We were supposed to be en route to Florida this morning to spend the next few days with Grandy but we just didn’t feel safe getting on a plane this week and so we have revised plans for a very low-key day at home. It’s been more than a year since she saw Teddy and even though I feel confident we’re doing the right thing, I’m also just frustrated and exasperated and anxious for everything to feel a little less impossible again if that makes sense. I know we’re still incredibly fortunate in the grand scheme of things, but if you find yourself feeling sad or lonely or just generally a little more bummed out than usual this holiday season, I want to know you are not alone.

I’m going to share a list of things I’m grateful for today, but first I want to highlight the cozy striped sweater in these photos and the cause it supports. It was designed by Shop Navy Bleu, a brand that’s already been extremely generous with a cause close to my heart and is now donating a portion of sales from every cashmere sweater to the nonprofit One Warm Coat, which provides free outerwear to children and adults in need. You can shop the sweater I’m wearing here as well as a super cute gray version here.

I started talking to a therapist via Zoom in the throes of my post-weaning depression and she encouraged me to start a daily gratitude journal where I write down one thing I’m grateful for, one thing that went well that day, and one thing I accomplished that day. So in the spirit of trying to look on the bright side this week, I thought I’d share a few recent entries for things I’m grateful for, in no particular order:

• My husband, who’s not only done the lion’s share of childcare lately but has somehow also managed to make me avocado toast just about every morning since we found out I was pregnant ?
• A healthy and hyperemesis-free pregnancy (18 weeks!)
• A nanny who loves our son
• The health of my family during this pandemic
• Healthcare workers who put their lives on the line to keep us safe
• Christmas decorations
• Brand collaborations that excite me and help support my family
• A new workout routine with my mom
• Needlepoint, which keeps my hands busy and off my phone at night
• Blog readers who have followed my life over the last eleven (!) years and shared their own stories with me
• My dad’s help installing baby gates all over our house
• Blogger friends who make me feel like I have colleagues even though I work alone
• A new book club idea my sister and I are brainstorming
• The chance to run a small business with my brother and see our photos in people’s homes

I hope you have a similar list of things big and small to be grateful for this season. And if nothing else, I’m grateful we’re 36 days from closing out this year and hopefully ushering in a more enjoyable new chapter for all of us. Thank you as always for reading and making this space mean so much to me. Wishing you all a wonderful day. xx

striped sweater c/o  //  jeans  //  sneakers

art prints  //  similar mirror  //  similar lamps  //   wreath  //  blue velvet ribbon

sofa  //  throw pillows  //  ottoman upholstered in this fabric  //  rug

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