It seems like January was a rough one for everyone. On the 31st I saw meme after meme along the lines of “we made it” and “phew January was the longest year.” I must admit, I felt the exact same. Just about everything began to veer off course in January, and I’m not just talking about the awful weather. There have been health concerns, job changes, difficult parenting moments, stark truths sinking in, and overall state-of-life things that impact our entire family. It was not easy. For about nine years, exercise has helped keep me sane, but I had not worked out since 12/31. That means in addition to feeling unhappy with the inevitable body changes that result from a more sedentary life, I missed the mental stability exercising offered. While there were certainly bright spots, it was essentially a month of gloom. But now it’s February. And while I recognize that much of that gloom isn’t actually going away, I can commit to improving things and put on a happy face. Fake it til I make it. I started by doing my first run on Sunday and then scheduling another one for 9pm Tuesday night. I’ve doubled down on reading because it brings me joy. I can keep myself busy by planning more activities that distract me from the aforementioned gloom. Life may not be where I expected or even hoped in the year I turn 40, but it’s February now, and that means it’s time to put on my big girl panties and make lemonade out of 2025.
Finn had himself quite the Saturday that included all his favorite things. We started with a Taylor Swift cover band concert, had lunch at a dim sum restaurant (he loves bao), hit up a bookstore, and watched a movie. I think his only complaint was us cutting the bookstore trip short when he pooped his pants. He would have preferred to just keep reading while offending everyone’s nostrils. Our full schedule meant we completely skipped his nap, but it all worked out, which felt like a big parenting win.
I love vintage shopping. Part of it is the thrill of the hunt, part of it is my old soul, and part is that I love seeing the superior craftsmanship of yesteryear. I bought a single day ticket for Sunday of the Manhattan Vintage Show and enjoyed all three hours I spent perusing the many many racks. I was hoping to find some good deals but, alas, very little was discounted enough to offset my ticket price. I did find three pieces so, in the end, it was worth it. It was also worth it just to have a whole afternoon with my own thoughts where I could finish my book on a long bus ride and walk through the show without having to be “on” while chatting with a friend.
One of Finn’s gifts this holiday season (Birthday? Chanukah? Christmas? They all happen at the same time in our house so who knows.) was a Swingly storefront. Basically, this canvas panel is designed to look like the window of the store. We chose one that is a pizza shop on one side (no brainer for my child who can’t bear to miss a pizza Friday) and a sandwich shop on the other – two for the price of one. It fits perfectly inside a doorframe and is installed, easy peasy, with Velcro strips. It took us a month to actually start using it, but I’m so happy we finally did. It offers hours of fun and takes up virtually no space. It’s also great to combine with other toys Finn already had, like his cash register and kitchen set. Finn has been really leaning into pretend play lately and this “toy” really encourages that. It’s a great launchpad for developing problem solving skills, practicing math, and nurturing social skills/creativity. I’d recommend it to anyone, but if you’re a city dweller or locked inside due to cold weather, it’s a true lifesaver.
Peaches to Apples 