Lovin' Lately no. 28

Digital distance, creative gifts, ambiance videos, and a book that has changed me for the better.

Lovin’ Lately is a monthly roundup of the good things in life and the sentiments I’m carrying into the upcoming month. Imagine we’re catching up over coffee, and I’m gushing about what I’ve been Lovin’ Lately…

“It helps no one if you sacrifice your joy because others are suffering. We people who care must be attractive, must be filled with joy, so that others recognize that caring, that helping and being generous are not a burden, they are a joy. Give the world your love, your service, your healing, but you can also give it your joy. This, too, is a great gift.”
— Archbishop Desmond Tutu

“There is a Tibetan saying that wisdom is like rainwater— both gather in low places. There is another saying that when the spring bloom comes, where does it start? Does it start in the hilltops or down in the valleys first? Growth begins first in the low places.”
—The Dalai Lama

March has arrived—the air is subtly warming, it’s light out at 5pm and 6am (!!), rain is slowly replacing snow, and garden plans are being made. The transition season is upon us.

My 4-year-old said to me this week, “Mommy, I’m sad winter is almost over.” And I can relate. I’m also very excited for spring—two things are true. The end of a season, in nature or in life, is always bittersweet, no matter what challenges it brought. But I think feeling a little sad about the end of winter is beautiful—hopefully, it means we savored every moment, embraced the opportunity for rest and stillness, and appreciated winter’s role in our lives. And it’s what will have us zealous for winter’s return once again.

I committed to spending February working to understand how to love when love feels hard—love for those who are hurting others, love when met with anger. And I really tried to honor this intention. Reading The Book of Joy (more on this below) was a powerful tool in the process and an essential reminder that we are all deeply connected—when one person or group suffers, we all feel the ripple. I leaned into compassion, generosity, and gratitude and found guidance in how to maintain those efforts while also standing up for what is right. I reflected on the ways that fear is currently being weaponized against all of us, and how fear gets us nowhere, and leads us further away from love. To quote my favorite Jedi:

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” — Yoda

Before we skip off into March’s Lovin’ Lately— I want to extend a warm welcome to anyone new here after my Breaking Up with Amazon post. It’s encouraging to connect with people on a similar journey toward mindful consumption and a life rich with intention. Together, in this space, my hope is to explore how life can be beautiful and fulfilling as we rewire our modern consumption habits. I’m so glad you’re here.

RIP to my highlighter, which sacrificed every last drop of ink to help me preserve treasured words in this wonderful book

Earlier this week, I shared What I Read in February, and it was such a wonderful reading month. I leaned into what I was craving in my reading life, and I felt nourished by it.

Since then, I finished The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu with Douglas Carlton Abrams, and it may just be my favorite nonfiction book of all time. There’s nothing radically new in its teachings—and that’s exactly what makes it so profound. These truths already exist within us, and these two extraordinary leaders have spent their lives embodying them. This book found me at just the right moment, and reading it was transformative.

I borrowed the audiobook from my library, and after each section, I returned to the physical book to reread, highlight, and absorb its wisdom more deeply—studying it as if I were taking a college course. The entire experience was a gift: beautiful, moving, joyful, and deeply true. By the time they parted ways at the end of the book, I was in tears. I’ve never been so profoundly touched by the words of two individuals.

We have so much to gain from these wise souls, and I am a better person after two weeks spent engrossed in their approaches to life. I’m working on integrating the joy practices into my daily life, setting daily intentions and reflecting on them at the end of the day, building gratitude practices into my family’s routines (I do this personally, but now I want my children to practice it more deliberately), and expanding on generosity and compassion. I also feel inspired to host a showcase of joy, like an art show but centered around what brings us joy.

I feel light again. Hopeful again. Grounded to humanity again. All thanks to this precious book.

Where are my fellow NBA fans?! I’m keeping up with my Oklahoma City Thunder as much as I can (though, living on Eastern Time, many games are past my bedtime) and eager to see where this season takes us. 🤞 I’m also very excited for March Madness, something fun to look forward to.

I’m still (happily!) working my way through Shrinking (Apple TV+) and rewatching Sex and the City (which I’ve watched in full multiple times, and every time, it just hits differently). If you’re searching for fresher recommendations, check out

Downtime

,

Overbooked Mama

, or

Sara H

—they always have good ones.

But ooooh my YouTube obsession…

Ambiance videos— they bring me so much joy. I’ve found charming illustrated versions that make me feel like I’m inside Kiki’s Delivery Service or sitting at a cliffside café under an umbrella. Now that our basement is finished, I love putting one on when we’re down there—it just makes everything feel cozier. If you haven’t explored ambiance videos yet, they are a treat— make yourself a little playlist to keep the ones that speak to you and try some lovely springy ones that will give you a boost of fresh energy!

And some other YouTube treasures from the past month: Life is short (how to spend it wisely), 24 non-fiction books I’d sell my soul to read for the first time (a few of my personal favorites featured here and several on my TBR), the new social currency is ….being offline?,

Molly Ella

’s spring reset (these always get me in the seasonal spirit!), what I eat in a week as a nutritionist, and my digital detox journey (as a gen z).

My very, very very favorite band, Caamp, released new songs, and Let Things Go could not be a more timely tune. The perfect pick-me-up. And I’m eagerly anticipating Mumford and Sons’ new album dropping later this month (March 28th).

I’ve also been in a nostalgic music mood. Michelle Branch is scratching that itch, along with a full-on throwback to the MySpace era—Jill & Kate (this whole album is a college Brittany viiiiiibe), The Postal Service, The Format, etc. For Valentine’s Day, my husband and I both gifted each other Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue vinyl, so that’s been a fun trip down memory lane too. I’m also craving a listen through of Jennifer Lopez’s This is Me… Then album which I had as a CD in my Toyota Corolla as a new driver.

New Haircut
I chopped off my very long hair to right above shoulder length! I’m still learning the ins-and-outs of styling it (I’m not much of a styler in general these days— I blow dry my hair a couple times a year at most) but it feels kinda (still adapting haha) fun to have a fresh springy cut.

Journaling
After years of wishing for a journaling routine, I finally have one! It’s not daily (and certainly not on weekends), but most weekdays, I wake up at 5am, light a candle, put on high-vibrational music, and aim for three pages in my journal. I mentioned last month that the key to my 5am routine has been a strict 9pm bedtime—this month, I’ve been a little less diligent, but I’m working on keeping the rhythm because it feels so good.

Nibbling
Little treats I’m savoring at this winter-to-spring cusp: my favorite lavender chamomile tea, Sumo oranges, and lots of clear-the-fridge-and-pantry soups paired with fresh bread via a Wildgrain subscription box (still making sourdough, but Wildgrain has become a wonderful supplement). Also these sheet pan roasted veggie tacos from Ambitious Kitchen were so tasty— we went with the jalapeño cashew cream sauce in the recipe and it was very yummy, I’ll definitely make these again.

I made these delicious vegan corned beef sandwiches last St. Patrick’s Day, and I’m counting down the days to the 17th when we’ll have them again! I also grabbed a tub of Shire’s Pub Cheese spread to snack on with crackers.

Our Basement!
Which just has a few final touches left to wrap up but it’s so wonderful to have a home for our books, a space for guests, and an overall more functional area.

can you believe this little desk cubby used to be a cluttered closet?!

Digital Distance
Last month, I shared how I’m slowly turning my iPhone into a “dummy phone.” On a whim—right before a weekend trip to Boston, actually—I decided to remove email from my phone entirely. I came to realize that email was the gateway to everything else: news, social media, Substack. I had convinced myself that constantly checking it was about “efficiency,” but in reality, it was just fueling a cycle of mindless scrolling. My brain no longer had control over my fingers.

Now, I check email on my computer just 1-2 times a day with intention, and I’ve become ruthless about unsubscribing from anything unnecessary. A month later, I haven’t missed having email on my phone at all—and my screen time has dropped significantly.

I also moved my laptop from the living room (where it was always within reach, tucked beside a chair) to our basement office nook. I hadn’t realized how often I was instinctively pulling it out to check the very things I had removed from my phone. That small shift added just enough friction to break the habit, reclibrating the ways I mindfully utilize technology.

Thoughtful Gifts
My second oldest son turned 7 this week (!! 🥲!!), and as we’ve been approaching holidays, gifts, and consumption more mindfully, I’ve been reflecting on how different gifts look now compared to my own childhood. Back then, cassette tapes, CDs, VHS tapes, and DVDs were staple holiday presents—now, with content always at our fingertips, those kinds of gifts have faded away.

This shift has challenged me to think more creatively about how I celebrate my children, focusing on gifts that go beyond just more toys—especially for my (now) 7-year-old, who doesn’t actually love playing with them. He did ask for a few Star Wars things (a lightsaber and a Darth Vader mask), which I found on eBay, along with a pair of walkie-talkies (btw— so much fun! and I love that they encourage collaboration). Of course, books are always part of the mix, too.

Last year, I made him a personalized Spotify playlist, and he still plays it on our TV nearly every single day! This year, I decided to create a coupon book filled with little treats (like tea in bed or getting to pick the movie on movie night) and experiences (like a solo bubble bath or making a favorite recipe). I spent about an hour one morning working on it—coloring alongside my two younger kiddos—using watercolor paper and markers we already had on hand. After he opened his gifts he told me, “I loved every gift, especially the coupon book!”—which was the sweetest reminder that thoughtful, meaningful gifts often have the biggest impact.

I’d love to know— What are some creative ways you celebrated loved ones in your life?

🎙 'Most people are good': How a stranger's words became a family mantra— love love love this.

🪴 The secret power of an idea garden— what a creative concept and way to tend to our personal thoughts.

🏠 Most People Want a Big House, But

Shira Gill

Prefers Her Small Abode— I second so many of these points!

🧠 This is a thoughtful and well-informed piece about the history of DEI, why it’s beneficial to all of us, and the underlying power dynamics of DEI restrictions.

🧹 New York Times’ Well column reinforcing how to stop buying stuff you don’t need in support of easier spring cleaning! (Gift link, anyone can read!)

How I Broke Up With Amazon: A Practical Guide

What I Read in February 📖

15 Ways to Spend/Want/Need Less (& Not a Single One Involves Budgeting)

A Simple Thing ✨ no. 18

I always look forward to engaging with readers in the comments—it’s where I learn, connect, and feel a sense of kinship with this community.

Brittney Lyon

is someone who consistently takes the time to share her thoughtful insights on a variety of topics, and will often drop some wonderful books recommendations (for both kids and adults!) too. Every time I see her comments, it feels like a warm hug—she’s endlessly encouraging, kind, and helps enhance the conversations she’s part of.

Thank you so much, Brittney, for being a part of this reader community. You make this little corner of the internet brighter— I appreciate you!

And with that— happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!