Mood Ring is a newsletter on life, love, writing, and desserts. Great for tenderhearted souls. Sent every Tuesday. 💗
Hi friends,
A couple of days ago, I read “Things I Remember” by Suleika Jaouad. The post is the most recent addition to Suleika’s Sunday Prompt series, which I love and link to often — the prompts never fail to get me thinking, reflecting, and feeling inspired. Prompt 221 was “Eisenstein and Memory” written by Jessie Creel, a television and film producer; in a study of gratitude, following the smack-in-the-face realization that negative moments took up much of their flashbacks, Jessie leaned into meditation and journaling as well as the power of montage as ways of reflection. “Montage can be quite useful for accessing themes in your own journey,” Jessie wrote, “like a visual meditation, where you take inventory of whatever sits just below the surface of the subconscious.”
The end of the year is a natural time for reflection. We recall the meaningful moments, the good and difficult ones, and we try to sense what shifts we’ve had throughout the year; we wonder what changed, what fell into its perfect place. Montaging my 2022 life brings up themes of loneliness, but also growth; grief, but also healing. I see the ebb and flow of feelings. I see vulnerability.
I’m also trying to recall small moments that might have slipped into the blur of days. The James Webb telescope comes to mind as something I had almost forgotten. July feels like ages ago, but you may remember the images of distant galaxies and stars that sent us reflecting on what it means to be actively living and feeling the “sweet relief of being a brief speck.” It reminds me of a quote I’d like to remember going into 2023: “It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world,” Carl Sagan wrote in 1994. “To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”
I’d love to hear if there’s anything you’re reflecting on as the year winds down. What stuck with you throughout these months and days? Or maybe you’re inundated with letters in your inbox telling you to reflect, reflect, reflect, and then reflect some more. Maybe what you need right now is rest or travel or play. Listen to what you need and know that it’s completely okay.
As I mentioned last week, this letter will be the last one of 2022. I’ll be back in your inbox on the 3rd of January 2023. This is my early “Happy New Year’s” letter to you that comes with 22 of my favorite things from this year.
Reads
Elise Kova’s Air Awakens series. These are some of my favorite reads of the year! These books are about a library apprentice named Vhalla whose life is turned upside down when she awakens her elemental magic.
Ashley Herring Blake’s Delilah Green Doesn’t Care and Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail. These books come with sweet and sexy romances, great side characters, and characters who are navigating complicated family relationships.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. This is the kind of book that I truly loved, it’s absolutely brilliant, but I also may have a hard time rereading it. While it is definitely a standout amidst the books I read in 2022, I don’t know when I’ll be ready to cry over these characters again.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is about a young woman’s quest to free her mother, which leads her down a perilous journey, confronting legendary creatures and a ruthless emperor. I enjoyed every moment of this enchanting story.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry brings us to Sunshine Falls where we see Nora and Charlie fall in love. I will be rereading this again soon.
This is How You Lose the Time War, written by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, is a story I’ll never forget. If you’re looking for a time-travelling adventure, be sure to pick this one up.
Recipes
Lugaw (also known as Filipino rice porridge) is a dish I’ve been making all winter long. I follow my mom’s recipe, which has no measurements at all (in true mom fashion), but I found a close match with this recipe from Ian, a Filipino-Canadian home cook.
When I travelled home for my birthday this year, I asked my mom to teach me how to make her “Ground Beef and Glass Noodles” dish because I would find myself craving it and had no clue how she made it. Since then, I’ve also found a somewhat similar recipe online that you can give a try!
I made these soft & thick snickerdoodle cookies from Sally’s Baking Recipes for Thanksgiving this year; they were so delicious.
For my 25th birthday, I made Claire Saffitz’s Strawberry Cornmeal Layer Cake from her book, Dessert Person. It was light and fruity; I would definitely make it again.
Buys
A light blue, cat-themed weekly planner from Barnes & Noble.
My first Monstera. I’m not great at taking care of indoor plants and I’m trying to get better! Maybe that can be a 2023 resolution — “Grow plant collection.”
A plane ticket back home was probably my favorite buy of the year.
I found an old University of Washington sweatshirt at a thrift store and it is my ultimate comfort sweater. I’m literally wearing it as I type this list.
Writing
A Small Stage — “I’d like to go to the moon.”
This Is Our Song — On heartbreak, love songs, and singing (badly) to your childhood crush
I had a great time taking a writing workshop called Jumpstart Your Romance Novel taught by Bryn Donovan
I shifted from using my married name on this newsletter to a pen name that pays tribute to my mom and family.
Memories
Hugging my Lola the moment I set down my suitcase in my old home.
Farmers' markets were one of the best parts of the summer.
Learning how to stain a deck, which involved many trips to Home Depot and Sherwin-Williams.
Starting this newsletter in June was a mixture of nerves and excitement. I’ll always remember pressing send for the first time.
Happy New Year!
With love,
Alyssa
Thank you for reading! I love hearing from you, so feel free to leave a comment or write me anytime at alysrochwrites@gmail.com.