Heyyy, friends!
I’m currently in the throes of the girls’ birthdays — Sophie’s was yesterday and Chloe’s is on Sunday so we’ll be hosting a small joint celebration for them this weekend! I’m so excited, but I also feel stretched a bit thin if I’m honest. School ended just before we left for a trip to Florida (which we just returned home from) for my family’s reunion and I’m just trying to get my feet back under myself after traveling with two littles. And now we’re going to throw an [albeit small] joint party for them. My to-do list feels 100 miles long!
How’s your summer going so far? Is anyone else feeling super burnt out or is it just me?
Today’s Five Things are items that have piqued my interest or things that have been on my mind / going on in my life recently!
CURRENT TV SHOWS
I rarely have time to watch tv these days, but I’m so happy to have some great shows to watch when I do find some time! I’ve been really engrossed in the newest seasons of both The Bear and The Gilded Age lately!
Both are extremely different in style and subject matter, but they’re dramatic and interesting all the same.
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Peony Planting
I have been wanting to have our own peony shrubs for as long as I can remember, and I just saw that our beloved local nursery Newcastle Fruit & Produce was running a sale on peony plants — I couldn’t get over there fast enough! I decided that I should only invest in one plant to see how it does before committing to more (admittedly, I do NOT have a green thumb).
Because I’m not good at keeping plants alive, I chose a hardy variety of peony: the Itoh. Most peonies like to be in full sun, but these beauties can handle a little bit of shade and aren’t quite as finicky as other herbaceous peony varieties! I also loved this bloom color which is called “Strawberry Swirl” — how yummy does that sound?!
“Clear pink petals open to a center of bright yellow stamens. The large, double flowers are held closer to the foliage, creating a compact, rounded form that requires no staking. Mildew-resistant foliage stays attractive all season long. Typically blooms in late spring. Grows up to 3 feet tall and wide. Full to part sun. Evenly moist, well-drained soil. Hardy to -25°F. Herbaceous perennial.”
I can’t wait to see how it does! If it survives until next year and produces blooms I’ll definitely buy a few more for our back yard.
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PRESCHOOLER SCOOTER
This is Sophie’s main birthday gift this year — I truly can’t believe that she’s going to be FOUR. She’s been asking for a scooter to play with her pals at the park so we’re pretty sure it’s going to be a hit!
There are a lot of scooters available and I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of them, you just want to find the one that works best for your child + your preferences. We chose this scooter style because it has:
Three Wheels // Foldable Functionality // Lean to Steer // Adjustable Height // Light-up Wheels (for visibility)
We also have this helmet and love it!
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3 Generations Photoshoot
When we were in Florida recently I scheduled a photoshoot with a local photographer to [professionally] capture my mom, my daughters and myself together. It turned out to be such a great decision and I’m so thrilled that we were able to make it happen! You can read more about our experience here.
Some of my most prized possessions are our family photos — professionally documented as a family. I know I say this all the time, but I highly encourage you to have the photos taken… we never know how much time we have so capturing a moment in time with loved ones is just priceless.
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Consuming News
Humans were not meant to consume as much news as we do everyday — it’s information overload and I often feel crushed by the constant onslaught of it all.
While I definitely don’t want to stick my head in the sand, I also know that it’s not healthy for me to be reading / watching news all day long so I have devised a way of consciously consuming information without getting totally overwhelmed. Since my news intake method has been working so well for my mental health I thought I’d share it with you in case you’re in a similar position:
I try not to open any news as soon as I wake up… I do my morning routine (personal hygiene like brushing teeth & washing face, then I make my coffee and pack Sophie’s school lunch, etc.), take Sophie to school, and then I listen to the Morning Announcements podcast on my way back home. This is a much more digestible way for me to consume the daily news.
If I want to get a little bit more information on a particular news item, I’ll check in with: @sharonsaysso (The Preamble newsletter), @meidastouch (Substack), @aaronparnas (Substack), and / or @underthedesknews (Substack).
I hope your June was sunny and wonderful, friends!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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