Anders and I earlier this week at the beach. Even in the winter, it’s beautiful. We just don’t last as long there. It’s Friday! Happy weekend, friends. What are you doing? We’re having friends over for dinner tomorrow night–major foodies–and I’m not sure what to make them. Something not totally intimidating to me but that has a wow factor… any suggestions?! Help!
Some weekend reading…
There’s no time like Valentine’s Day to share our marriage tips! Lol, I hope you know that line was full of sarcasm. But, 12 years in and, in a lot of ways, it really feels like we’re just hitting our stride. We’re in a groove. (Only took 12 years?! Go Bridget and Steve!) Okay, okay, I’m going to be serious now. Truly, relationships are so tricky. The ups and downs are to be expected but are not talked about nearly enough. Call me crazy, but with those people closest to me, I wear my heart on my sleeve and we talk candidly about our marriages in ways that I know are so comforting to us all. Real vulnerability and connection is one of the best parts of the human experience. I know I don’t talk that much about our marriage here, but I’d like to do more of it. So today, Steve and I together are sharing some of the things that have helped our marriage in the hopes that it might help you through a rough spot (we’ve had plenty of them).
Sweetest sleepers a few days ago. Hope you’re all having a good weekend!
A few weeks out from our Charleston trip, and I have too many good things to say about this amazing place. What I was remarking on, right away, is the weather. We arrived January 1 in Charleston… an often bitter time in New England. And whenever I go some place, I’ve said this before, I’m always imagining what life would look like were I to live there. Not sure I could ever fully give up seasons, sweaters, and, honestly, the East Coast, Charleston feels like a very happy medium. In the same week, I could bust out my flip flops (in January!), and also wear a sweater and sit comfortably in front of a crackling fire at night. Now that’s pretty perfect.
01. afternoon tea. currently, this turmeric tea… though, at the time of this picture, i didn’t see the ‘natural flavors’ listed on it. i expected more of tazo! blah. nevertheless, as far as a turmeric tea goes (i’m not the biiiiiggest fan of turmeric; i tried golden milk once and it never really took.) it is really nice. heavier on the licorice, which i love. tastes similar to throat coat if you guys are familiar. the simple act of preparing a cup of tea in the afternoon makes me happy. (in a mug as pretty as this, even better)
02. this playlist. it’s so, so, lovely. it’s currently taken the place of my morning coffee playlist which is saying something. try it. you will love it.
03. this podcast. i was telling steve about it the other day and he looked at me like… “and why are you listening to this??!” he thinks i’m crazy for being interested in true crime type podcasts, as an already semi-anxious person. (i would argue that i’m only semi-anxious about the things that could actually happen; not the things that are most unlikely… and this podcast feels pretty unlikely.) it’s bizarre, fascinating, and yes, sad.
04. i brought home one of these blankets from target the other day to surprise parker with (for all of us, but he’s the one who looooves cozy things especially) and it will remain the best decision of 2019. i’m willing to make that statement even though it’s only january. steve and i love curling up under it when we watch the last kingdom too. (we’re almost to the end of season 3… i’ll be sad when it’s over. i love that uhtred!)
05. these cookies. i suggest you all make them! especially during this time of year when you want something sweet but might be eating less sugar to help out your immune system. they are SO good. made them last week with parker–they’re a one bowl recipe so they take virtually no time at all–and they were gone within 3 days. (tag me if you make them!)
what are you loving lately?
in an effort to practice what i preach, i’m trying to get outside with the kids more in the wintertime. it’s not easy in this area some days (but, i apologize to those readers i have up in canada where temps have gotten down to -40!!! comparatively, i have nothing to complain about.). last monday was single digits and guys, i hated every second of it. we went into boston for the RV show and even waiting in the lobby area for the shuttle where automatic doors were opening and closing, allowing gusty arctic wind blasts in over and over again, was miserable. and i had layers upon layers on! temps in the teens, i can do. temps in the 30s? even better. those single digits are killer. but what is an absolute must is the right clothing. i used to begrudge all the clothing that winter necessitated… it’s expensive! but i do think you get what you pay for, generally speaking. and let’s face it, it sucks to be outside and just be cold. that’ll put a quick stop to the dreamy ‘we’re getting outside every day!’ notions.
I never recapped Christmas. How did that get away from me?! It was the sluggish, soporific, I-deserve-rest haze I was very happily under that I blame. I know I’m not the first to point this out, but that week after Christmas before New Year’s really does have me in this strange, delicious time warp. I started books, I don’t recall changing into real clothes too often, and I lazily hung around as the kids played with their new things around me. It was wonderful.
You might remember me asking for help a few months back. The question went something like this, “I have been searching for a distressed, black, slouchy, worn in, non-embellished, perfect black slouchy boot for a very long time. Please help.” Just a tiny request, really. Got so many recommendations (thank you!), but I’m something of a Goldilocks when it comes to these imaginary black boots.
Hello, hello, friends! Back with a Notes for the Road that I think is a pretty good one. Hope you all stay warm (at least you locals) this weekend… some cold temps coming. I’m inspired by you guys who responded to my last post talking about getting outside all winter long though. Wading into those waters, slowly, carefully, and with a lot of layers on.
Some weekend reading…
Today was sort of a hard day–what a dreary start. Small things adding up, a fight with Steve, parenting, at times, feeling a bit hopeless, and kids that, for days, look like they stepped out of bleak house as you eye them suspiciously. I’m considering investing in an IV drip of vitamin D next to my living room couch (is it the lack of sun? lack of citrus? do you need a spinach smoothie?! tell me child! your mother wants some color in those cheeks!). Wintertime. Being closed into four walls for too many hours of the day has a way of holding a magnifying glass on the dingy parts of life. Would a fast-paced walk outside solve this? An afternoon at the beach? Probably. But, nay, it’s January and pretend as I might, I’m just not that walk-in-the-wintertime girl. (Still going to try to employ this tactic more often, though. Alongside tea, ample amounts of lemon water, and meditation.)
Yesterday, however, I was feeling energized. Energized to turn over some new leaves and take good care of myself and my people. After being away and hardly drinking water, I smugly filled my large mason jar of water, cut open a lemon, squeezed it into the water and thought, “Well done, Bridget, well done. This is a such promising start, you disciplined queen, you.” I made lists, wrote thank you notes, refilled the diffuser with a favorite (5 orange, 5 spruce, 2 geranium, 2 grapefruit, 1 lime–thanks to this IG account), started a new book and read something totally riveting aloud every… 2 minutes… to Steve to ensure that he too be on the same page as me in my quest for perfect wellness (he loved this, I’m sure), made a new recipe (Chrissy Teigen’s split pea soup; good, not great), and used a charcoal mask on my face. New year, new you.
But really, what I’m hoping for this year is that I continue learning more about myself in the hopes that, on the flip-side, I can be better, kinder, more loving to those around me. Learning how to communicate better. Especially tricky, as I might’ve considered myself something of an expert communicator, though I’m not sure the shoe always fits. Because, at times, I find myself in situations that have me questioning my ability to communicate. Wait, how are we here–I’m thinking this, and I’m saying that, but I really didn’t see this reaction coming. We all come with so much of our own baggage, and presuppositions, and defenses, don’t we? Gosh, we do. I don’t really know how exactly but I’m going to try to shed some of that and those. Speak slower and more thoughtfully. Have more patience for others arriving at points A or B with their baggage in tow.
What else? I’m going to begin camping again this year. Last trip was when I was hugely pregnant with Parker and peeing outside the tent about 7x a night, so I suspect it can only be an improvement. I’d also like to read more. This was a resolution last year, and I will say, I did a lot better in 2018 than previous years. Monkey see, monkey do–I want my boys to love reading too (in my head, I tell myself we can totally side-skirt the one day gaming requests with a love of reading and/or sports.). Are you trying to read more? If so, here are some that I’ve loved: Educated, The Reader, Carry On Warrior, Tribe, Unbroken. I want to lift more. Oh, and go to bed before 11, every night. And never, ever with my phone in the same room (okay, unless I’ve set an alarm for something specific). Okay, It’s 10:58 PM, gotta go!
There. That’s it. Happy 2019.
