The Little List | March 10, 2022
You may have noticed that it has been about a month since I last wrote a blog post. I’ve tried extremely hard to consistently show up in this space over the past year, aiming to post twice a week. I’ve done a fairly decent job since last March, but there comes a point when you are juggling a lot of different balls for a while that you have to set one or two down. Not necessarily forever, but until you can at least regain your footing. This blog space has been one of those balls.
I’m going to share more about some of this in an upcoming post, but for now, I’ll just say that I have been trying to refocus my very limited spare time on a few things that bring me a lot of satisfaction and joy, even when they seem unproductive. Things like creating art, reading books, and playing hide and seek with Mabel. The striver in me - the perfectionist in me - so badly wishes I had something to show for these moments. But the tired and worn down human being in me knows that these have been exactly what I’ve needed most.
Even as I sit down to compile this list, I can’t help but wonder: have I even been doing anything remotely interesting enough to share? But then I remind myself that the purpose of this little list isn’t about what is flashy or interesting to others, but rather, a spilling out of the little joys, little nudges, and seemingly insignificant ideas that are pushing me to keep going. If you can glean something from it too, all the better. But that’s not necessarily my intent.
So with that in mind, if you are interested, these are the things that have been bringing me joy, making me think, or helping me grow over the past couple of weeks:
Mabel and I have still been baking together on weekends and it’s hit the point where she specifically asks to make something. Last weekend we made these chewy M&M cookies (as per her request) and we have been enjoying them all week long.
Yesterday I went and browsed the library alone for the first time in a very long time. It feels silly to write these words, but I actually had tears in my eyes as I walked out to my car. I fully recognize the privilege that browsing the public library is in the first place, but it’s these little pieces of normalcy falling back into place after two very long years that taste so extra sweet and give me so much hope for the future. I always love taking my time to wander around at the library, feeling so inspired by all the opportunities to learn and expand my understanding of the world. On this trip, I picked up this hold, impulsively grabbed this book while browsing, and can’t wait to pick out a handful of recipes to try from this cookbook and this cookbook.
I have really been enjoying the Risen Motherhood podcast series about Motherhood + Work. This second episode really challenged me to rethink the way I view the work I do as both a professional and a mom.
I just devoured the audio version of this novel and didn’t want it to end. I tend to most often choose non-fiction books because I love to learn new things, but every time I finish a piece of fiction I am reminded of the power in good storytelling and losing yourself in someone else’s experience. Any novel recommendations to try next?
I recently bought this sweater for Mabel and the joy on her face when I showed it to her is something I will never forget. She has already worn it more times than I can count.
I can’t get over this beautiful space. Like at all.
When we moved into our house with basically no furniture, my grandpa gave us a set of blue tub chairs that were staples in my grandparents’ house growing up. They swivel and are the most comfortable thing you will ever sit on, but so blue. As we have built up our collection of furniture, they have found their way to the basement, but with my recent experience of hiring a professional to reupholster a set of chairs, I’ve started stewing on the idea of getting a quote to do the beloved tub chairs. I’m thinking something like this or maybe even this. I know it will be expensive, so I’m going to stew a little longer, but from the moment the possibility popped into my head, I can’t shake it.
Where have you been finding inspiration, joy, and contentment lately?
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