Issue #51: design. a life. you LOVE.
what does a “life I love” feel like, finding treasures, why talking about women's health is more important than ever, fair play, and MKE film festival.
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Happy Friday!
When we talked with Sue on this month’s podcast, she talked about what it means to design a life you love—not just dream about it, but actively, intentionally create it. We can choose softness, joy, connection, and movement as part of that life.
That’s what this dance party is about.
Not just about Mother’s Day. Not just for mothers, but to celebrate mothering in all its forms: those of us who hold, tend, support, and show up again and again for our communities, our work, our people… and so often forget to care for ourselves in the process.
This is an invitation to put it all down for a night. To move. To laugh. To feel the bass in your chest and your body in motion. To be surrounded by friends and remember the part of yourself that is still playful, free, and full of life.
We deserve to feel good. Not when the to-do list is done, not when everyone else is taken care of—but now.
That’s the energy I’m bringing into this season. How do we create pockets for our treasures?!
Joy is worth the effort. Even if it takes planning and texting and coordinating and babysitters. It’s worth it.
Yes. Exactly that.
Because finding joy with friends shouldn’t be the last thing on our list.
We’ll start early, dance it out, and be home in time to get a good night’s sleep. Because fun shouldn’t come at the cost of your energy the next day.
Let’s make space for joy together. You’re so invited.
With love,
Theresa
In Whatever Way You MOTHER – A Mother’s Day Weekend Dance Party
image from @femalequotient
This Mother’s Day weekend, give yourself a permission slip to take up space, move your body, and leave the mental load at the door.
Join us on Saturday, May 10th, for a Mother’s Day Weekend Dance Party: a night of dancing, letting go, and celebrating yourself in whatever way you mother with an incredible community of women.
Whether you’re a mom, an auntie, a mentor, a nurturer, or someone who pours love into your community, this night is for YOU.
Here's What to Expect:
🔥 A high-energy, feel-good dance floor
🎶 DJ DRiPSweat (@djdripsweat) spinning all the songs you forgot you needed
🥔 Tots on the Street food truck for a snack break
🍪 Dessert table featuring Bethmayhem Bakery and Jobea Bakes
💃 A crowd of amazing women ready to celebrate
🍹 A cash bar, connection, and a whole lot of laughter
🛌 And yes, we’ll have you in bed (or at least home) before 11
Saturday, May 10th
Denizen, 4227 W Vliet St, Milwaukee
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Grab your girlfriends for a night of no pressure, no perfection—just pure fun in a space where you are seen, celebrated, and understood. Dress in whatever makes you feel your best and get ready to dance your heart out.
Tickets are limited and will not be available for purchase at the door.
coming to the party? bring period products!
Raspberry Image reposted from @nicehairmke_salon
Our friends Nicole and Jamie from @milwaukeeperiodparties reached out and asked if we could host a period product drive in support of Milwaukee Diaper Mission’s Period Program and we thought what better place than our dance party!
Did you know that 1 in 3 menstruators struggle to afford period products? Want to help? Anyone who brings period products for donation on May 10th will be entered to win a one night stay in a Classic Room at the beautiful Dubbel Dutch Hotel!
Can’t make the Dance Party? The giveaway is only for donations made in person on the 10th, but you can drop off products at Nice Hair Salon (920 South 2nd St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204) or stop by the 4th Annual Period Party that Nicole and Jamie are hosting on May 18th!
designing a life you LOVE
Designing a life you love doesn’t mean every moment will be easy or joyful, but it does mean being intentional about the way you live—choosing, again and again, what aligns with your values, your vision, and your sense of meaning. It’s about tuning in, not out. It’s about shifting from reacting to life to co-creating it.
This process asks us to slow down and get honest—with ourselves and with the life we’re currently living. Are we moving through the motions or making conscious choices? Are we defining success on our own terms or defaulting to someone else’s script? Reflection is a powerful first step. These questions are meant to help you uncover what's working, what feels off, and what you truly want more (or less) of. Let them guide you—not to perfection, but to deeper clarity and more courageous choices.
Take time with each question. You can answer them all at once, or just pick one each day or week to explore more deeply.
What does a “life I love” feel like—not just look like—on a day-to-day basis?
When do I feel most like myself? What am I doing, and who am I with?
What am I currently tolerating in my life that drains me?
What lights me up? When do I feel most alive?
What does success mean to me right now? Has that changed?
Where in my life do I feel a sense of ease or flow?
Where do I feel resistance, dread, or disconnection?
What values are most important to me, and how do I honor them in daily life?
What have I outgrown but haven’t yet released?
What am I craving more of—emotionally, physically, spiritually, creatively?
What habits, relationships, or commitments support my well-being?
What boundaries do I need to strengthen to protect my energy and focus?
What dreams or desires have I put on hold? Why?
How do I define rest and nourishment—and am I getting enough of both?
What stories do I tell myself that keep me playing small?
Who do I admire, and what qualities in them reflect something I want to cultivate?
What does enough look like in this season of my life?
What legacy or impact do I want to leave behind—big or small?
How can I invite more play, wonder, or delight into my everyday life?
If I could start fresh tomorrow—with nothing holding me back—what would I do differently?
TASTE: Spring Sunday Dinners + Date Night Dinners. Love the idea of adding more at-home date nights and Sunday dinners into our routine. It doesn’t have to be a big deal—just a way to break up the week and enjoy something a little different. Date nights at home sound fun (even thought it will require some coordinating with a kiddo), and Sunday dinners feel like a nice way to mark the end of the week and connect with family and friends. Plus, trying a new recipe adds a little excitement and makes it feel like more than just another meal. It’s a simple way to mix things up and bring a little more fun into the everyday.
SEE: Books to Read Based on Your Favorite White Lotus Storyline. A bit behind on White Lotus so watching the last two episodes this weekend! We thought these book suggestions from @bookswithruby of what to read based on your fav White Lotus storyline were fun! We are also adding Great Big Beautiful Life from Emily Henry to our list based on her recommendation (and because it fits with this week’s theme;)
Bonus SEE: MKE Film Festival started yesterday! Check out this guide to the first week of films. Are there any films you are excited to see?
SMELL: What do you want your life to smell like? This video is interesting in thinking about designing a life we love. “What if we were more intentional about the use of scent in our lives? You could shift your mood in an instant. You could slip into a new identity, a better version of yourself. You even could trigger old memories on purpose.”
HEAR: New Study: Women take ‘substantial’ earnings hit during menopause. A new study out of Stanford is shining a light on the economic toll of menopause. Researchers looked at health and employment data and found that after a menopause diagnosis, many women—especially those in manual or routine-intensive jobs—see a drop in full-time work and earnings. The effects were less severe for women using hormone therapy, pointing to how access to care can shape outcomes. The researchers suggest that workplace flexibility, public sector jobs, and better medical support could help ease this “menopause penalty.”
“For decades, social scientists have analyzed the ‘motherhood penalty,’ but until now, we haven’t known what the financial consequences are for women at the other end of the reproductive spectrum, when they enter menopause.”
~Petra Persson
And in other heartbreaking news: the NIH announced this week that it’s cutting funding for one of the largest and longest-running studies on women’s health and will shut down Women’s Health Initiative Centers by September 2025. Just as we’re starting to see more conversations—and data—around the realities of menopause, fertility, and chronic conditions, this kind of setback is devastating to the progress being made in understanding women’s bodies and needs.
It’s why we believe this work is more important than ever. Women’s health has long been under-researched, underfunded, and misunderstood. By continuing to center these conversations—through research, storytelling, and community—we push back against that trend. We deserve better data, better care, and better outcomes at every stage of life.
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TOUCH: Closing Shifts. Implementing a “closing shift” at home feels like one of those small, intentional habits that could actually be a game-changer! Taking just 20 minutes at the end of the day to tidy up and put things back where they belong can make a huge difference. By making this a shared family ritual—nothing major, just a reset—it may help to reduce the mental load, smooth out the mornings with a fresh start, and free up our weekends for more fun and spontaneity instead of cleaning marathons. Which reminded us that we have been meaning to order the card game Fair Play for couples, which is all about dividing household responsibilities in a way that feels equitable and intentional. Both of these have the potential to foster more teamwork at home, helping us share the load and support each other in creating a life that feels less chaotic and more joyful.
Can we ask a favor? If you enjoy this newsletter every week, please consider sharing it with a friend (or friends)! We could use your help in growing our audience so that we can continue to do this work. Thanks!!
And we leave you with…
unearthing treasures at estate sales + flea markets
Photographed by Arthur Elgort, Vogue, December 1992
Flea market season is just about here, and it’s the perfect time to hunt for quirky treasures and cool vintage finds. You never know what you’ll stumble on—and that’s half the fun. Check out this guide.
Have a great weekend!
