We’re back with 10 things!
So, the first 10 random stream of consciousness things as they come to mind today–ready–go!
10 things, 6.13.23
Kate’s moving:
Probably the thing at the forefront of my mind the MOST lately…😭 My best friend is moving to Montana. (Part of why we booked our Napa trip when we did). I am not okay. We are all so excited for her (and can’t wait to visit) but will be spending as much time with her as possible until she moves in a month. This Saturday our friends threw her a going away trolley party and everyone had to dress up as their own interpretation of “Montana” theme (some went western, some went hiker, some wore Bison horns and our friend Colleen wore her bridesmaid dress and faux fur wrap that we wore for Kate’s wedding in Montana 6 years ago 😂) and it was a wildly hilarious night. (We used to do trollies all the time in our twenties and hadn’t done one in FOREVER.)
I also hired Jess to take pictures and document our friends in our element. Can we normalize hiring photographers to document friendships and not just weddings and families!? Because it’s the best! I’m obsessed with the sneak peeks she’s sent me and I’m so excited to see the rest of the photos!
On hiring a photographer for the little moments:
Speaking of Jess, she and Ben (they own Our Days photo & film) came over for what they call an “undone” session on Friday morning. They have started doing these more and more and I LOVE the concept so much. Instead of traditional photo sessions (where you get all dressed up and go to an outdoor location, inevitably endure many stressful moments, etc) they come to your house and just document you going about your every day and capture the little moments–making breakfast, doing your toddler’s hair, dancing to their favorite song, what her bedhead looks like–her favorite jammies of the moment. The ones with the lemons on them. You get such a beautiful but raw, accurate snapshot of what life is like in a specific moment in time.
I especially LOVE this concept on film–Ben’s style is so unique, and I love that he incorporates interviews! I think that makes it even more special for kids to watch as they get older. ♥️
To me, this is so much more special and I know the little moments are what I want to cherish and remember forever. I can’t wait to get the photos and video back! (The photo above is a sneak peek though!) We are so lucky to have become friends as they’ve photographed our family over the past two years and highly recommend them.
Favorite read recently: Mary Jane
If you loved Daisy Jones, you’ll love this too. (Although much different!) I adored this book. Here’s the Amazon description:
Almost Famous meets Daisy Jones & The Six in this “delightful” (New York Times Book Review) novel about a fourteen-year-old girl’s coming of age in 1970s Baltimore, caught between her straight-laced family and the progressive family she nannies for—who happen to be secretly hiding a famous rock star and his movie star wife for the summer.
In 1970s Baltimore, fourteen-year-old Mary Jane loves cooking with her mother, singing in her church choir, and enjoying her family’s subscription to the Broadway Showtunes of the Month record club. Shy, quiet, and bookish, she’s glad when she lands a summer job as a nanny for the daughter of a local doctor. A respectable job, Mary Jane’s mother says. In a respectable house.
The house may look respectable on the outside, but inside it’s a literal and figurative mess: clutter on every surface, Impeachment: Now More Than Ever bumper stickers on the doors, cereal and takeout for dinner. And even more troublesome (were Mary Jane’s mother to know, which she does not): the doctor is a psychiatrist who has cleared his summer for one important job—helping a famous rock star dry out. A week after Mary Jane starts, the rock star and his movie star wife move in.
Over the course of the summer, Mary Jane introduces her new household to crisply ironed clothes and a family dinner schedule, and has a front-row seat to a liberal world of sex, drugs, and rock and roll (not to mention group therapy). Caught between the lifestyle she’s always known and the future she’s only just realized is possible, Mary Jane will arrive at September with a new idea about what she wants out of life, and what kind of person she’s going to be.
We booked Yosemite!!
Cannot wait. We’re going in August. We’re doing three nights in the park and then a week in nearby Shaver Lake where we rented a cute little cabin. Neal can work remotely the last couple weeks of August so we wanted to go somewhere for an extended family trip–so we picked California and can’t wait to enjoy plenty of outdoor time and some slow, leisurely lake days! TBH it’s been hard to focus on anything else because I’m so excited all I want to do is plan the rest of this trip! (And also…need to find tiny toddler hiking shoes!)
What I can’t stop wearing: Ophelia & Indigo dresses
You saw me do a mini try-on of some Ophelia & Indigo pieces for my small shop storefront launch! 🙌🏼 I have been LIVING in these dresses ever since I got them and I’m tempted to treat myself to another. They are a small brand created during the pandemic by two friends, and all their dresses have the most beautiful block-printed patterns. The best part is that they are SO lightweight that they’re one of the few things you’ll want to wear in hot sticky summer. (Wish I’d had these when I was pregnant and postpartum!)
You can see my try-on here and shop all their items in my shop here! You get 10% off for two more days!
Have you ever had Pellegrino with Meyer lemon?
It’s my favorite thing to do to feel fancy–I’ve been buying Pellegrino in the big glass bottles (like you get at a fancy restaurant!) for a while now, but I recently started adding Meyer lemon and omg IT’S SO DELICIOUS! A delightful non-alcoholic pick-me-up.
It’s patio season in Chicago!
Arguably the most wonderful time of the year. If you’re looking for a big ole list of the best patios by neighborhood, head over to this blog post. We really need to be better about getting out and enjoying the weather during the week. (One of my summer goals!)
Screen-free drawing tablet for kids:
Kelly and Shaheen turned me onto these inexpensive drawing tablets and June loves them! Easy to throw in your bag to keep them entertained on the go–no mess, no screens!
On family dinners:
This post on Cup of Jo “The #1 Thing I’d Tell New Parents About Family Dinner” had me giggling because lately I feel like I’ve been obsessing over trying to involve June in more family meals. (We always cook our *adult* dinner after she goes to bed because I can’t for the life of me fathom how to have dinner on the table and deal with a toddler during post daycare witching hour–not to mention post-bedtime dinner is the one time of day for Neal and I to actually hang out and have a conversation) but lately I’ve been worried that NOT eating with us is contributing to picky eating (she’s gotten so picky lately) and to be honest, it feels like we’re killing ourselves to get dinner together in time to include her and it’s really just not fun.
Jury is still out on how to find the right balance of eating together vs. not. (Maybe we just switch our focus to going out for a family meal more? That seems less stressful yet accomplishes the same thing? Or maybe I just need to meal prep more?) I don’t know. But the point is, as always, Joanna makes me feel better about life. LOL. So if you’re also dealing with this conundrum, I have no advice, but I can offer solidarity. 🙋🏻♀️
Heading to Oregon this week:
We’re going to home to Oregon to see my family this Saturday-Wednesday and renting the lake house I grew up in. This will be our third time renting it (we haven’t owned it in decades, but my sister and I found it on VRBO randomly a few summers ago!) and planning to celebrate my Dad all weekend. (The only nights it was available were over his birthday and fathers day. 🤯) We aren’t religious, so we didn’t do anything formal after he passed this winter, so this is our time to remember him all together in the house that was so special to us and especially to him.
*Please send us good weather vibes because as of right now, the days we’re there are the ONLY cold days in the forecast* 😭 (You’ll recall last time we rented this house, it was a week straight of wildfire smoke and we had to stay indoors in a tiny house for a week. WHYYY. 😬 REALLY hoping Bob can pull some strings for us on this one!)
Anyway, that sums up our 10 things! I hope you are having a good week so far!
