This newsletter is basically a round-up of life things - what I'm enjoying, reading, learning, buying, doing, thinking about, and more. Thanks for being here! 💛
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
I’m in my seeking joy era. ✨
These days, I’m choosing to prioritize delight; to optimize for joy.
For me, this comes to life through dance parties, wearing sparkles for no reason, picking a bright nail color, savoring delicious garlic noodles, squealing over the peonies in my front yard, blaring a good song and driving with the windows down, enjoying a sunny afternoon walk, watercolor painting, telling people I love them and why, reading a can’t-put-this-down book, being generous, going to the beach, being easily excited, admiring a cotton candy sunset, telling hilarious old stories, spending time with my sisters and friends that feel like family, taking my evening bath, appreciating who I am and the life I've been given.
For me, this looks like creativity, curiosity, play, silliness, possibility, spontaneity, gratitude, hope, light.
There are days and seasons that are long and hard, where joy feels hard to find, where delight feels nonexistent. Moments when doubt, shame, and anxiety creep in much more than I’d like to admit. Seasons of grief and disappointment and pain that feel like they won’t end. I’ve had them and I know many more will come. Choosing joy doesn't mean pretending everything is perfect or that the hurt doesn’t exist. Instead, for me, it means finding moments of delight and goodness alongside the heavy and hard.
I'm reminded of this Shauna Niequist quote: "It’s rebellious, in a way, to choose joy...to choose to love your life. It’s much easier and much more common to be miserable. But I choose to do what I can to create hope, to celebrate life, and the act of celebrating connects me back to that life I love."
So today, in the here and now, I'm choosing joy and delight. Case in point: face glitter + a sparkly fringe cape + a backyard dance party with my sisters and daughters last week!
LIFE LATELY:
Kid things: The school year wrapped up for Lucy and Winnie and Lucy graduated Pre-K! HOW?! 🎓
Personal things: I found a new therapist and proud of myself for making the time/space to invest in myself and my mental health. 🙏🏼
Taylor Swift things: Two of my sisters came to visit us and go to the Taylor Swift concert in Nashville! For those who follow me on IG…you know I’ve been on a ~journey~ to get tickets, and I’m SO grateful I found tickets for them! And I’m going to the Eras Tour with friends in LA in August. 💫 In the meantime, I’m just talking to anyone who will listen about the tour and obsessively texting my sisters about each show’s surprise songs.
Travel things: E and I just got back from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — it was a work offsite for his new job and he got to bring a +1! It was such a treat to stay at a fancy hotel and also enjoy a few kid-free days! ☀️ The girls and I spent a quick weekend in Lexington, Kentucky to see all three of my sisters and parents. It was so nice to all be together. We spent one morning at the Kentucky Horse Park which was super interesting and fun! 🐎 We’re heading to California in June! We’re doing a few days in Palm Springs as a family and then the girls will stay with their grandparents in LA while E and I go back to San Francisco. Will be so fun to visit our old stomping grounds together again! 🥹🛩️
RECENT PURCHASES
These high-rise dad shorts are super flattering - can’t recommend enough!
I bought the girls these cute mesh bags — they would be great for the beach/pool, but for now, we’ve been using to store their little toys.
This $8 square neck top that is super cute and versatile.
I’ve been wearing these $15 red cat-eye sunglasses nonstop!
Just bought another pack of these crew socks — they are an Amazon find / Aritzia dupe at a much better price!
Snagged us some new colorful beach towels - they came highly recommended and are reversible!)
RECENT BLOG POSTS
Cute Toddler Swimsuits Under $40: SO many cute options for girls in here!
Nuuly Review + Overview: I’ve been using the clothing subscription service, Nuuly, for a couple months now and really loving it! It’s brought back joy in getting dressed again, which has been really fun!
4 Kids Beach Essentials from Amazon: we’ll be using these all summer!
Athletic Greens Review: I’ve also been taking AG1 for months and shared allll my thoughts (cost, taste, etc!)
READING - here’s (most?) of the books I’ve read April - May!
We are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez (beautifully written - similar story line to Solito, which I also highly recommend!), Book Lovers, Happy Place, and Beach Read by Emily Henry, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, Maame by Jessica George, All My Knotted Up Life by Beth Moore, Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney, Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (a must read), Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott.
FROM MY CAMERA ROLL
CODES & DISCOUNTS
ATHLETIC GREENS - use this link for a year’s supply of Vitamin D3+K2 & 5 free travel packs
BETTER DAYS - use code LUCKYANDI for 10% off
CHATBOOKS - use code LUCKYANDI20 for 20% off!
EIZZY BABY - use code ANDI25 for 25% off
HIYA VITAMINS - use this link for $15 first order + free shipping
NUULY - use this link for $10 off your first order!
SHOP LUCKY COLLECTIVE (my Moroccan textile shop!) - use code LUCKYANDI for 10% off!
PAST NEWSLETTERS
No. 13 - September 2022 (The Travel Issue)
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