Hello, friend!
1. I hope this email finds you cozy and ready to approach the holidays with a little extra peace. Going back to my last newsletter, I wanted to check in! Have you been slowing down? Setting those boundaries? Giving yourself some much-needed extra love? (No judgment if the answer is “not yet”— this is your reminder!)
2. Need some inspiration? Check out this post from intersectionalenvironmentalist on Instagram:
3. I’ve been taking my own advice and have gone extra hard on the self-love. I’ve been going on lots of camping trips, writing in my journal, taking baths, reflecting, and saying “no” more often — all things I never used to prioritize this time of year. And, to be honest, it’s working so well that I forgot Christmas is next week!
4. I’ll also credit the peace I’m feeling to the weather in Arizona! It’s been so lovely (maybe a little bit too warm for December) that I’ve been on two camping trips since we last spoke!
My first camping trip was a quick 24-hour getaway at my favorite campsite in Tucson. I met up with my friend Anna and her two-year-old daughter, and we had the perfect evening. I set up my tent while they slept in their truck bed. The next morning, we drove just 20 minutes into Old Town Tucson for coffee and breakfast.
The second trip was to McDowell Mountain Regional Park at the Ironwood Campground for a mountain bike race that Dom participated in. He crushed it (proud wife moment!), and I spent 48 hours soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the desert views.
5. And a little camping truth for you: There’s no right or wrong way to camp! You don’t have to go far, stay long, or cook if you don’t want to. Camping is all about finding your own way to connect with nature, whether that’s a week-long backcountry adventure or a quick overnight trip with a stop at a diner for breakfast (my personal favorite!). As long as you respect Mother Nature and other campers, you’re doing it right!
6. I know it’s not camping weather everywhere, but I’d still encourage you to schedule some time outside before the year ends. Connecting with nature is the best medicine for the soul!
- Books: I went through a big Freida McFadden phase and borrowed ten (yes, ten 🤪) of her audiobooks from Libby. They were quick, entertaining reads, but… they did start to blend together after a while. Does anyone else do this? Find an author you love and then read everything they’ve ever written? My favorite authors to binge are Laine Morarity, Kristin Hannah, and Nora Roberts!
- Podcasts: Right now, I’m listening to 2025 Forecast: The Astrology of a New Era by my favorite astrologer, Chani Nicholas. Not gonna lie, it’s giving me a little anxiety about what’s to come next year, but it’s also helping me reflect and plan.
- TV Shows: Dom and I have been hate-watching the new season of The Ultimatum (Netflix), which has been wildly entertaining, haha. On the holiday front, I loved Lindsay Lohan’s new Christmas movie on Netflix! Same with No Good Deed (Netflix)!
Sending love! Jacey
(and Kelso + Toasty 🐱)
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