I’m feeling the wave of energy that comes with a new season! Yes, I know summer officially begins later this month, and that’s part of it, but my reasons are more personal: our two big home projects are complete, I finally edited Annie’s annual video, swim season has begun, I’m back on track with strength training and daily walks, and my parents are coming to visit this week — which means I will finally get to check off two little home projects that have lingered on my lists (hanging our height ruler and our backyard string lights — thanks, Dad!!). Plus, our trips to Michigan and Maine are drawing ever closer (YAY!) and planning for two July birthday parties has me excited. Lots to look forward to over here. I hope you’re feeling the same way!
On my calendar: — The last day of school! Currently plotting details for our kick-off-to-summer celebration dinner and TTT. — A beach weekend in Emerald Isle. We’ve loved exploring different coastal towns in NC for the past few Junes and are crossing our fingers for the same excellent weather we’ve enjoyed in recent years. (A few past trips here: Bald Head Island, Beaufort, Swansboro/Hammocks Beach) — Father’s Day! I’m organizing a hot sauce bar for the men at our church and celebrating my own wonderful husband, Dad, and father-in-law.
What I’m loving right now: — This is admittedly niche, but in light of last week’s ode to neighborhood swim team, I thought I’d share. One reason my kids love swim is because they get to be part of a team but also compete against themselves. To track their improvement over a season, I made simple charts in Canva, and they love marking off progress after each meet. Feel free to steal and adjust for your own fridge! — This smocked tank dress was my big purchase this spring. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy. A few other versions: red gingham and pale yellow. — John’s sister and brother-in-law brought this board game with them on a recent trip and the same day they left we bought our own copy at Barnes & Noble! While it is one of those complicated games that’s tedious to learn, it’s not hard to play, and it’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— The magical, shape-shifting puzzle we took on our spring break road trip — My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection. — The pastel snackle box we used for Teacher Appreciation Gifts this year. Perfect for pool trips, picnics, and beach days, too! — The cleansing balm I’ve added to my skincare routine. I’m now a double cleanser and I’m not mad about it. Easy to travel with, too! — The book we have June’s teachers sign at the end of every school year. More on this tradition here!
What I read in May: — Meditations for Mortals | This book is akin to a secular devotional based on the author’s previous book, Four Thousand Weeks, which I read a few years ago. Though I took issue with some of his ideas in the original, he also genuinely changed my thinking and behavior as it relates to productivity and time management in lasting ways. I’m reading one (brief) chapter a day and enjoying the refresher. — The Correspondent | I finally read this incredibly buzzy book — and it was worth the wait! (Speaking of wait — I was number 1,364 on the hold list for this book at my library, by far the longest wait list I’d ever seen. I eventually borrowed a copy from a friend to bypass the list!) This epistolary novel, containing letters written by the aged protagonist Sybil and her correspondents, unfolds with richness and surprise. Because Sybil reminds me SO MUCH of my maternal grandmother – rigid, gruff, but also caring and generous – I know this novel will stick with me for awhile. For more on the author’s unlikely story, don’t miss this WSJ feature. — Isola | On to the next buzzy novel! Based on an incredible true story, Isola is the tale of a 16th-century heiress who finds herself abandoned on a tiny island off the coast of Canada with her lover and her nursemaid. As the weather turns bleak, she fights to survive — and finds new dimensions within that will change the course of her life. Recommend!
Revisiting my May goals: Write the first draft of my Sunday service (2/3 of the way done!) Film Annie in April Hang string lights in our backyard (Made some progress but not done yet!) Research outdoor movie set-ups and choose date for first movie Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the third floor bookshelf Choose a new wallpaper for the bathroom and otherwise continue to manage our renovation projects (Wallpaper has been an absolute nightmare… but we are (hopefully!) inching closer to completion!)
See our renovation projects to completion (Done! They finished the final details the day our weekend houseguests were set to arrive!) Hang string lights in our backyard (Lights were purchased and we will hang them with my Dad’s help this weekend.) Edit Annie in April (Done! So cute!) Refresh our plan for summer days at home (More here!) Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic (Switched the spot to our master bathroom as I prioritized organizing our new space, so calling this good!) Get ahead on summer TCF newsletters (A little bit, though not as much as I’d have liked.) Block out birthday party details for both Shep and Annie, our July babies (Done! Annie is having the most low-key party possible and Shep is having the most complicated, over-the-top party possible, ha. Looking forward to them both :)) Complete the first draft of my Sunday service (No progress here.) Hang curtains for Annie (They haven’t arrived yet, so no progress here!)
June goals: — Hang string lights, curtains, and, height ruler with my Dad’s help — Film June in June — Book our 2027 Yosemite trip!! — Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic — Film June in June — End the school year and begin summer well — Prep for sleepaway camp — Organize the hot sauce bar at church for Father’s Day — Celebrate Annie’s Walk Around the Sun. This is a very Montessori tradition that we’ve never participated in, despite having Montessori preschoolers for many years now. Looking forward to wrapping up our time in the Montessori tradition with this sweet moment! — Continue planning for the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social, Annie’s birthday party, and Shep’s birthday party, all in July
To close, I would love to hear one thing you’re doing to prepare well for summer! No matter what season of life you’re in – whether you have kids or not, a job that shifts or not – a new season on the calendar always feels like an opportunity to be kind to our future selves :) It could be putting books on hold at the library, deciding on a lunch you can repeat, planning now for a trip, or resetting toy storage… the smallest things can make a big difference! Please share in the comments, if you’d like.
We’ve been in our home about eight months now. While the journey to contentment and feeling “at home” in this house has been a winding one, I can confidently say that, from today’s perch, I feel so grateful to be here. We have a long ways to go to before this home fully reflects our family’s personality, culture, and needs, but we’re here. We’re doing it, little by little. And I’d love to invite you in to see this at-the-beginning portrait. Shall we?
Here is what we’re variously calling the piano room, the library, and the study — even though it currently has no piano and no books. Eventually, I would love to replace the keyboard with an actual piano and hang John’s guitar on the wall nearby, maybe put a little chaise lounge reading nook in the window corner.
You might recognize this rug from our previous foyer. (This whole tour is going to be a bit of a Where’s-Waldo situation for longtime readers!) I don’t know that it will stay here forever, but it keeps things cozier for now. The classic wooden hutch is new to me, from Facebook Marketplace: I sold my navy desk because I needed something taller for this narrow space between the windows and pillar, and I love it. Hilariously, everyone who visits says, “my parents have one of these in their house,” ha. I keep desk supplies, stamps, envelopes, stationery, candles, notebooks, paper napkins, and more in the drawers.
Moving a little further into the room, we have the second half of this space. Same sofa, armchair, chest, bookshelf, etc. from our last house. We are considering whether to do a sectional here, but there is more considering to do. (Plus, that tan beauty, circa 2011, is the comfiest, sturdiest, and most resilient sofa a girl could ever hope for; I’m not sure I could ever part with it.)
I know some of you will love this fireplace, and I love that! Alas, it was too modern for my taste, and as the centerpiece of our home, I knew something that better reflected our style would change the tenor of the entire downstairs. Spoiler alert: it has! Plus, we needed more storage for books :)
Moving around the corner, we come to this sunny nook. I took these photos over the last few months, but happily kept my – ahem – winter garland up long past Christmas. I just loved looking at the happy faces of our loved ones! We’re not sure what we’ll do long-term with this space – maybe a little breakfast table and pair of chairs? – but right now the other comfy armchair is working great. I keep my planner open on the bench for quick reference, with more books underneath.
Next door is the kitchen. The previous owner reworked the layout, replaced the cabinetry, widened the door into the dining room, etc., and I mostly like her choices — except, of course, for the dreaded chevron. It will go one day, but I can be patient :) The light pouring in across the whole back of the house is just my favorite.
Finally, the dining room! I hung the exact same chandelier as in our old house because I love it so much. Though I’m grateful for the sideboard storage in here (it held our TV in the old house), I think I’d eventually like to build a corner hutch and move it elsewhere to make it a little easier to navigate around the table. And maybe wallpaper, though our bathroom wallpaper saga has possibly sworn me off the stuff forever.
There you have it! If you have any questions about sources or anything else, just leave a comment — I’m more than happy to help.
Something that’s neat about having published here for 18+ years and counting: no matter how often I share a new post (or not), there’s always something to dive into in the archives! I thought I’d highlight a few posts published in past Mays, just for fun and in case you’re in search of something to read…
With many more Mays to come! And here’s what’s going on this particular May:
On my calendar: — Teacher Appreciation Week! Our main gift for all classroom teachers is this snackle box filled with some of their favorite treats and a gift card to a local business. — A father-son camp weekend for John and Shep at the brother camp of June’s camp. I hope they love their parent-child weekend experience as much as June and I did! — The start of neighborhood swim team! Our family has volunteered to move the “swimmer of the week” signs around every seven days (as instructed by the coaches!) and the kids are so excited to get to be the swim team elves :)
What I’m loving right now: — June and I started these five-year journals on April 1 and are enjoying the practice immensely! The cover is beautiful, the paper quality is great, and the writing space is just the right size. It’s crazy to think about the life change these journals will hold over the next five years. — John is a loyal listener to the Knowing Faith podcast and will occasionally send me episodes to listen to, including this one (“Is Retirement a Christian Concept?”). It was thought-provoking and encouraging and I recommend it no matter your background! — My product fairy godmother Kristin recommended I start double cleansing after reading my skincare routine, and since I was still wiping off makeup with my toning pads even after using my beloved charcoal soap, I decided to give it a try. Instant convert! This balm (which I smooth onto dry skin, lather, then wipe off with a washcloth, then follow with the bar soap) leaves my skin SO soft and clean.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
What I read in April: — This is So Awkward | I picked up this book — “a modern guide to puberty” — to brush up on my facts as we wade into those waters. While I don’t regret that I read it, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it: First, I think it goes into way more detail than is needed for the average person, though I could see using it as a sort of reference book if you wanted to do a deep dive on a certain topic. Second, it was published in 2023, which means it was being developed in the chaos of 2020… and it shows. Third, they presented certain changes or behaviors as unavoidable that I simply refuse to believe are inevitable. (Mostly around technology, if you can believe it ;)) — The Glassmaker | I will always have a soft spot for Tracy Chevalier, as Girl With a Pearl Earring was one of the first “grown-up” novels I read. (It was published when I was a freshman in high school.) I haven’t kept up with many of her later releases, but enjoyed dipping back into her world of talented artists in richly-drawn historical settings with The Glassmaker. It is an intriguing premise: we follow one woman and her close family members and friends through six centuries, skipping ahead 70, 80, 100 years at a time. Recommend! — The Library of Unruly Treasures | June requested I read this middle grade novel after she finished it, and I was glad to oblige. The newest offering from the author of the Penderwick series, it is a perfect example of how a novel can exist at the level of a 10-year-old and yet still be written with excellence. A delight!
Revisiting my April goals: Write the first draft of my Sunday service (2/3 of the way done!) Film Annie in April Hang string lights in our backyard (Made some progress but not done yet!) Research outdoor movie set-ups and choose date for first movie Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the third floor bookshelf Choose a new wallpaper for the bathroom and otherwise continue to manage our renovation projects (Wallpaper has been an absolute nightmare… but we are (hopefully!) inching closer to completion!)
May goals: — See our renovation projects to completion — Hang string lights in our backyard — Edit Annie in April — Refresh our plan for summer days at home — Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic — Get ahead on summer TCF newsletters — Block out birthday party details for both Shep and Annie, our July babies — Complete the first draft of my Sunday service — Hang curtains for Annie
It is no surprise to anyone that I love a goal. I fill out my PowerSheets prep work each new year, I post my goals each month without fail, and I genuinely love to make progress on the projects and habits that matter to me.
But sometimes a goal doesn’t quite fit in a monthly, weekly, or daily format, you know?
Enter: the goal punch card.
Made popular on TikTok, I think, goal punch cards are unabashedly aesthetic — and that’s part of the point. But beyond their good looks and the fun of making them, I’ve actually found them to be a really helpful addition to my goal-setting arsenal. For me, they fill a distinct need: tracking something that I want to do a certain number of times, but that doesn’t need to fit in a particular time period or happen in a regular or structured way. Yes, I want to have game nights with my family or invite friends over for dinner, but they don’t have to happen once per month.
I made the ones above at the Articles Club retreat last month and they’ve been hanging on my kitchen bulletin board ever since, a hole punch ready and waiting in the drawer nearby. Should you be inspired to create your own, I thought I’d share the list of ideas I brainstormed and brought to the retreat…
Goal Punch Card Ideas:
— Read x nonfiction books — Write x handwritten letters — Try x new drinks at the coffee shop — Go on x one-on-one parent dates with each of my children — Shoot x rolls of film — Try x new veggies — X solo dates — Try x new recipes — Finish using x beauty products I already own — X weeks of no Amazon — Try x new hobbies — Watch x new movies — Host x dinner parties — Have people over for dinner x times — Host people x times — Compliment a stranger x times — Organize x areas at home — Buy x new plants — Wake up for x sunrises — Go to x concerts — Go on x flights — Try x different cookies — Pet x dogs — Pay off x debt — X no-screen days — Donate x to charity — Shop at x new small shops — Donate blood x times — Take x naps — Volunteer x times within my community — Buy x items of thrifted clothing — Try x new restaurants — X date nights — Try x new workout classes — Buy fresh flowers x times — Do x puzzles — Call my local reps x times — Go on x hikes — Try x new board games — Paint my nails at home x times — Donate x items — Give away x items — Pay for the order behind me x times — Try x new shapes of pasta — Buy x books from my local bookstore
Does everything have to be tracked to be meaningful or to “count”? Certainly not. But if a pretty card in a prominent place helps me to do more of what matters, then I’m all for it :)
I’d love to hear: Have you ever made a goal punch card? If not, which card would you be most likely to make?
P.S. I bought the cards we used at a local craft store, but these ones look similar!Alcohol markers appear to be the implement of choice amongst the TikTokkers.
