Ten Things: Volume 02

On my mind lately (May 2023)

Here are six random things on my mind lately!  

1 // Instagram

This year, I’ve felt myself shifting away from Instagram, mostly because I feel like it’s no longer the place it used to be. There’s just so much influencing and advertising going on, and the algorithm is constantly changing so the content you get to see is just all over the place (and so many reels!).

I still get inspired by what I see on Instagram, but I feel the scales shifting against Instagram for me personally. It’s actually a large reason why this newsletter started, and I find myself saving to write my thoughts here instead of posting them on Instagram.

Anyone else experience a similar shift in your relationship with social media?

2 // White eyelet top

I got this white top from Loft (on clearance!) and y’all I love it. I want to wear it everyday. It’s cute, comfy and so light - perfect for summer!

3 // Sharing online

Last week, to celebrate our second wedding anniversary, my husband and I had a kid-free afternoon date, which included a stop at Barnes & Noble (we’re both readers and learners!).

I picked up this book to skim and ended up reading like 70% of the book in one sitting and then finished it later this week. It’s basically an inside look at a fashion influencer’s life (one of the OG fashion bloggers, Damsel in Dior) and it took me back to my younger days when I dreamed of being a fashion editor or fashion designer in high school.

But the book also spoke to some things I’ve been wrestling with over the last year, particularly around how much I share and write online. I feel like we’ve been conditioned to share so much of our lives online, and for some people, a life lived online works.

But, as much as I love to connect with other women and share what I’m learning, lately, I’ve become more guarded with what I share online. I honestly don’t know why - maybe it’s part of becoming a mom? 

Anyhow, it’s a tension I’ve been wrestling with lately, and reading this book reminded me that most of the time, we truly don’t know what’s going on in an influencer’s life and not everything is always what it appears. 

This post by Ashlee Gad captures this tension so well - go read it! 

4 // How short life is

My uncle passed away unexpectedly last week at the age of 56. This uncle and aunt and cousins were the ones I was the closest to, and ever since we got the news, it’s like the world stopped. I honestly still can’t process it. The funeral was surreal.

And now I feel like I’m grappling with the reminder of how short life is and re-evaluating what truly matters. It’s making me question so much and making many things seem so trivial and not important.

4 // Writing mode

Totally random, but lately, I’ve had more writing projects at work (which I love!), and I’m finding that I do my best focused work walking on a treadmill at my desk or in a coffee shop.

Here’s the under desk treadmill we have - it is such a good way to get steps in if you have a desk job! 

5 // On my wish list

I tried on these two dresses at Altar’d State recently and fell in love with both of them. But, I can’t quite justify the price tag, so I’m just admiring them from afar.

This dress is perfect for summer - so light and pretty (and pregnancy and postpartum friendly!) - basically the holy grail of dresses.

If you need a special occasion dress, get this one. So flattering and beautiful.

6 // Community

You must listen to this podcast episode! It talks about how we’re not meant to do life alone, and how as Christians we can do better with community.

One of the tips in the episode is to let your kids play in the front yard because it’s a prime opportunity to connect with your neighbors. And that is so true! 

We spend a ton of time outside with Levi - most of it in our front yard, in our neighborhood playgrounds, or walking around our subdivision. Levi loves to come up to people and “chat,” so we’ve met more of our neighbors since Levi started walking than we had in the year and a half prior to that!

Just being out there and making yourself available makes such a big difference, and now it’s got me brainstorming how to deepen some of these relationships with our neighbors (even though many of them are in much different life seasons than our family is!).

What’s on your mind lately?

Until next time,

YPS

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