Three Little Sisks

If I have learned anything from being a mom for six years, it is to have low expectations. Each one of my pregnancies were conceived a different way and they all made me feel different, physically and emotionally. All postpartum experiences have been completely unlike the others. Most things that go well probably won't go just like that again and every time you'll learn something new. If you can accept that and embrace the suck (because it will happen), then you'll be okay!

I am so thrown off this year and just realized Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK! Holy cow! We decided to stay home this year, rather than traveling to Nashville like we normally do, and that makes it not even feel like the holiday season is upon us.

Seasonal depression is going to kick in soon if it hasn't already, and you NEED some good comfort cookies. Don't fight it - it's the truth! I've recently perfected a cookie recipe and I'm making them way too frequently now. They are so soft, chewy, easy to make, absolutely delicious, and I even have a trick for keeping them around to make life even easier. You have to try these!

Until recently, baking has not been my thing. I entered the sourdough world in January, but I only perfected my bread recipe. The few times I attempted scratch made cakes was for my son who had a severe egg allergy, and they would either fall apart or be so dense you can hardly cut it. I would feel so bad for my son if he was at an event and couldn't have something because of his allergy - especially because he wasn't old enough to understand. Luckily he officially outgrown the allergy and we are no longer restricting eggs! Pair that with our family going apple picking this fall and I learned to bake...a lot. Breads, muffins, pies, cookies, cakes, biscuits - all of the things. Specifically, cookies have become my specialty and I'm making them way too frequently to help with my postpartum weight loss! Now we have the holidays around the corner and I'm still on maternity leave, so that means I have to do tons of baking. I don't make the rules - it's just the requirement!

I've been a mom for 6.5 years and I am still triggered by mess. One of the things I find myself telling my kids (and myself) constantly is "it's ok to make a mess as long as you clean it up." Now bring out some beads, paint, playdough or heaven forbid, slime and I'm immediately going into anxiety mode. Not proud, but it's who I am. 

Early January 2025, two of my girlfriends and I started the sourdough journey. We're about four years behind the trend but hey better late than never, right? I perfected my recipe and cannot gatekeep! It's so easy but if it doesn't come out well the first time or two or five, keep trying the same recipe! I promise it's not the recipe...it takes a lot of practice to get it down but once you do, you'll replicate each time and you'll feel such pride. 

Third time mom - two months in - and these are the top 10 products I'm loving and cannot live without this time around!

Do you ever start doing something then realize how much you NEEDED it? I decided to take Carson on a quick walk around the block. Once I started walking, I went right out of our neighborhood instead and ended up on the Swamp Rabbit Trail for a bit. Wow - I didn’t realize how wound tight I was that morning. I took deep breaths of the crisp air, admired the changing leaves, and soaked in the quiet around me while staring at my sleeping baby. 

Today is the Monday after day light savings time. AKA the worst weekend of the year for parents of young kids. Yesterday we "got an extra hour of sleep" and my kids woke up at 3:20, 4:45 and 6:45. I felt like a zombie all day and was counting down the hours until bedtime. SO. MANY. MELTDOWNS!