Welcome to THE WEEKENDER, your weekly dispatch full of ~Saturday spirit~! I fill you in briefly on the week, share a few Little Luxuries that make the mundane feel special and save the best for last with some Brain Food to mull over, expand your horizons, or discuss with your friends over a cappuccino. There are usually lots of links and pictures which perhaps will get clipped if you’re reading in your inbox— click here to read in browser!
Happy Saturday! This week was all high-highs and low-lows— I bit off more than I could chew and now I must reckon with the consequences. I’m juggling too much right now, and I’m feeling the burn.
If this feels familiar to you too, or you’re wanting to start a creative pursuit and wondering how to juggle it with your day job, I resonated with this article on “sustaining creative aliveness while working a full time job.” This was one of those weeks where it was so incredibly hard to find time to squeeze it all in! I confess I fell asleep with my laptop on my chest while drafting this, and I’ve been getting up 90 minutes earlier each day to squeeze it all in.
Small wins from my week:
This first week of September has been so beautiful. I started most days doing my Artist’s Way pages while listening to the sounds of the ocean breaking on the shore, taking early morning walks with my husband and our dog, getting a jump on work… the peaceful mornings have been the best part of my day. (Can you tell I’m craving more calm and quiet!?)
My friends and I had another Swap Meet! We all brought over clothes, beauty products, books, etc, that were in good condition and no longer useful to us but maybe perfect for each other. It’s the most fun, highly recommend doing this with your friends once a quarter. My favorite part is how we all stand up and make our case for why someone should take each item, like it’s a private auction…
One of my most-recommended brands, Dune, is now in Target! I have every single thing they make and I have used them all in the last week, I will be their hype-girl forever. The spray is the best spray sunscreen I’ve ever tried, hands down— and everyone who has borrowed my sunscreen this summer has commented on how good it is, heh. Glad for them on the launch!
This is another loud and emphatic vote for buying a copy of the latest from Caroline Chambers: What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking: Make It Fast. I made the goat cheese and zucchini pasta and it blew my mind. Easily the most unctuous, flavorful pasta I have made in years— I wasn’t expecting the balsamic on the ingredient list and it makes such a difference.
Did anyone else use the St. Ives face scrub in the aughts? I used to use the pink one all the time, and then scrubs fell out of vogue! Famous facialist Sofie Pavitt has brought them back with this (new to me) microdermabrasion scrub. I use it on really sweaty days or after I commute into the city and I have exposed my skin to the gunk of Penn Station, 10/10.
Also pictured above: Esker sent me the most heavenly and celestial scented bubble bath. It’s actually a powder that lives in that beautiful ceramic vessel on my sink! I’ve already ordered a refill, when I received the bubble bath and this magnesium soak for sore muscles I genuinely took a bath for 3 days in a row… I’m down that bad. I used to sell Esker’s wares in my sustainable online general store, Goldune. 🫶
Madewell released a new tote that looks veeeeeeery similar to the (pricier) viral Alex Mill tote, if you ask me…
ICYMI: this week I wrote about the authors that are an instant pre-order for me! Lots of good books in our future…
One of my favorite book cover aesthetics (and secretly— I hope— the vibe of the cover of my future book someday!).
I saw this floating around the internet and I tend to agree, my “best” days seem to include engagement in each of these 4 arenas... What do you think?
For anyone who writes, makes content on social media, or wants people to engage with their thoughts or ideas in an increasingly oversaturated world: here’s how to package your work so that it actually gets seen and engaged with by your target audience.
Check out this carrot.
10 journal prompts to help you differentiate what sounds good to you vs. the internet.
This piece on changing the way you think (like Olympian Eileen Gu) and the importance of neuroplasticity blew me away, especially the tips for how to best engage your brain. I have been feeling the need for this bad! I can feel myself sinking into pathways and ways of thinking that have become entrenched for no good reason.
Obsessed with this old woman who was caught running a gossip ring in her local library.
Bahaha at the old woman finding PURPOSE and MEANING in retirement!
Omg I’ve achieved a dream I didn’t even know I had: contributing to your brain food! That pasta also looks great. I love your weekender reports!