hey amazing woman

while sipping coffee this morning

from my "amazing woman" mug,

gifted to be my m&e friend molly,

i received a few questions about next week's 

m&e wellness workshop.

so...

i thought i'd hop on here 

and take a minute to 

share some additional bits & bobs about the event,

as if you and i were sitting with each other for coffee....

except i would have served yours in this amazing woman mug,

because well...you are amazing!

a few things people are asking:

q: erin does the event really run two days? because i can't commit to that!

a: it does, but it's broken up into 3 separate workshops. purchase tickets for whatever you can.

q: erin, i don't know if i can get there right at 9 a.m. for the friday morning session - is it okay if i'm a few minutes late?

a: yes! each workshop begins with a timefor arrival/connecting/taking in of the environment...so no worries if you can't get there until a little after....or if you need to leave a few early, no worries on that either!

q: do i need to register online?

a: if you could, that would be awesome.  this helps us so much, so we can focus on content, loving on you and of course finalizing all the set-ups, materials, food, etc at the thayer house. would love to have a sense of #s by early next week so we are set to go. but if it's too tricky - no worries - just send us a note and we'll take care of it, we are just excited to have you!

q: erin, can i share the invite with me friends?
a: ABSOLUTELY. in fact we would love that so much!

q: erin, can you remind me again what each session includes?

a: of course - here you go!

evening program // march 21 // 7:00-9:30 a.m. // $30

an intimate & reflective evening

 by the fireplace at the thayer house.

we will inspire you to love, care and celebrate 

what it means to be a woman,

no matter what season of life you are in.

we'll be sharing real stories and strategies

that will equip you for balance.

we'll connect as sisters, daughters,

friends, moms, wives, dreamers, doers and bad ass women!

morning program // march 22 // 9:00-11:30 a.m. // $20

wear your stretchy pants and

bring a mat for a beautiful morning of 

self care through yoga, meditation and essential oils.

whether you are brand new to these things,

or a yogi / oiler already

join us for the special morning in a dreamy setting.

**babysitters provided**

luncheon program // march 22 // 12:00-2:30 p.m. // $30

we've invited jessie dwiggins to lead a 

interactive luncheon conversation on how we can 

embrace hunger like our best friend, 

tame our eating triggers, 

and end the war between good and evil foods.

the luncheon also includes

our bright and fresh salad bar,

and of course the beautiful setting of the thayer house.

**babysitters provided**

okay,

well i hope this is helpful,

answers your questions,

and inspires you to want to be a part of it.

and hey,

amazing woman,

 you are amazing!

go ahead and,

celebrate with us,

treat yourself,

arrange a playdate / carpool,

take a personal day,

try something new,

love on yourself,

and let us love on you!

big, beautiful, busted up normal

it's 12 pm, 

on a monday after 

a school vacation week.

i'm definitely dragging a bit, 

but it feels good to get back to normal,

after a very fun and active school vacation week

with the kids, friends and as a family.

as the morning has progressed,

i must tell you though,

i've been struck by

how big, beautiful and busted up

"normal" often is.

in the matter of 5 hours i've

hugged and said goodbye to three kids and my husband,

made a massive to do list,

unpacked 4 duffle bags,

started 4 loads of laundry,

sent 15 emails,

returned 3 calls,

made 5 calls,

grocery shopped,

put the groceries away,

began dinner in the crockpot,

had coffee and cried with my dad in our kitchen,

researched some hard things for my dad,

worked out,

fed my dog, chickens and rabbits,

emptied 3 trash bags,

unloaded and loaded a dishwasher,

made an appetizer for the community group i'm hosting tonight,

finally made an appointment at the pediatrician for jane's ear,

signed 2 contracts,

made myself some lunch.

i'm even more struck when i think about how my last 5 hours 

probably looks and feels and smells completely different

than yours, and yours, and yours, and yours, etc.

and that

THAT is what makes it mine,

and what makes yours, yours,

and that THIS is what makes it our

big,

beautiful,

busted up, 

normal.

so,

thank you monday morning,

for bringing on all the to do's and all the feels,

that come along with this girl's "normal"

&

for this opportunity to extend an invitation to all my sisters

to join us for this special international women's day event

taking place march 7 & 8 here in medway.

we have designed a beautiful and inspirational program 

to lift you up and equip you for balance in the midst of all your "normal."
who else could use more of that?

learn more and register here.

february break instabits

february break brought us...

snowstorms

&

monster trucks...

a day trip to the ocean

&

a weekend in the mountains...

basketball

&

board games...

mansions in the sunshine

&

a backyard barn in a snowstorm...

xbox

&

snowball fights...

reading by the fireplace

&

napping on the chairlift ...

muscles in newport

&

burritos in the city...

adventures with friends that are family

&

adventures with uncle matt...

magic

&

memories...

sledding,

snowshoeing,

skiing,

skating,

swinging,

&

sipping...

bits

&

bobs...

that made for a february break

we are sad to see go.

caution tape

a couple weekends ago i was a chaperone/leader

for a youth group retreat in new hampshire.

one of brilliant leaders packed a big ol' roll of yellow caution tape

so that we could strategically and visbily reserve seats for our students

in the big group sessions.

it was awesome

(kudos to heather)!

the tape definitely made a few heads turns...

as we bridged the gap between being both
overly protective and totally bad ass!

***

on the last day,

instead of rolling up the tape to throw away,

i put a long strip in my bag to take with me,
as a kinda keep sake treasure from the weekend.

i've been carrying it around in my bag,

and let me tell you,

i've thought about using it more than 

a few times over the last few weeks.

like we did in new hampshire,

i want to wrap my kids and all their friends in caution tape,

with a big sign that says...
"don't mess with them!"

***

don't mess with them flu germs...not in my house!

don't mess with them apps & technology temptations...we are on to you!
don't mess them bullies and mean friends...be nice!

don't mess with them students who are vaping...addiction is a real thing!

don't mess with them hormones and icky feelings...we will tame you!

and these are just a few of the things 

i want to keep away from my kids and all their friends.

***

unfortunately i can't wrap them all
in bright yellow caution tape,
though that would kinda fun.

and i can't just clench my eyes,
and wait until this phase is over,
actually don't even want to,
because i don't want to miss anything.

***

so know this...

mama bear is
NOT hibernating.

she has fierce
and friendly growl.

she is standing up on two legs,
and is looking em' in the eyes.

her front paws are raised up high,
but her claws are in.

she is in ready position
to do three things ...

1. pray for protection
2. oil them up
3. hug them real hard

***

so,
don't mess them...
because mama bear, papa bear
and all their friends are paying attention,
and ready to love!

and if necessary,
break out the caution tape too!
right, heather?

dollar section love / hate

who else has a

bit of a love affair with 

the dollar section at target?

sometimes i'll pop in just to get a  

coffee at starbucks and to peruse this section,

and then LEAVE before i spend $300 

on all the other things i think i need.

it's also the spot where i often

pick-up some of my oily and office supplies,

like those adorable little bags up 

there that are just perfect for 

oiling on the go.

but let me tell you what i don't

love about this section...

the fake and icky "essential oils"

being sold for $3.

friends,

do not buy these.

the package may say it's eucalyptus or lavender....

but look at the ingredients on the back.

there is so much other stuff in there,

and it's not good stuff,

and its most certainly not 

100% pure therapeutic grade oil.

it's full of fillers,

and not the actual oil.

it's packaged by a design firm in china,

not organic farmers who 

know about the actual plants.

hear me on this...

quality matters,

it really really does.

do not fall for this,

or others like them that we see on the shelves at 

some of our favorite stores

(ahem tjmax & home goods).

do not put this 

stuff on your bodies.

do not rub this on your kids.

do not put this in a diffuser 

to spread throughout your home.

please don't.

***

okay,

i'll get off my soapbox...

but also,

i'd love to help you get actual essential oils...

that are beautifully grown, distilled, tested & packaged to provide 

amazing benefits for you and your beautiful families.

and hey,

they make an amazing valentine's gift too!

tell your lovers,

to reach out!

and lastly,

for anyone who orders their starter kit this week,

i'll be gifting you one of those cute little bags up there

filled with lots of oily accessories and swag.

who's is ready to get started?

game on

we defoyds spend a lot

of time in basketball gyms this time of year.

some of you may remember 

the pitter patter feeling i get over the sound

of squeaky sneakers and bouncing basketballs.

{blog post}

it brings me way back to high school in all the best ways.

but today i want to
tell you about something that gets my heart pumping
in a very different way.

***

throughout a season we visit lots of gyms,

old & new,

and as a parent,
i hold the door for lots of players,

from home teams and away.

some of them are sweaty coming out of the gym after a game,

and some of them have their game face on as they head in for a game.

but here is the thing...

these players, teammates and their siblings 

do not say thank you.

seriously,
it's a real problem.

i did a little experiment this past sunday,

at our home gym.

of the 53 kids i held a door for before or after the game,

only 7 of them said thank you.

7.
seven.

S E V E N.

and let me tell you,

the kid wearing medway on the front of his jersey,

and defoyd on the back was NOT part of that 7.

dude,
seriously?

son,
this is not okay!

our town is in big letters on your chest,
so people know where you hail from.

and,
your last name is in capital letters on your butt,
so people know exactly who the punk kid belongs to.

me!

***

so,
let's have a little review
defoyd children,
players from medway,
competition from surrounding towns.

first,
none of you are named
kyrie irving, lebron james or stefan curry.

second,
when someone holds the door for you,
look them in the eyes and say
"thank you."

third,
this is not hard.
you can do better.
i believe in you.
good luck in your game.
i love you.

***

today is another game day,
and let me tell you,
this mom will have her door holding game face on...
i may even bring my boom box!

more than a something

last night

was pretty special...

in just a few hours we...

gathered,

told our stories,

shared our struggles,

meditated in silence,

laughed in humility,

chatted as sisters,

hugged our hearts,

drained our lymphs,

opened our minds,

sipped warm tea,

tasted sweet treats,

listened with curiosity,

asked hard questions,

embraced new ideas,

wrote down things to remember,

made new friends,

lifted each other up,

and

committed to many more next times.

molly and i 

had hoped that our concept

for an 'm&e' {me} wellness workshop 

might be something,

for someone.

and we are more than thrilled

that it was just that 

and so much more.

THANK YOU

to the amazing and beautiful

women who were part of last night...

for your encouragement,

contributions, feedback and ideas.

we can't wait until the next one,

so

save the date for march 7th!

who's in?
we are!