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my solo mom getaway and why you need to take one too
just finished my two night hotel stay ALL by myself and man i am so glad i did it! having zero agenda and nothing to do besides relax is something i guess i haven’t experienced since becoming a mom. not having to worry about feeding anyone, bedtimes, schedules, emails, anything– it was REJUVENATING!
what i looked for in the hotel
i actually was planning on staying in a cute boutique hotel two hours away where i had my own little backyard, but realized right before the trip that they didn’t have a restaurant and i was worried about being able to order food, so i cancelled and booked a hotel on the beach in santa monica instead.
i just wanted a hotel where i could :
see the ocean, sit on a balcony, order room service, watch tv, have a mini fridge, get a massage and not spend $800 a night. i opted for those amenities over a more stylish boutique hotel, but everyone is different! the hotel i chose was perfect. i stayed at the fairmont miramar.what i did for my staycation
NOTHING. i brought books i didn’t read, i sat and spaced out looking at the ocean for a good portion of my time. i ate lots of delicious food. i drank rosé. i binge watched two tv shows i loved. i got a massage. i ate chips in my bed. i walked down to the ocean and collected some seashells and drank a latte. i made a list of things i’m grateful for and goals of mine. i stayed in bed in the mornings. i sat on my balcony and ate some more.
i made a big point to stay mostly off my phone. here and there i’d post an update or read a couple DMs but i find myself endlessly scrolling once i start and i just thought it was way more important to be thinking of nothing staring at the beach versus my phone. stay off them!!
staying one night versus two
gid advised me to do two nights so that i could actually unwind and have one full day and i absolutely agree now. waking up in the hotel, and having no agenda for an entire day was so chill. the problem with one is that if you check in at 3pm and then out at 11am, you’re really in and out– but if you can only do one, by all means — still do it.
going alone versus with a friend
while i think it would be so fun to go away with my bff (and we plan to), thats a different trip in my opinion. i spend all day talking, this trip was special because i was quiet, finally. i spent most of my time there just delightfully silent and alone, and i think thats a big part of why it felt so relaxing (versus fun).
what i watched
i bought two books, neither of which i opened. i actually thought i didn’t want to watch any shows because then time would go so much faster but it didn’t and i had a blast.
i watched “never have i ever” and “dash and lily” and i loved them both! they were perfect solo shows i didn’t think gid would be nearly as invested in as i was. i’d already seen it but “ginny and georgia” would have been a good show to watch too.
what i packed (because i didn’t need anymore than this!)
two books i didn’t read and a magazine (as we know)
our roku (CLUTCH, will never travel without it)
chips
topo chico
rosé
lounge clothes!some people may have enjoyed going and having a meal out of the room or sit by the pool, i did neither of those and was blissfully isolated most of the trip! and i stupidly forgot to bring some sheet masks which would have been ideal. put together a few items for you 🙂
normalizing taking breaks
i got a few DMs thanking me for normalizing this kind of thing– which is so sad! why do we face judgement at all times for anything we do when it comes to being a mom? of course we need breaks. of course it’s ok to leave our kids and worry about ourselves. of course we need to prioritize our mental health!!!!! if you are freaking exhausted after a year of being home with your kids, then you’re the normal ones.
anyway, i heard from a lot of moms who were inspired or had been wanting to do something like this, so i hope that i helped push you to just book it already. promise you’ll be glad you did.
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printable 2021 oscar ballot
ok i really didn’t want to bother with an oscar ballot this year — because i only just remembered yesterday when my brother asked if i was making one, and i saw barely any of the movies this year. one of them i saw 20 minutes of that i’ll never get back… can you guess which one i’m talking about? lol. please try to guess.
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mothers day gift guide
honestly all i want for mothers day is some alone time haha — i’m even going to a hotel alone next week to just finally get a little solo quiet time!! i think that even a few hours of uninterrupted peace and quiet is the ideal gift right now, but you know i had to round up some pretty things too.
ps last year, not only did i get to stay in bed for a few hours, i had gid and arlo leave the house and go pick up some lobster rolls for dinner so it was win win. quiet AND my fave food 🙂
last year’s mothers day gift guide focused on being stuck at home– this year, since we’re mostly still stuck at home but it’s not news at this point– this gift guide is more focused on self care and rest. we all need it so bad right?!? here are some thoughtful and beautiful gifts for any moms in your life.
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a miscarriage gift guide
since my recent miscarriage, i’ve gotten asked many times about what to get or how to support a friend going through one, i know firsthand how helpless you can feel when you want to be there for someone going through it– and you just don’t know how to help or be there for them, properly.
i know people sometimes don’t even know how to respond or what to say when it comes to miscarriages– but even just a text that says you’re thinking of them or that you’re sending love is a good start. even if i wasn’t in the mood to respond to texts, seeing an outpouring of love in my messages from family and friends meant so much to me.
so if you’re not sure if you should reach out or not, reach out. support is so crucial to get through it. and if you’re wanting to get her something to show her you care, i thought it could be helpful to share what i appreciated most or what i think would have made me feel loved, from my own personal experience.
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DIY play kitchen dinnerware
this post is in partnership with sculpey
arlos play kitchen has been one of his longest running fave things to play with (so i’m so relieved because it took me sooo long), so gifting him accessories for his kitchen are always a hit. he has tons of things to cook with but not “serving” pieces, so i thought some mini dinnerware would be a perfect addition to his kitchen, and i wanted to make them all different colors because he loves everything to be rainbow these days.
sculpey air-dry clay has a really easy to smooth texture, and it’s so soft and pliable right out of the package so you don’t have to sit and condition it for a while like with polymer clay. air-dry clay is also super convenient if you want to craft with kids at school or outside since you don’t have to worry about baking it.
and i love that you can work with it like real pottery clay (scoring, adding water, etc)– luckily i did pottery classes a few years ago so i did ok with it, but i think it’s pretty easy for anyone to use! sculpey air-dry clay comes in white and terra-cotta color but YOU CAN COLOR IT too– all you have to do is add oil paint and knead it till it’s incorporated. i would definitely try that next time because it seems even easier than painting.
k now i’ll show you how i made his little mini pottery!
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home tour : ashley hosmers cheerful (and fragrant) abode
i love following ashley— she is cheeky, honest and FREAKING passionate about candles. like really passionate haha. she has actually taught me a ton about proper candle care and so therefore i am forever indebted to her. following her feels like taking to a friend and i felt like her friend pretty instantaneously! her home is for sure an extension of her fun personality and feels so her. i hope you enjoy it as much as i do!
tell us about you and what you do!
I’m Ashley, I live in LA with my husband Matty and our dog Mia. For my job I run email and influencer marketing and in my spare time I review candles and decorate my home!
how long have you lived in your home?
We moved in February of 2020. We actually filmed an empty home tour that’s on my IGTV where I walk around talking about all the hosting we’ll do in our home. We have yet to host anyone haha.
how many sq feet is your home?
1700
rent/own?
rent
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our interior define couch : a review and FAQ
always getting so many questions on my couch so i thought it would be helpful to have EVERYTHING in one place!!! and thank you for sending your questions so that i hopefully don’t miss anything you might be curious about!
we got the couch 3 years ago, when we went to the interior define showroom, i actually had another couch in mind. this couch was so big and i was just like oh thats a really big couch cool, but then we sat on it and we quickly realized it was our favorite. little baby arlo loved it the most too. since then, i’ve seen a ton of people on instagram get this couch so not to be like hey i started the trend butttt well i never saw it before the showroom.
all the basic info
it’s basically two long deep sofas put together, one has an arm and one is armless. they’re secured together on the underside with hardware.
model name: jasper
color: wheat — cross weave (kid/pet friendly fabric)
base finish: natural oak – solid wood rail
one long, deep armless sofa and one long, deep one arm sofa right
size of each sofa: 72″ x 48″my thoughts after 3 years of living with our couch
look wise i still love the sofa. it’s modern but also feels like it won’t go out of style anytime soon. comfort/size wise as well. the first week we got the couch delivered i was for sure a little nervous i went way too large, but once you get used to it — we may never go back. normal couches feel so tiny and cramped now haha.
the fabric has held up well (i’ll talk more about the cleaning care below) but it does pill, the back down cushions do need a lot of TLC to look good, but i’m not sure i would prefer foam because i like how squishy they are now. overall, i’m really happy with the couch and i do recommend it!
what fill is it?
the bottom cushions are their standard foam and the back cushions are down.
is that a pet/stain/child friendly fabric?
it is — when we got our sofa they only had a few options for stain friendly fabrics, now they have tons!! i actually wanted a lighter beige color but we went with this light grey. people always ask about having a white sofa and i’m confused because it’s very much a light grey!
what are exact dimensions?
120″ across
72″ at its deepest
17″ seat height
32″ heighthave you removed covers to wash?
no, i actually sort of didn’t realize you could for so long. they have zippers and apparently you can remove to clean!
how do you clean it?
for small spills, i actually just use a wet towel and rub out the spill before then i fan (spread) out the water with the towel, because if i skip that step the water spot is usually visible which is really lame. i’ve tried using gentle cleaners, or even just soap and everything seems to show, so i just stick to water.
i’ve had it professionally cleaned, but it’s expensive and if you have deep stains, they may not even come out. for serious stains, you can also just replace the cushion covers from interior define directly, and the prices for both are basically equivalent.
honestly for the price you pay someone to come clean sofas and rugs, it feels worth it to maybe invest in a product like this and be able to do it way more often. i don’t own one but i’d love to hear from you if you do!
does it pill?
yes, the cross weave is tightly woven so it’s mean to avoid snagging and pilling, but it does still pill slightly, i’ve definitely had worse. it’s manageable because i sporadically use my fabric shaver and it really helps a ton, it’s something you can do while watching tv too haha
does gid like it since he’s tall?
he likes the depth obviously, but with the lower profile back, he stacks pillows behind him to keep his head supported.
is it comfortable without a head rest? do you wish back was higher?
i’ve been asked about the low height of the back often, and i would say because ours is against the wall and we’re able to prop up against pillows it’s been fine, if your couch was away from the wall i’m not sure how comfortable it would be.
do you like how deep it is?
i love it because i’m one of those people who always likes to have my legs up even when i’m in a chair, so this way they can always be up.
do you mind having no arm rests?
i don’t, because the couch is so deep i like being able to easily scoot/crawl off either side. i’m never really sitting on the edges either, so it doesn’t bother me!
is it a couch or is it really just two beds?
yeah basically two beds haha. who doesn’t want beds all over their house?
do the back pillows get lumpy? how often do you fluff the cushions?
yes, they’re always lumpy after we sit on them, no matter what. in order to look nice they must ALWAYS be zhuzhed. obviously with super long down cushions like these, it’s inevitable.
it’s an annoying task but like i said i like that they’re actually cozy cushions so i don’t think i would change them.
is it firm or soft?
the bottom cushions are firmer than the back cushions, but i wouldn’t call them firm. they’re still pretty foamy, just much more structured.
would you buy it again?
i think i would! i still really like the sofa and have no plans to swap it (just hopefully it fits in our future living room if we ever move)
how was your experience working with interior define?
it was super pleasant. the showroom was a really good experience and even baby arlo had fun. the salespeople were so helpful and patient with us while we took hours to decide haha.
how long did it take to come?
this was the hardest part, it took months!! i probably checked the progress like 50 times on their site, but when it finally arrived it was like xmas morning haha.
is it weird to sit on since its so deep?
it definitely takes getting used to. i love that i can plop down with my computer anywhere on the couch and it’s like a big giant surface for me to have my legs up.
how do you get off of it?
if you’re in the middle and you’re small like me and arlo, you sort of have to crawl off, or you slide out to the edge and plant your feet down hahah.
do they slide apart?
nope! they have hardware on the underside so they stay together well.
know of any good dupes?
i would say this is the closest i’ve seen! but this one is a similar look with the wood base.
what would be your second choice for couch?
i haven’t shopped for a couch for a few years, but i rounded up some really nice ones for you, some similar and some not!
west elm
newport l-shaped sectional
west elm
Harmony Modular 3-Piece Sectional
crate & barrel
Gather 3-Piece Sectional Sofa
pottery barn
jake upholstered bumper sectional
what do you not like about it?
like i said above, if they had had more pet/kid friendly fabrics back when we bought our sofa — i may have gone with a little bit of a lighter/more beige toned fabric, maybe something thats a little softer. the cross weave is a fine, standard type fabric, but i wouldn’t call it soft.
the only other issue is how often we have to fluff the back pillows. obviously this is because they’re so long, but i don’t see how that would really be improvable because i like the design with the long pillows like they are. maybe if it was more of a down/foam hybrid filling?
how strong is the base?
feels really sturdy. we have had the whole family on it, made dozens of forts, arlo jumps on it, seems to be fine!!
does poppy complain about it?
sure does, but what does he not complain about hahah — he calls it the “sleep inducing couch” but also i’ve seen him fall asleep on every single couch he’s ever sat on so his opinion doesn’t count for much!
i also decided to include some photos of us actually on the couch to give you a sense of the size too. time for a little trip down memory lane!
this was the first day it arrived and i was like wow our house feels tiny suddenly!! haha
ok sorry for the photo dump, so many memories on this sofa!! i hope this helped sway you, good luck couch shopping and let me know if you have any additional questions.
sources
couch / coffee table alternatives / wall lamp / rug (similar)
large striped pillows (similar) / round cushion
beige pillow (similar) / striped lumbar (similar) / decorative knot
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a month of using blue apron and some FAQ
this post is in partnership with blue apron
after a year of living at home through a pandemic– the food anxiety, the frantic midnight grocery shopping just trying to secure a delivery window, the constant cooking and never ending meal planning, i kinda have NO CLUE why we didn’t try a meal kit box sooner. i’ve used them sporadically in the past for one box at a time, but this was my first time doing a few boxes in a row.
anyone who knows me or follows me closely knows i am a total creature of habit when it comes to cooking, i pretty much make the same handful of dishes because it’s nice for me to not have to come up with new ideas, especially on weekdays. so i am so excited to have used blue apron for the past month because i’ve made so many new things i would normally never even think to try making, and we’ve all really enjoyed it too!!
since you’re probably well aware of blue apron by now, they deliver chef created recipes with super easy to follow instructions and pre-portioned responsibly sourced ingredients.
it has been FREAKING BREEZY to not have to worry about meal planning or grocery shopping the last few weeks, i can’t even express that enough. i’ve had to shop for essentials and that’s it, and it’s just felt like such a weight lifted off my back. to not have to even think about what i’m making for dinner has actually felt like self care after the year we’ve had. i know this all sounds dramatic but i guess i am dramatic lol. Read More
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where i shop for cute kids clothes
tbh i always wanted a daughter so i could pick out cute little dresses and onesies but i actually have loved dressing arlo over the years!! shopping for boys is definitely different and can be way more challenging. for some reason whenever i’m shopping for kids clothes, i always notice how much cuter the girls options are than the boys. it’s so weird how obvious it is!! i have no problem buying things for arlo from the girls sections, i just wish stores didn’t seem so geared towards exclusively girls.
even though he’s 3.5, i still only have arlo wear soft pants and leggings, i’m really not into the typical trousers they sell for little boys, so i usually have him wear leggings from girls sections (i just have to size up, maybe only because arlo is especially tall).
i love dressing him in basics because they’re timeless and gender neutral, and you can mix and match! here are a bunch of favorite shops, i didn’t link to specific clothing since they’ll all sell out eventually. this post is to just help guide you there!
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home tour : cándida’s wohlgemuths dreamy venice bungalow
i have followed cándida for a few years now and her style is impeccable! she and her husband started an interior design firm recently and i would toootally hire them. i am obsessed with watching all the updates they’ve made on their own home and their client projects. ESPECIALLY that plaster fireplace that they made from scratch!!!!! Read More