The Weekly (Joy)Cap
Week of July 12th - July 19th (24') | Cherishing & Seizing Your Season, Starting Over, & Tips to Start Your Cozy Book Club
This is the (Joy)Cap where I share a weekly reflection or lesson and a roundup of links, recommendations, and everything that’s bringing me joy, inviting you to do the same. Think of this as a weekly coffee date with my close friends. ☕️💕🫶🏾 Join me on a weekly joy hunt and start receiving the (Joy)Cap by subscribing today! ✨
Happy Saturday, friends!
I shared on Notes yesterday that it’s getting to be around that time of year again — the time when I start craving fall vibes and weather.
As I write this, it’s Saturday morning and raining outside, so I guess it’s close enough. The kids are up there still sleeping (or are at least quiet). There’s a little chill in the air (probably from the air conditioning). All that is missing is my fall decor and a warm, spicy candle. Nevertheless, it’s only July, so I’m doing my best to stay present and soak in the rest of the summer season.
Last year, I shared in a post that I often struggle to remain present in other seasons. Rather than embracing the current season, I’m usually teeming in anticipation of the next one.
“I believe that’s why I struggle with other seasons, unlike spring, summer, and winter, fall gives me something to look forward to. Not necessarily the start of something new, but the return to something old and familiar. These days I have felt so untethered, like most things are up in the air— life, faith, family, work, finances — but something about fall reminds me that I have opportunities to be grounded.” - Falling Forward
I always get excited for the positive or romantic aspects of the season — like the summer sun, cookouts, the reading, the ideas of vacations, road trips, or sandy beaches. But then, as always, I am quickly disillusioned by the real aspects of the season. That same summer sun that beckons you outside to play and explore is the same sun that brings the harshness of the heat, making you hightail it back inside to avoid melting in the heat and humidity.
I think that’s the hard thing about embracing the seasons. You can’t just choose one aspect over the other; the seasons consist of them all— the beautiful and the ugly, the romantic and the real, the hard and the easy. All aspects characterize and make up the essence of the season. And in order to experience the good, we have to be willing to weather the unfavorable parts as well.
I think that’s how I am experiencing and navigating this physical and spiritual season — romanticizing what I love while learning how to appreciate the realistic and sometimes hard aspects that comprise it. While there is always much to look forward to, there is still so much to cherish and seize while we are here.
What Brought Me Joy ✨
Hubby cooking dinner. Anytime hubby volunteers to make dinner, it is a win-win for me!
A library outing with the kids. The library is becoming my go-to place to take the kids when it’s too hot outside. Conveniently, it is right around the corner from our house, and thankfully, there weren’t many kids there on Tuesday morning. The kids played, I read them a few books, and I feel like we all benefited from a change in scenery.
A connection call with my mentor. A few months ago, I connected with a lovely woman in my field on LinkedIn who graciously volunteered to mentor me. She has brought me so much solace as I navigate the next steps in my career. There is nothing like having someone who has gone before you to help guide and cheer you on along the way.
Currently Reading 📚
Still working my way through Summer on Sag Harbor and Sweet Magnolias Stealing Home for my two buddy reads on Fable.
I had started The Summer of Broken Rules this week, but I had to DNF it at 32%. I was under the assumption that this was a romance, but the game of water gun assassin was the main focus and to be honest, I couldn’t care less.
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack. I was excited when my Libby hold came in early for this one. Mystery author Eleanor Dash is on her book tour in Italy while plotting her next and last mystery novel in her vacation mystery series. Her hope is to kill off her male main character, Conner Smith, who is also her real life ex. The twist is that Conner’s life is also being threatened in real life. What started as a plotted literary mystery turns into a real-life murder mystery, where Eleanor has to solve this mystery just as she does with her books. I’ve been getting into cozy mysteries lately, and this one is going to be the perfect one for summer.
I’m such a mood reader. I was feeling a little down on Tuesday and was looking for something cutesy to read to boost my mood, when I remembered that Book Lovers by Emily Henry was still sitting on my nightstand. I’m only a few chapters in, and this is exactly what I was looking for a — fun rom-com to boost my mood.
I’m always sharing my thoughts in real-time on Fable and Instagram. For ratings and reviews, check out my Goodreads.
Currently Listening 🎧
I was really blessed by this conversation with Sarah Jakes Roberts and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton from Sarah’s Power Moves Tour. After years of having a successful career in the entertainment industry, Adrienne shares how she was led to pivot, reinvent her image, and prioritize her faith and family during this season of motherhood. I grew up listening to 3LW and watching her on the Cheetah Girls and The Real, and I love seeing how her faith has evolved over the years.
I love listening to this episode featuring Annie’s mom, Suzie. If you’re looking for minimal spice, language, violence, or redemptive book recs, you will enjoy this episode.
This song from my childhood has been in my spirit all week. I guess the Holy Spirit knew I needed encouragement and a reminder to speak life into this current season. Every time I hear it, I’m brought back to my days growing up, singing in the choir in my childhood Baptist church.
Fave Substack Read of the Week 💻
If you’re thinking about starting a book club or a buddy read,
shares her story and some tips for getting started. I created a few book clubs and started buddy reading using Fable with my sister and some friends earlier this year, and it’s probably been one of the biggest highlights of my year.
I would love to hear from you! What brought you joy this week? Share with us in the group chat, leave a comment, or send me a direct message!
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So much gold here! You're like me - reading multiple books at once! When my hubby cooks me dinner it's really him just ordering takeout. I also love that you shared about starting a book club. That is a fabulous idea and I might see if some family/friends want to go for it!
My joy this week is going to christian concert with my kids and watching them worship God ✝️