it’s the little things.
Hi! I’ve been kinda getting sick of my own writing lately- feeling like I needed to write a deep and thoughtful post each time or else it wasn’t worth hitting publish. I wanted to challenge myself to write something just for fun. So, today, I am sharing all the things that made October feel like me. Here are a few of the little things from this month that just felt good. I would love to know what made you feel good too, so leave me a comment at the end with one or two things.
Making the school commute feel more manageable
My youngest started at a new school year. It was a long time coming, and we needed this change. One of the tricky parts has been navigating the long commute. We drive through Salem, MA, and if you live here, you know Halloween causes insane traffic for the entire month of October. It’s bumper to bumper and you never know if it’ll be quick or you’ll sit there for ages. There’s a traffic light that I always get stopped at, where there are always groupings of homeless men and women asking for change or food. And each week, I frantically search my middle console, and come up empty.
Last week, I finally did something about it. I pulled out ten 2-gallon ziplock bags, and in each one I put a few things that might brighten their day (and mine when I passed them out the window). I put a few salty snacks, a few sweet snacks, two cans of water, some electrolyte packets, and some towelettes. I put all the bags in a big shopping tote on my front seat. And each time I got stopped in traffic, I looked for someone to hand a bag to. Was it heroic? Not in the least. But it was a very low lift way to give back while also making the long traffic-y drive feel good.
An obvious solve that made an impact
These hard shelled cases are everywhere right now, and I use them for travel, my 13yo uses them as a case for her squishies, we use them for on the go coffee table toys, etc. But last week, I packed one of the larger ones with dry snacks (pretzels, dried mango, sour candy, protein bar, goldfish crackers, etc.) and dropped them into my daughter’s school bag. No more scrambling or forgetting snacks in the morning. It keeps them from getting crushed in the bottom of the backpack. Kind of an obvious solve but ten out of ten for making mornings easier.
I didn’t have to go to the post office
My oldest child is away at college in Indiana for his sophomore year, and thriving. And I am so grateful. I know this isn’t the case for many, and that these years often have more bumps and bruises than accolades. I miss him something fierce. My heart aches for the camaraderie in our home when he is here. And so I did what I do best. I packed up a Halloween package for him, his girlfriend, and his running teammates. They absolutely loved it, but if I am being honest, it was more for me than for him. My love language is gifting so being able to send this box to him and anticipate its arrival felt like Christmas Eve. And I must add, that I despise going to the actual post office. I would rather tweeze my eyebrows than wait in the post office line. So, my husband gracefully took on post office duties as long as the package could be from him too. Done.
Cozy blankets… everywhere
I bought my first Lola blanket in the sale they had earlier this month. This summer, my best friend, who has impeccable taste, was staying with us for a few days on her way up to see her kids at visiting day in Maine. She mentioned Lola Blankets and was shocked that I didn’t have one. But they are so expensive!! I countered. Well, when the sale came, I indulged. OMG you guys, I cannot live without it. My kids immediately wanted them too. Uhhh. Sorry, but their rooms are a biohazard. There was no way I was spending that kind of money on something that would live in their teenage explosions. So, I bought them these dupes off Amazon. They are…. Fine? Not nearly as luxurious as the Lola, but still cozy and I won’t be annoyed if they land under their bed never to be seen again. But then I wanted one for the den, and we have two dogs who love cozy things and the thought of those two smelly beasts cuddling up in an actual Lola blanket didn’t sit right. So I bought this Mellow one. We love her. Me and Sloane curl up under it every night and watch Heartland and I’m not worried about the dogs piling in too. And then.. stay with me. I know. It’s turning into a blanket addiction. Anthro was having a sale, and before I knew what I was doing, I hit buy on the most perfect shade of purple furry goodness that was screaming to live on our little blue couch in the kitchen, right in front of the fireplace where I drink my coffee each morning. I keep waiting for someone in my family to call me out on this new addiction, but so far, everyone is just happy to have a cozy cuddle.
I switched to a mid day cup of tea
I love coffee. I love it iced in the summer, hot in the winter. I am not one of those people that will drink iced coffee when I am cold. Who are you people?? I can’t wrap my brain around it. But when the weather gets cold, I want to drink hot coffee all day long. But an over-caffeinated Lizzie is no one’s favorite person. I don’t make herbal tea because I can’t get the temperature right. I either burn my tongue or wait too long and then it’s cold. So, I started making decaf English breakfast tea in my Keurig with a tiny splash of milk and honey. I put it in my favorite mug, and just like that, I am satisfied. It feels nice to love something as simple as a mug. If you’ve noticed it in the background of my feed lately, this is the one.
I hot glued stuff non-stop
If you follow me on IG, you have heard me go on about this hot glue gun. I can’t stop. I love her. We have made so many fun sculptures, mini monsters with pom pom buns, all out of loose parts and cardboard. I wish this had been around when my kids were little, because I can only imagine the stuff they would’ve come up with. I can’t wait for holiday season crafts with this trusty little doodad. Check out The Cardboard Edit for more ideas.
Dealing with my dry skin once and for all
This is kinda niche. I get such dry skin in the winter. Like, scaly, lizard skin. My mom gets it too, and I remember when I was little, my mom commenting on her “old lady skin.” I remember the smell of the Johnson and Johnson baby oil she slathered herself in after every shower before she lathered in Clinique yellow lotion. When we were teens, we’d sit in her bathroom and tease her.. Yeah. Karma. Now, I am the one with the scaly dry skin that needs to be managed. And yes, I drink an absurd amount of water. It’s not that. But, I think I found the combo that works for me! This oil in the shower is nothing short of luxury. Once you shave with it, you’ll never go back. My teens love it too. And this lotion that is so thick that it takes me three whole minutes to rub it in. But I do it because it works.
I looked for the good parts
Leaning on the horn when my daughter is late, again. You guys, my middle is getting her driver’s license so soon. And I love that for all of us. It is so freeing when your kid can drive themselves places, pick things up for you on the way home, and just generally experience the freedom that they’ve been craving for years. BUT. I will miss all the false threats I dole out in the morning while she’s taking her sweet time to come out to the car. The ones she literally grins at because she knows I am just talking smack. I will miss all the times she begs for a ride to Starbucks. I will even miss the silences where I am biting my own tongue so that I stop verbal diarrhea-ing all the things she “needs to do” this week/ this month/ in life. Teens are the best. The end.
ICYMI:
The last minute team dinner we hosted that made me cry with gratitude.
The screen battle I was losing with my kids
Something Playful: The Cardboard Edit and The Loose Parts Edit
9 year olds still cry about popsicles and other things I wish someone with older kids had told me
And finally, Permission to do less on Halloween.
Thanks for being here. And if you are considering upgrading, please use this free seven day trial on me.
Next week my gift guides officially drop (you can see the soft launch here), and I’ll be sharing a few ways to embrace the shorter days with your kids.
x. Lizzie
