The Sunday R.E.S.E.T. #1
a BRAND NEW series where I recap what I am Reading, Eating, Shopping for, Exploring, and Trying.
Hello, hello, my friends!
I am popping into your inbox on this lovely Sunday to introduce a new series — The Sunday R.E.S.E.T.
If you’re on TikTok, you may have seen people sharing their “R.E.P.O.R.T” where they list off some recommendations in a systematic way. I LOVE this idea, but I (of course) wanted to take that concept and put my own lil Kate spin on it.
Basically each week I’ll be sharing what I’ve been loving lately in an organic, true-to-me acronym format:
R - reading, recommending, researching, routine, reflecting, romanticizing, etc.
E - eating, exploring, enjoying, etc.
S - shopping for, savoring, studying, seasonal, studying, saving for, etc.
E - enjoying, Eskuri news, embracing, etc.
T - thinking, traveling, to-do, trying, talking about, etc.
This series really excites and inspires me, so I do anticipate the acronym changing slightly week-to-week (as reflected above) in order to keep my recommendations fresh, relevant, and unique!
Just know this will be a biweekly email to pop in, say hey, and connect on what’s I’m relevant to me that week.
(PSA: the first few editions of The Sunday R.E.S.E.T. will be free in order to give everyone a taste, but in about a month this will become a paid offering. Just a heads up ◡̈ )
I really hope you like it and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
In preparation for this Tuesday’s virtual book club (I hope you can make it!), I’ve been paging through “Vibrate Higher Daily” by Lalah Delia once again.
(I know, I know… “Vibrate Higher Daily” may sound very woo woo, but I promise it is grounded and practical while still being beautiful spiritual! This is one of my favorite self-help books of all time.)
For the next book club pick, I am debating between: “Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times” by Katherine May OR “The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential” by Leo Babauta (Drop a comment to let me know which you are more drawn to!)
Homemade bread is back on the agenda with the arrival of fall. I'm on a baking spree lately, crafting two loaves each week: one filled with delicious, pillowy gluten for my boys (so jealous) and one gluten-free loaf for me.
And, if you’ve been following along on insta, you already KNOW that I have been on a stubborn quest to figure out a fool-proof gluten-free bread recipe for a literal year. And I’ve been struggling.
(Why is it so hard?! If you have any tips or go-to gluten-free bread recipes, do tell!)
After experimenting with 940382094 different flours and yeasts yet creating brick after brick of dense, sad “bread” (AKA a giant, gluten-less crouton), I am finally getting somewhere.
^^Like…. I have been a literal mad scientist trying to crack the gluten-free bread puzzle, you guys. HAHAH.
These past few weeks, I’ve started consistently producing gluten-free loaves that are a solid 7/10, and it has been giving me so much JOY to have fresh bread all week. (Don’t worry– I’ll share the ~finalized~ recipe once I finally discover it, ha!).
Also, PSA: while I've been handcrafting 90% of my gluten-free loaves, my automated breadmaker is a handy companion– especially for normal, gluteny bread. So easy. I love it.
This time of year is my shopping Super Bowl. Black Friday is around the corner, and I am getting organized!
Each year, I do my best to strategically try to time big purchases for the major holiday sales. This typically includes items like furniture, art, TVs, vacuums, and appliances— where leveraging the 20-25% holiday discounts can REALLY make a difference since the initial price tag is so high.
Here’s my approach: throughout the year I compile a running list of bigger purchases I need/want to make and then put aside a portion of each paycheck throughout the year to “save up” in advance for Black Friday time. It allows me to invest in a few bigger pieces without the guilt because I know I intentionally saved for them.
My primary goals this year are investing in a statement bedframe for our current guest room/Miles' future big boy room (have been drooling over this specific one for MONTHS) and a black media console for our downstairs living room (just started the search, but this could be a promising option!).
As you read this, I am currently exploring the beautiful fall colors of Northern Minnesota with my college roommates (so wild we’ve been friends for over a decade?!).
We are renting out a cozy cabin and have nothing but relaxing, hiking, chatting, & making delicious food on the agenda.
1-2 times per year, we do our best to rent out an airbnb and get together for a full weekend. While we used to be lucky enough see each other every day with zero effort, the reality of maintaining adult friendships is that it often requires being proactive, getting organized, and planning-in-advance (we have literally had this weekend blocked off since May, haha).
I am so excited for a cozy weekend with my soul gals. Like most things in life, you never regret MAKING the time for the things that truly matter.
Recently, I found myself coming home from spending $200 on groceries yet somehow confused on what I was going to make for dinner.
All of these ingredients in front of me, yet no plan.
Like….. c’mon, self. Be better than this.
Which brings me to what I have been trying to do lately: incorporating more structure and planning into my grocery shopping.
It’s nothing fancy. It’s, quite frankly, very obvious. I am literally just… making a solid recipe plan, a concrete list, and STICKING TO IT. (aka something we all know we should do, but often struggle to do).
And it’s already making a difference! By just taking 15ish minutes to map out a flexible meal plan for the week, take inventory of the ingredients we already have, and creating a clear list, I feel so much more prepared for WHAT we are eating that week (and save a lot of money in the process since I am not buying random ingredients/items that don’t have a place within that week’s meal plan!).
Again, it’s obvious. But it’s a game changer.
…And those “duh” life things are often the reminders on the most, aren’t they? ;)
Alright, that’s a wrap on the FIRST edition of The Sunday R.E.S.E.T.
Please let me know any thoughts, feedback, or ideas you have for this series— I would genuinely love to hear from you ◡̈
XX,
Just started re-reading Wintering last week, as the cooler air sets in here - along Lake Michigan in Chicago. Katherine May's writing is beautiful and spell binding. The book is a powerful reminder of the grace of the seasons & how we can honor the changes that come with the slower days of winter. Could not recommend more - book club or otherwise.
I vote for Wintering - I’d love to dive into how to make the most of the cold and not just be hunkered down and sad 🤣