One of my favorite posts to write… the first ten things that come to mind. Ready, set, GO!
1. Few Moda Collection
Next week, the capsule collection I designed with Few Moda launches! I’m so excited for this to launch because a) it was really fun to collaborate with them this year and b) I think you guys are really going to love it. Some of the styles are what you’d expect to see from me for the holiday (I think at least!) and then there are a couple of pieces that are a little unexpected! I surprised myself during the design process asking for different things and pushing us in slightly different directions. I can’t wait to hear what you guys think!!!
2. Insatiable Reading
I have been in my reading era all year, but lately it’s been even more intense. Truly, I feel like I have an insatiable desire to read. I can barely keep up with all the books I want to read and I keep finding out little niches throughout the day to read more (and more and more). It’s obviously not a bad thing and I try to follow my passions without judgment, but I am totally reading more instead of doing other things I love, like needlepointing. Maybe it’ll swing back at some point so for now I am leaning into it and enjoying the ride.
3. Addicted to Mahjong
Speaking of hobbies… my addiction to mahjong continues. I can’t get enough of it. My friends and I have really committed to playing, which makes it a consistent part of my week and I love it so much. While I also love playing on my iPad, getting together with friends every week has been such a bright spot in 2025. It can be so hard to schedule get togethers and I’m grateful for friends who make it happen. We’ve also definitely all improved our game. We used to play four games in two hours and now we’re going five or six in even less time. Mahjong has also been a great way to work some underused muscles in my brain, too. I keep joking that the game is like sweeping the cobwebs out of my mom brain.
4. The Library
Our town library was closed for a while and we were going to another town’s library in the interim. I’m so happy ours is reopened though. The boys and I have been trying to go as often as possible. Libraries are such special places. When I close my eyes, I can walk through my childhood library and smell it exactly. I always felt safe and cozy there and I hope my kids have similar feelings about visiting the library. Working on instilling the magic of reading!! It’s also such a win for me because you can only read the same books so many times. Mixing it up is key for bedtime!!!
5. Chicago trip
Wow, I’m still kind of recovering from our trip to Chicago. I don’t know how people travel so frequently and bounce back. I’m exhausted! I will say, despite being physically depleted, I feel like my cup is so full otherwise. It’s hard to leave the kids (though they had the best time with my parents!) and I was reminded that it’s good for everyone. Chicago was so good to us. I’ve been so many times between school trips, conferences, personal trips, and college visits. I love it even more every time I go. (Though, I have never been in the dead of winter and don’t know that I could handle it!!!) It was just the best time. Mike and I feel so lucky to have met our friends here in town and the fact that we all get along and our kids get along… it just feels like the dream! We actually came back from Chicago and went right over to their house for Sunday dinner.
6. Dawson’s Creek
Anyone else rewatching Dawson’s Creek?! A few of my friends and I are all rewatching it and we are…. a little shocked. Times have definitely changed. I don’t remember feeling so… shook… watching it the first time around. With that said, I’m totally hooked all over again. Can’t stop. I’ve been putting it on for background noise while doing random things like folding laundry and I’ve been searching for excuses to watch another episode.
7. Holiday Confusion
Why do I feel so confused about the holidays right now?! Yes, my work has me thinking about Christmas and gift guides crazy early…. but also, just the general algorithm and in person shopping feels so Christmas-y right now. I keep having to remind myself that Halloween is this week! I do think this year’s Halloween festivities were so much calmer than last year’s (maybe because it’s on an actual Friday this year?!) but I’m still trying to savor Halloween before jumping to the holidays. And I’m also trying to not forget that we have Thanksgiving, too! I did have a couple of brands ask for holiday shoots in October and I said no because I didn’t want to put up a Christmas tree and confuse the kids… Maybe I’m the crazy one?!
8. Four is FUN
I really try to share the positives about motherhood. It means I’m not completely “honest” since I’m only sharing the good things for the sake of privacy and just believing that not everything belongs on the internet. But… I have to tell you that four years old is absolutely the best age so far. Yes, it keeps getting better and better. I just can’t imagine anything topping the magic of four. All day long, I’m laughing and smiling and cuddling. It’s truly magical. Not without its challenges, of course, but give me these challenges any day of the week. Like all of a sudden, going grocery shopping and running errands isn’t a struggle of logistics, it’s an adventure. I have a little buddy I can chat with and, omg, let me tell you, the stories are hysterical. I love this. age, so. much.
9. Sometimes the best option is what you have
Leading up to Chicago, I ordered an obscene number of dresses and outfits. I’m actually shocked my accounts were flagged because I did so much purchasing, trying on, and returning. I couldn’t find anything that fit the bill for our dinner out. Chicago was going to be cold but it’s still October so I didn’t want to be crazy overdressed or too holiday… but I also wanted to be warm and cute. After trying on and trying on and trying on… I ended up wearing a turtleneck and a skirt I’ve had for years. (I did have to buy new shoes, but only because my feet grew in pregnancy and I needed a new size!) It was the perfect outfit and it had been under my nose the whole time. I don’t even really subscribe to the idea that you need a new wardrobe before a trip. Why didn’t I take my own advice from the beginning?!
10. Carry-On Suitcases
Now that we’re talking about advice of mine that I haven’t taken… I have been a customer of Away luggage for years. It was one of the first gifts I ever bought Mike and I always recommend it because he has loved it so much. Well… I do have my own and I have never used it until this trip. Why in the world haven’t I used it more?! It fits so much more and it’s so much more functional than my “cute” luggage. I actually had so much extra space (despite packing boots and an extra coat) that I had room to throw in two more pairs of pants and a pair of sneakers, just in case. I don’t think I’m ever going back. It 100% lives up to the hype and yes, it took me too long to come to this conclusion.
