By far the most frequently asked question I get these days is, “Why the move to South Carolina?”

It’s taken me a while to sit down and put our story into words- the last several months depleting me of the energy and emotional bandwidth to put such a huge decision into a post.

But we’re unpacked. We’re settled. We have a routine and the few fears I did have are now assuaged. We feel truly at home.

And I’ve had some time to reflect on the last seven months.

So here it is:

Have I ever told you about the time I created a campaign video with Julia Dags only to have it pulled because there was a listeria outbreak in romaine lettuce? No? Well here it is…

Well… Better late than never, folks!
A few weeks ago I asked if y’all were interested in an “empties” post and the overwhelming majority of you said, “yes.”

So here we go.

It’s that matching holiday pajama time of year again in the Matkovic household, and we’ve already got our hands on some serious goodies. Yesterday I grabbed the candy cane, llama and gingerbread versions for the girls’- all on sale- and they’ve already taken a pair out for a spin.

Maybe we’ll just start all over and become charcuterie artists…

In our household, cheese boards are our love language and we’ve rarely met one we didn’t like.

Ah, it's the magical mystery kind

Ah, must be a lie

Bye bye to the too good to be true kind of love

Oh, I could die

Oh now I can die

We chose this as our wedding song after a fast and furious love affair. It felt fitting and I adored the beat. We didn’t realize at the time it was about tripping, but I guess the whirlwind we were in sort of felt that way, too.

Happy Sunday, friends! It’s been a while since I posted over here; mainly because of that crazy quarantine life. Today was a dreary one, which has been making these long, confined days just a tad bit harder.

One of the most challenging aspects of handing the recent pandemic, for us, has been explaining all the sudden and immense changes we’ve experienced to our four and a half year old. My heart hurts for all the kids that have been affected by this crisis- in so many different ways.

Happy Friday, friends!

I interrupt this self-quarantine with a picture of baby Maddie enjoying a subscription book box last year. I can’t believe how big she’s gotten; how much has changed. Especially given these unprecedented times.

For us, the most challenging part of this social distancing, by far, has been trying to explain to Maddie why she can’t play with her friends. It breaks my heart to see her so sad to be without her classmates and buddies- to have her wonder why she can’t go to the playground or have a play date.

Yesterday my mama forwarded an article with links to a few virtual tours of some well-loved rides at the Happiest Place on Earth. Like so many people, we had to cancel a trip to Mickey’s House this season; leaving our girls longing for that Disney magic. Being that we’re self-proclaimed Disney Geeks- you can find more in my guides here and here- I thought I’d share some links to our favorite rides and shows.

Ok, if I’m being honest I’m playing a little fast and loose with the term teacher. I never technically had my own classroom. But I do have just a few units left before I earn my Masters in Education, and I spent over a year in a local elementary school as an in-house sub. Plus I do have a current GPA of 4.0, meaning I know a thing or two or writing a lesson plan.

The last week has been strange.

I’ve intentionally avoided writing about it- I’m not a medical professional, or an expert in public health or policy. Or, anything, really.

I’ve been confused by the incredible discrepancy between how our friends and neighbors have interpreted the best course of action: some have vowed to only leave home when absolutely necessary while others are sharing pictures on airplanes to vacations with their children.

You guys: this sweet little cherub is six months old today, and I honestly cannot believe it.

It’s such a strange dichotomy: to feel so strongly that this tiny person was always meant for us, while formerly having succumbed to the notion that she may never come. As a result, there were moments, at first, where I couldn’t believe she was here. That she was ours. That after everything, after she decided to grow in my belly; that she came so effortlessly.

Happy Humpday, kids!

It was a slow start to our week thanks to a tummy bug and cutting teeth; but we’ve fully recovered and are back in the swing of things and business as usual. Just in time for my upcoming girls’ trip to sunny Florida- which this mama desperately needs.

The temperatures have been slowly climbing here in Connecticut, and I have a very much needed trip to Miami just around the corner, so I thought this week would be a good time to share some of my favorite finds for the upcoming season.