Hello!
1. Happy June! Happy Pride!
Today, I’m sharing what I’ve been up to – how I’m spending time at home, how I’ve been getting outside despite the heat, my favorite reads, current workouts, and more. I hope this week’s newsletter inspires you to do something you love this week!
2. How I’ve been getting outside: We’ve officially reached the point of no return in Phoenix – triple-digit temps are here to stay. The only safe ways to be outside are early in the morning, after sunset, or in the shade near water. I prefer the last one, so I’ve been spending time at my favorite watering hole: the Lower Salt River.
3. What I’ve been reading (listening to):
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry – Always a fan of Emily’s books. This one gets 4/5 stars from me.
- God Of The Woods by Liz Moore – A little slow, but I liked the ending. 3/5.
- The Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware – A Libby find! A reality TV show gone wrong. 4/5.
- The Tennant by Freida McFadden – Another Libby book that I give a four-star rating. I like almost everything Frieda writes.
4. What I’ve been watching: For the first time, I’m watching Broad City (on Hulu), and I love it. It’s so funny, so chaotic, and I’m obsessed with seeing two women lead a comedy like this. Also, the cameos? Iconic.
5. How I’ve been moving my body: I’ve always been motivated to move daily, but after spending a week with Rachel Pohl, I’m feeling inspired to get stronger! That said, I detest gyms… so here’s my current at-home routine:
- Pilates with Isa Welly (YouTube) – Her “easy” pilates videos are sneaky hard! I like to add 8 pound weights as needed.
- Arms & Abs with MadFit (YouTube) – Quick 10-minute arms and abs videos after pilates to build strength.
- Walking pad – After three summers of saying I’d get one, I finally did. It has a 5% incline, fits my long stride, and is light enough to move around. I’m using it right now as I type this! I linked my walking pad and standing desk here.
6. What I’ve been thrifting: If you don’t have a thrift wishlist saved in your Notes app, here’s your sign to start one! Lately, I’ve been on the hunt for linen cover-ups for river days, wooden frames for art, and some new-to-me furniture.
In case you missed it, check out my recent thrift haul!
7. What I’ve been listening to: Taylor Swift, of course! She officially owns all her music now (!!!), so I’ve been revisiting her debut album for the first time in years. It’s been emotional – especially A Place in This World. She’s always been a phenomenal songwriter. And she basically coined “I’m just a girl”!
8. What I’ve been thinking about: I listened to this podcast interview on nature, AI and our collective spiritual awakening, and haven’t stopped thinking about it! One thing that stuck with me: “…. nature remembers us through water and vibration. If we don’t spend mindful time with her, we risk being forgotten.”
Basically, with technology and AI, the human species is losing connection to nature. Now more than ever, we need to spend time outside and actually connect with the wild things around us – talk to trees, touch grass (rocks, soil, etc), and be ‘witnessed’ by the earth.
9. What I’m looking forward to: On the homebody front, we just ordered a custom backyard shed! We’ve needed this for years to store our camping gear and mountain bikes (instead of letting them take over the patio and laundry room).
On the adventure side, we’re headed to southern Colorado soon. We rented a place and plan to mountain bike, hike, and soak up the cooler weather. If you have Durango recommendations (coffee, food, thrifting, outdoor stuff), please send them my way!
10. My challenge for you: Go outside today! Even if it’s just stepping outside for 5 – 10 minutes for a block walk or coffee on your patio. With all the craziness happening int he world, we need nature more than ever. Spending time outside is self-care (and according to that podcast I listened to, it will save humans!).
Sending love! Jacey
(and Kelso + Toasty 🐱)
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