Care Package 002 | March 2020

Practicing social distancing since 1993.

Hi, hullo. This post is coming at you live from the comfort of my purple bedroom, which will likely become quite a familiar space in the weeks ahead. Going outside invites a bit of madness, and people are semi-panicking, but here in the purple bedroom, we are keeping it calm and cozy with a brown sugar chestnut candle and a whole lot of blankets.

Although it's cozy, I must say, it's been a little lonely.

I'm an introvert type, so usually I cherish my Hermit Time, but nothing feels normal right now. That seems to be true for everyone in the country, nay, the world. So as I throw myself into coffee-drinking, creative projects and cleaning, I figured it was time for another installment in the Care Package series. Because most of us are probably a bit isolated at present, and could use a little pick-me-up.

Care Package 002

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Welcome to the Care Package! In addition to the below recommendations, please remember to take care of yourself. Mind, body, soul. Things that have been helping me navigate this crazy time include park walks, conversations with friends, writing and journaling, reading the Bible and all sorts of books, getting dressed even if I'm going approximately nowhere, and eating right.

To Read

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* The Calm Place: My friend Shannon showed me this article once, and I've returned to it several times since. It's a little quiet place amidst the chaos of the Internet, and I dare say it's relaxing.

* The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan: It is likely that I have already recommended this book in older posts on this blog, but if I did, I DON'T CARE. My friend Jesse recommended Marina Keegan's work to me years ago, and ever since, this book has been dear to me. I return to it quite frequently. Other books I'd recommend devouring while things are uncertain include anything by Sally Rooney, Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi, and the entire Harry Potter series.

* "Things to Save in a Fire": The other day I read this simultaneously heartbreaking/heartwarming piece by Lucy Harbron. I love Lucy's blog, and she really puts such honesty and care into her writing. This post is all about the women and stories behind certain articles of clothing she cherishes. Definitely worth a read.

* Shameless plug: If you're bored and looking for music recommendations, I wrote a thing for you.

To Listen

* "After Hours" by the Weeknd: If you like music that makes you feel like you're on the dance floor in a Space Mountain kind of way (what are words), then is this the jam for you! But seriously, the Weeknd is super talented and 2:12 of this bop will make you want to dance for days.

To Do

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* Spend your time wisely: Lena Dunham made a list of little indoor activities you can do right now to keep yourself healthy and busy, and I highly recommend checking them out.

* Smile: Just keep clicking > 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

* Log off: It's easy to get sucked into the whirlwind of news and noise at a time such as this, but taking some time away to sit in your backyard in the sunshine, or pray in a park is actually quite lovely. Also strongly recommended: a nice afternoon nap.

Ok! That's it, friends. If you have any fun things to share, please comment below!

Sending hugs and sunshine,
E

Care Package 001 | November 2019

This morning when I stepped outside, it was nice. Not humid, not balmy - but nice. For the first day of November in Florida, that is saying something.

Two weeks prior, I hopped off a plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan into Michigan, where it was cool and serene and all the trees were crispy with color. 

I gathered as many fall leaves as I could, and put them in my suitcase back to the land where palm trees abound. And just like that, we're in November, and just like that, my quick fall trip to a northern state feels like eons ago. And as much as I've been wanting to write, I've been busy and sleepy and time just keeps marching on.

Maybe you feel the same way.

Maybe you're feeling a bit burnt out. Maybe as much as you want to work on your creative thing, you just as equally want to take a nap and not feel bad about it. And to you I say, take that nap! But also: here is your complimentary care package.

Small backstory: I know this wonderful human who saves up little things during the week for himself to read and enjoy later, and that always stuck with me.

It's like a little care package from yourself. And when I heard that, I started creating my own care package, too. And now - one for you. Disclaimer: I always start new post series (series-es?) on this blog with the best of intentions, but I don't always keep up with them. BUT! I wanted to create a Care Package series to share little delights for you to take with you, at least for this month. Just in case.

So without further ado, please enjoy Care Package 001, from me to you:

For a laugh: These were the Halloween costumes my family and I decided on this year. My sister was Post Malone, my cousin Daisy went as Daisy sour cream, and ya girl's a bat. How about that!

To Read

* Oh my word, this article: AKA the best thing I've read in a long time. It gave me goosebumps, and I promptly ran out to the bookstore despite having a cold to pick up the full Modern Romance anthology because WOW. If you love love stories (even heartbreaking ones), this is for you, my dude.

* Normal People by Sally Rooney: This book was so good that I promptly devoured it on my five-day Michigan trip. I've never read anything quite so aching. This book was, to me, the literary equivalent of the Julien Baker song, "Good News" (a must listen). 10/10 would read again.

To Listen

* Half Moon Run: Only listen if you're ready to find your new favorite fall folk album. I've been waiting literal years for Half Moon to drop this record, but hey - it takes years to make a masterpiece. Try out "Flesh and Blood" and "Razorblade" for a taste of their tunes.

* Waterparks: If pop-punk/emo/experimental tunes are your thing, and you don't mind language or cartoonish green hair, please do yourself a favor and give the FANDOM record a listen.

* NF: Can't say enough good things about NF's latest album and I'm not even a hip-hop/rap fan.

To Do

* I would highly recommend finding your human and giving them a hug: Because sometimes your human could use a hug, too.

* Be kind to yourself: Someone wise once told me to treat myself with grace and compassion. And if you've been burning the candle at both ends, and trying to be everything to everybody, don't forget to be a friend to yourself, too.

* Meme-palooza: Just keep clicking > 1, 2, 3, 4.

And there it is! The first Care Package post. If you have any recommendations for me, as always - I'm all ears!

Drinking way too much coffee,
E

Inspired By: Jack Antonoff of Bleachers

Photo credit here, my edit.

Don't you love when someone else's art influences your own?

Here's how it happened: The other day I was watching YouTube, as you do, when I got caught in a vortex of Jack Antonoff videos. I watched interviews, live performances, the whole shebang. But a neat thing happened (that often doesn't when I'm watching YouTube) - instead of feeling drained or restless, I felt inspired.

*Cue the music*

Sometimes another artist perfectly expresses what you were already thinking yourself. Someone who's been there, done that and can put words to what you've always known inside, but couldn't articulate. After learning more about Jack Antonoff's creative process, I realized that my own creative endeavors (namely writing) don't have to be about what others want or expect from me.

What we all need to do is just create the thing already, 
even if no one else understands it. Create it for YOU.

This inspired me to sit down and write today without worrying about the audience who might one day read my words. I wrote for the joy of it, not the potential future success.

And that is how great art is made! But really, though.

What about you?

Has any artist inspired you in your creative journey?
Have you had any writing epiphanies lately? Tell me about it below!