The Little List | May 20, 2021

The Little List

May 20

It may not have looked how I originally imagined, but we still celebrated Mabel’s second birthday. When I was a kid, we never had elaborate birthday parties, but always felt celebrated with good food, cake, and the warm comfort of being surrounded by loving family. That’s exactly what Mabel’s day entailed and it was perfect in every way. The night before, I hung a few balloons I had on hand and put together a quick puppy party bunting while watching a show. When I had been planning a driveway party, I ordered some puppy macarons from a local baker, so instead of serving them to party guests, I packaged them up in some basic plastic sleeves and delivered them to friends and family to enjoy at home. The whole day was simple, sweet, and exactly what I dreamed it would be, despite the new lockdown restrictions and sudden change of plans.

I hope this will always serve as a reminder to me that celebrating is more about who you are with than what you do. I always like to pull together some party details because it is something that brings me a lot of joy to do, but at the heart of it all, I just want the people I love to feel exactly that - loved! Whether gathering on the driveway or simply sharing a good meal with your closest friends, celebrating is about connection. That’s all we really want.

Here are a few other things that have been bringing me joy, making me think, or helping me grow over the past couple of weeks:

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was going to start a 30 day running program that would help me run a 5k by my birthday in early June. I am officially two weeks into the program and have really been enjoying the new challenge and change to my routine, but after a few runs, I was noticing a lot of shoulder and neck pain that lead to tension headaches. After some research, I decided that my old running shoes were likely the culprit. A friend hooked me up with a new pair of shoes specifically for outdoor running and so far I haven’t had any difficulties with pain and headaches since. They are also so cute and bring a great pep to my (running) step.
My friend Christy recently launched her beautiful blog, Life Around The Table. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to try her recipe for Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies and they did not disappoint. I have tried a few black bean brownie recipes in the past but they were never chocolatey enough and had a really chalky texture. This recipe is so well balanced and so good that we couldn’t stop eating them!
I love to listen to podcasts and audiobooks while I work (I’m a graphic designer who spends a lot of time on a computer), but sometimes when I’m diving into a new creative project that requires a brainstorming session, I like to put on this playlist of Sleeping At Last. If you haven’t heard his music before, please just immerse yourself in it. It’s magical, moving, and gives your mind the space it needs to breathe.
Finally, some summer-like weather! The past week has ushered in the perfect warm temperatures with a soft cool breeze. I have so many nostalgic memories associated with these types of days. With the warmer temperatures, I have been packing away some of my winter wardrobe and realized that I had a few gaps in my closet. I grabbed this super breezy pair of linen pants, some knit ribbed tank tops in black and beige, and a basic white ribbed tank too. I’m a pretty big fan of basics in general, but especially in the summer when the temperatures get too hot to care about making an outfit.
Totally not a beauty guru over here, but one product I have recently added to my makeup routine is this clear eyebrow wax. I have really dark and unruly brows, so this product has been a really simple addition to my routine that has made a huge impact. I am able to shape my brows with a little bit of wax and a small brush and they stay put for the whole day. Easy peasy!
I just wrapped up a two week stint of solo-parenting our toddler and even though it went as well as it could, there is nothing quite like the relief that comes from a second set of hands being back in the house. In normal circumstances, Curt travels for work somewhat often, but with extra border restrictions in effect right now, it had been a while since he was out of the country. Although it was overwhelming, I am always thankful for the perspective that a period of solo-parenting brings me. It always reminds me that I am really blessed with both a great partner and a multitude of helpful people around me that truly love me so much.
Last Fall, I purchased a set of bedside tables on our buy-and-sell. They have been sitting in my garage all winter and I’m hoping to finally tackle a little transformation this weekend. We have been using simple crates as bedside tables since the day we got married and it is definitely time to upgrade. I haven’t exactly decided what I want to do to the side tables, but I’m thinking I may finally try painting a piece of furniture in this beautiful neutral colour by House & Canvas.