5 things for the weekend 23.04

reading rituals, peanut butter chocolate torte, reflection, learn cursive

If you’ve been hanging out with me for a while now, you already know that I love taking part in creative and reading challenges. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and in early January I saw lots of posts in various reading groups against reading goals. Comments along the lines of “reading should be fun, it’s not a competition” and “why do you care how many books you read,” etc. Personally speaking goals and challenges are a way for me to ensure that I am doing the things I love, the things that are meaningful to me.

I first set a reading goal in the few years after my son’s birth, when I realised that I had done very little reading for three years or so. It was a way for me to get back to my favourite hobby.

Additionally we have so many ways to spend our time in the 21st century, ways that are easily accessible, like scrolling social media, or binge watching TV, that it’s easy to not do activities like reading or crafting. So I use goals and challenges as a way to remind myself to carve out time for what’s important to me.

Do you set these kinds of goals, or do challenges?

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5 Things

1.Want to learn cursive, or have your child learn it? The Postman’s Knock has released a free video course! Cursive is still taught in France, and I’m kind of jealous of my kid’s handwriting, so I’ll be taking this course myself!

2. I had the most amazing chocolate tarte at a gathering last week, and made sure to note the bakery it was from so I could buy myself an entire pie, but I think I will also try making this peanut butter cup brownie torte from Sprinkle Bakes.

3. I read this article about finding reading rituals with interest, because while I don’t think I have a ritual, I also didn’t think I needed one, because I am reading every day. Turns out I actually do have a ritual or two! Let’s talk about it in the chat.

4. I was a cloth diapering mum (an experience that I actually treasured), and I also used cloth diapers to make burp cloths. These make a fantastic gift for a new mum.

5. If it’s hard for you to get started making art on that empty page, check out the Simplest Things Challenge to get daily prompts for five days to get started.

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I am:

Reading: Assembly by Natasha Brown

Listening: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Watching: Sex Education

Making: Sunday Cardigan

Loving: a weekend with zero plans

What are you doING?

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News from The Callaloo Collective

The end of January is approaching, and I am in a reflective mood. If you are too, you can still use the free printable for reviewing last year, and setting intentions for 2023.

“She understands what it means to never be able to stop moving, lest you find yourself unable to breathe.”
― Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures