Messy Is Not Bad // March Newsletter
Shout out to my sponsors: ricotta pancakes and the nice horn
Well hello.
It’s been a minute, huh?
Last time I wrote was the end of January, the fastest moving month of the year. But then February, like a second child, wasn’t having it and was all, “Hey! Look at me! Look how fast I am! I can be 75 degrees and bring the robins back and even make the daffodils bloom.”
February demanded I attended approximately 700+ hours of swim meets, 50 basketball games, and 4-14 soccer games; I went out of town twice, celebrated a birthday, and while preparing to start a new part-time job, was offered two significant freelance opportunities.
I don’t know. But we’re solidly into March and this is where we find each other. Hi.
Somewhere around 8:57pm on February 13th, three minutes before my bedtime, I had a little panic over my lack of Valentines day planning for my family. We aren’t big V-day people, but for whatever reason, I decided I really wanted to do something.
So, I spent the morning making a plan, then did a grocery run, and worked in the kitchen most of the afternoon creating the world’s most delicious Parisian fruit tart from the world’s calmest recipe. Just words. Nary a pop up, ad, or video in site.* Heavenly.
The custard set. (Homemade custard!) The pastry flaked. (I made one big one instead of the multiple smalls in the recipe.) I bought flowers and chocolates, and set the table for six. We had Change Your Life Chicken for dinner, we devoured the tart, and everything looked, and honestly was, really lovely.
But. Turn around. The cupboards are open, counters piled high. The trash is, no doubt, overflowing, shoes lay in piles by the side door, there are papers all over the kitchen table, and my head was spinning from one thousand-million-zillion interruptions.
Welcome to a metaphor of my life.
In the last six weeks, I’ve had a lot of “pretty table presentation” moments. And for those, I’m so grateful. But don’t ever forget that we’re all the same. The real story, the complete story, is always, always, always a whole lot messier than the snapshot you see.
(I think my mom would have argued that this mess was bad, but I’d like to offer that I did eventually clean it all up — just after I sat and ate my tart.)
Speaking of Food
This red curry noodle soup recipe is d-r-i-n-k-a-b-l-e. I mean, fish sauce people. Pure magic.
February decided to get real spring-y here in northern Virginia and March was all “hold on, sister, you cut the line.” It’s been cold ever since. Enter: Mark Bittman’s No-Knead bread to make us feel warm and human again. (As per ushe, I modified by starting at 10am and served it up at 6p by speeding up the rise in a warm spot.)
My friend ordered these at brunch recently and I came home and made them immediately. YOU WILL DIE OVER HOW GOOD THESE lemon ricotta pancakes (with blueberry syrup!) are.
On My Nightstand
Two friends have two books coming out this month! I’ve read them both and highly recommend. They’re exactly what you need. Click to (pre-) order now.
All Who Are Weary: Finding True Rest By Letting Go of the Burdens You Were Never Meant to Carry By Sarah J. Hauser
Author Sarah J. Hauser believes that while our outward lives are falling apart, our inner lives can grow stronger. All Who are Weary was born out of Sarah’s own story—her depression, grief, and tears. Sarah, no stranger to weariness, invites us to join her in bringing our heavy burdens to Jesus and taking the light burden He offers instead.
Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd
You have creative dreams swirling in your heart, but pursuing them while changing diapers and managing the carpool schedule feels impossible. You have no time. No space. You can mother, or you can create. You certainly can't do both (right?!).
But what if you could pursue your God-given creative gifts alongside motherhood, for the enrichment of both experiences? What if you stopped viewing creativity as a selfish act, and started to see it as essential to your own flourishing as a mother?In My Ears
Sweet Beth Moore and beloved Kate Bowler have a nice little convo I could evesdrop on all the day long.
You’ll know in about 17 seconds whether this podcast on somatic journaling is, or isn’t, for you. (How you feel in your body as you read that sentence is your first clue.) Total shocker, I’m into it. Related: when I die, please burn all my notebooks.
Listened to this book (with my jaw open) and couldn’t resist listening to Harry’s version of how things all went down. Stories rife with mother-loss and trauma? Sign me up. I need a book club now to discuss both, STAT. Have you read them? What’d you think? Drop a note in the comments.
Offerings
Starts Monday! This workshop was thought to have been sold out, but actually has three more spots. Geared towards any writer who wants to hone their craft, join me for 4 weeks of “writing big in a small space.” Time commitment and assignments minimal.
Dig into the “WHY” of your writing, and work on craft: Writing With Purpose workshop starts in April. Click for details.
ICYMI
In order to promote both slow writing and slow consumption, (*and one of the rarest places on the internet: no ads or pop ups!) Coffee+Crumbs is now publishing essays quarterly. I’m so proud to be a part of the first collection — out now —for your s l o w-reading pleasure. Enjoy!
Before We Go
Until … later this month? April? What is time anyway? Bye!
And if you’re not subscribed already — I’d cherish your email like a parisian fruit tart.
I’ve been on a ricotta pancakes kick lately. So good.
Behind every good writing piece is usually a big cry, a 5am groggy grumpy wake up, a “ paid for by my local coffee shop” jittery induced stupor, or, my favorite, anxiety that just won’t leave the brain 🤪 we are all your kitchen counters sometimes 🫶🏼
This is my first time reading here and I love your wit and humor, and also the recommendations! I’m hoping to join Exhale the next time they open enrollment, and I just preordered Create Anyways yesterday *woot woot* I have also listened to the author Jennette McCurdy on a podcast recently so I will look into that book once I finish up the two I’m reading!
I’m currently in the process of publishing my own poetry book about motherhood, the nitty gritty of it, and being in spaces like this is so uplifting and encouraging 🙏🏼