I love Pinterest and Instagram (like, a lot), but sometimes they leave me feeling less than. As if my unstyled, wild and chaotic life is somehow not good enough when propped up next to gorgeously curated feeds. But, the thing is, they’re all just that: curated. Tiny little snippets of someone’s life that they deem good enough for the universe to judge them on.

While I love the idea of inspirational images feeding our creativity and making us strive to do and be a little bit better, I don’t like the days when I’m left feeling not good enough. I have a tendency to spiral out of control and sometimes all it takes is a well-styled photo of a family that looks like it climbed out of a J. Crew catalog to do just that.

Thinking about this made me decide to take seven random photos of mornings in our house. None of them are styled. The lighting isn’t always particularly good. Our house is messy and our hair is undone, but that’s life. 

I was having a week. The kind of week when every decision I made seemed to be the wrong one. When my patience was a unicorn that had flown somewhere very, very far away. I was a cranky old ogre with barely enough time for a shower and the thought of speaking to anyone in the outside world made me really want a nap.

And then I had to go to a parent-teacher conference.

I don’t know how other people feel about these things, but they always fill me with a weird anxiety—ok, so maybe a lot of things fill me with anxiety, but this is sort of weird, anxious dread. I know I’m going in to talk about one of my daughters, but I always feel like I’m walking in to be judged.

Oh thaaaaaat’s why this kid never shuts up.
How old is this girl?
Is this hot mess really capable of taking care of another human?

Ridiculous? Yes. But that’s kind of the thing about anxiety, isn’t it? So I walk in, immediately more awkward than normal. And I’m pretty awkward.

I’m in scramble mode (as usual) to get ready for what is sure to be an awesome time tomorrow!

Cuddles and Chaos and My Gym in Yorktown Heights (which is under new management!) are joining forces to bring you a Halloween party meets Mom’s Night Out. While the kids party with the My Gym people, the mommas (and papas!) are invited to check out a bunch of really fantastic vendors I’ve got lined up.

I’m in love with Elizabeth Gilbert right now.

I mean, to be honest, I’ve loved her since Eat, Pray, Love. It waned, as loves like that do, but I’m currently experiencing a dramatic resurgence in my obsession with her thoughts and perspective (and the way she uses language like a boss).

First, there’s her new book, Big Magic, which I cannot wait to crack open. It’s more or less about embracing your creativity and letting go of suffering—um, sign me up.

Then there’s her new podcast, Magic Lessons, in which she talks to women who are having a creative problem, gives them advice, and then gets another perspective from one of her amazing, talented, successful friends. The goal of the podcast is to offer “road maps for the path to creativity, the extra nudge you need when you’re feeling stuck.”

I had been meaning to listen to this one but got my extra nudge when my friend Rena said it was awesome and started texting me quotes from the first two episodes. I was hooked without ever even listening to it. And once I did listen to it, I was left feeling so inspired. I was completely sure I could conquer anything.

Elizabeth Gilbert has this sort of infectious positivity that can’t help but rub off on you. But it’s not a fake, just smile and nod kind of positivity. She tells you that shit is hard but you need to pick yourself off, dust yourself off, and do what you need to do. She is at once a peaceful, loving, earth momma and a fiercely strong warrior queen. She’s basically my spirit animal.

Watching: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and Sherlock Holmes

These two TV series are pretty different, but I couldn’t love them more.

If you enjoy Wet Hot America Summer (the movie), The State, or silly comedy in general, you will love Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. The cast is great: Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, John Hamm and more. The plot is hilarious: It’s a prequel to the movie that gives some (really funny) back story. If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s basically a summer camp parody that most people will be able to relate to, even while laughing at the over-the-top way it’s portrayed. It’s stupid funny in the best possible way.

Sherlock Holmes is also really funny, but much more subtle. It’s a clever and quick modern adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. Benedict Cumberbatch (WTF crush worthy for sure) and Martin Freeman make a really good team as Sherlock and Dr. Watson and, even though the episodes are about 90 minutes long, my husband and I are completely rapt. If you haven’t watched this show yet, go do it now!