I really enjoyed reading this. It was light, fun, informative and entertaining. I read lots and watch something every night. I move from one streamer to another but have found Netflix to be the steady. I'm glad I didn't nix them as their price has gone up significantly to what I pay.
I added I Survived Capitalism to my reading list a couple months ago, March is now the month to read it. Congrats on buying shoes! I finally bought casual shoes in December. And this month I bought and ate an entire bag of dark chocolate fig truffles from Costco 😋
I’ve never thought about how retirement accounts would change as you move abroad! That’s so interesting, I would love a full post on that. I am American so used to the 401K/IRA
Thank you for sharing Cait! I enjoyed this months wrap up. I've been consuming a lot of information about starting business in my state in the US. I'm toying with the idea of starting a organizing/decluttering business on the side. I'm really soul searching and trying to determine what I want out of it. Right now I know I want to help people on their decluttering journeys and hope to help them find a pocket of peace in their life. I'd also like the extra stream of revenue to help get me out of consumer debt and start saving for grad school (I want to get a PhD).
I always enjoy your content, and have added some of your book recommendations to my list! Also, I just booked tickets to London with my sister for the middle of May! We’re going ask over the UK and Ireland. Would love some recommendations of your favorite northern England spots to visit or places to eat if you have any! 🙂
This was fun to read! I am actually reading Lessons In Chemistry after someone bought it in a Christmas book exchange I participated in. I find myself listening to my body, too! I was tired last night and went to bed at 9:30! Still woke up too tired as evidenced by the vice president asking how I am and I sighed and said good. He said I'm as tired as you are! I can tell by looking at you. He's actually a very kind older gentleman but this shows me saying no very soon {!!} is exactly what's needed! Who knew Heidi could do this?!?! I am committed through May but after that, it's a strong no. Also, I am learning I can do what is best for me. I have put others' needs before my own forever and ever at my own expense and it's just not working for me this year. I find myself excited that I'm FINALLY willing to say no to what doesn't work for me. I went out with my mom on Saturday for a shopping trip. I don't shop often but it was for essentials and then we went to some fun stores as well. It recharged me in a whole new way as I try to stay with this commitment until May and then s-l-o-w down! I mean there's regular work and summer is our busiest season but not all these extra commitments in the evenings. No thanks!
Mmmm pesto! That sounds like a delightful taste of summer brightness.
In terms of books, I just consumed the last 2/3 of the Scholomance series super quickly. It’s magic and snark and diverse characters and a captivating narrator. I also reread book 5 of the Murderbot series while I wait for my library hold on the newest book to come in. Not sure either are up your alley, but maybe they’d suck you in? Murderbot’s first 3-4 books are novellas and pretty short on audio and the narrator is excellent, in case that intrigues you.
And now I’m curious about all the casual shoes that everyone bought this month! I live in Blundstones, trail shoes and snow boots this time of year, but summer is a different story.
When I feel like I'm hitting a wall with finishing books, I usually try to find a short story or a collection of short stories. I really loved this collection about math, theology, and the meaning of life (it's fiction, and one of the stories inspired the movie Arrival): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_Others
I'm psyched for you and your new shoes! I wanted to say I also have one of those little plug-into-the-cigarette-lighter air compressors. I bought it to fill my bike tires and OMG, it works great for the car AND the bike! An amazing device. I have no understanding of how it (or any compressor) works, and I hope it doesn't break down when I need it - but like you, I was so glad to find this thing.
I am currently reading The Sisters Circle series. It is interesting to me to learn how people deal with various personalities; in the first book it is four women and a child sharing a house. I'm always amazed at what I learn from fiction. The reason the child was a very good child was an eye opener for me.
Most fun, enthralling books I've read in the past few months are: "Murder Your Employer" by Rupert Homes (very funny, tongue in cheek fiction about an academy for ethical murderers!), "The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi" by Shannon Chakraborty (badass pirate lady in a Middle-East inspired fantasy world), and "A Memory Called Empire" by Arkady Martine (the most beautiful prose and world-building I've found in a very long time in a sci-fi novel!). I've found it can help to genre switch if I'm having a hard time getting into things - hope these help!
I was interested in exploring topics around healing my inner teenager, what type of conversations I wanted to have/explore with my mother & auntie and slowly untangle the generational trauma. I spent the morning with my mother listening to death, grief and psychedelics by Ellen Wong. We chatted and then spent the rest of our time forest bathing listening/watching the birdlife.
The best thing I brought this month was an exfoliating cleanser haha.. Cerave: SA Smoothing Cleanser with Ceramides. I have always had bumpy even skin around different parts of my body I use to feel subconscious about it until I worked hard on love for my body over many years. It's definitely still a treat for myself to see it smoothing areas of my skin :)
This was a really fun read, and I often don't like this type of newsletter as it feels like a huge to do list + read it later list... So thanks for writing with the lenses of "being consumed by". It's a great way to open up the perspective on the so many layers YOU are living in & to acknowledge my own layers!
I devoured the fictional book "The World We Found" by Thrity Umrigar this week. I randomly discovered it on my local library app at 3am when feeling too awake to go back to sleep, and my 1yo baby was peacefully asleep.
There are SO many layers in this book, but 1 that relates to the finances theme: how MONEY shapes the lives we end up living... So many eye opening perspectives.
Also super curious to read about your Retirement account decision, as this has been on my plans for AGES – says someone with no income and no retirement plan (hah the irony) <3
Canada Reads this year Bad Cree and Denison Avenue are lovely books. (I would recommend buying the latter as it’s such an uncommon format-first 2/3 is prose but each chapter is set up rather differently; flip book over and last 1/3 is pencil drawings with no words…lovely). Neither is expected
I really enjoyed reading this. It was light, fun, informative and entertaining. I read lots and watch something every night. I move from one streamer to another but have found Netflix to be the steady. I'm glad I didn't nix them as their price has gone up significantly to what I pay.
I also now have shoes! Congratulations! What a journey. Welcome to the 'We Actually Have Shoes, Thank You Very Much' club. It feels good.
I added I Survived Capitalism to my reading list a couple months ago, March is now the month to read it. Congrats on buying shoes! I finally bought casual shoes in December. And this month I bought and ate an entire bag of dark chocolate fig truffles from Costco 😋
I worked in Alnwick about 10 years ago and a Grannies sandwich was a regular treat! Good to hear it’s still going strong :)
I’ve never thought about how retirement accounts would change as you move abroad! That’s so interesting, I would love a full post on that. I am American so used to the 401K/IRA
Thank you for sharing Cait! I enjoyed this months wrap up. I've been consuming a lot of information about starting business in my state in the US. I'm toying with the idea of starting a organizing/decluttering business on the side. I'm really soul searching and trying to determine what I want out of it. Right now I know I want to help people on their decluttering journeys and hope to help them find a pocket of peace in their life. I'd also like the extra stream of revenue to help get me out of consumer debt and start saving for grad school (I want to get a PhD).
I always enjoy your content, and have added some of your book recommendations to my list! Also, I just booked tickets to London with my sister for the middle of May! We’re going ask over the UK and Ireland. Would love some recommendations of your favorite northern England spots to visit or places to eat if you have any! 🙂
This was fun to read! I am actually reading Lessons In Chemistry after someone bought it in a Christmas book exchange I participated in. I find myself listening to my body, too! I was tired last night and went to bed at 9:30! Still woke up too tired as evidenced by the vice president asking how I am and I sighed and said good. He said I'm as tired as you are! I can tell by looking at you. He's actually a very kind older gentleman but this shows me saying no very soon {!!} is exactly what's needed! Who knew Heidi could do this?!?! I am committed through May but after that, it's a strong no. Also, I am learning I can do what is best for me. I have put others' needs before my own forever and ever at my own expense and it's just not working for me this year. I find myself excited that I'm FINALLY willing to say no to what doesn't work for me. I went out with my mom on Saturday for a shopping trip. I don't shop often but it was for essentials and then we went to some fun stores as well. It recharged me in a whole new way as I try to stay with this commitment until May and then s-l-o-w down! I mean there's regular work and summer is our busiest season but not all these extra commitments in the evenings. No thanks!
Mmmm pesto! That sounds like a delightful taste of summer brightness.
In terms of books, I just consumed the last 2/3 of the Scholomance series super quickly. It’s magic and snark and diverse characters and a captivating narrator. I also reread book 5 of the Murderbot series while I wait for my library hold on the newest book to come in. Not sure either are up your alley, but maybe they’d suck you in? Murderbot’s first 3-4 books are novellas and pretty short on audio and the narrator is excellent, in case that intrigues you.
And now I’m curious about all the casual shoes that everyone bought this month! I live in Blundstones, trail shoes and snow boots this time of year, but summer is a different story.
When I feel like I'm hitting a wall with finishing books, I usually try to find a short story or a collection of short stories. I really loved this collection about math, theology, and the meaning of life (it's fiction, and one of the stories inspired the movie Arrival): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_Others
I'm psyched for you and your new shoes! I wanted to say I also have one of those little plug-into-the-cigarette-lighter air compressors. I bought it to fill my bike tires and OMG, it works great for the car AND the bike! An amazing device. I have no understanding of how it (or any compressor) works, and I hope it doesn't break down when I need it - but like you, I was so glad to find this thing.
I am currently reading The Sisters Circle series. It is interesting to me to learn how people deal with various personalities; in the first book it is four women and a child sharing a house. I'm always amazed at what I learn from fiction. The reason the child was a very good child was an eye opener for me.
Most fun, enthralling books I've read in the past few months are: "Murder Your Employer" by Rupert Homes (very funny, tongue in cheek fiction about an academy for ethical murderers!), "The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi" by Shannon Chakraborty (badass pirate lady in a Middle-East inspired fantasy world), and "A Memory Called Empire" by Arkady Martine (the most beautiful prose and world-building I've found in a very long time in a sci-fi novel!). I've found it can help to genre switch if I'm having a hard time getting into things - hope these help!
I was interested in exploring topics around healing my inner teenager, what type of conversations I wanted to have/explore with my mother & auntie and slowly untangle the generational trauma. I spent the morning with my mother listening to death, grief and psychedelics by Ellen Wong. We chatted and then spent the rest of our time forest bathing listening/watching the birdlife.
The best thing I brought this month was an exfoliating cleanser haha.. Cerave: SA Smoothing Cleanser with Ceramides. I have always had bumpy even skin around different parts of my body I use to feel subconscious about it until I worked hard on love for my body over many years. It's definitely still a treat for myself to see it smoothing areas of my skin :)
This was a really fun read, and I often don't like this type of newsletter as it feels like a huge to do list + read it later list... So thanks for writing with the lenses of "being consumed by". It's a great way to open up the perspective on the so many layers YOU are living in & to acknowledge my own layers!
I devoured the fictional book "The World We Found" by Thrity Umrigar this week. I randomly discovered it on my local library app at 3am when feeling too awake to go back to sleep, and my 1yo baby was peacefully asleep.
There are SO many layers in this book, but 1 that relates to the finances theme: how MONEY shapes the lives we end up living... So many eye opening perspectives.
Also super curious to read about your Retirement account decision, as this has been on my plans for AGES – says someone with no income and no retirement plan (hah the irony) <3
Canada Reads this year Bad Cree and Denison Avenue are lovely books. (I would recommend buying the latter as it’s such an uncommon format-first 2/3 is prose but each chapter is set up rather differently; flip book over and last 1/3 is pencil drawings with no words…lovely). Neither is expected