This week, my husband and I are going on vacation…without the kids….for pretty much the first time. I’m nervous, but it will be fine, etc etc.
As is the way of the universe, we’ve had a handful of little life hiccups in the weeks leading up to the trip, and then I had a trip to Las Vegas for the jewelry show, Couture, so I feel like I’ve been flinging myself head-first into the wind for a bit. Nothing major, just a lot of little admin-y kinds of things lately. I’ve noticed that when I start to feel kind of antsy and overwhelmed like that, I rely more on my phone for distraction. I check Instagram and Email compulsively, I think because subconsciously I’m hyperaware to feeling like I might miss something.
However, lately on the weekends I’ve made a very deliberate effort to leave my phone at home if I’m out with my husband and kids. I don’t even want the option of being pulled out of the moment - and it’s made a massive impact in the quality of my life, and the quality of my time with my kids.
On this trip, we’ll be with some of our best and oldest friends from New York, I wanted to get that same kind of feeling. BUT! Being a mom, with my kids far away, there’s no chance in hell I’d be able to separate from my phone. SO! Instead, I’m going to try and separate from Instagram, and also not send out a newsletter next week. I’m going to delete all the social media off my phone, all my shopping apps, all my analytics apps, etc etc, and just let my phone be a vehicle for texting with home.
Anyway, you won’t hear from me next week, but when I’m back I’m sure I’ll have all kinds of insights about going mom style off the grid, and also about trying to be the same brand of carefree and open that I was with this same group of friends before I had kids. I feel like I’m trying to step into the old me a little bit, I’m sure she won’t fit, but let’s see what happens.
In the mean time, here are some links to things I’ve enjoyed reading recently, and also a few past Earl Earl shopping posts that might be fun for you.
My good friend Seoyeon sent me this link last week after the post about taboos around moms getting stoned. It’s a more well-researched and well-informed version of the same argument, and it’s a good read.
Camel Mode! I also wrote about this last week, but if you haven’t already read it, it’s great.
And then this one, also from The Cut, about giving yourself a little permission to embrace mess.
From Earl Earl, here are a few:
Maternity Style picks! I’m about to do one that’s updated for summer….
Some of the things I was most excited to find when I unpacked our storage unit from New York (after moving to LA).
An essay on how my style changed after I had a baby.
And finally, The Silly Bitch Returns - something I wrote last summer post Roe v Wade.
I love you, your friend,
Laurel