My routines — recipes — thoughts — and feelings have been discombobulated recently. I haven’t really been in the posting mood, but this weekend I took a solo trip to the lake and decided to write and read and plan and think and breathe. So, here I am making good on the promise to myself.

I know this is a food blog, but it has become so much more, really. It is a place for me to put my thoughts — share realizations and truths — and document my life. Food is a big part of that, but it doesn’t take center stage in every post. I imagine you’ll scroll past (if you scroll here at all) if it isn’t what you need to ingest.

And so with all of that in mind, I have decided to make today’s post about a mixture of things I’ve been saving — things that moved me, provided some joy, made me think, or even made me laugh. Perhaps it will do the same for you. I’m grateful you are here.

Personal Milestone:
Friday was a big milestone for me because I celebrated my 4th year of choosing to live alcohol-free. For those of you interested, I used This Naked Mind as a resource.

Fashion:
MidsizeKimberlyAnne inspires me to mix and match patterns these days. Lately, I’ve been living into a garden gnome-like fashion, which has made my heart happy. P.S. She’s launching a new website called SizeCycle so that people can swap clothes and celebrate the size they are today. I love this idea.

Living in this Moment:
I’m always searching for the healers when times are hard and times are sure hard. As if right on time, I found the following to be incredibly inspirational and hopeful and affirming.

How to Imagine a Better Future for Democracy | adrienne maree brown and Baratunde Thurston | TED

Elif Shafak on the Three Roots of Hate and How to Be a Star Student of Life

The Internets
I’m obsessed with Courtney Cooks Instagram page. https://www.instagram.com/courtneycookinsta/
Am I being influenced? Yes. Am I eating sweet potatoes with cheese and boiled eggs and fried onions? Yes.
Do I care what anyone thinks about my ability to be influenced in this way? Only a little.

Books:
The Wild Robot: Mae and I are reading this every night and I love it.
Theo of Golden: I am in the middle of this one and I’m hooked.
P.S. I linked you to Thank You Books to purchase these because they are awesome AND they donated % of their sales last week to HICA. Support them, please.

Song:
I heard an interview with Bon Iver and he mentioned that one of his favorite songs was “Long Distance Love” by Little Feat. I looked it up and can’t stop listening to it.

Work stuff:
ReThinking: The keys to a flourishing community with Dan Coyle
Loved the part about awakening vs building community AND courage + curiosity as it is reflected in nature. Hat tip to Hunter for this one…

Connection:
A friend I’ve known for a very long time, but haven’t really seen in person in forever reached out to me at the beginning of the year to meet for lunch. We did that on Friday and it was a reminder that outreach — in human form — makes such a difference (thanks, Michael). We also had THIS fish sandwich at Bayonet. It was delicious. You should have that sandwich with someone you haven’t seen in quite some time. It’s all worth it. I went ahead and linked you to the Resy page…:)

Rest:
This weekend was also a reminder that silence — solitude — time by yourself is not a rejection of the people you love or care for. It’s actually the ultimate care you can give yourself AND others. I did a little of that this weekend and had no idea how much I needed the reset. My nervous system is at full charge these days and getting away to recharge was what I needed. If you are feeling that way, go somewhere by yourself. Doesn’t have to be far. Doesn’t even have to be expensive. Just go somewhere by yourself.

Food:
And finally… for the FOOD on this FOOD BLOG.

First of all, I need to let all of you know that I got to see MY QUEEN INA GARTEN in person last Sunday with my Mom. She gave such great human and business advice and I want her to know that I am jumping in ALL the pools and splashing ALL around. For those of you who were there, you know what I mean. Thank you, Ina, for all the ways you’ve inspired me to dream big and to use food as a foundation for those dreams!

Listen, I make a ton of banana bread/muffins/cakes because I have bananas rotting on my counter 24/7. I saw this recipe for Banana Muffins in the NY Times and I am here to tell you these were my favorite banana muffins I’ve ever made. I added chocolate chips because I’m awesome.

To close this out, here’s something that made me chuckle.

Love y’all,

A