The world is a scary place, some people and their ways are just mean and mind boggling; and most days I’m afraid to go out with my kids to run a simple errand in fear someone is out there trying to cause harm for no good reason. I went to the Justin Timberlake concert on Saturday night and I took the passcode off my phone and wrote a note for whoever found my phone to relay to my family in the event that I was killed, or stolen. I don’t watch much news, I don’t follow many news outlets on social media, but my anxiety and stress and the guilt that is mom brand is REAL. So anyway, I made it out of JT unscathed, but I’m sad to live in a world where there is so much hate, and evil and in turn, fear.

What I am thankful for is having three mouths to kiss goodnight, and every morning too. I’m thankful for my children, and that somehow my kiss fits perfectly into their little faces. And my husband. And the endless happiness they bring to the deepest place inside my heart. And then it glows with love. My siblings, my saviors. 👑 My phillips clan. And my few good friends, even the ones who came back into my life these last two years. You guys are the reason I always try to be up.

The thankful season is upon us, so try to be kind and keep comments to others happy and light. Lend an ear or an extra long hug to someone because, from experience, this season can be a tough time on top of the day to day stresses one person may be facing.

I had a very full day of curve balls, lost calls, no service for three hours which I let IRK me to NO end, and I’m still annoyed at how much it annoyed me (breathe it out) and I even navigated a corn maze with a stroller with THREE BRIDGES, all before 11am. Bless you to the teachers who helped me 🙌🏼👑 We had an unexpected trip to the doctors office and everyone and their mother texting me about theyyyy holiday hair. Then once I got home, I realized we had zero toilet paper and it was back out for some more terrifying errands. Then home, TO COOK! #notallsuperheroeswearcapes

And ya know what? My husband didn’t get the best of me tonight. And let’s be honest sometimes the kids don’t get the best version of me either. Last week I didn’t sleep through the night once and I thought I may actually fall asleep standing up doing a bridal trial, but LIFE MOVES ON, literally and figuratively, with or without you. And I just wish I could Benjamin button through my days sometimes and reverse the way I’ve acted. My intentions. My words. The way I show love. My main focus this season is to be the best to the people who love me without boundaries. The people who love me no matter what. The people who love me when I’m ugly inside. So here’s to YOU, too. Kiss your babies, let your husband feel you up while you’re standing over a hot stove with multiple hot pans and pots, and you feel anything but sexy, but really stop being so uptight. Shut your phone off, and take your bra off when you walk through the door. And for all that is Holy, have a cocktail!! ✔️✔️✔️✔️

(You’re welcome (self) for the much needed pep talk and overall inspirational talk.)

So yeah, even after I’m not my best self, Dan is somehow, still, pretty spectacular. Like, I have a real good, honest to goodness MAN, on my side, loving me when I don’t deserve it and encouraging me to take a deep breath when my shoulders are scrunched up. And currently, I feel thankful to be able to listen to him tell Maverick his bedtime stories and listen to them laugh together while I’m in here unwinding and writing this. He’s just so good. I am so lucky. These boys of ours? The luckiest to have a daddy like him. I’m thankful that I’m raising my kids next to most of their cousins, and for my Panera date with my little niece and my boys today after a pretty adorable field trip with their class. Im thankful for my children’s, my husband’s and my health. I’m thankful for FaceTime, crock pots, and craft beers. I’m thankful to be a boy mom, I’m amazed sometimes at how much I love being outside with them, in the great outdoors, freezing my tits off, but I’m with them; laughing into the cold dark dusk, and they think I’m the coolest girl ever. I’m thankful for who they inspire me to be.

Ooooh I always digress, ALWAYS. So yes I’m well aware that I am jumping the gun with the season of thanks, so fine. HAPPY HALLOWEEN. (My neighbor put up their Christmas lights today!) Be so so safe, inspect your candy, (targets dollar spot now has Christmas decor trickling in!) wear reflective colors, and stay WARM! Secretly hoping we get this wild snowstorm that’s supposedly making its way up the coast (🙄🙄who even am I. Ew.) ok, I’ll stop ☃️ I mean 👻