happy mum's day (september version)

over the past few weeks

i've gifted a few little "mum" plants to some friends.

instead of saying "happy fall"

i thought it would be cute to say

 "happy mums day!"

because,

let's be honest,
being a mum in september,

is a lot.

it's the opposite of may,

when actual 

mother's day takes place.

in may,
with summer on the horizon,
mamas get celebrated

at the point in the school year

when the wheels are beginning to fall off the wagon.

well, in september,

mamas are the ones putting 

the actual wheels on the wagon.

while at the beginning of september,

the wheels are bright & shiny...
at the end of the september,

with 9 months ahead,

we know that the wheels will need 

daily, weekly and monthly alignments.

i’ve definitely got plenty of mama grease
under my fingernails already.

so here,
at the end of september,

i bought myself a big ol’ bright pink mum.

and i’d like to share it with you,
my mama friends
& sisters,
to say,

"happy mums day!”

p.s. i told the owner of my local garden center 

that he should really market "mums for mums" in september.

he agreed.

so, when us new englanders buy our mums this september,

let's give a nod to the mama mums too!

the end of the beginning

i've stopped and started this post about 

ten times since the beginning of august.

i started it pool side, but alas, i'm here finishing it fireside.

it's a little peek and attempt at capturing my new chapter,

or as titled in this perfectly gifted book from a friend...

my new "end of the beginning." 

first...

if you've not read this book, go do that.

it's the sweetest story of small snail who partners up with an even smaller ant to go on an adventure.

but really that adventure takes them across the same tree branch they've lived on their entire lives.

and in pursuing adventure they find purpose and community 

and excitement and accomplishment and more

right where they've always been,

and in who they have always been.

gah,

it melts me.

go read it.

second...

you guys, seriously, listen up!

i am so SO grateful for you.

the outpouring of support, encouragement, 

inspiration and deepest LOVE

when i shared my "new chapter" blog post

blessed my freakin' socks off.

thank you.

i really really mean that.

thank you.

the deep connection i feel to my community, tribe, sisterhood 

and your beautiful families is so very much a part of this new beginning.

the opportunity and pull i feel to pour into the passions and experiences

we've shared together is so very much a part of this new beginning.

the hope that living this out together, is living with the faith that these dreams and pulls and experiences and opportunities and passions are not my own, 

but part of something much bigger and bigger together.

and i'm so grateful for that.

~~~

so, 

you ask. 

what are you doing now, erin?

well,

i'll tell you.

it's a lot of what i've always done, dabbled in or been doing on the side,

but in a way more intentional, committed and every day way.

i'm taking the leap to live it out, make it a business and trust it will bear fruit. 

so while it's not a charity or non-profit,

it will be run with the passions and gifts from which these ventures were dreamed. 

here's a peek at what it's shaping up to be...

~~~

photos...

so i'm a girl with a pretty decent camera who happens to also have barn in her backyard with twinkle lights and the kind of charm you see in magazines.

over the past few years i have loved capturing kids, families 

and even their dogs here at the barn, 

but i never wanted to embrace the role of "photographer."

well...i've decided to embrace it.

i'm going to start offering photo sessions

a few times a month or by reservation.

my first shoots will take place on 10/8, 10/13 and 10/27

(more details to come - but let me know if you'd like to reserve a slot.)

oils...

this mrs & mama, feminist & farmer

is obsessed with the power of plants' essential oils.

over the past few years i've had the pleasure of building a community of oilers,

and let me tell you we tackle so much of what life throws at us...

emotions, germs, bruises, pimples, worries & more.

i love these people a lot and i feel the pull to spend more time with my tribe 1:1 

and in groups educating and helping 

women, families, kids, bodies, minds and even pets

eliminate toxins and embrace wellness through oils.

so if you are ever curious and want to learn more,

know that i'm your girl.

i'm living out this passion and loving every bit of it.

my next oils 101 class will be 10/15 here at the barn

9:30 -11:30 a.m.  

&

7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

(keep an eye out for invites to come, but if you aren't nearby 

or would ever like to chat or meet-up 1:1, then lets!)

kids...

during middle school and high school i was a camp counselor 

at a summer camp for inner city, underprivileged kids. 

these years and the experiences of working

with kids shaped every part of who i am.

i get to live this out now as a mom, girl scout leader, coach and every summer at VBS,

but i'm feeling the pull for more.

i'm not in a place of wanting to go back to school to become a teacher, 

but i am feeling the pull to create some unique and special programming for kids.

so this farm-girl, camp counselor will be putting on some programs where 

i get to pour into kids, through creativity, play and purpose,

while also raising up some future camp counselors too.

the first two fun on the farm programs will take place on 10/9

(a no school day here in medway)

8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. for kids age 5-8

1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. for kids age 9-12

(more details to come - but message me if you'd like to reserve a spot - spaces will be limited)

women...

for the last few years of my career i was part of the building and

 launching of a platform called when women thrive.

the platform focused on the important role organizations / employers

have in ensuring that women thrive in their careers and through their personal and career lifecycles.

as part of this i directed global conferences,

and launched research and multi-media campaigns.

well, as i shared, i felt a BIG pull to move away from corporate, 

and an even BIGGER pull to pursue the beauty that happens when women connect, learn and grow through community, creativity and collaboration.

so, this once corporate career girl will be building some unique programs or experiences where

i get to pour into women through community, creativity and collaboration.

together we'll dig into the conversations that are not happening on the sidelines of the soccer field, during conference calls, or in the hustle of car pools...

we'll roll-up our sleeves, learn something new and tap into our inner creative...

we'll celebrate, inspire and connect.

picture a mini-women's conference or workshop,

where you'll have the opportunity to take the time to step away, 

dig deep and come away recharged.

some of these first workshops will happen here at the barn,

but i am already pondering future locations where these may take place.

the first one is set for 10/29,

"stamped: this is me"

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

or

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

these sessions will be

lovely & fierce,

quiet & loud,

creative & contemplative.

i can't wait to pour into you dear sisters!

(more details to come - but message me if you'd like to reserve a spot - spaces will be limited)

consulting...

i spent 16 years working for a consulting firm.

as i shared, it was time to boldly step away 

and pursue these deeply rooted entrepreneurial pulls.

that being said, i love solving problems and collaborating with organizations and leaders who are working to live out their brand, embrace inclusion and create more opportunities for women.

so on a selective basis i'll working with organizations and leaders to build custom programs for their employees or their customers.

(i'm keen to stay close to home and do this work in the new england area at first,

but if you have a company or lead a team and would like to talk, let's connect.)

writing...

and lastly, i hope to do more

writing, blogging and maybe one day publishing.

capturing the lower case letter, bits & bob, in between moments as a daughter, sister, mrs, mama, 

feminist, friend, farmer and believer is like writing a story...

but one that's been lived and loved and gives glory to what is not our own.

so,

i guess that was a bit more than a peek.

hopefully you've seen that this new chapter, 

is a living out of what and who i already am,

but in a new way...

an end of the beginning!

thanks for reading dear readers.

and i sure do hope i get to share some of what's to come with you!

i didn't get it

it's the morning of 9/11...

like so many of us, 

i can remember everything

about where i was, what i was doing, and who i was with.

and like every year,

it wrecks me and reminds me of something i'll never forget.

in september of 2001 i was in my senior year at brandeis.

i was pre-law and interning at the attorney general's office in boston.

i was a case worker, where i gathered evidence and mediated conflict. 

it was a good experience and i learned a ton.

(i'm obviously didn't become t a lawyer...more on that another time)

on the morning of 9/11 i was in the office super early 

because i had to get back to campus in the afternoon for classes.

it was my 3rd day and i was working away in my little government office cubicle.

no one really knew me yet,

and i honestly think they forgot i was even there.

next thing i know i was told by security that i could go home,

that they were closing the office.

my manager was no where to be found,

and i had no clue what was going on.

i didn't get it.

i overheard in the stairwell that a plane hit a building in new york.

i assumed it was an accident.

i didn't get it.

i made my way to the commuter rail.

so many people were running in suits.

i was walking in my suit and wondering why they were running.

i was in boston...not in new york.

i didn't get it.

i got to the station.

the trains weren't running.

the lines were long.

people were upset.

i was clueless.

i didn't get it.

i remember thinking...

i'm going to wait this out.

i obviously can't get back to campus yet.

my phone isn't working.

i can't call anyone to come pick me up.

my office is closed.

i don't have class until 3.

it's a beautiful day.

i think i'll go shopping in faneuil hall.

i did that.

i shopped on 9/11.

i didn't get it.

it was definitely a different time.

i didn't have a smartphone or 

moment-to-moment access to what was happening.

but the part that is the most confusing, 

and honestly wrecks me when i remember back

is that i didn't talk to anyone or simply say,

"excuse me, 

human, passerbyer, stranger, citizen, bostonian, american, brother, sister...

"could you please share with me what it is going on?"

i didn't get it.

i didn't do that.

i shopped.

oh and i had lunch in quincy market.

i SO didn't get it.

hours later i headed back to the train.

north station was quiet.

my train was running.

i got on it.

i read my book.

i figured i'd be back in time for class.

i didn't get it it.

i walked back to my quad to grab my books.

i walked into my dorm and 

my classmates and roommates were

all huddled in our common room,

glued to the tv,

tissues everywhere,

eyes puffy.

they jumped up, hugged me and said, 

"erin! 

thank god you are okay! 

where have you been?

we've been trying to get through to you all day!"

i didn't get it.

i finally asked what really happened.

i was told.

i saw the footage.

i dropped the shopping bag and fell to my knees.

i was wrecked.

i got it.

and for the hours, days, weeks, months and years since,

i've mourned those that lost their lives 

on those planes, in those buildings and in the efforts to save, protect, heal and rebuild.

i've mourned with classmates, colleagues, neighbors and friends who lost

friends, parents, children, brothers, sisters, husbands and wives.

while i will forever carry the shame of shopping on 9/11,

i can also say it was a moment that has forever shaped who i am and how i parent.

it's why i will say hello, 

ask people how they are doing,

and never be afraid to ask for help.

and it's why i tell my kids to say hello,

ask people how they are doing,

and never be afraid to ask for help.

because we are humans, passerbyers, strangers, citizens, bostonians, americans, brothers and sisters...

and on 9/11 we remember that that really matters.

that our moments together really matter.

that we can help each other and that really matters.

that we can love each other and that really matters. 

i didn't get it.

i freakin' shopped.

but oh how i do now.

remembering, mourning and never forgetting

with you dear ones.