Mid-March and April; the vibes: a little seed in the dirt

• be mediocre at something
• be downright bad at something
• shake off the winter dust
  • make a salad once a week
  • do a chakra meditation series (maybe you're just blocked)
  • get a massage
• quiet down
  • email clean-out
  • texts clean-out
  • budget audit
  • declutter something every day
• skip something and do something else worthwhile instead
• watch a thunderstorm on the patio
• drink coffee outside in the morning (even when cold)

• owning so many mugs
• health anxiety
• worrying about how often we do xyz
• feeling like my every purchase has to be optimized to align with my values (sometimes you just need to buy dishwasher pods, etc.)
• wondering if my friends like me
• wondering if I like my friends
• worrying about being dead weight as a volunteer
• thinking about my next career move
• needing to have two separate wardrobes for work and play

I am not under cross-examination!

• fresh ice, cold water, and a secondary drink in a pitcher in the fridge
• clean, folded, and conspicuous hand towels in the bathroom
• matching glassware ready to go
• a simple snack (fruit, cheese and crackers)
• cloth napkins, even for casual dinners
• lit candles
• an extra phone charger easily available
• a few lemons and limes on hand

• a glass of wine in the bathtub
• robes embroidered with ‘his’ and ‘hers’
• black satin dressing gowns
• stockings with a back seam
• You Send Me by Aretha Franklin
• kissing in the kitchen
• having coffee on the porch
• leopard print lingerie
• black bikinis
• reading aloud
• listening to an album at a time
• cat-eye sunglasses
• More by Bobby Darin
• getting ready for an event together
• lip liner
• whisper-thin stemmed wine glasses
• dark cozy restaurants
• the glow of Christmas lights (especially rosy colored ones)
• calling a diary a diary

• Italy
• Australia
• New Zealand
• France
• Banff National Park, Canada
• ✔ Seattle
• Portland
• Acadia National Park, Maine
• Greece
• Prince Edward Island, Canada
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Chile
• ✔ Olympic National Park, Washington
• Juneau, Alaska
• USVI National Park
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Japan
• Big Bend National Park, Texas
• Seoul, South Korea
• Sequoia National Park, California

• speculative fiction
• thriller
• magical realism
• tech-based nonfiction
• tech-based speculative fiction
• food
• nature
• food- or nature-based memoir
• Southern & Appalachian Gothic
• dystopia
• blends of science and feeling

• baby pink
• olive
• dove gray
• sky blue
• silver
• blouses, not tees
• boatnecks
• jewelry, jewelry, jewelry
• green ballet flats or laid-back loafer mules
• fitted polo shirts
• show a little skin! (midimalist on substack - "uncrowding")
• oval or wire-framed glasses
• use your nice pieces in a casual way!
• sezane high-neck blouses with buttons

vibes

• soft
• subtle
• a little undone with polished pieces - un...

• dark green trousers, medium-gray socks, brown loafers
• mustardy yellow Soffe shorts (more nostalgia than inspiration)
• olive green knit beanie, berry-pink tie-belted coat (with black washed jeans and black leather boots)
  • lots of tie-belted coats
• lightweight cool-tone olive green trench coat
• lavender-printed white gauzy scarf with a lavender top and navy pinstriped pants
• comfortable-looking wide cuffed jeans, a boxy button-down, and boots
  • but also, how are girls cuffing their jeans so much? how long are those jeans if they are uncuffed?
• blush cargo barrel-y pants

realistic

• classic
• simple
• preppy
• comfortable
• layered
• unfussy

aspirational

• streamlined
• refined
• colorful
• statement-making
• elevated
• sleek

• black knit sweater-blazer
• oxblood leather blazer
• gray knit work dress
• linen blazer
• gray double-breasted blazer
• black leather jacket
• camel trousers
• white gold necklace, round bezel
• sterling thick huggie hoops
• casual black mini skirt
• ✔ lightweight mohair cardigan
• colorful mules/flats
  • ✔ red
  • light blue
  • green
• ✔ linen (white or cream) pants
• ✔ evening bag
• ✔ blue and white striped oxford shirt
• ✔ black work dress
• ✔ brown suede jacket

• watermelon tourmaline
• rhodochrosite
• howlite
• lapis lazuli
• peach morganite/topaz
• onyx
• aquamarine
• tiger’s eye
• amethyst
• opal

worn

• beagle
• saddlebred
• initial
• heart
• palm tree
• Liberty Bell

wanted

• love letter
• dogwood blossom
• college chapel
• goose
• nutcracker

• carrier
• litter
• litter box
• dry food
• wet food
• food dish
• water dish
• automatic water fountain
• cardboard scratchers & posts
• toys
• treats
• bed (for windowsill)
• bed (for living room)
• cat tree <3
• collar?
• automatic feeder?
• “cat has been fed” fridge magnet
• pet insurance
• themed matchbooks (silly!) for guests