stay at home with me
former Saks buyer, current stay-at-home mom cooking from scratch and embracing slow motherhood. here to lighten your mental load: what to cook, what to wear, what to do with your kids, what to read -- so you can have some time back
An Honest Day in My Life
Read this when: you want to feel better about how your day is going
The space between your nose and your upper lip is called your philtrum
And the reason I know this will probably surprise you: on the beautiful and inexplicably painful moments of motherhood
My family tries to do a "Sunday Day of Rest" every week
And I think you should, too
If you're planning a trip to Minnesota's North Shore, here's the exact itinerary I'd recommend (and what I'd skip) after experiencing it firsthand
And if you're not, wyd?
I didn’t like the traditional paths that society was offering to me, so I’m paving a new one
Two parents without a single reliable income: on raising children, careers and why I’m not going to let society tell me I can’t do both
I Thought Something Was Physically Wrong With Me
250 characters couldn’t tell you who I am: on motherhood, identity, and the impossible task of describing yourself
a letter to my second born
the only constant in motherhood is the conflicting emotions
Hi, I’m Chelsea.
I lost myself when I became a mom but I've been slowly (re)discovering myself. Sound familiar? Welcome.
Day 8/18. Are you sick of this yet??
We spent the day in Glacier NP. It was SO fun and SO beautiful and I’m SO exhausted.
Highlights include: wildlife, the most beautiful scenery, being with family (my brother’s bday!), and remembering that we’re but a speck in this great, big beautiful world
Overall sentiment: Life is beautiful — let’s not take it too seriously.
My sister in law and I were talking about kids birthday parties.
Let’s just say I have some ~feelings~ about goodie bags.
They’re so sweet and cute and well intentioned but, I’m sorry to say, most of the time they are a huge waste of money on unnecessary junk that ends up in the garbage or is just one more thing moms have to clean up/deal with.
My sister in law told me for her last son’s bday party, she bought children’s books at the thrift store and each kid got to pick one as they were leaving the party.
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT!! Sustainable, fun, easy, affordable and good for parents AND kids.
I just had to pass along in case anyone else wants to use the idea📚
Raining on your vacation? Check out the local library! We did this today and it’s such an underrated form of entertainment for kiddos and adults.
Day 7/18 🙃
We were scheduled to rent a boat today and drove 40 min to do it…and then it started raining.
So we postponed a couple of hours and drove around only for it to continuing raining most of the day.
Disappointing but what can you do?!
Highlights include: more yummy food including a taco place in the most unsuspecting of places (inside of a VFW) and delicious desserts, getting to visit the local library, more bonfires and bonfires
Highlights do not include: wasting a bunch of time driving around in the rain, getting kicked out of the library because my son and his cousin couldn’t keep their volume down, my son busting his chin on the corner of the dining table and needing to go to urgent care 🫠
Overall sentiment: Mama is tired
I’m one month into my substack journey! And I have 84 beautiful subscribers.
To be honest, an older version of me would probably be disappointed that number isn’t higher.
It feels like we’re all on this rat race to grow the fastest, get the most attention, feel validated by numbers on a screen.
But I’m mainly here for me. To share. To scratch an itch. To create something maybe my kids will read and enjoy one day.
Thank you sincerely for being on this journey with me. I so appreciate you and feeling noticed.
But mostly thank you to me: for doing something that brings joy. For having the courage to be vulnerable. For always striving to follow where your heart leads.
Day 6/18 !
Highlights include: the best breakfast & huckleberry pie, a suuuuper tasty coffee, a beautiful hike, the alpine slide and s’mores around a fire
Overall sentiment: Feeling really happy and really lucky 😌
Day 5/18: spent the day in Glacier National Park. No words!!!
The whole day was a highlight but taking a dip in Lake McDonald with my brother probably takes the cake.
Overall sentiment: Holy cow, I LOVE Montana!!
I'm a dangerous (wo)man with some money in my pocket
-Bruno Mars me at the farmer’s market
Day 4/18 of our 5 state road trip!
Today was Lewistown, MT → Whitefish, MT
We’re here with my brother and his family for a week!
Highlights include: waking up to these views, driving during sunrise, so many animals during our drive, a ton of tasty food, one of the BEST farmer’s markets I’ve ever been to, huckleberry ice cream & seeing family (not pictured)
Overall sentiment: Long day in the car but I’m THRILLED to be in a beautiful place with family for an entire week.
There’s nothing quite like looking at the world through your child’s eyes ❤️
Day 3/18 of our 5 state road trip!
Today was Dickinson, ND → Medora, ND (Theodore Roosevelt National Park!!) → Lewistown, MT
Highlights include: Beautiful scenic views, wild animals including bison (see nursing baby 🥹), prairie dogs and horses!!, a tasty burger & ice cream treat
Overall Sentiment: 3 days in kind of feels like 1 week 😆
Reminder: things don’t happen to you; they happen for you.