Issue #17: Low-effort comforts, weeknight recipes + beach reads
Audiobooks, watercolor, meal prep, and what I'm reaching for this week
Hi friend,
I hope May was kind to you and June shows up with what you’re needing most right now.
Coming into a new month I always look forward to the refresh and checking in, but life feels a bit off right now. I feel like I need more time to get things done, but May was yesterday (literally, as I write this) and I’m trying my best to regroup, feel like myself again. And maybe you feel that way too.
When I’m out of sync, I try to lean into the things that bring me back to myself and find joy in the simple, mundane of everyday life. A little snippet of self-care in my daily routine, if you will. Here’s what’s been helping lately:
Listening to an audiobook while doing household tasks. Currently it’s The Sirens by Emilia Hart.
Sending friends recipes or things that remind me of them.
Getting back into painting with watercolor on my days off.
Buying fresh local flowers for my kitchen and office. If you’re a cat household, always make sure they are non-toxic plants.
A midday matcha with macadamia milk and reading on my break.
What helps you reset when you need it? I’d love to hear what makes you feel like yourself again.
THIS WEEK’S PICKS
TRY: It’s the beginning of the month and you know what that means. Give your electronics a refresh by changing the wallpaper. The EveryGirl and Good Mondays Paper are two of my favorite websites to find monthly backgrounds.
WATCH: The new dark comedy Sirens features Julianne Moore as an eccentric socialite with a falcon obsession, who somehow manages to charm—and control—everyone in her orbit, including the sister of Devon (played by Meghann Fahy), a skeptic set on staging an intervention at an exclusive weekend charity gala hosted at a stunning estate. It’s a limited series with five episodes, so perfect for one each night of the week!
LISTEN: It's About Time podcast talked with Monica Packer on how to create habits even when you're tired, busy, and overwhelmed. As we come into June after a month that felt a little scattered, this was a helpful episode to listen to.
EAT: We’re trying a few new dinners this week: sweet chili chicken bowls, honey chipotle salmon with squash, and balsamic basil chicken. All of them come together pretty quickly, which is all I ask from a weeknight meal.
BOOKS I’M READING THIS SUMMER
Here’s a look into what I’m planning on reading this summer. On my Instagram I shared the six hopefuls and my top picks for coastal thrillers and summer romances. I'd love to know your thoughts if you've read any of them!
20 low-spend summer activities that make the most of the season without blowing your budget
A guide to summer produce, including storage tips and recipes because seasonal fruits and vegetables are always the best and can be picked up at the local farmers market.
If you want to be more positive without the forced, cheery mantras, psychologists shared 5 ways you can be more hopeful that are actually helpful.
