if I could hit pause…
In search of connection, crafty moments, and more time to breathe.
Hi friend!
This week has been one of those full ones! Work, family time, and a million little tasks have blurred together in a way that’s both fulfilling and slightly overwhelming. I’ve been in hermit mode lately, but something about the shift in the season has me craving real connection. Not just quick check-ins or calendar-packed hangouts, but slow, meandering time with the people I love.
I’ve been thinking about what it means to make time versus just waiting for it to magically appear (spoiler: it doesn’t - shocking I know!). I want more time to rest, to reconnect, to actually finish a craft project without forgetting about it halfway through.
One of my favorite parts of the week? The random kisses my son gives me out of nowhere. It’s like a reset for my heart every single time.
If I could hit pause on everything else for one day, I think I’d sleep in, take myself to brunch, wander through thrift stores with no agenda, and spend the afternoon getting messy with paint or scissors or glue. That kind of day feels like luxury right now. But maybe, just maybe, I can find pieces of it tucked into the weekend ahead.
what’s new
Here’s what’s new on the blog this week!
Panzanella toscana is my absolute favorite summer salad right now… Is it fitting in my anti-inflammatory diet…? Nope. But I don’t care.
This is the BEST pizza sauce for your next pizza night! Ready in 5 minutes and no cooking required.
cocktail corner
unexpected pairings
A sour cocktail usually doesn't have the flavor from chocolate, and certainly not a cream liqueur and a sour componant. But, if you use lime cordial, which is sweetened, this White Chocolate Gimlet is magical and delicious! We hope you try it!
A Strawberry Basil Margarita is an herbaceous twist to a strawberry margarita, served on the rocks! The vibrant flavors make this cocktail sweet, tart, and totally refreshing. It’s ideal for sipping on the patio all summer long!
Bring some tropical vibes to your next happy hour with this Pineapple Old Fashioned. This variation is a delicious next step for those who love the classic cocktail. The sweet pineapple flavor is subtle, keeping bourbon the star ingredient.
This effervescent Cucumber Mocktail is light, bright and anything but boring. Cool cucumber and zesty citrus make an unexpectedly perfect pairing: crisp, refreshing and just a little fancy. Topped with fizzy soda, it’s the ultimate booze-free summer sipper.
what to cook this week
These salmon bites have been a weeknight win in my house. Sticky-sweet, packed with ginger, and cooked in under 20 minutes? Yes please. Serve them over rice, noodles, or just with a fork standing at the counter. No judgment here.
what I’m reading
When the Moon Hatched was exactly the emotional train wreck I knew it would be and I absolutely loved it. My heart broke, stitched itself back together, then shattered again. The FMC’s emotional repression? Deeply relatable.
Now I’m diving back into the Throne of Glass universe with Queen of Shadows, but reading on the Kindle has been… meh. I miss the audiobooks. The fact that the library only has the ebook version is doing me dirty.
what I’m watching
Just started The Lazarus Project and wow, I am hooked. It’s reminding me a lot of Recursion by Blake Crouch… but different. I love a good “what if we reset time” storyline
Also watching season 2 of Nine Perfect Strangers, which has me seriously contemplating whether psychedelic therapy might be the answer to literally everything…
the little list
🎧 Song: Sally, When The Wine Runs Out – ROLE MODEL. Good beat. Moody. Perfect.
📊 Mood: Loving how my tracker is filling in day by day. These tiny routines are helping me feel a little more grounded.
✂️ Missing: Crafty time. My junk journal is collecting dust and it’s calling to me.
🍂 Craving: Fall content is creeping in and honestly? I’m not mad.
🧃 Currently eating: Tomato tarte tatin topped with loads of goat cheese… Recipe incoming here on Substack this weekend!
Thanks for letting me be a little slower, a little softer this week. Hoping you’re finding your own version of rest wherever you are. Maybe it’s wrapped in a blanket, and rewatching Twilight like me?
Until next time!
xoxo,
Meghan