midweek snack 006
a curated mess, as usual
A few weeks ago we had one of those rough, rainy weekends where all youth sports are cancelled. An introvert’s dream! We decided to go have dinner at The Melting Pot. It was my first time and it was wild.
If you’ve never been, it’s a moody little spot where you dip everything in cheese, cook your own meat (it required a food thermometer and a prayer), and finish the meal with chocolate-covered everything.
It was an ADHD-er’s nightmare in the best and worst way. I was using an app on my phone to track everyone’s protein, timing how long each thing needed to stay in the pot cooking. I was juggling multiple timers like I was running a tiny feral kitchen. I cannot answer an SOS text under normal circumstances, and now I was conducting a full executive-function triathlon while being responsible for whether or not my entire family got salmonella.
I digress. The real star of the night was our waiter, ✨Nicholas.✨
You could tell he took his job very seriously—but also understood it as a performance/experience, a chance to entertain rather than just facilitate a DIY fondue situation. He kept us laughing the entire time and made sure we were never without pound cake (critical).
He danced and sashayed through the restaurant, carried a bedazzled order book, and wielded a pink fairy pen in honor of his favorite good witch, Glinda. When things slowed down, he’d pause to chat with us (especially the kids) about everything from knock-knock jokes to Pokémon to Super Mario.
The best way to describe him: fiercely himself. And it radiated through the entire restaurant. I rarely write reviews, but my kids were begging me to leave a Google review for him immediately before we even left.
It was a good reminder to never sand down who you are. Spread joy simply because it feels good to do things for others instead of just yourself. Be awkward, cringe, intelligent, memorable, beautiful, and weird with reckless abandon.
Don’t hold back who you are. Weird it out, baby! Be fully yourself and stay magnetic. BE LIKE NICHOLAS!
Affiliate links included below.
Three easy spring outfits, drawn mostly from what I own. Because if it works once, I will absolutely wear it 47 more times.
CLOCKED IN: FOR THE OFFICE
OFF DUTY: CASUAL FIT
WEEKEND MODE: FOR DINNER PLANS
Your microdose of Chicken Noodle Soup for the Substack girlie’s soul.
A few recent acquisitions. Traci-Approved 🏅
Jordan Soderholm of You Didn’t Ask noticed in my post I declared myself a scent snob. As a true Substack girlie, she said let me test your nose and sent over perfume and candles from her company, Ranger Station. Just a gift among pals. Never have I ever opened a package and immediately DM’d someone a full breakdown. I am in-love with the perfume she sent, and I cannot stop lighting this candle. I went online immediately and ordered a scent for the Four-Shirted-Husband™ (Father’s Day), plus a backup candle for the inevitable sad day this one runs out. 1000/10.1
I spend a lot of time in the pool and picked up this cobalt blue bathing suit on sale at J.Crew. Super flatering scrunchie material wore it last weekend at the lake!
Snagged this paracord necklace from a MDW sale. I haven’t fully dove into the paracord trend, but this felt like a nice entry point. Love it styled with a white dainty top so I look only partially prepared to rappel down a mountain.
Here’s what I’ve been up to lately, it’s a lot of interests for one nervous system.
I finally decided that life is about balance and I can’t just make ice cream all day. Currently reading (like the rest of the world), Yesteryear—so far, so good.
Unlike viral clothing, which tends to turn me off, I cannot not hop on a viral book bandwagon when it appears.
Last year I declared a new obsession with fishing. After a weekend at the lake, it’s been reinvigorated. I told my husband I spent three hours fishing, and he quickly corrected me that I still have not caught a fish, but my daughter did (within 5 minutes) which feels DEEPLY unjust. Fishing is wildly soothing and strangely meditative for me. Just me, a folding chair, and A LOT of cuss words. Someone get me an “I’d Rather Be Fishing” shirt STAT.
That’s all for this week’s snacky snack. Go be weird on purpose.
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I told Jordan Soderholm though her intention was not for me to post like this about her products - I REFUSE to gatekeep. Reddit thread snip referneced, I tell no lies:
Here's to being more like Nicholas! And yes to that silk pant striped button down sitchhhhh
can we see you in that gorgeous red top? i feel like it’s made for you! also I started yesteryear and am not loving it??? does it pick up? or maybe it’s a me problem 😂