My Current Life Philosophy: IRL vs URL

Mother's Day was celebrated with eight lacrosse games (please tell me that’s normal?!), and both kids conquered their outdoor education adventures this month. This is basically overnight camping with classmates, which is simultaneously the coolest and most terrifying school program ever invented.

Elizabeth has also embraced the vegetarian life, which means I'm now that mom Googling "protein-packed camp snacks" at 11 PM. Meanwhile, Zach has gone full lacrosse obsession – and I mean full. He is 100%, Grade A “lax bro.” Our backyard has been officially taken over by nets, goals, bouncebacks, and the windows have all been reinforced beyond belief. 

WHAT WE’RE EATING: For fellow parents navigating kid-friendly vegetarian meals, this Happy Kids Kitchen collection has been a lifesaver – think creamy veggie-packed pasta and "accidentally vegan" burrito bowls that even skeptics will love.

This month felt like when you’re at the beginning of a hiking trail, and the path is bustling with excited people, but then you hit the literal fork in the road. One path says "easy scenic route," and the other warns about scree fields and stream crossings. Most people take the easy path. The entrepreneurs? We're the lunatics scrambling up loose boulders, battling self-doubt but then leapfrogging river stones, and all the while, wondering if we’ll ever get where we’re going.

But here's the thing about those lesser-taken forks – when you finally reach that epic 360-degree view at the summit, you're practically alone up there. The view is pristine, and the people who made it there with you, irreplaceable.

P.S. Partytrick SOCIAL and BUSINESS are officially live. We’re aiming to hit 50k users by 7/15. So, do me a favor and sign up for a free account today HERE! 

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HATS IS COMPLICATED: This month especially, I’ve been wearing a lot of hats - marketing, PR, ops, product manager, finance manager. Thank goodness for adrenaline! One hat I wore a lot in May was that of podcast guest. I’ll let you know when those episodes go live, but in the meantime, check out my appearance on Beats Working where we talked all about why gathering is such a necessity.

This month, I really focused on living the “IRL” not “URL” life. Lots of whirlwind travel to be with the people who anchor and energize me, including a magical 36 hours in London for a special Chelsea Flower Show reception with my friend Keeli and a dizzying 24 hours in Miami to celebrate KT’s 40th and bookend visits to NYC to celebrate my sweet love, C’s, 50th birthday.

After losing my dad at the too-young age of 67, I will never forget how quickly time moves. The first 16+ years of my career kept me rooted in place for work - missing weddings, birthdays, and milestone events for my favorite people in the world to create happy ones for clients…With Partyrick, I can work from nearly anywhere and plane time is the most productive time (amiright?!)…I will NOT sacrifice what matters most anymore - spending time with my loved ones. The memories are what matter most. And this month reinforced that the relationships and community we build are everything. They are my rock, and the reason I scramble through those scree fields in the first place.

THE "DOPAMINE MENU" TREND: I’m in love with the idea of the "dopamine menu" - basically a personal list of mood-boosting activities organized like a restaurant menu - appetizers (quick 5-minute picks like smelling flowers), mains (longer activities like reading), and sides (things to make boring tasks fun, like your favorite playlist while folding laundry). It's trending because it takes the guesswork out of "how do I feel better right now?" One therapist calls it "actionable self-care" rather than scrolling for a quick dopamine hit that leaves you feeling depleted.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." 

- Ferris Bueller