Monthly Musings No. 7

The girls' weekend I didn’t know how much I needed...plus, a killer charcuterie board, cozy PJs, and what's on my reading list.

Jul 25, 2025

And just like that, we’re nearing the end of July. I swear, it was just the end of the school year, and now we’re somehow ramping up to go back to school. What?!

I do love the summertime, but this month has been a bit all over the place for me. I’ve had odd work hours with random camp dropoffs, book photo shoots, and social activities, so my brain (and schedule) have felt a bit scattered lately.

Even though I haven’t been quite as productive as I hoped, I still managed to squeeze in a lot of fun. We had our block party for our street and from sun up to sun down, it was full of activities. All of the neighbors kicked things off with a mimosa and donut party, the kids then spent the afternoon going down a ginormous water slide over and over again, and during the evening hours, I squeezed 30+ kids into my backyard for a movie night. Meanwhile, the adults enjoyed a cocktail contest and DJ out front. It was a blast. Our entire family took a three hour nap the next day!

I also had my first mah jongg lesson this month and omg this game is so much fun! My grandma used to play with her friends, but I’ve heard it’s making a comeback with the “younger crowd.”

My friends and I had an instructor (hi, Jenn!) from the Chicago Mahjong Society come teach us how to play (it’s a bit complicated), and it was the best way to learn! We’re hoping to get a monthly game started on our block.

Finally, this past weekend, my college girlfriends came to visit! My mom graciously offered up her condo to us for the weekend, and we had an absolute blast. Dinners, cocktails, and plenty of belly laughs with my old friends. We have eight children between the four of us, and it was nice to get away and party like it was 2008. Ha!

So, as you can see, life has been very full lately! Luckily, it’s been full of fun!

CREATIVE

This DIY built-in project turned out so great. Definitely looking into those cabinets for my future mudroom build.
“What I learned about interior design from staging homes.” A good read.

AESTHETIC

We added these lanterns to my friend Kristin’s back patio, and they’re SO GOOD! They’re solar, so no need to change any batteries. They emit a gorgeous light at night and really make the backyard special.
Elemis sent these resurfacing facial pads for me to try out, and I am digging them. I use one on my face right when I get up, and my skin feels fresh and ready for the day. Time will tell if they improve my skin texture and tone.

STYLISH

Earlier this month, I shared a roundup of what I bought from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I’ve been wearing these PJs just about every night because they’re so lightweight and soft!
Millennials are changing what 40 looks like. Hell yes.

ENTERTAINING

I binge-watched America’s Sweethearts on Netflix and loved it. As a dancer, it was fun to watch these talented women strive to make the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader team. I thought this season had more depth than the first, so I appreciated that!
This book is up next on my reading list.
How being a liberal activist actually makes you happier via
Emily Amick
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YUMMY

I don’t know the last time I ate egg salad, but I’m very tempted to make this one as a high-protein lunch option.
We host in our backyard a lot, so I just upped my serving plates. I ended up getting this giant board for charcuterie (it’s so big and so beautiful). I also snagged this wooden board that has a lid for easy transport (or to keep the bugs off your food!).

This month’s community spotlight is all about working, parenting, and the beautiful chaos that comes with doing both at the same time…

Meet Annie Pecoraro from Le Village Cowork, Lakeview

Le Village is a coworking space with onsite childcare. I actually went to their Irving Park location for a few months when I was pregnant with Ellis, and Rory was one. It felt great to be productive, knowing Rory was being cared for in the next room over. Why isn’t this a thing everywhere?!

Annie and her team are building a real village where parents connect, kids play, and work gets done! They keep opening more locations around the city (and hopefully it will expand to other areas of the country too).

Each month, I love spotlighting someone from our community who is doing meaningful, heart-filled work. But here’s the thing…I need your help! I’m running low on people to feature, and I know there are so many amazing women-led businesses out there. Fill out this form to be considered!