This week felt like such an accurate snapshot of our current season of life. After school band practice for our oldest. Our youngest being tiiiired on Thursday night. Time for me to go to yoga class and get outside for walks every day. First outdoor baseball practices of the season. Todd being able to grill dinner on the days he’s WFH but missing family dinner one night when he was at a conference. Both of my parents filling me in on doctor’s appointments they had this week. Having to tell my oldest to turn out his light after 10pm (“But mom, I’m reading! One more chapter?”). Going to a school event and getting a chance to chat with one of my youngest’s good friend’s mom for the first time. Kids coming home from school and eating us out of house and home. Todd’s grandma’s burial (she passed away last year) and realizing we only have one living grandparent left. Field trips and middle school orientation night and an 11 year well check and a hair appointment to cover my grays on the calendar. My youngest still sitting on my lap to read books. Todd and I recounting the passage of time when we crawl into bed at night. A knowing that we’re in the good old days.
What is something I can do for our home?
What is something I can do for/with our family?
What is something I can do for myself?
Today for me it’s resetting the house as a family - this has been a Sunday rhythm in the spring, sketching out the upcoming week and posting it on the fridge for everyone to reference, and getting into bed a bit earlier than usual for extra reading time.
here’s this week’s take home folder, enjoy!
I’m way overdue for an underwear refresh so I crowdsourced on IG and found out that 1. people are highly passionate about good underwear 2. the rest of us are in dire need of good underwear 😂
The most recommended
Pact I ordered this style to try, they’re part of the sale. My first impression is that they are good quality and comfortable. A win!
Soma - this is the only brand on the list I’ve tried. I used to love them but last time I ordered (July ‘24) it seemed like the quality went way downhill. I’ve been hesitant to reorder.
New-to-me Brands that people are passionate about:
Honorable mentions - Natori, Duluth Trading Co, Qunice Organic Cotton, Tommy John, Boody, Jockey, Felina - these brands received the next highest number of votes
We all deserve undies that fit and feel good on our bodies. Maybe an underwear refresh will be a yearly Mother’s Day gift to myself.
I’m obsessed with the renewal that spring brings our world. After living the last six months with a lot of brown (naked trees, fallen decomposing leaves) and a lot of white (snow and ice), we are just entering what I call Light Green Season in Minneapolis.
Light Green Season - if you blink you might miss it - describes the fleeting days in which the new leaves unfurl on the tress. And it’s everything. The new leaves are light green for a couple of days up to a couple of weeks and then they turn dark green.
May we never be too busy or distracted to notice and savor Light Green Season.
We have been trying to fix up our basement this year - mainly make it more functional as it’s become a hangout space for our boys and their friends. While doing a full renovation would be amazing, we’re ballin’ on a budget and have just been chipping away at the work.
This week we had an electrician here to do a smallish project in the basement, and lo and behold, some dicey electrical work was uncovered that needed to be brought up to code. This was, of course, an added expense.
And I just feel the need to say ughhhhhhhh. If home projects sometimes feel like one step forward, two steps back, I get it. Would I have rather spent that money on something fun? Totally. But sometimes - a lot of the time in our older home - we need to prioritize the boring stuff.
Have you had to spend money on something unsexy lately? We’re right there with you.
#1 Neurologists: What You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer’s & Dementia - I know people have opinions about Mel Robbins but this podcast episode came across my desk last week and I found it very informative. “One Harvard study showed that if people walk, a brisk walk, 25 minutes a day…they reduce their chance of Alzheimer’s by 40%.”
Dissolving the Myth: Not All Plastic is Worth Panicking About - and the Science Tells You Which is Which. Such an informative and common sense article on the process of removing excess plastic from our lives. The last couple of paragraphs brought me a true exhale.
The Best Skill You Can Develop is How to Stay in a Good Mood - this reel spoke to me and is how I aim to live my life. Of course we all experience hard moments and challenges, but living life with a chip on your shoulder just isn’t it.
My oldest son is turning 11 this week. I always get super emotional + nostalgic around my kids’ birthdays. It’s having the front row seat to see them grow and evolve and be good people and form relationships and face challenges and learn and be brave. And, it’s one year closer to adulthood. For the record, I know having adult kids is awesome. But it just looks a little different.
My almost 11 year old has various things in his life that he’s committed to - he plays a few sports, he is learning the trombone, he’s a voracious reader, and he’s very interested in time with friends. He also loves being at home - playing games, climbing the trees in our yard, taking care of our fish, playing(/bickering with) his brother, watching TV, and playing video games.
Do he and I have less one-on-one time than we did, say, when he was 4? Yes. But we still have beautiful, cherished time together.
late night chats
he randomly joins me for walks
lots of time in the car
family dinner and breakfast most days
throwing him a few pop flies in the driveway
library visits
errand buddy
trying to keep up with him on bike rides
occasionally popping into McDonalds to grab him an 8pm burger after practice
And he chats my ear off the whole time, it’s the best. While it’s not the same as the toddler/preschool years, it is still fun and special. I’m looking forward to life with an 11 year old.
see you right back here next week,
recent favorites
deep cleaning everything - the satisfaction! The renewed love and appreciation for our home! I’m trying to deep clean one room or area a week. Last week I did the laundry room/mudroom, today I’m hoping to do our family room.
7” High Rise Shorts are the MVP of my warm weather walks. Comfy, no chafing. Finally on sale.
rugs - I have added a few rugs/runners to our home in the last six months and the comfort and coziness is unmatched! There are 3-4 more spaces in our home I’m itching to add a rug to so I’m chipping away at it as our budget allows. Ruggable - we have the all-in-ones and they’re perfect. Use code NICOLE15 for 15% off. Tumble - this is a two piece system with a cushioned pad and an easy-to-remove-and-wash rug. Have one in our laundry room and it’s lovely. Use code NICOLE10SM for 10% off.
Salt & Stone sampler sets - to treat yourself, an elevated mother’s day consumable, a bachelorette party gift, or to separate out for individual gifts. Everyone loves the Santal & Vetiver scent but I think the Saffron & Cedar and Neroli & Basil are supreme.
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser - this is a retelling of the Cinderella story told from the POV of the “evil” Stepmother. I wasn’t sure if I’d be into it, but I ended up really enjoying it. The audiobook is top notch.
This Complete Repair Hair Treatment - first step of an everything shower. Makes my hair feel SO smooth!
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