Spring cleaning is happening, in my house and in my head. I feel like I lack the mental space sometimes for blogging amidst the drudges of winter. I hibernate–no cave, but my electric blanket suffices. So come the longer light, the climbing temps, I’m back in it. Or at least attempting to be. Creativity starting to return. It’s like my mental space is a reflection of the plant life outside. Brown and sparse, sometimes covered in snow. And then… there’s spring.
ready and waiting.
Second year in a row, Parker’s made a summer list. Last year I suggested it, nudging him to come up with ideas on those days that are barely breaking 55 degrees. Those days where it’s barely breaking 55, but your mind, body, soul is ready for 80. This year, by March 1st, pen and paper was at the ready, no nudging required. Sitting at the kitchen table, looking longingly at the still-brown grass, the still-bare trees, the still-cold cold, he began recording. I was in the kitchen, prepping snack 27 of the day.
Notes for the Road
The sweet, sweet relaxation that comes from a sunny morning, a cup of coffee, a good book, and… your bed. What are you guys doing this weekend? A few of my girlfriends are coming over tonight and we’re catching up over brie, pesto, some bread, and wine. Hope you guys have a good one!
Some weekend reading…
the best summer sandals.
You may think it premature, but the birds are chirping, the daylight is stretching later into the evenings (so is my children’s bedtime; thanks a lot, time change), and the snow is nearly gone from my backyard entirely. Summer will come again! And with that… SANDALS. I also think being in Mexico last week (we were there visiting Steve’s mother! More on that later.) has thrown me off a bit. Warm weather, sandals… but definitely still winter upon return here in Massachusetts. I packed them away when we returned home as opposed to leaving them optimistically by the back door, but I clucked sadly to myself as I shut the drawer on them, promising them they’ll resurface again soon.
Notes for the Road
I’m planning on a quiet weekend home. Gimme all the Netflix and tea and electric blankets. I got rear ended yesterday while stopped for a pedestrian (by a Suburban–so, it did a number on my car). Everyone is okay–me and Anders, and the other driver. As a result, the very minor cold I had before that was kicked into high gear. I swear, it was the stress on my immune system that did it! So, I’m looking forward to catching up on sleep and relaxing all weekend long. What are you doing?
one of the best things you can do for your skin.
i got my second facial ever a few weeks ago. steve had given me a gift certificate for my birthday (or christmas? i can’t remember) and i finally used it. when i met the girl who was going to do my facial, she asked me a little bit about my skin, and my overwhelming response, especially this time of year, was… DRY. it’s definitely better since i’m more diligent about drinking water and having a good skin care routine, but even so, it always tends that way. her question right away, “do you exfoliate?” umm… i have exfoliant, does that count?
five things I’m loving right now.
01. the whole bear brook podcast. my sister and i listened to ALL of it on a drive from NJ back to MA recently. true crime, if you’re into that sort of thing (it seems a lot of us are given that’s a lot of the podcast reccs i see on IG. we’re all such sickos! and yet… i still am so drawn to them! even when they disrupt my sleep! i’m trying to balance them with light, happy ones. i need to be better about this. some of the happier ones–armchair expert, oprah (duh), and new-to-me mindbodygreen.. listened to one of those so far and liked it a lot.)
02. this indian dish. i went to our good friend’s house the other day (ryan and caroline! they’re such foodies, the best hosts, and everything they make is fantastic) and they made a full indian meal. from the naan, all the way to the main dishes, it was fantastic. i have had so little indian food in my life, and i want to have more. i found my own chicken biryani (which was one of the dishes they made) and attempted it last night. it was delicious. kids ate it too! variations: i didn’t have coriander, i added turmeric even though it wasn’t called for (so good for you!), and i added a few sliced potatoes, and about 1/2 a cup of lentils. it all simmers in the oven and flavors the rice and lentils SO well. the house smelled amazing. we need more of those spices in our lives. any fantastic indian recipes to share?
03. these stunning linen cross back aprons. i feel like this would be a perfect thing on your mother’s day list.
04. this protein powder. i’ve been adding a scoop lately to our smoothies for some extra staying power (and plant protein!) and it’s really not bad at all. changes the flavor just a bit (but not in a overly veggie/wheatgrassy way at all).
05. ALL OF THIS SERIES on prime. do you know how die-hard the hunts were back in the day for this show? like i’m going years back, but we all used to watch this religiously. it’s SO good. discovering that it was all on prime was so fun and parker and anders have gotten really into it.
my favorite hair products right now.
Aside from sucking your will to live right outta you, winter also sucks the moisture right out of your hair and skin. Did you guys know that? I had a friend recently show her kids snow for the first time. They drove from Oakland to Tahoe (a mere 3-4 hours and they went from mild, spring-like weather to full-blown winter), and played in the snow for a weekend. Then drove back. Isn’t that cute? I thought that was so cute. SO CUTE AHNIKA. DO YOU HEAR ME YELLING HOW CUTE IT IS?
My skin and hair show the signs of winter dryness big time. Especially if I’m not drinking enough water (nothing–no skin routine, no fancy products can take the place of hydration, people!). Think of all the fluctuating temps! Into cars blowing dry heat at our faces, back out in freezing wind, into warm houses (ours is forced hot air–also drying!). It’s not ideal. My hair feels drier, my skin feels drier. It’s not ideal, but it’s real so I’ve tried to find a few things that help. Here’s what they are:
// Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner: this really is the bomb. My Mom used mine recently, and when I returned home she said, “I have never thought shampoo and conditioner could really make a huge difference, but I realize I was wrong.” She was almost incredulous. She also is not used to spending that much on shampoo and conditioner, which may have added to her incredulity. I get it. But hide it from your husband and your kids. It’s yours and only yours. Make it last! It really does give volume, and it’s my go-to now. I’ve used it exclusively for over a year. I used to dabble in various ones… no longer! P.S. despite it being clean, it does lather!
// Moroccan Oil: This stuff smells amazing. Like, I feel like I’m queen when I run it through my hair. A reader tip was to run it through damp hair–though directions say you can use it in damp or dry hair. It does not make my hair the least bit oily. I was worried it would! After all, it is oil. But no. Here’s what I do–after washing my hair, I’ll do one pump and run it through all the ends. Then, style as usual. If I’m blow drying my hair, this will also act as a heat protector. I’ve never really taken heat protecting seriously, but I keep seeing mention of it and then when I got my last trim I asked my hairdresser if she uses it and she gave me an emphatic, “always.” I think it also makes my hair healthier overall too?
// Hair Mask: So, this has this strange cult following for being a… hair mask. But I googled hair masks maybe in like… November? October? And found so much written up about this hair mask. I used it once and was like… meh. Used it again but left it on for awhile before rinsing it out and I did feel like I had smooth, shiny, healthy hair. So, I’m going to say it’s a win. Note–the bottle is silly small given the price. I didn’t totally realize that. Even so, it has a good chunk of uses in it (I suppose that somewhat depends on the thickness and length of your hair).
Any hair secrets you want to let me in on?
ho hum.
I’m certain that if we looked back at all of my February posts over the last eight or so blogging years, they’d all have a certain Eeyore-esque tone to them. Just like his penchant for melancholiness, so am I this way in February, it seems. Woe is me. Me and Eeyore both. Steve came in the door the other day, and I immediately launched into how housebound I’ve been (sick boys have added to the February dreariness) and how I cannot do it another February! I, I, I, me, me, me! He slowly backed out, got back in his car, and drove away. Next February break (this is break week in MA, but never aligns with Steve’s breaks from school) I shall go somewhere! Mark my words, we’re leaving you, Steve, (and this hellhole!) behind!
I didn’t say all of that. But I said some of it. And what I didn’t say, I thought.
You know what I don’t like about myself? Too many housebound winter gray days, it’s like I need to mentally check out from my duties as a mother. My kids are still taken care of, fear not. I’m not implying that it’s a free-for-all and they’re in the kitchen using sharp knives to cut the crusts off their own sandwiches (we don’t actually do that anyway), but I just feel emotionally unavailable. Burnt out. Maybe they get like 40% of me, give or take. Extra long time spent in the bathroom, mindlessly scrolling IG, basically I find myself checking out too often. Maybe I’d be a much better mother in Hawaii. There’s a study to be done there… Mothers in warmer climates are better than mothers in colder climates. There’s your headline.
I’m certain that come school next week, I’ll look around my emptier house and regret letting some of the week get away from me without enough fun. I’ll miss having them at arm’s length. Thing is, I often like our holed up cozy winter days spent home. Just not too many in a row, please. I’ve told pajama-clad Parker about ten times so far (and it’s only Wednesday as I write this), “It is so nice having you home.” And it really is. So, even in the midst of our housebound-for-days days, I’m certain that I am still really good at expressing myself to them and do it routinely and with gusto. Let my love for giving them love never leave me. (It never will.)
It’s always this time of year too, that I get restless, that I think about a change up. Like a big one. Selling our house and moving into an RV. Being mortgageless. Homeschooling. Taking the show on the road. Living on a commune. Living abroad. Becoming nudists. (JK on that one. Maybe before nursing, that would’ve been on the table?) Let’s quit our jobs, Steve, and ride off the cliff clutching one another’s hands Thelma and Louise style. This is our one life! No more rat race! LET’S STICK IT TO THE MAN.
In reality, I’ll forget this dreary break in a few week’s time, my promise-threat to fly somewhere south, and most likely find myself back in my home next February break, clicking away at my laptop–tap tap tap–declaring, “February break is the worst, you guys.”
lately.
February. It’s when my browser is permanently open to Google Flights, Airbnb, or real estate in Arizona. Take your pick. My robe is never off my body (but guys, I got a new one for Valentine’s Day and it might be THE ONE.), I make tea every afternoon, I’m fighting the urge to keep the TV on all day, I’m on constant watch for sickness to arrive as an unwelcome guest, and I can go without seeing the sunshine for a full 24 (sometimes longer) hours at a time. I’ve discovered that I am solar-powered. Even if it’s cold, just let that sun shine! Some things that are definitely helping this year is consistent working out, but it’s been a few days and I’m not sure I’m going to get it in today…