March 2026 goals

The other day, my friend Ginna texted me and another friend who’s recently moved “Happy What’s In My Yard? season!!” She was nodding to the unique delight of experiencing your first spring in a new house, with mystery around every corner (and popping up through every pile of mulch). So far, I’ve counted two unexpected daffodils. Here’s to other welcome surprises this month!

On my calendar:
— Spring break! We are road tripping to St. Simon’s Island, adjacent to one of our perennial favorites: Jekyll Island.
— The fourth annual Articles Club retreat! We have plans to play Mahjong, exchange AC-themed favorite things, eat good food, make goal punch cards, chat, walk, read, craft, maybe cold plunge, and so much more.
— June’s tenth birthday weekend getaway in Charlotte! The itinerary is finalized and we’re all so excited. I’ll be sharing more about it on TCF in the weeks to come!

What I’m loving right now:
— I’ve long been a fan of the Birds & Bees ladies — John and I took their course a few years ago and I highly recommend it — and I really enjoyed this recent episode with them on the Raising Boys & Girls podcast.
— My Summersalt Ruffle Oasis one piece has finally bit the dust after 5+ years and I love the style so much I’m going to rebuy it (likely in this berry + melon combo). I also have the Sidestroke and though it seems like it’s ubiquitous on the internet I get compliments every time I wear it to the pool. I recommend ordering 1-2 sizes up!
— Speaking of summer: I bought this oversize sun hat last year when I was ready for something new in the sun protection game. It’s giant and I love it.

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!

— This navy sweater jacket, my new favorite thing to wear. Sometimes I’ll layer a white tee underneath, but it can also be worn as-is, buttoned up. Ladylike but also somehow casual enough for weekday mom life?
— These tiny box cutters. They come in a four-pack so you’ll always have one within reach.
— Annie’s colorful patterned socks. (Florals! Stripes! Dots!) So soft and fun.
— These tiny gold hoop earrings from my Christmas wish list. They look so good with every outfit!
— The unfancy-but-workhorse detangling brush that has been handling my girls’ hair forever. (Paired with this conditioner and this spray, which I need to reorder.)

Last month on The Connected Family:
— Who are we trying to impress? | “It is nice to be praised and admired, and I can’t help saying I like it.”
— A day in the life of The Connected Family | The winter, workday edition with a 10-, 7-, and 4-year-old
— My personal guidelines for sharing my kids online | Big-picture thoughts, practical concerns, and the rules I follow to keep things safe + sustainable
— Sharing kids online: five friends weigh in | And their perspectives cover a range of approaches.

What I read in February:
— Little Women | Epic. I’ve wanted to do read this book for quite some time (at least since the 2019 movie adaption came out!) and I’m very glad I finally made time for it. It is so good and pure and delightful and wise and just makes you want to be a better mom and sister and friend, in the most gentle and loving way. This might have been my first time reading this classic but it will not be my last.
— Come On Home | Eh. I agreed with most everything in this book, but what I loved was mostly the quotes from other books which she used liberally throughout. I’d skip it and read the books she quoted instead: The Lifegiving Home; Hold Onto Your Kids; Habits of the Household; and Hunter, Gather, Parent, to start. Or just read Little Women and get your parenting advice from there, ha!
— Small Things Like These | Claire Keegan’s slim novel (novella?) is set in 1985 in a small Irish town. Bill, a coal merchant and family man, makes a discovery one morning which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church. A “deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy,” this one feels like falling into a well, and then surfacing a short time later, blinking in the sun. I read it in one sitting.

My reading list for 2026! I’m 4 / 24 so far.

Revisiting my February goals:
Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip (Done! We can’t wait!)
Finish learning the jump rope routine (No progress on the routine with my knee issues but I have been ending every strength session with some jumping.)
Diligently complete daily exercises to help with my knee pain
Record June’s birthday interview
Finish going through my phone screenshots (So happy to have completed this!!!)
Attend to February’s clutter spot: our “library” on the first floor
Enjoy celebrating my birthday
Prepare well for my very first TCF podcast interview (I gave practicing my all and I’m pleased with how it went! Will let you know when it’s live.)

March goals:
— Make final decisions and orders for our master bathroom and built-in projects – scheduled to start in April!
— Hang string lights in our backyard
— Tag clothes for the consignment sale
— Complete final prep for and enjoy June’s birthday trip
— Host an Easter potluck and egg hunt for our neighbors
— Nail down camping dates with the Rays and our small group
— Shop for donation Easter baskets with the kids
— Prep my own kids’ Easter baskets
— Tend to this month’s clutter post: Shep’s bookshelf

As a reminder, many of these are drawn from my 2026 PowerSheets goals!

Grateful for you, friends! Please feel free to comment on anything I’ve mentioned here or anything else on your mind!

Affiliate links are used in this post!