andi lately
no. 3 - april 2021
Hi friends! Thanks for signing up for my newsletter! Between my blog and social channels, I’ve been sharing my life on the Internet for a long time. I’ve often felt boxed in to share certain types of content on each platform/account and have been feeling pretty blah about Instagram specifically. I started this monthly-ish newsletter as a brain dump and round-up of things on my mind and a way to connect with others in a more intimate way. Appreciate you being here and happy Friday!
“What if having a hard time adjusting to motherhood wasn’t a moral failure or a failure of the imagination? What if we thought of the whole endeavor like we did work? Like how a career starts out with a lot of dues-paying, a lot of indignity, a lot of feeling unappreciated and complaining to your friends…but then incrementally gets easier or more fulfilling. And you start to think, well, what else would I do all day?
Of course, it’s not the same at all. But you can understand why someone wouldn’t want to have a job. And you can understand why someone would.” - Meaghan O’Connell
This quote really resonated with me, especially as I’ve been navigating this new phase of motherhood with two toddlers. (Is a baby a toddler once they turn one?!) The days of having a new baby is so sweet and special, but it’s a HUGE adjustment and change. I’ve been very open about the ups and downs and struggles and joys I’ve had as a mom over the last few years — and felt really seen by this quote. The beginning is SO overwhelming and hard. But eventually, somehow, I’ve found my footing. That doesn’t mean every day is easy or enjoyable, but there’s a level of fulfillment and confidence I now have in myself.
It’s okay for it to not be easy or feel ‘natural.’ It’s okay for it to be a struggle. It’s okay to doubt yourself, resent your partner, desperately wish for things to be different. It’s okay for you to not like motherhood all the time, and to long for your “before” self. It’s okay for the adjustment to motherhood to last more than a couple weeks or months, even years. I finally feel like I’m sort of kind of in a good groove and I’m 14 months in being a mom of two.
REFLECTIONS (a few things I’ve shared on my blog and/or Instagram lately)
My faith journey & recent reflections on American Evangelical Christianity - this is a very personal post that makes me feel super vulnerable to share! But, I’d love to chat with you via email or blog comment section if you have had similar experiences/thoughts <3
On pandemic emotional whiplash - feeling like things are getting back to “normal”-ish, but yet not and this strange emotional back and forth processing what has happened in the last year even though we are still “in it”
I’m Proud of the Mom Who… - a reminder that even the small choices we make are worth celebrating. <3
To the moms with new babies, are pregnant, or trying to start their family during a pandemic - I wrote this a couple months ago but wanted to re-share.
RECENTLY READ
I really liked this NY Times article about friendships during the pandemic and what it looks like to move forward
In a lot of ways, reading And Now We Have Everything: On Motherhood Before I Was Ready by Meaghan O'Connell felt like re-reading an old journal of mine, thinking of my first pregnancy and the first year as a mother. Really liked this book!
What the Road Said by artist and poet Cleo Wade is a children’s book that is really special. I recently ordered it for Lucy and then immediately ordered for a few (grown-up) friends. It’s a beautiful book with a really powerful message for all!
FROM MY SHOP
I never want this email newsletter to come across as sales-y, but since this is a big part of my life, I do want to share a few things related to my textile shop! A quick backstory: we went to Marrakesh, Morocco in October 2019 and after picking out lots of textiles for our home, I had the idea to start curating and selling to others. Everything in my shop is handmade in Morocco and hand-selected by me! A few months ago, I launched a brand new website which makes it way easier to discover, organize, and learn about different textiles I offer. I also share a lot of tips and tricks for styling and decorating with pillows and floor cushions over on my shop IG @shopluckycollective. Right now, I have some gorgeous, one of a kind floor cushions made from Moroccan vintage rugs, leather round floor cushions, tons of cactus silk, kilim, boujad, and beni ourain pillows, and much more. You can get $10 off your first order on the new website too!
PRODUCTS WE OWN & LOVE
This bubble machine camera is a HUGE hit at our house!
Getting Lucy to wear a mask has been a lot easier now that she has this cute, custom mask chain.
We recently updated the greenhouse decor — there’s some super cute, affordable vases and planters shared in this post!
I bought these concrete pedestal accent tables and I’m OBSESSED. We usually have them in our living room, but they are easy to move to another area if we need extra table space for wine or coffee!
Throwback to high school….but Abercrombie has CUTE stuff lately. I bought this gorgeous tiered smocked dress for a wedding this summer!
RANDOM PLANT TIP(S) FROM E 🌵
We are officially in spring - and depending on your zone, you might be coming up on the last frost date! All of this means... time to buy more plants! Whether you are getting a house plant, perennials, or veggies for the garden, spend a bit extra time at the nursery looking for:
New Growth & Healthy Leaves - if you are new to plants, this may feel daunting, but a few good rules of thumb are to take home plants pushing out several new leaves (even if they are smaller) and avoid plants with irregular yellowing with could be a sign of a fungal or bacterial infection
Check for pests - look close to the stems and underneath the leaves. Small webbing might indicate spider mites; small cotton balls indicate mealybugs but there are a ton of other common pests you want to avoid! I have passed on many "wishlist" plants because it is NOT worth an infestation.
Quarantine - after a year at home... we all know how to do this, but keep the new plants separate from any others in your collection for 2-4 weeks. Spray them down thoroughly with a hose and apply your go to insecticide as a preventative measure.
CODES + DISCOUNTS
ANDI25 - Get 25% off Eizzy Baby - we love their collapsible silicone snack cups!
LUCKYANDI - Get 10% Chelsea & West Pop-Up Play Tents!
Get 20% off everything from Kitsch at this link; they sell my favorite (cute, comfy, affordable) face masks and also great hair accessories!
WAYS TO SUPPORT OTHERS
Obviously, by now, you’ve all read about the horrifying murder of Daunte Wright. Below are some ways to financially support Daunte Wright’s two-year-old son, Daunte Wright Jr., and his mother, Chyna.
Venmo: @Chyna-W-1
PayPal: janeyhill@yahoo.com
FROM MY CAMERA ROLL
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