Happy Friday! I’m so excited to be writing today’s life lately post for some reason. I think moving it to a monthly series made me look forward to it more. I also really loved your Q&A questions, answered below.

Before I get into my monthly update, I want to share that I added a bunch of items to Poshmark yesterday and you can follow my closet here. I’m going to be donating most of the proceeds to a local organization that supports pregnant teens and their babies which I’ve gotten involved with through my new friend and organizer Stefanie. I’m only taking out a small portion to pay for all of the bins and baskets we bought for the closet she helped me organize. I’m selling a bunch of gently used (some never worn!) items that I either don’t love anymore or that don’t fit properly so go take a look.

The last month has been a major whirlwind because Anel opened his new fitness studio and we’ve been working really hard to make it perfect, handle PR, coordinate events for clients and press, and pay off what we’ve invested into it. Opening a physical space is like having another kid, I swear. It has been a lot more work than we ever could have anticipated and we’re basically both walking zombies lately!

In other exciting news, my Dudley Stephens launch is coming soon!!! My fleeces (the color is still a secret) will launch on October 22nd so mark your calendars. We had so much fun at the photo shoot for it, and it was fascinating to see what goes into an e-comm shoot for a fashion brand. I’ve only worked in food and this was a whole different thing! Here is a little behind the scenes peek if you missed it.

On the home front, Amalia is going through the most amazing phase ever where she’s happy and laughing constantly (well most of the time anyway). She’s more loving than she’s ever been, wanting to cuddle and snuggle, and I’m in heaven. I know that all phases come to an end with kiddos (even the good ones) so I’m cherishing every minute of this one. It has been basically a 180 from a few weeks ago, but I have a feeling these ups and downs are going to be our new norm in toddlerhood.

Have a great weekend!

The White Company Sweater c/o / Allbirds Sneakers

Around the Web

How to be an informed voter. My friend Jess has been creating a ton of amazing content around the upcoming midterm elections, and this post was especially helpful.

Are Allbirds worth the hype? Anel and I had been talking about buying Allbirds sneakers for a while, and finally we decided to just go for it… and got matching ones, natch. I went with the women’s wool runners in grey (pictured above) and can say that they really are worth the hype. You can wash them so you don’t need to wear socks which makes it easy to slip them on and off for daycare drop offs or walking the dog. And I’ve since found out that they make Smallbirds for kids so as soon as Amalia fits into 5T (in the next few months), she’ll be matching us too!

How to use oregano oil for acne. Um ok, I had no idea that oregano oil (which I choke down whenever I get sick) helped with acne too. You can take it orally or use it topically to clear up your skin. Read Grace’s post with all of the tips. As someone who has acne-prone skin, I’m so excited to actually test this out. Have any of you tried oregano oil for acne?

Everything you need to know about CBD oil. Speaking of oils, The Everygirl published a great piece on CBD oil, what it does, how to use it, and so much more. Whenever I’ve tried to take it orally, it has the opposite effect on me (it makes my mind race uncontrollably), but when I’ve used it in a cream for muscle pain, it’s like magic.

Floral shirt. Dark floral patterns are everywhere lately, so I jumped on the trend and bought this cute blouse from J.Crew Factory and ended up wearing it twice this week! I got so many compliments in person and on Instagram that I had to share it again here.

Slow cooker meatballs. My friend Eva had a dinner party earlier this week and cooked us the most delicious meatballs. I was shocked when she told me they were made in a slow cooker! I found the recipe on her blog  and plan to make them for my family this weekend.

Slow cooker applesauce. In other slow cooker news, Amalia and I made this applesauce last weekend and loved it. I’m a total weirdo and love applesauce even though I’m not a two year old child. I eat it for dessert almost every night and Anel makes fun of me constantly. So for all of my other applesauce connoisseurs, trust me home made is so much better!

Plaid scarf. I know it’s a little early to be talking plaid scarves but I have this one from two years ago and they brought it back! I always get 8 million questions about it when I wear it and it sells out quickly every year.

The small things we avoid spending money on. Nodded my head the whole time I was reading this post from Cupcakes & Cashmere.

Holiday party dress. Look at the back of this dress. No explanation needed. However, dress definitely needed.

October Q&A

1. How do you find time to work out without making excuses?
Having someone holding me accountable is key. I hate working out… don’t tell my trainer husband (JK he knows!) but when I haven’t paid for a class or I don’t have a trainer waiting for me, forget it. I always skip it. Also having a dog that needs a big walk everyday forces me to get out and move my body, even when I don’t want to. So long story short, accountability is key. Even if you workout at home or by yourself at a gym, set up a system with a friend or group of friends to hold each other accountable. Answering to someone else makes me more likely to do it!

2. How do you/did you handle making big work mistakes?
When I worked at a traditional job, it was almost easier to handle work mistakes. I could privately freak out in the bathroom about accidentally sending out the wrong marketing email to tens of thousands of people (yep that happened once) and then suck it up and apologize profusely to my boss. Now? I don’t have anyone to answer to but myself and I’m a lot harder on me than any boss has ever been… even the toughest ones.

I think the key is to own your mistake, apologize, and do whatever you can to make it right. Work really hard to gain back the trust of your coworkers, clients, or whoever was affected most by your mistake. If you try to cover it up or blame someone else, that will come to bite you in the ass in the long run.

3. What are Amalia’s favorite toys right now?
Oooh good one.

• Nesting blocks: She got one set as a gift and I bought her another set because she was so into them. We stack them up and then she thinks it’s hilarious to knock them down. She also likes to put the smaller blocks into the bigger ones. They can keep her occupied for a long time.
• Books: My child is a book worm and has been since she was an infant. She likes books better than toys. She always has and, I hope, always will. Her current favorites are Eek! Halloween!, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Snuggle Puppy, and All Aboard! California, that my sister bought her in SF.
• Block set: I bought this bucket of blocks at Carter’s on a whim and am so glad I did because she’s obsessed with carrying the bucket around like a purse, playing with the blocks, and putting the blocks through the holes on the top of it. I put all of the really small ones that she could potentially choke on
• Rocking horse: My friend Stef bought this PB Kids rocking horse/bunny for us at my baby shower and I remember thinking that Amalia would never be big enough to ride it, but sure enough she’s big enough and thinks it’s hilarious to rock back and forth on her rocking bunny.
• Anything in my kitchen: The joke among parents really is true… Give your kid some pots and pans and they won’t need any toys! Once I discovered that there was endless fun in the kitchen, it was a game changer. I can now clean the entire kitchen while she plays with a French press or a set of plastic mixing bowls. She loves measuring cups too!

4. Are you thinking about holiday gift guides yet?
You bet I am! I have a list of gift guides to create and my gift guide page will be going live on November 16th. I’m already working on it, but send over any recs or guides that you would want to see.

5. What do you do to stay motivated as a mom when you just want to sit and do nothing?
This is maybe my favorite question ever because it’s so honest and I’ve been there so so so many times. There are those moments when I’m physically and emotionally wiped from a long day and Amalia is in a mood and I just want to lay down with some bad TV and no responsibilities. We’ve all been there as moms. But I have a voice in my head that constantly reminds me that it isn’t just me anymore. My daughter and her needs have to come first.

That said, I believe that self care is not only important but essential to being a good mom. So I make it a priority every single week to do something for me when Amalia is at daycare. It might be a manicure or an hour of reading a book at a coffee shop (literally just did this for the first time and it was amazing). I recently realized that I make time for work, I make time for Amalia, I make time for my husband, but making time for myself always comes last. So I do it when I have the space to do it, and that helps me to be more energized and present in those crazy mom moments.

That was a long winded answer but the short answer is: Take care of yourself when you can! That will keep you more motivated on tough days.

Photo by Julia Dags.