I spent a solid amount of time outdoors this week. I’ve been working towards tracking my time outside, not necessarily my time being active, and it’s been an absolute delight. The weather was warmer on the East coast: the sun was shining and even the rain wasn’t too harsh and pleasant enough to walk in with a raincoat. My body has needed some extra rest, but it’s been worth it. I hope that you’ve had the space to both enjoy what the outdoors has offered you this week and the time to give your body the rest it needs.
Eat: I’m not here to tell you what to eat this week, exactly. I’m just here to tell you that if you have local restaurants, support them. Did I use this as an excuse this week to not go food shopping? Yes. But did I get to support a local Mexican restaurant and order burrito as large as a football? Also yes. Here’s the other thing: if you don’t have the cash to do takeout, you can still support them! Leave a review on how great the service has been in the past, or on your favorite dish. Recommend them to others on a local facebook page or give them a shout-out on social media. We are all feeling the crunch of inflation and financial strain these days, and in my opinion, one of the best ways we can contribute is by keeping money local when possible.
See: I took a few books out from my local library recently and my library gave me a total I saved on that visit alone ($40!) and in the past year (over $1,000!) I was also reminded that my library has reciprocity with two other counties in my state, each flush with benefits: DVDs (remember those?), magazines, and passes to local museums. So here is my recommendation: check out your local branch, and talk to a librarian. Ask them a perk of your card that you might not know about or that most patrons don’t use. And if you don’t have a library card, now’s the time to sign up! Might I recommend taking out a banned book while you’re at it? If you’re looking for somewhere to start, on this list, numbers 6, 11, 23, 25, 27, and 35 are some that I’ve read and loved.
Do: I am the first to admit that this one is not very exciting. But while you’re washing your sheets this week, throw your pillows in too for a wash cycle. I know I don’t wash mine nearly enough, and it always feels so nice to rest my head on something I know is clean or at least a step closer to smelling better than it did the day before. Want to give yourself a zen experience? Use wool dryer balls with a few drops of essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus. They may not cure cancer, but they can sure make things smell good!
Have a supportive, well-read, fresh weekend,
Christina
