Are You a Slow Reader?

Something occurred to me the other day…

I am, in fact, a slow reader. What does that mean exactly? How can somebody be “slow” at reading?

For me, it means that I take forever to finish a book; partly because I have trouble finding the time to actually sit down and read it, and partly because I have to make sure that when I’m reading, I am absorbing the words and processing them correctly. I blame ADD for that.

I have been reading the same book, A Little Life for more than a year and a half. Granted, it’s somewhat dense and it has 814 pages, but still. Shouldn’t I have finished it by now? And what about my new book? It’s only 300 or so pages, but I’m on month two of reading it.

When reading, I sometimes find myself getting distracted, or worse, I think I could and should be doing a million other things than reading. The clothes need folding, the floors need sweeping, I should be posting on social media like it’s my job (because it is our job), the lawn needs to be mowed, our room is a mess, and so on and so on. I have to remind myself from time to time that reading is a form of self-care for me and that I need to prioritize that more. I’m working on it.

But, I have a question: What does it mean when you’re a slow reader?

Rading slowly isn’t a bad thing, nor is it a sign of low intelligence. Deborah Schneider, PhD, says that:

“Reading is a uniquely demanding cognitive task, and it relies upon a very complex network of neural pathways to be performed. Some individuals, such as those with dyslexia (specific learning disorder in reading), have cognitive differences that hamper the development and coordination of these pathways; however, their other cognitive abilities remain intact (and not infrequently superior with respect to those of other more neurotypical individuals).”

So at the end of the day, it (usually) doesn’t mean anything other than a little frustration here and there. I think for me, the most important thing is that I just finish the damn book, no matter how long it takes me.

Happy Friday Night! What’s For Dinner?

Happy Friday! Any plans for tonight?

We’ve been watching Lost in Space on Netflix with the kids as a special weekend treat and they’re loving it. It’s a great show to watch with the family because it’s the perfect mix of thrilling and fun and it’s, so far, pretty age appropriate for everyone. Highly recommend!!

As for dinner, I’m thinking of making some kind of easy chicken tacos. It’s Friday night and I don’t feel like making too much of a mess in the kitchen, so something easy like soft shell tacos sounds just right.

Have a wonderful weekend xoxo

Seven Sandal Styles for Spring

The alteration of it all!

PJ is always getting on to me for wearing his sandals (they’re just so much more comfortable than mine!), so here are seven new sandals I’m considering this season:

Classic with a twist

Cool and comfortable

Minimal yet classic

Sophisticated and stylish

Casual

Super affordable (side note: we have these and love them)

Dependable and comfortable

Celebrating My 31st Birthday at the Beach

Even though we just made the short-ish drive down to the beach what seems like yesterday (when in reality, it was four weeks ago), we packed the car full and did it again. This time, there was a clear mission.

We drove down for the closing of our beach house, and to see the second beach house we’re closing on at the end of next month for the first time in person. Yup. We bought a house before ever stepping foot in it, which sounds crazy as I’m typing it, and we definitely felt like “What on earth are we doing right now?” quite a few times, but PJ knew it would be a great investment, so we confidently moved forward with it.

He has such good intuition about these things.

The new house is so cute and so old and needs so much work, which, you know is our favorite kind of house. The wood walls on the inside are gorgeous and in such great shape, so we’re keeping them, but the kitchen and bathroom need a full reno. We’ll post the full tour soon!

The weather was much better on this trip than last month’s, even if on the last night we were all huddled in the bathroom at 4:30a waiting for the tornado warning to pass (!). Still, overall we had hot and sunny weather, which made time spent at the beach that much more enjoyable.

Meanwhile, this trip was significant for another reason other than just buying a beach house (or two): this was the first trip we took with the kids by ourselves. That sounds weird to say out loud, but it’s true! Every other trip we’ve taken with them has been with family or friends, which has, in theory, always made it easier because there are more eyes watching them, or if we have family and friends with us, our family has been able to watch the kids while we go out to dinner with our friends. It’s worked out well for us so far, so we weren’t sure how this trip would go (though we weren’t too worried about it).

And you know what? It was amazing. And surprisingly almost easier because we were on our own time and schedule, doing whatever we wanted without thinking of anyone other than our family. It made one on one time with our kids even sweeter and all around it was just so nice to not have any plans other than to have fun.

We stayed in a condo that faced the beach that PJ surprised us all with. We haven’t stayed in a beach-front condo in years, and I worried there wouldn’t be enough room for everyone, but with a bunk bed and a king, plus a pull-out couch, there was plenty of room and we all fit just fine!

Plus, the view from our balcony was so dreamy:

We spent the days at the beach, with the kids and PJ building a sand castle, digging holes, and attempting to swim in the chilly ocean water. I, meanwhile, was perfectly content reading my new book. It was heaven.

When we weren’t at the beach, we were at the condo pools. We were going so much that we all took naps every afternoon because we were so worn out. I seem to always forget how the sun and water do that every time.

In the evenings we would drive to Rosemary Beach, which is the most idyllic little European town that’s not in Europe at all. Still, it feels like you’re in another world there and it’s our favorite place ever.

The sunset!!!

It was the perfect way to ring in another year. I felt so loved. PJ has a way of making little moments feel big and special. It’s one of his many gifts and it’s one of the things I love most about him. He and the kids surprised me with a cake in the condo kitchen, along with an individual little cupcake just for me because he knows how much I love cupcakes. I don’t know how I would do life without him and our kids. 

I feel so incredibly grateful for our family. Which, in the end, is really the greatest birthday present I could ever receive. 

The Book I Brought to the Beach

At the last minute (last minute as in, the morning of), we decided to drive down to the beach for the closing of our new house!

The last time we were here, just a few weeks ago, I finished a book, and ever since I’ve been looking for a new one. Our friend Matt recommend The Midnight Library, a book I’ve heard rave reviews about from just about everyone over the past year. Have you read it?

The summary describes it as:

“Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting blockbuster novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.”

It sounds magical, enchanting, and like the perfect book to get lost in for a few days. I’m excited to get started, as Matt said it’s so good he can already envision it as a TV miniseries.

Yes, please!

6 Swimming Trunks for Summer

Now that it’s starting to heat up and summer is just around the corner, I’ve been looking at new swim trunks to wear at the beach (since we’ll hopefully be spending more time there this summer!).

Here are six options that caught my eye:

There’s something that just makes sense about blue and white stripes at the beach, and these liner-less trunks from Abercrombie fit the bill. $50

I’m loving the colors of these from PacSun (and the price). $39

How great are these retro inspired swim trunks from Bonobos? $79

If you’re looking for something simple and minimal, a pair of classic black trunks is always a good idea. $24.99

Or in contrast, a fun burst of color and pattern can be fun and breezy, like these from Old Navy. $25

Speaking of color, these two-tone blue pair from Nautica look so comfy, don’t they? $59

It’s Officially Begun: Spring Cleaning

Armed with not much more than a strong will power to declutter our maximalist-style house, this morning PJ had the great idea to start cleaning out our house.

It was a family affair, with the kids cleaning and scrubbing and wiping down every room that needed it, which, let’s be honest, was every single room in our house. It’s amazing how quickly dust and papers and everything else piles up in your house when there are so many people living in it. Once upon a time, years ago, we found it somewhat easy to keep the house tidy. Now it seems like a full time job.

I’ve never been one to declutter; that’s always been PJ’s thing. It’s not that I purposely leave all that kind of work to him, it’s just never been my first priority, and then it quickly accumulates around the house, and then it becomes overwhelming. It’s a vicious cycle if you can’t tell. But I’m working on it!! I started cleaning off our desk this week and it feels so much better to have a sot of organic chaos going on as opposed to just regular chaos. It’s always a work in process, isn’t it?

So this morning we got rid of a dresser and a chair that both lived in Riah’s room. They were some of the first pieces of furniture PJ ever had, having got them when he bought and renovated his first house back in 2008. I thought it might feel somewhat sad to let them go, because who am I if not extremely nostalgic, but it actually felt so good to get them out of the house.

We also removed one of the seats in our sectional in our living room and brought in a super comfy black leather chair that PJ’s been dying to get in our house for years (I’ve always been against it, but I’m finished protesting in the name of I just want him to be comfortable while relaxing). The room feels bigger and airier now. We’re trying to majorly downsize our furniture and minimize this year, and so far we’re on the right track.

Spring cleaning feels so good!!

Did We Find a New Favorite Season?

An important question!

Last night, as we had the back doors open and a comfortable breeze blew through the house while the kids were playing and music was on, PJ turned and looked at me and asked, “Did we find a new favorite season?”

Immediately I knew what he was talking about. Historically, our favorite season is fall, which has been documented on this blog more times than I can count, and a close second has always been winter. But last night, with the birds chirping and the music going and the wine poured, a certain wave of optimism was floating through the air. Spring is almost here.

New life. Growth. Progression. These are some of the words that come to mind when I think of spring, and maybe that’s why we’re looking forward to it so much. I kind of remember feeling the same exact way this time last year, too; ready to shed the heaviness and darkness of winter and trade it for the lightness and brightness of spring. PJ planted some grass seed in our backyard last year, and where there were patches of dirt now are green and lush. It’s exciting to see these types of changes around the home, isn’t it?.

Often times, spring also signifies more than just a physical change: it’s a chance for a mental and emotional reset. One way we’ve been doing that lately is by stretching. PJ stared doing it the other night with soft, calming meditation music in our room. He turned the lights off, lit a candle, laid a blanket on the floor, and began stretching his entire body.

When he was finished, he walked out and told me he felt as relaxed as he would have if he had just gotten out of an hour-long massage. That instantly inspired me to try it as well!! The next night, I did the same thing, but only for about 10 minutes. And you know what? It was so nice. I felt like I could breathe better and my mind felt clearer. I think we’ll both be stretching multiple times a week going forward.

That’s all for today. It’s Friday! Time to relax with a glass of wine and maybe start a new book. Have a great weekend!

PS- Speaking of a refresh: switching things up yet again and doing a new font for the blog! Can’t tell if I like it better yet or not?

It Feels Good To Be Home, But What About Those Who Don't Have a Home to Return To?

We’re home from the beach!

What is it that feels so good about coming home from a long trip (and a long car ride) and walking through your front door? Even if your house is messy? Even if it smells kind of funny after sitting still for a week? 

I ask myself this question every time we travel, no matter if we’ve been gone for a few days or longer. I think it all goes back to our overwhelming love for home; what it means, who it is, what it feels like. Right now, home feels like laundry on the couches, little dogs scurrying across the hardwood floors, kids laughing (and crying) in the background, PJ talking about one of the renovation projects he’s working on. Little things. Details that mean so much to me.

As good as it feels to be home, I can’t stop thinking of those in Ukraine who don’t have a home to go to. Who have been forced to flee from their belongings, their houses, their loved ones, in order to escape the ongoing war. I think about how there might be someone there who is maybe my age, my same height and build, who loves the same things as I do. Maybe they love home as much as my family does, too. I think about how there might not be such a difference between us, except geographically. I think about how badly they must be hurting, knowing they won’t be going home tonight, because maybe their home isn’t even there anymore and if it is, who knows when they’ll be able to return to it?

Keeping the people of Ukraine in my heart tonight, and may we all continue to advocate for them. Here is a list of 27 meaningful ways to help, (you can also purchase Airbnb’s), and as always, please consider donating whatever amount you can to USA for UNHCR, who are on the ground helping those who need it more than ever.

Staying In or Going Out: A Love Story of Both

What a weekend.

We are homebodies through and through. We love nothing more than to stay in on a Friday night (and Saturday, and Sunday, and, and…) and make dinner, watch a family movie with a big bowl of popcorn, and just soak up the feeling of “home”. If I really think hard about it, almost nowhere is more deserving of our time than the couch in our living room. It calls to us every night. It misses us when we’re not there. It needs us as much as we need it. I think that’s called true love.

Which is why this weekend was so out of the ordinary for us. We went out not once, but twice (!). And by “out”, I mean we drove half a mile down the road and spent the evening with my mom at her cottage.

My mom’s oldest friend (they went to kindergarten together) is in town and staying with her for a while. They invited us over on Friday night because Pam wanted to make dinner for all of us. How sweet is that? A night where we don’t have to cook and somebody actually cooks for us? Signed, sealed, delivered.

So we got dressed up and brought a few bottles of wine over to my mom’s house for a fun night of playing card games, telling stories, catching up, and eating a delicious creamy chicken and broccoli cheese bake. I should have snagged the recipe from her but I forgot to ask. 

It was such a lovely, chill night.

It was the kind of night that reminded me why I don’t think we could ever not be near family. People ask us all the time why we live in this little town, the same one we both grew up in, and while there are many reasons, a big one is that both of our moms are here (each half a mile from us, in fact) and the thought of not being able to pop over and see them anytime we’d like is does not sound appealing to us. In the current stage of our lives, it almost feels like we need them nearby, you know?

Speaking of family, Saturday night was spent basically doing the same thing, just with PJ’s side of the family. His cousin Lauren invited us all over for a night of equal amounts of fun for both parents and adults: our kids would spend the evening playing with her two girls (whom our children adore), and we would get to spend it with PJ’s cousins and their husbands, and the rest of their family. 

The great thing about Saturday night is there was such a sense of nostalgia about it, and who am I if not perpetually nostalgic? When PJ and I first got together, his cousin would have many, many get togethers at her house and we would go to every single one of them. There were so many parties where we’d all be in her (rather large) kitchen scattered around the island, holding a glass of whatever, and just being young and carefree.

This was, of course, before any of us had kids or any serious responsibilities. And it was always the same people at these get togethers, which made them all quickly feel like family to me.

This weekend felt like old times, but maybe even 10 times better because our kids would run into the kitchen from time to time out of breath and laughing from playing so hard with each other. PJ and Lauren are cousins and were in the same grade all throughout school; he and his sister, and Lauren and her sister, all grew up together, spending their summer days at their mamaw’s house (which is now Lauren’s house) running around outside, getting dirty, helping her with certain projects, etc. It was a magical childhood and they spent it together, the same way I hope our own kids will spend theirs and, hopefully, have the same sweet memories as PJ does now.

This weekend reminded me of the perks of living in a small town with family close by, and the comfort and security that brings. I know staying home is always a good idea, but spending a few nights with the people we love most might just be even better.

How to Help Ukraine Right Now

Ukraine is officially under attack after Putin declared war this morning (to understand the whole story, click here), with Russia invading and attacking Ukraine after weeks of rising tensions between the neighboring countries.

The attacks have already killed dozens of Ukrainians and left many families and children displaced and fearing for their lives. The future of the Ukrainian people is in jeopardy and so much is up in the air right now. If you’re like me, you’re looking for ways to help those who are in this tragic situation; those whose entire lives have changed over the course of a single day.

USA for UNHCR is accepting emergency donations to help the people of Ukraine right now. If you can, please consider donating by clicking here. Any amount (truly, anything) will help provide emergency assistance to those who need it most, and who never wanted this conflict in the first place.

USA for UNHCR explains that:

“Even before the most recent crisis, years of conflict in Ukraine have forced more than two million children, women and men from their homes and left them struggling to survive. Nearly three million people in Ukraine will require humanitarian assistance this year. Those fleeing for their lives need immediate shelter, protection and safety.”

This crisis is happening in real time, with lives hanging in the balance as the brink of World War III looms over the two countries and, quite frankly, over the rest of us as well (even if Biden has said US troops will not invade Russia). Your support to help those who need it most goes a long way, no matter how you show it.

Thank you for reading, and please stay safe.

(photo via Shutterstock)

Our Pond is Completely Filled!! (For Now)

More pond progress!!

We’ve been waiting for our pond to fill up ever since they finished it late last year. For the last few months, it’s just been a big muddy hole in front of our metal storage building, gathering rocks and accumulating dirt, mud and only a little bit of water. 

But now, after the torrential downpour we’ve had over the last few days, it’s filled to the very top!! It’s so crazy to see it finally full after all the waiting and anticipation. I know it’s especially sweet for PJ, who designed the pond and its placement, working with multiple pond builders over the course of a year. And finally, here we are!

However, there’s a catch: It won’t be filled like this forever. PJ informed me that it’ll most likely take a couple of these heavy rains for the water to actually stay in the pond and for the dirt and mud to settle around it. So the water currently in it is temporary and will most likely be gone in a few days (weeks?), but it’s oh so beautiful to look at.

A big reason the pond is as full as it is, is because of the water diversion pipe PJ installed that makes the natural mountain runoff water go into the pond. With all the rain we’ve been having, the mountain water has overflowed the trench PJ dug and it’s all pouring into the pond. The sound of the water splashing and spilling over is so relaxing.

Speaking of the water in it, I know. It’s brown and dirty looking and, well, sort of gross. That also won’t last forever. When I asked PJ how we’ll get the water to be pretty and clear, he gave me the analogy of when you put dirt and water in a glass jar and shake it around. At first, the water is murky, but when the shaking is finished and everything calms down, the dirt settles to the bottom and the top becomes clean and clear. Same thing with the pond! Makes sense, right?

Neither of us can believe we’ll have an actual place on the farm to swim in this summer! That’s right; we absolutely plan on jumping in the pond to cool off during the 100 degree days we regularly get here in Tennessee during the middle of summer. 

And it’s going to feel sooooo good.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy February 14th (for whatever it’s worth)!!

Do you do Valentine’s Day? We don’t usually celebrate it and I honestly can’t remember the last time we did, but this year I’m feeling extra thankful and festive, so we’re going out tonight! My mom texted us the other night saying, “I would love for you guys to go out on February 14 for Valentine’s Day to celebrate your love. So I am offering to babysit your children that evening and I hope you’ll take me up on that! And I don’t want to hear any excuses.”

How sweet is that? So we took her up on her offer and we’re going to see a movie tonight, just the two of us, which we haven’t done in literally years (for obvious reasons). We may get some food to go when it’s over and come home and eat once the kids go to bed.

We both woke up early this morning and PJ laid out some donuts and flowers and candy for the kids to wake up to. After that, we all spent the next hour in the kitchen writing out all of the boys’ Valentine’s Day cards to take to their classrooms. I remember doing this as a kid (though, admittedly, we never waited until the morning of to do it, that I know of. oops) and it’s one of those parenting moments that is so fun to experience with our children now.

Whether it’s a sore day for you or you’re celebrating it (or you couldn’t care less!), I’m sending you all the love today. And in the end, the most important person to love and celebrate today is yourself anyway, right?

A Beautiful Day for a Beautiful Day

I know, I know. Such a cliche saying. But it felt appropriate for all the beautiful weather we’ve been having the last few days.

It’s been so warm here in Tennessee that we were able to open the doors yesterday afternoon and take in the sunshine and breeze. It gets like this every now and then this time of year and then next week it’ll probably be snowing. That’s Tennessee weather for you.

Two of our friends, a married couple from NYC, came down from the Big Apple to look after one of their moms for a week, and while they’re down here they interviewed us for an episode of their upcoming podcast! It was so fun to sit down and chat with them about our life and all the twists and turns it’s taken over the last 12 years. But I think what was most fun of all was getting to catch up with them for a few hours. We hadn’t seen them in years, since way before the pandemic and even our kids. Ready for another cliche saying? Life moves too fast. Way too fast in fact, and I wish it would slow down every once in a while. But I think that’s up to us, don’t you?

Meanwhile, even though it’s a beautiful day outside, it’s not so beautiful inside. I’m currently curled up in our office editing this week’s vlog while blowing my nose nonstop and dealing with what feels like a head cold. My head is in the clouds and my nose is super congested. And what’s worse? PJ told me this morning he thinks he might be getting sick, too. So while PJ is at the farm today working on Holiday House, I will be here wrapped up in a blanket, sipping on tea, and working on this vlog.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!! xo

I’m Obsessed with Our New Wall Calendar

The new wall calendar I ordered for our kitchen just came in the mail and I’m obsessed! It’s from Papier.com, a new-to-me website that I suddenly can’t get enough of. They make more than just calendars, and I am promising myself that when I get more organized I’m ordering one of their planners, too. Or maybe going ahead and ordering one will help me get more organized?

We always have a big wall calendar hanging in our kitchen to keep track of the craziness that is our life (kids’ doctors appointments, basketball practice, meetings, work deadlines, etc.) but we haven’t had one so far in 2022 and I have felt out of sorts because of it. Last year’s was a beautiful one filled with pictures of Australia sent by a sweet subscriber from down under, and we both loved it. The year before, the same thing.

I love the illustrations and colors. It all feels very whimsical and fun, and because each month features a painting of a different European destination (January is Edinburgh, April is Amsterdam, November is Paris) it also feels dreamy and wanderlust-y. The name of this calendar is Travel Destinations, which feels very appropriate considering we haven’t travelled out of the country in over two years.

Never did I ever think I would get this excited over a calendar. Welcome to adulthood, I suppose!