Sundaze 300: Our 300th edition!

Happy Sundaze, my loves!

I wrote on Substack this week about how it feels like a middling period for me. There’s nothing major going on and things feel deliciously quiet. I guess I’m still learning to live in these moments, as a chronic multi-tasker! Instead, I’ve plugged away at household tasks, stayed consistent at the gym, experimented in the kitchen, and then, this weekend, we’ve been visiting my best friend down in Portsmouth. Not having much to share feels great, but it doesn’t make for a great weekend-ly update, does it?!

300 editions of Sundaze

Can you believe that we’re on edition 300 of Sundaze?! I can’t. In fact, I’m hoping this milestone doesn’t completely terrify me into another prolonged blogging break! Because, believe me, I had no idea when penning the first instalment in January 2016 that I’d keep up the habit semi-regularly for nearly 10 years. I first started these when the blogging community was in a totally different place. For one, there were still thousands of us. For another, plenty of us were beginning to serialise content and make things feel more long-form and personal. It’s strange to think how quickly things can change. I’ve been slow on the uptake, clearly, because here I still am all the years later, even when it’s cooler to remain offline.

(Let’s not even think about my blogging anniversary coming up in January. Where does the time GO?!)

It does feel like a pretty fun milestone though. Despite my many periods of feeling inadequate, irrelevant and maybe even a touch narcissistic, I am quite proud of myself for continuing to feel like my life and mundane days are worth capturing. I suppose that’s precisely why I have a stack of about 20 notebooks on the shelf beside me: notebooks that are filled with handwritten musings on my everyday. Even though I am nothing special, I still found things special enough to savour. Often I wonder whether this series is still relevant, but these continue to be one of the most-read series on Daisybutter. In fact, my analytics tell me that we’re all part of the Sundaze club – it’s when the most readers check in on all my posts. Long may this lovely tradition of ours continue.

Living room updates

My autumn project in the house has been to ‘cosy-fy’ the living room. Coming from a family home to a bare-bones house means that it’s been a long, slow and expensive process to get us to where we were. But, I’d been itching to add a couple more décor bits before I finish (or even start) building our alcove cabinet. We bought this beautiful bouclé armchair on payday last month, and it arrived just two days later! I think it’s helped to zone in the room a little, and it’s been great for reading in.

Next, I’ve finally succumbed and allowed myself to pick up a few, affordable seasonal bits. I’m not usually one to buy ‘cheap tat’ for lack of a better phrase, but it’s crazy how much serotonin a velvet pumpkin or two can exude. And, finally, we’ve bought and made some artwork to hang! When that hanging will happen is a story for another day…

New phone week!

I treated myself to a phone upgrade this fortnight, after four years with my last one. I always feel a bit morose when recycling an old phone and I was adamant I wouldn’t get a new phone until I needed it, and boy did I need it! Setting up a new phone brings me so much joy and I’ve already fully customised my new Google Pixel 10. I considered filming a ‘Customise my phone with me’ video, but got far too excited and skipped the entire process. Perhaps that’s a creative project for another day.

Links I’ve Loved

Having just finished watching Wayward, I found this piece on Lit Hub really interesting.
This continues to be my favourite easy mid-week meal.
I LOVE our new living room armchair!
And I’ve been eyeing up this lamp for our guest room.
Currently coveting? This very excellent checked jacket.
I adored this essay about learning to be okay with being misunderstood – an essential skill if you’re online and sharing things in any capacity.