Life Lately: May
Here we go, summer!
As I sit down to type this little email, my kids have less than 3 full days of school left before summer is here. I simultaneously can’t believe it (wasn’t it just Christmas yesterday?!) and am so annoyed that they even have to go this week. We’re spoiled and usually out before Memorial Day, so this week feels like a special brand of torture. I should be sleeping in late and playing hooky from work to race my kids in Mario Kart, not setting an alarm for 6AM to make sure to get them to school on time!
But, alas, here we are for a few more days. I’m trying to soak up the quiet time while it lasts because come Friday my house will transform into a frat house for tiny humans until mid-August. It’s a blast but I’m already tired.
Things I’m Texting My Friends About
These comfy black shorts are going to be a constant for me this summer! They’re the perfect length, not too tight, and will go with just about everything.
I order a summer workbook for my kids every single year and I have since Jackson was entering kindergarten. They get so excited to do them (at least for the first few weeks of summer, haha!) and I love that it keeps them engaged in a bit of learning in the summer months.
I gave into my old-lady tendencies and ordered a window bird feeder. It’s on my office window and the birds haven’t discovered it fully yet but I know once they get comfortable it’s going to be swarmed and I’m never going to get any work done again.
This Dungeon Crawler Carl shirt has already climbed to the top of my most-worn clothing items. I spent weeks looking for a DCC shirt I loved and this one is perfect. I ordered a large for a super oversized fit and I can’t stop reaching for it.
I finally installed a drip irrigation system for our raised garden beds and I LOVE IT. I can’t believe I thought it was going to be a hard project - it was one of the easiest things I’ve ever done!
I’m seeing tons of “statement necklaces” lately and I’m loving the trend. But, I don’t have any of mine from the 2000’s anymore (bummer!), so I grabbed this chunky necklace and it is so good. It feels like a fresh take on the big necklaces we used to wear back in college!
For the last two or three summers I’ve meant to order some of these wax paper sheets and these takeout baskets for the kids’ lunches, and I finally did it. No more stacks of dirty plates in the sink all summer long!
After seeing someone on IG talk about them, I ordered myself a set of spin pins for my hair. They’re so easy to put in (though the technique definitely requires some practice), and they hold SO well!
This oversized tee might be my new favorite! I’ve got a ton of colors of this other one (and I still love it!), but this new one is a bit thicker and I love the material. I’ve already got two colors of it, so I know my summer uniform!
There’s not much I love more than a good graphic tee, and this one is perfect for summer.
These dad sneakers are something I’ve been eyeing forever and I’ve gotten so many compliments on them already. People don’t believe me when I tell them they’re an under-$50 random brand on Amazon!
Everything I Read in May
So far 2026 has been a BIG reading year for me. Last year I set out to read 100 books and it felt like a stretch at times. This year, we’re not even halfway through and I’m already to 69. I’m not sure if it’s a sign that I’m just hiding from the world more often or what, but I’m not mad at it. Here’s everything I read (starting with the top 5!):
Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick - I loved this charming book about friendship, feminisim, and good books. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, and it was just such a great story!
Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee - Apparently I was into historical fiction this month?! This book follows a woman who gets a job interviewing former slaves for the Federal Writers Project, and it’s heartbreaking and powerful and such a beautiful story.
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke - This book is getting a lot of buzz right now and people seem to love it or hate it. I’m firmly in the “love it” camp. I think it was such a well-done examination of the culture of social media and the tradwife movement and I loved how the story unfolded. Remember it’s also satirical, so don’t be afraid to laugh at the ridiculousness!
Quicksilver by Callie Hart - I kept seeing this book (and the follow-up, Brimstone) everywhere and I’m not sure why I hadn’t picked it up yet. But oh boy, I’m so glad I did! This book captured me from page one and if you’re a fan of the romantasy genre, it’s an absolute must-read.
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid - I haven’t read a TJR book that didn’t completely captivate me, and this one was no exception. I think this might be the most under-rated of her books - I hadn’t heard much about it before I dove in, but it was so, so good! Carrie is a complicated narrator, which I LOVE, and you’ll find yourself cheering for her despite how you also sometimes want to throttle her.
I also read…
The Intruder by Freida McFadden - I love a Freida McFadden book. They’re quick and easy to read, they’re fun, and they feel kind of like candy. This one was no different!
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke - I read this right after Yesteryear, and it was kind of a chilling combo to read one after the other! Shari has led such a challenging and surreal life, and I’m glad she told her story.
A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman - OF COURSE I read the newest DCC book. Delightful. Intense. Hilarious. 11/10.
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden - This felt a little different from the typical McFadden book but it was SO fun and over-the-top and I loved it.
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino - WHAT A WILD STORY! I told Corey I had heard it was twisty and I kept waiting for a “big reveal” and it was less that and more that it just get increasingly more and more unhinged. Loved it so much.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang - This book was so anxiety-inducing and I couldn’t put it down. It takes a shot at examining some really complex themes (racism, social media and cancel culture, cultural appropriation, and more) and it was fascinating and compelling and made me feel so many feelings.
Nowhere by Allison Gunn - Creepy and intriguing! Not my favorite book, but I enjoyed it and I think it would be a really fun read during spooky season!
Scythe by Neal Shusterman - I’m not actually done with this one yet but at the rate I’m going I will easily finish before the end of the month. It absolutely hooked me from the first sentence and I am LOVING IT.
Don’t Tell Anyone But…
I painted the trim on my little patio!! I’m still pulling together photos and video (and we leave next week for family vacation, so it’ll have to wait until after), but it turned out so so good and I can’t wait to share!
Tiny Joys from May
Taking long walks every chance I get.
I slept in until 9:45 one day and I don’t think I’ve done that since college!
J had an “end of the year” party, and hearing him laugh for hours with his friends brought my soul so much joy.
Made these s’mores bars and they were SO GOOD!
Spending time working outside!
Walks to the library for new books.
On Just Saying YES
I’m not naturally a “yes” mom. I’m naturally a “I’m tired” mom, or a “Do we have to?” mom. I hate to admit it, but when my kids as for something (like going to the park, baking cookies, playing a game, or making a mess), my default answer is “not right now”. But, lately, I’m working to change that. If I can say yes, I’m trying to say yes. And honestly, it is delightful. We’re playing more games, taking more walks, and eating more sweets.
Sure, sometimes I still have to say no. That’s part of being a parent. But I’m trying to build in a bit more of a gap between the ask and my answer so I can think about if a no is really necessary. And, often, it isn’t.