It’s the last day of October, aka Halloween, and I have things. Updates. Thoughts. To share with this little corner of the world. No one will listen, but it helps me remember.

British Baking Show: This season was so so so sweet and adorable. Like, even more than usual, maybe? These bakers just seem so nice and I want to be their friends. To be actual friends, but also to have friends that bake amazing things. Also, does the opening song immediately relieve anyone else’s stresses?

DIY Halloween costumes: I try, really I do. Every year I have a vision, but I guess I’m just not good at executing the vision. Anyways, my kid was an astronaut and his costume consisted of ironing a $3 NASA patch on the back of a gray sweatshirt that we already owned. He was fine with it 🙂

Interior Design: We bought our first house! And, again, I had all these grand visions of really cool interior design plans. We’ve been here over a month and about 41% of these plans have happened. I need the function of each space to work first, and then I will really go full speed ahead on the design and cohesiveness of everything. I hope. Maybe I’ll just decorate for Christmas.

Public Library kid programs: I saw “free music time” on the library schedule and was like AWWW wow that is so nice, let’s do it. So we went. And it was A THOUSAND CHILDREN AND ONE MUSIC LADY. Ok, like 60 children but still. Just nuts. I was overwhelmed, and my kid just stared at me like, this is weird why are we here? But we stayed a while, and then he started his little wiggly dances hahaha and it was pretty cute.

Charleston: Nate and I were supposed to go to Napa for a little getaway without our kid, but there are wildfires happening all over the area, so we rerouted our plans to Charleston, SC. We leave next week and I’m really excited. I’ve heard it’s colorful and has great food and that’s really all I need!

Those are my October things! Happy Halloween!

Hi, It’s June which means I’m 30 now (1st of the month baby right here), and I don’t know how to gracefully tell you that, so there you go. That was it. Here are my post-birthday-week obsessions.

This AMAZING 30th birthday cake. Gifted to me by Nate, made by Lizzie’s Bakery in Boston. Half of it is still in our freezer because we are only two people and know better than to eat all of this at once. So I will be obsessing about this once piece at a time until it’s gone and I need to order another one.

Madison Kozak: We’ve been needing some fresh women country artists on the scene, and HERE SHE IS. Loving the upbeat sounds and smart lyrics from Madison! Definitely a summer jam.

MY ETSY SHOP! ::: Yep! It’s reopening on Monday!! Have you seen it? Check it out now, but also check it out on Monday, because SO much new embroidery + hand-lettering art will be up and ready for you to look at and love!

JUNE: June is a really good month that I’ve always been obsessed with, because #birthday, but also because it’s warm, it’s sunny, the sun stays up later, the flowers seem brighter, the windows are open all the time and also it’s the start of my best, most fun season of photography. We stan June.

CANVA: #notsponsored – This app/site is so helpful to me as a biz owner! Game changer for those who know design, but buying premium design programs doesn’t make financial sense. Canva is intuitive and easy to use. Big fan!

May is here and it’s real. The weather hasn’t been very May-y, but we’ve had enough good days to do some outdoor adventuring. Julien and I have taken a good amount of nature walks around the local college campus when it isn’t completely rainy out.

May has been very colorful. Last week I went to a crafty/makey morning at Calliope, a tiny card shop in Natick. For two hours, we each worked on our own projects, and talked crafting and small business. It was a fun time to just chill and get some fun projects done! Also last week, I did a colorful photo shoot with my friend Jen and her daughter at a GORGEOUS new mural on Concord Street in Framingham. It awesome! Definitely stop to take a look if you are in the area. And finally, I’m finalizing my new brand for my photo business and I’m super excited about it! It’s so happy!

I recently saw Ben Platt (at the most beautiful theater in Boston, the Wang) and let me tell you, that man is an aaaaaalien. I’ve never heard a better male vocalist. He isn’t real. But he actually is. And amazing. And my jaw was on the floor the whole time with the amount of impeccable runs he blessed us with. Also, his dance moves must also be praised.

IT’S LILAC SEASON – A few lilac bushes line my driveway and I was inspired to start an embroidery hoop dedicated to my favorite flower!! This wonky embroidery definitely doesn’t do the flower justice, but I’m trying :O

In OTHER NEWS I am reopening my ETSY SHOP!! June 10th!! I’m excited! And have so much to do! AH!

I recently watched a new Netflix movie called “The Unicorn Store”, starring Brie Larson. The description told me it was about a whimsical art school dropout who dreams of adopting a unicorn. My thought process was this: I went to art school. I love colorful things. I like Brie Larsen. Let’s do this.

I knew this movie would be relevant as soon as the first scene started. Brie (her character’s name is Kit) is passionately creating a bright, abstract painting and gets a disapproving head shake from her professor. I’ve felt that. I’ve experienced that. -_- Throughout the movie, I could relate to a lot of her same creative/career/future feels. Obviously I’ve never experienced a unicorn IRL, but never say never amiright 😉

I really appreciated the spotlight this movie put on the colorful, artsy, big idea lifestyle. Yeah, there was a deeper meaning of the movie – being your own unicorn, working toward your goals, ect. But I don’t usually see that kinda of free, wide, open creativity on screen, and honestly, it made me feel seen and affirmed. It came at a oddly (and almost creepily) perfect time, because I’ve been thinking about the topic of expressing yourself a lot lately.

I realized I have been ‘toning it down’ for the last few years – in both my personal style and my business. Neutrals in my personal style, dark and ‘professional’ in my business style. If there is any color, it only should be in pops. Not a lot, and definitely not everywhere.

But in the months after having a baby, I was in such a deep, dark hole mentally, that seeing and being surrounded by color was one thing that actually made me a little bit happier. I have always loved lots of color and unique things and creating unique things, so this connection made a lot of sense.

So I started brightening up my wardrobe and adding simple things like throw rugs and kitchen towels to bring more color to our home. I’m also currently in the works of a pretty substantial rebrand of my business, and as you can guess, it’s colorful. I was feeling OK, but halfway, about all these things until I watched this movie. And now I am ALL IN. Give me the weird stuff. The big ideas. The colors and the creative mess. I want it!

Sure there is always room for neutrals in life, and black will always be a classic. But for the most part, I’m tired of boring stuff. Thanks, Unicorn Store, for being my colorful wakeup call to re-embrace the joy and fun and happiness of a colorful lifestyle.

Ben Platt’s Sing To Me Instead album: I can’t stop listening to Ben’s emotional words, sweeping melodies and incredible perfect VOICE. He possesses a level of talent that no human should have, except Ben does, so it’s ok. LISTEN TO THIS!!

Abstract Embroidery: What is art? What is embroidery? What are the rules? Are there rules? Why follow the rules? These are the things I think about as I’m tying knots and weaving and layering thread and yarn and string together in ways that seem really cool to me. But probably weird.

Functional Embroidery: Art that is functional, and using art to make functional things special. Prettier. A Statement. Your own! I’ve only gotten as far as hats and a jean jacket, but there are more projects in the works!

SPRINGTIME, OBVIOUSLY. THIS SHOULD BE ON EVERYONE’S LISTS.

San Pellegrino Blood Orange: I’m not a fancy seltzer person, in fact, I’ve tried a few fancies and they all kinda taste like the not-fancy ones. But this stuff is GOOD! And fancy! But not too fancy! Because Market Basket carries it! 😉

Have a great week!