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I tried to purchase HBO Max 3 times in a row just to watch the show “The Pitt”. I heard on (one of my favorite podcasts) The Toast that it’s just like ER but without George Clooney. That was enough to get me interested because I vividly remember being age 5 and watching ER in my mums bed, with her pink silk bed sheets in the country side of England. If I was lucky I’d sneak up a purple bag of Cadbury mini buttons, and have my trio of stuffed animals with me: Amber (the golden retriever, Oinky (my pink piglet), and punky (I have shamefully forgotten what animal punky was but he was loved none the less).

I lasted 10 minutes into the episode before pulling up Substack and deciding to write a post. My week started thrown for a loop. On Monday I had a doctors appointment that was canceled very last minute, on Tuesday I had deliberating tooth pain radiating into my jaw and on Wednesday I canceled 3 MRI’s scheduled for 630AM because who wants to wake up and drive themselves to an MRI at some ungodly time in the morning? and to top it off WHO wants to be laying down in a machine for 75 minutes? listening to music followed by thump thump thump and small voices through the intercom as you look for any sign of reassurance through the glass peep hole.

Needless to say this all took a toll on the tone for the week, I quickly switched from a mindset of enthusiasm to a mindset of doom. “Why me? Why does everything go wrong? Why can I never catch a break” I stopped meditating, I skipped pure barre, and settled for 5000 steps per day. There was one day where I even went to bed at 6pm (not something to boast about at my age but here we are). And yes I woke up at 3am bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for my double espresso shot.

Something I learnt from the book i’m reading (inadvertently) is that a 3am wakeup is actually common. It’s that magical hour when your body decides sleep is cancelled and your brain would like to review every unresolved thought you’ve ever had.

Biologically speaking, this is when melatonin takes a little dip and cortisol (the stress hormone with absolutely no chill) starts creeping upward, jolting you into wide-eyed awareness for no real reason. Mentally, it’s prime time for intrusive thoughts, existential spirals, and suddenly remembering that one awkward thing you said in 2016. Nervous-system-wise, it’s less “deep rest” and more “low-grade internal alarm system”, as if your body thinks you need to be on call for g-d knows what. Rather than blaming yourself for being “bad at sleeping” the 3 a.m. wake-up is usually just data, quietly suggesting your stress load, emotions, or blood sugar might need more support… even if your brain insists that 3am is the perfect time to figure out your entire life.

So let’s just jump right in to the Friday Brief (yes, yes I realize I fell completely off the map last week) I’m still trying to find my happy medium with what to post, where to post, and how to post all of the thoughts in my head. Even though i’ve been blogging since 2010, I always feel somewhat of a lag in gaining momentum and traction (excluding my one lemon loaf cake which went viral on Pinterest and has 55k shares!), so If you find any interest at all in what I have to say, please subscribe or leave a little comment. It honestly means the world to me.

What I’m Reading:

The Mountain is You. It’s a book about the quiet, uncomfortable truth that the greatest obstacles in our lives are often the ones we create to protect ourselves. Through self-sabotage, fear, and deeply ingrained patterns, we resist the growth we crave. This book doesn’t offer quick fixes, it invites honest reflection, responsibility, and compassion, reminding us that healing isn’t about forcing change, but about understanding why we’ve been standing still and learning how to move forward with intention. I also purchased the Pivot Year on my kindle which is 365 daily mediations.

What I’m Listening to:

Mimi Bouchard on The Wellness Process. In this podcast, Mimi brought her signature blend of real-talk vulnerability and forward leaning transformation work, diving deep into how we actually become our future selves instead of just wishfully thinking about them. As the founder of the Activations app and the author of Activate Your Future Self, Mimi shared how she moved from financial struggle and low self-worth to building a thriving business and life she loves by rewiring her self-image and mindset rather than forcing herself into practices that don’t stick.

She breaks down why traditional meditation didn’t work for her, what “activations” are (think energized visualization and identity shifts backed by neuroscience), and how simple habits and clarity around your future self can create lasting change. It’s a refreshing take on wellness that feels both spiritual and practical—a must-listen if you’re done with surface-level mindset talk and ready to embody who you say you want to be.

What I’m Eating:

I am such a creature of habit that I tend to eat my favorite meals on rotation. Warning that this will make your entire house smell like onions so be sure to have the extraction fan on full blast and some scented candles near by. The good thing is that it is incredibly easy to throw together. All I did was chop mixed bell peppers and onion, sauté with a dash of olive oil and once cooked add egg whites to the pan and scramble. I added a poached egg on top and of course ate It with a piece of sourdough! I promise that the photo doesn’t do it much justice but it was Devine.

This Weeks MN Curated Finds:

Incase you’re new here MN stands for Magnetic Nourishment, my passion project for 2026. It’s a space for slowing down, tuning inward, and creating a life that feels both grounded and expansive. Nourishment goes beyond food, it’s about what you consume mentally, emotionally, creatively, and spiritually. Through reflections on wellness, personal growth, home, style, and the in-between moments of real life, Magnetic Nourishment is an invitation to live with intention, softness, and self-trust—drawing in what’s meant for you by becoming deeply aligned with who you already are. Stay tuned for an official launch date on the podcast, because I promise you it’s coming (even if I haven’t taken my DJI Mic out of the box yet).

1. Sectional cover: Obviously this is highly individualized based on what couch you have, but I have a child (age 11), and a cocker spaniel (age 5). Meaning that when I bought a cream couch I was more worried about aesthetics over convenience and let me tell you…that backfired. Right now I have the Cambri but I have my eye on this cloud dupe . Yes it’s white (ish) and no I will never learn my lesson!
2. New dining room chairs: If you weren’t here for the house saga where I had to move out within 24 hours due to termites eating through the beams of my house then hello. As you’ve probably guessed by now, every day of my life is an adventure, but lets skip to the chairs-my house went from farmhouse chic to very modern and my dining room chairs are still stuck in the 1980’s. They’re lovely, but just not the look i’m going for.
3. Dining room rug: Once again I feel like this is an oxymoron typing out the words dining room rug but my house has an open space floor plan, so having rugs in each room just makes the most sense. With that said my once beige rug is now multicolored and needs to be replaced. I read that outdoor rugs are the best in these spaces because they’re usually stein resistant. Here’s the one I have my eye on.
4. Meditation Pillow: In full transparency, yesterday I had my first panic attack since being stuck on an underground subway at 21 years old. Since the New Year I have been doing all of the things: Nicole Sachs Journal speak, SHIFT with Jamie and most recently the Activations App which I mentioned above. When I fall off track it really hits me and yesterday was a clear indication of that. So needless to say I’m focused on creating the most tranquil space. I’m also in need of plant to give my little meditation corner some new life.
5. Olive Tree: I’ve never been a fan of artificial flowers until realizing that you really do get what you pay for. If you’re not a plant person (or just don’t have the capacity to keep another thing alive right now) I think artificial plants or trees are the perfect middle ground.
6. Knit ribbed blanket: This pottery barn blanket is a household favorite. I usually drape it over my couch and it’s on sale for $113 from $179. Once again this is a category where you really get what you pay for. Yes I love some pillows and throws from HomeGoods every now and then (who doesn’t?) but I can justify the cost when something holds up.
7. Coffee Table Books: I remember when I first moved into my house and spent hundreds of dollars on Assouline books to decorate my entry way and color coordinated book shelf. Now whilst these books will last a lifetime, there were definitely more cost effective options. These are a great alternative.

As you know my list usually consists of 10 products each week that I love and live by but I stuck to a “home” theme this week because my house is my sanctuary and it just felt more authentic than the other bits and bobs I have waiting to share.

This is just the beginning. If you have questions, curiosities, or ideas you want me to unpack next, my comments are always open.

xo M