Dollar Tree pom poms delivered in the rain, and other things saving my life right now

Hi, it's book launch season, and I am a hot mess.

The day before the spring collection launch, I’m in bed hunched over my laptop with dazed eyes—proofreading, moving things around, and making small tweaks to my essay that, in all honesty, could be hurting more than helping at this point. Just as I begin contemplating whether or not I should make another cup of coffee, my phone buzzes with a text from my friend Kelsey.

There’s a little treat on your doorstep. Had to pick up something for an art class at the Dollar Tree and couldn’t help myself!

I get out of bed, open the front door, and smile when I see the gift: four bags of pom poms.

A week or so ago, Kelsey had sent me this reel on IG with a note that it seemed like something Presley would like. I thanked her (that is something Presley would like!) and said I didn’t have any pom poms on hand, but I’d try to remember to grab some the next time I went to Target. 

On Tuesdays the boys have basketball practice (Brett coaches both teams), so Presley and I are on our own from 5-9pm. Every Tuesday is “Girls Night” in the Gadd household, usually marked by baking something from a box and painting our nails.

Kelsey! I text back. What a saving grace you are! We have a huge C+C launch tomorrow. I have two book interviews in the morning. Brett has basketball with the boys tonight and you probably just bought me an HOUR-long bath for Presley. I owe you! Thank you!!! 

Worth mentioning: it’s been raining like crazy all day. You know the image I can’t get out of my head? When I retrieved the pom pom bags from the doorstep, I couldn’t help but notice all the wet footprints across the porch.

Pom pom bath: 5 stars. 

A friend who delivers a Dollar Tree gift on a random Tuesday afternoon, for absolutely no reason, in the pouring rain: priceless.

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Other things saving my life right now:

1. Letting go of the house. I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but I’ve come to simply accept I cannot meet my deadlines right now and keep the house tidy. People actually live here. And, well, this month especially, it looks like it. 

2. This vegan risotto. Risotto is to me what mac-n-cheese is to others: the ultimate comfort food. Nothing makes me feel quite as warm and cozy as a piping hot bowl of risotto. Want to take it up a notch? Eat in bed wearing a bathrobe. 10/10 recommend.

3. 20-minute bubble baths on big interview days. Anytime I have a particularly stressful or multi-interview day, I take a 20-minute bubble bath when all is said and done to signal to my brain that the stress is over and I can relax. It’s a weird little ritual, but what can I say … it’s working for me.

4. Yoga. I could probably write five whole paragraphs on my decision to join a yoga studio in the name of proactively caring for myself in the midst of this chaos, but for now I will just say this: I am shocked at how good it feels to palpably work stress out of my body several times a week. This is the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long, long time. Bonus: our favorite takeout spot is down the street. Usually on Wednesdays, I go to the 4:30pm class and have Brett order a pizza for 6pm. Class gets out at 5:45, I swing by the curbside pick-up, and no one has to cook or do dishes (!).

5. Love notes in the mail. I will never get over the grace of women I only know through the internet sending letters of encouragement to my real mailbox.

6. Love notes on post-its. Spotted yesterday.

7. Love notes in the form of pictures. Mommy, I made dis rainbow for you!

8. This eye balm. Glides on like aquafor, tingles like peppermint, acts like a cup of coffee for your under-eye circles. My friend Melanie sent this to me for my early morning wake-ups and I don’t know how I ever lived without it.

9. Speaking of Melanie, I loved her advice after a not-so-great interview: “The best thing you can do is never think about it again.” Amen. I gotta add that to my post-it wall.

10. Daily Voxer conversations with my mastermind. (This is never not saving my life, tbh.)

11. Still making art I am wildly passionate about, and proud of.

And last but not least,

12. Still making time to write, even something as short and silly and random as this list. 

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Have I mentioned I wrote a book?

(That’s a joke.)

(But you can pre-order here, if you’d like.)

Tell me in the comments—what’s saving your life right now?

(And seriously, wanna bless a mom with little kids at home? Drop off pom poms with a link to the reel. You’ll be a hero.)