How do you give yourself a little boost when you’re having an off day?
Sharing a couple of completely random things that have cleared the clouds for me in recent weeks:
+Offered to bring coffee to a mom friend with a new baby at home. It warmed me to bring cheer to someone else, and it helped me get out of my own head a little bit, too.
+Put on a soothing movie (a “You’ve Got Mail” encore!) while sorting through clothes to make piles to donate vs. keep. It was just the kind of vapid, diverting undertaking I needed for a down day. It didn’t require brain power, it wasn’t urgent, but I felt accomplished at the end of it — and there’s just something about clearing space in my home that feels cleansing.
+Found tiny solutions to tiny problems. One of my favorite New Year’s rituals is inventorying my day in order to identify petty frustrations and create solutions for them. These can be as narrow as “I always wake up thirsty and need to get out of bed to refill my water” — the solution being: fill a carafe for your bedside table right before bed! It is shockingly helpful to catalog and address the mosquito-bite-level disturbances in life, as we in turn make mental/emotional space for more important things. Recently, I tackled two terribly petty annoyances: 1) The cord I use to recharge my wireless computer trackpad doesn’t reach far enough, so when the trackpad is recharging, I have to use it while it’s on the very edge of my desk, which is ungainly and inconvenient. I realized (hello…?) I could just plug the charger directly into my computer…I’ve literally spent years of my worklife annoyed at this! 2) I ordered extra laundry baskets and an extra bin for “donation clothes” for my laundry room. I’m forever one laundry basket short. Why I never thought to just add more…? And! I am frequently clearing out my kids’ closets, my closet, etc, and then keeping a makeshift pile of donations on the floor of my laundry room. It is such an eyesore. I finally ordered a slim laundry hamper to stow the donations. Once filled, I’ll drop it off!
+Desk candy. (The good kind. This is actually one of my favorite “just because” gifts to send a girlfriend having a tough week!)
+A fresh bouquet of pens. I recently ordered a throwback pack of Gelly Roll pens with the loose plan of using them with my daughter (which we did — my son was at tennis and she and I sat together and drew with them on her notepad) but have lowkey (highkey) been enjoying them myself. Writing down a new appointment feels 10-30% better when noted in bubblegum pink gel!
+Downloaded a whole bunch of Kindle Unlimited romances to my Kindle. It felt like I was taking care of my future self! And what a delight, to open up the Kindle and have a fleet of vetted options waiting. I also vetted and bookmarked Peloton rides and strength sessions in the same sitting — this was a rec from a Magpie reader and is so helpful on so many levels. It means I’m not scrambling to find a suitable ride when I’m already ready to exercise, and it also feels relaxing to flip through the playlists, instructors, etc and find what my future self might enjoy.
+Made weekend plans with friends — something to look forward to.
+Organized my desk drawer. I’m realizing as I tap these out that maybe when I’m in a stormy mood, it’s medicinal for me to “get something done.” It doesn’t have to be a major project or undertaking, but funneling my energy into something small that can be completed in one sitting feels restorative.
+Ordered a dog bed for the dog we are planning to bring home at some point this fall. We’re in the seeking phase! I know this is a little cart-before-the-horse but the idea that a small, furry little body will soon be sleeping in it sent me the wildest rush of happiness. (And, of course, everyone knows that petting a dog is the quickest way out of a bad mood, so the dog is basically a guaranteed mood booster. My little umbrella for a rainy day.)
+Made muffins in those fancy bakery-style liners. It filled the house with the aromas of butter and cinnamon, and my kids were delighted.
+Worked on a puzzle with my son. I love the quasi-social nature of this undertaking — my son and I looping into and out of occasional conversation — and the way it invites you to sort of clip into “b-roll” mode, like you’re just in the background, futzing around harmlessly. Definitely a welcome gear shift.
What else helps?
(These are, of course, in addition to the obvious implorations to get outside, to go to bed early, to move my body.)
Post-Scripts.
+Small ways to romanticize your life.
+Our Friday night rituals/plans.
+An accounting (what I’m made of).
Shopping Break.
+Another cool alt to the Donni pants — $200 and in such a fun green gingham! (Along with other great prints).
+Cheerful peony pink cardi to layer over everything! Pink looks fab with navy, army green, red, chartreuse…!
+I know a bunch of you have ordered the Ulla Camera bag over the past two years (I own one in a kiwi green color!), and I just found a couple on sale in great colors here and here.
+Also love this variation in the suede pink (25% off!) Such a fun and fabulous statement.
+Today is the final day of the Tuckernuck sale! 20% off with code FAMILY. This would be a fun fall statement, tucked into dark rinse denim (<<25% off!), and I also love this tiger’s eye necklace and these tassel earrings!
+Varley makes the best everyday/athleisure/casual jackets. I get so much wear out of this rain jacket (especially in this rainy / early fall moment), and I love their fleeces — they always do the best colors! And how cute is this quilted jacket? You can remove the collar. Love the way it cinches in at the waist.
+This slightly boxier oversized quilted style would also be fabulous for right now. Use code SHOOP20 for a discount.
+Pretty chocolate brown top to wear with jeans into fall.
+Get a surprising amount of wear out of this little Hart bauble! Fun to layer with other pieces. Use code JEN10.
+Freda just launched its friends + family sale! 20% off THE best fall boots. They are rain-resistant, super comfortable, and so chic! I also absolutely love their woven jada flats. Pick a fun, unexpected color!
+BonBon just released the CUTEST Halloween boxes of gummy candy! I had to order one for our family!
+Love this slim-fit rolled-edge cashmere sweater in the blue stripe.
+Eyeing this mini vac for my car…
+The iconic 1986 barn jacket, reimagined in contemporary colors and fabrics and embellishments!
+It’s soup season, and we swear by our Staub Dutch oven!!!
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I see you are looking for a small terrier but just a suggestion to take a look at a Boykin Spaniel. This is our first dog and she is such an amazing family dog, great with kids and so loyal. Does not have to hunt to be happy…. very high energy (esp. year 1-2) but easy to tire out and also a perfect medium size – not too big, not too small. Our girl is less than 30 lbs. I could go on and on. Anyway, my very biased input! Any new pup will be the best, yay.
Aww! What a cute pup!!! Thanks for sharing. What’s her name?
I’m so excited!
Madison Mae but she likes to be called Maddie. Can’t wait to see your new pup.
“She likes to be called Maddie” — lol! Love a dog with opinions!
I am SO excited for you to get a dog! We just got a new German Shephard puppy ( we also have 4 other dogs and two cats) The more the merrier! Puppies are hard but so sweet.
Aw I love this! I remember my friend taking in a second cat on top of her dog and other cat and she said, “what’s one more?” I loved her “the more the merrier” mentality.
xx
Rain might be my rainy day boost! Rain on my face or watching a storm from my balcony, wind buffeting my body on a walk. In a pinch, washing my face with cold water. My son did this today to calm down after a fight with his sister and it warmed my heart!
I have emergency chocolate, they’re called Teff bars but they’re like a better KitKat I get from my gluten free supplier. And there’s salted licorice in my knife drawer for a proper sensory jolt.
Writing a comment on your blog honestly cheers me up, it’s such a lovely examen through which to view my life.
My note I maintain of incoming packages also has stuff on my radar to buy, and usually a note on sourcing. Today I decompressed for 20 minutes by ordering my daughter larger skorts! I’m sure Christmas shopping will serve a similar function in the coming months, I have specific stuff I’m looking for secondhand, mostly board games.
Hooray for your future dog! Today to cheer my son up we took a circuitous walk home from school so we could follow a particularly perky dachshund with a silky tail. Neighborhood dog watching is the best.
Such a good point – sometimes the rain is the salvation! I’m so deeply touched by your note about leaving a comment here. I so value your voice and your thought partnership here on a week-in, week-out basis. Thank you for the sisterhood! xx
Treating myself to a fancy bakery cookie or other baked good…our local food co-op has very good cheesecake by the slice. Dangerous! Giving myself permission to be unproductive for a while – read (in the middle of the day!!), scroll, online window shopping, etc. To help my kids out of a funk (especially after the morning school rush), I turned the garage door into a magic portal to a good mood, and everyone will be cheerful automatically upon walking through it and getting in the car! It sometimes works, haha.
I LOVE the idea of a laundry basket for clothing donations! Am so tired of looking at the trash bag half full of old clothes in my bedroom. Just transferred several bags of kids clothes to a friend with younger girls, it feels so good to be free of them!
Also, so excited for your future new dog!! Not sure how much flexibility you have on timing, but don’t be like me and end up house training your new dog in cold weather! Ours arrived in late February (in Michigan) and required an escort outside for quite a while. Just a thought!
Love these ideas, especially the “magic portal.” I do think there is something about passing through / getting outside / changing scenery that can flip a switch. Sometimes even just working from a different spot in the house.
Noted on the puppy in cold weather!!! Our winters aren’t quite as brutal or snowy here but definitely a good input!!!
xx
Congratulations on the decision to welcome a future new family member! What a wonderful new chapter for your family—I’m sure there will be so much joy (and probably some chaos) along the way.
It may be far too early to know, but I’m curious whether they’ll be another Airedale… I remember studying all your posts and pictures of Tilly for years before my now-husband and I finally brought home one of our own. Followed with another the next year!
While our dales aren’t exactly lovers of the littles who have since joined our household, they truly are such an important part of the family. Since we’re fans of human names, they’ve acquired new monikers so our children don’t confuse their classmates: Finny-dog and Henry-dog…I thought Henry was the most absurd name for a dog, and also, it’s perfect.
They are loud and naughty and silly and sincere and persistent and loving, all in the very best ways. And I suppose that applies to both of our sets of boys!
I love your airedales!!! Eeek! Airedales are such special dogs. Big personalities, know their own minds. I’ll never forget when I was walking Tilly and a stranger came up to admire her and of course she was leaping all over the place and he said, “I can see your airedale is just as opinionated and well-behaved as mine is.” LOL. I felt seen! I felt like Tilly had been seen! And of course they are just so beautiful, princely, and sweet in their own ways. To smart for their own good. Gosh I could go on forever.
We are planning to get a smaller terrier this time. We really had a wild ride with Tilly being able to counter surf, especially since Landon is such a big cook and there’s almost always something on the stove / on the counter / proofing / marinating / etc / etc. I hope we have the opportunity to have many more dogs in our future though…
Thanks for the well wishes!
xx
In the vein of “clearing the clouds”, how I wish Varley had chosen not to include drawstrings on that fab quilted jacket. I could do without the bunching and constant adjusting!
Oh interesting! I hadn’t thought of that! I like that it defines the waist but I can see what you mean, might make things a little annoying if you have to keep readjusting. Maybe clean lines over athleisure is the way to go…
xx