Tea Time 🍵 · A Weekly Roundup

A roundup of my favorite podcasts, products, and Substackers. And a fun card pull for the collective 🕷

Hello you,

Tea time is a weekly roundup of what I’ve been reading, listening to, and enjoying this week.

Pull up a comfy seat — let’s drink and spill the tea. 🍵

💁‍♀️ I’m In My ____ Era.

This week, I was in my existential dread Era. You know, the days leading up to your period where you doom scroll on instagram and call your entire life into question.

💪🏼 Win of the Week

I made some excellent bone broth and have been enjoying it in a mug, in the bathtub. It feels like an ✨elite✨ morning ritual.

😅 What I Struggled With

Watching videos of ICE agents handle human beings in such brutal and traumatic ways. It’s hard to watch, but I want to. I want to see what’s happening. And it’s breaking my heart.

📚 What I’m Reading

I’m partway through A Court of Silver Flames — the 5th book in the popular A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series. Holy sexual tension.

I’ve also started Amy Suto’s new book: Write for Money and Power. I love how she flips the starving artist narrative on its head, showing readers exactly how creative freedom becomes possible with the right mindset and framework. I was tearing up at the dedication page before I even started reading: for the writers who want it all. (That’s me 🙋‍♀️)

🎧 Podcasts That Changed my Perspective

Digital Nomad Experts - If You’re So Smart, Why Are You So Unhappy?

This podcast posits that IQ doesn’t matter if you’re not using it to build a life you love. The real measure of intelligence is being able to apply yourself to designing a life that feels beautiful and supportive.

We Can Do Hard Things - Martha Beck Changes Lives With This Question

I love We Can Do Hard Things, and I love Martha Beck, so this episode was a warm and fuzzy dream combo.

They talk about how we often make decisions through consensus — aka asking others what should I do?! Instead, we can come to our senses — tuning into what feels right in our own bodies. One question Martha Beck asks herself is: Does it feel warm? If it feels warm, move toward it.

🖥 A Product I’m Loving

I recently ordered this computer stand, and my neck is thanking me profusely. (My chiropractor will too, since he’s been practically begging me to fix my computer set up.)

According to him, the bottom of your screen should be level with your chin when looking straight ahead. Oof! I’m not quite there yet, but, this new stand is definitely giving me more height.

📝 Behind-the-Scenes Memoir Updates

Just wrapped up edits on chapter 3! The motto for this first round of edits still stands: readable, not perfect.

🙌🏽 2 Substackers I’m Enjoying

Georgine from Life Talk: My dear friend Georgine recently took her Substack to the next level with this poignant article about her work with formerly incarcerated students. Georgine founded and ran a Re-Emerging Scholars Program for several years, and I love that she’s bringing this into the conversation on her Substack.

Nicole from Drop More, Hold Less: I stumbled upon Nicole’s Substack a few weeks ago when I read her well-articulated article, The Workplace Runs on Dysregulated Women — which basically sums up my life experience. She lives in Minneapolis and has been openly sharing some of her thoughts and feelings on Notes about everything happening there, which I deeply resonate with.

💃🏼 Healing Practices

Crying. Journaling. And this perfect 25-minute slow and mindful yoga flow.

🙃 A Fun Fact About Women’s Health and Rights

The hit movie “Barbie” was released before tampons were tested with actual human blood. (2023)

(All facts sourced from Cindy Eckert’s instagram page.)

👑 Advice from a Crone

Did you see? Jane Fonda is on Substack now (here’s her welcome message) so, it’s only appropriate to quote the queen herself:

I don’t want my wrinkles taken away — I don’t want to look like everyone else.

Amen to that. 🙏🏽

(I mean crone in the most fabulous and empowering way possible — a wise woman wearing her crown. If you’re 60+ and want to be featured in this section, send me a DM with your life advice!)

🔮 Card Pull

This week’s card for the collective: Tarantula! 🕷

This card was pulled from Kim Krans’ Animal Spirit Deck. In the accompanying guidebook, she writes:

The tarantula represents a moment when a great decision must be made. It involves prioritizing your life’s deeper purpose, or dharma. A habit or routine from the past is sidetracking you from your dream, yet a voice inside keeps begging you to refocus your attention. In order to find true happiness, you must choose dharma. Until you do, satisfaction will be fleeting. The tarantula hovers, patient and calm, like an old friend that knows your inner soul. It already knows you’ll choose wisely.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Mindful Moment to Close the Week

Take a deep breath in and sigh it out — open your mouth and make some noise on your exhale. If it feels good, get up and shake a little!

Happy Sunday, y’all. I hope you’re feeling rested and ready for a fabulous new week. ✨

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I’d love to hear how your week was too — share it in the comments! What was your small win? Your biggest struggle? What are you reading, listening to, and loving?👇🏼