May was a bit of a blur and I’m so happy to be back at my desk and sharing on the blog again! I squeezed in so much this past month including a trip to Austin for the Mom 2.0 Summit, a trip to Kansas City to celebrate a fellow mama’s 40th birthday, an incredible Mother’s Day date with my childhood best friend, and too many celebrations to even count!
The blogging conference felt eye-opening in many ways. There has been a strong shift in this industry that many of us are struggling to weather. The industry continues to ask more and more and more, but the real shift is moving from blogging evergreen searchable content to the Instagram platform where things only stay in our feeds for a short time. In fact, many couldn’t weather these changes if they didn’t have their ad networks running (myself included).
It gave me a lot to think about, on my way home, and what pivot I will need to do to stick around. I’m thankful I had started that process with growing our book club and building out our first reading retreat (this July!!). I have also started the outlining process of writing my first ebook on life hacks for moms with chronic illness. It is something I have been carrying around since this journey began and I’d love to pass it on to someone else.
I still have so much to share and do here so I don’t feel done yet, but I think it is good to talk about this stuff in real ways with you!
Should we move on to the happy list? Let’s do it!
Have you been missing the 3 little things list each week? Just so you know, this feature didn’t go away…it just moved over to my newsletters each week.
Sign up is super quick over here. I will even send you some free printables to help you put together this incredible home management binder.
Today I wanted to share what you might have missed this past month in one big giant happy list!!
I was on the hunt for some drug-free pain relief this winter and stumbled upon this book that delivers a 3-minute strategy for chronic pain. This doctor offered some miraculous stories of people being able to overcome pain through this simple stretching routine that can be done daily to help relieve body pain. The poses are similar to yoga poses that I have done, but what makes it different is the sequential order of the movements and the holding of the movements versus a yoga flow.
For the last month, I have been doing this routine daily and I am seeing a remarkable difference in my pain. Along with this simple routine, the book offers targeted pain relief exercises for specific types of pain through an encyclopedia of exercises to try to help with pain management.
Dr. Weisberg encourages readers to make this a part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth, to see the best results.
If you struggle with chronic pain, from an injury or a chronic pain illness, I can’t recommend this resource enough. Not only have the exercises been helpful, but it also offers strategies for routines that will help with your spinal alignment.
I have a growing appreciation for John Mulaney and was so excited to see that he had a new Netflix special out.
My husband and I watched it and belly-laughed through the entire thing. Mulaney is a breath of fresh air when it comes to humor and he isn’t too proud to not lean into how our humor changes as we get older.
Normally, I find his comedy to be really conservative and this time he brought some humor into today’s politics, our jobs being taken over by robots, and how annoying it is that his college is asking for donations (relatable!).
It was so funny that we are going to watch it again with our teenage son, a boy whose humor could only be matched by John Mulaney.
Definitely add this one to your weekend Netflix binge!
Have you heard of the concept of food rescue? I had read about this happening in other countries, but had never seen this in action in the states…until this past month.
Cultivate Culinary, a local nonprofit, is feeding area kids with the extra food from catered events in town and even area schools are sending food to be packaged for students that need meals on the weekends.
Shared in this news article, “Mostly, we rescue food that’s been made but never served by catering companies, large food service businesses, like the school system,” said Jim Conklin, Cultivate. “You don’t always think of a school. Over-preparing is just part of what happens,” said Conklin. “We take well-prepared food, combine it with other food and make individual frozen meals out if it.”
Right now they are preparing hundreds of meals weekly that go home in insulated backpacks for kids in need.
If you are looking for a place to volunteer with friends (or to make new ones), consider volunteering. It is so fun and it feels really good knowing you are helping our kids!
It’s also a great place to make a donation to support their efforts to feed kids in need.
I shared a quick video and pic from my time this week volunteering.
I, honestly, can’t wait to go back!
There is a new favorite candle over at our house and it is the Warm Rustic Woods candle from BHG.
I am not a big fan of floral candles and I can find the food scented candles to be a little overwhelming.
This fragrance is slightly more masculine, but warm and delicious. It is one of those scents you can use all year long and never get tired of.
If you are looking for a new candle, you can’t beat the price on this one.
Make it last even longer with a candle warmer instead of burning it!
I have dry skin and I have never been able to find a primer that didn’t dry my skin out more than it already is.
e.l.f started carrying a glow primer stick, that contains coconut and shea butter, and I thought I would give it a try since it seemed geared towards people with my skin type.
I can’t rave enough how awesome this primer stick is and how moisturizing it is to my skin. It adds a subtle glow (no fake glitter effects with this one) and you can’t beat the price at just $8!
If you have dry skin and are hunting for the perfect primer, give this affordable option a spin.
Last month my husband and I watched the new Homecoming documentary from Beyonce and, I’m almost positive, our mouths were hanging open the entire time.
Homecoming documents the grueling schedule and work that went into Beyonce’s triumphant return to stage following the birth of her twins.
She was the headliner for Coachella and decided to use this opportunity to educate and represent all aspects of black culture in one of the most phenomenal show displays that I have ever seen.
She was responsible for every element of this show from writing, directing, producing, and starring and had made all decisions down to those nitty gritty details of measurements of seating on her stage.
As a mom, she gives you an intimate look at what a sacrifice this was and I am blown away by her discipline to get her body back back in such a short time all while managing the incredible duties of this show.
More importantly, her work shows us what is possible when we have a platform and how we can use it to teach people in incredible ways. We all might not have a platform like her, but what could we do in our smaller ways to bring joy and love to others?
I could go ON and ON about the incredible representation and inclusivity that she pulled off, but I just think you should watch it.
I am looking forward to listening to this album now that I have seen the show. It’s incredible!
I might be the last person in the world to know about the free YouTube fitness channel, but PopSugar’s free workouts have really been making my workouts a ton of fun! I love to do my favorite spinning routines and then polish them off with a 10-minute sweat session through this YouTube channel.
If you think ten minutes sounds so easy, go ahead and give this booty blast workout a try and tell me all about how you almost died too.
Prefer a barre-driven workout? This workout blew me away at how challenging it was while feeling restorative at the same time.
I am excited to explore more classes and love that these save me a ton of money on a gym membership while giving me the variety that I am after.
Class lengths can be anywhere between a short and effective ten minute sweat sesh to forty-five minutes in length. Bringing in a variety of fitness instructors, you can take advantage of loads of different workouts from cardio dance to weight lifting to yoga.
Basically, no excuses.
I managed to leave behind my sleep mask in a hotel room this month. For me, a good sleep mask is essential for a good solid night’s sleep. When my husband found out, he ordered a new mask for me, and for himself, and I have to say, this guy NAILED IT!
This cotton sleep mask is beautifully designed, in a way that TRULY keeps the lights out when you wear it. Made of breathable cotton, the nose area has a foldable piece of boning that allows you to shape it around your own nose, to keep all the light out from that area.
Straps are usually troublesome for me, but this is wide and has the clasps in an area that doesn’t cause discomfort for side sleepers. At under, $10, I can’t rave enough!
It even comes with a handy carrier case that clips to your bags so you never lose it in a hotel room again.
For me, it is all about these little things and I’ve enjoyed getting some really restful sleep with this blackout sleep mask!
I can’t tell you how many of these electrolyte tablets I had shared with friends over my last few trips. Nuun is my favorite brand because they come in a really smart portable canister and the flavors just can’t be beat. I really think of these as a portable IV that is the perfect sports recovery drink or (let’s be honest) the perfect hangover cure.
I double the water on mine, which is the perfect amount of flavor for someone who is a big LaCroix fan. Doing it with the recommended amount of water yields a stronger flavor that reminds me of a Gatorade drink.
The best part is that these are low in sugar and carbs, unlike a lot of the electrolyte drinks on the market. They recently added an immunity-boosting blend that I’m excited to try. As someone who has POTS Syndrome, electrolytes are one of my body’s best defenses against my ongoing symptoms.
Although I feel it goes without saying, ALWAYS travel with a reusable water bottle on your trips. I bring it empty, to get through security, and take advantage of the water bottle filling stations that are now placed in all the airports.
It is such an easy thing to do and many hotels now have filling stations in their lobbies, so you are never without water.
Not only are you saving a load of money, but you are doing a little part for the environment too.
Adding tablets, like these, is a fun way to keep the variety going all week long.
I can’t stop talking about how much I loved the new Netflix series, Dead to Me. If you haven’t seen it yet, I really wish I was you right now. Fans of Big Little Lies will be swept away in this twisty layered plot.
Linda Cardellini & Christina Applegate star in this dark comedy about life after loss. Jen is a real estate agent whose husband is brutally killed in a hit-and-run near their home late one night. She joins a grief support circle where she meets Judy, who also is going through a loss of her own. The two become fast friends and boundaries become blurred very quickly because Jen really needs someone to be her friend through this season.
Jen can’t seem to move forward though until she finds the person who has killed her husband. It consumes her and she is filled with rage and bitterness. Applegate shines in these vulnerable moments that really showcase her acting chops.
Cardellini has a very complex role in this show too where you can’t decide if she is good, bad, or crazy. As secrets are uncovered, it threatens their fragile friendship in some surprising ways.
I love that the episodes are 30 minutes, which feels like the perfect amount of time at this stage in my life, and that each one ends on such a cliffhanger that you have to keep pushing through. I, in fact, finished the whole series in two days and loved how they chose to end the first season with ANOTHER cliffhanger. Definitely add this one to your weekend agenda!
We are reaching that point where everything in our house seems to be breaking on us and I was in desperate need of a new quick vac to replace our broken one. I stumbled upon this Hoover Impulse, on my Target run, and knew this would be perfect for our house. It sweeps all my floors like a dream (carpet, tile, & laminate) and it can be taken apart to be a small handheld vac on your furniture or used with attachments to clean the tops of cupboards and light fixtures.
Basically, it does ALL THE THINGS and is lightweight and cordless.
While I would love the Dyson, this one was in a much sweeter price point and offered similar benefits.
I highly recommend it! It has made me cleaning a lot more fun!
Justin Rothshank is a Goshen potter that creates pieces featuring some of your favorite people on them. For Mother’s Day, I snagged a beautiful mug of our mayor for my Mother’s Day treat. I have to say, these are even more beautiful person and would be a treasured gift for anyone in your life. The mug is just the perfect size and I love leaving it out to display it in our cabinets. I can’t rave enough about the product or how good it feels to support local artists. Check out his Etsy shop!
I got a squeeze from Jen Hatmaker at the Iris Awards
spent mother’s day with my childhood best friend- toasted ourselves with a couple of good margaritas & a little boutique shopping!
celebrated 19 married years with my hubby. time goes by fast when you marry your best friend.
how could this mother’s day card not make you happy?
doing my part to help this walmart dress sell out online. they have some cute dresses this season. #notsponsored #justhappy
nothing makes this girl happier than a flower delivery on her doorstep!
Top Ten Most Visited Articles in May
- Amy’s Notebook 03.07.19
- Easy Burlap Wreath Tutorial
- April 2019 Must-Reads
- 3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs
- How to Stain a Picnic Table
- How to Make Quinoa in a Rice Cooker
- How to Spray Paint Furniture
- Fruit-Infused Water Recipes
- DIY Fluffy Slime Recipe
- DIY Roll-Up Jigsaw Puzzle Mat
Top Ten Most Purchased Items in May
- First Edition Baby Onesie
- Rothshank Pottery Mugs
- Time & Tru Summer Dresses
- Copper Mugs
- Personalized Wood Watches
- Personalized Metal Photo Keyrings
- Teacher Mugs
- Navy Floral Jumpsuit
- Introverted But Willing to Talk About Books T-Shirt
- True Body V-Neck Bras
- Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance
- No One Can Pronounce My Name
- Whiskey & Charlie
- Class Mom
- The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
- The Gown
- Everything Here is Beautiful
- Dark Matter
- Harry’s Trees
- Stay With Me
I hope you enjoyed this month’s round-up of May fun and I look forward to sharing more in June! I hope my month of happy brings a month of happy to you too! If this post doesn’t convince you my newsletter is fun, I’ve got nothing. Sign up over here to get this fun weekly in your inbox.
*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!