Hey there, friends! Is everyone marked safe from “Maycember”? It’s actually “Junecember” for us (and add in our wedding anniversary, Father’s Day, and two little girls’ birthdays 😵💫) so I’m just starting my craziest month of the year. Hang in there, parents! We’re in the home stretch.
Wow, did you catch the season finale of “The Testaments”?! 😮💨 What a doozy! I’m thrilled that the show has been renewed for another season; I’m really enjoying this perspective of Gilead. It’s still brutal, but in a different way. I can’t wait to see how the story plays out!
Additionally, my bestie happened to be traveling to Seattle for a conference a couple of weeks ago and was able to extend her trip by a couple of days to stay with us — it was SOOO good to have some Girl Time! We both have our own families and live at opposite ends of the continental U.S. now (sorry, Jaym! 🫣) so it’s a rare treat to see each other at all, and even rarer still to see her solo! I can’t even remember the last time we’ve had dedicated 1:1 time like that so her visit felt really special. Anyone else managing long-distance friendships as an adult?
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!
MIAMI FLIP SANDAL BY CROCS
I take back every mean thing I’ve ever said about Crocs. Their recent line of women’s sandals are so cute! I’m honestly so impressed with the designs. I couldn’t resist this T-strap pair for summer; they’re comfortable enough for days at the zoo, playground adventures (sans mulch), and poolside fun! I’m really excited to add them to my sandal lineup.
I’m still not a fan of the classic clog style, but I can get behind the sandals! I also really like this ankle strap pair and this platform wedge style. As a late-30’s gal with sweaty feet, I’m all about the comfort and ease of cleaning — cute designs are just the cherry on top! You know I love when form meets function.
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MARE OF EASTTOWN
We are SO late to this show (it premiered in 2021), but we really enjoyed “Mare of Easttown”! It was suspenseful, dramatic, and kept us guessing until the very end!
I just found out that season two is coming (with filming starting in 2027?) so if that comes to fruition we’re looking forward to seeing how Mare’s story progresses in that next chapter.
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WAX PUTTY PAINT STICK
We have a number of random nicks on our wood trim throughout the house and this clever “fil-stik” will be so helpful at filling / painting them!
We also have these brilliant paint pens (with fine brush heads) for doing small touch-ups and they work brilliantly! Home maintenance is so much work — at least these little tools make it a little easier.
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SUMMER PASTA SALAD
I can’t recall where I found this recipe, but this is my current hyperfixation meal and it is SO. GOOD.
Cook 1 Box of Pasta
Slice 1 Bag of Sweet Mini Peppers
Half 1 Container of Grape Tomatoes
Quarter 1 Container Mozzarella Pearls
Italian Seasoning to taste (I used 1 1/2 Tbsp)
Fresh cracked pepper to taste
Pour 1 Bottle Garlic Expressions Dressing (I left the garlic cloves out)
Place everything into a large mixing bowl and toss well. Then move the mixture into an airtight container and pop it in the fridge to eat for the week!
Leave as-is to keep it vegetarian-friendly, but you can absolutely add a protein! I included salami in mine, but grilled chicken would also be a delicious addition. This is an incredibly simple dish, but it makes a great, quick weekday meal. Enjoy!
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SPRING CLOSET CLEAN-OUT
I’ve finally begun the incredibly overdue process of purging my closet — as Taylor Swift says, it’s been a long time coming!
Before 2020 I was in a routine of doing “mini audits” as I seasonally rotated my wardrobe, taking note of things I wore a LOT as well as things I didn’t wear at all — this method of closet maintenance made things super manageable. However, I’ve had a lot of life transitions in recent years (COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, birthing two babies, becoming a Stay At Home Mom, and so on) so everything in my life has felt like it was constantly changing and I didn’t know what I would want to keep after each chapter closed. As a result, I haven’t really had the opportunity to properly take stock of my wardrobe… until now.
Now that life has settled (with no more babies on the horizon!) I need to determine what belongs in my wardrobe to suit my current lifestyle. As I go through my things, I sort which items are gently used (or even brand new with tags!) and set them aside to sell on Poshmark, which items are a little more loved but still have “miles left” in them to donate (to Goodwill, a women’s shelter, formalwear charities, etc.), and which items have been so well-worn they need to be recycled with Trashie.
It feels so good to get all of these pieces shifted… my closet is starting to feel peaceful and a lot less overwhelming now. I’ll be sharing a whole post dedicated to this process once I’m on the other side, but if you’re also in need of a closet clean-out, here’s your sign to rip off the [proverbial] band-aid and get started!
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Also: Happy New Taylor Swift Song Day to all who celebrate! I adore this new song (it’s been on repeat since it dropped at midnight!) and it’s making me even more excited to go see “Toy Story 5” on the 19th! Go take a listen to “I Knew It, I Knew You” wherever you stream your music.
I hope your spring has been filled with sunshine and you’ve been able to slow down to enjoy the little things.
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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