A Cold and Misty Morning

We woke up at Holiday House to gray skies and light, mist-like rain the other morning and, even though the weather said it was supposed to be a beautiful sunny day, we still absolutely loved it. I’ve talked about our love for overcast weather out here before, and this was the creme de la creme of cozy sweater weather. There’s a special kind of magic to cloudy weather, isn’t there? Weather has the power to alter our moods, and while I can’t imagine liking rainy, drab weather every single day, we both enjoy it (especially at HH) from time to time.

With the pine trees and the rainy skies, we both agreed it reminded us a little of being in the PNW. We went to Seattle with my brother back in 2016 and fell in love with it. Hoping to go back one day!!

I love this time of year for so many reasons, but right now I’m loving it the most for the sense of renewal it’s bringing to our family. Being at Holiday House and roaming the land while it’s warm and sunny is a new experience for us, one that we wake up and look forward to every day.

We haven’t ran out of trees to climb or paths to wander just yet. It’s all new and exciting and hopefully just the beginning of many days spent out here.

It’s finally been sunny the last few days after almost a week-straight of rain, which, to be honest, we’ve needed. The grass is so green here and our house in town actually has a few blades of grass growing in the back yard, which is amazing because normally it’s just a big mud pit.

Speaking of mud pit, we have a GIGANTIC one on our land right now. We’re in the process of having ponds built on our property and it’s created so. much. mud. Which, of course, the kids love to play in and get dirty, and we’re doing our best to let them do that. Not every day, but on the days they do get muddy, we plan for it and bring a change of clothes and towels.

Though it’s fun to splash in the water and the mud, we both can’t wait for the day when it’s just green and lush and fresh(er) water for us all to enjoy. Hoping at least by the end of the year, if not sooner!!

We love a cold and misty morning, but right now all five of our animals are outside on the hill and the kids are running around playing and and the sun is shining and the wind is blowing and it’s 70 degrees and maybe this is what heaven looks like? Who knows? But it’s nice. And it’s good.

And it’s so, so welcome. 

6 Tips to Actually Get a Good Night’s Sleep+

This post is sponsored by Natrol®, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Ever since we became parents to our three foster kiddos almost two years ago (!), we understand now (more than ever probably!) the importance of a good night’s sleep. If we don’t get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night, our entire day seems off: we feel lethargic, we get headaches, we just feel…blah. Do you know what I mean?

The key to getting a good night’s sleep is creating a sleep routine, and part of having a successful sleep routine is a regulated circadian rhythm, which is the body’s internal clock that manages that delicate balance between sleep and wakefulness. Your body’s natural melatonin production regulates part of the circadian rhythm, but when life gets in the way (and by life I mean work, family, friends, deadlines, etc.), our melatonin cycles can be thrown off. We’ve been trying to train our bodies to sleep better through the night, but how?

March is Sleep Awareness Month and Daylight Saving Time begins on March 14, so we thought it would be fun to share some tips and solutions from Natrol® for how you can get a better night’s sleep and create your own sleep routine.

1. Create a Sleep Routine: Establishing a consistent sleep-wake schedule helps regulate your circadian rhythms and increases the quality of sleep.

2. Avoid Bright Screens 60 Minutes Before Bedtime: Exposure to bright LED lights such as smartphones, laptops and TV screens before bed can interfere with your body’s natural release of melatonin.

3. Consider Taking a Melatonin Supplement: When you need a little extra help, Natrol Melatonin can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer so you wake up rested.†

4. Create a Calm, Dark Bedroom Oasis: A noise-free and dark bedroom environment can help you sleep better throughout the night. Mask noise pollution with calming sounds or ear plugs (PJ’s fave) and block out disruptive light with darkening curtains or a sleep mask.

5. If You Have a Partner, Switch Sides of the Bed Every Few Months: It’s true! PJ and I started doing this a couple of years back and it’s been so beneficial. Sometimes a small change like that makes all the difference.

6. Exercise Daily: Walking as little as 10 minutes a day can help improve sleep quality.

Dr. Mike Dow and Jason Tartick partnered with Natrol to share their personalized “Hit the Sack” pack  (how sweet is that?!) that was filled with a bunch of helpful sleep products and tips, including Natrol Melatonin, to help us and our family create a sleep routine since we’re losing an hour of sleep beginning March 14! Right now I am obsessed with the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray they gave us and these Natrol-branded purple socks because yes, they are as comfortable as they look. And how cool is the night reading light (still reading and loving this book)? Oh, and I can’t forget the Fitbit! I have wanted one for years, and I’m so excited to finally try it out!

Sometimes we just need a little extra help going to sleep and staying asleep. We talk about it all the time with each other - how our minds are constantly racing right before bed with questions like, “Did older brother drink enough water today” or “If little sis spit out all of her vegetables at dinner tonight, how many will she have to eat tomorrow to make up for it?” along with never-ending thoughts on what we have to do the next day, what materials PJ needs for the house he’s renovating, and so much more. I’m getting exhausted just thinking about all of this, tbh. So, in short, we need help sometimes, which is why we feel so confident taking Natrol Melatonin as a natural, drug-free sleep products.

Ever since we’ve been taking Natrol Melatonin adult gummies, we’ve been falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.† We don’t really have trouble falling asleep anymore. The importance and impact of a good night’s sleep can not be overstated enough. You’d be surprised by how much better you’ll feel during the day when you create and stick to a healthy sleep routine.

When describing the product, they say that:

“Natrol® Melatonin is the #1 drug-free sleep aid brand in America^ and produces a special nighttime sleep aid that assists with occasional sleeplessness.† It helps to establish normal sleep patterns to give you a more restful sleep.† Natrol Melatonin Fast Dissolve comes in strawberry flavor that tastes great and can be taken anytime, anywhere, no water needed. It’s fast-acting and helps those that have a hard time with swallowing vitamins and supplements. Additionally, Natrol Melatonin comes in great tasting, strawberry flavored Melatonin gummies. Natrol Melatonin Gummies are non-GMO, gelatin-free, and vegetarian.”

Natrol Melatonin and Kids Melatonin are available at local drug stores, select grocers, warehouse clubs and online retailers. Click here for an exclusive $2.50 off any one Natrol Melatonin product through March 21!

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.

*Melatonin is a solution for occasional sleeplessness

---

A huge thank you to Natrol® for sponsoring today’s blog post, and thank you for supporting the brands that support our small business. 

Yay or Nay: Coffee at Night

For the last few months, we’ve been getting into the habit of…

Having a cup of coffee at night after the kids go to bed. Do you do that, too? I was only averaging one to two cups of coffee a day last year, but here lately I’m always exhausted at the end of the day (imagine that). The only problem is, there’s always more work to do, and when the kiddos are asleep, that’s usually the most opportune time to get it done.

Both of our moms always look at us like we’re crazy if the topic comes up, telling us they wouldn’t be able to fall asleep at all if they had coffee at 9p. I don’t know how, but we both agree we almost sleep better when we have a cup before bed. For me, it gives me just the right amount of energy I need to accomplish what I have left on my to do list (fold clothes, clean the kitchen, write and edit posts, watch an episode or two on Netflix) and then when it’s time for bed, usually a few hours later, I’m all set.

There’s something ritualistic about it, too. I love the idea of, as I do in the mornings, sipping on something warm while working. I’m actually doing that right now as I write this post while the birds are chirping (soooo good to hear them again!) and it’s still dark outside. It’s a comforting feeling, and I think we could all use a bit more comfort in our lives, however we can get it.

The reason for last night’s coffee was because it was 9p and I was borderline too tired to relax on the couch with PJ and watch “The One” on Netflix (so good- have you seen it?). We relish this time together at the end of the day when it’s just the two of us, and I really need that “us” time, so on the coffee maker went and the warm, familiar smell of coffee beans filled the kitchen until the “beep, beep, beep” let me know it was time to sip, enjoy, and relax.

So that’s that on that. Do you drink coffee at night, too? Or would you be up for hours?

Is This Where We're Headed?

Good afternoon!

I think it’s safe to say we’ve stayed at Holiday House more in the last few weeks than at our actual house in town. Is this how it’s going to be from now on? Will this house one day be a more permanent stay for us? Is this where we’re headed? I don’t think any of us would mind if it was. We all love it out there, maybe even more than we thought we would (though I would argue PJ has always known what time out here would mean for our family).

We wake up in the mornings to the sun coming over the mountain and shining through our windows. Our bedroom, the kids’ bedroom, and our living room are all east-facing rooms, so they get blinded with light in the first part of the day, which we’re taking into account as we renovate Holiday House. We love how waking up every day out there feels new, fresh, relaxing.

We spend our days exploring the land, climbing trees, playing in mud puddles, walking (and running) over the hills. PJ has been working so hard every day mowing and clearing overgrown brush, cutting dead limbs down, planting trees, and SO MUCH MORE. I can’t even begin to tell you what all he’s doing out there because it’s honestly too much for me to keep up with. That man, y’all. He’s the hardest worker I know.

Our animals love it out there, too. They have the freedom to run around and get the fresh air and space they just don’t get in town. I tell PJ all the time how much I love to watch our dogs run all over, especially our big dogs. Alyster is getting adjusted to the house as well. We don’t really let him outside there like we do at our house in town (in fear the big dogs might actually eat him), but he is settling in to the house and I think is finally starting to feel more comfortable. And I think that’s what we both want for every member of our family, both big and little: for them to feel comfortable.

Happy Tuesday, friends. xo

House of Gucci

Beyond excited about this!! Adam Driver and Lady GaGa in the same film? Yes, please.

(pic via here)

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

The other day, my mom told me about the most beautiful, touching book.

She couldn’t stop talking about it, going on and on about how she read it cover to cover twice and how much she thought I would love it. It’s called The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse; have you read it? I was immediately drawn to the beautiful illustrations, but the heartfelt words and lessons are what really make this book a must read.

She let me borrow the book for a night and this past weekend at Holiday House, after the kiddos went to bed and PJ passed out early on the couch, I popped some popcorn, poured some wine, and read it in just a few minutes. It’s pretty short, but it’s also one of those books that you don’t want to put down. The introduction points out that you can start at the end, in the middle, or in the beginning; the messages will come through all the same.

It’s filled with uplifting life lessons that are important to know and remember know matter how old (or young) you are and no matter where you’re at in life. If you’re going through a rough patch, may you find comfort in exchanges between the characters, like:

“Sometimes I worry you’ll all realize I'm ordinary,” said the boy.

“Love doesn’t need you to be extraordinary.” said the mole.

How beautiful (and true) is that? The author, Charlie Macksey, is also the illustrator, and “began as a cartoonist for The Spectator and a book illustrator for Oxford University Press before being taken on by galleries” according to his website. Elizabeth Gilbert gushes, “The world that I am required to inhabit is this one. But the world that I long to inhabit is the one that Charlie Mackesy has created.” Can’t say I disagree with her.

This book would make a great gift for any occasion, even if just to let someone know you’re thinking of them. My 30th birthday is coming up (!) and my mom said if I’m lucky, I might just get it for a birthday present. You’re never too old to receive birthday presents from your mom, right?

Good Morning from Holiday House

We packed everything up yesterday evening and drove out to Holiday House for the weekend! We woke up this morning to cold air and open skies as the sun was starting to peak out over the mountain. This is only the second time we’ve spent the night out here (to see our first weekend at HH, check out our new vlog premiering tomorrow!), but it’s the first morning we’ve woken up and actually been able to see the sun and the mountain! The last time it was too cloudy and foggy to see anything; which, I admit, has its own beauty to it. We both love an overcast, haunting atmosphere out here at the land, but there’s nothing quite like seeing the sunrise in all its glorious beauty first thing in the morning, is there?

PJ walked the property with the big dogs at his side while I stood at the top of the hill and took in this view. I was telling him, when we’re out here more permanently (whatever that may look like), I can picture doing yoga on the hill or sipping my morning coffee or whatever. It’s truly breathtaking. I hope we never get tired of or take it for granted, no matter how long we’re out here.

It’s late now and almost time for the kiddos to go to bed (this was supposed to be posted this morning!), so we’re off for the night. Here’s to many more mornings at Holiday House!!

Trolls Hair

As I was tucking little brother in last night, he began to play with my hair by running his fingers through it. He then proceeded to tell me: “Your hair is beeeeeeautiful. Like Trolls hair.” I laughed out loud. You hear that, people? I have Trolls hair. But he loves Trolls, so I’m taking it as a compliment :).

Just gonna leave that here. Have a great Friday!! xo