Vol. 6

Leading up to each winter, I find myself dreading the short days, frigid temperatures, and limited options for enjoying the outdoors. This year, I have made a concerted effort to lean into the opportunities of this season. Call it romanticizing. Call it hygge. Call it a Hail Mary. I wouldn’t claim complete success in transitioning my mindset towards the
-ber & -uary months, but I can report back some pockets of joy.

Ambiance

I have traditionally turned to candles as my first line of defense against the winter blues. However, more and more information has been circulating regarding the potential hormone-disrupting quality of synthetic fragrances. I would always encourage each person to do their own reading on trending wellness topics such as this, but after five years of estrogen blockers for my cancer treatment, I landed on “better safe than sorry”.

In an effort to still create a cozy environment with low lighting, I ordered this gorgeous ceramic diffuser by ONABOVIVA right before the solstice. And while I cannot confirm the immune-boosting effects of this Revive essential oil, I can attest to the delightful experience of walking into a home that smells of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. If you have any recommendations for a spring scent, I am all ears.

Original Art by Anna Nunez

A few years back, my favorite painter did a series inspired by a certain color each month. Anna created small pieces in her classic abstract style, and I ended up with one of the November “Ginger” creations. To say I love it would be an understatement. The painting reminds me of moments in my life where the mere experience of being has felt raw and crispy, sharp and overpowering. Unframed with raw paper edges, it lived near my desk at work for a while, then in a frame on my bedroom wall, and now on a bookshelf in my living room. I’m beginning to believe that sometimes art must change its dwelling place every so often to be seen anew, absorbed fresh, and appreciated in a new light.

Guest Pieces

My day job is an administrative one - I monitor calendars and take minutes at board meetings. All the time spent in Google Sheets and QuickBooks makes it extra exciting when creativity strikes in the form of a writing piece. I recently wrote two blogs for Discover Peoria that I am extremely proud of, purely because of how far apart the perceived audiences are: Things to Do in Peoria for History Buffs & How to Meet Your Match in Ten Days. Nothing says range like going from niche museums to pick-up lines. I guess, as the author, I fall somewhere in the slim Venn diagram of those two categories, but I am not complaining.

Outside of work, I have also been trying to take baby steps outside of my comfort zone and create in mediums that I wouldn’t call myself especially proficient in - one being poetry. So when I saw an open call for a brand new publication called the little things, I submitted a piece that was very personal to me. It was such a delight to be selected for Issue 1 and to see my poem (page 36) among other vulnerable pieces!

Lentil Soup

Listen: If you are somehow stricken by a mysterious condition in which you can only consult one source for recipes for the rest of your years, let it be The New York Times. They are so widely read that the comment section of each listing is a test kitchen in and of itself - helpful hints and constructive adjustments create a learning lexicon regardless of how long you’ve been cooking.

Thanks to this simple but flavorful soup recipe, I have been transformed from a lentil-hater to one who sings their praises. It turns out that salt, fat, acid, and heat really are the fundamental elements for flavor balancing because the addition of lemon juice to the top of this soup sends it over the edge. Get crazy next Friday night and make this for a cozy night in - you won't be sorry. 

The Chosen

When season one of this crowd-funded show was first released in 2017, I was immediately suspicious. How could a show that centers around the disciples of Jesus walk the line between Biblical accuracy and entertainment value? Although the writers would have all four Gospels and other first-century historical texts to draw from, I couldn’t see how they would fill in dialogue, especially for Jesus, without it feeling disrespectful to scripture. Then I watched the first episode a few weeks ago. Wow.

Stories that I have read time and time again, such as Jesus healing the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda and the woman with the issue of blood, all the sudden make sense within the context of the time. Of course it would have been mind-blowing to the religious leaders to see Jesus healing on the Sabbath, entering pagan spaces, and interacting with someone that their culture viewed as unclean. The determination of His actions and kindness in His eyes became more real to me through this interpretation. Keeping in mind that it is an interpretation and still guesswork in many ways, I would always encourage a viewer to read the Gospels first. But in the same breath, what a gift to better understand parts of His character, even after decades of following Him. 

So there you have it. It was six degrees when I left the house today, but my day has been made a bit warmer by the items above. What is getting you through this winter season? I am always open to new suggestions! Now to go take my Vitamin D supplement...

Until next time, 
Kelsie