Our Weekday Default
The other week, I mentioned that having a “default” routine helps me avoid burnout. We often have to make small tweaks to that routine - and sometimes, like next week when Jon will be out of town and I’ll have to stay in the office late at least a few nights, big ones - but it means we’re not starting from scratch with the logistics every time we plan our steps for the day ahead.
So let’s look at the morning and evening defaults through the week:
Instituting Shabbat
When Jon and I sat down at the end of the summer to sketch out the academic year ahead in broad strokes, I told him I wanted to prioritize Friday evening Shabbat dinners.
We’ve done Shabbat - saying the prayers, at least - most weeks over the last few years, but I want to make it part of our default. More, actually: I want to keep Friday evening sacred as family time. Part of that means committing to being at home for Shabbat and scheduling activities on other nights. But the other part, even if we just throw a frozen pizza in the oven and say the hagafen over a beer (despite the blessing literally meaning “who created the fruit of the vine”), means recognizing it as an experience outside of our normal routine.
How I (Try To) Avoid Burnout
Earlier this week, I mentioned on Instagram that I had about a dozen half-drafted posts (or titles for posts, at least) on working motherhood saved for this blog. I asked if there was anything in particular you wanted to read from me, and someone replied, “You somehow do not seem burnt out. How?”
Drawing Up Whole-House Plans
Let’s just pick up where we left off, shall we! Or, actually, let’s back up just a bit:
The one thing all five of the design/build firms we talked to about our renovation goals agreed on was that, with our savings plus the amount of money we were willing to borrow, we couldn’t afford to do everything we wanted. Maybe that sum would have worked pre-pandemic, they each said sadly, but costs haven’t come down since mid-2020’s meteoric rise.
Our kitchen is falling apart, though, and there are a few other pieces we really can’t wait to do to improve our home. So the firm we hired - which will henceforth be known as The Firm - suggested...
Potential Dresses for a Fall Black-Tie Gala
After nearly five years at a small community- and youth-focused nonprofit that didn’t have fancy events, I’m now working at an organization that throws one of the best-known balls in Washington, DC.
The theater and museum I worked at before my last role both hosted annual black-tie galas, so I’m familiar with the pressure and excitement that come to a head on the night. Because of that, I know what’s needed in a gown...