A Few Things I Can't Get Out of My Head

A little reset after a two-week break.

I’m back from a two-week vacation visiting family in Utah and Idaho, a break I really needed. And yet, almost as soon as we landed in DC, I felt restless. I’m back in my normal reality, working in my apartment all day, avoiding the heat outside, wondering what I’m doing with my life. Plus, the jet lag is getting to me; even though it’s only a two-hour time difference between Utah and DC, I’ve been waking up late each day feeling like I’m in another dimension. In this strange state, I haven’t been super inspired to write anything style-related, which of course has made me get existential about this Substack as a whole. I knew there would be growing pains as I figure out what this is, so I think it’s as good a time as any for a bit of a reset.

Today, I’m going to check in with myself with a fun little Instagram trend called “R.E.P.O.R.T.,” but I might change the letter’s meanings a bit to work with Epiphanist ethos. R.E.P.O.R.T. normally stands for what I’m reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, recommending, or treating myself to, but below you’ll find some slight alterations. Let’s do this.

Reading

I read almost half of The Sixth Extinction on the flight from DC to Utah. Even though I basically know its information by heart at this point, I can’t get enough of Elizabeth Kolbert’s reporting. I love how the essays tell their own stories but link to a larger through-line, and I love her precise language punctuated by humor. The subjects can be heavy—species extinction, acidic oceans, human folly—but she handles them all with moments of hope, which I feel desperate for in all things related to climate change. I recommend it if you want to learn more about human’s influence on climate change, and I also recommend her book Under a White Sky, which talks about modern-day solutions for climate disasters, again reported with the perfect amount of levity. 

My well-worn copy against a fabric art piece of mountains on fire by The Cozy Experience. Fitting.

Eating

When I was in Utah, my sister-in-law layered strawberries and whipped cream in a little cup, and I immediately copied her. It was so simple and so delicious and it made me wonder why I’d never thought of it. When I got back to DC, I bought whipped cream, strawberries, and peaches immediately, and I can’t wait until the peaches are ripe enough to add to this little parfait. I love moments like this, where we share these little delights.

I put bananas in this one, and to be honest, it’s better without!

Putting On

I have to be honest with you all. I sold the Christy Dawn dress. And then…I bought a different one from their resale site. The difference is I actually love this new one, I’m not talking myself into the idea of loving it. It’s so flowy, the length is fun, and I love experimenting with the sleeves. It looks like a flat navy blue, but there are little maroon flowers all over it. I’m so excited for fall when I can pair it with a jacket or sweater and try it with some boots and tights. 

I actually don’t think the dress photographs well, but a random woman told me she loved it the first time I wore it, so that’s proof enough for me. Found secondhand on Christy Dawn’s Regenerates site.

Obsessing Over

This will surprise no one, but I’m obsessing over another dress that I can’t find anywhere, and a pair of shoes I’m really interested in but scared of price-wise. I saw the dress via Harling Ross’s Instagram/Substack, but of course, it’s not available online and I can’t find it on any resale apps. If you find it somewhere…let me know. The brand is Dôen. The shoes, by the brand Flabelus headquartered in Spain, came to me through an Instagram ad because its AI knows me by name, star sign, and soul. Somebody help.

If I knew I’d look this cute pregnant, I’d do it. I love the dress’s crocheted bodice mixed with the cotton skirt. Here’s Harling’s Instagram.

Sigh…I love an ankle strap. Link here.

Remembering

I can’t stop thinking that just a week ago, I was in Bear Lake with my family. I miss my siblings and their babies, I miss the easy access to nature, I miss the clear blue water, I miss the 85-degree-max weather, I miss playing Settlers of Catan every night, I miss the milkshakes and the burgers, I miss waking up knowing all I had to do was enjoy myself. It’s really nice to have something to miss, and it hurts, too. I’m sure I’ll write more about this feeling sometime soon.

Clean water? Unheard of.

Treating Myself

This is a random twist to this answer, but I’m allowing myself to like an inspirational quote. This is normally not my style—I don’t like cheesy words, and I don’t like when they become popular. I’m a word hipster. You’ll find obscure quotes from books I find in the depths of an old bookstore papering my walls. But I heard this quote the other day, and it’s resonating in this season of life, especially as I miss what once was and remain confused about what will be:

You can do it like it’s a great weight on you, or you can do it like it’s part of the dance.

This quote comes from Ram Dass, who was a writer, psychologist, guru, yogi…and he wrote the book Be Here Now, which was big in the ’70s, I believe. I haven’t read his book, and I don’t know anything about him besides what I just found from a quick Wikipedia search, so I have no real context for this quote. I just like how it reminds me that, like it or not, I’m here in sweaty DC, working as a freelancer, building a name for myself, missing my family, missing the West, giving my cat ear drops to save her little life, watching the Olympics while I type, loving the tall, green trees outside my window, snacking on chocolate-covered pistachios. Might as well make it a dance rather than a slog. I’m sure I’d regret it if I slogged through this time of life once I’m out of this place—and I want every part of my life to feel full. 

Caught a blue heron on camera while counting ducks for City Wildlife.

Alright, that’s enough yapping about sparkly stuff. I’ll be back soon with more of our regular programming. I’ve had a little vlog/podcast idea in the works for a little bit, so stay tuned. But for now, I do feel a tiny bit more grounded.

From one totally and completely realized person to another,

Abi