My Favourite Articles and Links This Week
Doomscrolling is exhausting, isn’t it? Let’s try joyscrolling.
20 Soothing short video clips to help you destress through the day.
I loved this little news story about indigenous makers learning new crafts, and making little clothes for their cats. I wonder if my cats would wear little clothes?!
My Favourite Pins This Week
I love a one-pan dinner idea, and this is a good one. I especially love a balsamic glaze, this is super easy and not difficult to sub in and out different veggies based on what you have on hand, and it’s a great dinner! Side note- I don’t mention this, but I often microwave my veggies before roasting them in the oven. I find that it helps them along to getting deliciously tender, because I’m disappointed when I have an otherwise great dish but the veg feels a little undercooked. Anyway, if anyone else also feels that way, I often pop the veg into the microwave for about 4-5 mins first before roasting them, and then they always turn out perfectly. Back to the recipe! Pinterest link is here, and the full recipe is over here.
Like me, perhaps you found that you had a bunch of candy canes left over after taking down your tree (no judgement if you didn’t put one up, or if it’s still up, or whatever you’ve got going on- you know what’s best for you!). I went looking for a recipe that would help use up candy canes, and -presto!- here is a great shortbread recipe that didn’t need a lot of ingredients, required crushed candy canes, and is freaking delicious. So, if you have candy canes left over, this is a winner! I also think it could be really good with crushed up butterscotch candies, as well – if there’s more hard candy kicking around your home. Pinterest link is here, and the full recipe is right here.
Do you feel like you could use a little more sunshine in your life? How about crocheted sunshine pillows for your couch or bed?! I love this cheerful, sunny, and free crochet pattern idea. Get your craft on! Pinterest link is here, and the full pattern can be found here.
This beautiful crescent moon polymer clay dish would be a fun weekend craft! It’s not originally in English, but putting the link into google chrome has the option to translate into English, and I think the English translation is perfectly clear. The gold painted details on this really make it, don’t you think? So pretty. Pinterest link is here, and the full DIY is over here.
It’s a challenging time for a lot of us right now. I’m waaaaay over my head in the strictest lockdown we’ve had so far -stay at home orders are to only go out for absolute essentials- with mandatory at-home online learning for the kids. Their schedules are shockingly complex, with each having rotating daily schedules that require a minimum of logging in and out at different times every day, and they need a lot of support to get through the days.
I’ve found daily gratitude practice to be really helpful for me, actually. Because really, there are so many things I can be grateful for, and it helps me be patient with this strange, liminal, in-between time when I feel like I should be really productive but it feels impossible.
I know it won’t always be this way. And there are some things I appreciate so much more now, like always having a fridge full of food, feeling safe at home, and being healthy. I’m grateful the library is still allowing for hold pick ups, that there are so many good books in the world, and that at least there is so much technology and communication during this time to help. Anyway, here is a link to this pin, which is just the lovely, calm image above.
Have a lovely weekend, everyone.
xo Julie
I always picture the friar from Romeo and Juliet giving Romeo a gratitude lecture “And THERE art thou happy!”
OMG YES!! Perfect reference, exactly.
Merci pour ce merveilleux partage et cette tout aussi merveilleuse pensée ! Très bonne année à vous et à toute votre famille !
France from Belgium. ❤️
Je suis tellement content que vous ayez apprécié, merci!
Julie, I didn’t realize Canada was in such strict lockdown. I live in Oregon, and we’ve had strict rules that have kept our numbers relatively low (compared to the rest of the US). People complain and say, “our numbers are so low, why the restrictions?” And I think that is a short-sighted attitude, but this is so, so hard.
Your kids’ school sounds crazy! I’m a teacher online currently (middle school) and we are really working to focus on engagement and connection first. No one can learn when they’re dealing with anxiety, which has been a huge problem here (see also: insurrection).
Your kids are still in primary grades aren’t they? I hope it gets easier going forward. The first few months here were confusing and an uphill reach for teachers and students alike, but now we know how to use the programs and stay connected.
I really feel for parents, especially of the elementary age kids. I don’t blame those that just opt out til this is over. Kids will learn no matter what you do, and reading together can go a long way.
All this to say I feel with you how insane this is, and agree that we have to keep looking forward. ❤️
One thing I am grateful for is your weekly sharing. I really loved the joyscrolling and bookmarked it so I can take that trip again.
Hi Meredith,
In Ontario we’ve had lockdown since the fall that would prevent indoor dining and limiting private indoor gatherings to 10 people, but since November we’ve had all non-food selling retail available for online order and curbside pickup only, restarants and bars available for takeout or delivery only, etc. The schools shuttered at the Christmas break, and pivoted to online learning and OMG is that ever stressful…. James is 5 and Lila is 8 and they both need help to not be distracted and to try to engage with material a screen all day long, which is hard. Currently, they are saying our schools in Toronto will be closed until Feb 10th, but I bet it will be later than that (because Feb 10th is a wednesday before a long weekend, so…. that doesn’t make sense). Honestly, as crazy challenging as this is for us parents, I am in utter AWE of the teachers who are trying to teach online like this. I sit beside one kid or the other all day long, so I hear and see a lot of the online stuff, and the patience teachers have, the strength they have not to completely lose it…. just amazing. Total heroes. You are a freaking saint, and I applaud you!!! I know that the vaccine is coming, we are in the home stretch… I’m excited for that. But man oh man, I have never appreciated the simple things more in my life than I have lately.
I’m so glad Oregon is doing pretty well, I feel (from a very outsider perspective) that Oregon looks like a really level-headed state. Numbers are low because what you’re doing is working, and that is wonderful. xo Julie
Julie,
Thank you so much for the Joy Scroll! It was just what I needed in the midst of my remote work afternoon!! And the scrumptious shortbread recipe — perfect. As we are experiencing less restrictions due to the vaccine, you are going into stricter lockdown. How dreadful! My prayers and thoughts are with you. Stay well my friend.
xo Danette