👋 I Want to Thank You

It's Monday. I'm here for you.

Nov 04, 2024

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Hi, Friend. Jen here!

I’m writing this to you with my feet up.

Yesterday, I worked a wedding in Manhattan as a hired bridesmaid. It’s been a little since I’ve been back in action and it felt so good to be running around bridesmaiding for a stranger again.

I was nervous that it would feel funky or unimportant now that my life is soo different. So much of my brain and heart is wrapped up in being a mom.

I woke up at 5am to be with Gemma and play tea party and gossip with her and Elmo. By the time I had to report to the wedding, it felt like I had already lived out an entire day — a different kind of day.

But once I put on the outfit, I felt like a superhero transforming back into a role that I’ve been doing, and loving, for a decade.

We can be so many different things to so many different people. That’s always what I wanted.

I never wanted to be just Jen or just a mom or just one job title.

👋 Welcome to the Monday Pick-Me-Up. It’s comfy to just live identical days over and over again. But it’s more of a thrill to blur the lines in our life and be a few versions of ourselves all in one day. I have some small, and practical, ideas for how to do that this month. Stay with me.

Write a list of everyone you love. BCC them on an email and ask for their updated address. Send them each a postcard saying hello and sending some love. People love getting mail and you don't have to spend a lot of money to bring the people you love a little holiday joy.
There's a lot of money stress this time of year. Before you overbuy on presents or Black Friday sales, write down lists of what you actually need. Use a price checking app to see if the price is lower before holiday sales - sometimes it is.
Do the same with gifts. Write down everyone you want to give gifts to. Set an overall budget then divide it on your list. Joy shouldn't have a price tag, so challenge yourself to spend 30% less than what you wrote down. It will just take more time and creativity to pull that off, so start now.
Learn one new skill so you can say "wow I learned one new thing this year." Sign up for a weekend local class or a free one online. You can learn a major thing or a tiny thing, or at least start the adventure of both.
You know my favorite thing to do is clean out all my closets and drawers. It helps me and the energy in my life feel lighter. Donate what you can, sell what you want, and keep only the stuff that sparks joy.
Take inventory of your year - this is a therapeutic healing process that will make you understand exactly what 2024 was without judgment and help you process what you want 2025 to be.
Plan yourself one "me day" before the end of the year. Me day is when you pack in 3-5 of your favorite treats in one day. My me day would look like: morning workout, brunch at my fav avocado toast spot, shopping around town, foot massage for $30, lunch with a friend, and a Broadway show.
Look in your closet and find an outfit you love but have nowhere to wear it to, and create something to wear it to. I'm going to the ballet in December with a friend and using it as an excuse to wear a ball gown and get fancy.
Print out your credit card statements and analyze all your spending for the year. This one doesn’t seem fun but it’s fascinating to understand where your money went this year.
Read one more book, or if you can't find the time, listen to one more book. Audio books are free on Libby after you connect your library card.
Learn to cook a day's worth of meals: a new breakfast, a new lunch, a new dinner, and of course a new dessert.
Write thank you notes to three people who made your year better - could be anyone from your barista to your best friend.
Do a digital declutter - clean out your email, unsubscribe from newsletters you never read, organize your photos.
Make a playlist of your top 24 songs from 2024 - one that captures the whole mood of your year. Play it as background music as you take care of unwound tasks.
Try that thing you've been saying "maybe someday" to - sign up for that dance class, book that trip, or send that application.
Start a gratitude jar for 2025 - write down one good thing each week and read them one by one starting in January.
Make a maintenance appointment for something you've been putting off - dental cleaning, car service, annual checkup, whatever needs doing.
Pick three photos from your year and actually print them out to frame.
Write a letter to yourself to open next December - what do you hope will be different? What do you hope will stay the same?
Make a "done" list instead of a to-do list - write down everything you've accomplished this year, big and small. This one will make you radiate with joy.
Plan one adventure for early 2025 so you have something to look forward to after the holidays end.

👏 Instant Pick Me Ups

🛒: Things I loved this week:

I just bought this sweatshirt in a few colors. Size up so it’s extra comfy! But I plan to live in these this winter with jeans or leggings.
I’ve worn these pants so much that I had to get a second pair. I sized up too so they are a little baggy but still fit nice.
I’ve shared this before because I love in the two that I have. Grabbing one more in these sale colors. I size up 2-3 sizes in this so it’s extra baggy and comfy.
My favorite sneaker of the year.

📖: This book looks soo interesting and different from my usual reads.

🎵: A playlist to make you feel like a main character.

⏰: A reminder to text someone you’ve been thinking about lately and simply say: You’ve been on my mind lately. Tell me something good in your life.

🎡🎢🎆 Co0o0ol Little Thing

Using this space to share updates on my Co0o0ol Little Thing and hear about yours! Okay, so last week we broke down exactly how to pick a Co0o0ol Little Thing and decide how many hours a week you’re going to spend on it.

I picked: Finishing the last chapter of my third book & getting it published.

I decided: I’d carve out 5 hours a week to work on this.

*I originally said an hour a day but that’s not super realistic. So instead, I’m saying 5-hours a week because I think some days I can do 2-hours, other days 1-hour, and some days zero.

To do this: I’m cutting out some time spent BS’ing on social media and binging Netflix shows.

I am staring: This week because hellllo0o November.

What about you?

The Monday Pick Me Up

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