Hi friend! I hope the start of your summer has been lovely.

First, I want to dive into some fun happenings and things I’m into lately. It’s been awhile, we are in need of a catch up! Down below, I wanted to share some things I’ve had on my mind the last few months. A little bit of a vent because writing here always feels therapeutic to me. Plus, a lot of it is why I have been a little bit quieter online this year. Sorting through things, growing pains, getting to know myself better, and dialing in on my why. Let’s chat.

June Agenda!

We have a lot of fun plans to look forward to this month. My baby is turning 5!!!! We have a few driving distance trips (our travel pref right now with Hazel), St Helena and Sonoma, and a Carmel weekend. I have been loving these little escapes so much. I am definitely in need of a proper full week (or two) beach trip, but we will get there.

Slowing down to savor the season. Reading, writing, more sun/less screen.

Inspired by

The shift to summer! There is something about this time of year that can make you feel like a new person. It stirs up your soul a bit and reminds you of potential and opportunity at your fingertips. I think what I love most about this time of year is that it’s a reminder of how the little things really do mean the most. Like being able to crack open the windows, warm morning walks, and being able to shift more of your lifestyle outside. Picnicking in the grass with my girls on weekends feels like such a luxury. It is!

Craving simplicity right now. I’ve been in a big closet / cabinet / drawer clean out. Organizing, selling, and donating things. I usually do these sweeps seasonally. Always feels so good!

Daily and weekly routine audit. I am so effected by my surroundings, what I consume (in all the ways), spend my time. I’ve been paying close attention to fountains vs. drains. I want to fill my days with things that give me life, energy, levity. And ditch the things that have the opposite effect. More on this topic below!

Passionate Recs, a new series? I LOVE getting and giving passionate recs. I don’t want a rec that comes from mid-level excitement, I want the wholehearted YES rec. And because I’ve witnessed this communities incredible taste and kindred love of the best / quality… I thought this could be a great way for us to all chime in on things. I sent an inquiry out this past week on a very specific style sweatshirt I was needing to find and you guys, per always, delivered. From tinted SPF, to recipes, to gripping reads… I feel like we are a resourceful bunch when we come together, so thought this could be a great way to circle up on these *very important subjects. Be on the lookout for the first form send out and post to follow.

The closet clean out was inspired by the fact that I continue to lean into a more refined, quality wardrobe. Fewer, better forever! Except for jackets and bags. I can’t be a minimalist there.

Lastly — we are currently watching Your Friends and Neighbors (season 2) and Four Seasons (season 2) and love them both so much in case you need a passionate rec. 🙂 We also loved watching the film Project Hail Mary.

Okay, things swirling around my head lately that I felt like spilling onto my keyboard.

Motherhood cracks you open

I don’t remember when I first heard this sentiment, but my initial grasp was more of a theatrical expression and visual — heart bursting, melting into a puddle, feeling overwhelmed from so much love entering your life. Which, it is true! It does feel that way.

But once I became a mom the meaning became much more literal. The role truly cracked me open and exposed parts of me that had been hidden away for decades. It’s taken years for me to piece this puzzle — but this year I finally am seeing the full picture.

It was a shock to me how certain feelings emerged so strongly, seemingly out of thin air. I learned that while I had done the work: accepted facts, my truth, my past, the emotions that lived inside of me during particularly tough parts of my upbringing were still there… quietly protected behind locked doors. The fears and stress that came with covid, pregnancy, leaving a city and chapter of my life that I loved, postpartum, sleepless newborn days caused those door to fly wide open. The state of fight or flight I knew well when I was young returned… and I began to crack, just like they said.

I wanted to share this because it’s something that has been going on in the background the last handful of years. I’ve come to learn that it’s quite normal during our human experience to suppress emotions in our body at one point or another. They can show up in unobvious ways, too, like anxiety and inflammation. You’ve got to get to the root of it and heal.

I’ve learned a lot about this from Nicole Sachs in case any of this sounds all too familiar.

Intentionality has been a theme

Being present. I used to feel like it was an impossible feat to have a work/life balance. Especially in the early days of Instagram it was all so consuming and exciting. I just don’t have the energy, capacity, or desire anymore to be so constant. I want to be on my screen very little in my day and I am working on how to go about this (with my job namely haha). A couple small things I am doing that help a lot: iPhone is charged in the dining room at night, not on my nightstand. I deleted IG from home screen, so I have to type it in to get to it / be more intentional when I do. A work in progress.

A sharper focus on where my energy goes. My time and energy have become so much more valuable and sacred to me. Spending time with people I love, who I can be myself around, and the kind of friends who truly fill up my cup. The rituals and hobbies I make time for. My thoughts, actions, words… everything is energy.

Self dial-in. Since I started blogging, my goal has always been to document and share inspiration for my own enjoyment. To study, marvel, and surround myself with things in life I find beautiful and noteworthy. It’s innately part of me to pass along what I am excited about to others — I live for a passionate rec: giving them and getting them! Nothing has changed here with the foundation I have built. What changes is the way I consistently refine things in my life for betterment. My style, perspective, intentionality, and process. Just thought I would share this as I continue to make it a priority to stay true to myself while finding my flow on the always-evolving www. It’s not always seamless, especially amidst years or bouts of transition and change, but appreciate you guys always being here and supporting!

That is all for now!! xx