Jess

It’s a sloooow start kind of day for me today. I work at a sweet coffee shop in Old City (shoutout Sunday Girl!) but today I’m off and so far my big plans are a luxurious shower, a nice walk, and some work-from-cafe time.

For the past few weeks I’ve been a part of a virtual group my sister’s been leading - we meet Monday nights for workshops my sister leads and Friday mornings for a 30 minute meditation. Jules lives in Mexico City so it’s been sweet to have a couple times a week where we get to see each other, even if just over Zoom!

Journaling time follows the meditation - I’ve been trying to do a 5-minute free write in the mornings before my day gets too started. I like a slow start to my day to ground, but can easily think that means I need to do 30 minute meditation, journal and write at least 3 pages, stretch for 15 minutes, pull a bunch of tarot cards, have all these rituals, etc. - expectations that I’ve realized aren’t realistic for me and end up being a bit of overkill. So! This 5-minute free write has been my main morning routine, and I’m enjoying the softer approach of it.

I get sucked into my phone after journaling but finally pull myself out of that to make some breakfast - almond butter and plum jam on sourdough I made a couple day’s before, on my grandma’s old plates. I googled these plates the other day and it turns out they’re from Edward Lear’s Nonsense Botany book, and some company made these plates in the 50s I think. They were always a fixture at my grandparents’ so having these feels really special <3

AccuWeather also assures me it’ll be a sweet day:

Shortly after noon, we’re finally out of the house! The sky is B L U E and the trees are G R E E N. Is it just me or is suddenly every tree so green this week?? I moved to Philly from San Francisco in September and the suddenness of spring here is truly startling, in the best way. My camera roll is almost exclusively tree and blossom pics these days.

I’m walking to Reanimator, listening and responding to voice notes from friends in other cities, and I have to stop myself in the middle of a voice note as I walk by no less than FOUR Mister Softee’s - I’m not sure why they’re all here but it delights me and gives me a giggle.

I plop into my favorite corner table when I get to the coffee shop and open up my computer, but not before appreciating the view through their huge windows.

I offered to make a flower essence blend (it’s a whole thing but if you’re intrigued you can read more here!) for the group my sister’s been leading, so this week has been filled with spreadsheets and to do lists to make that happen! It’s something I’ve been learning more about for a few months and I’m reeeally excited to get to do this for the group! I’ve thought about starting my own business, of which flower essences would be a part, for like two years - but always found reasons to not do it. And then suddenly this week I just decided to do it! So! Here’s the official mockup of my little blend!! 🥲 Using my hand sanitizer bottle as a stand-in lol (Shoutout to the printing station at Gryphon Coffee) (And to the Chani astrology app)

At this point, the do list is pretty much wrapped up, and the adrenaline of actually holding and seeing the mockup has amped me up more than I realized, plus I have *another* iced tea in hand. I also am aware that I haven’t had a full meal yet so I start moving my way home. The sound of YET ANOTHER Mister Softee’s derails me in hopes of a cold sweet treat, but alas the least expensive items are $3, and I only have $2 cash, so onward I go.

I walk past an open door and my eyes register advertising for candles, incense, etc - all weak points for me - so I wander in to dilo for the first time. I smell nearly every candle and walk out with a small one to send a friend (her 30th birthday was two weeks ago and I still need to get her gift in the mail - oops!) and some cozy socks for me that I expected to be at least $20 but were only $8? Yet another delight!

I also happen upon the Perrystead cheese vending machine and obviously have to buy something.

The final leg of my walk home includes: requisite rubbing my hands on rosemary and mint that I pass, admiring some little trees growing on the backside of Grocery Outlet, some abundant blooms, and a satisfied mourning dove sitting on top of a bird feeder I pass daily.

I finally eat a normal sized meal (an ongoing saga for me - when this happens three times in a day I’m very proud of myself) plus (of course) a cheese snack featuring my vending machine purchase. My boyfriend gets home early after an all-day training and we chat about our days over said cheese snack. 

Dinner shortly follows and features a rare evening out - we’d been talking about going to Triple Bottom for their April chef residency since the start of the month, so we finally make it happen with just a couple days to spare. The beers were delicious, the brisket was rich, the salmon was tender! Chocolate cake to cap it all off for the sweet tooth fix.

We’re home before 9pm (dreamy), switched into cozy clothes, and snuggled up watching Veep (one of about six shows currently in our rotation) so that we can call it a night early before an apartment viewing Saturday morning! Fingers crossed!

Jess is experiencing her first Philly springtime since moving from San Francisco, and has been thriving in the blooms and bright greens (admittedly less so in the recent heatwave). She can be spotted ambling along on neighborhood strolls or sipping on something iced at a coffee shop. She's starting to lay the groundwork for a business in 1:1 healing work that somehow will incorporate herbs, flower essences, tarot, and somatics. You can find that @asterahealing and her, more generally, @fuego.potato on IG.