Sundaze 299: A sheepish hello!
Happy Sundaze, my loves!
I seem to have accidentally taken September ‘off’ from here, which might be the longest stretch of time that I haven’t posted. It was completely accidental: I started the month with the world’s worst migraine, skipped writing a post that week, and now here we are. But, I wanted to pen a quick check-in because I finally stopped using my @winyeemichelle Instagram account (RIP my real name!) this week, and it seems to have panicked a lot of people. I took a two-month break from it, like I usually do, starting August, and realised that I just don’t need or feel connected to the account anymore. I am not somebody that people miss, I don’t create what I used to create on there, and I no longer use Instagram as an ‘essential’ stream of income. Thus, I’m not using it anymore.
I’ll always have this blog, I think, whether I have one reader or 500, but I’m also feeling more excited about Substack, as you all know, and my bookstagram community. So, if you’re here after I stopped using Instagram publicly, hello! Please pop by Daisybutter every few weeks – just like the olden days! – and there’ll still be the same cosy ambience that all my stuff seems to naturally exude.
For now, let’s catch up!
& Chai, an update
My sister and I are finally back in a good routine with & Chai after I moved out. It’s been quite the adjustment, but our autumn collection launch has been smooth sailing and we’ve got lots of exciting things in-store for our 5-year birthday, Christmas, and Lunar New Year! The US tariffs and EU limitations mean that our scope is much smaller than it was, which means every UK sale now means more than ever. As ever, we always appreciate it when our customers choose to shop small over hauling endless TK Maxx candles!
Discover our autumn range now.
Celebrating my work two-year anniversary
Last month, I celebrated two years in my current role! I’m really enjoying working in a traditional 9-5 again, and it’s been great for my lifestyle and wellbeing. I miss freelance life, but I don’t miss the stressed-out person that I was when I had quiet periods and endless unpaid invoices to chase. This more-regular work means I feel like I can plan for the future and for my evenings again. I thought I’d have more Feelings and Thoughts to share, but I’m just very happy!
Joining the East Asian community at work
I also joined one of our colleague networks at my company. We started an East Asian community, which has been so enriching thus far. From socials to planning events, it’s been great to connect with fellow East Asians. And, we got to consult on the execution of Lunar New Year 2025! I’m so delighted to be helping make a real impact on a campaign that relates to a holiday I’ve always loved growing up. Now, hopefully, we won’t be seeing chopsticks stabbed into rice (an ancestors’ ritual) or vague ‘Asian-inspired patterns’ that have no cultural tie to East and South East Asian celebrations!
Our November and December trips are booked!
It wouldn’t be a Michelle update without the mention of a trip…! Excitingly, Eddie and I have booked our next couple of trips! In November, we’ll be visiting a potential wedding venue, and then we’re off to Hong Kong in December for my brother’s belated wedding banquet. I couldn’t be more excited for both of these trips – am I… a grown-up? We’re already filling our itinerary with my favourite HK restaurants, hiking trails and coffee shops, in between plenty of family meals and adventures. Of course, I’ll report back with my travel finds and photo diaries!
Newly ex-vegan (😭)
Perhaps the biggest shift that’s happened over the last month is that I’m newly ex-vegan, and pretty devastated about it. I feel like my own website is a safe enough space to share this, yet I equally don’t want it to be a big deal or something to debate. So, yes, after nearly eight years vegan, I ended up switching back to a dairy-free, omnivore diet and I’m already feeling much ‘better’ for it. I say ‘better’ because it has been an emotionally and mentally taxing period – I moved to a plant-based vegan diet for ethical and environmental reasons and I still firmly believe in all those things.
But, for me, I wasn’t doing well. I’d been on a year-and-a-half-plus non-stop period, had lost a third of my hair (hence why I rarely share photos of myself anymore!), was suffering with hormonal problems (obviously), digestive problems (hilariously, I couldn’t digest veggies or legumes anymore, since about June), hearing loss, dental issues, and psoriasis that came from nearly nowhere. Countless trips to the GP, TCM doctor, dentist, hospital and nutritionist later, and we concluded I should return to an omnivore diet. I even fought it, and spent six weeks eating only cauliflower, carrots, green beans and tofu. Would NOT recommend that! I probably won’t share a follow-up post about this, but my nutritionist was incredibly helpful, taking into account my sex, ethnicity and even blood type (turns out East Asian women with my blood type aren’t genetically predisposed to plant-forward diets!). The good news is that I’m on the mend, and my labs look much better.
Links I’ve Loved
- We have a couple more units of our seasonal Mooncake Melts left, if you fancy some!
- This gorgeous essay by El made me smile.
- Michelle’s monthly, zodiac-inspired TBR lists are a must-read for me. Here’s the Libra season TBR!
- My friend and Internet twin Megan announced her poetry debut! If you enjoy reading Daisybutter, then I know you’ll LOVE her dreamlike prose and poetry. Learn more and preorder ‘You, Again’ here.
- We’ve just ordered this chair to add to our living room, after nine months of sitting on the floor when we have guests.
- And this piece of art to start decorating the walls.
Posts This Week
Since I’ve been accidentally absent on here, please pop over to my Substack to catch up with my weekly essays, or to my bookstagram for what I’ve been reading recently.
