5 Quick Things + An Announcement
Project 365, Day 234/365
My friends, happiest of Fridays. WE MADE IT. This weekend, I plan on finally actually unpacking (I’m that person who leaves their stuffed suitcase on the floor for weeks until you eventually wash all the clothes in it or wear all the clothes in it). I have no shame either. But I’m tired of digging through trying to find things, so…the time has come. I have a few things I’m looking forward to baking (this blueberry cornbread, for instance), and possibly a friend to see…what is everyone else up to?
Before continuing on to my 5 quick things of the week, I wanted to let you know something. I put A LOT of thought into what I’m about to say, and I can say the decision wasn’t easy, but I’d be lying. It was VERY easy to make because I knew it was what my heart and soul really wanted. After some much-needed time off from everything, and a reader’s comment about growth over goals echoing in my ears, I realized I needed to make a change. Project 365 probably needs a new name. Not only because I missed about 17 days of writing, but because I’ve decided to pull back just a bit. I’m giving myself Friday and Saturday nights off, meaning I’ll only be posting a new blog Monday through Friday. The daily grind was something I started to dread, almost hate, and that’s never what I intended with Project 365. The idea was to commit myself to SOMETHING, to have some goals, to be proud of myself, to have a distraction from my physical and emotional ailments. I realize now I can still achieve all those things, but also cut myself a little slack and rest. If I applied for a job that said I had to work every day straight for a year, with no days off, no matter how good or bad I felt or what life circumstances popped up, I’d think they were MAD. NUTTY. Yet I gave myself those rules for better or for worse (and it was becoming “for worse”).
Having two days off will give me time to plan, to write at a slightly more leisurely pace, to work on a project or two with some more runway, whether for the blog or myself. Where I might have felt previously that such a decision equaled me failing, or me disappointing you all, I truly don’t feel that. At least not right now. My rest and recharge is worth more to me than two half-assed blog posts I write on days I don’t want to write. I want to finish out the year of blogging strong, eager, exciting. Not like I was run over by a truck and left in the gutter with a hope and a prayer. Get me? We can all do hard things, as we say around here (via Glennon Doyle), but sometimes, the hard thing is pulling back, rather than forging forward. Normalize changing plans and courses, I say.
Okay, all that said (and probably far too much explaining, anyway), here are my five quick things for the week:
Quick Thing #1
This week, I went a different route with my cooking. After being on vacation for two weeks, away from all routine and stress, I came back with a bit of a “so be it” attitude with some things, including my meals. As you may know, I’m normally a from-a-recipe cook, rather than a throw-together-whatever-I-have cook, but I decided to play my cards differently the last few days. I decided what I felt like eating, got whatever I felt like I needed for that, and just…cooked. No recipes, no rules, just whatever tasted good together. There was, however, one recipe I did need to reference that I thought, and I was reminded how dang good it is. That’s Marcella Hazan’s tomato sauce that’s made with just tomatoes, butter, an onion, and some salt. That’s it (I did add basil at the end and some crushed black pepper because I do what I want). So simple, so good. Charles came around to taste it and the only thing out of his mouth was “that’s some good sauce.”
Quick Thing #2
If you like looking at photos and videos of pasta (and other Italian delights), you may enjoy the account Grossy Pelosi. Dan Pelosi is a new discovery for me, via someone else I know and follow, but I just found him to be a delightful spirit. Not to mention his food looks (and is) SO good and mostly simple. This is his blog with his recipes, and this is his Instagram account.
Quick Thing #3
While packing a few weeks back for my trip to Florida, I was reminded of the ease and convenience that are my packing cubes. I have this set, which is nothing special in terms of design, but they have a good variety of sizes, they are good enough quality for the low price, and I like that the mesh lets you see what’s inside without having to unzip. If you have an upcoming trip, these are a HUGE help, both in packing and just living out of a suitcase in an organized way that doesn’t make you want to throw your bag upside down just to find that one pair of socks you threw at the bottom some random Tuesday.
Quick Thing #4
Has anyone seen the show on Hulu called 9 Perfect Strangers? It’s a limited series with a new episode released every Wednesday. Charles and I are really enjoying it. I’m not sure where it’s going, and it’s a bit trippy (literally…IYKYK), but I’m enjoying the wild ride.
Quick Thing #5
I’ve already blogged about these in the past, but I’ve been living in these slip-on sneakers essentially all summer, so I figured I’d share again now that I have actually worn them numerous times. The inside is nice and cushy, almost as if there’s a memory foam insole, they aren’t too narrow or too wide, and they look good with just about anything. And being a total clutz, I assumed they’d be filthy by now, but oddly, they aren’t. 10/10, especially for under $15.
See you Monday, FOAS.