While I imagine the experience we went through last year — moving a young family from one home to another in middle childhood — might be somewhat singular for me, I still want to record it for posterity. (I say “singular” because while we never know for sure what’s ahead, I can easily imagine a life in which our next big move is as empty nesters. And since our first big move was from an apartment, sans children, that would make the move we undertook last year a singular experience in our life. Which is a crazy thought!)

Still, even if I never need to use my own advice again, we did learn a few things along the way, and I’d love to share them with you. I also know that many of you are seasoned movers with a deeper well of experience to offer than me, and I’d love to hear from you in the comments. If not for my benefit (staying put as I intend to!), then for our fellow readers :) 

The first bag of trash (OF MANY) and the first collection of boxes to go to storage

How does it work to sell and buy a house?

First, my biggest question when we approached this move was how to order its cadence — when do we put the house we’re selling on the market? When do we schedule the moving truck? — and it was frustrating to feel like I never got a clear, satisfactory answer from any party. Not their fault: now on the other side, I think it’s because there is no universal order that works in every situation. But in case it’s helpful, this was our timeline:

The first week of August: Our soon-to-be-new house comes on the market (while we are on vacation, do not recommend), we make an offer, we make another offer, we make another offer, and it is accepted. We are under contract with a closing date in early October.

Remainder of August: We begin prepping our old home for sale. We declutter belongings and hire people to make repairs and complete final projects or do them ourselves. We begin packing boxes. (I aim for at least one per day.)

September 15: We rent a small storage unit and use it to stash items we don’t want in our home during the selling process (listing photos, open houses, showings, etc.). This includes toys, a few pieces of furniture, our Peloton, decor, and some packed boxes. We rent it for two months.

September 25: Listing photos are taken of our home.

October 1: Another photographer takes new listings photos, since we didn’t like the editing on the first ones. This was a bit awkward to advocate for in the moment but I think it paid off.

October 2: We officially close on our new home and our old home goes on the market – yes, on the same day! We host open houses on Saturday and Sunday and accept an offer on Sunday night. We now own two homes. Since our new home is less than a mile from our old home, we begin moving boxes and more delicate items (plants, lamps, art) in small loads a few times a week.

October 17: Movers come to move our furniture and all remaining boxes to the new house. They also swing by our storage unit to collect the items we’ve stashed there.

This is also the date the sale was expected to close on our old house. As you know, this did not go according to plan, and the sellers back out on this, the last possible day. After some scrambling, we secure a new buyer and go under contract on Sunday night, with a new closing date of November 17. In the meantime, we camp overnight with friends on Friday, then officially spend our first night in the new house on Saturday. 

November 17: We say an official, final goodbye to the old house and sign the papers to close.

Our home on the day the listing photos were taken

Tips for working with movers

While we moved our belongings with the help of family and friends when we lived in an apartment, hiring movers was a no-brainer this time around. (For locals, we used Crabtree Family Movers and they were great!) A few thoughts and pieces of advice:

— We kept gatorade in the fridge and welcomed the crew to help themselves throughout the day.

— As soon as the movers showed up, things moved FAST. There was really no time for packing final boxes or getting organized that morning — our house started emptying immediately and the pace didn’t let up. I thought it would go a bit slower and was scrambling to stuff a few final things in boxes!

— The first half of the day (the loading) was fairly hands-off. The second half of the day I was engaged the whole time, standing by the truck as they unloaded, answering questions and making sure every box and item of furniture went to the right room (even though we had labeled boxes!).

— There were a few final items we wanted to move by hand, and we made sure to segregate them in a corner and point them out to the movers first thing. Otherwise, everything will go into the truck before you even realize what’s happening, ha.

— We had cash on hand to tip each guy $40, which we handed to the foreman at the end of the day.

John power washing in the dark after he didn’t like the way the driveway looked after the first listing photos (LOL) and the box situation two days before moving day

Other miscellaneous tips for moving:

— We sourced free boxes from friends, our local Buy Nothing group, and the ABC store. The ABC boxes are a little smaller, but they were great for heavier items like books. I also bought a few larger ones from Lowes. (Good to remember – you can return unused boxes to Lowes!) Because you’re at the mercy of others’ timing, I wish I had started claiming boxes earlier on Buy Nothing.

— Several friends told me they had been able to get good-quality free boxes from Chick-fil-a, but I called several of our local restaurants and all seemed confused by my request, ha.

— As we unpacked, I gave away any boxes we didn’t want to keep on Buy Nothing. Much easier than breaking them all down!

— We mowed our lawn one final time just before moving the mower, to hopefully keep the grass at a reasonable level for the new owners.

— I kept a few extra, empty plastic tubs on hand on moving day to corral last-minute items. Highly recommend.

— Several of those tubs were used to pack sleep things. As soon as we got up on moving day, I stripped everyone’s beds and ran all the sheets through the laundry (at the old house). I packed the fresh sheets, blankets, and pillows and all other sleep necessities — white noise machines, Yotos, pajamas, stuffies, John’s sleep mask — in the same tub. That first night at the new house, we put on a movie for the kids and John and I worked together to get everyone’s bed set up: sheets on, pillows fluffed, stuffies in place, white noise machines plugged in. It took the whole 1.5 hours (longer than I thought!) to get it done, but but working together with John that night in our new home is actually a very sweet memory.

Doing the laundry one last time at our old house and the main room after the movers descended

— Since we camped on Friday night, our first official night in the new house was Saturday. Friends from church offered to bring us dinner that night; I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal but it really was! First, to have dinner taken care of, but also to have friends in our home even briefly really made it feel like home. On Sunday night, when things were still disheveled, we ate a premade meal for dinner (locals — from Donovan’s Dish), which was also a great call. By the time Monday rolled around we had groceries in the fridge and though we still kept meals really simple, cooking was more feasible.

— One of the most surprisingly refreshing parts of moving was looking at everything that had hung on our walls with a clear eye. I find it hard enough to commit and actually get something hung; once I do, I basically never switch it out. So, after 12 years, it was a delight to be forced to consider whether we actually still wanted each piece on our walls! It’s been a slow process in the new house, and we still have much to hang, but I’ve enjoyed releasing pieces we no longer want on Buy Nothing.

— In the packing process, we emptied many bins and baskets as we filled boxes. We collected all those containers and kept them in a central place in the new house (a stairwell), which made it easy to “shop” for the container we needed in the new house as we unpacked. Most things did not go back into the same configuration as they had in the old house.

— In general, the new house has necessitated lots of new solutions, and shedding of the old. There was an acute two-month period where I was doing a lot of selling items on Facebook Marketplace or giving them away in our Buy Nothing group while also buying new items for new needs. We still have a ways to go in the new house, but the initial flurry has died down.

Finally, something to prepare yourself for: the things you suspect might be an issue when you’re considering a house might very well be an issue once you’ve signed on the dotted line. For example, the thing I was most worried about in advance of our move was the square footage of the dining room. While well-sized for daily dinners, I worried it would be a tight squeeze when gathering the twelve gals of Articles Club or a family with kids. I was right. We make it work, but just as you’re likely to be disappointed hoping your partner will magically change after a wedding, so it is with a home sale.

On the other hand, you might find there are surprises and delights around every corner. As you know, I felt very conflicted throughout the moving process, and into our first few weeks in our new home. I worried if we were making the wrong decision. I missed our old home and our old neighbors. I was desperate to make changes to make our new home feel like “us.” 

Now, six months in, I feel like George Banks on the regular: “I LOVE this house,” I think, as I turn onto our cul-de-sac, windows down, front yard maple coming into view. I love how it looks, I love how it feels, I love all the light, I love the backyard, I love that this is where we get to raise our kids. I hope we’re here for a very long time, and I am so grateful. So if change is hard for you, and moving has you in a tizzy, there is hope.

Alright — what would you add? I’d love to hear. xo

P.S. I originally planned to include new home photos in this post, but it got too long and it felt right to give airtime to these in-process photos, instead! A little tour coming soon.

For this year’s warm weather spring break pursuit, our family roadtripped to St. Simons Island, one of Georgia’s barrier islands and part of the Golden Isles. It’s adjacent to past destination Jekyll Island and similar in feel to last year’s pick Hilton Head, but it had a charm all of its own. I’d love to tell you about it and share a few photos, if you’d like to see!

How we chose St. Simons, in short:

1) John is committed to a warm weather spring break trip.
2) We generally try not to fly all five of us unless it’s necessary because of the expense.
3) Over the years, we’ve found that lower Georgia is a reasonable road trip that reliably delivers warm, beachy weather.

After casting about for something new, we landed on St. Simons!

Sunday was our day of departure, and mostly spent en route. We listened to The Mona Lisa Vanishes audiobook for free through Libby and the big kids and grown-ups all enjoyed it. (I suspect Annie liked it a little less than last year’s pick, The Wild Robot.) We also stopped for lunch at old favorite Lowcountry Produce, and I only mention it because I had one of the best salads of my life at their table: chopped romaine, lemon dijon vinaigrette, warm red potatoes, bacon, goat cheese, tomatoes…! Must recreate.

Upon arrival in Georgia, we unloaded the car, toured the house, did a little unpacking, then drove over to Ember for our first dinner. Though in a strip mall, it’s a low-lit, fancier vibe inside. We split several wood-fired pizzas, which were very thin-crusted but yummy.

Monday morning dawned beautifully sunny (a theme, as you will soon see!). We slept in and let the kids watch part of 101 Dalmatians on the TV in their bunk room after they woke up — the height of luxury. Lest you think I’m completely anti-screen, they did this every morning, and it was a highlight of the trip :)

Our big adventure of the day was biking to the eleven public “Tree Spirits” around the island. Carved into live oak trees by a father-son duo, these fanciful pirates, mermaids, and faces were fun to spot as we criss-crossed the island on our bikes.

Our route was a 12-mile round trip (!), though we stopped along the way to watch small planes land and take off on the airstrip, to tour the St. Simons Island lighthouse, and to eat lunch at Porch, a chicken emporium.

Porch got two thumbs up from the whole family; my spicy fried chicken sandwich with pimento cheese, pickles, and coleslaw was especially delicious. (It might have been my favorite meal of the whole trip.) We also lingered to play a few rounds of corn hole and giant connect-four on the lawn before hopping back on our bikes.

As for our other midday stop, the lighthouse was beautiful and the visitors center looked brand new. A fun feature of this lighthouse as compared to others we’ve visited: we got to tour the keeper’s house, which was outfitted with period furnishings. There was also a 10-minute movie playing on a loop with the history of the lighthouse and keepers that we watched before we climbed to the top.

The whole adventure was enjoyable, but I will admit it was not the most relaxing for me. This was Annie’s first vacation riding her own bike versus riding in the trailer or a bike seat, and while she is an excellent bike rider (especially for a four year old!), she is nowhere near as reliable as the big kids: she’s more likely to get distracted, to stop short, to zig and zag when she shouldn’t, or get rattled by a pot hole. Plus, she takes up about one-quarter the visual space of John, so I felt the need to be right on her at all times to make sure that cars could see us both. Needless to say, I was on high alert the entire time.

That being said, the route was essentially completely flat, which made us feel we could bike for miles – and we did! There are multi-use paths throughout the whole island (which was the only way this worked), but just as a heads up I felt that they were a little closer to the roads, or the roads were a little busier, than in either HHI or Jekyll Island. 

After finding all 11 Spirits (and playing some hoops on the basketball court in the park near the last one), we triumphantly rode back home. We swam in the backyard pool for about an hour before quick showers and changing for dinner.

Even in our fancier clothes we ended up biking to dinner (one of my favorite parts of vacation!), which was just up the road at the Georgia Sea Grill. This was definitely a fancier restaurant, with some older gentlemen in jackets. (I love a clientele that’s not afraid to dress up!) Service was leisurely and our kids were ready to go by the time the check came, but the food was delicious and they did a great job keeping a lid on things. Once home, the kids quickly got into pajamas and I read a few chapters of our current readaloud before lights out, though Annie fell asleep a few paragraphs into the first chapter :) It was a big day for little four-year-old legs!

On Tuesday we followed a blueprint that we perfected last year in Hilton Head: beach, pool, cookout at home. We began the SSI version by biking to town for breakfast at Palmer’s Village Cafe, which was delicious but had a very long wait. (We browsed in the nearby library to kill some of it.)

Then we packed up our beach cart (our rental house had come with a rental credit, which we used for the cart, two adult bikes, and a skimboard) and walked to the beach, which Shep calculated at 149 steps from our rental’s front door. We played for a few hours, building sand castles, throwing the frisbee, trying the skimboard, and wading out to a sandbar. 

Once back at the house, we hopped in the pool and enjoyed some poolside snacks we’d picked up at the Winn-Dixie earlier that week: Croc Bites cheese, crackers, salami, grapes, and baby carrots. Later, John fired up the grill and we ate hot dogs and chips poolside. We ended the evening with a short bike ride to Moo Cow for ice cream cones, then it was showers and a Tuesday-edition family movie night viewing of Zootopia 2, which we all enjoyed. We have very few photos from this day, which we’ll take as a sign of a good time!

Wednesday morning started early. We ate breakfast at home, then drove an hour south to St. Mary’s, the port town for Cumberland Island National Seashore.

Longtime readers might remember that Cumberland holds a special place in our hearts: John and I first visited this barrier island the spring break of our senior year in college. We returned many years later with June and Shep, in 2021, but since Annie had never visited, we decided to tack it onto this trip, too. It’s something of a liminal space for us, shifting effortlessly between past and present.

All rocking our M22 gear! We can’t wait to go back this summer!!

We took the 9:30am ferry over. It was another beautiful day, which made the 45-minute ride through the marshes a delight. Our four hours on the island were spent walking along the beach (we found three sand dollars and a giant blue whelk!), eating our packed picnic lunch beside the Dungeness ruins, and exploring the live oak forest luxuriously draped in Spanish moss. And all along the way, we saw wild horses — more than 20, including some babies.

Though they tell you to stay at least 50 feet away, the horses aren’t shy about coming quite close to visitors, as you can see below :)

We also got to see a sea turtle rescue in progress! This gal was being carted off the island after being found with too many barnacles on her shell. They were taking her to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, which we’d visited!

Several kids napped on the hourlong drive back to St. Simons, charging us up for a quick bike over to Southern Soul BBQ for dinner.

We were really looking forward to it, as we had biked by the day before and it had smelled so good, but… we were disappointed. However, I think we’re liable for some of the blame — as good North Carolinians, we ordered pulled pork with vinegar sauce, and it was pretty flavorless. Maybe we should have ordered the brisket, or their signature sweet sauce? However, the coleslaw and potato salad were also pretty flavorless, so I don’t think the blame rests solely with us.

We biked home, stopping by St. Simons Sweets for ice cream cones before an evening dip in the pool and showers before turning on Survivor. 

As our last full day, we had kept Thursday’s itinerary purposefully open so that we could revisit favorites from earlier in the week if we wanted. We started with breakfast at Palm Coast, which ended up being everyone’s favorite breakfast spot. (We were seated right away, which probably helped!) Then we biked our way over to the World War II Home Front Museum. 

Housed in the original Coast Guard station for St. Simons Island, it’s operated by the same group as the lighthouse museum, the Coastal Georgia Historical Society. Both of these museums were beautiful, impressive, and really well done — they must have some generous benefactors!

The kids truly enjoyed the Home Front Museum. You know how sometimes you go to a museum and the technology is pretty cruddy? This was not that. Everything was custom, responsive, clever, and so well done. We completed radar training, navigated airships, learned to tie knots, built Liberty ships, sent code, and more. We spent about two hours at the museum before biking over to lunch at Fiddler’s, which won top marks from all of us for vibes. Our food was great, too!

And then we were off for a final beach visit. It started out great: Annie and I sculpted a mermaid in the sand, June and Shep worked on a sand barrier at the shoreline, and John perfected his skim boarding technique. Inspired by his progress, I gave it a few more goes… only to crumple to the sand in pain on my third try. To make a long story short, the pain worsened throughout the afternoon and evening (including through dinner at Coastal Kitchen, which was otherwise very nice) – I even made John carry me out to the car because I didn’t feel I could walk on it. After ice, elevation, pain meds, and a night of sleep, I was feeling much better in the morning. We still went straight to the urgent care orthopedic clinic once back in Raleigh, where they confirmed I had a midfoot sprain (but thankfully no fracture!).

A week later, I am out of my boot, mostly pain-free, and almost walking normally. I trust the happy memories from our trip will far outlast the hiccup at the end :)

One more tiny detail to share! Throughout the week we worked on a Magic Puzzle, and it was the perfect interstitial activity. We did one for the first time last spring break after borrowing it from my sister and liked it so much we decided to buy a different one and bring it along. They’re really well done, complete with intricate illustrations, novelty-shape pieces, and a shape-shifting surprise at the end. Highly recommend!

As always, thank you for letting me share! I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about St. Simons in the comments!

On my calendar:
— Spring sports! Annie is playing soccer at the fields in our neighborhood, June is playing town soccer, and Shep is trying baseball for the first time. June and I are also enrolled in a four-week JUMP ROPE CLINIC starting later this month. Pray for my knees!!
— A one-night campout with our church CG family. Fingers crossed for a warmer night and for the pollen to have washed away!
— A bike ride with a dear friend on the American Tobacco Trail. We’re planning to bike the full length and then meet our families for dinner at the American Tobacco Campus before driving home!

What I’m loving right now:
— Is it weird to say my own podcast interview? I can’t say I really love listening to my own recorded voice – it will never not be weird – but I am so grateful to have been a guest on my friend Katelyn’s podcast and hope it’s helpful to anyone who chooses to listen!
— I am super late to the game but I’ll go ahead and mention it anyway: I am loving Olivia Dean’s album The Art of Loving. Smooth, jazzy, fun – it’s my nightly dinner-making accompaniment.
— I’m out of time to write a blog post about this year’s Easter baskets, but I did want to share some of the goodies I’ve collected! As always, it’s a mix of new, consignment, and hand-me-down finds. I’ve linked everything I can here and am especially fond of the floral embroidered cross. Last year’s baskets here!

As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!

What you’re loving right now:

This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!

— Annie’s colorful patterned socks. (Florals! Stripes! Dots!) So soft and fun.
— These tiny gold hoop earrings from my Christmas wish list. They look so good with every outfit!
— The Summersalt Ruffle Oasis one piece. Mine has finally bit the dust after 5+ years and I love the style so much I rebought it (in this berry + melon combo!). Order 1-2 sizes up!
— The tanning drops I mix into my face lotion each night. A bottle lasts me a year! More current skincare here.
— My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection.

Last month on The Connected Family:
— Wait, you have a landline?! | Our review of the screen-free, kid-friendly Tin Can landline phone
— 5 very practical things we do to have free-range kids | And not panic all the time.
— In good company | Everyone needs identity, belonging, and purpose.
— Care creates contentment | Tiny actions that can help in a few different categories.

What I read in March:
— Writing Creativity and Soul | This is Sue Monk Kidd’s book on craft. I think she is a magical writer, and though I don’t currently write fiction, I enjoyed getting a peek behind the curtain at her practices. Likely not that relevant if you’re not a writer or SMK super fan.
—Theo of Golden | Let me start by saying — I love this book! I love the characters, I love the quiet pacing, I love the fact that it’s a word-of-mouth smash hit, and most of all I love that a book that so clearly honors the concept of Imago Dei (the idea that all humans are created to reflect God’s nature, possessing inherent dignity, worth, and a divine imprint) has such visibility. That being said, my expectations were through the roof based on the universal effusive reviews, and the reality didn’t quite meet them – I’d have tightened the narrative a bit in a few places. But Theo is still 100% worth your time!
— Liturgy of the Ordinary | My main takeaway from this book: Tish Harrison Warren walked so Justin Whitmel Earley could run. Tish’s book is very similar to Justin’s The Common Rule (and equally lovely!), but I have to say I think I preferred Justin’s just a bit – the latter is a little more practical and structured. However, if you’re looking for ideas to infuse faith practices into everyday life, and to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary, I’m confident you’ll enjoy Tish’s book.
— The Covenant of Water | The adjective “sweeping” was made for books like this. Here’s the description: “Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, Abraham Verghese’s masterful novel follows three generations of a Christian family in Kerala, South India, that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning. As the novel opens, a twelve-year-old girl is sent by boat to her wedding, where she meets her husband for the first time. She joins a prosperous household and becomes known as Big Ammachi, the matriarch of an extraordinary family that will endure hardship, celebrate triumph, and witness unthinkable changes over the coming decades. An exquisite modern classic, The Covenant of Water is an unforgettable and stunning epic of love, faith, and medicine.” The characters! The plotting! Truly incredible and I highly recommend it. (If you love the Pillars of the Earth series, you will love this one.) Just know it is about four inches thick, ha.

My reading list for 2026! I’m 5 / 24 so far.

Revisiting my March goals:
Make final decisions and orders for our master bathroom and built-in projects (Work is underway!)
Hang string lights in our backyard (Didn’t quite get to the backyard but we did hang them on our porch!)
Tag clothes for the consignment sale
Complete final prep for and enjoy June’s birthday trip
Host an Easter potluck and egg hunt for our neighbors (I couldn’t quite get it together to host this this year – planning on next year!)
Nail down camping dates with the Rays and our small group (Small group: )
Shop for donation Easter baskets with the kids
Prep my own kids’ Easter baskets
Tend to this month’s clutter spot: Shep’s bookshelf

April goals:
— Write the first draft of my Sunday service. I’ve once again volunteered to lead a service at our Island this summer. (The last time was — *checks notes* — four years ago.) I’m excited to do it, as it’s one of my very favorite traditions and I want to do my part to support it, but in order for it not to become stressful I plan to start and finish it far in advance. I already have a concept!
— Film Annie in April
— Hang string lights in our backyard
— Research outdoor movie set-ups and choose date for first movie
— Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the third floor bookshelf
— Choose a new wallpaper for the bathroom and otherwise continue to manage our renovation projects

As a reminder, many of these are drawn from my 2026 PowerSheets goals!

Grateful for you, friends! Please feel free to comment on anything I’ve mentioned here or anything else on your mind!

Affiliate links are used in this post!

As some of you might remember, we were on the cusp of doing a master bath renovation in our old house until a stalled contractor and then our move changed our plans. I’m so grateful that the timing worked out as it did, both because we saved money we didn’t need to spend at our old house and because we’ve already done a bunch of thinking about bathrooms that’s served us well in our new house. And in a full-circle moment, we’re using the same contractor.

The plan, in short: we are taking out the tub, enclosing the toilet, moving and enlarging the shower, and moving the vanity — plus switching out the tile, adding millwork and wallpaper, and replacing the fixtures. I am excited and grateful. A peek at the before:

Here are a few inspiration photos. None are exactly what we have planned, of course, but they should give you an idea of the direction we’re headed:

Credits, top to bottom and left to right: unknown, unknown, Erin Gates, House Nine Design, unknown, Wind the Key

And here’s a look at some of our materials!

While the crew is in our house, we’re also having them add built-ins to our main room. Since this space is so central to the downstairs, I hope this change will really set the tone for the whole floor and make our next steps clearer. It also will give us a mantel (yay stockings!) and of course much more closed and open storage for books (so many books!), games, and toys. Again, I am excited and grateful. 

Here’s a rough mock-up of the plan I made with ChatGPT. It’s not quite right, but gives you an idea of what we’re going for!

Will try to share more as we go! Let me know if this was enjoyable — trying to push myself to share shorter posts so I can publish a bit more frequently :) 

So – here we go! My morning and evening skincare routine in my late-30’s.

Rise and shine! Here’s my morning routine:

1. Splash my face with water and pat dry. I’ve found there’s no need to cleanse in the morning. I’m hoping this retains more moisture in my skin!

2. Apply vitamin C serum. Vitamin C serum supposedly has antioxidant and ant-aging properties, and is supposed to give your skin a brighter, more radiant, and more even appearance. It’s one of the two products (along with retinol) it seems everyone recommends in your 30’s, and so I figured it would behoove me to try it. Even though I’ve used it for several years I’ve never really seen any positive effects from it I can isolate, but maybe it’s meant to be more of a protectant than something you see noticeable results from? I do think it gives me an extra layer of moisture, which I appreciate.

I have used many different vitamin Cs over the years — Mad Hippie, Timeless, Biossance, Barefaced — and have never really been able to tell a difference between them. I tend to try something new each time I have to restock. Whatever I’m using, I apply a few drops with my fingers and blend it in all over my face and neck, then wait for it to dry before putting on the next layer…

3. Apply sunscreen. I converted to Elta MD almost a decade ago and I predict it will be a lifelong love affair. It is not inexpensive, but to hear any skin expert talk, the absolute best thing you can do for your skin is wear sunscreen daily. I use one pump all over my face and any extra on my neck (amount shown below!). The Elta glides on smoothly, leaves no white cast, has a nice (very light) smell, and layers well under makeup. It’s also nice that it’s moisturizing enough that I don’t need to use a separate moisturizer, which helps justify the price!

I happily attribute the health of my skin at almost-40 to consistent daily sunscreen on my face since I was 20.

4. Apply deodorant. Like serums, I’ve cycled through natural deodorants over the years. I’ve used Wild for the last year or so and really like it!

5. Brush my teeth. I think doing this step at this point in the routine gives everything a chance to sink in before applying makeup. I use this toothpaste which I’ve raved about before – it actually does seem to whiten without causing pain!

6. Swipe on lip balm. Aquaphor for the win!

Time for bed! Here’s how I end the day:

1. Wash with charcoal soap. Almost a decade in, this product continues to be a slam-dunk winner for me! You cannot beat the price, and I feel like it continues to do so much to balance out my oily/dry skin. I’ve even turned John onto it! After I rinse, I’ll wipe my face all over with a clean, wet wash cloth, which serves as a gentle exfoliator. I am really weird about using an actual clean wash cloth every day, so I bought a cheap pack of 12 for $4 and just toss them in the wash with our whites!

I’ll also gently swipe my eyes with the Makeup Eraser to remove eye makeup at this point.

2. Swipe on toner with a cotton round. I was so sad to see that one of my ride-or-die products, a REN toner I’ve repurchased more than ten times, was discontinued earlier this year. It was the only thing that made a difference for the dry, flaky skin on my forehead, and I didn’t want to go back. After consulting the internet, I gave this Pixi toner a try. A month in, it seems to be working really well. I squirt a quarter-size amount onto a reusable cotton round and swipe it all over my face and neck.

3. Moisturize. This Neutrogena moisturizer was a lucky drugstore find — it’s light and sinks so effortlessly into my skin, yet is SO moisturizing and balancing. Every other day I add a drop (literally one drop!) of this tanning liquid to my moisturizer and mix them in my palm before smoothing it over my face. I find that a little more color on my face helps balance out any redness and makes it easier to wear lighter makeup.

On my body, I use the very unfancy Jergens Ultra Healing lotion, which is very moisturizing but sinks in well and doesn’t leave me greasy. In the spring, I’ll sometimes use the Saltyface tanning foam on my legs to give me a little more color.

4. Brush my teeth and swipe on more Aquaphor. Obviously :)

I’ve rounded up everything in this post right here for ease.

And that’s it! I’d love to hear the MVPs from your morning or evening skincare routine! I’m also interested in trying retinol – maybe once I turn 40 :) – so leave a note if you love yours. And I also have a beauty routine in the works if that’s of interest!

Affiliate links are used in this post!

On my calendar:
— Spring break! We are road tripping to St. Simon’s Island, adjacent to one of our perennial favorites: Jekyll Island.
— The fourth annual Articles Club retreat! We have plans to play Mahjong, exchange AC-themed favorite things, eat good food, make goal punch cards, chat, walk, read, craft, maybe cold plunge, and so much more.
— June’s tenth birthday weekend getaway in Charlotte! The itinerary is finalized and we’re all so excited. I’ll be sharing more about it on TCF in the weeks to come!

What I’m loving right now:
— I’ve long been a fan of the Birds & Bees ladies — John and I took their course a few years ago and I highly recommend it — and I really enjoyed this recent episode with them on the Raising Boys & Girls podcast.
— My Summersalt Ruffle Oasis one piece has finally bit the dust after 5+ years and I love the style so much I’m going to rebuy it (likely in this berry + melon combo). I also have the Sidestroke and though it seems like it’s ubiquitous on the internet I get compliments every time I wear it to the pool. I recommend ordering 1-2 sizes up!
— Speaking of summer: I bought this oversize sun hat last year when I was ready for something new in the sun protection game. It’s giant and I love it.

As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!

What you’re loving right now:

This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!

— This navy sweater jacket, my new favorite thing to wear. Sometimes I’ll layer a white tee underneath, but it can also be worn as-is, buttoned up. Ladylike but also somehow casual enough for weekday mom life?
— These tiny box cutters. They come in a four-pack so you’ll always have one within reach.
— Annie’s colorful patterned socks. (Florals! Stripes! Dots!) So soft and fun.
— These tiny gold hoop earrings from my Christmas wish list. They look so good with every outfit!
— The unfancy-but-workhorse detangling brush that has been handling my girls’ hair forever. (Paired with this conditioner and this spray, which I need to reorder.)

Last month on The Connected Family:
— Who are we trying to impress? | “It is nice to be praised and admired, and I can’t help saying I like it.”
— A day in the life of The Connected Family | The winter, workday edition with a 10-, 7-, and 4-year-old
— My personal guidelines for sharing my kids online | Big-picture thoughts, practical concerns, and the rules I follow to keep things safe + sustainable
— Sharing kids online: five friends weigh in | And their perspectives cover a range of approaches.

What I read in February:
— Little Women | Epic. I’ve wanted to do read this book for quite some time (at least since the 2019 movie adaption came out!) and I’m very glad I finally made time for it. It is so good and pure and delightful and wise and just makes you want to be a better mom and sister and friend, in the most gentle and loving way. This might have been my first time reading this classic but it will not be my last.
— Come On Home | Eh. I agreed with most everything in this book, but what I loved was mostly the quotes from other books which she used liberally throughout. I’d skip it and read the books she quoted instead: The Lifegiving Home; Hold Onto Your Kids; Habits of the Household; and Hunter, Gather, Parent, to start. Or just read Little Women and get your parenting advice from there, ha!
— Small Things Like These | Claire Keegan’s slim novel (novella?) is set in 1985 in a small Irish town. Bill, a coal merchant and family man, makes a discovery one morning which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church. A “deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy,” this one feels like falling into a well, and then surfacing a short time later, blinking in the sun. I read it in one sitting.

My reading list for 2026! I’m 4 / 24 so far.

Revisiting my February goals:
Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip (Done! We can’t wait!)
Finish learning the jump rope routine (No progress on the routine with my knee issues but I have been ending every strength session with some jumping.)
Diligently complete daily exercises to help with my knee pain
Record June’s birthday interview
Finish going through my phone screenshots (So happy to have completed this!!!)
Attend to February’s clutter spot: our “library” on the first floor
Enjoy celebrating my birthday
Prepare well for my very first TCF podcast interview (I gave practicing my all and I’m pleased with how it went! Will let you know when it’s live.)

March goals:
— Make final decisions and orders for our master bathroom and built-in projects – scheduled to start in April!
— Hang string lights in our backyard
— Tag clothes for the consignment sale
— Complete final prep for and enjoy June’s birthday trip
— Host an Easter potluck and egg hunt for our neighbors
— Nail down camping dates with the Rays and our small group
— Shop for donation Easter baskets with the kids
— Prep my own kids’ Easter baskets
— Tend to this month’s clutter post: Shep’s bookshelf

As a reminder, many of these are drawn from my 2026 PowerSheets goals!

Grateful for you, friends! Please feel free to comment on anything I’ve mentioned here or anything else on your mind!

Affiliate links are used in this post!

On my calendar:
— The Olympics! I anticipate having it on in the background for much of the month and turning up the volume when figure skating is on. I’m especially excited to watch this guy. (gift link!)
— Valentine’s Day! It’s on a Saturday, but I’m planning to welcome the kids home from school the day before with a little surprise tea spread laid out on the table (likely store-bought, no shame there). Any excuse to use all those Southern Weddings cake stands ;) And the mailbox is still going strong!
— My birthday! I’ll be coming off a weekday work trip to Texas and so want to give some thought as to how I can help it feel special and restful amidst the chaos of travel and returning home.

What I’m loving right now:
— You’ve probably seen me mention jump roping a few times recently. I am attempting to get into it as a cardio option, and it’s been fun to do it alongside the kids! We have this rope for me, this rope for June, this rope for Shep, and this rope for double dutch.
— I shared these tiny gold hoop earrings on my Christmas wish list and ended up getting them for myself after trying them on in person at the Gorjana store in California. I LOVE THEM. I didn’t think anything could replace my beloved pearl studs (which I still wear!) but these just look so good with everything.
— Some friends recommended the podcast Dogood Detectives and our kids are obsessed. We listened to every episode on a long drive recently and all three were locked in.

As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!

What you’re loving right now:

This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!

— This navy sweater jacket, my new favorite thing to wear. Sometimes I’ll layer a white tee underneath, but it can also be worn as-is, buttoned up. Ladylike but also somehow casual enough for weekday mom life?
— This eucalyptus + rosemary counter spray that continues to bring us all joy.
— The Amazing Generation, once again. No surprise, it’s a no. 1 NYT bestseller (YAY!!!).
— These very fun, very colorful shadow text notepads. I love a new notepad to start off the year.
— My beloved window candles. They’re a great weight and the dusk-to-dawn sensor works perfectly. Ours are still up in every window even though John thinks I’m a loon :)

Last month on The Connected Family:
— My tech-related goals for 2026 | 5 things I’m working toward this year
— The 2026 Annual TCF Screen Report | Our personal tech stacks, screen time numbers, struggles, wins, and more
— Why does a low-screen childhood matter? | More importantly, why does it matter to you?
— Our year in family traditions | Joy, gratitude, and service > performance and perfection

What I read in January:
— My Oxford Year | Good not great. My biggest takeaway was that I’d like to visit Oxford!
— Wild Dark Shore | Now this one – wow. “A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.” I will be thinking about these characters – each so exquisitely drawn, including the landscape, which seems a character of its own – for quite some time.
— Romney: A Reckoning | This book which, among other things, is a walk through the last two decades of politics, was moving and so, so sad.

My reading list for 2026! I’m 1 / 24 so far.

Revisiting my January goals:
Finalize details and selections for our master bathroom and built-in projects (Made a lot of progress here! I have a meeting this week to make a few final decisions.)
Set up our 2026 budget (Done! We are trying out Monarch Money. It has been a learning curve, but I am committed to giving it a fair shake.)
Print 2024 + 2025 Instagram photos and photos for our Christmas album
Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip (A tiny bit of progress but mostly rolling over into February)
Brainstorm my affirmations and phrases for each family member
Learn all of the first jump rope routine (Learned half!)
Register Annie for kindergarten
Buy new glasses
Attend to the first clutter spot: the piles in our bedroom
Finish going through my phone screenshots (Some progress but not done yet.)

February goals:
— Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip
— Finish learning the jump rope routine
— Diligently complete daily exercises to help with my knee pain
— Record June’s birthday interview
— Finish going through my phone screenshots
— Attend to February’s clutter spot: our “library” on the first floor
— Enjoy celebrating my birthday
— Prepare well for my very first TCF podcast interview. I AM TERRIFIED. I have been practicing answering questions with John on our daily walks and it is so easy to feel discouraged. I prefer to write rather than talk, you know? I am believing I can get better with practice, however, so practice, I shall.

As a reminder, many of these are drawn from my 2026 PowerSheets goals!

Grateful for you, friends! Please feel free to comment on anything I’ve mentioned here or anything else on your mind!

Affiliate links are used in this post!