I’ve always loved being able to look back on what I was enjoying at different chapters in my life. Since 2025 is the year I turn 40, I thought it would be fun to keep track of the little things I love (but easily forget about once I move on to something new.)
I used to write Loving Lately posts often, sometimes in the form of Friday Favorites once a week. I’m not sure why I stopped but I’d love for that to change. Moving forward, I will be sharing a Loving Lately post whenever I feel like it. Here you may find a list of new hobbies, favorite foods, well loved products, life news, and more.
Loving Lately / v.1.2025
January has been a weird month – which is pretty typical in the history of new years. It dawned on me this morning when I was thinking about a recent change in our life that I should have not been surprised when it happened. Every “new year” some-thing occurs within the first 8 weeks – it’s never predictable, always emotional – and I’m forced to pause and reflect on the big picture.
Currently there are thousands of families displaced after losing their homes in the California fires. I’m not blind to the fact my situation pales in comparison to this incomprehensible tragedy. I have my home, my prized possessions, my clothes and even my random junk drawers in tact. My mind cannot process the events that have occurred in California nor could I begin to imagine how so many are feeling this morning. If you’re one of my readers from California – please let me know if there is anything I can share in regards to helping you and your community.
Gratitude
I am trying something new to shine light on the little things in my life I may take for granted. It’s easy to say I’m thankful for my family’s health or our warm home, but more often than not I forget to revel in the miniscule moments and bits of life that I am so fortunate to experience. Snow in the forecast, book discussions, and Aquaphor are three things on my gratitude list this morning.
If you were to peek at my Daily Gratitude box scribbles over the last two weeks, you may read: a clean sink, being able to put my thoughts down on paper, hugs, a winter coat that covers my butt, music that makes me feel something, and the beauty of a full moon.
Hobbies
Motherhood left me with very little time for uninterrupted moments to do the things I have always loved to do – like journal and read. Whatever free time I have has always been spent writing my blog or watching t.v.. In my quest to be a happier human – by taking care of my self and personal needs – I am consciously shifting my free time priorities. Yoga and tap dancing was added to my repertoire a few years ago, but journaling and reading has remained an inconsistent hobby. This year I am making those two things happen!
Journaling – This Christmas I received a Guided Wellness Journal that I have been easily working through every day. There are daily prompts for the morning and night where I can write down intentions, gratitude, energy level, restful/active moments, etc. It takes me only a few minutes to write in it and I can always find that time before the family wakes up. The journal is helping me sort through my feelings and forces me to write about things I may not acknowledge if I were to use a regular blank journal. My therapist loves it for me- and I love it for myself. 🙂
Reading – My brain and heart need fictional literature to truly be happy (I was an English literature major in college after all). If I can’t find the time to sit down and read a book, I now listen to graphic audio books on Hooplah through our public library. I have a love/hate relationship with graphic audio books though because the steamy scenes are so cringe-worthy. Plus, I can’t listen to them without headphones if there are little ears present. Or any ears present… it is very uncomfortable to have someone walk in on you listening to a sex scene. However, I put up with the steaminess because graphic audio really is like a movie in your mind (or so they say).
The ease of incorporating reading into my life again started last summer after I got sucked into the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Now I can’t get enough of the fantasy romance genre. I am trying to finish the second Crescent City book, also by Sarah J. Maas, before the NEW Rebecca Yarros novel is released next week. If you haven’t read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros I highly recommend it.
Want to see what else I’m reading or want to read? Check out my Good Reads account. I have had it for years but only recently started to use it to keep track of the books I consume.
A Very Important Update
OUR NEW PODCAST PILOT IS LIVE! If you missed it, our old podcast was cancelled abruptly in November. I was heartbroken as the podcast had become one of the best projects I was ever a part of. Plus, my co-hosts were a huge part of the joy in my life. Why were we cancelled? Or maybe it’s more like we were fired… whatever you want to call it, the podcast was over within a matter of minutes.
Transparently, we were all hired as hosts and did not have any ownership over R4F. Not wanting to let something good just disappear, my 3 co-hosts and I decided we didn’t need a production company to have a podcast. We have launched a NEW and much better podcast called Just 4 Moms where we make all the big decisions (and do all the hard behind the scenes work).
In our pilot episode, we tease the Just 4 Moms Podcast, a show dedicated to women, friendship, motherhood and more. Join Kallie Branciforte, Caitlin Houston (me), Megan Schinella and Charlotte Smith as they chat about astrology, Christmas Tree cakes, and pits and peaks of the holidays.
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