A New Beginning: We can (learn to) do hard things, right?
I tried to record a video version of this newsletter. I don’t know why. It seemed like a fun idea at the time, but now I’m terrified and I simply cannot share it with you. But since I JUST SAID that I would do scary things, fine: Here’s an audio version.
Welcome to Projects, Books & Travel—a new monthly-ish update where I share what I’m making, what I’m reading, and where I’m headed (literally and creatively). It’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse at my creative process - and the books and travel that inspire me.
A Little Life Update
Hello and welcome back to my newsletter! A lot has changed lately - and with it, this newsletter is getting a little refresh.
🪹 For one thing: I’m now officially an empty nester! But I really don’t like that phrase, so let me know if you have an a better one. The word “empty” nest just feels so … “empty” I guess? And actually, my new life feels expansive and exciting. Full disclosure - on the second day of my new, empty nest life I had a full-on existential crisis. (I have since recovered.) Granted, There are more hours in the day than I expected - and I don’t always know how to fill them! But that’s the exciting part - figuring out what comes next.
🏡 The first thing I did was move! We still live in London - but we moved from a traditional family home to a super cool loft-style flat. The light is amazing - it’s got a whole wall of windows that looks over the park and a glass ceiling that runs the length of the flat. It has a great vibe, and I'm loving it! My favourite thing to do is drink my morning coffee in front of the windows and day dream about books, travel and creative business ideas…
📩 Which brings me back to this newsletter! I don’t know exactly what comes next for me, but I know I want more. Maybe write another book? Maybe start a new business venture? Maybe get a job? I don’t really know! But rather than wait until I have it all figured out, I thought I’d bring you along for the ride.
Are you in a period of transformation?
Are you a new empty-nester and trying to figure out what comes next?
Or, maybe you’re like my beautiful niece who just had her first baby, and the thought of doing anything other than survive is laughable.
In any case, to paraphrase myself from two and half years ago: I’m writing to you, small-town girls with oversized dreams. And to you, women of a certain age. Starting something new feels scary and embarrassing. Let’s do it anyway. *
Current Projects
🌮 Family Favourites from Around the World — Several months ago I created and produced a cookbook—or rather - a recipe collection called Family Favourites from Around the World. It’s a beautiful hardback book which is essentially a collection of our favourite recipes based on all the places we’ve lived or travelled to extensively. I made it mostly for myself. But it turned out so well that I’ve decided to print several more copies and give them to family and friends for the holidays.
What I can't do is sell the book because I straight‑up stole the recipes and photos from the internet. I gave credit to the creators, but even so - I don’t have permission to use their words /images. Here’s the only part I can show you!
🌞 Notes from a Summer — I’ve started working on a new book! The working title is Notes from a Summer and I think it will be a collection of poetry, micro essays and photographs. Get this - I am co-creating it with my daughter, Sophia! It’s early stages so I can’t say more… but it feels fresh and exciting.
💌 Website and newsletter refresh — Here’s what I did this summer. Moving forward, I’m trying to make this newsletter something fun, easy and sustainable. I’ve even thought about having a video component… but not sure if I’m brave enough to pull it off! Maybe I make it private somehow? I don’t know. We’ll see.
What I’m Reading
📖 For pleasure
I’m almost finished with Summer Island by Kristin Hannah which has been fun and light. Next up: Bluets by Maggie Nelson, which reads like a series of short essays. Sasha just wrote a college essay about this book, which inspired me to pick it up again.
📚 For research
Which, it should be said, is also reading for pleasure! But I guess this difference is, when I’m reading for research I don’t necessarily read every single page. When I’m reading for research I’m skimming for information and inspiration:
Some books inspiring Notes of Summer
Personal & Travel
🇨🇿 And finally in Personal/Travel news - I’m going to Prague this month to visit some friends and family. I go to Prague with some regularity - if you want to see my Prague recommendations, they are here.
🇬🇧 Later this month, Sasha will come home for fall break! Which means I’ll be falling back into mom mode - cooking all her favourite meals and doing fun London-y things.
🇫🇷 Then at the end of the month, I think I’ll make a return trip to France to finish moving some of our things down there. I told the manager of the storage unit that I only needed the space for a few months and he said: Yeah, that’s what they all say. You’ll be here at least 3 years. And I had to laugh because that’s all I needed to hear. Now I’m determined to prove him wrong!
This was a long post - the next one will be shorter, I promise! :)
xo, L