Hello! I have been meaning to share a personal post for a while now, but it just hasn’t happened. I have had a hard time focusing on much of anything “extra” lately and I have noticed that things that used to feel easy feel very daunting now…maybe this is pandemic fatigue? I have found that when I do have a little downtime, I “waste it”, either mindlessly scrolling or cleaning and organizing a house that never stays that way for long because we are here pretty much 24/7 now…maybe because it gives me some sense of control?
I have neglected emails, texts, and any conversations that will require an update on how things have been since the beginning of this pandemic because it just feels overwhelming. Even though we don’t have a lot going on in theory (or at least not as much as “normal”) my mind has felt at capacity most days. I struggle in times of transition and weirdly things felt easier this past spring when the options were much more limited.
Navigating work, family life, and self-care in this “new normal” almost feel trickier now than when we had fewer choices if that makes sense. I have many privileges in my life that has made this pandemic more “manageable” (including living in a state where officials have taken this pandemic very seriously since the beginning…This New Yorker article about Vermont and Coronavirus made me proud!) and I have still have been struggling with the daily worry, lack of control and just so much unknown.
I want to start sharing more here again, (and not overthinking everything I want to write…)but I think I have been trying to fit a round peg in a square hole. Things are different now, and maybe I need to share on here differently too.
I love predictability but it also means that I struggle to make changes until it is absolutely necessary. The Lazy Genius (full review coming soon!) was the perfect non-fiction read for me right now. I love a self-help book that is encouraging and relatable and Kendra Adachi does both so well.
Lately, I have been longing to get back more into the diary style of blogging that I loved so much back when I started my first blog in 2009, and I think I am going to go for it, I still plan to share about reading, but I think I need to focus on sharing more and not having such specific ways it “has to be done” so it will actually happen. I am hoping writing this all out will help me incorporate new routines…and let go of my unnecessary expectations of what this space needs to be.
Alright, moving on, here are some things we have been up to…
Vermont Summer Days…
We were in a great routine of walking almost daily during the school year, but it has been a little more sporadic since June. I have been trying to get back into a schedule with this because I know how helpful it is both mentally and physically to get outside and move every single day. 
We are trying to get outside as much as we can because we know what is coming in just a few short months…Winter walks involve a lot more layers!
Parenting Life…
While parenting has definitely been a rollercoaster ride of emotions lately, I am thankful for our kids who are have been so resilient in so many ways. I have learned so much from them since March. They also keep things hectic and chaotic, which is quite helpful when all you want to do is curl up under a blanket…
I have many thoughts about school in the fall but like many, we have been feeling quite conflicted about what is the right answer, and if there is one at all. This has been taking up a lot of space in my head as of late, and I know I am not the only one.
The Babysitters Club on Netflix…
Who else loved the newly released Baby-Sitters Club reboot on Netflix? We needed something to watch together and that would be a great distraction from all the what-ifs of life right now. I often struggle with movie and tv show adaptions because they are never quite like I imagined in my head, but gosh, they really nailed this one!
I love that they made it set in modern-day times and are tackling so many important and timely issues while still honoring what made these books so special…hello the landline phone at their meetings!!
Both of our boys have really gotten into it (they are on the third run of watching it) and it has made also made some great discussions. If you haven’t started this one yet, you need to! And if you are also disappointed that you also didn’t hang onto your Babysitters Club books from your childhood, don’t despair..you can get this Baby-Sitter’s Club Retro Collection and Tin like I did!
Lake Life…
At the beginning of the summer, we got in a lot of lake time. I love swimming when the lake is just warming up and still refreshing, and with all the warm early summer days we had, it was the perfect way to cool off.
Pool Days…
I recently realized I never mentioned it here but we joined the COVID-19 pool club in June! It has been on our house bucket list since we moved here 5 years ago, and the impending summer of quarantining was just the push we needed and we called to get quotes back in April.
The yard is still torn up (no home project is without surprises like the pool being placed right where our septic line is!) but we are thrilled about our new addition and our favorite thing is having family swims after dinner. Buzz loves swimming and surprisingly has been rather hesitant about the pool but will come in with a little encouragement!
We have been full steam ahead with photography life but how it all is going down is much different now. Kristy and I have been juggling our workloads without regular childcare this summer which means our work schedules are almost never the same and I miss her! I didn’t realize how much I depended on this regular time together until we lost it. Thank goodness for FaceTime, which has kept us connected when we don’t get to share the same office much anymore.
I also have fallen back into my to-go coffee ways. I have been depending on swapping kids with a couple of my close mom friends and dropping the kids off at Luke’s office mid-afternoon so I can do the evening workshift…which, of course, means after a brief quarantine hiatus, I welcomed Starbucks back into my life again. Old habits die hard! If you haven’t had the Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew yet, you must try it!
Recent True Crime Podcast Listening…
{Killer Queens, Your Own Backyard, Southern Fried True Crime, The Orange Tree, Housewives of True Crime and Court Junkie}
Being back on my work computer does mean my podcast game is going strong again….and I have been on a true-crime podcast spree. I can’t tell you exactly why, but when life is stressful, I find comfort in listening to true crime. I love a deep dive series, more in-depth reporting, and also the “lighter” fare. These are some of my favorite recent favorites.
Alright, that’s all for now…see you soon! <3
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