Dear Reader, My daughter came downstairs this evening and said "Mama, will you come see my room?" We were having a rare down day. Football on, a couple of naps, everyone doing their own thing. She had spent her time decorating her room for Halloween. She wrote "enter if you dare" on index cards for her door and taped mini tissue paper ghosts around her room. She used pre-cut pumpkin cards and letters to spell Pumpkin Spice on her wall. It was quite cute! Her excitement for Halloween got me...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Here we are yet again with another home repair! Are you sick of me talking about these yet? LOL. Yesterday I walked downstairs to a small puddle underneath the fridge. After snapping at the dog thinking she'd had an accident I realized it was melting ice from the freezer. A compressor issue apparently. A repair guy arrived today and the good news, it's a clear fix. The bad news, it is expensive. Of course! But on the bright side? I now have a real reason to do a fridge deep clean...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, I am sitting at my desk with a cup of hot hazelnut coffee and thrilled that it is raining outside. Raining! After months of heat we could use a break and today delivered. Now I just want to light my pumpkin pecan candle, make a pot of chili and watch football all day. We have entered the cozy season. There is something about this shift in weather that makes you want your home to feel different too. Warmer. Softer. More intentional. Less summer chaos and more quiet comfort. If you...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, I'm tired. Truly fatigued. Not from a harder week than usual, but from being a nag on repeat. Did you get your backpack? Can you put your laundry away? Did you find your water bottle? Have you been wearing your retainer? I no longer want to be a verbal alarm clock. Lately I've been writing things down on our kitchen whiteboard instead of saying them out loud. Simple reminders of what's happening and where to be. My kids are teens and pre-teens; they can (and should!) totally...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, I have tooth pain this weekend and the best part about it? I'm between dentists. Yikes! Thanks to insurance limitations I've been scrambling to find a new provider yet thankfully have an appointment tomorrow. Fingers crossed it's not as bad as I fear. But it's been one of those reminders that when something unexpected lands in your week, everything else has to reorganize around it. With today being Sunday, it's a good day to get prepped for the week (especially when unexpected...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, As I type this there are men in my home demoing, hammering and painting. About two months ago we discovered a slow drip from our main shower that made its way into the kitchen ceiling below and the linen closet upstairs. What started as a small problem became a full repair project. No kitchen access, school starting this week, extra eating out (expensive and unhealthy!) and my brain is going a bit haywire. Here's what I've learned though. When the unexpected hits and life feels...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Here's what's on my to-do list this week: ✓ Submit athletic clearance forms ✓ Buy reading books off Amazon ✓ Have the boys charge their school Chromebooks ✓ Clean out closets and backpacks ✓ Set dentist appointments for all three kids ✓ Schedule boys haircuts And that's just a few! Next week is the first day of school for my high schooler and middle schoolers — including a brand new school for my daughter. It's a big week and my head is spinning a little. A pen and notebook just...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Today marks the first of a few days where it's just my daughter and me at home. The rest of my family are on trips or overnight camps, and honestly? I'm pretty excited about it. A break from the summer chaos and messiness is very welcome. I miss my husband and boys of course, but just one kid at home for a few days is pretty nice! Our plan is simple: a couple visits to the beach, hang out with friends and reset before the busy school year officially begins. The reset piece is...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, My family and I just returned from a trip to visit extended family in South Carolina. It was fun, relaxing and a much needed recharge. And of course on my first Target run to restock groceries I walked straight into the Back to School section. Already up and running in full force, that big colorful reminder that a new school year is right around the corner. I always feel a little relieved and a little sad when this time rolls around. My kids are growing up faster than I can keep...
3 months ago • 1 min read