Though the official season change isn’t exactly upon us, we all feel the shift. So today, I’m jumping in with Emily to share what I learned this summer. Small and not as small.
1| Mental muscles need exercise too.
Just like my biceps, my brain struggles to work at full capacity when I let parts of it grow idle. When I don’t write, writing gets harder. When I’m not reading books that challenge me, I do not want to read things that require me to think. My specific experience here would be the writing one. It has been SUPER hard to sit and write this summer. My brain is already cramping.
2| I can stick to a workout class if they threaten me.
Or at least charge me for canceling under a certain time window. In our house, we call this external accountability. I’ve been learning about it and trying to figure out more places in my life I can utilize it. I plan to write about all these things and habits and such. When my brain gets strong again, of course.
3| Pretzel Nuggets. Nutella.
I don’t love Nutella. Hazelnut flavor always tastes like fake chocolate to me. But the salty pretzel nuggets dipped in it. Um. Yum.
4| My face is desperate to regress to 16 years old.
For the most part of my life, I have been really fortunate to have clear skin, outside of the occasional monthly occurrence. But this summer I used a traditional, chemical sunscreen for about three weeks, instead of this tried and true one, I’ve loved the past few years. Also, through Sept 6, I believe the whole site is 20% off. Click here to check it out if you haven’t before. Love it.
BIG MISTAKE. My forehead. Oh geez. It was humbling how vain I was about it. I was just trying to be responsible and use something I had on hand, instead of spending money. Fortunately, I found this drying cream and it was just a hair short of a miracle. That whole set is awesome and covers all types of breakouts.
5| I can be selfish by reading books.
Sounds ridiculous, I know. But there are a few members of my family who can devour books. Unfortunately, it can also devour the time that should be spent connecting with people I love. After the kids go down, I can’t wait to rush out by our fire pit and turn on my kindle and lose the next THREE HOURS.
Guys. I could do that nightly. And I’ve made the mistake of forgetting that if I want to connect to Bret and care for him and our marriage, I need to spend those hours with him too. I’m sorry honey. I’ll keep trying!
6| It’s time to go back to work.
This is another one that I have many, many things to say about. But I’m writing a round-up, so rein it in, P.
In an eye-opening, heart-freeing talk with Tonya Dalton, of Inkwell Press, I discovered that my heart was ready, and I actually “needed” to be outside the home. Nothing crazy, very part time, very flexible. But the need for more space was growing very heavy. Very heavy. Still, that whole mom guilt/shame thing was keeping me from saying it out loud.
So.
I’m back to work. Like I said, VERY part time. I’m hoping some day to make this space my part time gig and would love to write for others! So if you know anyone in need of a content writer, I’m soooo interested. paige@madefrank.com Shameless plug. But seriously…
7| Fake romper for the win.
I have been looking for and trying on every black romper I come across. I really think I have been searching for 2 years. Not my life’s work or anything, but I try any and all on. To no avail. I have a bit wider hips than my upper body and a pretty flat booty. Put a black romper over it.
Now picture a black fabric pancake.
Not pretty or flattering, huh? Then I had this genius thought. I have these great black shorts and this cute high necked black tank that look to be almost identical fabrics. Tucked the tank in. Cute sandals. DONE!
I did it. I got asked no less than 4 times the first night I wore it, if it was a romper. So exciting and I didn’t have to buy anything new. I plan on trying to recreate this idea with some flowy black pants and the same top. Or even the long sleeved black top I have.
8| It’s ok to take a break.
I just went back and looked. My last post was July 5, when I shared some of my favorite summer survival tips. It has now been almost 8 weeks. When I have thought about stepping back into this space, I have all these fears. I have gone to the coffee shop for a “writing block” and sufficiently not written one single word. Fears are so dumb.
Any momentum I have built…lost.
Any readers I had…gone.
No one will trust me if I just disappear like I did.
Then I realized two things.
That’s dumb and I’m taking myself too seriously. Which means I end up putting crazy pressure on myself. So I’ll say this. I get why people take the summer off of blogging. Life is full and really good and sometimes really hard. And we have had a big ole dose of all of those the last few months.
So please forgive me. I’m excited to work my way back in slowly. And who knows? Maybe I’ll write a little something about how to know when to take a break.
Thanks Emily for always prompting me to think back and reflect.
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