Sale PSA: Waterproof slippers from Blondo, now under $30, the classic Theory Clairene jacket in black, now $238, cozy pajamas from J.Crew, now 30% off with code SPRING, and soft petal corduroy pants from Everlane, now $47.
Another volume of blog talk. I’ve been working on a post in my publishing/how to write book series…was going to post that today but haven’t finished yet! Partially because my husband and I realized basically a few days ago that our kids have no school all of this week….WHAT? Since my son is in Kinder this year it is our first time in a “real” school system so we only had a vague idea of “ski week.” Anyway.
Summer camps: it’s also our first season of “summer camps.” I was recently informed that I should have already had a “camp plan in place.” Another WHAT? So far I’ve sent one email (or rather filled out the short Google Doc application) and then a few days ago was summarily rejected due to overcapacity.
Parents: are you all doing summer camp signup already? To be clear, I do not judge the parents (to be honest, usually the moms) who are signing up early, have everything together…merely the entire situation. I don’t think I’m the MOST organized person but I also know lots of people who are way more disorganized than me…what does everyone do??
Covid pounds: I hope this is okay to talk about. I have been steadily gaining weight during Covid…a little bit here and a little bit there. But I feel that things may have hit a tipping point where the other day I wore leggings to have dinner at my mom’s (I usually just wear lounge pants) and by the end of the night I was ready to take them off. Post haste. They just felt SO CONSTRICTING. And these were my “comfortable” looser leggings! I have been eating really unhealthily, lots of bad snacks all day so I’m going to try and take it down a notch and see what happens. I would like to avoid further exercise as a solution for now.
A recent “sparks joy purchase” for my kids – an owl house! We got ours around Christmas and it hung around in my living room for weeks and weeks and we finally put it up. We are excited for an owl to move in!
Blogs: I was so happy to read in my last Blog Talk post that a lot of you are still reading blogs (and mine, thank you!!) and are returning more to enjoying the form. Are there any blogs that you particularly enjoy and recommend? Though I still scroll Instagram I find it less and less engaging these days…I had an interesting conversation with a friend who manages a nice marketing budget that Instagram advertising/sponsorships isn’t converting as it used to. “But maybe it’ll come roaring back with the vaccine,” she added. I just think a lot of people don’t feel like doing lots of shopping right now. Which leads me to…
Mental health/depression. It seems like a lot of people (me included) hit another wall this week. You think you’ve hit the wall before, the vaccine is just on the other side, but the weather is gloomy and you don’t fully see a way out of it and all your friends in APAC are having a great time. I’m there with you. If you need help or just someone to talk to, please seek it (or leave a comment too!). It’s a hard time for all of us.
Some extra thoughts:
I do have one item I like, these Gucci loafers, but where am I going to wear them?
Are any of you booking travel? Domestic/international? I realized the other day that they did away with change fees for tickets so now I’m tempted to almost just plan something just for the sake of planning it.
Okay, stay warm everyone!
18 Comments
ADK
February 15, 2021 at 3:29 pmI look forward to your every blog post. Your posts are a true highlight for me. So, thank you! And I’m down to fitting into two pairs of stretchy pants–if I stop fitting into these….do I put down the Oreos or order a bigger size? Ugh š
S in HK (USA)
February 15, 2021 at 5:04 pmI really look forward to the posts as well! Donāt sweat the weight gain – I think we are all there.
We usually do summer camp in NYC (day camp), but this year is so dicey! I am not comfortable solidifying plans this point (no refund after early Feb!). So, I gave up on my plans and will just plan activities on the fly.
mct16
February 15, 2021 at 6:42 pmWe have no help at home and three little kids, so summer camp is a must in my house and I therefore look out for the registration announcements in the winter already. We sign up as soon as registration goes live because many popular camps sell out quickly. I had never needed this until the kids were school age so after being screwed the first year, and only getting the leftover camps, I have vowed to never be late again.
I 100% feel you on feeling the pandemic wall. There was a great article in the Washington post about it:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/pandemic-wall-covid-vaccines-variant-winter/2021/02/08/d48e0722-6599-11eb-886d-5264d4ceb46d_story.html
It sums up how I feel perfectly. We are all in this together!!!
Marie
February 15, 2021 at 8:26 pmIsnāt that āski weekāa new (pandemic time?) thing?
I saw it today on my local school advertising board, but my daughters now in their twenties never had a āski weekā while in school, just a 3-day President day weekend (I wish they had, we would have gone skiing more often…)
But yes for summer camps – you have to plan well in advance for the best ones. Glad I donāt have to worry (and pay) for that anymore…
Mel
February 16, 2021 at 12:09 amAside from yours, the only blog I still enjoy reading is Blue Collar Red Lipstick. She and I have so different style, but I love her creativity. Helps that we are of the same age and in the same profession.
Amy
February 16, 2021 at 4:35 amI read your blog and Habitually Chic – both of you have lovely aspirational content, but a sense of humor in keeping it real. And The Wall! It’s brutal here because we have been snowed in here in the South, so its just another prison on top of the lockdown. Gah!!
Anna
February 16, 2021 at 6:28 amThe owl house recommendation can’t be more timely as it was just last night when I noticed some unfamiliar sound from the back yard and after much investigation with the husband we decided it must be from owls. On the weight gain front, I have decided that three months before I have to go back to office I will start working on it just so I don’t have to re-purchase all of my office pants. That date has again been extended and there is the slight chance I might never have to go back to office again. So…of all the things I need motivation for, this one can wait…
Elise
February 16, 2021 at 1:09 pmIf they have a Steve & Kate’s Camp near you then that’s a great option. Flexibility is their big thing, so it’s a nice solution when you want to keep your options open for camp scheduling. There’s lots of flexibility and choice for the kids too which is so nice.
Mod
February 16, 2021 at 1:13 pmI had so many reactions reading through this post! I too have gained some weight and it’s been especially shameful during the multiple calls I’ve had at work where somehow we get on the topic of “wellness” and everyone else shares how they feel so much better having a workout routine, how a silver lining of working from home is being able to exercise, etc. and I’m sitting here thinking how I can only fit into my “boyfriend” jeans. No matter how much I try to count my blessings (and I have so much to be thankful of!), I think I’m probably a little depressed (aren’t we all?). I’ve been trying to be less hard on myself and remind myself of the “run the dishwasher twice” idea, which for me includes not getting so upset at myself when I indulge in sweets, impulsively buy more yarn or fabric than I have plans for or take a cab instead of walking- which don’t sound so bad at all! And! I bought a Peleton- my boyfriend and I half jokingly made a pact to put on as much weight as possible during the 8-10 week fulfillment time š
A V A
February 16, 2021 at 5:29 pmDear Kat,
Saw these and thought of you – for your daughter. š
https://www.claudineusa.com/product-page/mirror-fringe-derby-shoes
Yours is the only blog I really read. I wish there was a great collective list of blogs similar to yours but sadly have not been able to find anything.
x
A
Kat
February 19, 2021 at 5:14 pmAww thank you my friend š
heebie-geebie
February 17, 2021 at 8:49 amI read a lot of blogs, but sadly many are no longer posting regularly. Off the top of my head, here are ones that are still posting regularly: Invincible Summer, Blue Collar/Red Lipstick, Swistle, The Burgh Baby, Girls of a Certain Age, Emily Henderson, Cotton Cashmere and Cat Hair, and I Want to Be Her. (Putting the links in seems too cumbersome.)
Far be it from me to plug my own blogs, but I’ve been posting regularly since 2005, so I at least have longevity going for me. I blog at Unfogged (and I believe I’ve linked you from there) and then my personal blog, at heebly-geebly.
Kimi, Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair
February 19, 2021 at 10:12 pmOh my gosh! Thank you so so much for reading! :))) It really is such a bummer that so many bloggers are no longer, well, blogging. š
Lilian
February 18, 2021 at 8:40 amWe’ve done summer camps for both my littles since they were like 4, because we had no help at home and work downtown full-time. Last summer we had no camp, and they actually CRIED because they missed it so. This year, we’re hoping to do it again, seeing as how international travel isn’t an option – we’d hoped to visit family who live elsewhere, as we typically do.
If there’s a vaccine for kiddos, and it kicks in early, we’re taking that option.
Michelle
February 19, 2021 at 7:58 pmI look forward to your blog updates, thank you! Summer camp registration typically starts in Jan but having had un-refunded money from last year, I did not sign up for any camps this year. They enjoy summer camps for the myriad of activities and virtual camps just doesnāt cut it. So this coming summer, they will be staying home and playing like they did last year.
Kimi, Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair
February 20, 2021 at 6:46 pmHere are a couple of blogs that I read and that I think you would enjoy (they share a lot about books!):
In Residence http://www.anneinresidence.com/
Librarian Style https://librarianstyle.com/
I so hope we can turn people back into blog readers! Social media is just not really my thing so it means the world when people read my blog.
Lisa
February 21, 2021 at 4:57 pmI didn’t know summer camps were a thing until I had kids. I spent my summers and all school breaks at my grandma’s apartment. We have done camps each summer for the kids but it is so much work. Some city camps, you are competing with the rest of the city for spots. Basically get up early the day registration opens and both parents on multiple devices to book spots. Last summer, all the camps were cancelled. The kids just stayed home.
I have also put on weight, pandemic pounds I believe they are called. Look, if snacking helps my mental health then I will just say benefit outweighs the cons. Story: had a near death experience where the car I was in was nearly t-boned by a car that ran a red light. That afternoon, I had waffled over whether to eat a piece of cake or not. After having made it out alive after that terrifying near miss, I say just eat the cake. You never know what will happen.
Kat
February 22, 2021 at 8:43 amLove all of this and glad that you made it out OK. Eat the cake! š