Some fun news
Plus: a hard stage, Easter dress roundup and handpicked by Nate
Hi! March is here! In Southern California, millions of tiny yellow flowers are popping up: bright gold nasturtiums, orangey golden poppies, butter-colored wood sorrel, big fat lemons (which, I know, are not a flower, but abundant and yellow nonetheless), and sunny freesias so fragrant they’ll knock you over.
Candidly, I’m in a hard stage of life. My friend Hattie and I were chatting last week and at one point I text-blurted, “I am mad at all the people who said having four kids is pretty much the same as having three.”
It’s not even close. It’s my dream come true, but sometimes I also feel like I’m going a little bit insane.
Everything is two things emerges as the theme here; I’m aggressively, excessively, obsessively in love with my kids, and I am depleted by waking up in the night and playing referee in the endless bickering. I feel more at home here than anywhere we’ve ever lived, and the rent and chores always catch up, no matter how hard I try to stay ahead of them. I love making photos for people, and I hate hustling to market my business. I’m grateful for my body and the babies it birthed, and I’m critical of its appearance and still haunted by my pregnancy losses.
Anxiety, exhaustion, and athazagoraphobia braid themselves down my back. Eyes fixed straight ahead toward the brilliant now, I try to be still and locate the shapes of joy: my baby’s “hi!,” citrus on the counter, organ practice, a circle of friends, my beloved partner.
I don’t have a neat and tidy ending. If you need to borrow Everything is two things, go right ahead.
And now for something a LITTLE LIGHTER!!!
fun news
Eeek! I’ve been waiting so long to share this:
My peony painted photograph is featured in Uppercase Magazine next month!
In 2019, I cut these peonies from my neighbor’s yard, arranged them, and photographed them on film. I printed the photo when we moved from Kansas City to Manhattan Beach and it hung in my kitchen for a few years. Eventually I was ready to replace it, but instead of tossing the print, I decided to paint it! I color matched acrylic paints to each shade on the print and turned it into a sort of paint-by-numbers situation. It took ages, but I loved every minute!
What about you? Are you into long term art projects? Would you ever paint a photo? I’d love to see what you’re working on. Share your link in the comments! Or you can always reply to this email :)
PS: can you spot one of these peonies in the Handpicked header?
today’s bouquet
Want to hang this in my front room: “I’ll be loving you forever!”
Drinking gallons of this and pounds of these when kids are in bed.
It’s me, hi, I’m a helper, it’s me. To all the helpers, I think Adam Grant was yelling this straight into our ears: You don’t owe me a favor.
Inspired by: SFGirlByBay’s old house.
Is it still exciting news if ninety-nine people have already shared it? This news, yes: Smitten Kitchen got a podcast!
A terrific guide to the hidden gems of Reddit.
Had no idea there was all this drama with dahlias…!
Kacey Musgraves curated a moodboard for Etsy and I am now deceased (via Rachel)
easter basket
A few springy finds, if you’re shopping for Easter:
Little girls’ Easter dresses: bunnies + chicks $92 // chambray bunnies $69 // stripes of spring $39 // vintage cotton $64 // very sparkly $44 // smocked rosebuds $54 // tulle-ips $44 // carrots $30 // don’t forget the free cash back
Wooden bunny family puzzle! (via Emily)
Animal-embroidered basket. Coral + Tusk is one of my favorite small shops, I keep this sweet pocket pillow on the chair by Mick’s crib.
handpicked by nate
Always a treat: curation from my husband/ best friend Nate!
Jason Kelce, center for the Philadelphia Eagles, officially hung up his cleats the other day. If you didn’t see his retirement speech, grab a box of tissues and check it out. It was awesome to see this incredibly talented football player be so open and emotional while talking about his 13-year career. Something this sport (and the world) could use some more of. I highly recommend watching all 40 minutes of it. One of my favorite parts is this clip about dads.
Speaking of fatherhood, being a dad is so fun, but being a dad at 4:30 am because your 5-year-old son thinks it is “morning” and is “ready to start the day” is a little less fun. So we bought this colorful clock to let him know when it’s not morning, almost morning, and is morning.
Actually, guy from A League of Their Own depicting the close-minded rampant sexism of the 1940’s, girls CAN play ball! And now they can play in this year’s edition of the video game MLB The Show. As a baseball fan, a video game player, a girl dad, and a feminist I absolutely love this new feature. Play ball!!!
Thanks Nate! More from Nate here and here and other guest curators here.
last thing
Most clicked link from last week: beautiful brain scans
Next week: a Deep Dive on the best pictures in kids’ books!
Readers today: 1,441
Grateful for you!!! xo
That painting literally took my breath away!!! What an amazing concept and the result turned out seriously amazing
This painting is STUNNING Alex. Like I want this in my home. So so beautiful! And amen to life with 4 kids - I am completely rocked all the time, stretched to the max, barely holding on. But also, so full of joy, love & anticipation. xoxo