controlled chaos

During my maternity leave, I’ve been spending some time experimenting with things that help add more efficiency and joy to our family life — cheap thrills, you could say. The time has given me the gift of being more observant to what drives streamlined bed time routines, where household stress originates from, and so forth. Admittedly, I’ve been following Dana Mom to 4 on TikTok, who has shared some simple “Mom hacks” that I’ve slowly deployed. Some of which are so basic and brilliant. For example, why have I not thought of leaving the toothbrush and hairbrush downstairs for the morning school routine? It’s a simple strategy that saves me from yelling up the stairs nine times (or more) to brush said teeth and hair.

An accidental “hack” I’ve started is setting the family dinner table early on in the day, and even right after breakfast, an act I think I can sustain before zipping to the office or a morning workout when my daily demands pick up. It’s a very simple low lift practice that surprisingly makes me feel more mentally prepared for the early evening chaos and is one less thing to worry about in the midst of the witching hour. An added plus is that it’s simply delightful for my husband to come home to after his busy day (no, I am not calling myself a Trad Wife). We’re certainly not striving for perfection with the tablescape, there are some nights I’ve resorted to paper napkins (!) and I always use our daily dinnerware. However it’s amazing what it can do to be ready for action in this season of life — it’s a prepared shot of zen. My nearly six-year-old son has even created place cards for everyone he enjoys setting as part of this ritual. Now I just need to figure out how to get him to eat a piece of asparagus…

Morning magic

Mornings in our household look a little different with two young children and busy schedules. However, there are often moments that warrant the proverbial “stop and smell the roses” mentality and this Sunday was certainly one of them. The early eastern light had our bedroom in a soft ethereal glow, the house was silent (my husband took my older son away for the weekend), and I had my first cup of coffee in hand. As I slowly crept back up the stairs to relax in bed for a few minutes, I heard the reassuring tune of the red breasted robins outside, a signal of spring. It was a peaceful time, flipping through some new books and plotting away the day ahead. My heart and soul were happy, my blood pressure low…here’s to that morning magic we all know and love.

COVER MAN

One of the more challenging components to my work as a consultant is that I cannot always share what it is I am working on. This is fine by me, but it can often create a sense of mystery and require clarity when engaging with others. 

The vast majority of my client work occurs “behind the curtain” as the projects we are working on, and the information shared, is highly privileged. Some of these projects take months and even years to materialize. However, there are particular celebratory public-facing moments that are so thrilling and serve as a stamp on my client’s unwavering devotion to their business. 

Case in point, a moment of applause for my New York-based client John Ferguson, who not only landed a sensational editorial feature in LUXE Magazine this winter, his Dumbo Project made the cover of the January/February issue. 

Print can indeed be the holy grail for so many, it truly is the cherry on top when my clients pour their grit, creative energy and collaboration into these projects.

A big congratulations to John and his team! Be sure to read the entire feature here.

Winter wonder

Every once in a while in nature, I experience a very euphoric moment that truly lowers my blood pressure and reminds me of why I adore the natural world. Just the other day I followed the footsteps of a fox during a winter hike and stumbled upon this partially frozen babbling brook. The flowing water cascades down this hill to a waterfall we visit frequently in the summertime. There was something about the tranquil sound of the water, framed by the sweeping pines dusted in snow, and the glimmer of winter sunlight peeking through the treetops that practically took my breath away. A reminder of how transcending the outdoor world can be.