10 Things That Satiated Me in August
A reminder to savor the small, mundane moments of life just as much as the picture perfect memories.
Welcome to SATIATED! A newsletter inspired by the feeling of biting into a ripe peach, eating a meal you have been craving and living a life that leaves you wanting no more. Each month, I round up all of my favorite moments, experiences, activities, and bites that kept me satiated that month. A reminder to savor the small, mundane moments of life just as much as the picture perfect memories.
My friend, Lauren, hosted a few of our friends at her apartment for an intimate breathwork session two times this month. We breathed, screamed, laughed, and cried together. I felt the strength of my heart and the love I have to share with others, the power of female friendship, and the expanse of my physical body. I feel lucky to have friends who can hold me in such deep healing containers.
Homemade iced miel lattes slurped out of a wide mouth mason jar. I recently got a stovetop espresso pot to make espresso as home and have been leaning into the simple luxury of mixing espresso with honey and cinnamon and drinking it over ice with oat milk. I think I’ll try making a dirty chai next month with dona chai concentrate.
Ever since I’ve been a little girl, my favorite place has always been the library (and, of course, bookstores). During my years of travel, I was solely a Libby x Kindle girl but recently, I’ve been enjoying checking out physical copies of books; waiting weeks of anticipation before they arrive to my local library. At one point this month, I went to pick up a hold and I realized I actually had four books waiting for me. A true joy!
On the topic of books, I spent a week at Oak Island, NC with my family and stumbled upon my new all-time favorite bookstore and record shop when visiting Wilmington, NC. The Fuzzy Needle is where, I imagine, all of the Wilmington hipsters hangout and has some of the most interestingly curated book selection I’ve ever seen in a bookstore. One of my favorite sections of the store was ‘fiction that explore the more nuanced aspects of this human condition we call life.’ I didn’t even buy a book (surprising) but was taken by the overall vibe and experience of the store.
And on the topic of family vacations, I spent a sweet week at the beach with my family in August. I enjoyed eating my mom’s homemade chex mix by the pool, doing puzzles, making fresh watermelon margaritas, and watching the sunset on the pier. I don’t always feel satiated after a week spent with my family (sorry, mom) but this trip felt different. Maybe it was waking up a few hours before everyone to get some solid alone time, or releasing my expectations about what a vacation needs to be. Needless to say, by the end of the trip, I felt refreshed, energized, and more connected to myself and family which, I think, is the mark of a really good family vacation.
This prayer: I offer up the need for things to be an different than they already are.
I’ve said no more than I’ve said yes this month and that has felt really good. No, I don’t want to do that, but thank you for offering. No, that doesn’t work for me, but here’s what does. No, I don’t want to go to that party, but I hope you have a great time. The clearer we are in our no, the more clear our yes becomes.
At every seasonal shift, I love to clear out space – clean out my closet, reorganize my shelves, delete old text messages, you get the gist. We aren’t quite at the fall equinox but with a three week roadtrip taking up the entirety of my early September, I used the last two weeks of August to let some things go. I tied up any loose ends lingering from the summer, replying to emails and texts with a polite ‘No thank you.’ or an invitation to circle back in the fall. I dusted my shelves and vacuumed my carpet. I went through every single item of clothing in my closet and threw away all the old receipts living in my bags. It’s funny, this practice works quick. As soon as I finished, opportunities and invitations started coming in. You must create space in your life if you want to invite in new energy.
I spent the last week of the month waking up at 5:15AM to write for two hours with my writing group. By the third day, I had forgotten to set my alarm but somehow woke up two minutes before start time and willed myself to get out of bed to write. It takes some time to adjust, but I enjoy waking up before the sun. I’ve learned that my writing is much clearer, more vivid, and flows out seamlessly when I write that early in the morning. Maybe it’s the lack of distractions, or the single pointed focus. Whatever it is, it felt good. And it allowed me to get ahead on some newsletters I have been struggling to write (like this one!)
You didn’t think I could leave a month without reminiscing on some of my favorite meals, did you? In August, I enjoyed searing halloumi drizzled with hot honey, I ate so many ~girl dinners~ with tinned fish, cheese, crackers, and whatever other snacky food I could get my hands on. I savored the tail end of peach season and began getting excited for fall with curry roasted sweet potatoes for lunch. My favorite recipes of the month was this coconut milk braised cod served over rice. I also had a delicious, spur of the moment, late Saturday night dinner at BECO, a cozy neighborhood Brazilian spot in Williamsburg that had been saved on my list for ages. The yuca fries were some of the best I’ve ever had.
PS – I almost forgot to mention that one of my FAVORITE moments of the month was going to Margaritaville after seeing Illinoise on Broadway. Lemme just tell you, the service was terrible, the vibes were a little questionable, the food was actually delicious and I would DEFINITELY go back. I love kitschy chain restaurants, sue me!
COMING SOON ON SATIATED:
The Anatomy of A Perfect Solo Date
In Season: Honoring the Transition from Summer to Fall
East Village, NYC Neighborhood Guide