What am I thinking about right now? COZIES! Partly because we’re heading into fall and partly because life has been a whirlwind these last few months. A quiet evening at home reading and needlepointing has been such a treat lately. When life gets busy, it does feel good to put on something super cozy and…
I haven’t had as much time to reflect on the fact that I have yet another year of life under my belt. I almost skipped writing this post entirely– partially because it’s been hard to find windows of time where I feel in the “right mindset” to write in between nursing and Jack’s naps. But…
It’s been a while since my last Diary post. My schedule got a little off while I took some time off for the last bit of my pregnancy and after Jack was delivered. I’m still going to be posting less frequently, but hope to get some posts up when it makes sense (and when I can)….
I can’t believe we have another week of parenting under our belts. Granted… things are pretty straightforward so forward (so many feedings! so many naps!), but every day that passes I think to myself, “We’re doing this! We’re really doing this!” Life has been a bit of a blur as we follow the lead of…
Although it’s still very much summer right now, fall is just around the corner. This truly is my favorite season!! I love the layering, autumnal colors, and overall sense of hunkering down and getting cozy after a busy summer. I’ve noticed a few trees around the neighborhood starting to turn, but I think we still…
John “Jack” Morgan Riordan was born on August 12, 2021 in Morristown, New Jersey. I have always loved reading birth stories. “Mommy blogs” was the first genre of blogs I ever read and I have read many, many birth stories over the years. I can’t believe I’m writing my own son’s birth story now. One thing…
Currently writing this while my little one-week old Jack snoozes in a bassinet next to me. I’m going to work on his birth story blog post (they’re always my guilty pleasure to read and I’d love to write it while it’s still pretty fresh in my memory!). This past week has been one of the…
I have REALLY gone down an Etsy rabbit hole over the last year or so, and you guys seem to share my love for Etsy equally!! I’ve bought everything from wrapping paper to pillow covers and even the custom shades we used in the nursery. I could honestly spend hours scrolling and love discovering new…
I’ve been reluctant to share workwear in the past since every office has a different dress code, and it’s challenging to make a generalization that applies to everyone. Then if you take the last year into account, when most people transitioned to working from home, it adds a WHOLE other layer of complexity. But I…
(Why has no one been using this song for this trend? Literally all that I hear whenever I see another “ins and outs” trend 😆)
My 2025 Ins & Outs:
IN
More freedom, firmer boundaries
Silver
Red as a neutral
Spontaneous lunch dates
Photography
Redefining perfection
Silk scarves
Going to the movies
Trying new hobbies
Luxurious showers
OUT
Sticking with a book I’m not enjoying
Letting my car be a mess
Guilt around sweet treats
Unnecessary people pleasing
The comparison game
Staying up too late
Over complicating things
Holding in emotions
Yes, I’m an iPad adult now ✌🏻 I have been feeling all over the place with how I stay organized. In a dream world, I’d have a good ole fashioned paper planner, but I need something digital that I can access wherever I am and set alarms and reminders and appointments in my digital calendar. Kicking the new year off with a fresh iPad in the hopes that it helps?? Kind of felt like back to school shopping with fresh school supplies (but more expensive lol)… here’s to an organized twenty twenty five!! 🥂
PS I am trying out @goodmondayspaper on @goodnotes.app and went with an 11” iPad Air!
Not my best year of outfits- but here are some of my favorites! 2024 was all about feeling comfortable in my skin. I was eight and nine months pregnant in January and February- and then freshly postpartum. I wore four different jean sizes (five if you include maternity!), had to start the process of rebuilding my shoe collection (my feet grew 😭), and I’ve been breastfeeding this whole time so lots of buttons. I tried to lean into more colors and elevated everyday styles. I embraced my body no matter where I was on the scale and stayed true to myself the whole time, while still experimenting and trying new things!
Some highlights:
@tuckernuck Callahan dress
@jcrew denim skorts (and staples, as always)
@alice_walk cashmere wraps and gauzy linen shirt
@varley leggings and pullovers
@favorite.daughter hoodie (my emotional support sweatshirt at the moment)
@annmashburn cap toe Mary Janes
@cuyana small pouch + @llbean boat and totes
@oldnavy barn coat embroidered by @bobinettedesigns
@agolde, @levis, and @mother denim
@onequince cashmere fisherman cardigan
@shopdoen Leanne dress
@kiltecollection chic cashmere sets
@warbyparker eyeglasses + @celine sunglasses
Our year can undoubtedly be measured in love 🫶🏻. While 2024 wasn’t without its challenges, it was also overflowing with moments of joy and gratitude. Welcoming Rory into our family in February was the absolute highlight—nothing quite compares to the magic of those first newborn days.
This year was also filled with adventures to some of our favorite places and plenty of meaningful time with friends and family. Rory has grown from a snuggly, snoring newborn into a lively ten-month-old who loves to eat and play with his big brother. And Jack? He’s gone from my baby to a full-fledged kid—a social butterfly with a love for all things sports (and the skills to match).
For me, this year was a whirlwind—a beautiful mix of the magic and monotony of motherhood: pregnancy, delivery, breastfeeding, and endless caretaking. But amidst the chaos, I found space to nurture myself and pursue what lights me up. I embraced new hobbies (hello, sourdough baking!) and deepened my love for old ones (Rory’s needlepoint stocking is finally complete, and I read 50 books!). I prioritized my well-being with new workouts (@sotomethod has been a game-changer!), dialed in my beauty routines, and even got my colors done.
I also stepped outside my comfort zone, making my first investment in a company beyond my own and hitting a few stretch goals that felt out of reach just a year ago.
Here’s to a year of love, growth, and resilience—and to the excitement of all that 2025 has in store! 💫
This and yap 🤍 Don’t forget to create holiday magic for yourself too! I can’t tell you how nice it was to do some gingerbread decorating without having to follow a three year old’s vision (or fight the sugar battle)! It’s fun to do it with kids, too, but sometimes you just need coffee, baked goods, and little bit of kid-free catch up time with your mom friends! Thank you for hosting @blueskyehouse!!
I wrote down a list of things I wanted to do for fun in 2024. I crossed off exactly zero of them (having a baby will do that to ya) and my only hope of accomplishing one would be to host a cookie exchange! I wanted to SO bad but I was also feeling exhausted after a long year (losing a dog, having a baby, running a business, etc.) and I didn’t know if I had hosting a party in me. I sent out the invitations and told myself I’d figure it out. There was no going back! It was SO FUN though and I will be doing this again. I feel like so much of the holidays as a mom is spent making the magic for kids. It’s Santa meet and greets, Christmas shopping, holiday pageants…. And then seeing Santa again (and again and again). THIS party was for us! 🥂
