On Life Lately.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I love this day. Could be my obsession with hearts. Or greeting cards. Or chocolate.

Or hearts! Do you think they have this outfit in my size?

Max and I made cookies this past weekend, and the only recipe to use is Bridget’s perfect cut out cookie! You don’t have to refrigerate the dough – you make it with cold butter, roll it out, cut the shapes and then stick the baking sheet in the freezer for a few minutes. They are the BEST.

P.S. the secret to amazing sugar cookies is also almond extract. Trust me.

We frosted them with canned cream cheese frosting. Like savages, I know. My recipe is better than canned, but we were pressed for time. And cleanliness.

But anyhoo. We have had a slooooow start to the year.

Nothing was immediately on the horizon this year.

This was the first year in over two years that I didn’t have to come out of the gate running. 2017 I was on a tight schedule to finish photography for my book and 2018 started with intense promotion and launch of The Pretty Dish!

Part of me was so excited to kind of “ease” into the year and focus on things I haven’t focused on in a long time. And sort of relieved. I thought it would be nice.

But I also subconsciously knew that the downtime would NOT work for my crazy brain. It’s not like I was taking time off, but I became so so so accustomed to working nonstop, that a somewhat regular work schedule seemed… ridiculous? If that makes sense? I tried to ward that off by setting these goals.

Anyhoo, long story short is that I just ended up in a real funk. Nothing happened, nothing was wrong. But I have always said that for me, constant creativity, work and motivating opportunities promote more of the same. Downtime just promotes… more downtime. I don’t do well with it!

One thing that really helped me get out of said funk are the Mel Robbins’ mindset reset videos, especially about the one on feeling stuck! I loved it and loved following this series all January. I also loved rereading bits of Big Magic. And it’s one of the reasons I started doing my own version of morning pages!

I’m sloooowwwwly coming out of it.

What else!

In January, I went to see Hamilton and actually got to go twice. It was SO good – which made me super happy because I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to the soundtrack/original cast clips in my mind. But it was great.

We also went to an engagement party for my brother and Kelly!

Emilia is obsessed with her cousin. They are only four months apart and just look at each other with such excitement. It’s adorable.

A few weeks ago, we went to Mediterra and it was so good. Lacy, Emilia and I split a bunch of things (the grilled tuna melt like I made here, the pizza, avocado toast), my mom had an awesome breakfast sandwich and Max had the coconut pancake that is baked in cast iron. And a cupcake, of course.

As a random side note, I am still obsessed with these Sorel boots – third year running. They are basically my winter shoe uniform. So worth it, even if I’ve worn them more in rain than snow this year!

However, I am also loving these lined Hunter boots a whole lot.

Max has been obsessed with dinosaurs lately. He watched Jurassic World at some point last year, and more recently he watched the original Jurassic Park (isn’t it so good?!) which got him super interested. He started asking about going to see the dinosaurs at the history museum this weekend, so we took a spur of the moment trip late Saturday afternoon.

We kept asking if he knew that there wouldn’t be living dinos (and instead, dino bones) and he said he understood. He was very into it. Emilia just wanted to run run run, then proceeded to dump her cup of water all over herself and the stroller.

Before that, we stopped at Meat and Potatoes for brunch and that’s where we always went before kids, so I was transported back to 2013. Max had pancakes as big as his head and he shared them with Emilia who also had scrambled eggs with a side of cheddar bunnies.

I had a TON of recipe flops in January. Almost everything we’d make, I’d just feel… MEH about. My own recipes, freelance work, everything. It was so… ick. This definitely helped to contribute to my funk!

One of the questions I’m asked all the time by other bloggers and those who have started blogs recently, is how I get through uninspiring weeks and how I come up with ideas all the time.

My only answer is to work through it! This has probably happened to me less than five times in the last ten years, but when it happens, it’s rough. I just know that I have to work through a few crappy weeks in order to keep moving forward.

Because! I do not believe in breaks.

Before you jump all over me, yes obviously I know that occasionally, breaks are warranted or necessary and beneficial.

But for the most part, if you are working in a business like this, you have to think of it and work at it almost like owning your own brick and mortar business. You’re an entrepreneur.

Can you just go take a break because you feel off? If you’re not feeling inspired with your work, can you just close up shop for a month until you “feel ready?” Um no.

That’s why I find it best to work through those times – and they are usually the moments when I learn the most, make a big change in my process or business, have some sort of creative breakthrough and come out so happy and focused. It never fails me.

It’s also another reason why I like to work ahead. If I have three weeks of recipe fails and uninspiring ideas, that isn’t something I can share with you. I mean, I can in this way in a post like I’m writing at moment, but not in a regular, this-is-the-best-recipe way. You know?!

I also believe this is the key to STARTING a blog or business. You just have to start. You can’t wait until you feel ready. Start, work through it, learn, etc.

In other news, yesterday I shared a more in depth update on the kids if you’re into that sort of thing. They make my life.

Hmmm what else. Peloton update!

Eddie and I have been LOVING it. My favorite instructors are Ally and Robyn. His is definitely Robyn. I’ve done some tabata and HIIT rides and they are awesome. And they kill me.

Okay that’s it! Now I’m off to figure out our Valentine’s meal tonight. I have noooo idea what I’m going to make! Oops. I have too many ideas.