It’s happening again. I always know because I start to feel itchy. Not literally, but metaphorically. As if I’ve got a rash in my brain, or mosquito bites dotting my heart. I get a little anxious, a little squirrelly, a little off, a little I-don’t-really-feel-like-myself.
This is, of course, what happens when I’m not writing.
I keep giving myself a hall pass. I’m tired after book launch! The kids have all had Flu B! It’s spring break! It’s raining! There is so much crazy tea re: SLOMW! (If you don’t know what that means, consider yourself blessed.) The house is a mess! Someone needs to go to Costco! I’ve got a Girl Scout meeting to plan! Laundry to fold! Not to mention: the world is still on fire! Every day the headlines get worse! Gas is $6 a gallon!
WHO CAN ACTUALLY WRITE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS?!
All the essays I’m not writing continue to taunt me. I wake up in the dead of night at 3am and tinker with them in my head.
What Project Hail Mary Taught Me About 1 John 4:19
The Mom with the Good Snacks
Forbidden Fruit: My Unfiltered Thoughts on AI
I’m still working on a piece about my word of the year (does anyone care at this point? 🫠). I’ve got a half-written essay about protein smoothies, which is really just a front for how I’m coping with my oldest son starting high school in the fall. A couple months ago, I started writing a braided essay called Strangers on the Internet that I never finished.
My Substack is growing cobwebs. My brain is, too. I know what I need to do (get offline, delete Instagram, touch grass, walk in silence, read Anne Lamott), but I continue to doomscroll and find every excuse under the sun to avoid the blank page. To quote Paul in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
Cut to me doomscrolling again.
I wish I could tell you that merely writing this broke the spell, but I’m still feeling itchy and I’m not sure when I’ll feel better. Consider this an act of public confession and also a plea for accountability. If I haven’t posted one of those aforementioned stories (or something else, should I be inspired!) by May 1st, you have permission to slide into my DMs and yell at me. Or gently remind me who I am. (I can handle either, I promise.)
Until then, this is my feeble attempt at clearing a few cobwebs from this space.
Be back soon. I hope. ❤️
This might be one of my favorite pictures I have ever taken of Presley. Her sparkly nail polish. The way the camellia petals fell perfectly into a heart. Her double chin. I can’t wait to frame it. Friendly reminder I made a *very* comprehensive photo guide for mothers and memory-keepers (zero photography experience needed!) and it’s available on my website for just $15. This photo was captured using prompt #2 (of 9).
I am happy to report that despite starting slow for me, The Correspondent was *absolutely* worth the hype. Wow. 5 stars. (Shoutout to my Book Club for 3+ years of batting 1,000. Up next: Theo of Golden, then Lady Tremaine)
Other books I devoured recently: Culpability, The Great Sex Rescue, Set the Bone.
Recent and/or upcoming releases from friends that I am currently reading/can’t wait to read: Girl of Lore, Counterweights, Small Steps, Help! I’m Ruining My Kids, The Size of Your Joy, Love Like a Mother. In other words: IT’S A GOOD TIME TO BE A READER.
In case you missed it, I’m officially 40! And let me tell you: that perimenopause algorithm is workin’ overtime. Between the vibration plate, weighted vest, pill sorter, and Creatine, I’m entering this fresh decade with a don’t-take-anything-too-seriously attitude.
Related: this red light mask is a major splurge and while I can’t tell if it’s doing anything yet, I’ll report back. Shoutout to my mother-in-law for the generous birthday gift. ✨
Brett and I have very few overlapping TV interests, but two shows we’ve been equally drawn to are Paradise (Hulu) and The Pitt (HBO). We also saw TWO movies (in theaters!) in a four-day span (who are we?!) and wholeheartedly recommend Project Hail Mary and the AI Documentary.
Related: we also watched Inside the Manosphere (#YIKES) and I feel weird recommending it, but I do think it’s an essential watch if you are raising boys who—in any capacity—have access to the Internet.
After being on a shopping ban January 1-March 20th—which was very good for both my closet and wallet—I ventured to Nordstrom Rack the week of my birthday and walked away with these three items:
This floral dress, this pleated skirt, and these tie-waist pants. I am trying to wear more color in my 40’s, so we’ll see how this goes.
Speaking of shopping, is it too early to call this my thrift find of 2026? It’s already hanging up in my bedroom and I LOVE IT.
Turning 40 felt like a great time to have an existential crisis about skincare, and 13 hours in Reddit forums later, I’m trying some new things! I haven’t been using Vitamin C or Retinol lately, but after some (very harsh) criticism from an esthetician I will never see again, I’m bringing them back into my routine. The good people of Reddit directed me to this 3% Retinol (which is great for sensitive skin, and you can gradually increase the potency from 3% to 6% to 10%), this Vitamin C (which apparently is a perfect dupe for SkinCeuticals at a fraction of the price!), and this barrier cream (holy hydration batman, my skin drank this up—I will absolutely be repurchasing).
I want to write about this more in depth in the future, but for any moms of tweens/teens who are considering getting their kid a phone, we recently switched from Gabb to the Bark phone, and all of us are VERY HAPPY WITH IT. We were having soooo many issues with Gabb, and Bark has been a far smoother experience. For reference, Everett is almost 14 (we got him the Gabb phone at 13). This link will get you $50 off, if you’re in the market! We will go straight to Bark for Carson and Presley when the time comes.
Lastly, if you’ll indulge me in some fun You’re in Good Company news:
Shauna Niequist gave us a shoutout! This is extra special to me because a) I have read every single book Shauna has ever written (many of them more than once!), and 2) When we were pitching YIGC, we literally pitched it as “Bread & Wine for Moms” 😉
Such an honor to collaborate with the gals over at What To Cook on this interview re: how to make friends.
Check us out in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper (!)
That’s all I’ve got. What are you reading? Wearing? Cooking? Watching? Tell me everything!
Quick disclaimer: My Substack is always free to read! I use affiliate links in posts like these, which occasionally give me a teeny tiny kickback if you buy something. Rest assured: I only recommend stuff I genuinely love.
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