Yesterday was my half birthday! So I celebrated by getting myself these flowers. I think I should also get myself a half present and at least a half a cake too haha. Does anyone celebrate half birthdays??? I hadn’t put too much thought into it before except for noting the date and telling my husband as if to hint I needed that half a cake, but alas that hasn’t happened yet. However, my daughter was recently born on New Year’s eve so since her birthday is on a big holiday and near another big holiday and since I don’t want those overshadowing her b-day the whole celebrating half birthday’s thought has been reignited. If you have any fun ways to celebrate send them my way.

On another note, this week and last have been a bit wild politically and news-wise. I definitely have things to say regarding all that’s happening but I haven’t gathered the words together in a way I want to say them yet and I’m not sure if I will and/or when. But I will say that it’s a lot to take in sometimes so some self preservation for processing it all when you’re personally able to, and sharing if and when you want to, is A-O-K. You do you. In the meantime I’ve been catching up on other news, some good and maybe even some a bit heavy, but they spoke to what I’m able to process right now. So enjoy the reads I’ve gathered up from this week (and last – whoops!).

First Things First

• Ok, so this horoscope info is a week late but I had to share anyway because I had no idea there was such thing as a flower moon!
• And speaking of flowers, have fresh one’s in the home has been proven to be a health benefit. Bring on the buds!
• Um, naturally pink chocolate?? Where do I find this??

Life Things

• Sorry for saying sorry too much? This article says don’t be. 

Green Things & Health 

• Over 180 countries agree to a plastic reducing resolution. Guess who’s not on that list… 
• Did you see the news on sunscreen? It’s finally become newsworthy that the chemicals used enter the bloodstream and affect the body. About time!
• I just love Chipotle and appreciate their efforts to increase their sustainability. They’ve recently released their annual sustainability report if you’re interested in perusing.

On Infertility & Motherhood & Being a Woman

• I just don’t think the placenta gets enough credit, and neither did these artists. 
• Infertility, pregnancy, birth: they are all hard and unpredictable. Here’s one woman’s relatable story of her experience through them all.
• Newflash: new moms are tired and once they go back to work they spend at least the first 105 days exhausted. We’ve gotta do better for the mothers.
• Postpartum depression can often go undiagnosed because of the shame and stigma surrounding it. One woman shares her story to encourage women to speak up if they feel symptoms.
• I’m having a hard time understanding why women of my generation are more likely to die during childbirth than our mother’s generation. Again, we’ve got to do better for the mothers.
• This article takes a look at how mother’s with undiagnosed complications can die up to a year after childbirth. And the maddening thing is most of these deaths are preventable!
• I understand the current abortion debate is polarizing but this takes a curious look at why those that go through infertility and create embryos aren’t scrutinized for their choices in what’s done with an embryo the same way. Since I have done infertility treatments and created embryos in a lab and had choices about what do do with said embryos I feel very strongly about keeping the choices as is and really don’t understand why people like me would be treated differently?

Children and Parenting

• I can never get enough of these tweets about funny things kids say.

Pure Fun & Inspiration

• Dying over the cuteness of these fluffy cows!! I had no idea they could be blow dried! 
• English is a funny language. Why aren’t words that are spelled alike spoken alike?

That’s all for this Sunday. Have a wonderful Memorial Day tomorrow!