Sundaze 202
Happy Easter, friends!
It’s been a little while since I last shared a post here, but it’s honestly been hard to find the words. And you know it’s bad when a writer has no words! Although I suppose I have had words, they’re just scribbled in my journal, a little safe space for me. It’s been a fortnight of two extremes for me: on one hand, grief, exhaustion, sadness and gaslighting. And on the other? Spring is here; contentment, quietude, basking in the sunshine and taking care of things.
I also found myself committing more to what I touched on previously – taking a step back from social media. It’s been so good for me, and I’ve definitely felt my head clearing a little. Constantly seeing hundreds, thousands, of other people’s lives can make your own seem to pale in comparison. But with the lens back on my own, I remembered just why my own life is great too. I’ve even found myself wanting to keep it tightly for myself, for now at least.
Daisybutter & Chai launches tomorrow!
After the longest wait and delay ever (it was supposed to launch ready for my 30th birthday last month), I’m over the moon to share with you that we’ve released a limited edition Daisybutter collection over on & Chai! A four-piece capsule collection, this collaboration brings my blog’s vision to life through two new Soy Candles, a print and a snug sweatshirt. It feels special to have tangible representations of my blog, and I spent hours and hours designing each little part.
As one of my beloved readers, you can shop the edit early before it launches officially tomorrow. Newsletter subscribers, there’s a bonus treat awaiting you in your inbox.
Finally seeing friends!
Now that lockdown restrictions have changed to ‘Stay Local’, I’ve been stepping outside of my literal and metaphorical comfort zone and seeing a friend or two for some socially distanced fun. From a cosy sit-down on a field in the sun to a much brisker amble on Friday morning, it’s been really really nice to claw back a little bit of normality and start rebuilding a social life that suits me. All of this time at home has really helped me to tune my thoughts towards what I really enjoy.
It’s simple, really
Many of my friends – and you – told me that my thirties would bring with them clarity above all. Our twenties are chalked up to be wild and fun and the best years, but I felt that mine were messy, uncertain and anxiety-inducing. Fun, yes, but the decade felt veiled in a strange sensation that I needed to be ‘on’ all the time. In hindsight, every year has been a best year because each brought growth. On Monday, I wrote in my journal that I woke up and started dreaming again, but it felt blissful for my night dreams and daydreams finally match up. And it has always been just as simple as that, really.
I dream of creamy vanilla skies, bathed in sunshine, a breeze waking through the air. Slow mornings and good coffee, afternoons spent writing and writing, cosy evenings of whatever I might fancy. Lengthy conversations with friends who always know you better than you know yourself. It’s simple, really.
Links I’ve Loved
- These Breakfast Potatoes on Love & Lemons look delicious – carbs for breakfast are always the way to go.
- My friend Megan shared what she learned after looking back at a novel she wrote aged 14.
- I finally managed to snag a set of the Animal Crossing Sanrio amiibo Cards! I missed out the first time ’round, but I’m excited to bring some cute characters to my island.
- Connecting with you all on Discord has been so heart-warming; I love getting to know you all more!
- ‘Three plant-based Asian recipes to keep on rotation’ via The Independent
- This piece celebrating Chinese takeaways in the UK brought a little joy to my week!
Thank you all for being so patient with me lately. I know posts aren’t as regular as they’ve always been, but I’m finding offline time really valuable right now.
