BLOG
My friend Jenna who blogs at Call Her Happy has crafted a wonderful book: 30 Days to Calm: Create Your Own Anxiety Toolbox. And I love it. I got to be an early reader for it for her. Wow. I want every single person who has struggled with anxiety to read it and follow the prompts, and know themselves better, and have this journal of their triggers and calms, their plans and challenges, their very own personalized book about caring for their anxiety. So here’s a little Q&A with Jenna, and a sneak peek at the book. Go and get your copy here. Jenna, you wrote an incredible book: 30 Days to Calm. Can you share with my readers why you wanted to write this particular book?…
READ MORE
The past six months has been one of the harder seasons on our marriage, that season being the Marathon. To be clear, I wanted him to run it, I wanted him to train for it, and I wanted so much for him to not get injured and be able to complete it. That being said, despite his most valiant efforts, it was rough on me, on us. The silver lining is that post-marathon has been a deluge of quality time, very deliberate time spent together that’s neither cooking nor cleaning up in the post-bedtime evenings, and our very own weekend away. Slow down, Nell. TWO NIGHTS AND TWO DAYS AWAY FROM OUR KIDS!? We haven’t been collectively away from them (and I’ve only had two instances…
READ MORE
Midwest falls are gorgeous. They’re the reason we live through 4-6 months of winter (6 if you’re in Minnesota). And this fall I really wanted to be mindful of selecting a few outfits (no pants cutting off circulation in my mamabelly!) and accessories that can go with my #mamacasual trend. Forever. We are just coming off a weekend away at the Lodge, our family country home an hour away, and this time I didn’t have to pack a ton of sweatpants because I had this small stack of fall capsule wardrobe musts that could roam around outside with the kids, lounge inside, and even go to church. wrist watch c/o JORD I’m working on not being on my phone all the time (especially out at the…
READ MORE
My newest discovery: I finally feel like where I am, as imperfect as it is, can be awesome without that meaning I’ve given up on ever getting properly dressed. Maybe it’s the night weaning a few months back. Maybe it’s the return of my cycle. Maybe it’s the awesomeness of a five year old as leader of the pack. Something clicked over for me in the past month or two: I really like where I am, even though it’s not perfect nor is it where I plan//hope to be as a person forever. Maybe we start with mere acceptance and fortitude of our circumstances, but where grit has gotten us through turns into a place of love. We can love where we are, WITHOUT IT BEING…
READ MORE
(More gems from our photo session with the talented Emily Rumsey) I hurried downstairs after my bath tonight (sore bum from tripping on our freshly and now padded! carpet! padded! basements steps needed a little soak) upon hearing my oldest (5.5) shouting I WON’T and the tell-tale escapee foot-falls. And I had a good idea to whom that punctuated tone was directed. My saintly father who agreed to watch the kids while I bathed. Their “Baba.” The most hands-on Grandfather I could ever dream of. The child whisperer who can whisk three kids out to a riveting and rivalrous game of bocce ball with the neighbor afternoon after afternoon, week after week, and still win while holding the baby in the carrier. The man who reads Tintin in funny voices.…
READ MORECatholics are notorious for not knowing the Bible like their Protestant counter parts. And it’s true! We didn’t memorize Scripture passages growing up–we memorized the Catechism and prayers. Those still come easily to me, many many decades out from my little Catholic grade school, but the Bible? I really do want it to be front & center in our kids’ lives. I also want it to be more present in my own life, especially in the next few months when the liturgical season of Advent begins and my busy mom life ramps up for Christmas (aka guests in town and presents galore–oh, and also, Jesus?). My friends Laura & Nancy and I put together something for you. It’s for the youngish Catholic mom who wants to spend…
READ MORE