So Fresh & So Chic

Eclectic Inspiration for a Well-Designed Life

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • The Shop
  • Interiors & Decor
  • Friday Finds
  • Free Printables
  • Mini Style
  • Family
  • + Subscribe
Free Printables, Friday Finds

[Friday Finds] Vol. 17:
Notes On Marriage, Motherhood, And Self Care (+ A Free Printable!)

Published on March 10, 2017

Well, hello there. Can you believe another week has passed? I hope you accomplished something great and wonderful last week, but if you’re not quite there yet, well, join the crowd! Let’s pledge to try again until Friday Finds Vol. 18 rolls out next week, shall we?

That time we caught the prettiest sunset in Malibu.

For me, this past week was a big one. I finally acknowledged that being a stay-at-home mom was something I no longer wanted to pursue. It sounds terrible, and I suppose I do feel some measure of guilt, but truthfully, as unhappy as I was I don’t think I’ve been doing a very good job at parenting lately. My patience is worn, my temper is short, I am fatigued. We all know the glossiness of social media is a great distraction- while you get busy looking at everyone else’s “perfect” life, it puts you off rescuing yourself before the meltdown occurs. Well, I certainly didn’t react in time, and boy, was that some midweek meltdown.

It did, however, force me to confront the problem, and together we came to the decision that it is time for the Baby (at 2.5 no longer a baby, really) to start part time daycare so that I can finally take some time for myself. I know on the surface it doesn’t seem like a big deal at all- I mean lots of kids go to daycare, right? But since I’m not working (my work permit was unfortunately delayed), I felt guilty for even suggesting that we divert funds to a pre-school when, after all, I am home myself.  Obviously that didn’t work out as wonderfully as it should have so I think the two days a week that she’ll be in daycare will give me the break I need to figure things out. It is wonderful to finally acknowledge out loud that I am more than the sum of skinned knees, dirty diapers, and school runs. I am also a writer, a graphic designer, a curator of lovely things. I am an advocate of self care. I am fortunate and grateful to be a wife and a mother but I am so excited to finally get to be “me” again.

This week’s Friday Finds are a reflection on marriage, motherhood and self care. I hope you enjoy them.

1. On Marriage.

I don’t know how I missed Erin Loechner and her wonderful blog for so long, but now that I’ve discovered her, I am devouring everything she writes. I don’t always agree with her perspective but I find reading her words so soothing. She is the kind of mentor I would love to have, and her “Good List” daily posts on Instagram are so uplifting. She wrote a post on an important decision she made, and it resonated with me, although I don’t know if I’m quite there yet. Read the post first and then come back and tell me what you thought! I think it’s worth a discussion.

Via Design for Mankind

Via Design for Mankind: This One Sentence Changed My Mind… And My Marriage

2. On Motherhood.

This sweatshirt made me laugh and laugh because #truth. I need it immediately. Also, a very strong tea. I need that too. And about 55 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Parenting, amirite?

Via Momaste Clothing on Etsy

3. On Self Care.

Lately, I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading about self care and this was one of the quotes from Diane Von Furstenberg that I came across that I loved. It’s funny and true in a matter-of-fact kind of way and I thought it would make a great free printable too! You can download this free printable poster in both colour and black and white. FYI the print is 8×11 but I’ve sized it with a 1/2″ white border (not shown below) which you can keep or cut, whichever you prefer.

Free Printable Art from So Fresh & So Chic! Empowering quote on self love from Diane Von Furstenberg. #sofreshandsochic #freeprintable

Download the FREE PRINTABLE QUOTE: In COLOUR | In BLACK AND WHITE (Both files: Approx 5 MB 300 DPI JPG)

4. On Living Practically.

Because I’ve been thinking about this topic so much, I thought I would also share a list of the top 5 ways I aim to practice self care and self-love.

So Fresh & So Chic // Notes on Marriage, Motherhood and Self Love #sofreshandsochic #marriage #motherhood #selflove

Via Happy Dappy Bits on Etsy

1. Say no. Really, just say it. Not everything has to get done right now, not everyone needs your attention. Your kids will survive playing alone, no one will be traumatized by one more night of eating take out, those errands can wait. Say no to everyone else, and then go and do something you want to do instead.
2. Which brings me to this: Get outside. Whether there’s warm sun or freezing cold wind, just get out. It will boost your mood and lift your spirits, guaranteed.
3. Get a manicure/pedicure. I know it seems like a trivial thing, but it really is something that always cheers me up! Who doesn’t love foot massages and pretty nails?
4. Talk (don’t type) to a friend on the phone, or better yet, see them in person! Friends are the healing balm we all need. I just spoke to my best friend (Hi, V!) and now I feel like I’m sitting on top of the world.
5. Reconnect with your partner. Dating when married is such a cliché but it truly remains one of the most important things you can do for your relationship. Every time we stumble into last-minute plans or accidental alone time, I am reminded of how much fun we have together. It really is something that falls by the wayside too often, especially when you have small kids.
6. Start a gratitude journal. It might sound like hippie dippie baloney, but taking just five minutes at night to mentally list off or write down what I’m grateful for, can make things seem much better. At the very least, you will have something to look back on when you’ve had a crazy day. Above all, it’s a good reminder too that things could always be worse, and are worse, for so many people right now. Putting words on paper can put your own life into perspective and that is so important.
7. And lastly, forgive yourself. I don’t know about you, but I am often very hard on myself. I hold myself to a standard of perfection that can be exhausting. Too often, it is a standard that remains in my mind, because by the time I get around to putting it into practice, I am worn out. This leads to anger and a sense of worthlessness and then the cycle begins over again. So I’m just going to say this: It’s ok to be flawed. It’s ok to not be your mother and do things the way she did. It’s ok to carve your own path and put your own priorities first vs. what you “should” be doing as a mother, a wife, a career woman, a stay-at-home parent, etc. Love yourself first and everything else will follow.

I know I typically do five Friday Finds but I think this post has said everything I need to say so I’ll wrap it up now! Please let me know what you think in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

Until next time my friends,

xo, Naushin

* This post contains compensated affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this blog!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Related

Pin106
Share
106 Shares

Tagged With: etsy, free printable, gratitude journal, marriage, motherhood, printables, self care, self love

[For the Home]
Inspiration: The Iconic Herringbone Pattern
[Friday Finds] Vol. 18:
Featuring Ladies with Impeccable Taste

Comments

  1. 1

    Disha vyas says

    April 2, 2017 at 9:54 AM

    Hey Naushin,
    Wow!! just wow! you have grown so much. You should totally write a book soon. SO impressed on what you have accomplished. I can’t wait to read each and every single post of yours. God bless you chica!!! SO proud. you always had that amazing sense of style but I had no idea how beautifully you write. Ask Andrew to take a back seat, the boss momma is taking over the world now. Lots of love and luck.

    Reply
    • 2

      naushin says

      April 2, 2017 at 10:59 AM

      Thank you, Disha! I appreciate your support! xo 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

THE FINE PRINT

This blog contains affiliate links throughout. Whilst your price remains the same, I will make a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!

Let’s Hang Out

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Shop My Home and LTK Store Shop My Amazon Store Shop My Etsy Favourites Shop My Etsy Store

What's Popular Now

Lately on Instagram…

CANNOT WAIT! // Because it’s raining in LA again CANNOT WAIT! // Because it’s raining in LA again. Me and my small(ish) outdoor space are all set for when the sun shines again! #sofreshmyhome #patioideas 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#patiogoals #patiostyle #patioliving #patiobellavista #smalloutdoorspace #smallpatiodecor #smallspaceliving #walmartfinds #outdoorfurnituredesign #myinspiredhome #iheartthishaven #makemyhome #decoranddesign #lagommyhome 
#showthatinspo #dailydecordistraction #thatdecorlife #ckstyleaccordingly #bhghomes #apartmenttherapy #ourinteriorspaces #howirent
WILDFLOWER SZN // Because my Mother’s Day flower WILDFLOWER SZN // Because my Mother’s Day flowers deserve a spot on the feed. Gabe chose these and I love how well he knows me! 😀♥️ #sofreshmyhome #wildflowerbouquet 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#mothersdayflower #curateyourcasa #homeyouhave  #howirent #shakeupyourstyle #myhumbleabode #idcoathome #myhumblehaven #cljsquad #thedecorsocial #mymodernlook #mymodern #ispyraddesign #makehomeyourhaven #myinspiredsquares #myinspiredhome #iheartthishaven #makemyhome #decoranddesign #lagommyhome 
#showthatinspo #dailydecordistraction #thatdecorlife #ckstyleaccordingly #bhghomes #apartmenttherapy #ourinteriorspaces @target @hmhome @westelm @worldmarket
LAST WEEK // How was your week? Here’s a little LAST WEEK // How was your week? Here’s a little photo round up of some of my favorite moments from last week. 
- Pippa and the blue gallery wall in all their glory 
- If you caught my birthday Stories, here’s a flashback to Rumi’s 1st and Gabe’s 11th last June
- New neutral shoes from Zara that I love!
- Our small but cute outdoor space
- The yummiest strawberry mocktail deserved a spot in the carousel too
#sofreshmyhome 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#gallerywallhashtag #gallerywallinspo #russianbluecatsofinstagram #smalloutdoorspace #smallpatioideas #patiogoals #patioideas #strawberrymocktail @theproperlacanada @zara #zaraheels #momlife101 #momcontentcreator #curateyourcasa #homeyouhave  #howirent #shakeupyourstyle #myhumbleabode #idcoathome #myhumblehaven #cljsquad #thedecorsocial #mymodernlook #mymodern
MORNING ROUTINE // I can’t believe my morning fa MORNING ROUTINE // I can’t believe my morning face is on Instagram but ehhh. This is a daily ritual I do at least twice a day because #chaisisamust for survival lol. What can’t you start your day without?? #sofreshmyface 🤣 #sofreshmyhome 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#morningroutine☀️ #curateyourcasa #homeyouhave  #shakeupyourstyle #myhumbleabode #idcoathome #myhumblehaven #cljsquad #thedecorsocial #mymodernlook #mymodern #ispyraddesign #makehomeyourhaven #myinspiredsquares #myinspiredhome #iheartthishaven #makemyhome #decoranddesign 
#lagommyhome 
#showthatinspo #dailydecordistraction  #ourinteriorspaces #ltkhome #howirent
PATIO VIEWS // It’s taken about 5 years in this PATIO VIEWS // It’s taken about 5 years in this house but we finally have a patio seating area we love! I’m looking forward to spending lots of time out here this summer. 😎 
As per usual, it’s all linked in my LTK shop! 
#sofreshmyhome #patioliving 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

#curateyourcasa #homeyouhave  #howirent #idcoathome #myhumblehaven #cljsquad #thedecorsocial #mymodernlook #mymodern #ispyraddesign #makehomeyourhaven #myinspiredsquares #myinspiredhome #lagommyhome 
#showthatinspo #dailydecordistraction #thatdecorlife #ckstyleaccordingly #bhghomes #apartmenttherapy #ourinteriorspaces #patiostyle #patiogoals #patioideas #smallpatioideas
VIGNETTES // Around the house. From light and brig VIGNETTES // Around the house. From light and bright to moody and cozy. I’m liking how it’s all come together! What are your weekend plans? We’ve got the usual roster of activities and games and hopefully some down time in there too but let’s see how it goes! #sofreshmyhome 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#fireplacemantel #fireplacegoals #fireplacedecor #curateyourcasa #homeyouhave  #howirent #shakeupyourstyle #myhumbleabode #idcoathome #myhumblehaven #cljsquad #thedecorsocial #ispyraddesign #makehomeyourhaven #myinspiredsquares #myinspiredhome #iheartthishaven #makemyhome #decoranddesign #lagommyhome 
#showthatinspo #dailydecordistraction #thatdecorlife #ckstyleaccordingly #bhghomes #apartmenttherapy #ourinteriorspaces #moodyhome
THIS AUDIO CLIP // Is so inspiring to me! I aspire THIS AUDIO CLIP // Is so inspiring to me! I aspire to live creatively and make decisions with no fear. I don’t want to wore about the what if’s all the time because I think taking chances can lead to some really amazing things but I also think it’s a habit to build up. What do you think? #sofreshmyhome 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#curateyourcasa #homeyouhave  #howirent #shakeupyourstyle #myhumbleabode #idcoathome #myhumblehaven #cljsquad #thedecorsocial #mymodernlook #mymodern #ispyraddesign #makehomeyourhaven #myinspiredsquares #myinspiredhome #iheartthishaven #makemyhome #decoranddesign #lagommyhome 
#showthatinspo #dailydecordistraction #thatdecorlife #ckstyleaccordingly #bhghomes #apartmenttherapy #ourinteriorspaces
I ASKED CHAT GPT… // To generate a caption for t I ASKED CHAT GPT… // To generate a caption for this photo and here’s what it gave me: Moody hues and classical touches. A Grecian bust stands guard over a vintage oil painting on the mantel, as we cozy up in this eclectic den.
Not too bad actually! Maybe a tiny bit pretentious haha but not bad. Have you used AI for any of your social media yet? #sofreshmyhome #fireplacemantel 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#fireplaceideas #stonefireplace #grecianbust #targethome #fireplacegoals #fireplacelove #plantmomaesthetic #lagommyhome 
#showthatinspo #dailydecordistraction #thatdecorlife #ckstyleaccordingly #bhghomes #apartmenttherapy #ourinteriorspaces #curateyourspace #curateurs @hmhome @target @studiomcgee @etsy
SHARING // A couple new mood boards I’ve got ove SHARING // A couple new mood boards I’ve got over in my LTK shop at the moment! @shop.ltk @ltk.home 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#moodboardaesthetic #moodboardinterior #moodboarding #moodboarddesign #moodboardsaesthetic #moodboardpage #moodboardcommunity #neutralhomesfeature #neutralliving #neutralgirlsroom #peachgirlsroom #kidsroomdecor #kidsroominspo #kidsroomstyle #teengirlroom @farrowandball @luluandgeorgia @jakearnold @crateandbarrel @wayfair @rugs_usa @target @etsy @birchlane #iheartthishaven #makemyhome #decoranddesign #lagommyhome 
#showthatinspo #dailydecordistraction #thatdecorlife #ckstyleaccordingly #bhghomes #apartmenttherapy #ourinteriorspaces
Follow @sofreshandsochic

About the Blog

So Fresh & So Chic is a curated home decor and design blog for those aspiring to live stylishly. I show you how to adopt current trends, update classic pieces, and embrace great design throughout your life.
FIND OUT MORE...
  • Home
  • About the Blog
  • Ads & Collabs
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • + Subscribe

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Dress Your Space Stylishly!
Stay inspired with beautifully designed & free printables exclusively shared with So Fresh & So Chic mailing list subscribers, plus receive fresh inspiration with each curated blog post delivered straight to your inbox!
Absolutely no spam and your email address will never be shared.
 

Loading Comments...