I’ve spent the past week trying to get back into my typical routine after going to Vegas with Lola. I love traveling just as much as the next person, but it’s pretty much a given that whenever I am not in the comfort of my own space for more than a day, it will take me at least ten business days to get back into the groove of things. And with all of the trips I have coming up this year, I am trying to learn to be more graceful with myself about it.
As I sit here, writing this newsletter, I can’t stop thinking about all of the errands I have to get to before it’s too late. The catch is, despite the urgency, I'm stuck — trying to get over my post-travel high and too consumed by the day-to-day responsibilities that I can’t ignore.
Creative brains are messy.
We’re constantly trying to navigate the balance between craving new experiences and seeking comfort in the familiar in order to function. For me, that looks like wanting to go work at a coffee shop for a change of scenery but deciding not to because, knowing myself, I wouldn’t get any work done.
I sometimes wish we didn’t have to thread between those two mental spaces — that every day could be either spontaneous or meticulously planned, and it wouldn’t throw our brains in a loop. Yet, reality unfolds differently. Some days, you will be tired, you won’t be able to get much work done, your routine will be completely thrown off, and in the end, it will be worth it. These (actually very small) moments of disruption are the price we all pay for experiencing new things, meeting new people, and shaking off the looming weight of adulthood— they’re supposed to shake up our routines.
Don’t sit in the same place forever, trying to avoid a little hiccup here and there. You don’t want to think back on all the things you didn’t do because they might have been a slight inconvenience, only to wish you would’ve done it anyway. At the end of the day, your creativity will thrive in return, and your life won’t break. If anything, it will only become more fulfilling. After all, would moments of joy even exist if inconveniences didn’t?
This Week’s Digest
Do you ever think something will never happen, and it ends up happening anyway? That’s exactly how I felt when TikTok removed all music from UMG artists. It feels like we’re back in the 2013 YouTube era when this was the kind of music you’d find on all videos.
If there is one thing Courtney always tries to bring into this newsletter, it’s fashion moments. Here are some Fall 2024 Copenhagen Fashion Week trends to check out! The most jarring one so far is peplum tops making a comeback. I'm not sure I am ready for that one, but I’m curious to see how it plays out!
My new favorite website is 5 Books Like It. I’m sure I am not the only one who finishes a book and immediately wants to reach for something similar — assuming that I enjoyed reading said book. I typically spend days looking for my next read because nothing seems to catch my attention, even though my TBR list is constantly growing these days. Although it’s a growing site, they have quite a few popular books on there, and I love how they break down their reviews!
Update! I finally decorated my Kindle. I filmed the process and will post it on TikTok soon, but I figured y’all deserved a preview. I ended up getting my stickers from Redbubble after all. However, I have the Kindle Basic, which is on the smaller end, and most stickers were too big. So, as a workaround, I designed an insert using Canva and printed it out. I still purchased the stickers I used even though I just grabbed the images from the site because we do not steal from small businesses here.
“Gen Z hates boomers, everyone hates millennials, and no one thinks about Gen X. Why are we so obsessed with talking about generations?” I loved reading this article because I wasn’t too involved with all of the generation talk until late 2019 - early 2020. Maybe I was too young before to notice, but I don’t think we’ve ever been as obsessed with pointing out generational differences as we are today. Sure, sayings like “kids these days” have always existed, but to me, it used to be kids vs. adults and not so much generation vs. generation. I wonder at what point we’ll lose interest in trying to compartmentalize our collective experiences. I am not saying researchers should lose interest in it at all, but maybe we, as non-researchers, one day will.
From My Bookmarks
Alaïa SF24 Show
I am obsessed with nearly every single piece from this collection. The layers, the volume, the silhouettes — it’s all giving. Some of the comments I read said the pants featured above are reminiscent of coffee filters, which I thought was funny. Whatever your feelings may be, you cannot deny walking in these is mesmerizing.
Prospect Park Mural Wallpaper
Wallpapers that are more than just a pattern hold a special place in my heart. I'm looking forward to the day when I have enough rooms in my house to create little worlds. While this one in particular is a natural fit for a children's bedroom or playroom, I'm intrigued by the idea of incorporating it into an adult space as well. Maybe an office or sunroom?
Menu Design In America
First and foremost, I love the concept behind Rebecca Gardner’s shop, Houses and Parties. As a designer, I was very pleased to come across this find! It includes almost 800 menus dating back to 1850, and it has a companion title as well, Menu Design in Europe. Both books have been added to my wishlist!
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That wallpaper 👏🏻👏🏻 Also loved the book website for future reads! xx