Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: April 15-21, 2024
Alison Pegg
Don’t pour from an empty cup. Put the oxygen mask on yourself. We’ve heard all the sayings for taking care of yourself.
And then exhaustion hits you like a freight train.
To say this week was tiring would be the understatement of 2024. But thank goodness I found myself relying on “muscle memory” of sorts, activities I’ve tried that have helped reset my brain in the past. I leaned heavy into my Daily Burn subscription this past week, punching out frustrations and forcing my brain to tap out with rounds of yoga. My kdrama obsession came to good use this week too, the subtitles alone force me to pay attention, and I always love escaping to another world. Lastly, nature is always the greatest escape. From lunches outside on my new front chairs, to long walks around the neighborhood to calm down.
Those sayings wouldn’t be sayings for a reason. Just another reminder to take care of ourselves.
Here’s this week’s Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.
Reading
Is It Even Fun To Constantly Want Things? (Totally Recommend)
Ever find yourself nodding in agreement when you devour an essay? That exactly what I noticed I was doing when reading Total Rec’s substack Is It Even Fun To Constantly Want Things? She writes about our brains confusing wants with needs, relating to a vintage buy she (almost) regretted. I also love her callout of the lack of “third spaces”, of places where we could gather without having to buy, and the lack thereof in this day and age. Wanting doesn’t always have to be good - this read makes it okay to not hit checkout on your cart.
Eating
Marinated cherry tomatoes with “Drizzle”
When the temps hit 80 degrees this week, the last thing I wanted to eat was anything heavy. Craving fresh vegetables in April is tough, their not yet in season, so grocery store will have to do. Turns out a little patience, and a tip from Pinch of Yum does the trick. All you need is a handful of cherry or grape tomatoes, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a good tasting olive oil. Slice the tomatoes in half and marinate them in the oil and spices for at least half an hour, if not more, and the tomatoes will come out nice and sweet, with a great little tomato sauce as well. I ate these for lunch at least three times this week, twice with kale and avocado in a giant salad, and once over ricotta and rosemary bread for a toast lunch.
Playing
The Tortured Poets Department (Taylor Swift)
Who wasn’t listening to this album this past weekend? Anticipation ran deep for Swifties for this release, with theories about who, and what, would make the album. Two of the tracks are standouts for me, loml is so achingly sad, and the beat on I Can Do It With A Broken Heart makes it easily my favourite of the whole album. The Anthology songs are fine, but in my opinion, largely unneeded, Taylor has yet again cemented herself as the poet of our generation.
Saturday morning I spent an ungodly amount of time clicking through every artist linked in the feature while drinking my morning coffee. The art in Erin Austen Abbot’s Mississippi home is so finely curated, and so expertly placed, its a joy to scroll through the paragraphs and discover artists I’ve never heard of. Artists like Frances Berry Moreno, whos humour and boldness are in every work, to Heather Sundquist Hal who’s nostalgic pieces and 4x4 mini prints reflect on golden hour, that magical time of day.
Recommending
Diamond of the Season Wallflower (Bath & Body Works)
I normally don’t fall for gimmicky partnerships like this, but when you’re at the Outlet Mall, a strange sense falls over you. After striking out at the Pottery Barn outlet, a stop by Bath & Body Works was in order, mostly to check out their viral TikTok body sprays. After striking out on locating the sprays, I moseyed over to the Bridgerton display and started sniffing. I can’t speak for the rest of the scents, but Diamond of the Season is a great spring scent, especially in a wall flower. It’s subtle and fresh, and perfect for perking up my bathroom.
Treating
It’s been awhile since there’s been a Jenny Bird mention in this space, but alas, that break has come to an end. When Miss Jenny threw a four-hour-sale last week, I pounced, purchasing a pair of earrings I’ve had my eye on for awhile. I picked up the Aurora earrings in silver, an oversized sphere stud that lays flat against my small ears. I love how modern it looks, with plans to wear it all summer when my hair is pulled back.