We have been verrry busy over here! We had the best time in Park City for one last summer trip to escape the heat before back to school. I shared lots of fun pics from that trip & a guide to Park City that you can read below ICYMI.

Lauren's Substack

A Guide to Park City, Utah

A mom friend recommended to me that we take a trip the summer before Emmett started Kindergarten once all the big kids had gone back to school. This would be the last year that we could do this during our last long summer. Once school is back in session, everywhere is a little less crowded and just has a more relaxed vibe, so we decided that we’d take t…

Read more

10 days ago · 8 likes · 2 comments · Lauren Roscopf

I popped in to LTKCon last week to catch up with some of my fav people behind the scenes of this whole ‘influencer’ thing & brands I love. Now, I’m prepping for NYFW and all things fall at home. I feel so grateful to be in a busy season and have all these exciting things happening, but I have definitely felt incredibly behind in one area or another and like I’m drowning many days. It’s all good things that I am blessed by, but a I’m not getting it all done and definitely not well sort of mentality.

The journey back and forth from LTKCon gave me plenty of time to start and finish my book club’s latest book choice so that made my longer drives feel productive. I’ve been seeing this one on everyone’s TBR lists - it was cute & light hearted. I don’t always love an audiobook by for certain times like longer drives or waiting around it was a great way to have something I enjoy (& also needed to get done) during that time.

I not believe how many compliments I got on this new bag when I wore it. I got stopped SEVERAL times. It’s such a fun pop of pattern & texture to accessorize any outfit. Definitely a bag I will be styling into Fall. See how I styled it (these shorts were also a very popular item) here.

Speaking of bags… I have never purchased a bag quicker!!! I have had a major case of the shoppies prepping for NYFW and this bag is perfection. It was waitlisted online but the minute it came back in stock I snagged it. Stay tuned to see how I style it.

We all know I love a good routine so when at home, I try to stick to it as much as possible between work and social things and kids’ activities. It just makes me feel a bit less anxious day to day, you know!? I shared one of our favorite recipes for an easy back to school meal prep featuring our egg muffins we love. The kids love to help throw things in our blender to make them and I love that I have a grab and go breakfast for all in the morning between deciding on shoes and getting kids to sit still so I can brush their hair. Mornings can be hard and a prepped breakfast can make life so much easier as moms.

I also shared my newest gift to me from me: my reformer. Having this at home is the biggest game changer) Between this and cute (new) workout clothes, nothing could be more motivating! I have loved adding these into these workouts I’ve done for years. That and my meditations of course.

I did a try-on haul with my most recent fall activewear order and it got me SO excited for Fall. Teddy jackets, fleece pullovers, and all the fall-colored workout sets. HEAVEN!

As you all know I am on a new hair journey. The air dry routine is slowly but surely coming together. I didn’t touch a hot tool in Park City and wow that made life easier. Clearly we are in a season of utilizing our time best and any time back not doing my hair is a win to me. I bought the correct anti frizz treatment (Grateful for all your tips & tricks) and I have been using this new dry shampoo from my ride or die brand that has been carrying me through the travel and busy days.

Fall fashion is my favorite so prepping for all things fall has been so much fun! The trending colors, the fun prints, the boots, the jackets… music to my ears. I ordered my #1 pant in a new gorgeous burgundy color. I also have the most perfect plaid trench coat coming in and this bomber style one that I cannot wait to try on.

I am so excited to share all my fashion week content with you guys while I’m there. New York City is one of my favorite places! Send me any restaurant recs I need to try. Eating out in NYC is the best. Hope you all have the best weekend!

My dress linked here.

All dresses linked here.

The marigold color dress with the scarf? I am unwell. I love the grey-ish tones too especially with fall accessories with them. I can do a round up of those if you all want!

All dresses linked here.

I think the olive green satin dress with a belt for a more cocktail style wedding would be SO gorgeous! Esp a little western detail one if the wedding is somewhere that would fit the vibe. The burgundy dress is so gorgeous & I love that color for fall events so much I made an entire round up of burgundy dresses below.

All dresses linked here.

These are all great cocktail options. Purple is having a moment this fall & I’m really here for it. It’s moody, yet romantic.

All dresses linked here.

Some more neutral fall options that would be perfect if you have a more formal event. The crossover + cut out on the olive green dress with the mesh sleeves is so fun. And the scarf detial on the other olive green one is very on trend!

All dresses linked here.

I am obsessed with that dusty blue grey color dress. That paired with burgundy accessories would be STUNNING! The chain neck detail on the one with the slit is so unique, too.

All dresses linked here.

You can’t go wrong with berry colors in the fall & winter & I would own every single one of these for different events if I could. Polka dot dresses are still very much having a moment & I think thats such a fun way to stand out at an event.

LMK what other occasions or things you all are shopping for & I’ll work on more roundups as I am shopping around, soon. I have NYFW coming up so that will be a very fun way to show some fall trends. I’m going to bring back Looks by Lo where you all can submit requests for things you all need outfits for, too. Everything from brunch with girlfriends to dinner out in Vegas to a company retreat in Aspen. So stay tuned for that & LMK any requests you all have!

It didn’t start that way, though. Back in the blog era, everything was shot in batches. I’d shoot a week or two of content in a single afternoon and drip it out over the following days. There was a built-in buffer. A delay that protected me without me even having to think about it. That era had its own issues though. Carrying around a giant DSLR camera, getting the best golden hour lighting, editing your photo on your computer with your perfect preset and when you did publish something to Instagram making sure it perfectly fit into your grid.

When Instagram Stories happened that buffer start to disappear. I do think it disappeared slower for me as I continued to have a full time job as a School Psychologist for a few years. But, suddenly “later” meant “in a few hours or even minutes” instead of “next week.” I’d wake up, film a get-ready-with-me, edit it, and post it before I’d even left the house. I’d share the outfit the second I put it on. If I ran errands, I filmed the errands, edited the errands, and posted the vlog the same day. Sometimes staying up far later than I should, especially when traveling or out at anything social, to edit. Many parts of my day had a second job attached to it: be lived, then become live content, asap.

I genuinely loved it for awhile. There was something real about that connection. You felt like you were with me throughout my day. I felt like you were with me. But nobody tells you that kind of closeness comes with a price, and the price is that you never get to have an off day. There’s not a ton of room for “I don’t feel like sharing this” when your business runs on sharing especially with same-day turnaround. It becomes a low hum in the back of your mind at all times: I need to get this edited. I need to get this up. And that hum doesn’t always stay in the background — it starts dictating how present you actually are in the moment you’re supposed to be living. That’s the trade you may not realize.

Here’s the part that surprises people, though:

Despite blocking off the dates on our calendar (and planning some painting to be happening at home while we were gone) months earlier, we were very last minute in actually booking where we were going. We were between a few spots, but ultimately decided on Park City, Utah.

Charles and I have not been back to Park City since the summer of 2019 when we went there and then Vegas for our anniversary trip that year. We’ve been talking about going back for awhile & decided to finally make it happen. Ironically, we also just planned a winter trip here that will be adults only. We’re going for an event for Charles’ company, so while we weren’t in charge of choosing the location for that trip, I’m already excited to go back and experience Park City in the winter.

If you’ve never been to Park City, it’s a picturesque mountain town with a historic Main Street. There are shops and restaurants around every corner and enough outdoorsy stuff to do that you never feel like you’re just sitting around or stuck inside. Here’s everywhere we stayed, ate, and explored, so you can build your own version of the trip.

🏡 STAY

While I definitely enjoy the amenities of a hotel, in this season of life with different nap schedules and a baby in a pack & play it’s just easier having a home with multiple rooms where everyone can have their own. I know we’ll make it to the all just share a hotel room or suite era of parenting one day, but for now this is where we are at and we’re just embracing it.

Rent an Airbnb off Main — There are SO many options. The one we got last minute this time truly wasn’t my favorite, but the location was great. It was so nice to just be able to walk out with the kids and go back as needed for nap time.

The Montage — This is where we stayed last time and I would 10/10 recommend. It’s ski in / ski out if you find yourself there in the winter or you can walk right outside to hike the trails in the summer. They truly have everything you could want for you and so many activities for kids. I can’t recommend this spot enough! If you want to feel fully spoiled, this is it. Beautiful property, incredible service, and a great home base if you’re doing a mix of relaxing and exploring.

Next time, we are staying at the Waldorf Astoria so I’ll keep you posted on how that compares!

🍽️ EAT

Harvest — Our go-to for brunch. You can do grab & go coffee & light bites or sit for a meal. It’s delicious.

Brasserie 7452 at the St. Regis— Elevated but somehow still relaxed, this was our favorite lunch experience both times we have visited Park City. You ride a furnicular up to the top of the resort, which the kids loved, so the views are incredible. There are games out on the grass which kept them entertained and all the food was good. It’s pricey, but worth it.

Java Cow — A must have ice cream on Main Street. They have breakfast bites, too!

The Eating Establishment — Classic, no-frills Park City spot. This has been around forever for a reason.

Red Banjo Pizza — Casual and perfect for an easy meal. We ate here after our travel day and it as perfect. They even had gluten free pizza for me that was delicious. The balcony up top has a great view!

Grappa — Classic Italian at the top off Main Street. We ate there last time and had to bring the kids back so our pasta loving queen, James (just like her mama) could get her pasta fix.

Handle — Creative, seasonal menu. Order a few things to share.

350 Main — The nicer dinner option, also home to their brasserie. This is a coursed dinner and they do have a kids course. We skipped it this time, but it’s a great one.

Yuki Yama Sushi — Solid sushi if you need a break from mountain-town comfort food. We ate here last time and loved it.

Davanza’s — Casual and easy, good for a low-key lunch. They have pizza and tacos and it was an easy order at the counter, fast meal for us with two wiggly kids.

Apex at The Montage— This is a beautiful restaurant with outdoor seating right at the mountain. We ate here last time and it was great. We were going to go again, but our kids were having so much fun at Daly’s (see below) we just ate there.

☕ COFFEE

Union — A charming french-inspired pattissere perfect for morning caffeine and breakfast or an afternoon pick me up and sweet treat.

Atticus — Great coffee and an even better bookstore/cafe vibe on Main Street. This place was always busy, but they’re efficient. We grabbed some coffee, breakfast, and healthy snacks here before a hike.

⛰️ DO

• Hiking — so many trails right out of town for all levels. This is a must every day in my opinion!

• Utah Olympic Park — there is a big slide up here similar to below and a ton of fun things to do, but it is geared more towards older kids. We walked through the museum which occupied maybe 15-20 mins and then had a lot of fun watching people practice skiing and doing flips into the pool.

• Alpine slide and coaster at Park City Mountain — a must with kids (or without!) James wasn’t old enough to do this, but a great activity for Emmett’s age and up.

• Bowling and arcade games at Daly’s at The Montage — great rainy-day or evening activity. It’s first come, first serve and there is good pub-style food. We had so much fun here!

• Shopping on historic Main Street — so many cute boutiques to pop into. Just wander aimlessly and stumble into whatever catches your eye! They have a Kemo Sabe, which if you’ve never been is SUCH a fun, boujee experience. I meant to take my hat in to get another branding on it for James, as I have a crown on it for Emmett from when I made it in Jackson Hole, but I just never ended up going!

• Dolly’s Bookstore & ice cream — an easy, charming stop on Main street

• Park City Library — this was a great way to occupy an hour or two before dinner on an afternoon when the weather wasn’t the best.

• Park City Museum — quick but interesting stop to learn the town’s history on Main Street. I wasn’t sure how my kids would enjoy it but there were a few things they were more interested in than I expected. We spent probably 45 minutes in here.

• High West Distillery — great for a cocktail or a tasting if you’re doing a kid-free evening

• Willow Creek Park— we went here with the kids & it’s such a great park. The view was stunning and there was so much fun equipment. It’s not too far of a drive either.

You can shop all of my Park City outfits here.

🤠 WHAT TO WEAR

It’s no secret that I love to match my outfits to the vibe of where I’m traveling to and the elevated western or Main Street cowgirl aesthetic of Park City is a fun one. It was still pretty warm in the afternoons so I just styled some summery pieces with western accessories. If you’re going in the winter, it’s the same vibe just with layers! I’m already planning outfits for our winter trip where I can do winter western chic in my head.

Park City is one of those places that’s easy to fall into a rhythm when you’re visiting. Coffee and a wander down Main Street in the morning, followed by something active before lunch. Relaxing and a little activity or more shopping before a good dinner to end the day. Let me know any recs you have for when we’re back in the winter this year!

My always cold feet NEED these slides asap. The color is perfection.

Charles and I have been watching BEEF together at night. It’s kinda a lot & leaves me feeling a bit stressed & not in a good thriller way. But alas, we keep watching. When I’m watching on my own, I’ve been watching Ransom Canyon per the rec of a friend. It’s cheesy, but it’s been a good easy watch. I also cannot get over how stunning Minka Kelley is. She looks incredible!

Speaking of Charles, he recently got promoted & I am so proud of him! I haven’t shared anywhere else publicly, but it feels right to here. It was something he thought may not happen for several years so it was a big surprise timing wise, but a good one. We keep joking and calling him Chief Charles because he is now the CFO of his company (& of course with all things related to A Lo Profile because I know my strong suites & accounting is just not one of them lol). It timed out nicely just before our Carmel trip so we got to celebrate a bit there.

This clutch has my attention. I’m picturing it with a burgundy outfit!? If anyone has this & can tell me what the true color IRL is I’d be oh so grateful.

I’m here for animal prints & I think zebra is my fav. These flats would be the perfect addition to my shoe collection ahead of fall, right? Riiiiiight!?

I’ve been having so much fun playing Mahjong when I can (although I would like to more) & finally ordered my own tiles & full set up. I found the tiles & racks at Haus of Tiles. They were created by an interior designer & they are sooo chic. I can’t wait to share when they come, but they are backordered so stay tuned. Do you play!?

I found the perfect relaxed long sleeve tee. Will be purchasing in multiple colors to be my go to for fall/winter.

This marble lamp is my fav recent Amazon home find. It’s genuine marble, is cordless/rechargeable & is so chic! It also comes in a travertine & another stone. It was the perfect addition to the bar area in our guest house. It’s incredible quality for the price!

I finally started this book & have been enjoying it. The chapters are short so it’s easy to read a few before bed! I have a one chapter a night quota, but I’ve been able to read a few most nights unless I spend too long on all my devices before bed.

My fav leggings just dropped in more colors for fall. I grabbed the brown mauve & the matching tank. I also got the tank in the espresso striped with the matching biker shorts. I wear a size S in all of these pieces. They’re so comfortable & have the perfect amount of compression IMO.

Speaking of working out, you all know I am a huge fan of working out at home for it’s efficiency & convenience. Bonus points that it’s also so much more affordable. I’ve done these workouts multiple times a week for yearrrrs (code: ALOPROFILE25 will let you try free & then save you 25%) + will add in some strength or yoga from this app that I also use for meditation each day (code: LAURENR5 should save you 66% & you can try free) BUT now I have added a reformer pilates into the mix at home. I shared some in a vlog yesterday ICYMI, but I am sooo excited about this addition. I love these style of workouts, but the classes always fill up so fast & aren’t at the perfect time around when I get up or do drop off so this is about to be a game changer. I’ll see if I can get you all a code!

This is the perfect sweater & this color combo is one of my fall obsessions.

I did a little seasonal bedding refresh & I changed our sheets from these linen natural stripes to a cooling bamboo dark brown stripe. Omgosh y’all they are sooo soft & luxe feeling. They come in a lot of colors / patterns but wow. They’re so good.

I shared this genius beauty device when I got it in & I am still loving it. I use the cold therapy every morning & the hot almost daily as well + the detox once a week. It’s like a facial at home for a fraction of the cost out.

I have quite a busy few weeks ahead & I’m starting to prep for all of it as best I can. I have LTKCon I’ll be popping in & out of, we’re going to escape the heat for a few days to Park City as a fam (please drop any & all kid friendly recs), & then next month I’ll be in NYC for fashion week for a few days. All that to say, some seriously good outfit inspo is headed your way & then we’ll be getting into all things Fall & I have some very fun things in the works to share with you all. I just made coffee plans with a friend in THREE & a half WEEKS from now so you know the calendar is getting wild when that happens. What a blessing to have a calendar full of things you’re excited about though, right?!

Thanks for joining me for my brain dump. Hope you have the best weekend! Give me the Lo down in the comments on anything that has grabbed your attention lately.

Today’s post is all about the outfit piece. A few go-to formulas that let you feel a little more put together as you drop off or pick up your kids without overthinking it.

I know for some, this isn’t a thing. Your kids take the bus, or you’re in a carpool line and don’t see anyone. My kids’ school has walk-in pick up and drop off, so that plays a factor here. I work out in the mornings so more often than not I’m in my workout clothes for drop off. However, when it come time for pick up I’m running errands before or after, have been working at home, or have some activity to carpool the kids to that afternoon. So while I’m calling this “Carpool Cool,” it’s really just a case for easy, everyday mom outfits. For me it’s just finding something practical, yet put together to tackle everything from playing on the floor with my kids to a virtual meeting to school pick up to soccer practice to errands and everything in between.

Option 1: The Track Short Formula

It’s hot in Texas for awhilleee so shorts remain in my wardrobe rotation until November or so. I love to pair a track short with either a cardigan for a fun unepected pairing, a button down, or just a simple tee or tank. If you notice here I basically just mix & match the same pieces & style with a sneaker for an easy go to formula. I also wear a version of this for weekend play dates or outings, kids bday parties, etc.

Similar brown cardigan, Denim Shirt, Satin Shorts (pic1,2,5), Cream Cardigan, Navy Shorts, Blue Cardigan, Brown Shorts, Red Suede Sneaker, White Button Down, Tan Suede Sneaker, Baseball Cap, Blue Suede Sneaker, Gold Blue Light Glasses, Sunglasses 1, Sunglasses 2

Option 2: The MVP Pants Formula

I haven’t shut up about these pants for almost two years for good reason. They feel like PJs, but are more elevated. They have pockets & the best part as a mom? The crepe fabric is wrinkle resistant so you can legit throw them on & go. No steaming required. I paire these with some sort of button down, cardigan, or jacket & I have an easy outfit every time. I also travel in these almost every time we go somewhere. They’re truly the best which is why I just keep buying more colors. I also have a few pairs of the shorts version.

The best pants ever, Ivory Faux Leather Jacket, Fav Tank to Layer, Blue Suede Sneaker, Brown Tote Bag, Burgundy Trench, Navy Jacket, Similar Blue/Gray Jacket, Knit Gray Top, Denim Shirt, Blue Lens Sunglasses, Brown Lens Glasses

More Carpool Look Inspo I Pulled from the Archives…

The best pants ever, Jelly Mules, Brown Tote Bag, Barn Jacket, Denim Short, Striped Polo Top, Tailored Pant, Gray Cardigan Top, Knit Polo Top Gingham Short Splurge Worthy Loafer, Blue Lens Sunglasses, Black Sunglasses

More casual looks perfect for drop off or picked up below & linked to shop here.

Outfit 1: Top, Tank, Pants, Shoes, Hat, Earrings, Sunglasses Outfit 2: Button Down, Tee, Short, Shoes, Bag, Sunglasses, Necklace Outfit 3: White Button Down, Tee, Short, Shoes, Bag, Sunglasses, Necklace Outfit 4: Sweater, Tank, Pants, Blue Light Frames, Bag, Shoes, Earrings

More elevated carpool cool looks below & linked here.

Outfit 1: Sweater, Tee, Pants, Bag, Hat, Shoes, Earrings Outfit 2: Top, Jeans, Shoes, Bag, Sunglasses, Earrings Outfit 3: Button Down, Tee, Pants, Shoes, Bag, Sunglasses Outfit 4: Cardigan, Tank, Jeans, Shoes, Bag, Earrings, Sunglasses

Hopefully this helps you all get inspired to have a go to formula to help make some easy casual cool outfits. The goal is that putting on something you feel good in ultimately helps you go through your day better! Since so many of us are in leggings or activewear on the way to/from workouts, let me know if it would be helpful to share a post on elevating these looks with some simple styling & I’ll put that together, soon!

Welcome to Recently In My DMs, another column where I answer some of the questions I see pop up again and again in my DMs. A more casual & fun randomized Q & A about fashion, beauty, home, mom-life, anything & everything I see in my messages that could be worth sharing & you might be wondering about too!

We have really started a dress up princess collection now. I found these dresses and they are such good quality and she is so obsessed she would be in one of her dresses all day every day if I let her. You can find more here.

I am 1000% a Vitamix girly through & through. I’ve used this blender for over a decade and just upgraded to a new version that I use almost every single day. You all always see me using in it my vlogs making my fav shake too. More decor linked here.

I love layering my necklaces & my most recent one was a birthday present hehe. These are from my go to jeweler my code LAUREN should help save site wide. I love mixing high & low jewelry pieces but jewelry to me is worth the investment if you are buying timeless pieces. Whole outfit linked here & everyday jewelry linked here.

The holy grail of pants. I think I have shouted it from the rooftops enough about these but they really are that good. You can wear them dressed up or down for any occasion and they are my go-to especially for travel. I’m not planning to stop wearing these any time soon and will probably get a couple new colors for Fall. Whole outfit linked here.

I get asked about this rug weekly. It’s held up sooooo well for such a high traffic area making it worth every penny. The checkered pattern is playful enough to go in a playroom or kids room but honestly think it being neutral makes it a universal rug for anywhere in the home. More decor from this space here.

I really love these glasses! Mine are just blue light lenses but you can put your actual prescription in them. They are such good quality and are a fun accessory to add to your outfits. I have been especially styling them on travel days and obviously wear them working from home staring at screens so much. Whole outfit linked here.

This cabinet was a splurge that was SO worth it. I had been eyeing this specific one for soooo long and couldn’t get my mind off it so I knew it was meant to be. It did wonders for our casita not just from an aesthetic standpoint but for functional storage which we love. More decor from this space here.

Doing my brows is a nonnegotiable in my morning routine! This brow gel is my FAV right now they don’t move and it doesn’t leave any white cast or make them look crusty. It is part of a sitewide sale right now too.

My bed is another frequently asked about. I also am linking my bedding, mattress, and decor here.

Hands down my most worn tank! I have four colors already and it has a built in shelf bra which makes them sooo comfortable. Outfit linked here.

Just got this dresser in - I have been on the hunt to upgrade our one we had for years and this one is such good quality & comes in 8 other colors! All other decor linked here.

This mattress is one of my top three baby items I recommend to everyone! This is a must have to have a peace of mind when your baby sleeps and has inevitable accidents in the middle of the night. My code: ALOPROFILE40 helps save! Nursery decor linked here.

I’d like to start off by saying what may be obvious but if I’ve learned anything in my ten years sharing on the Internet: just give the disclaimer. Every child is different. Every situation is different. I know MY child & OUR situation. So, as always, do what is best for YOUR child and YOUR situation.

I spent almost a decade as a School Psychologist, sitting in classrooms across grade levels, completing psychological evaluations, working on behavior plans, and talking parents through big decisions like this one from the other side of the table. Now I’m making it as a mom. And honestly, those two vantage points have led me to the same place. For Emmett, and for a lot of kids with late summer birthdays like his, waiting isn’t holding him back. It’s setting him up.

One thing I want to be clear about before I go further: **this isn’t about how smart he is.** This decision has nothing to do with intelligence or potential. Emmett is extremely smart. He has been hyperverbal since a young age (both my kids have been). They LOVE to read & absorb information like sponges. Both truly fascinate me with how much they know. It’s about developmental timing: attention, self-regulation, stamina, social maturity, all of which are completely different than “smart.” A child can be the smartest in the room on paper & still not be ready to sit through a 30-minute academic block five days a week. Those two things just aren’t the same conversation, and I think a lot of the anxiety parents feel around this decision comes from accidentally treating them like they are.

Below are ten of the reasons why we’re waiting on Kindergarten.

1. Kindergarten today is not the kindergarten you remember.

If your image of kindergarten is nap mats, blocks, and a half-day of gentle letter recognition, it’s time to update it. Today’s kindergarten is a full-day academic program, and the curriculum has quietly gotten more demanding in ways most parents don’t see until their child is in it. Researchers who’ve compared kindergarten classrooms across the decades have documented exactly this shift: more time on formal literacy and math instruction, less time on art, music, and open-ended play, and rising expectations for what a child should already know walking in the door. Skills that used to be taught in first grade are expected to already be in place. A lot of that curriculum is written by administrators and policy teams who haven’t taught a room full of five-year-olds — sometimes ever. It reads well in a curriculum guide and yes it sounds great that five year olds are writing sentences, but it’s a very different thing to ask a five-year-old’s brain and body to actually execute.

2. I know what a real concern looks like and this isn’t one.

In my career, schools called me in when something was of concern: attention issues, a possible learning disability, a social or emotional concern that needed evaluation. Wiggling and movement are not only not a concern at age five — they’re encouraged. That’s just what five-year-old bodies are supposed to do. My concern was never that kids that age can’t sit still. It’s that we’ve built a school day expecting them to, for stretches that fit six-year-olds better, and then treat the normal result like a problem. Kids need to run & play & climb & move. Kindergarteners often get just 20 to 30 minutes of unstructured recess a day, when experts widely agree young children need far more daily play than that for healthy development. Play is how they develop best at these younger ages (more on this below).

3. The foundation you skip doesn’t stay skipped.

When those early foundational skills like attention, self-regulation, basic social problem-solving get rushed or missed, it doesn’t just create an academic gap. It sets a tone. Kids read their own struggle as “I’m not good at school” well before they can name it that clearly, and that early hit to confidence tends to follow them, not just the skill gap itself.

4. “We’ll just hold him back if he needs it” isn’t the safety net it sounds like.

I hear this a lot from parents and I understand the appeal. It feels like a low-risk plan. But the research on grade retention is more complicated than “repeat the year, problem solved.” It doesn’t reliably show the academic benefit people expect: any test-score bump in the retained year tends to fade within a couple of years. What’s more consistent is the social and emotional cost and as a School Psychologist this is what I screamed from the rooftops in meetings. The stigma, the dip in self-esteem, and kids being very aware that they're now 'the one who got held back' outweigh whatever academic gains retention might bring. Yes, if a family is ever going to retain a child, kindergarten is the lowest-stakes point to do it, but “lowest-stakes” still isn’t “no cost.” I’d rather give a child the extra year up front than ask them to absorb that later, with an audience.

5. It’s not just his age now.

An extra year matters far beyond the kindergarten classroom. It’s the difference between being one of the youngest or one of the oldest kids in the room when middle and high school start introducing things that kids will inevitably be exposed to whether that’s socially, academically, and otherwise. Being a few months to a year more mature at those moments isn’t nothing. It’s a buffer I’d much rather he have especially with so many issues that teens deal with today.

6. Late-summer birthdays feel the age gap the most.

The general research on redshirting (delaying kindergarten entry) is genuinely mixed and I want to be upfront about that rather than pretend the studies all point one direction. Some show early academic or social gains for kids who are older for their grades that fade by later elementary and others find younger-for-grade kids do just fine, or even show some advantages. But averages don’t know YOUR kid. For a child whose birthday sits right up against the cutoff, like Emmett’s, the “youngest in the room, every year” for thirteen years straight effect is real and compounding in a way the broad averages don’t capture.

Many of the younger children are often smaller, less coordinated, less verbally mature than most of the room, year after year. That said, that's definitely not the case for Emmett who has consistently been 95%+ in height (no surprise given my 6’7” brother), has no coordination concerns, and he’s extremely verbal. Even with all of these on his side, I still think the extra year only provides upsides.

7. Boys and girls aren’t developing on the same timeline at this age.

This one doesn’t get talked about enough. On average, boys tend to lag girls slightly in the self-regulation, fine-motor, and verbal skills that early academic kindergarten leans on hardest. A difference researchers generally attribute to normal variation in neurological maturation timing at this age, not ability. It’s a big part of why boys are redshirted at meaningfully higher rates than girls nationally. Emmett being a boy with a late-summer birthday means both of those factors are stacking in the same direction, not offsetting each other, which made this an easier call for us, even though I want to be careful not to overstate it as destiny. Plenty of boys with summer birthdays are perfectly ready and I even think Emmett would be academically. It’s just one more data point to weigh for each specific kid and an important thing to consider, not a rule.

8. The right pre-K setup takes the sting out of this decision.

A big part of what’s made this feel like such an easy decision for us is that Emmett’s preschool has a fabulous program set up just for this. His 4-year-old classroom wasn’t just grouped by age, it was also grouped by how many years a child had left before kindergarten. This doesn’t leave you with a feeling of there being “the kids moving on” and “the kids staying behind.” If you’re navigating this decision and dreading the version where your child watches friends “move up” without them, I’d genuinely look for a program structured this way. It reframes the whole thing from a comparison into just... another year of preschool, with friends, doing exactly what a preschooler should be doing. It also has the curriculum set up accordingly so they aren’t just repeating what they did the year before. Everything is different with this in mind! That structural piece did as much for our peace of mind as any research did.

9. Kids need to be kids.

I touched on this above and this one shouldn’t be complicated, it’s just easy to lose sight of. Five- and six-year-olds need to run and climb. They need recess, not just as a break from learning but as the place they actually learn to share, take turns, and negotiate with other kids. They need Play-Doh and Legos and open-ended play, not worksheets and paragraph-writing, to build the fine motor and social skills that make the rest of school possible later. Giving him another year of that isn’t delaying his education. It is his education right now.

10. A word on the actual monetary cost of waiting

I know a lot of parents push for an earlier start because childcare is brutally expensive and I’m not going to pretend that pressure isn’t real. I am married to an accountant after all. This is one of the hardest trade-offs modern parenting asks of families. But an extra year of childcare cost against a lifetime of school starting from a more solid foundation isn’t a close call to me, even though I know saying that is easier than living it for many families. If there’s any way to make the extra year work, I think it’s worth it.

To sum everything up & reiterate some important points, every kid is different, and this isn’t a blanket case for redshirting every child with a summer birthday. It’s the case for really looking at your specific kid, not just the calendar cutoff. For ours, waiting is the choice that lines up with everything I spent years studying & practicing as a School Psychologist and everything I feel in my gut as a mom to be the right choice.

No matter when your kiddos are starting (or have started) Kindergarten, if you’re wanting to do more at home, I have so many of our favorite learning based toys for you all here. From things to promote fine motor skills to sorting and letter recognition and more. I also cannot recommend this enough. It’s the best screen alternative that not only provides entertainment, but helps with attention, imagination, and reading comprehension.

If you do one thing to promote school readiness... READ to your kids. From the time they are born, right when they wake up and before bed. Before naps or rest time. My kids LOVE this time because they look at it as a 1:1 connection point now. It is so important for language development and so many other foundational skills. You may see the seasonal bookshelf swaps I do to promote reading and to keep it exciting for them. Model it for your kids. Always say yes to a new book. I have all of our favorite seasonal books & everyday books for the kids if you need to add to your collection.

If you’re an educator whether current or former, I’d genuinely love to hear where you land on this in the comments. In the conversations I’ve had one-on-one, the majority of teachers and specialists I’ve talked to land in the same place I do. They’ll particularly share that boys with late summer birthdays tend (again not always) to do best with a later start. I’m curious whether that holds up here too, or whether I’m missing something from the other side of the desk.

There's a huge denim sale happening right now. It's one of my favorites of the year, because it's not just the jeans that are on major sale, it's the entire site. I've gone through my collection of their denim and picked out exactly which pairs are actually worth grabbing. I’ve also compiled detailed fit & sizing notes to make it easy for you. If you've been waiting to buy new jeans (or eyeing that one pair you keep adding to your cart and closing out of), this is your sign. Sizes go quick every year, so let's get into it.

HIGH RISE 90s RELAXED JEAN (probably my top pair as of lately)

A perfect relaxed straight leg jean, my size: 25R, fit TTS (size down if in between), come in 26 washes

shop here

HIGH RISE LOOSE JEAN

High rise, relaxed, baggy fit, my size: 25R, fit TTS, come in 10 washes

shop here

HIGH RISE BOOT CUT JEAN

High rise, slim at the hip, flare at the calf into a boot cut, my size: 25R, fit TTS, come in 6 washes

shop high rise here & shop mid rise here

MID RISE 90s STRAIGHT JEAN

Mid Rise, fitted, straight leg jean, my size: 25R, fit TTS, come in 7 washes

shop here & here

LOW RISE ULTRA LOOSE JEAN

Low rise, relaxed, baggy fit, perfect for pregnancy & postpartum, my size 25R, fit TTS (size down if in between), come in 20 washes

shop here

HIGH RISE WIDE LEG JEAN

High rise, relaxed at the waist and hips and widens into a full-length leg shape, for comparison wider than the high rise loose jean, my size: 25R, fit TTS, come in 13 washes

shop here

What I’ve been wearing & loving lately including some current fav trends. While we’re on the topic of trends, my theory is to incorporate them in, but to keep your closet full of staples to pair them with. I have really been loving animal print, stripes, track shorts, & fringe.

If you are loving the fringe or track short trends like me here are more options. LMK if you like having more options rounded up to make shopping easy & I’ll be sure to include more from now on!

SHOP TRACK SHORTS

SHOP FRINGE

We’re getting into one of my fav times of year for style so stay tuned for more outfits, soon & LMK if you like having them rounded up all in one place. We’re getting our groove here on Substack so I want to be sure I’m giving you all what you want to see.

Thanks for reading!

If you’re an OG then you definitely saw The Weekly Lo Down I used to share each week. Whether it was a blog post or a newsletter email, I loved sharing all the random finds, things I was texting friends about, life updates, things I was eyeing or buying, & more with you all regularly. I’m not sure if we’ll make this a weekly occurrence again or not, but for now I’m excited to bring it back in a new format to share all the random things occupying my thoughts.

We’re getting into everything from the book I’m about to start (after one I really couldn’t get into), the neck cream that changed the game for me, one of my forever top baby recs, the jeans I just ordered that I can’t wait to get in & style, my most worn sunglasses ever, & more.

These are my most recent shoe purchase & I think they’re going to be the new style for fall. This color specifically has my heart. It always seems odd to me to buy things I really won’t get to wear for several months since its 106 degrees outside in Texas right now. But as I’ve learned, if you wait they’ll be sold out. Plus, it helps me stay positive in the heat & makes me look forward to all the fall things I love.

I had been reading The Most Fun We Ever Had for MONTHS because I just could not get into it. I had a moment where I thought maybe I was & then it faded again. Anyone else feel this way about this book? IDK what it was for me, but this hasn’t happened to me in so long. I’m excited to be reading this one next. I also plan to reread Verity ahead of the movie (which I’m so excited about the casting of) soon, too. It’s one of the few books I felt truly surprised by. I thought it was so good!

The first beauty product I pack is always a travel size of the most elite dry shampoo that actually cleans your hair & is the reason I can sometimes go five or even SIX days between washes (I’m washing out of pure principle then). I somehow was extended a code: ALOPROFILE for 20% off, too which I myself will be using to stock up.

I just reordered more the neck cream that I can’t quit. If you listened to CDs in high school or had AOL instant messenger, you’re overdue for a neck cream. I use the other toning creams from this brand & love how thoughtful they are making specific formulas for each body part since the skin on each of them is so unique.

I get asked for baby recs allll the time & forever one of my top recs is this. It is functionally so genius & gives such peace of mind. You can use code: ALOPROFILE40 to save $40.

I’ve been loving all things transluscent / sheer for the past year or so & it’s a trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. I genuinely gasped when I saw this jacket & think I need to add it to my cart asap. Just deciding between two colors.

Sweet Emmett turned five this week & on my fifth anniversary of becoming a mom I shared ten things I’ve learned along the way in another Substack post you can read here. I’m so excited to celebrate him with a cute party this weekend. I’ll share more on that, soon! ICYMI one of my favorite birthday traditions is to wake him up with a bunch of balloons on his birthday morning. It’s such a simple one I always recommend to new parents (but truly it’s never too late to start)!

These are my most worn sunglasses of all time & they’re under $16. That’s all.

We’re trying to plan a family trip to escape the heat next month since the kiddos start back to school later. We’re between Jackson Hole, Big Sky, Park City, or somewhere in Colorado. We want it to be fun for both a five year old & toddler + not be too rough of a travel day from Dallas. LMK if you have any places you love & recs for little kids, please! We’ll be so happy just to be outside & go to a park mid day with better weather.

I just got these jeans & I am sooo excited about them. They look like they will be so flattering & come in so many washes (which I always appreciate). I can’t wait to style them! Also, this site just dropped their incredible fall football team apparel that’s actually cute. They also now now offer them for kids so you know I went ahead & ordered them because they always sell so quick.

I just finished watching I Will Find You on Netflix & it was so good if you love a twisty thriller. We’re watching The Beast in Me now.

If you love calla lilies, these look SO real & are such a great price point + ship quick. I got them in the white (with the touch of yellow center). They completely transformed our powder bath.

That’s all for today. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for being here & catching up on all the things with me. Let me know what you want to see more of here in these The Lo Down posts & drop any recs or things you’re loving below.

My son turned five today & it really hit me how much has changed. Not just about him, but about who I am now compared to the person who brought him home five years ago. I feel like there are some things I’ve learned in parenthood that are front of mind today so what better time to share than on the anniversary of becoming a parent?

LAUGH OR CRY

There are so many humbling moments as a part. Just got your kid out of the bath & haven’t put a diaper on them yet? When they poop on the rug (yes, this has happened) & then run through it & climb on furniture you can either laugh or cry in the moment (or sometimes both). Keeping your sense of humor & laughing it off when you can is a true skill.

PERSPECTIVE IS KEY

Your perspective is everything. Not just in life, but especially as a parent. It’s wild to me how kids find things like unloading the dishwasher genuinely fun. They don’t know it “isn’t” fun. And honestly, I tell my kids all the time: anything can be fun if we decide to make it that way. A chore becomes a game. Cleanup becomes a race. I try to carry that mindset into everything I do, because I’ve realized how much my own thoughts shape my days and in turn, my kids’ days too. Even something like cleaning or organizing can be reframed as a form of self-care, or a way of showing respect for the home and the people in it. Shift your perspective and you can genuinely shift how you and your kids move through each day. I’m far from perfect at this. But I’m always trying to get better.

That said, I want to be clear that choosing a positive perspective doesn’t mean you have to enjoy every part of motherhood. The whole “enjoy every minute” thing? That’s silly. I do not enjoy changing a poop filled swim diaper (or any diaper, for that matter). I do not enjoy making my kids a meal just to watch them refuse to eat it. I don’t love taking my kids to swim lessons. I love watching them swim, but I hate sitting in the heat for thirty minutes. I have friends who dread the park. Others who can’t stand baking with their kids. When we convince ourselves we’re supposed to love every second, and that everyone else does, it robs us of the honesty of it all. It’s okay to dislike an entire phase. It’s okay to love parts of something and not like other parts. That’s just life.

You can hold a positive perspective without pretending everything is perfect. Yes, I’m grateful to have a mountain of laundry from healthy kids who played hard enough to get their clothes dirty. And also, I do not enjoy scrubbing stains out of clothes for twenty minutes at night when I could be lounging on the couch instead. Two things can be true at once.

QUALITY > QUANTITY

A few minutes of quality time where you are distraction free, eye to eye all attention on something is more valuable than an hour or more of divided attention. This applies to all things. In relationships, friendships, even with work. I would rather have a one on one matcha date with a friend for 20 mins to talk through things than an hour and a half lunch where someone is on their phone most of the time. The quality of our interactions is so important & I notice such a positive impact in my children’s behavior (& my perspective) when I am sure to carve out 10-15 minutes of quality time with them morning & night.

DON’T COMPARE

You truly cannot compare your motherhood situation to anyone else because everyone is so different. Everyone’s kids are different, their age gaps, their personalities. They may work or not or have help or not. Their spouse may be so helpful or work late hours or always be traveling. They may have parents that live near by who are always over. They may have a house manager. You truly cannot compare to others & you shouldn’t, because you never know the whole picture. Remembering this helps shift my perspective & focus to just what’s going on around me.

FIND HELP

On that note, I’ve learned that you have to seek & take help & accept that it’s not just how you would do things. Sometimes done is better than perfect, which is something I remind myself of almost daily when offloading tasks. Depending on what sort of help you have from family, this may require you to pay for it. You literally can’t do it all alone & you shouldn’t have to nor is it in the best interest of anyone.

SET BOUNDARIES

You only have so much time & o one is entitled to anything surrounding your children. You are the parent & ultimately know what is best for them. This often requires setting boundaries. You also have to set boundaries because every ‘yes’ is a ‘no’ to something else. Dinner with the girls? You’re missing bedtime. Go after they go down? You’re now behind on laundry & sleep & emails you didn’t get to that day. Make it a lunch instead? Now you’re behind on work or maybe someone else had to do school pick up. You have limited time as a day as a mom (& from my experience that only intensifies with another) so you have to set boundaries & protect your time & peace.

TRUST YOUR GUT

I know this is a common lesson people share related to parenthood, but man, your intuition is one of the best gifts you have as a mom. Listen to it. I wish I leaned into this one more with my first, but after having a second I really have just felt the confidence of knowing what’s best for my kids. That’s not to say you shouldn’t listen to others but at the end of the day going off what you know is not going to lead you wrong. I have countless examples of my gut being right throughout motherhood & it only solidifies the need to listen to it every time.

FORGIVE YOUR FIRST TIME SELF

Your child is doing everything for the first time, but so are you. Even as a second time parent you’re doing it with two kids for the first time. Give yourself grace & understand that it won’t all go perfectly. You can always do better the next time. You’re doing the best with what you knew in the moment.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Have you seen the side by side picture of two park benches before where an adult is on their phone & their kid is on a table on one bench & then on the next one the adult is reading & the kid is reading. The device parent says to the book parent “How do you get them to read?” This is oh so true on so many topics of parenthood. Kids learn from us. Drop an egg on the floor? Your kid watches your reaction & learns from it.

I continuously hear my son say “That’s okay!” Because when something is spilled or broken I try to make myself say this first. My current favorite example is my daughter saying “Oh my gosh!” to everything because one day I was getting her out of the car & took her milk cup from her & the lid wasn’t on & it very much surprised me & this was my reaction. They truly learn from what we do & you have a chance to change, you always have a chance to improve your reactions. We’re not perfect, but we can do our best & talk to them as needed on how we could have handled something better & practice how we can do better the next time. They’re learning from what we do & say, even when we think they aren’t & there is no better reason to want to do better in my opinion.

ACCEPT THAT THINGS CHANGE

Becoming a parent makes you change in a way you truly cannot put into words. I feel like going in to give birth is like delivering a whole new version of yourself. I will never be the old me again. Accepting that things change is so important related to motherhood because it’s inevitable. There will be a time that they used to love doing something with you & they tell you they don’t really like it any more. They will grow out of their favorite toy or book. It’s important to embrace the change. I think its also important to remember this as they get older. Being a kid today is different than it was when we were growing up. We have to act accordingly. Just like we remind grandparents that things are done differently now with kids! They’ll change, times will change, we’ve changed & will continue to. We have to learn to accept it.

On that, I’m going to work on accepting that my first baby is FIVE years old. This feels like a big one. Becoming a mother has been the most incredible journey of my life & as hard, tiring, & challenging as it is, I would not trade this love for anything.

Happy birthday to my sweet Emmett & happy BIRTH day to me.

🛏️ Stay

• Le Petit Pali — 8th Avenue. Our pick for this trip. A perfectly cozy & charming bed & breakfast that was everything I was looking for!

• La Playa Hotel — Also on our radar; a classic Carmel option worth considering. A little bigger & also has a pool + is just a block or two from the beach.

☕ Eat & Drink

It’s no secret your girl is a foodie at heart so per usual I was excited to do a bunch of food research & pick out some spots to eat + inevitably ended up with some on my list to try next time.

Coffee & Pastries

• Mad Dogs & Englishman — great coffee stop

• Rise & Roam — pastries & coffee

• Carmel Bakery— gelato, pastries, & coffee

Meals

• Chez Noir— a coursed menu that got it on the Michelin Guide it’s a full on several hour dining experience in a charming setting. Definitely a special ocassion spot!

• La Bicyclette— recommended countless times! It’s so charming & was so good. We got the squash blossom flat pizza (which they made gf for me) & loved it.

• Nora’s— another great spot we went to for lunch, but it would be a wonderful dinner spot. They had tons of pastas & some good salads & sandwiches as well.

• Nielsen Bros. Market — grab sandwiches & salads to go to bring on a hike or down to the beach

• A.W. Shucks— perfect casual spot for oysters & other coastal classics

• Stationæry — great option for brunch

• Jeju — a Korean-meets-Italian menu that was recommended to us by a few people, but it wasn’t our fav. They ran out of the famous glass noodles just as we sat down after waiting for awhile so while my salmon bowl was good, it was nothing special.

• Aubergine— we didn’t make it here but it’s on my list for next time.

• Casanova— another one on my list for next time!

Drinks

• Bud’s — cozy spot for a drink inside La Playa Hotel. They have a bar menu as well.

• Mission Ranch — famously owned by Clint Eastwood this is set on a ranch overlooking the beach with sheep grazing around. It’s so charming! You can also eat dinner here. I’d recommend going early during their HH fro 3:00-5:00 for a prime table as it fills up quick. They have a piano bar after hours, too!

🛍️ Shop

Honestly, the best plan is no plan. Stroll the main streets of Carmel & pop into whatever catches your eye. That’s exactly how we did it & it didn’t disappoint. A few of note along the way:

• Somewhere

• Girl Boy Girl

• Robertson’s Antiques

• Wittpen’s Antiques

• Pat Areias

• Cris Consignment

• Ritzy Rags & Things

🌲 Do

We had so much fun just enjoying the weather. Walks outside along the beach + there is a great trail along it for fellow sand-haters like me. It felt so nice to just slow down.

• Drive to Big Sur — stop at the Bixby Bridge for the classic photo op, then continue to The Village for coffee.

• Hike in Big Sur — Fifer Falls

• Point Lobos — hike the Bird Rock Trail & keep your eyes peeled for Sea Otters & Sea Lions.

• Farmer’s Market on Thursdays— if you find yourself there on a Thursday morning the farmer’s market was SUCH a fun scene with so many amazing vendors.

*You can find links to everything I wore in Carmel here & also here.

👗 What to Wear

Think coastal & layered — Carmel mornings are foggy & cool, afternoons can turn sunny & warm, & evenings the temps dip back down. Some parts of the day I was warm in shorts & a jacket & others I was cold in pants & a sweater.

Would love for you to comment below with any Carmel favs you have so I can save for next time or others can see. If you haven’t been, I think it’s a perfect couples or girls trip spot for a relaxed weekend & it was a great escape from the Texas heat. Can’t wait to take the kids back one day!

When I started a blog over ten years ago I wanted a creative outlet & a way to share & connect with others on topics outside of my professional career. I’ve always loved writing. I had a Xanga (anyone else??) back in high school where I’d sort of just brain dump whatever was going on, random thoughts, music I liked or anything else. I wrote for our school paper & after winning an award for an article, I even received a writing scholarship to a nearby college which I did not ultimately pursue. It was no surprise that I went into a career that involved a lot of writing. I worked as a School Psychologist for close to a decade so while I did a lot of writing, it was in the form of 30-60 page psychological evaluations. It was a very challenging, yet rewarding job full of connection with others of all ages, but I was looking for an outlet that allowed me to connect & share with others about other interests.

No surprise coming off Xanga in high school, I had read blogs since they really became a thing. I can recall back as early as 2009 reading them my Senior year in college. I loved them about fashion, travel, cooking, & home decor. When I was in graduate school, I’d wake up each morning & check my Bloglovin’ feed before jumping into my often 16 hour days going to school, working two jobs, & coming home to study. It was a way to pour into my interests & feel a little escape. I had thought about starting one for years, but kept talking myself out of it. My clothes weren’t “nice” enough or my life wasn’t “interesting” enough.

About five years later, I couldn’t shake the thought of starting one, so I decided why not? I started researching how to start a website, all things coding, & more after work every night.

I also was about to have a lot of free time ahead of me that summer. Typically in my summers off, I worked as a nanny, but this particular summer in 2015 Charles had a work assignment in São Paulo, Brazil. I decided I’d tag along as I had a free place to stay c/o his company at the time. I may have spoken exactly four Portuguese phrases & we only knew two people that were friends of friends. But, with all that free time, & a summer spent traveling through South America in my mid-twenties with my boyfriend ahead of me, I thought: hey, this is interesting, right?

We can get into the full blogging journey including all the side eyes, cringe moments, & more another time, but from here you all may remember the evolution of this industry, as some of you have been along for the ride from the very early days. Bloggers turned into Instagrammers & eventually that was your primary focus with the blog as a backseat. Then video came on the scene. People’s attention spans shortened. And then shortened more. Throw in a global pandemic & the style of content that once performed was no longer what people sought out. We were now being called influencers. We were supposed to grab attention in three seconds or less. People didn’t take the time to consume long form content & certainly not any that required reading. Blogs basically went away. Somewhere along the way the evolution from influencer to content creator happened & now I find myself really unsure of what to call myself, because I’m just sharing my day to day life online.

Recently, I think we’ve seen a shift or at least, I’ve felt one personally. I’m overloaded & overstimulated. Perhaps it’s just where I’m at in life with two little kids & running my own business (which yes, whatever-this-is-called-now is!) & trying to maintain a house, my health, friendships, my relationship, & so much more, but I know so many of you are in the same phase. I’ve seen a return to content that requires us to slow down. To read. To keep our attention on something. To FEEL something. I’m sure you’ve noticed this as well with so many photo carousels coming back & even many with text. We aren’t meant to live life a few seconds at a time.

That brings me here. To Substack. A new platform for me & perhaps for you, but really it’s a return to something. A return to your attention. A return to deeper connection. A return to the release of my thoughts & feelings in a way that I have & believe I always will love— writing. And no, that isn’t AI writing this I will forever be an em-dash girlie.

So here we are. I may not know what to call myself & this job these days, but I guess we’ll settle on I’m just a mom of two who shares her life online. If I’m at home in no makeup catching up on laundry that is the content you’re getting. If I’m traveling wearing a fun outfit then you’re getting that. If I’ve had A DAY & just want to laugh (I always say laugh or cry) you’re getting a funny video from me & I’m not worrying if someone ‘gets’ my humor or not. This will be an extension of all of that content, just in a different format. One that adds a little more context or allows you to easily come back & reference it when you have the time.

The heart of me starting any online platform has always been connection. With a background in Psychology, that’s just what I know. A lot of people came into this career or sharing online from a marketing or sales background & they’re really good at those respective things. I was always great at my job as a School Psychologist & that connection piece has been & always will be so important to me. The connection I’ve found online by sharing vulnerably got me through some of my hardest times like pregnancy loss & trying to conceive. It’s helped me problem solve difficult motherhood moments or make design decisions. It’s made me show up on days when maybe I wasn’t feeling my best & given me an identity outside of motherhood that I am so very grateful to have.

Thank you for being here. Whether you’ve been a part of this journey for ten years or ten seconds. My hope is to connect & to inspire you positively in some way. Whether it’s waking up before your kids when you can to make time for yourself, eating a wonderful meal on a trip, cleaning up your spaces so your mind feels more clear, putting on a cute outfit that makes you feel confident, decorating your home so it feels like your happy place, doing some retail therapy after a hard day (& feeling excited to wear your new item), trying a skincare product that makes you feel more beautiful, or anything else in between. I’m looking forward to bringing all of that to you all in a longer format here.