Work stresss. Some of it is unbloggable and is not directly related to me, but it still impacts my work (state testing, student concerns, departmental issues, etc). Keeping it vague. I keep reminding myself – do your best, teach your students, be of service, and there will be a time after this.

A while back I bought myself a deck of tarot cards. Once in a while I would pull a card… And almost always the card matches my state of mind. Pulled this card last week: talking about hitting the nail on the head…

No shit bruh

This week both T and I had to deal with some big emotions on the parenting side of things. Also unbloggable and left me emotionally drained but I couldn’t rest. Instead I felt wound up like a tight spiral.

I still had to put on a smile and go to work.. I couldn’t just become a puddle on the floor (I think that would have helped) and NOT being able to do that, really did me in, emotionally.

However, I did engage in some practices to close the stress cycle but I can feel it still lingering. This weekend I will make sure I close that loop: going to my favorite Korean spa and getting a reflexology massage on Saturday. Having a friend over for tea, organizing the house, having some time in nature, setting my head on straight – on Sunday.

ChatGPT suggested that the stress cycle closes by doing one or all of the following:

I’ll get right on that

But then it (they?) narrowed it down and put together a more manageable plan:

Mine was nature, journaling, and music

On a lighter note…

My Thursday boots in brown are going on seven years. They’ve been resolved twice! Below is the new fall booties selection – bought Aqua from Bloomingdale’s, discounted from $158 to $106.

Aqua kitten heel booties in Chestnut

This podcast episode from Everything Happens with Kate Bowler and Parker Palmer – I needed it, and you need it, too.


I was going to do a “what I wore this week” post but life got in a way and I didn’t take pictures consistently.

Buuut. On Monday it was cold so I wore a Farm Rio quilted skirt with a tan sweater and black tights. A Farm Rio is a Brazilian clothing brand, sustainable and expensive. They use Brazil’s nature as a background, so think dresses with loud patterns, parrots, flowers, and palm trees. Very beautiful! And very expensive! Their clothes are in $250-$550 range.

This skirt is the ONLY piece I own by them. Bought two years ago at a deep discount.

And this is Friday:

A sweater, a blouse underneath, black pants, and a kitty cat brooch I bought in Paris.

Here he is:

Kitty cat!

How was your week?

What do you do to close the stress cycle?

Do you have some pieces of clothing you’ve had for a while?


16 responses to “A Rough Week”

  1. Lisa’s Yarns Avatar

    I’m sorry you had such a tough week! Those are hard. And it’s tough to keep it together for your students when you’re crying on the inside.

    Gah. Stress cycles are rough. I feel like I am in the middle of a never ending one right now. I did get some closure about what happened during the fire incident as our attorneys watched the video from the restaurant security footage this past week and could share more about what happened during my gap in my memory. So that helped as I was getting a lot of accolades from coworkers about helping my colleague and it was so uncomfortable to get those accolades because I have a gap in my memory. I also found out I will have to watch the video for my deposition. Eeks. I am so glad I have a great therapist to help me through all this. But back to your question, therapy and long walks are a life saver for me right now.

    That quilted skirt is adorable!! You are so fashionable!!

    Like

    1. Daria Avatar

      Oh friend. Thank you for sharing and hugging you. This will be a hard process for sure but you will get justice.
      It’s weird but putting myself together physically (brushing hair, light makeup, a put-together outfit) makes me feel better when I’m feeling low… Perhaps I’m vain but whatever works…

      Like

  2. Elisabeth Avatar

    Your fashion always boosts my spirits!

    Some weeks are extra tough. I’m sorry this was such a rough one, but I’m glad there were glimmers of light things that boosted your spirits.

    Like

  3. Michelle G. Avatar

    I’m so sorry that you had a rough week. I hope the situation gets resolved soon and that you can break out of the stress cycle. It’s hard to do. All the things on your list are helpful. Meanwhile, you look so gorgeous! I love your quilted skirt and the kitty brooch. I’m obsessed with the brooch! How adorable, yet also classy.

    Like

  4. Kari Avatar

    I’m sorry you had a rough week. Your weekend sounds like good medicine. Enjoy every bit of it. 😘💜

    Like

  5. Tina Avatar

    It’s hard being an adult sometimes, ok most of the time, especially a mom. I hope you have a great and restful weekend, and that next week is better for you.

    I absolutely love your Farm Rio outfit. It has that great splash of color to make you feel happy and the black tights and boots with your long coat, stunning! You have a great sense of style Daria, I’m envious.

    Like

  6. Sak Avatar
    Sak

    I’m sorry you had a rough week. I hope next week is better for you. You have a great sense of style. I enjoy seeing your outfits that you come up with. Usually reading or exercise are my best ways to help with stress.

    Like

  7. Coco Avatar

    I love this skirt of Farm Rio on you. I really like their prints and tried a few but unfortunately the sizing didn’t work for me but I will keep trying.

    sorry to hear about your stress week, those suggestions work usually for me, mostly just simplify and let go of to-do mindset and do more self care. Parenting dispute among couple is really hard, I can totally relate.

    Like

  8. Diane Avatar
    Diane

    I love all your outfits! I think Fall is my favorite season for dressing – I can wear all the cozy clothes but it’s not bitterly cold yet so I don’t have to bundle up too much. And layers, I love being able to wear layers.

    I don’t have a lot of pieces in my closet from pre-kids because they don’t fit anymore. I just got rid of a pair of boots that I’ve had for over 20 years. My mother bought them for me as a birthday gift and they were the first pair of grown up boots I ever owned and I had had them re-soled a few times. It was hard to give them up, but they no longer fit – I think my feet have gotten bigger – plus the leather on the inside was starting to peel off.

    It’s so hard to have big stressors in life yet have to continue on in other arenas. Although, sometimes I like work because it is all consuming so I can forget about the things that are weighing me down in my personal life. It’s probably not great for me to be so avoidant like that, though…

    I hope things get resolved, or if not perfectly resolved, at least to a calmer place for you.

    Like

  9. J Avatar

    There used to be a skit on SNL, where the joke was the host saying, “I would rather look good than to feel good, and darling, you look mahvelous!”

    I’m sorry that you are going through a rough time, and I hope things are getting better.

    Like

    1. Daria Avatar

      Lol! I have to find that video!!!

      Like

  10. Weekend+solo parenting week+reflecting on kids’ screen time – Mom of Children Avatar

    […] a rough week last week, I needed time and space. So, this […]

    Like

  11. San Avatar

    I am sorry you had a stressful week but I am happy to hear you’re trying to find ways to de-stress. It’s not always easy but meditation and reading usually help me.

    I have a lot of clothes I had for a while. LOL I really love your fashion statement pieces. Love the skirt and also the cute kitty brooch. You remind me that I need a new pair of boots.

    Like

    1. Daria Avatar

      Oh San, those black boots are from 2019 🙂 they’ve been re-soled, once.

      Like

  12. Yukun Wu Avatar
    Yukun Wu

    I can see what you experienced most of this week is not bloggable, so, hope that you’ll get to discuss it with someone on a one-on-one basis.

    Like

  13. Tobia | craftaliciousme Avatar

    Oh no rough weeks can go away.

    Glad you had some ideas on how to close your stress cycles.

    For me it’s a walk in nature. Looking at water. Yin Yoga. Star gazing. Silence. Coloring.

    Like

Leave a reply to Weekend+solo parenting week+reflecting on kids’ screen time – Mom of Children Cancel reply