Weekly Good Things 2024 - Week 21 + 22

June Intentions, Good Things, and the Weekly Meal Plan.

Jun 02, 2024

Hello! Hello! Welcome to another weekly episode of Good Things where I give you a peek into my everyday life during the week, and roundup my good links, ideas, books, and more.

Bertram models relaxation and living our best lives

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks! Last weekend we took a brief Memorial Day pause, attended Wellesley Reunion (not my reunion!), and had six days of visitors at my house – so I’m just now catching up with all the things.

Somehow, here we are, at the beginning of June! I’ve gathered my monthly intentions for you – scroll down below for some ideas to fill your month with Good Things. A friend of mine once said “You’re like having the No.1 Lifestyle magazine for a friend!” which lives at the top of my nice-notes file to remind myself when I’m feeling like a slug, and is pretty much a supreme compliment.

It’s been a true pleasure to actually get to sit this weekend. I have a batch of beans I’ve just set to soak, and I’m making some hard boiled eggs for the week while I catch up on some reading. Sanderson, William James, and the Wellesley College Class notes section of the magazine, starting with the cheeky 97 year old correspondent, Gretchen, class of 1949. (The alumni association helps out the members of earlier classes with their gathering of notes!)

I’ve opened the windows to air out the house before it creeps up to 80 degrees today.

Deeply unserious, very Wellesley weekend

Surprising Accolades, Processing Feelings

Last weekend I had the honor of being awarded the Sed Ministrare Volunteer Award at Wellesley (alongside Jessica Urban ‘06, and that cheeky class of ‘49, Gretchen Rous Besser!) which was a surprise and brought a real range of feelings.

I thought I’d share some of them.

Because feelings are complicated, and #NormalizeProcessingFeelings.

The Thoughts, about as they unfolded: What? How? Am I old enough for this? (Yes, yes you are.) But I’m not a very good volunteer? I’m inconsistent and can’t always do what I set out to do? I’m too much of a squeaky wheel? Sometimes I let people down? I’m not excited enough? Why am I not excited? (Hoo-boy…)

Integrating feelings: I had a few weeks of heads up, which was actually really nice, because it allowed me the space to process in advance, so I could enjoy the moment this weekend. (I’m thankful for my friend Jill, who reminded me to spend some time thinking of the people who have encouraged me and supported me.)

Things I do know:

“Our motto is Non Ministrari sed Ministrare—“Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” These four Latin words capture the College’s dedication to service and to cultivating leadership.”

The motto, Sed Min, is one of the personal values that I live by. Being of service, however big or small, is something I personally try to do every day, and encourage of others. Aside from being a good thing to do, it’s also a way to get out of one’s own head. When life feels hard, there’s always a little space to be a helper.
I like to joke that I have a volunteer problem: I’ve rarely said no when someone has suggested a need. In the past 15 years I’ve served as alumnae admissions rep (coordinating hundreds of prospective student interviews, college fairs, book awards, summer send offs), I’ve served twice as reunion chair, treasurer of my class, co-president of my class, class fund representative, president and co-president of Wellesley College Alum of Boston. Sometimes when you write things out objectively, the pattern becomes more obvious.
I’m so thankful for this community that I’m a part of. I’m inspired every day by the people I get to meet because of a decision I lucked into at 17. I enjoyed my time as a student, but had no idea that the good part really would come afterward and last a lifetime. I’ve become friends with alums of every age, professors who have become great friends, college employees current and past who have individually made a mark on my life, and students who inspire me who are at the beginning of their journey. Wellesley facebook groups are something else. It’s wild to be able to have a question on ANY TOPIC and not only is there a group for that, but to have an immediate crowd-sourced response is such a boon for life.
Connection is so important (even when bite-sized). We often think about grand gestures as being the goal of service to others – but it’s often the little touches that make a difference: someone telling us a kind word, acknowledging our difficult day, sharing a book they delight in, a resource when we are in need, or posting a meme in a facebook group to brighten others’ day. Even when you don’t have the energy, there’s always something you can do.

The award was given during the alumni meeting in front of hundreds of alums, and came with a fancy tote bag, fuzzy blanket, flowers, plaque, leather bound certificate, A CORSAGE (what is this, prom??), and a plethora of congratulations throughout the weekend, which combined was both overwhelming and very nice. ❤️

June Intentions:

Each month I sit down and write out a list of intentions for the month ahead. It’s not exactly a to-do list, more like an “options” list. Place-holders also help me make space for more exciting adventures! Many of my intentions remain the same month to month, but I try to pick out a few new things regularly!

How do I want to feel this month? Exuberant and energized! My neighbor Marsha ran into me yesterday and said “you are like a completely different person!” (to which I quipped that I’ve been the same person since I was about three years old!) but she wasn’t wrong, per se: I ascribe this to many things, but one of which is that I always feel like a spring flower reaching a peak in June. I’ve spent a month ramping back up my time outdoors, and now there’s so much to see and do!

Out and About

A trip to the Boston Athaneum • A Red Sox game with my sibling • Golf at Commonwealth • A movie in the theater • Monthly Boston dinner with my friend Kathy • Monthly family dinner out with my mom and brother • a friend’s Baby Shower • MFA for Hallyu! The Korean Wave (before it closes in July)

Good Eats

Noma Tastebuds Club • 🦞 at least 2 lobster rolls on my Summer Lobster Roll Quest • early Strawberry season • revisit your 2024 kitchen resolutions • NOVELTY!

Some Meal Ideas:

Seafood: Crab rolls, cod and chips, next five lobster rolls: Row34, Pauli’s, Luke’s, HMART, that one down towards the cape.
Rice bowls with: tuna, marinated eggs, pickled goodness; Eric Kim’s Bacon and Egg Don
Stew: PB chicken stew of some kind (Mafé? Kare Kare)
America: Hot dogs and baked beans. Grab some Popeyes' that just opened down the street. Grill some Copper River salmon.
Noodle things: Cold sesame noodles. Vietnamese Bun. Cold Korean noodles (Naengmyeon).
Vegetables I want to eat: asparagus, artichokes, beets - pickled, cucumber salads, cucumber and tomato salads. Salade niçoise. Kale and cheddar sandwiches (Bettina!) Chopped Italian salad.
Fruits: alphonso mango season, all of the cherries, all the berries, strawberries and cream.
Sauces: first of the pesto! peanut sauce, nuoc cham, cacik, ezme, tarator, sauce gribiche.
Treats: Banana pudding, Key lime pie, Taiwanese frozen desserts, douhua at home - tofu pudding, Kouign-Amann from Lakon.
Drinks: Iced tea lemonade, tart cherry + spindrift lemon, Ayran. A Shirley Temple.

What are you looking forward to eating this month? I’d love to add to the list!

Self Care

Self-Care List • Massage • Eye Masks in the fridge in the morning • Viral TikTok Collagen mask (it’s eh) • Float Spa (want to test Float and The Indoor Oasis) • Sauna at Kelo

Move

Lift (Weekly Lifting 2x at home with lifting schedule printed out, 1 at gym - Hip Thrusts) • CRAW • GVRAT (200 miles goal - run 3 miles at least 3 times a week on top of my streak to start preparing for summer races) • Golf! • At least one paddle at Paddle Boston (probably won’t get a pass this year because I didn’t use it enough!)

Update Lists

Inputs List (Podcasts, Reading, Watching) • Recipes to Cook / Let’s Eat Spreadsheet • Cooking Projects 2024 • Bean of the Month • Hobonichi Monthly Review 2024 (been doing great at this!) • Placeholders for “Once in a Lifetime monthly activities”

Create

Daily Hobonichi Cousin (Food, Gratitude, Mood) • 2024 Calendar • Sketch in Sketchbook • Watercolor • Shortlist of new art projects to try: botanical drawing? oil pastels? • a class at New Art Center or Shepherd Maudsleigh

Home

Plant lots of things! • Acquire a new front door mat • Get knives sharpened (or borrow someone’s TriZor) • Break down the massive cardboard box in the back • List 5 things to giveaway on Buy Nothing • windows are getting washed (not by me) • replace the air filter • get my car interior cleaned • wash dog beds • tidy up downstairs entrance

Inputs

Update podcast to listen list (WIP) • Summer Reading List • Watch: Baby Reindeer (Netflix), The Acolyte (Disney+, party watch), Bridgerton Season 3 part two, House of the Dragon season 2 (Max), Dr. Who (Disney+), Shogun, catch up with Hacks. Movies: The Fall Guy, Furiosa, Hit Man • Update Movie List

Connect more Deeply with my Humans:

Time spent in NH with family • get back into the habit of friend calls on my walks • initiate texts and love to friends (this is hard for me!) • Dog Walks with Friends • Porch Sitting Season

More Good Things:

📖 Reading: finishing Sanderson’s Oathgate, started reading William James’ The Varieties of Religious Experience, a little stalled on Emily Henry’s new book. BPL’s Adult Summer Reading (Bingo and more). I also love the logo for summer reading!
🎧 Listen: I finished this season of Serial about Guantanamo. The new season of
Strong Sense of Place
kicked off! (Would recommend!) Daily episodes of NPR’s Up First.
🌺 Flowers of the Week: was given two gorgeous bouquets, my mums are still standing two weeks in, and I grabbed some orange tulips yesterday. (Looking forward to the first day of my peony share on Wednesday!)
✅ Tackle a Nagging Task: this weekend was a small one to improve my daily environment: for the past dozen trips up the stairs, I noticed that the riser paint was scuffed. I finally took a magic eraser to the stains and I now enter my home more peacefully. (I'm also ordering myself a new entryway mat, because the one I've had for a decade I strongly dislike - it's never too late to make a small change!)
🚶🏻‍♀️Let’s Move: Month 1 of GVRAT in the books! 189.01 miles in month one, and enjoying my summer quest. Hip Thrusts continue to progress! Up to 545# x 2, and a 585 attempt that got off the ground.
📺 Watching: Netflix recommended “Butterfly in the Sky” the Reading Rainbow documentary to me, which I plan on watching. (It’s been a low tv few weeks!)
🧐 A shortlist of things I’m currently fascinated by but know I shouldn’t go down the rabbit holes of: F1 // #WhereIsKate (#KateGate)
🤣 Memes and randomness of the week: from the OmSom newsletter: “🥑America is so obsessed with avocados, that it's now one of the first foods babies eat!” // Fully sentient babies? In case you haven't seen it on national news, I just can't get over the Four Seasons Orlando Baby! Meeee!!

The Weekly Meal Plan:

Why do I do this? I’ll note, my meal plans tend to be more of a directional support for me than what I actually end up eating in my week. (I think a lot of people who do meal planning feel obligated to actually eat the things they come with rather than just using as a placeholder/inspiration. I do not feel so constricted.)

🍒 Good Eats from this Past Week: after six days of house guests and meals out, I’m working on re-infusing with fruits and vegetables. (Highlights were a lobster roll at Dairy Joy, pizza at Otto, calamari at both The Cottage and Legal, my first trip to Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, and Tofu Pudding with rice balls from MeetFresh, coconut chia pudding with pineapple, Turkish menemen, and a few artichokes with red wine vinegar yogurt dipping sauce.)

✍️ This week I spent some (more) time working on a spreadsheet to expand this list (1000 fruits and veg to try). I’ve also updated a tab for my Apple Quest - tart apples to eat all season.

Bean of the week: Bayo Gordo (Rancho Gordo)

Sunday: shrimp bao and a cabbage salad with lime
Monday: roasted chicken, mango and jicama slaw
Tuesday: appetizers at the Boston Athenaeum, yogurt and fruit at home
Wednesday: black bass with jammy tomatoes
Thursday: beef birria, rice, avocado, cilantro, lime, pickled onions
Friday: Nigel Slater’s pappardelle with peppers and pine kernels
Saturday: takeout!

Lunches: An artichoke. Bean backlog. Salmon with red peppers and marinated artichokes and beans, lamb vindaloo with yogurt, tadka dal and yogurt. Trader Joe’s Kimbap. Montreal bagels. TJs Jumeokbap (Korean rice triangles) - very good!

Snacks: 🍒 Cherries. Blueberries. Strawberries. Yogurt and berries, yogurt with lemon and nuts, eggs, cottage cheese, cheese sticks. Turkey Chomps. Tart Cherry Juice and Spindrift Lemon. Lemonade.

Treat options: Mini mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches from Trader Joe’s. Apple Tartines. A strawberry rhubarb hand pie. Trader Joe’s Lemon Sheet Cake (came back!)

What are you eating this week?

Previous Years:

Something I really enjoy doing is flipping back in my journal or my blog to the week of the year over the past several years. When I write it out in a list like this, it feels like a nice accomplishment!

Observing the data this week: my azalea bush bloomed early this year - they are already done! (I love taking the peek at the flowers and nature in my previous years posts.)