Joy & Tell
What I loved in May '26
This month felt like it was gone in the blink of an eye.
Perhaps it was (likely) because I spent the first part of the month traveling, or perhaps it was how Memorial Day fell super-duper early this year, or perchance it was just one of those months that felt like it moved very quickly.
No matter the answer, this May brought with it a new found love for lots of new and old things.
Here’s this month’s joy and tell.
1. The Marlow Murder Club
I’m no stranger to cozy mysteries. I adore them no matter the time of the year. This love equally transfers to the silver screen with cozy mystery series and movies. There is just nothing quite like curling up to watch one!
This month’s cozy mystery I loved was The Marlow Murder Club on PBS/ Masterpiece. Set in the quaint town of Marlow in the UK, this series follows three women at different points in their lives while they work together—and find meaning—in helping to solve a murder in their little town.
The story is intriguing, the setting is spectacular, and I am now I’m excited to read the book series!
2. The Artist’s Way
Per a suggestion from my therapist, I started The Artist’s Way this month, which is a 12 week program to help you excavate your creative artist within. I’m only into the first week, but I cannot even begin to say how much I am enjoying this book/program thus far.
3. Lucy Worsley
May I please have a smidge of the coolness that is Lucy Worsley?
A Brit by birth and a historian by passion, Lucy delves deep into British history over on PBS/BBC. Her shows cover people and places and events from the likes of Jane Austen to the British perspective of the American Revolution—which I highly suggest giving a watch for this year’s 250th birthday of the USA!
She’s also an author. I got her book, Jane Austen at Home, for Christmas last year, which I am excited to dive into this summertime as well.
4. Father Richard Rohr
I had a bad day this month. One where you just need to go to sleep and cross your fingers that some rest and a brand new day will bring forth some new goodness. I’m thankful to say it did. In the form of sunshine, a long walk with the birds singing, and listening to this podcast episode with Richard Rohr.
A Franciscan priest, Father Rohr joins Oprah’s Super Soul podcast to discuss all things living your truest self. Even though this episode is from 2015, it still rings true today… and isn’t that the greatest?
My favorite quote from the whole episode?
“God is a verb.”
5. For the Traveling Folks
If you know me, you’ll know my favorite thing to do is travel. To be able to go somewhere new, experience the sights, sounds and culture… there's truly nothing like it!
In preparing for an international trip this month, I realized there is something I greatly value when it comes to packing for trips…
Being as light as I can.
Wherever I can cut weight/ bulk, it is a gift when it comes to packing (and lugging your suitcase around.)
The trip I took this month was one occasion where I felt like I packed pretty darn well.
Here were some of the favorite things I did:
I bought washing machine detergent sheets. Like dryer sheets, but for the washing machine; they contain all the detergent you need. They are flat, weigh very little, and they allow me to not have to worry about carrying laundry detergent around (or buy some big bottle wherever I am) if I need to do a quick clothes wash.
I brought my Kindle. One of my favorite parts of my day is getting to settle down with a book. And knowing how bulky books can be and how much space and weight they carry with them, I made myself pack solely my Kindle for my entertainment reads this vacation, and it was so worth it.
I used a backpack purse for my personal item. I’ve been trying to figure out the solution for my carry-on and personal item for a few trips now. While I still am trying to nail down my ideal carry-on situation, I feel like I have figured out my personal item dilemma. I used to do a purse/tote. What I would find is it often made me have another thing on my shoulders to have to carry around and left my hands still somewhat limited in movement. When I am on a plane, I tend to use only a few things (especially on shorter flights): headphones, Kindle, and my phone. I also like to keep my camera in my personal item bag along with identification. Throw in some hand wipes, a couple of stain remover wipes and that is pretty much all I want or need in my personal item bag. Making the commitment to switch to a smaller backpack purse was just what I needed and has lightened up my personal item in many ways, physically and mentally.
I brought a travel journal. This might not sound so revolutionary, but as a new-to-journaling girl, I was debating on how to handle my journaling practice while abroad. Do I just pack my regular journal—it’s flat, isn’t it? Or do I just supplement with my Notes app on my phone — I could make that work, couldn’t I? While cleaning out my travel stuff before leaving, I found some old travel journals which I knew would just be what I needed. I still got to experience the good old-fashioned pen to paper method, but they were small and thin enough to not add extra weight and squeezed into my personal item backpack mentioned above so I could journal on the trip over the ocean.
Now, this isn’t’ to say I have it all figured out. I still tend to bring one too many shoes, and I can certainly cut back on everything I feel like I need to have in my carry-on bag. But, it does feel like I’m reaching the point where I am starting to learn what works and what doesn’t for me while I jet to my next adventure. I hope it might help you, too, figure out what is best for you.
That wraps up Joy & Tell for May! See you soon, June!
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