Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

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Hey, 30

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I’m not going to get all deep or philosophical about what it means to turn 30. Instead, I’m just going to tell you that turning 30 was really, really great. As one friend wrote in her card to me, “Welcome to an even better decade that’s bound to treat you to the joys of giving fewer shits and doing more of what you want.” I’m really into that.

In some ways, that totally reflected the way I celebrated this year. I’m sure that’s why it was my best birthday yet. Here’s exactly why.

Waking Up to 30

Truthfully, I went to bed the day before feeling kind of down. Obviously, 29 is not the end of my youthful and interesting life, but I was treating it that way because I’m a drama queen and also the worst.

But all those feelings were gone when I woke up around 1:30AM. Sitting on the dresser was this wonderful and silly marquee sign that Michael lit up. It was a really special way to greet a new decade. I took this as a sign of things to come and went back to bed ready to celebrate come morning.

(Also, it didn’t say “Happy birthday” because the box was missing all the Ps. I think this message is better anyway.)

Indulgent Things

I decided to stack my birthday with all kinds of indulgent activities that I love, but rarely treat myself two. Chief among them: Visiting La Reve in the Wauwatosa Village for breakfast.

This place is a treasure. Go on a weekday for breakfast and you will find a fancy yet super chill atmosphere. It’s quiet, the mimosas are great and the pastries are even better. Swinging by for a fruit tart was a serious treat. And snaps for the Aries bartender who chatted rising and moon signs with me!

More indulgent things: a manicure at Neroli, a key lime pie from Honeypie and a great dinner by my mom. ☺️

The Real Kicker

As wonderful and relaxing as the day-of celebrations were, the highlight of turning 30 was hitting up Don’s Diner for a real night out.


First, of course, the fam and I did some dinner. There’s a new menu and it’s fabulous. But as soon as we were done, we made our way back to the Naughty Angel (the lounge there) and knocked back a few old fashioneds.

Hanging out in the lounge – which so many people said reminded them of their grandparents’ houses – was a real blast. The bartender queued up some Bob’s Burgers without me even asking and we listened to some 90s jams (I did request those).

In such a delightfully quirky place, it could be tempting to start living for the ‘Gram, but I decided to put my phone away for the night (here’s where the giving fewer shits come into play). My party didn’t need to be a photo shoot. Instead, I put out my Instax camera and let people do their thing.

And that was really great. I just got to hang with my friends and catch up with folks new and old. Honestly, I was really touched that so many people came to say hey. To all of you that made it, I can’t thank you enough. You made 30 super special.

Also, a special shoutout to Michael for helping to tee this whole thing up, my friends Matt and Amanda for coming a long way to see me, and my gal Eva who made a Tosi-inspired cake (and managed to transport it across the stat in one piece!) for the gods. It was fantastic.

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Small Goals // April 2019

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It turns out not every month is a good month for goals. See how I failed in a big way (and how I’ll try and pick it up for April).

  1. Create a game plan for the rest of the KonMari steps (and do part three). I am the worst. I didn’t do this, and the thought now overwhelms me entirely – even though I know having less and being organized will make me feel so much better.
  2. Rearrange the living room? Well, I went to West Elm and talked with a very kind designer there. She gave me a new floor plan to consider. I tried it out and it just wasn’t right. I give myself the point for trying.
  3. Record a podcast. Nope!
  4. Stitch up 15 hoops. Not even close. I think I whipped up about eight.
  5. Find a killer birthday dress. The jury is still out on this one. I have one new contender that I’m working with, though I’m not sure if it’ll make the cut.

1/5. My worst ever month for goals. I’m trying to tell myself that it’s OK since I spent a lot of March doing some cool things (seeing Michelle Obama at the Miller High Life Theater comes to mind!). However, I know that I really bungled my time for most of the month.

With Aries season in full swing, more daylight and the optimism that comes with spring, I want to turn it around for April. More stitching! More time outside! Maybe a bike ride or two?

  1. Celebrate 30 in style. I’ve got something up my sleeve here!
  2. Restock my fabrics. It’s been a while since I’ve done a fabric run. I’ve got a lot of new hoop ideas. They need some new fabrics to go with.
  3. Polish up the house. I’m thinking about skipping the paperwork step of KonMari because I’m an organizing heathen. Instead, I’d like to just tackle my craft closet and living room using her methods. You sick of this goal yet? (I am, but I also want a clean home.)
  4. Hit the gym 8 times (ideally 10). Back on the horse (as always).
  5. Plan a creative retreat for myself. I felt like I didn’t make a lot of time for my stitching this past month. I’ve got three fairs to tackle between now and the end of May. I’m thinking that getting away for a short solo trip might be good for me and my crafting.

Here’s hoping 30 is a good one and that April is a good month for goals!

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Small Goals // March 2019

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My overarching goal for February was to get my life (more) organized. Let’s see if that’s even possible!

  1. Go on a spending freeze(ish). I did this and I started making a grocery budget. Look at me!
  2. Tackle KonMari parts two and three. I did step two. I’m still committed to this project. I just need to regroup.
  3. Reopen my Etsy shop. Done! I even made a new logo (here it is ICYMI) and took new photos. 2019, I’m ready (finally)!
  4. Finish those books! I read The Nightingale and loved it! I also finished up The Au Pair and found it to be so lame.
  5. Plan a trip. Nope. This is very much in flux right now, but I’m scheming (as always).

3/5. Goals this month were hit and miss. But I’m not that disappointed because I went above and beyond on two of my goals. Considering it’s February, peak winter gloomies season, I’m really not too mad.

This March, I’m going to continue to tackle a lot of home and home-based projects with what I’m sure will be middling success! This being said, my social calendar is pretty packed for the month, so I’m crossing my fingers on getting much of anything done. We’ll see!

  1. Create a game plan for the rest of the KonMari steps (and do part three). I started with so👏much👏enthusiasm👏. I need to get back on track because I totally believe in Marie Kondo’s methods.
  2. Rearrange the living room? We have a pretty large living room, but I have a hard time arranging the furniture inside due to our home’s unique features (features that I love but are hard for me to work around). I’ve got an appointment with a designer at West Elm to tell me if it’s a lost cause or not!
  3. Record a podcast. As if I didn’t have enough interests and side projects! My boss/friend and I are going to try our hand at podcasting. Let’s see how we do!
  4. Stitch up 15 hoops. I really wanted to say 30. I thought about it again and thought 20. But I have to get real with myself. 10 is probably realistic, but you know how I love working myself too hard for nothing. Let’s go with 15!
  5. Find a killer birthday dress. I turn 30 the first week of April. You bet your behind I’ll have to have a dress to match the milestone.

Let me know what your goals are this month! I’m crossing my fingers that I tackle all mine!

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Small Goals // February 2019

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January is over, which means post-holiday recover is over, too. Let’s see how the month went!

  1. Make it to the gym eight times. Done! I was hoping it’d feel better. Getting back into the swing of things is hard.
  2. Organize, declutter and repair my kitchen cupboards. Done! We donated two boxes of kitchen gear. We also started watching Marie Kondo’s new show (and then read her book) so we’re inspired to tidy up.
  3. Read two books (maybe even three!). I started three different books, but I’m not done with a single one!
  4. Try a new bake. I made the Baller Birthday Sheet Cake from Christina Tosi’s All About Cake. It was phenomenal.
  5. Get rid of my oldest assignments at work. Done. I got rid of some of the oldest items in my queue and am working on finishing the last ones up. Here’s one about Dolly Parton’s signature chicken and dumplings.

4/5. Sure, five out of five is always nice, but four feels good after the holidays. Outside of these goals, I spent most of the month enjoying slow nights making dinner, sipping wine, doing puzzles and watching Gilmore Girls. I regret nothing. I did have a good friend stay with us for a few nights. We ate cheese, shopped around and got matching lights for our homes. It was real good.

For February, I want to move from post-holiday recovery to progress at home.

  1. Go on a spending freeze(ish). I went a bit overboard with Christmas this year (and I felt that this January). I want to get my spending back on track. That means this month, money is for bills and food only – no clothes, no books, no impulse purchases at Target.
  2. Tackle KonMari parts two and three. Kondo-ing my closet was really freeing. While I don’t think I’ll be able to KonMari my home perfectly, I think I can do an OK job on the next two steps: books and papers.
  3. Reopen my Etsy shop. OK, OK. It was never closed, but I deactivated a lot of listings over the holidays. Honestly, a month-long break was exactly what I needed.
  4. Finish those books! I started three different books. Maybe I can finish them all? I’m trying to spend a bit more time reading this winter (and a little less time with Netflix).
  5. Plan a trip. About this time last year, Michael and I booked our trip to Bayfield. It did a lot to boost our moods. I’m hoping to do this same this February.

Let me know your February goals! I love reading them (and getting ideas for future months).

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Small Goals // January 2019

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December is done and, I must say, I jingled and mingled to my heart’s content. Let’s check out how I did on those goals!

  1. Finish my custom orders ASAP. I finished them! They might not have been done as quickly as I’d like, but they’re finished.
  2. Meet up with my friends to celebrate the holidays. Done! I managed to do a really good job at this! It was super nice (plus, I found a new great restaurant in the process – try Don’s Diner, local folks).
  3. Go on a holiday date. Flop on this one! I’m OK with it, though. We squeezed in a lot of holiday cheer regardless.
  4. Watch 3+ Christmas movies. Done! I watched three corny ones on Netflix plus Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. It was a good year for holiday movies.
  5. Do some good! Done! My dad and I wrapped gifts again this year to raise money for the Wisconsin Humane Society. Plus, I gathered a few donations at my craft fairs this season.
  6. BONUS GOAL: Find the blue velvet dress of my dreams. I DID IT! Thanks, Nordstrom!

5/6. I’ll say that’s not too shabby considering how busy December was. As always, I learned some lessons about holiday stress and hope to do better next year.

When it comes to January, I plan on slowing down big time. December was non-stop crafting, entertaining and visiting – those aren’t bad things, but they are time-consuming. For January, I want to get back to a normal pace at home and maybe reestablish some good habits. As for New Year’s resolutions, I’m going to say no thanks. I find these small goals are much more useful to me than any resolution.

  1. Make it to the gym eight times. Classic New Year’s promise right here.
  2. Organize, declutter and repair my kitchen cupboards. This is a goal I’m not excited about, but it’s necessary.
  3. Read two books (maybe even three!). Over Christmas break, I read more than usual. It felt good! Let’s see if I can get through a few titles, including Michelle Obama’s memoir, this month.
  4. Try a new bake. I got two Christina Tosi books for Christmas that I need to break in! Also, I’ve got a craving for soft pretzels. We’ll see which one I tackle. Maybe this can be the start of a year of new-to-me bakes.
  5. Get rid of my oldest assignments at work. I don’t normally like to incorporate work goals into these posts – the work always seems to get done. But I’m tired of looking at 2018’s assignments in 2019. Time to clear the queue!

Alright 2019, let’s get these goals.

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Unpacking the Holidays

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Let’s face it: We work hard for the holidays! That’s why even though they’ve passed, I want to give them a bit of recognition (then onto those January 2019 goals!).

The Craft Fairs

This was my busiest craft fair season yet! Meaning I had two fairs, but for a low-key side hustler like myself, this is a big deal! And it’s also a lot of work.

But I think it really paid off! The Black Friday Makers Market + Pub-Crawl was really a lot of fun. It started out pretty slow, but ended up being fairly steady. I sent home a lot of good hoops, including some Home Alone-inspired ones.

The peak of the craft fair season (yes, the two-show season), though, was the Cream City Creatives show. It was a 2018 goal of mine to set up shop at a show in Milwaukee and I did it! it was a lot of fun! My heart was warmed to see a lot of my friends and family come out. A sweet pal of mine, hot off the heels of a months-long trip, stopped by – and she took home my one-and-only Gilmore Girls hoop. That made me feel pretty good.

The Food

December is always a good month for food. I mean, the Christmas cookies alone. But this month was particularly good because I got to hit up a new haunt: Don’s Diner.

Inside, it’s precisely the vibe I like. A mix of old-fashioned soda fountain and Grandpa’s den. It’s really great. And the food and drinks are top-notch. I ate every single bite of the Naughty Angel burger (a brisket burger topped with beer cheese sauce) and had the best flourless chocolate cake – with fermented raspberry sauce (trust me, actually very good) – ever. I want to go back all the time.

I also baked up some classics and new recipes this year. Obviously, pioneer molasses and cream cheese pillows were on the docket. I also made this Nantucket cranberry tart (good reviews), this mint-chocolate chip cheesecake (great reviews) and this silky chocolate pie (which I really liked).

The Shopping

I like to take a day off every December to tie up loose ends. Usually, this day is a bit stressful, but thanks to a lot of shopping in advance, this one was pretty chill. In fact, it was almost like taking myself on a date. I had a blast.

First I stopped at Stone Creek Coffee for a few gifts and their hilarious and wonderful seasonal Bumble blend for Christmas morning. It was nice just to relax there for a while and pretend like I was the kind of wealthy person that happens to be out and about in the middle of the day. It’s a fun charade.

However, all that compares to visiting Studio Ric Rak in the Wauwatosa Village. This is hands down, my favorite little antique store. It’s packed to the gills (in a good way, not a cluttered way) with vintage gems all at good prices. I stopped by to pick up a great piece of Pyrex for my mom, but spent most of my time checking out these handmade putz houses. The owner of this shop is so funny and charming and she makes these all from vintage ephemera. I love them.

After stopping by, I called my mom and told her about all the cute putz houses. I got one from Santa for Christmas. How about that. From her lips to Santa’s ears, I tell ya.

The Party!

As you may know, every year Michael and I host a day after Christmas party. I want to call it Boxing Day, but it seems too much to have to explain in case folks don’t know when or what that is. I digress.

I’ll say it: This was probably one of our best parties yet. It went off without a hitch! Without a single hitch (other than the late arrival of a cheese tray)! We managed to throw a party that wasn’t overly stressful and had just the right amount of food (and by that, I mean we still had leftovers, but not enough to last us for a week). This year was pretty darn relaxing. I got to just sit and shoot the breeze with my family while shoving my face full of spinach-artichoke dip and sipping sparkling wine (a new addition to the drink menu). It was great.

• • •

Well, that’s my silly holiday wrap-up. I hope you had a great one, too!

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Small Goals // December 2018

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Let’s jump right into November’s goals!

  1. Bulk up my Kaminski Handicraft inventory to 50+ hoops. Done! Getting to 50 this time wasn’t quite as taxing as usual (but I still pushed myself pretty hard).
  2. Get organized with my stitching. I think I did OK with this one. I organized my spreadsheets a bit. Sure, my fabrics are folded up nice, but I’m still stitching on the reg!
  3. Get at least 50% of my holiday shopping done. If I had to estimate, I’d say I’m there!
  4. Visit my aunt Pat. Did it!
  5. Center myself. Getting there!

5/5. I’m pretty surprised that I made it! November is a busy month at work and at home (especially with a craft fair in the mix). I’m happy a lot of the work is behind me. Now onto December!

Of course, there’s still a lot of work ahead, too. I’ve got some work-related goals in the mix, but I’m honestly hoping to fit in a lot more fun than I did last year (last December was unduly stressful). I think the key to a good month will be doing festive things, but not pushing myself to go over the top (that’s where I typically go wrong). Got to work on that balance!

  1. Finish my custom orders ASAP. I’ve got three sets of custom orders in the works. I’m so grateful that people are coming to me with their original ideas! I want to get these out as quickly as possible to show my thanks (and so I can get ready for my last craft fair of the season!).
  2. Meet up with my friends to celebrate the holidays. This is one that always seems to get pushed to the backburner, but I’m hoping to see some friends of mine this month for a little Christmas cheer. I’m crossing my fingers for trivia!
  3. Go on a holiday date. Pretty much in the same vein as the above. Michael and I don’t go on too many dates (we are both homebodies), but I’m hoping to do something a bit Christmas-y together.
  4. Watch 3+ Christmas movies. This goal serves two purposes: to get me in the Christmas spirit and keep me on track with my work. A good movie will either propel me along as I stitch or will serve as a welcome break from the truly finger-numbing work.
  5. Do some good! My dad and I normally wrap gifts to raise money for the Wisconsin Humane Society. I’m hoping that opportunity comes up again! Otherwise, I got something else up my sleeve.

I was tempted to add what I’m considering a near impossible goal to this list: finding a blue velvet dress. It’s been a mission of mine for years (really). I’ve tried on my fair share, but haven’t found the one. If I do, I’ll call it a Christmas miracle and will feel amazing (even if I don’t nail all five of my standard goals).

Anyways, please share your holiday and December goals! I seriously love hear them!

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#Gratitude30 // Week 4

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Day 24: Knowledge

I’m going the easy route with this one, but I’m super thankful for Edgewood College and all the bits of knowledge I picked up there. While I occasionally had doubts about the place (that’s just me and my ever-changing interests), I realize now that there was no better school for me. This became especially clear to me recently when I talked with a former professor of mine doing some research for an upcoming book.

As a liberal arts college, Edgewood allowed me to pursue a lot of my interests and helped me connect the dots between different subjects in a really helpful way. It was a great place for a multi-passionate person like myself. So I’m so thankful to Edgewood, my aunt for recommending it to me, the newspaper there and my favorite professors.

Day 25: Comfort

I can’t believe it took me 25 entries to be thankful for my two cats! Mukki and Zara are pretty much the lights of my life. They bring me so much joy and also a lot of comfort.

It’s really incredible to me how sensitive they can be. When I’m feeling down or even just under the weather, they’re right there to cuddle up by me. Not to mention a nap on the couch with both of them, is just about the sweetest, most comforting thing in the world. Mukki and Zara, I hope you know how much you’re loved!

Day 26: Time

This is such a big topic to tackle that I’m having a lot of trouble. But I’ll say this. I’m happy for the time that I have. I’m happy I get to spend a lot of it with Michael and our pets. I’m thankful for every moment with my family and my good friends. And I’m thankful for all the good times that have passed.

Day 27: Luxury

Sure, it was a trip for work, but going to Sonoma County was probably one of the most opulent trips I’ve ever taken. I sipped on some tremendous (and tremendously expensive) wines, ate gorgeous meals and enjoyed every second. You might be sick of hearing about this trip, but damn was it spectacular. I’m thankful that I got to enjoy it.

Day 28: Work

I’ve had a lot of jobs in my day, and I’m incredibly lucky and thankful to have one I truly like. Working for Taste of Home is really a great joy. I’m so thankful to my two friends that helped hook me up with this job and to all the amazing creative people I work with every day. The fact that people applaud me for eating eight cheeseburgers is nothing short of a wonder, and for that, I’m so thankful.

Day 29: Creativity

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: I’m the woman of a hundred hobbies. But you know what – that’s OK! I’m really and truly thankful to have all these interests. Whether it’s writing, stitching, baking or whatever vintage craft I’ve dredged up, I’m thankful that I have the time and enough talent to give them a go. Creative endeavors of all kinds keep me at my best!

Day 30: Self-Love

I immediately thought of this Instagram post when I saw this prompt. “If self-love says, ‘I love you,’ self-care says, ‘prove it.'” And I will say that I genuinely like myself (though I still have flaws abound), but in order to maintain that best version of myself, the person in me that I like, I need a bit of self-care. Like I said in my post about holiday stress, taking time to myself – be it grab some coffee, watch a good show or even a walk around the neighborhood – does me a world of good. I consider all those things to be forms of self-care.

I’m thankful this season that I can say that I like me for me and that I’ve got the time and means to prove it.

• • •

To everyone that tuned in to this #Gratitude30 series, thank you so much! I appreciate you reading!

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#Gratitude30 // Week 3

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Day 17: Weather

Milwaukee's First Snow

As much as I hate the darkness that comes with late fall, I have to say that I love the cooler temperatures and the regular dusting of snow we’ve been getting. It’s honestly a relief to me when it starts to get cold because I don’t feel the stress of taking advantage of every outdoor moment. Instead, I’m thankful to stay inside, put on my softest socks and start a new project.

Day 18: Food

I say it all the time, but I think it’s true: Food is one of the greatest joys in life. And I believe it to be true because a good meal, a delicious treat or a sip of something nice is an easy way to lift your spirits or warm the hearts of others. This year, I’m feeling pretty thankful that I get to make a living writing about, tasting and making all kinds of wonderful foods – be they homey, sinful or just plain good.

One of my favorite pieces this year was a definitive ranking of Pepperidge Farm cookies. It’s silly, but it was so much fun (also Milanos are the best)!

Day 19: Beauty

This is a hard one! But I will say that when we got to Jamaica, I cried. I cried at how absolutely stunning the landscape was. I had never been anywhere tropical like that before, so it definitely took my breath away. Getting to visit is something I’m truly thankful for.

Day 20: Friendship

Gosh, am I lucky to have friends like these! I’ve known these gals (and a lot of my close friends) for a long, long time – like 15+ years long! We don’t see one another every day anymore, but it’s such a heartwarming feeling when we finally do meet up and it’s like hardly any time has passed. And, seriously, it’s so wonderful to just shoot the shit and have them know exactly who, where and what you’re talking about. Plus, they’re a blast. Desperate for another gals trip soon!

Day 21: Technology

Sometimes I joke that our home is a graveyard of technologies of yore. I’ve got a handful of old cameras from the ’60s and ’70s, the 50s-era hi-fi and two typewriters – a Royal courtesy of one of my good friends and an old Remington 12 typewriter that belonged to my great-grandfather.

I’m happy I get to surround myself with these relics at home. They’re sort of comforting! Plus, they’re a lot of fun to tinker around with.

Day 22: Family

I love my family. They’re the folks that really helped me become who I am. My parents and my sisters have always been endlessly encouraging to me (though, they aren’t afraid to tell me to get a grip either!). The whole lot of them are talented, funny and exceptionally warm. I’m thankful to get to be a part of that kind of family.

And I’m thankful that Michael gets to be my family, too. He might not have the Kaminski laugh down yet or the training you need to track five simultaneous conversations, but he’ll get there! I love all of you!

Day 23: Scent

Transitioning from family to scent is a bit odd to me, but that’s OK!

While I’m most partial to woodsy scents, a nice bouquet is always welcome in my home (unless it has lilies – that’s one scent I’m not thankful for).

• • •

Thanks for tuning in for another week of #Gratitude30! I appreciate you all for reading.

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Keeping Holiday Burnout at Bay

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@notallgeminis 

It’s the holiday season. We all know what that means – holiday burnout time!

Personally, I’m well on my way. I’m prepping for this Black Friday Market + Pub-Crawl like there’s no tomorrow. And I’ve got pie crusts to make. And stuffing. Plus, a cake. Not to mention a house to clean and errands to run. But you know what, I’m doing OK.

And I think that has a lot to do with budgeting in free time.

Last year as I prepped for my first-ever fair, I was a disaster. I was getting up at 5:30 in the morning to stitch and then stitching the second I got home until I went to bed. Not to mention working my regular 9-5. I was giving myself zero time to relax, zero time just to sit and watch the latest season of Bake Off.

But this year, as we roll into Thanksgiving, I’ve been allowing myself some free moments. I took a break from stitching last night and got my nails done. It was amazing. And this past weekend, I sat down and actually enjoyed some GBBO without any interruption. Total bliss!

And while it’s tempting to just go, go, go (that is my MO after all), I realize that taking a bit of rest – even just an hour at the salon or 30 minutes of TV – can do a world of good when it comes to productivity. When I come back refreshed from these breaks, I’m a lot more focused on the tasks I need to accomplish.

It’s definitely going against my Aries nature (see meme), but it’s working out pretty well so far! So to all you folks out there that have agreed to make one too many Thanksgiving dishes or run a few too many errands, I feel you, but I also encourage you to take a break – even if it’s just a 15-minute coffee run. You’ll come back more refreshed and ready to take the holidays head on!