I did an Instagram Q&A yesterday and thought I’d answer ten more of your questions here! You can read my January Q&A here if you like these kinds of posts.
Itty bitty Tucker in Florida last April!
February Q&A
1. Did you share a set of affordable bamboo flatware once or am I dreaming? Thanks!
Yes, this set from Amazon! It’s not 100% identical to this set we have from Pottery Barn, but it’s pretty darn close.
2. 14 month old boy Easter outfit for cold weather! Comfy, not too formal.
An oxford shirt, a cable-knit sweater, seersucker pants, and a quilted jacket on top if you need it!
3. Any fun travel plans for your family this year?
We are headed back to 30A in Florida with Will’s parents at the end of this month! We went last year and had a great time — it’s a little hard to get to from the northeast (connecting flights with three kids are always an adventure!) but it’s an extremely kid-friendly area and I can’t wait for a little sunshine. We’re taking Teddy and Peter to London in April to cheer on my cousin’s husband at the London marathon and then we’ll head to Nantucket as a family in June!
4. Fave sun hats for summer?
I lost this one at an airport years ago and ordered a replacement as soon as I got home because it’s a summer must-have for me. I love this more *extra* style from Sarah Bray — it reminds me a little of my Grandy’s beloved Peter Beaton hats but with a longer ribbon that’s actually super practical if you’re on a boat or particularly windy beach. And I love a simple white baseball cap too!
5. Do you dye your hair? Redhead starting to go gray, need advice on how to start covering.
I haven’t dyed my hair yet — I’ve definitely spotted a few gray hairs that I’ve plucked out (is that terrible?) but I haven’t decided how I’ll approach it once it’s more prevalent. I feel like red hair is so much harder to make natural-looking than blonde or brunette, but maybe that’s just because I’ve never tried it? Would be happy to share others’ tips if anyone wants to share!
6. Last thing you bought on Amazon?
Brow gel, pimple patches (glamorous!), this makeup brush cleaner, and this utensil holder for outdoor dining (can you tell I’m r-e-a-d-y for spring?).
7. Any bags on your wishlist for spring?
I can’t stop thinking about this splurge-worthy bag in the perfect shade of baby blue! I also think this bag would be a very classic investment purchase. On a more affordable note, I just got this absolutely perfect straw tote and it’s so good in person I can’t believe it’s only $98.
8. What would you be doing if blogging wasn’t your career?
I’d love to think I’d still be writing or decorating in some capacity! I wish I’d given more thought to pursuing a career in design right out of college, or at least interning for an interior designer to see if it’s something I could envision myself doing. I’m not sure I would have had what it takes to start my own design firm, but I think it would have been fascinating to learn from someone else and help grow their business.
9. How do you store photos? External hard drive, cloud?
I back up my iPhone photos to iCloud and I’ve recently started saving photos to Dropbox by month so I can easily upload them for family photo albums I plan to have printed each year.
10. Do you feel like mothering came naturally to you? Thought it would be easier for me!
Yes and no! I think there are certain things that have come more easily than I would have guessed (breastfeeding comes to mind as something I wasn’t sure I would enjoy and ultimately really treasured) and other areas where I’ve had to work harder to find my groove (like playing with three little boys — I’ve made it a priority to seek out activities I can genuinely get into, like building with Magnatiles, marble runs, puzzles, coloring vs. trying to feign enthusiasm for, like, swordfighting). Maybe I would say the emotional components of motherhood come pretty naturally but the physical demands of pregnancy/raising young kids have been the bigger surprise? I posted on Instagram last weekend that I really thought more of motherhood would be cozying up on the couch for family movie nights (and maybe we’ll get there!) but the toddler years are high-energy in a way that I’m not sure comes naturally to many people besides toddlers themselves haha. All that to say: celebrate the aspects of motherhood you do really well— I’ll bet there are more than you think!