second print run is here (!) + my book launch + vanilla passionfruit slice šŸ°

November was a month of deadlines (library diploma), big days (book launch) and new chapters (turning 28 baby, selling out of my first print run and being on uni break)! For all the stress of it, I'm really proud of how I moved through it. I've grown so much this year, and it was absolutely a month of putting everything I've learnt into practice, revealing that growth (to myself) and starting to let everything 2025 has been, sink in.

Like, ADHD medication really changed my life this year! I don't know how it appeared from the outside, but I can tell you It was more full and life-changing than any that I have experienced before. But as they say, ADHD meds don't work if you don't do something with them ā€“ and I really did a lot with them this year! We make a good team.

The Tawny Frogmouth was back this month (different one to last time... but in the same spot, curious?!).

The book launch marked the last of my BIG commitments of the year. I turned 28 the following day which was weird timing, as the day was kind of a 'come down', so I've been sprinkling in nice birthday-ish moments for myself in the weeks since. I really believe in spreading your birthday out over a few weeks to take the pressure off having a really good time on just one day! It's just too much pressure.

So I've been op shopping, eating out when I feel like it, cooking for moi more, journalling (oh my god what a saviour for one's mental health!), taking naps, giving the garden a little love and trying to remind myself I've got more time! Even if 101 life admin things feel like they're pinching me in the butt (hello applying for Austudy).

The second print run arrived yesterday! I didn't think they were going to arrive in time for Christmas, so I decided to ship a few boxes by plane (more expensive, but they get here more quickly that way). Those quickly sold out (shit, I thought), so I expedited more to come by plane ($$$$) but then the printers ended up sending ALL of them by plane! Without any extra cost to me....

Don't know how that worked out so perfectly, but now I don't have to disappoint anyone!!! I'm posting and delivering more stock to 6 stockists this afternoon (can't believe it's selling so well) and everyone who's ordered ā€“ domestically and internationally ā€“ will get theirs sent off next week. The Australian (and hopefully many of the international) orders will definitely arrive in time for Christmas, woo hoo!

If you are in Australia and would like to get your hands on a copy before Christmas, order before...

BOOK LAUNCH.

Thank you to everyone who came to the launch! I can't believe it wasn't even a month ago, I feel like doing it helped me grow as a person a lot! It went well though! People enjoyed the food and I even had fun talking which was the part I was most nervous about.

It certainly marked a closing chapter on the frenzied "new release" chapter of the book. I mean it continues to be a stressy endeavour at times, but it's nice to move through that first flurry and into a calmer second leg.

I made eight (I think?) recipes from the book! Didn't get many cute photos because my attention was split between a million things, but I'm just relieved everyone's allergies were catered for and everything turned out OK! Even if I couldn't (for time and capacity reasons) go above and beyond with presentation, I still did good!

YOUTUBE.

Made a wee vlog from the week of my book launch and birthday!

KITCHEN.

Lā€“R: bang bang salmon bowl with jasmine rice and asian slaw, Vietnamese-style nice noodle salad with spring rolls (in I Want Dopamine for Dinner) and fish fingers with a creamy dill and caper sauce over rice.

Lā€“R: green curry laksa noodle soup (an I Want Dopamine for Dinner recipe) with tofu balls from Tofu Shoten in Brunswick. I made the soup again but with some leftover 'chicken' and tofu meatballs which are in the cookbook. Then I made a hash with the leftover Tofu Shoten balls.

Lā€“R: some very good cheesy crumbed tofu, leftovers from the book launch and some Macro Mike chocolate chip protein cookies.

Lā€“R: my free birthday bananas for choc Boost, some homemade ice cream chocolate cones and a fleet of onigiri I made stuffed with kimchi tuna (not a bad first attempt!).

Lā€“R: my fave sushi bowl, then some gluten-free deliciousness from Glazed in Elsternwick ā€“ a vanilla and lemon cake, iced chai and spinach n' vegan cheese phyllo triangle! All were impeccable : )

WATCHED.

I saw three films this month as part of the British Film Festival...

Urchin is about a drug-affected young man struggling to get his life on an even keel. It's heartbreaking, beautiful and immersive. The main character is played by the actor who played teenage Voldemort from Slughorn's memory in the 6th Harry Potter (who I totally had a crush on at the time lol). Anyway he's brilliant!

The Choral is a large cast anti-war WWII film about the power of music and coming together. It felt like a very "2025" war film, meaning there were a lot more sexual references, queer characters and evolved humour than you would have got previously. It's cheesy (as you'd expect), but intelligent in how it preaches about the importance of the journey, not the destination in story as well as form.

I Swear tells the life of Scottish Tourette's Syndrome campaigner John Davidson's life from his teenage years in the 80s through to the present (he's now 54). It's his life trauma condensed into 2 hours (aka was hard to watch), but also how he came to do so much good for individuals with Tourette's and raise awareness of the condition. The acting in it is off the charts and I think it's a film that really should be getting more attention! I'm so glad I watched it and I think it's a wonderful (ultimately uplifting) stroke of neurodivergent representation.

READ.

Annie John is a beautiful short novel about a girl growing up on the Caribbean Islands in Antigua. The book focuses on the changing relationship with her mother, but it's also a reflection on friendships, giftedness, illness, outgrowing people and places. Loved it!

For a warm and fuzzy, life-spanning, large cast of character's read ā€“ I really enjoyed The Storied Life of A.J Fikry. I've since learnt the author has associations with pro-Israel media. *Sigh*

Always Remember is the sequel to Charlie Mackesy's The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse. Safe to say this fell really flat for me. Something about the variation in illustration styles gave AI-adjacent uncanny valley (though I trust he does all his illustrations). The narrative I thought also needed editing, it read like a string of semi-connected coffee table book quotes. Idk, it's sweet, but the first one's incomparable.

RECIPE.

This month's recipe is for Passionfruit Vanilla Slice !!! An Australian bakery classic I first made for my microbakery in 2023. The recipe didn't make it into I Want Dopamine for Dinner because it's not very accessible in terms of making your own puff pastry and how much elbow grease the custard requires.

But please don't be deterred if you love vanilla slice! It's one of the best recipes I've made and I'm sharing it now if you're game for a show stopper vegan/gf bake this Christmas.

Thank you for reading & supporting my work,

ā€“ Phoebe 

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