february inspirations

it's still winter

I wrote this draft and made these mood board at the beginning of the month and let them languish here for weeks and now we’re at the end of this short month. I have been working on romanticizing my life more and leaning into this Ram Dass quote.

Here’s what’s been keeping me feeling ok this month

1. Baking Bread

2. Making Soup

3. Wearing the color Red

4. Going for a walk in the Snow

5. Knitting a sweater (red)

6. Endless cups of Tea (Rishi Turmeric Ginger, Dandy Blend, Peppermint)

Watching

I Capture the Castle movie on Amazon Prime. I read this book last year and I just found out there’s a movie adaptation. I love old British shit so I am delighted by this movie.

Reading

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - more old British shit. I read every Jane Austen book over the last few years and had to find a Jane Austen adjacent book. This really hit the spot! I partially listened on audiobook while sewing and partially read the physical book from the library before bed and I enjoyed it so much. I love being in Northern England during the Industrial Revolution and exploring class power dynamics and workers rights. I’m really interested in watching the show as well.

I just started reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and have been enjoying it immensly. Several people told me they thought it was “too slow” but I always enjoy meandering character study type books that don’t need a specific story per se.

In terms of articles, this article on Vox about the state of self promotion and personal branding really hit me. It’s so annoying that it feels like a reality of today that everyone has to “establish themselves as an expert in their field” by posting online. It’s unfortuante that we’re all content waiting to be captured and edited into digestable moments. I really waffle back and forth about self promotion and sharing and the exhausting nature of capitalism and COMMERCE! It’s nice to make work and share it and have people love it, it’s demoralizing to make only what seems simple enough to make a lot of them quickly instead of whatever I feel like making. In a perfect world I would just make whatever I feel like making, whenever I feel like making it and have a ready and willing audience to enjoy and purchase whatever that thing or project is. But that’s another topic entirely…

Eating

I made this King Arthur Flour no knead bread recipe that made 3 small boules over the span of a week with almost no effort. I recommend it!!

---

Thanks for reading another edition of my just for fun newsletter. I really do enjoy creating these and hope it brings you inspiration and delight in reading it.