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Em

@eeluc

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@earthy.saltling
Coffee. Homesteading. Rescued critters. Motherhood.

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Anyone who says they "refuse to be consumed by motherhood" or refuses to be a victim to it is in denial, or trying to sell you something (and feeding off your guilt, gross.)

There's so much magic in this role, so much honor, and realistically, a lot of grief.
You don't magically shift from maiden to mother, just like you aren't magically healed of your trauma after one realistically session.

Ebbs, flows. Repeat lessons, struggles, and triumphs.

There are days of blissful alignment, sure. There are days where there are struggles and you must rise to the task at hand - you are the adult here, after all.
But there are also days where nothing clicks. Where you ARE consumed by this role.
Where you feel like the cards are all stacked against you, second guessing several life choices.

It feels awful.
But you are human, and a woman outside of Mama with her own hopes and dreams. Even if that dream is eating the other half of your toddlers banana they don't want without a meltdown ensuing.

I'm not selling you a course or a guide, just sharing my musings in solidarity.
You've got this.
And it's ok if today you feel like you don't.

Signed,
A mama who's been riding waves of chaos all day and finally has a moment of clear thought to herself (yay double nap...contact, of course.) by @eeluc

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6 days ago

St. Augustine snippets.

What a blessing to see the girls (and Chance) so in love with the ocean. by @eeluc

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12 days ago

Cafés don't offer biscotti anymore.

At least, not in the frequency they used to.
I thought about this a bit on our trip, after picking up a bag of these guys from Trader Joe's.

As a kid, we'd meet my grandparents or a friend of my mother's for coffee at a local shop (or, often times the little cart in the mall lobby). She'd get her classic brew in a mug and the barista would procure a crunchy chocolate dipped cookie from a giant jar on the counter. This meant we were staying a while.

She'd buy big plastic tubs of them from Sam's club, often enjoying one while on a lengthy phone call (with a cup of joe) or throw a few pre-wrapped ones on her purse for a chat with my great aunt at the beach house.

When I became a barista, the giant jars had shifted to individually wrapped cookies at the point of sale. I'd refill the display daily, as our café store had many regulars who met for a casual cup or a chat with a friend. As the years went on and the shops became convenience focused, the refilling slowed, or the biscotti disappeared all together. More recently, I brought my own from home to enjoy as I placed shop orders and had my morning coffee.

We stopped in at least six different coffee shops this week, not a biscotti to be found. Fairly empty tables, long lines for grab and go drinks or pastries you could easily consume with little thought or intention.

Blame it on the hustle culture, or contribute it as a casualty to the death of the third place. The long forgotten art of a cookie and coffee combo that begs you to slow down (lest you crack a tooth) and enjoy the conversation. I'm grateful for the pause this little bag of treats has brought me.

Rambling onwards, bring back the biscotti! ☕️ by @eeluc

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13 days ago

St. Augustine snippets.

I didn't break the nice camera out nearly as often as I'd hoped to on this trip, but had fun with it none the less.

I'm a film photographer at heart, so the little imperfections, unintentional vignettes, and out of focus frames are here to stay.

#lookslikefilm by @eeluc

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14 days ago

The Lucs, featuring Isla Marin.
Shot by @katiewoodphotoco by @eeluc

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18 days ago

Sweet Isla 🌊
Blessed to have two babies warmed by hand knit blankets.
Golden in color, stitched with love.
Yet each is as unique as the girls they adorn.
Thank you, Michelle. by @eeluc

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a month ago

Our little bird.

People often talk on the shift from one kid to two, comparing which transition is more difficult.
We aren't even fully in it yet and I can tell this period is going to be full of just as much heartbreak as it is joy.

No one warns you about those last few weeks of your second pregnancy. The days where your energy fades and you begin to slip away.
No one warned me how hard it would be to feel stretched thin, to not feel like enough, to feel yourself failing at your best before baby #2 even pops her head earthside.

This little bird has always been two steps ahead.
She's such a smart girl, and we've had many talks, but her little heart is having such a hard time processing why mama is different. Why I can't play like I used to, why our days together are slow.

"Slow again? 😒" she responded this morning.

The regressions, the aggression, and feelings she doesn't know how to put into words are already here, two steps ahead once again.

She's going to be an amazing big sister soon, but our baby bird forever. by @eeluc

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3 months ago

Every gathering, I wind up scrambling for some sort of platter to put my baked goods on and usually wind up with the giant plastic transport box as the final display. Influenster and Noritake gifted me this absolutely beautiful platter in exchange for a review, and let me tell you, what a way to level up my game.

I was able to put it to use at my baby shower with about 30 of these little key lime treats. Definitely a stand out dish, but not overstated, and quite sturdy, too.

@influenster @noritakechina #complimentary #noritakedinnerware #noritakecolorwave by @eeluc

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3 months ago

Moments in black and white. by @eeluc

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3 months ago

A few more summit snaps from the giveaway shoot we won with @taylorbonnellphotography

Max patch was beautiful, views changing every few minutes from the clouds and rain. Our whole hike up Dea pointed to plants saying "Look! They're happy! It rained!"

She was so cold from the wind she wound up rocking my vest, then refused to take it off as we tried to get back in the car 😂

Always an adventure in our family with memories to be made, and Taylor was so sweet capturing them and being a part of them. by @eeluc

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3 months ago

Sneak peeks from our Max Patch adventure with @taylorbonnellphotography

After years of living in WNC, we finally paid a visit to Max Patch. Gusty winds tousled the grass (and our hair) as rain passed by in the distance, the wildflowers danced along the path, and the sun set low beneath heavy clouds as we all took in this view for the first time.

What an incredible opportunity to win her giveaway! Taylor is such a sweetheart, and these photos are STUNNING. I can't wait to see the full set. by @eeluc

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3 months ago

What an incredible experience to be able to share marine life with Dea at such a young age.

I didn't visit many aquariums as a kid (unless it was a field trip) but was raised with my toes in the ocean nearly every weekend.
Collecting coquina and sand fleas from the surf line, digging sand ponds for the fish and invertebrates we'd catch in the sargassum. I learned about aerating water in those little pools, and spotting stress signs in fish. It's really no surprise my career path went the direction it did.

I always worried that raising a child in a rural appalachian town meant she'd have little experience or interest in the ocean. A heartbreaking thought for someone who may as well have salt water in her veins. Seeing her delighted and engaged with so many habitats was so incredible, especially with the sharks!

You may be able to tell from the photos, but her favorites were the sharks, dolphins, beluga, and penguins. After visiting each of their exhibits, she'd excitedly announce "I could work with them one day!"

So, despite my fears, it turns out that your passions really do still extend in some form of appreciation to your kids, even if they don't have the same exposure you did.

*side note of how bizarre it is to not look pregnant from behind.
**additional note that the moray in that photo was the biggest moray I've ever seen on my whole life. by @eeluc

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4 months ago