melange Effect Knit Blanket $119 via ZARA Home

Gemma Suede Slippers $20 via Target

Plush Indoor Snowballs $12 via Amazon

What do you like to keep on hand when you're snowed in? Is there anything you like to do or make?

LURVE LOAVE LUFF

Let's get right to it, shall we?

Here's what made me feel all twitterpated, smile contagiously, giggle uncontrollably, etc.

• Minted Wall Murals // I can't get over how gorgeous these removable wall murals are from Minted. Gulp!
• Boyzilla Slip-Ons // A sweet reader passed along the link for these and it was a done deal. Max will flip.
• Leap Black Sconce // If you're in the market for budget-friendly home updates, don't forget about Article.
• Cloud Shelf // Max pointed to my computer screen and said it looks like rolls of toilet paper. I can't say I blame the kid because I totally see it now. But seriously, why'd he have to ruin this for me?
• Sling-Slang Yo Yo // I *think* I used to be pretty good with a yo yo?? This may be revisionist history, but it's worth checking into for the sake of being a cool mom. Also, this one with the stripes is adorable.
• Clementine Citrus Screen Print // Give me ALLLLL the clementines. Extra bonus points if they still have leaves attached because it doesn't get much cuter than that. I see you, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.
• Sugar Body Scrub in Lemongrass // I got this from my cousin for Christmas and I'm crazy about it. In fact, I have to hide it from myself because I'm afraid to use it up too quickly. My skin is soft and it smells divine!
• Sugar Paper Wall Calendar // We need another calendar so we can cross off the days until Flyboy returns. 
• Oh Happy Day! Valentine's Day Shop // I'm such a sucker for V-Day. I can't help it. The pink and red. Squee!
• Green Ray Patent Mini Midge // If the designers at Frances Valentine are aiming to honor Kate's legacy, they're doing a magnificent job. The latest shapes of the bags and the colors are incredible. I think Lady Spade would be willing to tuck her favorite red lipstick into any of these beauties. I know I would!
• Rectangle Sunglasses // These are giving me some serious Karen Walker vibes. The price tag is impressive.
• Red Jaguar Sweatshirt // My dearest CV, please tell me you plan to offer this spotted sweetheart again?
• Hunter Women's Blue Insulated Pac Boots // I was excited to see they finally offer a proper Winter boot.
• Overnight Resurfacing Peel // Quite honestly, I was pretty skeptical of this product when I read about it. Sure the reviews are glowing, but can a peel exist that's both safe and effective? I'd been hemming and hawing over whether I should try it for the better part of a year, and I finally took the plunge earlier this month when my mom suggested it to me. I've seen a big difference in the overall texture of my skin, and it's helped with a melasma spot I developed on my left cheek after I was pregnant with Max.
• Jazz Cubano #2 by Ellen Priest // The movement of the brush strokes would be Frankenthaler approved.
• Porcelain Tufted Bowl // Have you browsed the home decor aisles of Target lately? They're crushing it!
• Magique Wall Art // This print is absolute perfection! Everything from the lettering to the color blue. 
• Tink Tray // The sweetest little chartreuse leaf to keep all of your trinkets safe. What's not to love?!
• Gold Metal Straws // I'm just going to throw this out there AGAIN because I think they're the best!

Have a fabulous weekend, m' dears! Make it count.

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

VIA

FEELING: We got the wagon repaired two weeks ago (see this post for more details), but I'm still working with the insurance to get our deductible reimbursed by the truck driver. It's been a little bit of a nightmare because he denies anything happened. I'm beyond frustrated by the situation and can't wait for it all to be settled.

THANKFUL FOR: I'd say the Winter weather in Delaware has been fairly mild until that last "arctic blast" hit Sunday night. Woof! It's clear Beesly's joints weren't pleased with the temperature shift because as soon as we got out of bed and made our way downstairs, our poor girl wiped out twice and had a hard time lifting her body up off the ground. I'd forgotten how the cold weather wreaks havoc on her joints and seeing her struggle like she did made me worry. After asking for recommendations on Instagram, many dog owners weighed in and suggested CBD oil for pups. Sweet Bee despises pills and takes her glucosamine chews with great hesitation, so the idea of being able to mix the oil with her meals sounds fantastic. At ten years young, I know we can't expect much, but I'm hopeful this will help in some way.

THINKING ABOUT: Max had his first tot soccer class last Sunday and when we left the parks and recreation facility it had me wishing I would have looked for something like a cooking or art class instead. Ha Ha! I was hopeful I'd be texting family members pictures and videos, but that's a bit difficult when your kid is glued to you on the bench with tears streaming down his cheeks because he suddenly has zero interest in kicking a ball, making friends, etc. Oy! To make matters worse, my athleticism is non-existent, so wearing tennis shoes to the event is about as sporty as things got. Thankfully, our friends enrolled their son as well (he's an extroverted little gem who had a BLAST!), so I had some support on the sideline. I went back and forth trying to decide if I should ignore Max's behavior, bribe him with all the things, or drag him out on the court. Parenthood is tricky. You never know if you're helping your child or scarring them for life. In the case of tot soccer, it's a toss-up. But we'll be back next week. Maybe he'll want to participate then?!

READING: I've been thinking a lot about the following Pema Chodron passage. While I didn't really make a resolution for the new year, I think it's no surprise that I wrote these words down on December 31st. 

"We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together and fall apart again. It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy."

As a recovering perfectionist with the disease to please, I'm always looking for ways in which I've "passed the test." You know, based on how much effort I put into something, the results should reflect in my work and show how much I care or how much I tried. Right?? For instance, if Max has another public outburst and I can't manage him as well as I'd like to in front of an audience, I must not be doing this whole mom thing correctly. I need to work harder. Perhaps there's another parenting article or book for that? Ha! Or how about that unfortunate meltdown I had in front of my mom and sister on Christmas Eve? I took great pride in wrapping presents and prepping our house for guests. I thought everything was set to be perfect, but deep down I had a lot going on in my own head and no matter how lovely the stairway looked bedecked in garland, letting them see me get overwhelmed felt like I ruined the entire holiday. Oh, the drama! Because if things appear great and I give the impression I'm chill and present (when I'm totally not!), then maybe I can convince myself and everyone else that I'm not sad about my husband leaving or that I felt a lot of pressure to get our first Christmas in our first home just right. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I need/want to give up on my hunt for perfection and let life come together and fall apart as it's intended because it WILL come together and it WILL fall apart and that's not a reflection of me, that's just life.

LISTENING TO: I was thumbing through the latest issue of Real Simple when Ingrid Fetell Lee's home stopped me in my tracks. Holy WOW, the color!! In that moment I knew very little, but she just seemed like a woman after my own heart. I didn't make it through the entire article before I had to Google her. My search led me to a TED Talk the author gave last year in which she discusses joy, specifically where it's hidden and how to find it. If you have a chance, be sure to listen to it here. For many of us, it explains our shared affinity for things like stripes and polka-dots. Her studies were so fascinating to me, I knew the 13-minute video wasn't enough and ordered a copy of her book, Joyful, to learn more.

WATCHING: In an attempt to keep ourselves distracted before Flyboy's departure, we began watching Shameless and I'm a slightly embarrassed to admit that we're obsessed with the whole Gallagher clan. We managed to blaze through the first seven seasons together (don't do the math; we wasted A LOT of time watching it!) and it's giving us something to do while we're apart as well. I don't think I've ever watched a show with characters quite this dysfunctional, but here we are. There's just something endearing about the family and once you get past the shock of the first few seasons, NOTHING surprises you anymore. Have you watched the series? Thoughts?

EATING: Here's the deal, we've been eating our feelings around here a lot lately. I'm not proud of it and neither are my tight-fitting jeans, but there's a silver lining. In the week leading up to Flyboy's farewell, I decided we needed some chocolate chip cookies in our life, so I began Googling recipes based on the ingredients we had available in our pantry. Enter Lil Luna's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. Now, stop what you're doing, click on the link I just shared, and bookmark it. Hell, get in the kitchen RIGHT NOW and whip them up if you can. They are THAT good. Sweet readers, I've never met a chocolate chip cookie that is so soft and chewy with the perfect blend of salty and sweet. Believe me when I say that if finding this recipe is my greatest success of 2019, I'm totally okay with it. These are OUTSTANDING!!

LOVING: A few months ago, I bought a cheap set of gold metal straws on Amazon because Max and I were blowing through boxes of paper straws left and right. Considering the cheap price tag, I kept my expectations pretty low, but felt it was worth a shot. You guys, if you want any ol' regular day to feel fancy, buy a set of these bad boys!! Sure, saving the sea turtles is great, but a cool to your lips Key Lime La Croix is the real MVP. Just kidding, I'm all about mother earth, but a durable and snazzy reusable straw isn't too shabby either.

How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!! 

LIFE'S LITTLE DETAILS

"THE DETAILS ARE NOT THE DETAILS. THEY MAKE THE DESIGN." — CHARLES EAMES

Happy Wednesday, m' dears! We're only three weeks into 2019 and it already feels like a whirlwind of a year. As many of you are aware, Flyboy left for his deployment seven days ago. If I think about the four of us (Beesly included!) standing in the driveway waiting for his ride to arrive while doling out our final good-byes, I begin to lose it. Truthfully, six months apart can start to feel pretty daunting and overwhelming at times. I'm attempting to approach this chapter day by day, and in those tough moments, minute by minute. One box crossed off the ol' calendar is another day closer to a really sweet reunion, right? We've done this whole being away from each other thing before, and we've done so with flying colors. Pep talks, FaceTime, lots of grace, Maxwell's comedic timing, and the support of our family and friends will get us through. If there's one thing for certain, courage and strength can be found in all of it.

Thank you all so much for following along through life's ups and downs. This space has always been a bright respite for me to write and create. I have a feeling I'll be turning to the blog a lot in the coming months as we work toward a new normal in FB's absence. Here's hoping your year is off to a splendid start! Go on and tell me a little bit about it.

FEATURED DETAILS: DREAMING EYE MASK // COAT RACK // BRUNO BAG // SUNGLASSES // STRIPED PAJAMAS // LAMP