Friday Five: Bad Mood Hack + Fam Getaway

PLUS: my weeknight meal must-try

Happy Friday, flow-ers! We are gonna do a classic Friday Five today because I have lots to chat with you about! Shall we get into it?!

P.S: don’t forget to listen to this like a podcast using the article voiceover feature at the top of this post (I read it to you with extra commentary!)

😓 My hack to break a bad mood

Lola got sick again this week, and I swear, if you have a toddler, you know that it’s just soooo hard when they get sick, like, all the time. It goes without saying that no one wants to see their kiddo suffer. For mom, it’s just a hard go juggling schedules, being on call 24/7, you know. And being the parent with the flexible schedule means it’s always me on sick days - hubs would do it in a heartbeat and it’s an ‘it is what it is’ situation. My mood was NOT good and was compounded by a few things that just weren’t falling into place the way I wanted. I was crabby AF and feeling really just kinda, if I’m honest, sorry for myself. Maybe even a tad lost? There is sometimes some guilt for that, because I know ppl are going through so much worse, ya know?! I was defo feeling out of my Mom Flow, that’s for sure. Anyway, the point of my story is that I really needed a boost of accomplishment, so I tackled a few things I’ve been dreading and putting off (if you remember, one of my OUTs for 2025 was procrastination…). On that little list? Scrubbing the kitchen sink, changing my address with the government, and calling the city for something. Oh, did that feel great. It absolutely helped turn my mood around. I think it goes back to controlling what you can control, and letting go of the rest.

💤 Sleep tricks that work for me

Can we agree that we all feel so much better with more sleep - and also better quality sleep. I have been focusing on making my sleep better, and have done a few things to make it happen. FYI, I still scroll until them moment my eyes close… it’s not good but I am who I am and I swear I will quit that one day.

Sleeping no later than 11pm. Staying on a schedule gives my body a rhythm. Apparently if you go to sleep after midnight, your sleep quality is greatly reduced.

The Nod Pod. I can’t describe it, but something about it is just so comforting to have in bed with you. You lay it over your eyes, and it gives a gentle weight and compression to calm (and of course, block out light). It’s helped me sleep so much better - especially bc I never struggle getting to sleep, but do wake too early or in the middle of the night and when I put it on, I can get back to sleep more easily.

Daily movement. When I move my body, I just sleep better. I’ve been working hard at getting out for daily walks (consistency is my word for 2025, so I do it no matter what)

Humidifier. I haven’t gotten it yet, but Vitruvi is sending over their Cloud Humidifier which I really wanted. It will not only give some hydration to my skin, but helps with more comfy sleep and immunity too (a dry nose can create more opportunity for germs and my gosh I’m sick of getting whatever my toddler gives me!)

Linen sheets. I can’t even tell you how much I love crawling into our linen sheets. They feel lux. Sure they are an investment but will last ages, they get softer as you go, thick, cooling. Obsessed. I have a code for 10% off ERIN10. Ours are Pebble colour.

We have lots of updates to make to our bedroom - I feel like we just moved in still. We need new bedside tables, some art, throw pillows (any fave spots for pretty ones?!) lamps… I could go on.

❄️ Upcoming getaway

January is a tough month for so many reasons amiright?! This January feels particularly tough though, can we agree? Anyone else crave a getaway at this time of year? The dark mornings and evenings, cold weather, Christmas hangover, and um, like whatever the hell is going on with the world, I have defo been fantasizing about hitting the road. I am so excited bc I’m doing just that with my fam and friend in Feb - we are going to soak in the winter vibes in Silverstar who is hosting us, which is the cutest little ski resort in B.C. I used to looove to ski, and I was actually pretty good at it, but I think it’s been 20 years so I may try again but defo will be getting Lola up on some skis which will be so fun for her! A little adventure will feel so good! We are going with my friend Alex and her son, so the kids (and adults) will have the best time.

🍽 Weeknight meal idea (ticks all my boxes!)

I’m always looking for ways to make dinnertime easy. I use a weekly calendar to write down my meals on Monday - I swear by this so I can stay away from ordering takeout 4 days a week… it was getting baaaad. In my world, what we eat in our home is the foundation for most everything. It helps me feed Lola nutritious food, keeps us feeling healthy and on top of life. If I don’t have a dinner plan, I kind of spin out ha. I may be working on something fun with this for you, so stay tuned!!! (the below is what I use now. I just add the top priority for each day to keep myself on track along with what I’m serving for dinner)

OK, so this week, I made a big pot of chili which ticks all my boxes. Lola will eat it, high protein (beef!), fiber (beans!), veggies (tomatoes!). Plus, it is one pot, good for days, can be used in multiple ways - you can serve on rice or a sweet potato which is what I did for even more fiber… topped with come cheese and sour cream, uh huh, so good. Highly recommend!

✨ Things I’m loving right now

I’m working with Minted for Lola’s Valentine’s XOERIN2025 for 20% off stationery & select gifts + one free 24 pack of matching stickers. I love their selection soooo much!

Bought this fleece and hope I love it!

Felt like this piece was super on trend and fun so wanted to try it - would it be cute with jeans?

Already thinking about summer, and got this swim set for Lola. In Portugal, she gets chafing with the sand as we are on the beach every day so the shorts are a must. I also prefer these sets with more fabric for much better sun protection which I get pretty nervous about.

Also got these pants for Lola… I feel like I’m always struggling to find pants that aren’t leggings, sweats or jeans and these look great.

That’s it for this week. If you like this content, don’t forget to show up for me with a like or comment. Hoping to see ya’ll in the comments! Thanks for the comments last week Shannon, Alysha, Brianne and Matt.

xx, Erin

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