Typical Monday uniform, top knot included! 
Top 5 fall outfit 
Shabbat Style: maxi skirt + oversized sweater 
The kids told me I look like ‘the mom from E.T.’ when I wear this, taking it as a 1980’s compliment! 
Olive wide leg pants + cream sweater shirt = decent combination? 
Still really trying to make these olive wide leg jeans work… 
Always a sucker for a striped shirt! 
Friday night dinner outfit of choice this fall (photo courtesy of my 9 year old niece)
This one should really be called “10 Things I’m Incredibly Grateful For.” My heart feels full right now. I feel happy, abundant, and content. So let’s jump in. 💛
Fall Break Bliss 🍂
My kids have essentially been on fall break since October 1st — between back-to-back Jewish holidays — and they don’t go back until the 20th. That’s nearly three weeks of no lunches to pack, no backpacks to reset, no morning chaos, and no rushing out the door by 7:45 a.m.
And honestly? I’ve loved it. We’ve spent our days at the zoo, indoor swimming, favorite play spaces, and just keeping a beautiful, relaxed rhythm. I miss them when they’re in school, so I’ve really been enjoying this time.
Tiny Helpers 🧼✨
With my husband’s broken foot, something unexpected and wonderful has happened: the kids have stepped up big time.
They’re clearing plates, wiping down tables, sweeping the floors, resetting rooms before we leave, helping with laundry, and even my three-year-old is asking, “What’s my job?” I feel like we’ve hit a new level of parenting, and it’s made our home feel lighter and more peaceful.
Monochrome Gym Outfits 💪
This fall, I splurged a bit at Athleta for matching monochrome gym outfits. My two colors: navy and magenta (well, technically “plum,” but it reads magenta on me).
I exercise on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and having designated outfits for each day completely cuts down on decision fatigue. It’s simple, fun, and makes me feel good when I walk out the door.
A Capsule Wardrobe (That’s Not Black Leggings) 👖
Now that I’m back to my pre-baby size, I’m intentionally wearing “real clothes” again. I’ve built a tiny capsule wardrobe with a few great pairs of jeans, some fun blouses, and a couple of pretty sweater tees.
I’ve started taking outfit photos so I can quickly recreate looks without overthinking. Eventually, I’d love to have a daily outfit rhythm — a “Monday uniform,” “Wednesday uniform,” and so on — to keep mornings easy.
Quiet Mornings with God 🌅
Even during school break, I’m still waking up before the kids (thanks, Max 🐈). I start laundry, make coffee, and settle outside in our sukkah or living room to read the Bible.
Right now I’m three-quarters through Exodus, and those quiet moments of reading and prayer have become some of the most grounding minutes of my day.
One-Pot Curry Nights 🍛
One thing I’m especially grateful for right now is easy, cozy one-pot meals. Butter chicken meatballs, chickpea and spinach curry, Thai chicken with peppers — warm, nourishing, and simple.
Bonus: I finally gave in and started using Trader Joe’s frozen ginger cubes. Life-changing. No more peeling or grating at 5 p.m. with a baby on my hip. 🙃
Habit Stacking 🪴
I’ve started linking together two nightly tasks: resetting the coffee maker and feeding my sourdough starter. In my brain, they’re now one chore. This small shift has made me more consistent and my starter is thriving.
Pumpkin Bread on Repeat 🎃
Speaking of Trader Joe’s… their pumpkin bread mix has become a staple around here. All it takes is eggs, oil, water (plus a sprinkle of chocolate chips and vanilla for fun), and boom — a cozy fall treat.
We’re going through two boxes a week, and I’m not mad about it. I have zero bandwidth for scratch baking right now — and that’s okay.
Popcorn Thriller Reads 📚
Lately I’ve been unwinding with quick, gripping mystery novels — what I like to call “popcorn thrillers.” Right now it’s The Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. It’s nothing profound, but it’s exactly what I need at night when my brain wants to relax. 💤
Cycle Tracking on Paper 📝
After more than a decade of using a tracking app, I deleted it and moved my cycle tracking to my paper planner.
Every day I jot down:
- 💩 Poop (because I love tracking this)
- 🏃 Movement
- ⚡ Energy levels
- 🌸 Cervical mucus
- ❤️ Sex
- 🩺 Any notable symptoms
It’s helped me feel more connected to my body, especially now that we’re out of the baby-having chapter. I love seeing patterns emerge in my own handwriting.
Final Thoughts 🌿
This season feels full — of gratitude, small joys, and simple systems that make life smoother. None of these things are groundbreaking on their own, but together they’ve made daily life lighter, sweeter, and calmer.