Happy Monday, friends!
Coming at you from the lake house! (We drove here this weekend because the kitchen was under construction and thus we had basically no living space. ????) Enjoying my coffee on the screened-in porch listening to the birds and wind chimes and I am wishing I could kick off every Monday this way!
Speaking of getting the week started on the right foot, we’re back with another edition of On a High Note: A Monday roundup of inspiring, fascinating and/or helpful snippets and ideas to try, read, make, cook, drink, do, and so on!
Grab your cup of coffee (I’ve got some great reccos below if you need suggestions ????) and dive into me and Kendall’s favorite highlights to check out this week!
On a High Note: Vol. 14
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A new online class!
“Between the heat of summer and months of social distancing, you might find yourself feeling bored from time to time. Mix things up with an online class! From photography and interior design to social justice and conservation, this Everygirl roundup has 20+ online classes and the cover image features a familiar face! ????” — Kendall
“Speaking of online classes, if you’re a blogger looking to up your game (or even if you’re just thinking of starting a blog OR you’re just really intrigued about the business of blogging) I highly recommend signing up for the Content Sugar virtual conference this week! It’s put on by Cliquish, my friend Taylar’s amazing company that teaches you EVERYTHING you need to know about blogging! I was honored to be invited to be one of their panelists this year–we recorded our session last week and even after blogging for 8 years I feel like I took so much away from our discussion! Cliquish is $7 a month to belong to, and the conference is FREE for members! I highly recommend signing up!
Finally, for the travel lover, I can’t recommend my friend Whitney’s online courses enough–whether you’re planning a post-pandemic getaway, learn more about traveling your favorite country, OR you want to learn how to become a digital nomad (her newest one that definitely made my ears perk up, haha!), her courses are a breath of fresh air!”–Jess
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Two new-to-me coffee companies I’m loving!
“I have been LIVING for making cold brew in the mornings since I got my trusty little cold brew maker! (I bought it for our camping trip but have since been using it daily! It was the best find!) It makes such a difference to have a little something fun to look forward to every morning, and I’ve also been really enjoying trying out some new-to-me coffee brands!
You all turned me onto two new favorites that are both local to Chicago and Black-owned! (You don’t have to be local to enjoy them though–they ship nationwide!) Note: Both make K-Cups too!
Just finished my first bag of their coffee and it is SO delightful! (It’s actually what I’m drinking as I write this post!) Dedicated to more sustainable roasting, they roast your order on-demand with their own patented electric air process, which ensures there’s no bitter, burnt taste that happens with so many coffees (which I hate ????). My first bag was their Calypso blend, which is Costa Rican with notes of tropical fruit and chocolate. Next up I’m trying their BLM blend, where 25% of the proceeds are donated to the BLM Foundation. (A few of you have DMed me telling me it’s also fabulous!)
I am a sucker for coconut everything, so when I saw this Coconut Cream blend on their website I snapped it up ASAP. It’s a smile in a cup––if you love coconut, you will love this. Sometimes I also like blending it with my Counter Coffee blend if Neal will be having any (he’s not as big of a coconut freak as me ????). If you love flavored coffees, they make so many cool flavored blends!”
–Jess
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Chipotle Sweet Potato and Quinoa Tacos
Photo via The Beach House Kitchen
“I had to share this delicious and healthy taco recipe because I have been making it weekly for the past month or so… it’s easy to make, keeps well, and is so refreshing for summer! It’s a fun spin on traditional tacos and it’s been perfect for hot summer nights- I highly suggest giving it a try! — Kendall
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Propagate your plants!
“Okay so I don’t usually showcase other blog posts of our own in this series but this Propagate Your Houseplants How-To that Kendall wrote last week is honestly one of the most interesting posts I’ve read in a really long time. ???? I think it’s the perfect “slow down summer” activity and I learned SO MUCH!!” –Jess
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The Powerful Practice of Rest — and What It’s Meant for Me
Photo by Sara x Phil for Christy Dawn via Wit & Delight
“I found this piece from Wit & Delight to be especially relevant to life right now — it’s all about rest. What it really means, how to prioritize it, and how it can change our lives. Especially timely for all of us as we navigate new normals and schedules, I found this piece refreshing and a reminder to not feel guilty about resting and recharging. I’ll leave you with this quote: ‘we humans have lost the wisdom of genuinely resting and relaxing. We worry too much. We don’t allow our bodies to heal, and we don’t allow our minds and hearts to heal.'” — Kendall
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@Claranovich’s repurposed WWII Propaganda Posters
“I don’t recall how exactly I stumbled upon @Claranovich’s account, but I’m really glad that I did. To drive home an important point about doing your part simply by wearing a mask, she repurposed some WWII propaganda posters to reflect the battle we face today. Honestly, I want to frame every one of these!
While times have changed, the message is the same: small actions save lives! (Cough: WEAR A MASK!)”–Jess
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