Hello there! This is my second installment of a semi-regular wrap up series of small things that have been bringing me a dose of serotonin. In my work as a school counselor, my day can be incredibly draining and emotionally taxing. This is my first year, so I’m attempting to proactively care for my mental state by continuing the things that bring me happiness, that separate me as a person from my career in a school. Like journaling, traveling, and writing this newsletter.
I am coming off of a couple of wonderful trips - four days in Shenandoah National Park for Sara and I’s April vacation, as well as a weekend in Philadelphia. We saw my favorite queer band, MUNA, on Friday night and then explored the city all day Saturday, racking up almost 20,000 steps! 😅 We went rollerskating at an outdoor rink in the morning, stumbled upon two street festivals, sampled food and beverages, and browsed multiple bookstores. It was such a wonderful weekend!
📚 BOOKS
I am so behind on my Goodreads reading goal. Since my last newsletter, I have read and finished:
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - this was a whimsical romance that gave House on the Cerulean Sea Vibes. It was lacking a little something for me, most likely because I was comparing it to HOTCS, in which I fell head over heels in love with those magical children. So this was a 3.5 star read for me.
Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail - this was the steamy & fun sequel to Delilah Green Doesn’t Care. Astrid is a buttoned up interior designer who is helping to renovate the Everwood Inn, a historic and beloved family home to Jordan Everwood, the attractive and snarky carpenter. I love these sapphic romances that focus on different stories within a friend group.
The 2000’s Made My Gay - these essays on queer-coded pop culture will have you clutching your pearls. Grace Perry weaves together how The Real World/Road Rules Challenge, Disney Channel original movies, Katy Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl,” and more deeply informed her queer millennial experience. As a queer millennial, I conquer.
Know My Name - Chanel Miller reclaims her power and identity in this deeply moving novel about how rape culture dismantled her life after she was assaulted by Brock Turner. You can’t read this and not feel something. Chanel is incredible.
🎵 TUNES
It is allllllll Taylor Swift in preparation for this concert (which honestly may be a whole separate post).
🍴FOOD+BEV
Red potato pizza has been my dinner the past three nights
An incredible banh mi sandwich from a Vietnamese fusion place, The Breakfast Den, in Philadelphia
This rose/mint flavored avocado seed beverage that I sampled at a street festival that COMPLETELY cleaned me out if you know what I mean
Goat cheese, bacon, roasted squash & honey-drizzled pizza from the coolest board game cafe in Philly, Thirsty Dice
Sara cooked this unbelievable chicken and cranberry almond spinach salad while we were in Virginia, which we ate with a delicious white wine from a local vineyard
Hummus and pickled beets on toast and the best coffee I’ve had in a long time at Broad Porch Coffee Company in Luray, Virginia
📸 PICS+POSTS
🙉 MISCELLANEOUS
Now that we’re back from Philly, Sara & I can take a little breather from our travels. We have a trip to Denver planned in August and might want to check out D.C. for a long weekend, but we’re looking forward to some relaxing days that don’t involve 4+ hour drives!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I’ve been planning some lessons and a spirit week for my school. Anyone who works in education knows how taxing the month of May is on our mental health!
I have been obsessed with this cup from Target, it is so pretty.
Pride lines are coming out (lol) all over the place. I’ve gotten gear from Puma & Target so far. Linked here, here. I can’t find the live, laugh, lesbian shirt online at Target, or the Puma pride stuff yet, but hopefully it’ll be out soon! 🌈
Until next time,
Danielle
Comments
Post a Comment