march flare-ups + 3rd print run + a foolproof chocolate chia pudding!

March... you got me! Why do you wallop me over the head every year? Is it the shortening days? Steep transition from warm to cold? Deep-end dunk back into uni/work? I don't know. I was all ready for my digestive-issues to bite me in the butt, but it was a more general flare-up that knocked me flat. I'm functioning fine, but still don't feel that great. I would love to see someone about histamine intolerance/MCAS because I'm confident that's part of the picture for me (as it often is for post-viral affected, AuDHD, POTs, hypermobile bodies). If only the reportedly fantastic specialising GP near me wasn't booked up and "not taking new clients" every time I ring up.

I was somewhat of a boring-exhausted-uni-student this month (to put it unkindly) and a sweet pea who took care of themselves as best as they could and somehow continued to ace their course (to be much more complimentary). I am really enjoying this diploma (of library and information services... if ya' new here) and the more I learn the more I'm like "yep, this was a good decision". But the content is just so densely delivered and I'm so strapped to my desk trying to pump it all out that I'm exhausted and as I'm realising... kind of losing some social conditioning I had worked up last year that would have stood me in good stead for doing anything – communication related. I'm so much less "out and about" in my day to day, that my customer service at the toy library (as an example) is absolutely atrocious lol. My brain doesn't compute the questions people ask me and I sometimes reply at 4x speed when I don't mean to! I know how to move my way through those moments with a laugh, but it's a bit frustrating when I'm learning all this relevant 'job content' while losing a skill (that's not taught... just expected) that I'll very much be needing. I'm sure with more rest and time I'll get it back but I won't lie, it's been bumming me out!

I'm looking forward to having more free, *just for me* days over the coming weeks as I wrap up my last few assignments before the next term starts. I've got a brewing list of places I want to go, things I want to see etc. (of course you do Phoebe). I think that will be just the tonic for this worn-out brain-fog, tired-bod state I'm in. Here's to an April of less regimens, afternoon excursions, autumnal dinners and lots of self-compassion... we'll see :)

I WANT DOPAMINE FOR DINNER.

The third print run arrived this month and a recipe from the book was featured on ABC Lifestyle! Anyone from anywhere in the world should be able to access that recipe if you're keen to try it out. It's one of my faves!

Other than one weekend of stress when the books were held up at Australian customs due to the (well-meaning) printers massively under-reporting how many units were in the shipment (so I would have to pay less GST)... the process of receiving them, delivering to stockists and shipping off pre orders was pretty cruisy this time round. My confidence in talking with booksellers has grown a lot in the last six months and knowing how to pace myself helps too!

I have a few new stockists this time round – Pictures & Pages (Coburg, VIC), The Leaf Bookshop (Ashburton) and Wholefoods (all stores around Melbourne) !!!

YOUTUBE.

I had my first sponsorship (or integration – said in a fancy-pants voice) ever this month. Thank you for not running! 500+ videos in, I know I don't need to justify myself. But it still felt like a "gosh people are going to hate me for doing this" move. Which will always partly be true, but it's mostly a me problem for thinking that... I know! This month's second video is coming this weekend.

KITCHEN.

L–R: veggie fried rice using up everything in the vegetable drawer, spinach & tofu ricotta cannelloni and a very gentle tofu & vegetable curry.

L–R: maple mustard roast potatoes (from Big Mouth), a gentle Pad Thai (also from Big Mouth) and a dumpling rice bowl with sautéed zucchini.

L–R: carrot cake cinnamon buns, impossible mince spaghetti bolognese and a bowl of Erin McKenna cake/frosting/crumbs – after an afternoon trying some of her recipes in Babycakes.

L–R: the most scrumptious enoki mushroom caesar baguette from Pickles Milkbar (in Carlton), an even more luscious tofu broken rice bowl from Good Days (Brunswick) and some late night homemade chocolate banana pancakes.

L–R: cheesy chickpea bites, Vietnamese-style caramelised mince rice bowl (based on this Recipe Tin Eats recipe) and some frozen cookie dough for a friend.

CURRENT FAVES.

READING.

Only two reads this month... oops! One took me 30 minutes, the other 3 weeks.

I'm Sad and Horny, by Haley Lou Richardson (an actor you might recognise) was a quick delightful read of late-20s, coming of age, disappointing men, female friendship-vibed poetry. The collection made me laugh out loud and reflectively stare into space a lot. I love Haley <3

Plain Life: on thinking, feeling and deciding, by Antonia Pont is a philosophical exploration of living a plain, inner-strength filled wonderfully ordinary life. At least that's what I took from it. Antonia is a Melbourne-based philosopher at Deakin University and yoga teacher and I really like her brain and how she communicates philosophy – something which hasn't always been able to hold my attention (despite wanting it to). I still didn't always understand what was being said, and I had to really *stay the course* (!) and keep coming back to this one, but I'm glad I did. I hope its ideas and themes are currently percolating on a cellular level and I can carry them forward into the rest of my life.

RECIPE.

The "recipe" I'm sharing this month is for my Foolproof Chocolate Chia Pudding... formula. It's hardly a recipe, but it is every bit of a valued asset – if you want the benefit of a chia pudding (it can be a nightly dessert option, keeps you regular etc.) without the sad fact that they often taste way too healthy! I've made this almost weekly for the last year. Enjoy!

Thank you for reading & supporting my work,

– Phoebe 

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