Happy Friday Reader

Welcome back to The 5 Things Friday Coffee Break! This is my weekly roundup of fun, creative, and personal growth-inspired finds that I think you’ll love.

In Each Issue:

☕ The Weekly Brew: A more personal note from me each week
​📝 Journaling prompts inspired by my weekly brew
🎨 Five creative, thought-provoking, or just fun things I’m loving
🖼️ A spotlight on one of my artworks (often with a special discount!)
📅 Upcoming events and offerings
✨ And who knows—maybe some surprises!

Spent time on Cape Lookout over the weekend with good friends

Gathered inspiration for my next collection of paintings

Happy Friday Reader
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I drove to the beach alone last Friday to see a friend who is very important to me. The soul kind of friend.

We’d had a pause in our friendship for a few years—maybe we’ll tell you about that part someday in an upcoming podcast series on the complexities of adult friendships. But I digress. The point is: I went with the intention of surrendering the old, letting go of what no longer serves me, and letting magic in.

We had two back-to-back days of joy planned: a lazy Saturday on the back porch—a porch that feels like a portal to another time—air-popped popcorn, slow, intentional, home-cooked meals, and long walks along the waterfront. Then a full day at Cape Lookout on Sunday.

A song comes to mind from the late '90s/early 2000s. It was a popular spoken-word track filled with life advice. It opens with:

This popped into my mind because—before hopping on the ferry Sunday—I pulled sunscreen out of a dry bag that had been hidden in a closet for years (I haven’t been to the beach in a long time). I slathered myself in the stuff. Feeling smug that I’d protected my skin, we set out.

Later, after a 7-mile walk in the heat of the day, I looked down to see lobster-red skin everywhere. That’s when it hit me:
​Maybe sunscreen expires.​
Darn.

I’m struck by how often in life we think we’ve done everything right—followed the “shoulds”—only to realize we still got burned.

That doesn’t mean the trip wasn’t worth it. It means we’re human.
Sometimes the lesson isn’t to avoid the discomfort.
Sometimes it’s to be present for it.
To learn from it.
And still claim the joy.

This physically uncomfortable reminder of a soul-nourishing weekend came home with me—along with a new list of books to read and a dragon-worthy hoard of sea shells to use as inspiration for my next painting collection.

Together We Float,

• When have I done everything “right” and still been burned? What did I learn?​
  Think of a time when you followed all the rules, took all the steps, or did what you thought you were supposed to—only to still end up in discomfort, disappointment, or pain. What did that experience reveal to you? How did it shape you or sharpen your intuition? What wisdom do you carry now because of it?
• What beautiful experience in my life came with a little sting—and was still worth it?​
  Joy and pain often travel together. Recall a time when something meaningful or magical also came with a challenge, discomfort, or unexpected consequence. How did you grow because of the tension between the two? What do you still carry from that moment—and would you say yes to it again?
• What “expired sunscreen” am I still relying on in my life that no longer works?​
  We all have beliefs, habits, or protections we put in place years ago that once served us—but may no longer do the job. What outdated tools, coping mechanisms, or assumptions are you still reaching for out of habit? What would it feel like to set them down and choose something that meets the moment you're in now?

1) This week I read Art Above Everything by Stephanie Elizondo Griest. It was so good! If you're an artist I recommend reading this book.
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​This year, I’m keeping a running list of every book I read and sometimes what I thought — You can access it here, not everything can make it to this newsletter.
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2) This week I recorded a podcast for you it's the first in a series that I'm calling Standing at the Threshold. The first episode in this series is called "When Cancer Became My Teacher".

3) This week I got a tarot deck by Kim Krans that I've had my eye on for years. They make great journaling prompts and this deck feels creepily spot on for me. Every card I've pulled so far has seemed to speak right to me.

4) This one is somewhat random, but my all time favorite salt are these Maldon Sea Salt Flakes. This is the best salt!
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5) Tis the season for PESTO!!! I've been loving making pesto and freezing it. I'm hoping that I'll be able to make and freeze enough pesto to keep me in stock through the winter and spring from my own basil this year. Here is the easy recipe that I love. (I skip the part where is says toast the pinenuts)

Together We Float,
-Alisha