Since losing my MIL, my husband (who loves Christmas) had one request to make his winter a little more cheery— “can we go ahead and decorate for the holidays?” My answer was, of course, “YES!”, and decorate (indoor, at least) we did. Check out our interior holiday decor below (mostly from Target, TJMaxx and a few family heirlooms), and check back for the tree, outdoor decor, and more!

The Martin’s indoor Christmas decorations 2022

I didn’t want to title this like an obituary. Recently, my husband’s mother, my beloved MIL (who was one of my best friends), passed away suddenly. No real warning: we’d just seen her two or so weeks before we got the news. We were devastated to say the least. It’s that simple. We were shocked, we sobbed, we scrambled and asked “why?”— all the messy bits of grief that come when something this shocking occurs.

However, after crying it out, we thought and talked a lot about what she, Deirdre Elizabeth Martin, would’ve wanted for us (whom she called her “favorite people”)— and she would want us to remember the best, happiest and most impactful moments with her that made my husband who he is, and that made us all feel love and joy whenever she was around. So here’s what I have to say:

I had the best Mother-in-Law ever, and not many people can say that.

I never dreaded seeing her. I loved her. She was my shopping buddy; my confidant; my second mother; my best friend; my partner-in-crime when we subjected Andrew to musicals he didn’t want to see and laughed along all the way. She was so wise, with a wisdom well beyond her years that she shared with us all. She was hilarious. She was one heck of a cook and a baker. She was stylish, gorgeous, elegant, yet so incredibly humble and down to earth. She had the best music taste (90s alt, anyone?) and a deep appreciation for theatre, cinema, art and traveling and experiencing new cultures. She took her son to Bonnaroo, because she was awesome like that. She loved to hike, bike, and adventure— she loved life, and loved her son most of all. And I know she loved me, and for that, I will forever be grateful.

I could say so much more, but don’t mourn for us— celebrate her for us, and know that I am forever one of the luckiest women alive that I shared such a special bond with my beautiful, awesome, silly, smart, wonderful MIL— Deirdre Elizabeth Martin.

Xoxo, MM.

Yep— another article on surviving your period is here. Menstruating humans, unite!

It never seems to get any easier. Month after month, periods simply suck. From the weird food cravings to the horrifically painful cramps (and nausea, and bloat, and and and—), being on your period and/or PMSing is always crappy; but almost everyone who menstruates knows that day one of your period is, by far, the worst.

So, why is this, and how do you survive day one of your period when you have things to do (like work, relationships, and the like)? Let’s dive in—

Why day one of your period is the worst

Prostaglandins make your uterus contract. Prostaglandins are high on period day one— and guess what? With this pesky hormone-like compound comes the dreaded cramps, and general discomfort. That’s the short answer; but on day one of your period prostaglandin levels are the highest, slowly declining over time until they return to a base level again.

So, what can you do about it? Here’s how I survive day one of my period time after time:

• Avoid alcohol. You may want to reach for the wine while you’re suffering from period-induced pain, but don’t do it. It’s not worth it. Alcohol can contribute to more hormonal fluctuation, which ultimately makes everything worse. Avoid it for a few days, please!

• Ibuprofen. If you’re a healthy adult without any pre-existing conditions, take an OTC painkiller. And drink LOTS of water.

• Folic acid (folate) rich foods. Eat leafy greens, omega-rich meats like fish, and so on. Folate levels dip during your period too, so fueling up on these foods can help.

• Be kind to yourself. Grab a heating pad, a good book, and don’t beat yourself up if you can’t even get off the couch today. Rest, relax and recharge when you need to.

Luckily, you’ve survived all your periods thus far— so you got this! Take it easy and stay well, friends.

Xoxo, MM.

My favorite holiday is here, and last night we celebrated with a Vampire’s Ball of spooky proportions— sweet treats, yummy drinks, and lots of laughs made for a night full of Halloween fun, all for under ~$200, and here’s what we served and how we decorated:

Halloween party for 20 for under $200

First, I like to buy a few bottles of cheaper champagne to mix with a bit of grenadine to make “bloody mimosas”— that made the drinks under $50 for the entire party, including the gummy, fizzy eyeballs found at Target for just $5 a pack.

Next, serving pizzas you make at home plus chips, dip, and other more simple (but classic) fare saves a TON of money. And, using simple bat and Halloween decor from Amazon wraps the entire bill up for under $200.

We also make our own games (I write out a list of “horror movie charades”) and create our own Spotify playlist for dancing— and viola! That’s all there is too it.

You don’t have to blow the budget to go over the top and throw a super fun, on-theme Halloween bash. See the gallery for our photos, and happy Halloween to all!

As if previous seasons of this controversial, (possibly fake?) sometimes heartwarming, and often mind boggling show weren’t enough— Love is Blind is back for a third season, and like everyone else, I’m fully invested.

Though this show is bonkers and often ridiculously unbelievable, I’m addicted, and here’s the scoop (well, my thoughts) on Season 3’s key players so far:

‘Love is Blind’ Season 3: the cast, the drama, and more

First off, something about Cole grated me right away. Same with Andrew (which is ironic? Since that’s my husband’s name?)— and as far as the ladies go, some major “pick me” energy is being radiated. Yikes. However, there are some high points and some genuinely relatable cast members that I’m enjoying so far.

Brennon and Alexa are my favorite. Well, mostly Alexa is my favorite. She’s gorgeous, confident, promoting body positivity, and genuinely the funniest and most compelling cast member thus far. Brennon and Alexa bonding over food and family seemed like more of a genuine connection than the others (like Cole, who asks childish questions and believes his charm could power a whole house, so it seems) and their interactions seem actually authentic.

Now, there are some cast members I don’t quite know how to react to yet. Raven is a great example. Part of me really likes her— but some “mean girl” energy seems to bubble up to the surface at times, and I hope that’s not the case as the season progresses (and we see her have a sketchy moment with another cast member I’ve not fully formed an opinion on yet, Bartise).

SK is great. He’s a genuinely cool, super intelligent man who seems to be on the show for the right reasons. Nancy is a little kooky, but I like her. Everyone else is… well, not memorable? If that makes sense?

Anywho, in this house we’re rooting for Brennon and Alexa. They’re the top-tier couple thus far, but as we all know, this show occasionally goes off the rails (and none of the cast members seem to be following one another on Instagram?)— so let’s see how this goes.

Xoxo, MM.

I don’t want to give too much away before the big reveal at our annual Halloween bash— buuuut recently my friend D.onniie took some fabulous, spooky season photos of me and I just had to share.

I’m being a vampire for Halloween (obvs!), and this is just part of the outfit I’m brewing up for the big Halloween party. For a modern vampire look, I recommend using sleek, black clothes, lots of jewelry, and fangs, of course! Fangs that mold to your own teeth (like these) are best as you can still eat and drink with them, and they fit in the mouth more naturally.

Here’s a sneak peek, and stay tuned for more Halloween content… 🎃🧛🏻‍♀️🖤✨

Recently, my husband and I sought out to have the perfect, spooky season date night in our neighborhood of Manayunk, Philadelphia. From an “Upside Down” Taqueria to a spooky trolley and beyond, we found just the right stuff to have a perfect Halloween in Philly— and you can, too!

Halloween eats at Stranger Things pop-up “Taqueria Things”

We began our night at Taqueria Amor, which had been re-named “Taqueria Things” for the month of October to celebrate their Stranger Things Halloween pop-up! Annnnd, it’s legit. As soon as you walk in you’ll see Joyce’s Christmas lights, the Upside Down, a shrine to Eddie Munson, and sick projector shows playing 80’s music and clips of your favorite Stranger Things heroes all across the walls. Plus, the food is always delish and the Stranger Things themed cocktails were to die for! I tried the “Upside Down Margarita”, complete with edible glitter and a “tentacle” for extra effect!

Take a ride on the free “Trick or Trolley”

Next, we waited outside of the restaurant at the “trick or trolley” stop— free bus stops that have been placed all around Manayunk to take you to and from various Main Street attractions every weekend in October! It’s free, and again, it’s super spooky themed and totally adorable. We loved it and really enjoyed the theme!

End the night by getting scared at Lincoln Mill Haunt

Lincoln Mill Haunt is new for 2022, and I don’t want to spoil a thing— other than to say it was super well done, and actually scared me quite a few times (in a good way)! It’s worth the wait and the money you’ll spend, from the impressive props and sets to the actors who really got into their characters. It was a super spooky, fun time!

If you’re looking for creative ways to celebrate Halloween in Philly, this is it. Try out these spots and let me know what you think!

Xoxo, MM.