Happy August friends! This month has really thrown me for a loop. I’ve been super sick, super tired, and that’s all been compounded by the super hot weather we’ve been having. I’m thrilled that it’s finally started to cool down here in Michigan, and I’ve been able to spend more time at my computer, more time hanging out on my big couch, and more time getting actual rest, instead of just trying to deal with the day as it comes.
Sometimes with chronic illness, flair ups can really feel like a step backwards after you’ve been making progress, and I’m not gonna lie—it really sucks sometimes. I’m not great at sitting around and not doing much, and that’s what I’m supposed to be doing these days. Luckily, I still love TV, I’ve been playing a few games to keep me entertained, and I can do a bit of writing on my iPad when I’m not feeling up to getting into my studio and onto to my big computer.
Here’s one of my favorite photos from this past month—it’s the full harvest of carrots from the garden. I just sprinkled a few seeds in random spots in the garden, and I was pleasantly surprised by the results, we’ll absolutely be planting more next year.
I’m going to be changing some things up here on Substack over the next few months. We’re going to pause the live masterclasses on the first Saturday of the month, and they’ll be replaced with seasonal Daily Pages prompts to help you get some more of the stories down. So if you’re a paid member—be on the look out for those next week!
We’ll definitely have more live events in the coming months, but for now, I need to take a quick break from scheduled live events to make sure that I’m not burning myself out. The prompts will be a great resource, and there are more than a dozen masterclasses in the masterclass archive for you to re-visit any time you want!
This month’s Currently List:
Watching
Top Chef—this is the first time we started watching Top Chef. First we watched all the seasons on Netflix, then we went back and started watching on Peacock. Mostly the last few seasons—I much prefer them to the earlier seasons with all the fabricated drama.
Crash Landing on You—I’ve needed to spend more time on the couch than I’ve been happy about, so to appease my annoyed little heart, I put on my favorite comfort show, and I’m just letting myself drown in their romance.
Foundation—this is the best (Sci-Fi?) show on TV right now. The acting, the writing, the set design, it’s all amazing.
Acapulco—this show couldn’t be any cuter. Also the color palette is amazing.
Psych + Parks and Recreation—these are my chore shows, things I’ve seen before and only need to pay attention vaguely.
Reading
lol nothing. I’ve started so many books the last few weeks and put down literally all of them. I’m not sure if it’s a me thing, a book thing, a timing thing, or what.
Text messages. I love texting with my besties, especially when they keep me up on all the hot garbage that I refuse to engage with on social media (that ring?!).
Listening
Random parts of the Fourth Wing series while taking naps. I’ve listened/read the whole thing a bunch now, so I can just pickup wherever, and it’s a delightful naptime listen.
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by
— she’s also the reader, which is delightful. She’s coming out with a new book next month that will absolutely be on my must read list.We (semi) unexpectedly had to get a new car this month, and it came with four months of SiriusXM radio, so I’m soaking up all the alt-18 I can, and learning what all the cool kid music is again.
Making
Nothing creative. I finished up my Find Your Voice workshop and that took every ounce of my creative energy this month.
Stuff with tomatoes. It’s been one of our best years for tomatoes. A few things I’ve put together:
Tomato soup (multiple kinds, multiple times)
Pizza sauce
Tomato cobbler (with summer squash scones)
Dehydrated cherry tomatoes (these were amazing in focaccia).
Sandwiches—all different kinds
Garlic bread with tomato slices
I still need to get myself some burrata and have a great caprese salad…
Here are some of the very few Daily Pages I’ve made this month—I’m planning to get back into the swing of publishing them again once the weather gets a little cooler, but for now
Feeling
All over the place. I’m tired, I’m sick, and I know it’s not going to last forever, but man is it absolutely exhausting while it’s happening.
Also, so ready for cooler weather.
Planning
A trip home in a few weeks for a Julio Torres show
ALP Virtual Scrapbook Festival (mid-November at theawesomeladiesproject.com)
Hit reply and let me know Something you learned or found interesting this month!
Talk to you next week!
xoxo,
Kristin
P.S. If you’re enjoying these newsletters, please consider sharing this edition with a friend who might need a little creative boost today.
P.P.S. I swear I scheduled this to go out yesterday. Clearly it’s been a whole summer. <3
I love daily pages in any form!