I’m writing this with my windows open…in February in Philly. We have had a few nice days here and there this month and I’m living for it!! That said, I can’t believe this month is over!!!
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Photo Captured This Month
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5 Things About My Life This Month
1. Riley turned 7 months & just is making leaps and bounds: She cut two more teeth, she’s saying mama now (*sobs*), she’s so close to crawling (she literally scoots around every which way except forward), she waves, she claps, she can go from sitting to her belly and belly to sitting (so now she just sits right up to let me know she is FOR SURE done with nap), and she’s started pulling herself up on stuff. SHE IS GROWING UP TOO FAST Y’ALL.
2. It was a rough month for people close to me — my uncle was in a serious motorcycle accident and lost some of his leg, one of my close friends lost her dad unexpectedly, another friend’s mom had a heart attack and she’s going through a lot personally, another friend has a lot going on and I’ve just felt a lot of heaviness this month for all the people. Then someone I was friends with back in high school passed away from cancer. So, yeah two funerals this month. Lots of heavy things. UGH.
3. We had a little allergy scare with Riley: She developed hives on her back and we thought maybe it was an egg allergy. It cleared up after we stopped eggs and then the allergist appointment concluded NO egg allergy. So I have NO idea what that was all about. I was really starting to panic because I live on eggs!!
4. We won the Superbowl: Okay WEEEEE personally did not win but our team did! We had a low key Superbowl viewing at home but it was great.
5. We went to a fun Punk Rock Flea Market at one of our favorite local breweries: It was so fun…lots of cool local made stuff there and I found some new Etsy shops to love and even bought a couple things!
I got this beauty from TweeStitch (she had SO many good ones and some amazing enamel pins!!!)
I got a Little Women tree ornament from Upcycled Library — she had soooo many amazing things made out of upcycled old books!
I also got a cute onesie (I don’t see it for available on her Etsy) for Riley from Oh Rexy Threads who has some of the coolest shirts (kids and adults) available for sale. I NEED THIS Steve Harrington “Mom of the Year” shirt.
6 Songs I Loved This Month
I put all my Monthly Rewinds in a Spotify playlist so you can listen to them here !
1. Wild Love — James Bay
2. Get Out — CHVRCHES
3. Make Me Feel by Janelle Monae
4. White Flag — Bishop Briggs
5. Bring The House Down — CLOVES
6. Don’t Stay — X Ambassadors
Check out the rest of my February playlist for more of what I was listening to this month!
Top 3 Books I Read This Month
I didn’t read ANYTHING this month. Well, that’s not true, I guess I just didn’t FINISH anything this month. The month was over before I knew it. I was just more in a ~creating~ mood than a consuming mood so I feel like I’ve just wanted to pour myself into a creative outlet (the blog) more than I want to read. I think it has to do with feeling like I’m only like sort of a person right now — been struggling hardcore because I feel like the only thing I am is a mom. Which most days is FINE. I love being Riley’s mom but it’s hard when I feel day in and day out like that’s my whole life. Most of you know that I take her with me to nanny with me so I’m literally with her all day which I’m so thankful for…but it’s hard to see myself as anybody else right now. Wow…that was a lot for just telling you I didn’t read any books.
Favorite Quote This Month
5 Most Popular Posts This Month
I posted 13 times in February!
1. 12 Affordable Dresses For Spring Under $50: I’m SO READY FOR SPRING WEATHER!!
2. A Very Villainous Gift Guide: if you love Disney villains and your favorite emoji is the black heart, this post is for you!
3. How I Reignited My Love For Journaling: I’m tell you guys, guided/prompt-based journals are life-changing!!
4. Be A Beginner: Learning To How To Cook-– I loved sharing my 3 things I’m planning on learning this year with you guys and this one seemed to resonate.
5. Thoughts On Being A Beginner: I loooooathe being a beginner but I am feeling really inspired to embrace a beginner’s mindset.
Post I Wish Got More Love
I was really excited about my first set of Q&A from you guys but it didn’t get much love!
5 Posts Starred In My Blog Reader This Month
1. Paleo Coconut Chicken Sweet Potato Soup : This looks delish!!
2. A Toast To The Tiny Steps: I needed this post recently. I’ve been getting kind of down on myself for several things but this reframed a couple things.
3. 3 Ways To Balance Productivity & Ease: Love this insightful post!
4. I Miss Blogs: This post from my pal Kristen really resonated with me! I’m so happy she’s blogging again, too! You should definitely check out her wonderful blog!
5. You Can Pull People Up The Ladder Behind You: SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS POST!!
3 New Obsessions This Month
1. Trader Joe’s Coffee Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich: LITERALLY THE BEST EVER. I had to really fight myself on eating the whole box in one sitting.
2. My new photography stuff:– As I talked about in my post about wanting to up my photography game this year, I mentioned that I took action steps to do that: I bought this photography bundle (today is the last day to be able to purchase it!) and a couple backdrops!! I got this one from Amazon and then a white brick wall one from Ink & Elm.
Highly rec checking them out if you want better backdrops for your Insta photos/blogging photos!
3. Riley’s new dress I scored on sale (among many other things but this was my fave): I went to return a dress I didn’t love to Old Navy and then walked out with a bunch of stuff for Riley (and a couple of these super comfy basic tees I was in desperate need of…they are soft!!). This dress I almost bought back in the fall for full price so I was PRETTY excited to get it on sale!
3 Things I’m Looking Forward To Next Month
Question Of The Month
In lieu of my whole week of talking about things I want to learn to do/be a beginner at, what’s something you want to learn or work on this year?
Pick a category (or 5… or all of them) and tell me what went on in YOUR life this month!! What sort of things were noteworthy for you this month? New obsessions? Any new song recs?? Best books you read this month? Great posts I missed on your blog? Answer to my question of the month?
Annemieke says
I’m again sorry to hear about all of the things happening to those close to your heart. The mother of a family friend here died and my aunt isn’t doing so well so I guess February in that regard just sucks!
Yeay for Riley being so close to crawling. Merijn only went backwards for the longest time too and then bam he shot forward and never looked back haha. Such cute pictures of Riley too!
Jamie says
Thanks girl <3 UGH February is the worst. Hope your aunt's health improves <3
Today she went forward for the first time consistently but I think she has no idea what she even did lol
Kristin (SuperSpaceChick) says
Um, I need to try that coffee brownie ice cream sandwich ASAP. And thank you so much for sharing my post<3! I'm still getting used to thinking of you as a lifestyle blogger because book blogger has been ingrained in my head when I think of you but I'm so loving your recent variety of posts (especially the fashion & things you want to learn posts)!
Jamie says
KRISTIN…you will be addicted. It’s so good. And you are welcome..it was a really good and honest post! And SAME HERE….for 8 years bein ga book blogger it’s still even weird to call myself anything else. Ah well, I’m having the most fun I’ve had in a long time with it (and that’s saying something because I was genuinely enjoying blogging). It felt really weird to post fashion-y things and “other stuff” but I’m so happy. I’d post little bits of Other Stuff this whole time but it’s nice to be able to share thing slike dresses I’m obsessed with because Will doesn’t care lol. I mean, I can’t tell you the amount of time I spend perusing clothing sites and also playing around in my closet…though my fashion is sad lately because #momlife and its cold so I literally just go for the most cozy warm thing.
Melina says
omg, your daughter is so precious! Enjoy every second you have with her, because time legit flies! The next thing you know, she’s going to preschool! I’m glad to hear you had a pretty good February 🙂 xxx
Melina | http://www.ivefoundwaldo.com
Jamie says
Thank you <3 And omg I KNOW. Already I feel you on that. I used to roll my eyes when people would say that but it's SO TRUE. I blinked and she went from an adorable little potato of a newborn to this fierce little girl who is moving around everywhere.
Charlie says
I am really loving Devin Dawson’s song “All on Me” and Thomas Rett’s “Marry Me.” Those are just two of them. I have weird allergies. Things I’ve eaten all my life I’m allergic to. They cause different types of reactions, which is why they were never suspected. Maybe steer clear of eggs for a while for her? That is really strange. I’m sorry you have so much emotional weight on your heart right now. I am mourning the loss of a friend. The morning I was set to go visit her, I was called and told to not come. She had passed in the night. I was so sad I didn’t get to see her one last time. I hope things improve for your friends, your uncle learns to re-navigate life with his changes, and your burdens lighten. Hugs!
Stacy says
Absolutely LOVE the way this was written! Great blog!!!!
Liz says
I have been listening to that new Chvrches song NONSTOP the entire month. Have you checked out their newest single?
Tizzy Brown says
Sorry that your month has been a rough one in many respects but I’m glad that seeing your daughter’s development is bringing you so much joy. They really do grow up so fast. My daughter is 2 now and I just don’t know where those couple of years have gone. You’re lucky to have had some good weather, it’s freezing here in the UK at the moment, I couldn’t even get to work on Thursday and all transport had pretty much come to a standstill. We’re not well prepared for the snow here!
Lisa @ Reading, Writing, and Random Musings says
I LOVED your Q&A so I’m surprised to hear you wish it had gotten more love. Don’t let it keep you from doing it again!
Erica Robyn says
Oh no! I had crazy allergies when I was a kid. I got hives so bad every February for seemingly no reason. My whole face would puff up and it would take a week to go back to normal. I still get hives here and there for no reason but no where near as bad as when I was a kid. I hope you can figure out what she’s allergic to soon! <3
Nallely Tapia says
I’m sorry about what happened to those close to you. you had a hard month but things will get better you will see. you have a really cute daughter enjoy life with her dont let bad things bring yu down
Alexandra says
Lots of huge things going on for you in February, and lots of things that are pretty huge on a little scale – like Riley’s new achievements. 😊 I imagine you’re more than ready for some sunshine.
As I was reading, I wondered if maybe the Q&A didn’t get quite as much love as you’d maybe anticipated is because you already share so much of yourself and where you’re at in lots of your “normal” posts, so people feel like they already know you? In a good way, I mean. Like, the way you write is just warm and chatty, and you do talk about things like the impact of losing your Mom and battling PND after Riley was born and identity questionings. Just a thought!
Kim says
I’m sorry to hear about your family and friends’ situations but glad to hear that Riley’s not allergic to eggs. I don’t have an allergy to eggs and chicken but I find that my nose always runs and my eyes water after I eat them. Weird!