Glimmers of the week #1

A list of glimmers--bookish and otherwise--from last week.

Jun 17, 2024

Hello and happy Monday!

I’m trying something new here and creating a weekly series called Glimmers of the Week. I know how much we are all drawn to glimmers: small moments of everyday joy that can be both physical and immaterial. I’ve been fascinated by this concept and its relation to mental health ever since I first read about it (this article from the Newport Institute provides a great overview). Noticing and taking time to appreciate glimmers is not just fun and joyful, but can also play a part in calming your nervous system. Curating these little glimmer lists on Instagram has been a joy in itself, so I thought it would make for a delightful weekly series. Let’s dive in!

A weekend road trip. This weekend, we traveled to Ottawa for a family wedding and it was the perfect change of scenery. The wedding ceremony and reception were held at the Canadian Museum of Nature, a gorgeous Scottish-Baronial castle-esque building reminiscent of medieval Romanesque architecture. The ceremony took place in the Queens’ Lantern, a beautiful, airy 65-foot glass tower full of natural light and the warm glow of several stained glass windows. Cocktail hour was hosted in the Earth Gallery—complete with display items and interactive video elements—followed by the reception in the Hatch Salon. A wonderful time was had by all, and I highly recommend checking out the CMN if you find yourself in Ottawa.
Flea markets. Before the wedding on Saturday, we had a little time to explore and took advantage of the beautiful weather to check out 613flea, an open-air market featuring a range of creative vendors from musicians and jewelry makers to chefs and mixed media artists. Scroll to below to see the beautiful pair of brass candlesticks I picked up (and not pictured: some scrumptious sponge toffee and salted caramel and chocolate covered marshmallow biscuits—divine!).
Daisies. They are just one of the happiest flowers, aren’t they?
Fresh homemade bread. After a bit of a hiatus, I’m back on the bread-making bandwagon. Thanks to
Lauren H
I’ve been using this absolute foolproof recipe that comes together in minutes. Seriously, screenshot or print out this recipe and give it a try! It comes out perfectly every time, and I love that it’s customizable and very forgiving. I’ve tried variations including cheese, chorizo, cinnamon raisin, and whole wheat flour and they’ve all come out perfectly—warm, soft, and fluffy on the inside and golden, crisp, and crusty on the outside. The hardest part is waiting for it to cool off before grabbing a slice!
Summertime romcoms. I’ve written about my ever-evolving relationship with romcoms specifically and the romance genre more broadly, and it’s been such a rewarding journey finding my groove in this regard. I recently finished and loved Effie Olsen’s Summer Special by Rochelle Bilow and will be recommending this one all summer! It’s about a top US restaurant in a small town on the coast of Maine and ways in which it brings together a range of different characters and relationships. The author is a food writer and a classically trained cook who was previously a staff writer at Bon Appétit magazine, and this experience shines through not only in the *chef’s kiss* food descriptions but also in the portrayal of restaurant culture and the resilience and grit required to make it in this cutthroat industry. I’ve got Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan up next on my list!
Plant propagation. I’ve tried my hand at propagating some of my overgrown plants before but never succeeded. My sister-in-law in Ottawa gave me a crash course on how to do it most effectively (and sent me home with some fresh cuttings) so I’m excited to watch the roots grow.
This purse. It is quite literally the definition of a carryall and I’m completely obsessed. I got it in the colour ‘cognac’ and while it’s a bit big to be used as an everyday purse, I actually put my smaller everyday one inside it when I know I’m going to need some extra space. It fits a huge water bottle, my 15” laptop, a physical book + ereader AND my small purse inside. It would also be great for work, the gym, or even as a cute diaper bag.
Summer produce. Strawberries, tomato, zucchini, oh my! I love it all.