No. 83: What to Read, Watch, Eat & Wear in May

MAY! HOW?

April was a humbling month with a relentless call for surrender. I’m not being dramatic when I say I ended this month on my knees, hands in the sky, empty of myself. I was reminded once again that I am unable to manufacture my own comfort, my own timeline, my own will. It’s helpful to have this opportunity every month to document a reflection because I don’t know if I would pay close attention to the beautiful parts in the midst of the challenges. It’s easy to notice to the final feeling—the spice left on your tongue—without remembering it was actually a complex bite with sweetness and depth, too. Just because the habanero lingers doesn’t mean the sweet cream wasn’t there.

Maybe I’m just hungry, but there’s something to it.

The good was really good. I read even more than I did in March which is something I didn’t expect just looking at the schedule. I can always tell when I’m in a great reading zone when I want to use words like “perhaps” in actual real-life conversation and y’all, we’re there. O and I had multiple leave-the-house dates which doesn’t always happen in a month and we made so much progress on some projects. May holds the Met, the start of summer, Z’s fourth birthday, our thirteen year anniversary and I won’t speak a single word including the letters m, o, v or e lest I spook it. Things are already lookin’ up.

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1 cozy blanket | 2 Atomic Habits | 3 Vitamin C gentle scrub | 4 my dream suit | 5 BA Test Kitchen glory days | 6 ReMarkable 2 | 7 sweatpant “jeans” | 8 W&P bento box | 9 Hokas | 10 sourdough starter jar.

No. 74: What to Read, Watch, Eat & Wear in March

No. 79: What to Read, Watch, Eat & Wear in April

If my foot wasn’t already pushin’ it by still claiming to be a size 12 after five pregnancies, I’d be all over these shoes. I kid you not, the secrets hidden within the fabric of my shoes are absolutely not for public consumption—viewer discretion advised, you know? This article is for those of you with dainty Cinderella feet.

I can’t wait to make these smoky cauliflower enchiladas for O.

“We start out thinking happiness is natural. We grow to believe happiness is unachievable." Tim Keller with the beautiful, harsh truth as always in this sermon.

I genuinely can’t remember if I’ve shared this brush yet or not, but last week I had exactly fifteen minutes to do Oshiolema’s hair before he had to leave for the airport with O. In fifteen minutes, I did a quick scalp scrub and condition and brushed through his curls. If you didn’t audibly gasp, I forgive you—you’ve just never seen me detangle his hair before. This brush has turned one of my most dreaded tasks into something I genuinely don’t mind and that is miraculous. It’s not a stretch to say it’s cut 70% of my detangling time.

What to Read:

Last month, I read Funny Story which I enjoyed so much. There are a few very descriptive steamy scenes you can skip over should you choose without compromising the story whatsoever. And yes, I’m still working my way through the very important and incredible Anxious Generation, but in a season of high anxiety myself, I’m reaching for just about anything else. May feels like the time I’m ready to dip back into thrillers and mysteries (only because I’m me) before leaning heavily into beach reads and more effortless stories for the summer. My kids will be out of school next week which I always find opens my reading calender up a bit more since I can read alongside them during their daily reading time. Here’s to a bookish month!

What to Eat:

May is far too similar April to create a new menu so refer back to last month’s Favorites Email to make and enjoy the most stunning Spring menu of all time.

What to Wear:

You know by now that I typically keep my wardrobe neutral with the addition of a few constant colors (navy, baby blue, army green and a nudey pink) and every now and then, I love to add an extra color to the mix. In the winter, I’m always drawn to bright red. In the early months (ugly winter) orange makes me extra happy. But May? May just screams for butter yellow. I can also argue the case for bright yellow and that this would extend into June as well, but when the kids finish school I’m catapulted into summer mode and white becomes all I want to wear. A soft butter feels like contrast somehow and paired with baby blue, white, denim and gold the color sings more than ever.

You know I’ll still be wearing my lightweight sweats that look like jeans, a new favorite white top I couldn’t get enough of in April, the tee that is so lightweight it feels like nothing at all while still covering my arms and I’ll whip out the cult classic linen shirt I own in three colors at least weekly. My favorite H&M linen shirts get put to work, there will be an inevitable resurgence of all my Dissh dresses and the forever viral Amazon athletic shorts will shine as the Momiform staple they truly are.

Some things I have my eye on this month that I don’t already own:

this black and gold sandal (which I’m afraid is a knock-off of my actual current dream sandal but the price reflects it) tops the list. The waterproof tote has been in my cart for weeks. The hemp boxer and shirt set is everything I want to wear this month. The necklace and earrings are splurgey and non-essential but I can’t stop thinking of them worn seperately with a simple white tee or tank. The brown Mango sandals are so effortlessly cool and elevated that they sold out instantly, but these are a great option. Not pictured but eyeing hard: The Linen Way-High Drape Pant in Bone and these perfect sandals in black or (and?) white

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I know many of you only have this letter to enjoy each month and I hope it brought you the delight you’re here for. O and I will be doing another Q&A so you can start sending in questions now! Lord knows everything out of that man’s mouth is a surprise to all of us.

Have a beautiful weekend, friends.