Hey you guyyys. I literally just spent twenty minutes pouring my soul into a draft for this post, and I accidentally deleted it. Just... poof. Gone into the digital abyss. If that isn't the most "me" way to start a blog post, I don't know what is. I’m currently sitting here, staring at a blank screen, questioning every life choice that led me to this moment.

Actually, scratch that. I’m sitting here eating cold McDonald's fries and sipping a Dr. Pepper. Because let’s be for real. After the week this week, there is absolutely zero percent chance I was turning on the stove tonight. Cooking dinner? In this house? Not today, Satan. I have to be out the door by 7:30 tomorrow morning to handle deliveries, and my brain is already about 75% checked out and dreaming of a nap that lasts three business days.

It’s been a *week*, you guys. A beautiful, chaotic, exhausting, slightly expensive week. And since I have to rewrite this anyway, let’s just dive into the madness together, shall we?

Monday: From Mulch Meltdowns to Tiny Trees

My week started exactly how you’d expect a Monday at Graze to start: pure, unadulterated sprinting. I was running around trying to get orders packed and out the door on time. I love the Monday morning hustle. Sometimes.

In the middle of the charcuterie chaos, my friend, who also happens to be my landscaper, who also happens to be my gem dealer, calls me in a total panic. Apparently, the place where we got my mulch last year decided to just... not stock that color anymore? I forget the story but so now my yard is in limbo because he couldn't get the matching mulch. Oh well.

So, naturally, instead of fixing the mulch situation, we pivoted. Hard. We decided to go to a bonsai tree farm in Littleton. But because we are who we are, we had to stop at the little British store in Westford on the way. I mean, you can’t look at tiny trees without a bag of authentic British gummies, right? Priorities.

If you’ve never been to the bonsai tree farm, you need to go. It is honestly the coolest, most peaceful place, except for the price tags. They actually have a "bonsai tree hospital" where you can bring your struggling little trees to get nursed back to health. I felt like I should have checked myself in there, too. Kidding. I didn't end up buying anything, though, because I saw a tree that was like $2,500. $2,500!! For a plant! She was so small and beautiful but maybe next tax refund.

Tuesday: The "No Cart" Lie

Tuesday was a "Mom day," which is code for "we are going to go shopping and pretend we have self-control." We walked into the store and both said the words that every shopper knows is a blatant lie: *"Nope, we don't need a cart. We’re just looking."*

Fast forward 8 seconds later and I found a giant pool floaty that fits all the people. I got a mini cart to share with my mom and lost track of her after a while and found her perusing with her own cart. It was a total gold mine that day really.

I also ended up buying two new pairs of black Crocs this week. Yes, I know. The "shoe purge" is a real thing if you didn’t read the previous blog about getting rid of shoes… but these were *different*. One pair is the original style but with these crazy cool spiky embellishments on the heels. The other pair is a strappy platform situation. Are they practical? Probably not. Are they awesome? Absolutely.

I also grabbed George some green and yellow Crocs with light-up Jibbitz. He actually needed a new pair, but mostly I just need to be able to see him when he’s running around the yard at dusk like a feral animal. Safety first, fashion second (but a very close second).

The Great Wall of Boxes

Wednesday was... a lot and besides actually running the business, I spent the entire day packing up my house. I’m currently at that stage of moving where my office window is completely obscured by a literal wall of stacked boxes. I feel like I’m living in a cardboard fortress. It’s a very "it's fine, everything's fine" vibe, even though I can't find my favorite pen or my sanity.

What did I do on Thursday? Got my nails done. Vacay nails and I always get at least one nail done for Georgie. I’ll post a photo on the bottom. Shoutout to Mia! She’s just the best! My girl is getting married in June so book your appointments ASAP!

But!! There was a silver lining on Friday. I was cleaning out the garage and found a giant zippy of flower seeds I’ve been collecting for years. I’m talking years of "oh, these are pretty" and tossing them in a bucket. This is for my "chaos gardening" project. You just throw them all in the dirt and see what survives. It’s basically the horticultural version of my life right now. It felt like a massive win in the middle of all the moving stress.

Saturday: Bouncy Houses and Melting Tigers

Saturday was a half-day at work, and then I headed over to Mango Bay Equestrian in Bedford. It was exactly what my soul needed: bouncy houses, hot dogs, and High Noons. A very solid afternoon. I got to catch up with Trev’s cousins and their families, which was so nice since life has been such a blur lately.

George decided he wanted his face painted like a tiger. It was an adorable idea but I’ll also just post a photo for you below. Thankfully, it washed right off in the shower. Amen for washable paint.

The Current Situation (and the Light at the Tunnel)

And that brings us back to right now. Sunday night. My back feels like it’s been through a meat grinder. Between the lifting, the packing, and the general "mom-ing," I am falling apart. I’m about to crawl onto this makeshift bed situation: think Japanese-style floor mattress, but less "minimalist chic".

I’m 100% going to wake up tomorrow feeling like a human pretzel. I desperately need to see my chiropractor this week before I permanently lock into this hunched-over position.

But you know what? It’s okay. I just have to get through the next few days. The hustle is real, the boxes are many, and the Dr. Pepper is cold. If you’re feeling a bit scattered too, just remember that even if you delete your drafts and eat McDonald's for dinner, you’re still doing great. We’re all just out here trying our best my friend.

The best part? I am off to adventures starting mid-week! I see turquoise waters and sandy beaches in my very near future. I can almost smell the salt air and the lack of responsibilities. I just have to keep my eyes on the prize and not trip over any more boxes on my way to the airport.

I’ll try to check in when I’m officially in vacation mode, but for now, I’m going to finish these fries and try to find where I packed my pajamas.

Wish me luck with the morning deliveries!

XX,

Abby

Song of the day: Kill Our Way to Heaven by Michl. My new Crocs deserve a synth-pop beat to dance to.