I Miss Fun. Do You?
And other truths I learned from 1997 Kodak prints
I found a stack of Kodak prints the other day, circa 1997.
Pink Barbie Jeep. Tie-dye dress. Wet hair from the sprinkler.
A cowgirl cake that a neighbor made, which looked like it came from a Manhattan bakery.
Checkered overalls, pigtails, a bike with streamers.
Orange Sherbet Push-up pops on the San Antonio River Walk.
Fully myself. Completely present. No concept of billionaires or anxiety. The privilege of not knowing the true reality of the world.
Flash forward to 2025: I'm tired. You probably are too.
Worried. Overstimulated. Fun is limited to weekends and holidays, if we're lucky. Somewhere between then and now, I let real joy slip through the cracks of survival mode.
Now we carry it, trying not to let our kids see. But the truth? They do see.
They notice the tension in the room. They watch us scroll past the hard things, pretending we’re not. And that’s why I want to start being fun again.
Because if the world’s going to be heavy, then let the kitchen dance party still happen. Let the pancakes be shaped like stars. Let the sprinkler run on a Tuesday.
I declared cozy season in 106-degree Texas heat. Let there still be wonder, one small decision at a time. Because fun, my friends, is rebellion. Always has been.
The Good Stuff
A few things currently making life more magical
Frugally Chic Philosophy: Being picky, not cheap. It’s giving elegance with a spreadsheet. I’ll explain more next week because I’m obsessed. You will be too!
Midday walk with no destination: Just ten minutes. The rule: notice three beautiful things. It rewires your brain. (I was skeptical too.)
Cabin Anna: Because sometimes you want your living room to become the outdoors. Literally.
“Buy It Once” directory: The one you can reference when you don’t want to do 47 hours of research yourself.
Current Obsessions
Sweet jalapeños in everything, and a french necklace
Cowboy Candy: Sweet jalapeños that make everything better.
Pomona necklace: Handmade in France
Wolf 1834 jewelry box: Because your jewelry deserves better than a tangled mess in a dish.
Baked feta with honey: The appetizer that converts skeptics.
Pinterest's first-ever thrift shop: I'm here for it.
Roll the windows down and scream-sing “Unwritten” like it’s 2006 and you still have unlimited potential (because you do).
The Real Secret to a Cozy Home? It’s not a…
Upgrade Today. It’s cheaper than therapy, more fun than doomscrolling.