Friday Faves / vol. 10

Last week we had oppressive humidity, the kind that the Midwest is notorious for in late summer, when you walk outside and it feels like you're being suffocated by a blanket of hot, wet air. This week – sweet relief – it broke, and a couple nights ago I found myself with an hour before dinner to sit in my hammock and enjoy a beer. It was cool and breezy and just about the most perfect weather you could possibly ask for. I felt so tired, on the verge of tears, and content, all at the same time.

I'm turning 45 at the end of this month, and I think that big number is bringing up a lot of big feelings for me. With my birthday and the New (school) Year just a few short weeks away, this week I've been trying to regroup a little bit, reflect, and hopefully rest before I jump into new projects I have in mind for this fall. Elli and I have been managing most of the MBR workload between the two of us, as Jess has been working less now that she has her own full-time therapy practice (yay, Jess!!).

Perhaps another reason I'm feeling big feelings is that Elliot (my baby!!! but also…15) started driver's training this week. Yesterday I took him to an empty parking lot and taught him how to start the car and where the pedals were. I feel 100% not equipped to have a teen driver in our family.

Some other things to share with you this week…

growing: Beans for dayyys! I am a mediocre gardener but the pole beans from Nature and Nurture have been doing all the work for me this year. I had to sell my soul and become a Japanese Beetle Murdress, but the reward has been daily handfuls of delicious beans.

reading: Another good one!! I tore through Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You in two days.

swimming: Hugo had a few swimming lessons at the public pool this week and he’s getting so much better! It’s been so fun to watch him gain confidence so quickly - he’s learned how to dive, backstroke, and side breathing, all in one summer! Now I just need to figure out how to get him to ride a bike.

dreaming: I bought this sweet little loveseat on sale from Article earlier this summer for my studio. I’m thinking about reopening my studio this fall for workshops and open sewing nights, and I want to transform the smaller room in my studio into a spot for knitting, hand-stitching, tea drinking and chatting.

watching: I’m enjoying Search Party. Come for the hilarious ensemble cast, stay for the plot that gets increasingly bizarre as the show progresses.

Wishing you all a blissful weekend!

xo,
Rae

PPS. see all of my Friday Faves here.