How the hell are we in June already? It feels like only yesterday that I was sitting down and sharing with you guys my first post of this year, and here we are, almost halfway through the year already. With that said, May was bloody amazing. One of the best months of the year.
I feel like after a few rough weeks following my operation in April, I needed to have a month like May. One that could turn around the prospect of the rest of the year, and I feel like I am in the most amazing headspace to be going into the latter half of the year. With that said, it’s time for me to round up what I’ve been loving and share it with you guys.
THE BEAUTY BREAKDOWN
Would you believe me if I told you that I haven’t invested in a single new beauty item over the past month?
Don’t get me wrong, there have been a few items that I’ve replaced as I’ve run out of them, but there hasn’t been a new beauty release recently that I have found myself wanting to invest in. The only item that I am looking forward to getting my hands on when it finally gets released is the Rhode highlighting and bronzing sticks that have been teased. They are most certainly on my radar and I’ll be purchasing them the minute they land on the Sephora website.
THE FAMILY UPDATES
My son is almost two and I am not ok. He’s fucking fantsatic and even though I’m not going to hide the fact that being a full-time working mother has its difficulties, I am so beyond happy that most of the time, the hardships just go straight over my head.
He has this amazing personality that is out of this world. I know that all parents will think that about their children, so I know that what I am writing is completely biased. But, he is funny, kind and so polite. Each day, you can see a slice of something new that he has learnt and it’s blowing my mind how quickly he seems to have gone from a true toddler, into this little guy that has a completely mouldable personality.
THE FASHION UPDATE
For months now, I’ve been talking about how much better I’m getting and that I’m finally reducing my monthly spend on shoes, handbags and clothes. And I guess, to a degree I am. But a couple of weeks ago, I made a big old purchase and as much as I adore it, I’ve been feeling full of guilt since.
I was in Paris on a work trip. In and out in one day for an event. I had an hour to kill, so I went to Hermes and asked for a leather appointment. Thankfully, this store is where I’ve got lucky with two other handbags and I was quiety escorted to a private room where I was presented with a beautiful, Hermes Kelly Pochette in a deep chocolate brown. It was love at first site and my credit card came out so quick that there was almost smoke coming from my hands.
Aside from that quite obvious splurge, I’ve been well-behaved. I did pick up a few basics from Zara and H&M that I need for our holiday in a couple of weeks. Mainly because since we last went on holiday I’ve lost some more weight and when I tried on my warmer summer clothes they were hanging from me.
THE FOOD I’M LOVING
I am sure that this is the food that I mentioned last month, but it’s all about tacos. Birria tacos to be precise.
After a very long time and many failed recipes, I feel like I have finally mastered the at-home birria taco. Because of that, I cooked a huge brisket joint a couple of weeks ago, froze it in batches and I am treating myself to a wonderful and greasy taco at least twice per week. To some people, that may be an overwhelming amount of Mexican food. But for our family, we could eat these things morning, noon and night.
And I need to give a special shoutout to cookies. When I was a kid, my mother would call me the Cookie Monster because it was a staple in my diet. The cheaper the cookie the better. I feel like I am made of half Maryland at this point and I don’t even care.
THE NOVEL PROGRESS
Things are moving and for the first time in a very long time, I am reading sections of my novel and kicking my feet that I managed to put this together. I feel like the first iteration was getting a mass of ideas from my brain and onto a document. The next document was me fumbling my way through the mess of a document, trying to make sense of it and bring some order into proceedings.
The current stage is where I imagine other authors get to. The pride that I feel as I look over my work is next level and even if it never gets any further, I have still done something that many people put on their bucket list because it is such a huge undertaking.
Aside from that, when I was recently speaking to somebody about my dream of becoming an author, the AI debate came up in conversation. I have no doubt that AI has changed the landscape exponentially when it comes to novel writing in this day and age, just like it has every other online discipline. But that might be something that I need to delve into further in another blog post.
THE CAREER UPDATE
I am still loving my new job. Well, I say it’s a new job. I’ve been there for a year now and I still think that it’s bloody great. Which has recently got me questioning my own sanity about why I stayed in my previous job where I was miserable for so many years. But, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I will admit that at the minute, things are much busier than I ever expected them to be. As a one woman department in a company which is very much in an ambitious/learning position, it’s hell of a lot of work. Don’t get me wrong, I love the challenge and I’m throwing myself into it, but I have to keep telling myself that I need to set limits and be strict with them. Being the perfectionist that I am, I want to achieve amazing results, but there are only so many hours in the day.
That nicely leads me onto my own endevours away from my full-time job. I have this site, my books, my freelance marketing and god knows what other projects on the side. I want to do so much, tick all of the boxes and achieve amazing things. But time is against me. I’m reaching a stage where I need to define my priorities and make some changes in my life.
THE HOME RENOVATIONS
Things are moving slowly, much more slowly than I would like. As I mentioned last month, in an attempt to not break the bank, month after month, I am trying to do a few small tasks on my to-do list. This ensures that I am making progress, albeit, incrediblyl slowly.
One of the biggest changes in our home this past month is that I purchased a beautiful hideaway desk for our lounge. Now my son is almost two, he can play incredibly well and independently, and that gives me some scope to work and chip away at my neverending to do list. It was pretty spendy, but when I think about how long we will have this piece of furniture and how practical it is, it pretty much pays for itself.
THE MUSIC REPORT
In May, Spotify turned 20 years old and with that, they released a playlist to everybody rounding up their most played songs since they joined the app.
It is safe to say that the playlist that was put together automatically for myself is absolutely, fan-fucking-tastic. There is a reason that those songs are my most played and that is because they are timeless for me. In there is hell of a lot of country, some old-school songs, it’s jam packed with The Beatles and not forgetting The Rolling Stones. It is safe to say that it’s going to be my obsession for many months to come.
THE MENTAL HEALTH REPORT
Whenever I say this, I feel like I am tempting fate, but I have to say that things are good. To be honest, they are more than good at the moment. That isn’t without working incredibly hard to overcome some of the difficulties of the past few months, but I am now out of the other side and feeling absolutely incredible.
One thing that I do need to try and work on, is how many projects I have ongoing. I mentioned it above when I spoke about my career, but because I have such drive, I take on too much and because there is only a limited amount of time in the day, I can feel myself being stretched too thin. I need to work on it and remind myself that my mental health effects more than just myself these days. My son, needs the best version of his mother showing up, so if that means I try to take a step back from my overacheiving goals, then so be it.
THE SOCIAL UPDATE
I actually left the house. Yes, you read that right. I managed to make some time with friends and family and leave the house. Not once, not twice, but three times throughout May. Don’t get me wrong, I spend every single moment wishing that I was at home and in a pair of leggings, but I have to admit that it was nie to chat with different people and spend a moment remembering who I am, away from being a mother.
With that said, I now feel like I need to spend the next three months inside, recharging my social batteries. I guess that’s the thing when it comes to being an introvert. You know that you should socialise and put yourself out there, but the truth is, the toll is absolsutely enormous. Perhaps the next time I want to be social, I should do it more spread out, rather than one crazy month.
THE RECENT READS
Knowing that the ‘Off Campus’ series was landing on Amazon Prime, I quickly reread my favourite books from the series. I must’ve been in my early twenties when I first read them and I felt like I was transported back to a time when everything was much more simple and I could spend days obsessing over Garrett Graham without consequence. It was bloody fantastic and I have to admit that I have a particularly unhealthy relationship with that show!
Since then, I have tried to read Elise Silvers new novel, Fever Dream. Don’t get me wrong, I am still powering through it, but I have to admit that I think it is the first book by Elsie Silver that hasn’t gripped me. I know that I have no intention to DNF, but it hasn’t grabbed me yet. I’m about 50% through, so you never know, things may quickly turn around!
OTHER RAMBLES
Oh and you know how for months I’ve been wondering whether to get a new car or not? Well, I went ahead and got a new car. In the end, I decided on a Tesla Model Y.
It’s an absolute curveball for me and to be honest, up until a week ago, I had never considered an electric car. I have to admit, I am absolutely loving it. I feel like Greta driving it around, saving the world, one car ride at a time!
