Soooo, school has started, pumpkin spice lattes have officially arrived, and fall décor (along with a sprinkle of Christmas) is already taking over the stores … and it’s not even Labor Day yet. And this NOVA weather—wow! Last week was all about those gorgeous fall vibes. But now? Summer’s back in full force. Talk about […]
personal growth
Nailing It: Finding beauty in the imperfect build
So, I thought it would be an amazing idea to get our 3-year-old son an outdoor play set for his birthday. You know, with a two-story playhouse, slide, swings, climbing wall, picnic table—the whole shebang. I have visions of lounging in our backyard on our Adirondack chairs, sipping a glass of wine, and watching him […]
Unlocking the Power of Acceptance: Lessons from a Locked Gym
Sometimes life throws you curveballs, and you have to roll with it. Quite literally. I mean, isn’t that part of what “balls” do? When unexpected things happen, how you respond to them is really what defines the experience. If you get super frustrated or angry, those feelings will dominate your day. Part of that frustration […]
Kindness on wheels: Lessons from a Little Blue Truck
Any parent knows that they are going to read a handful of books 459 times in a given week depending on what their little one is into. It can be incredibly mind-numbing and hilarious when you find yourself reciting the books in your sleep. Our current favorite is “Little Blue Truck.” Thank goodness my kiddo […]
Tapping into new skills: The joy of adult learning
The other day was National Tap Dance Day, and it got me thinking about how much I’ve come to love tap dancing. I’ve always wanted to learn but, truth be told, I was pretty uncoordinated as a kid. Formal dance lessons were never my thing. On the dance floor, I’m more awkward penguin than graceful […]
From Burn Boot Camp to Piano Recitals: Battling Performance Nerves
I recently became a Burn Boot Camp trainer. It’s very exciting and I am actually starting to enjoy it. I say “actually” because I still feel very much like a beginner. It’s a new skill I am cultivating. As I prepare, practice, and try to memorize the protocol as best I can, I still feel […]
Chill vibes only: challenging the stigma of laziness
Laziness – it’s a word that’s often thrown around with a hint of disdain, isn’t it? I was listening to a podcast the other day that questioned whether laziness even exists. Definitely some food for thought which got me thinking: perhaps our eagerness to label others as lazy is just a sneaky little trick we […]
The Art of “Good Enough”
The other day, I found myself in a familiar scenario: FaceTiming with my cousin (or my “sister-cousin” as I like to call her), running through my jam-packed schedule for the week ahead. But her puzzled expression stopped me mid-sentence. “How are you not freaking out? How are you so calm?” she asked, genuinely curious. It […]
Eclipse Energy: Managing a wild week
Man, it’s been a week! That Solar Eclipse was something else, wasn’t it? It felt like everything was just a bit out of whack all week. Kids were being crazy, people were being crazy — emotions were running high. It was as if the sun and moon got together and decided to keep us on […]
Mommy Mishaps: Embracing imperfection in motherhood
The other day wasn’t my shining moment in motherhood. Nope, quite far from it. I found myself in a moment of frustration, where my patience took a vacation, leaving me with a not-so-pretty tone directed at my toddler. I might have gotten stuck there for a bit, caught in my own emotions. Regardless, it wasn’t […]