THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

VIA PAPER & LIGHT PRESS

FEELING: I finally get all the hype surrounding Lele Sadoughi headbands. Sigh. When you wear one you instantly feel like Kate Middleton. I know, that sounds ridiculously dorky, but it's the absolute truth!! I got this petite style headband around my birthday and I've worn it almost every day since. They're unlike any other headband I've ever worn and now I want them all. Sometimes you get what you pay for and the obsession is very much real.   

THINKING ABOUT: I really wanted to send out Christmas cards this year, but I didn't get around to it as I'd hoped. As someone who LOVES sending and receiving mail (not to mention the excuse to buy stationery), I feel a bit guilty for not making it a priority. Oh well! Something had to give on this year's holiday to-do list and I'm learning that's okay. On the bright side, Max and I did make time for a little craft this week. We're sending them off to a small group of family and friends, and I think that's making me feel a little bit better about two years in a row without Christmas cards.

If any of you are in a similar situation and you're feeling holiday guilt, Ali Nelson offers a perfect reminder:

"this time of year can be brutal, with our “to do” lists growing and growing, all the while losing our PRESENCE in this season. 

slow down. we want YOU to show up… fully here, not at the grocery store or on amazon. no matter how many things are left undone, the best gift we can give to those we love is our own presence. 

i promise your kids and your family, your friends, and yes, even you, will value YOU showing up for the memories way more than they’ll remember if there was greenery on the table or if the sweet potatoes were better than last years. 

if something is taking up too much space in your life right now— let it go. surrender those expectations you feel you’ll never live up to, and instead invest in the small things. 

what was important to you as a kid? do these things, regardless if you’re a parent or not. traditions are not just for kids. they can help anchor us to memories, create meaning, allow us to marinate in the merriment.
so think about it. what do you want the holidays to be like in YOUR world? 

the coolest part about being a grownup? we get to choose what will we keep from our pasts and bring into the future with us. so create some traditions or keep them up. make the moments special. go get a tree, or a bush, or a branch from outside. make it merry. listen to music that will be forever and iconically associated you the holidays together (hello, amy grant). do a couple holiday-ish things, even if it’s cold... so you can see the glow of parade lights on your kid's face. or dont, and stay inside and watch elf, or a christmas story, or sing some christmas carols. make cookies. or buy them at the store and heat them up. talk about the meaning of christmas and why we choose to spend a month (and a lot of money😬) celebrating. laugh. sing. dance. but mostly, be there. show up. for them, and for you. 

this season, let’s choose to surrender our striving and choose stillness. availability. purposeful presence." 

THANKFUL FOR: A few months ago, I saw my doctor to get my thyroid checked and the results came back normal. After taking Accutane in college for acne, my hair texture went from thick to fine. Over the years it's progressively become thinner and upon switching birth control earlier this year, I've experienced excessive shedding. From what I understand, a change in hormones can play a big role in hair loss. Grrrrreat. NOT! In July I started taking Nutrafol and I'm starting to see baby hairs, which is great, but I want to ensure I'm doing everything possible to be proactive about the issue. I currently wash my hair once or twice a week, and I try my best to avoid the overuse of heat styling tools (hence the heavy rotation of headbands). On the days that I do style my hair, I still get a little freaked out about the amount of hair left in my brush and on the bathroom floor. Yikes! After visiting with my doctor earlier this week regarding prescription renewals, we discussed my hair again and he's referred me to a dermatologist. Initially, I was nervous that he suggested it because that made me feel like it was pretty bad, but in reality, it's for the best. My mom and Flyboy tell me not to stress too much about it and they're probably right, so it will be nice to get a professional's opinion and put my mind at ease. I understand that hair growth takes time and either what I'm doing right now is working (slowly), or I need to pursue other options. Have you experienced something similar? What worked for you?

WATCHING: Over the Thanksgiving break, my family and I went to see A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The film's perspective was obviously different from the Mister Rogers documentary released a few years ago; however, it was just as precious in my opinion. Max opted to sleep during the entire movie, which sounds great and all, until you find out that he snored SO loud the people around us were looking back to see who was sawing logs. Oops!

READING: When we were at the library last week, Max chose Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton because of the bright red plane on the cover. To be honest, I wasn't really surprised when I saw him throw it in our basket. Planes! Right? Later that evening when we cozied up to read the book, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this woman's incredible story. Why had I never heard of "The First Lady of Firsts" before? She paved the way for women creating opportunities in aviation, auto racing, boat racing, and astronautics. You guys, Google her now.  

EATING: After visiting my parents for Thanksgiving, I stopped by Trader Joe's on our way back to Delaware. I exercised control and grabbed a few healthy-ish essentials (space was limited in the wagon), but then I saw a tower of stroopwafel tins near the checkout. Last minute, I threw one in my cart and within three days of returning home, they were gone. I immediately regretted buying one tin only. Now that they've been devoured, I can't stop thinking about them. These cookies remind me of my childhood. I don't think you've really lived unless you've had a fresh warm stroopwafel. I've tried lots of brands over the years, but the ones sold at TJ's taste like the cookie I remember.

LISTENING: We were listening to Christmas music on our way to preschool this past Monday when Pentatonix began playing in the car. Max started to sing along and shared how much he loved their sound. Having listened to their jingle from Sesame Street on repeat for the first two years of his life, this really came as no surprise. I explained to him that the a capella group sings without the accompaniment of any instruments. His little mind was blown and then he proceeded to tell me that he also has some experience beatboxing. Oh, but of course you do, Maxwell!

LOVING: Last week two of my favorite people on the Internet (Tatiana of Flora & Fauna and Joanna Goddard of Cup of Jo) shared an article I found extremely insightful. If you get a free moment, you might want to read The Love Experiment: One Question That Changes Everything as well. The concept is so simple, but it gets right to the point. What happens when we ask our closest family and friends the following: "Please tell me how I can love you better."

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