Hello again and happy Friday friends. We’re at the end of another long and busy and news-filled week and I for one am ready for the slowness that the weekend brings. I hope you’re all able to carve out some time and space for yourself once again this weekend to do something that brings you joy, and also to relax!
On a personal note, it’s crazy to wrap my head around, but this coming Sunday was supposed to be my wedding day. I’d been planning for the occasion since August of 2019, and it was back in July that we made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the date until next year. Avu and I are confident in the choice we made, but after months of anticipating this moment, the days feel a little strange right now.
We’re hoping to mark this special weekend with a trip to Leavenworth, Washington, a quaint, secluded mountain town a few hours outside Seattle. The foliage should be on bright display, and I’m looking forward to some wine tastings, some really nice meals (and conversations with my love) and sleeping in at our cozy Bed and Breakfast.
Really and truly, I think it will just be nice to get away for a few days, and step outside of our everyday surroundings. It’s easy to get lost in the monotony of our day to day routines, dive into our todo lists and daily dramas and then look up and wonder where the time went. I’ve been so incredibly guilty of that lately, and so I’m grateful for this upcoming opportunity to fully immerse my senses in my surroundings.
I find that when I seek out these opportunities, it forces me to live more forcefully in the present, and allow me to to consciously choose to make the most of that moment.
Whether it’s committing to a weekly nature walk, seeking out a farm to go buy (or pick!) fresh produce, or even just sitting in the park, I’m encouraging you all to join me in challenging ourselves to seek out opportunities to change up our surroundings and live aggressively in the now.
Some things to chew on…
- Yelp has added a new feature to its platform that will flag businesses that have been accused of racism. The company announced that it is implementing a system of alerts on its website that will let searchers know if certain businesses have been accused of racism in reviewer comments, after seeing a spike in these kinds of reviews over this past year. I think this is a really interesting way the company is trying to be an ally and condemn racism and I totally support Yelp for taking action, and prompting accountability among its users. On the one hand, where we put our money is a form of support, even if its indirect. So this kind of flagging could cause people to think about where they are giving their dollars. However, I think there could be some issues worth thinking about. This Eater article says it well, writing “Where the platform could potentially run into difficulty is adjudicating what exactly constitutes “racist behavior,” a question whose answer may vary wildly depending on whom one asks. (For instance, could right-wing news sites attempt to argue that displaying Black Lives Matter flags is racially discriminatory?).” That’s obviously an extreme example, but I think it’s a really interesting, important, constantly evolving conversation.
- 2020 and the pandemic have us rethinking a lot of our norms when it comes to day to life and taking care of ourselves. Our cooking habits have changed, our fitness habits have changed, and we’ve also had to adjust our beauty habits. In some ways it’s annoying unideal (I will not now nor ever try to wax my own eyebrows). But get this — turns out experts are saying that our scaled back beauty habits (i.e. canceled salon appointments, spa treatments, manicures and more) have major positive health benefits, including clearer skin, healthier hair and stronger nails. For example, Washington Post reports that “dermatologists are reporting fewer cosmetics-related acne flare-ups. Hair and scalp specialists say their clients who have stopped chemical treatments are seeing healthier, shinier locks.” Click the link to read more… and maybe consider if some of your quarantine self-care routines might be worth becoming your “new normal.”
Some fun foodies news…
- You can now get everything you need for a date night delivered right to your front door. UberEats is now adding flower delivery to its services. It will also start bringing pet supplies too, so you and your pup can both splurge on your weekend diet.
- Turns out, there is a nationwide shortage of mason jars…all thanks to the coronavirus. With so many people undertaking quarantine cooking and baking (and jam-making) projects for the past several months, the industry apparently couldn’t keep up with the spike in demand. I can tell you at least 2 dozen of those mason jars are sitting in my cabinet… Click the link to read more.
- October is already my favorite month of the year, and I just learned that it’s also National Pizza Month. All the others months are canceled. In the meantime, read here about where to get freebies and deals on pizza.
And a few treats to leave you with…
- Continuing with the weekly dose of holiday vibes… here’s a list of the best vampire movies on all the streaming platforms… and to help calm your nerves during the scary parts, here’s a big roundup of fun Halloween cocktails to make.
- Yes, we are talking about the holidays already. And next week is the perfect chance to get an early jump on your shopping list. The 2 day Amazon Prime Day mega sale is next Tuesday and Wednesday. Click here to get a preview of the deals and start stacking your cart if you’re really determined.
- I just came across neat little hack to add small doses of self care into your day. There’s a Google Chrome plug-in called Teeny breaks that you can install on your computer… and then each time you open a new tab, the page will display a quick mindfulness tip. We could all use a reminder to get some sunlight or drink a glass of water when we’re busy with the craziness of life and work. This is an easy way remind ourselves to stop and take a beat.
Did you like something in particular from this newsletter? Or did you see a story out there that I should know about? Please reach out and let me know!
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