Each month (or so), I give you a glimpse into what I’m working on, habits I’m cultivating, things bringing me joy, books/TV shows/podcasts I’m enjoying, and more. Think of it as stream-of-consciousness blabbering meets a semi-curated list of recommendations meets life update.
📖 A recap of the last few months
My last RPL at Home post was back in June, and quite a lot has happened since then! After many years, my second cookbook Big Vegan Flavor was finally released last month! And to say that the cookbook launch was amazing would be an understatement. The support y’all have shown me in the past month on the cookbook has been mind blowing, and I’m still processing it. Seeing your excited emails and messages and glowing reviews has been so special. And, of course, meeting some of you in person at book signings has been so rewarding (thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to attend!). And the week after publication, Big Vegan Flavor was:
#3 on the New York Times bestseller list (advice, how-to, misc. category); #4 on Publishers Weekly hardcover nonfiction bestseller list; the top cookbook on the Indie Bestseller’s List; the only cookbook featured in the USA Today bestseller list.
To be honest, I never set out to make bestseller lists. Because, over the last few years, I’ve found that the best way to stay in love with my work without burning out or falling into the comparison trap is to focus on the process of creating and the satisfaction it brings me without attaching myself to specific outcomes. So making all these bestseller lists was a lovely cherry on top of an already amazing sundae. I will admit it is nice to receive external recognition, but seeing YOU excited about the book, cooking from the book, and leveling up your cooking skills is what brings me the most joy. So THANK YOU for all of your support on this book over the last several months.
🦥 What I’m working on in life
After a very busy few months (and honestly, years) focused on the book, I have entered my sloth era. I had already planned to slow down after publishing the book, but I had no idea just how ready my brain was to slow down. As soon as launch week was over, it was as if my brain turned on out-of-office mode without consulting me. I tried to get work done, but I found myself staring idly at my computer, eyes glazing over whatever drivel was on the screen. Eventually, I realized I had no say in the matter, so I left my office and parked myself on the couch for hours at a time, devouring novels while sipping on kombucha, sparkling water, herbal tea, or a mocktail (glamorous lifestyle, I know!). While the peak of my sloth era has now ended (there are pretty hard deadlines in our Meal Plans by Rainbow Plant Life subscription that I simply can’t ignore), I feel like I’m entering a new, slower chapter. I’m not entirely sure what the contours of this new era will be—how many hours I’ll work per week, how many weekends I’ll take off, how I’ll prioritize work vs. resting and spending time with loved ones—but I’m looking forward to figure it out as I go.
What I’m watching, listening to, and reading
🎧 Listening
One of the podcasts I have listened to the most consistently over the years is Ear Hustle, the first podcast to be created entirely inside a prison (it’s a nonfiction, interview-based podcast about life in prison and life after incarceration). So I would be terrible at the job, but that doesn’t stop a girl from dreaming. And in the interim, I like to watch spy TV shows instead.
📚 Reading
My sloth era has also coincided with my Barbara Kingsolver era. If you’re an avid reader of novels, you’ve likely heard of her most recent one, Demon Copperhead (affiliate link), which won a Pulitzer Prize. It tells the story of a young boy born in the Appalachian mountains from his birth until his early 20s as he navigates family upheaval and loss, foster care, child labor, addiction, marriage, and more. Kingsolver’s narration, character development, ability to embed you in a specific place, and integration of real life social issues into narrative form are unmatched. It’s a big book, but I devoured it in a few days and it has earned its place as one of my favorite-ever novels. Naturally, I immediately started on another Kingsolver novel, The Poisonwood Bible (affiliate link). This one starts in 1959 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the eve of its independence from Belgian colonial rule. It follows the Price family, a Southern Baptist missionary family who temporarily moves to the Congo to spread the word of Christ. Each chapter is narrated in the unique voice of one of the four daughters or the mother (though the father, the minister, always looms large). Like Demon Copperhead, the narration and character arcs are incredible, and the storytelling is a unique blend of heartwrenching, thought provoking, and surprisingly funny. 12/10 recommend for both! PS: If you’re the kind of person who likes to read at night and/or in bed, I can’t recommend this book lamp enough (affiliate link). It attaches to your book and casts a warm orange glow on your book—bright enough to allow you to read but not so bright that it will disturb your bedmate or keep you up at night. I recently listened to episode 1 of season 14, and it was so thought-provoking that I immediately texted my friend, subtly demanded that she and her husband listen to it, and scheduled a future double date so we could discuss the episode at our next dinner. The episode features interviews with men (and a few women) incarcerated in California prisons about whether they’re “comfortable” inside prison and whether life in prison can be easier than life outside. As a layperson who has never had a family member or friend incarcerated, my very initial thought was “how could anyone prefer being in prison to the outside world?” But within a few minutes, I quickly learned how nuanced and complicated this conversation is, especially for people whose lives in the outside world were, to put it very mildly, no walk in the park. The conversations were so eye-opening and thoughtful that even weeks later, I can’t stop thinking about it. If you’re looking for a new podcast that will give you perspective, give you a window into an otherwise closed-off world, and help you develop more empathy, I cannot recommend Ear Hustle enough!
✈️ Fun Things
We’ve done a fair amount of traveling over the last few months, and even though it’s added to the busyness of my schedule, it has been genuinely very fun. In July, we did a quick Europe trip to see family and friends. I had the pleasure of experiencing 10 p.m. summer sunsets and bicycle culture in Amsterdam (the former was magical; the latter a bit terrifying as a tourist on foot). And we also got to spend quality time with my dear friend Sadia, the creator behind Pick Up Limes! Sadia and I have been online friends since we both first started our content creator journeys in 2017, and hanging out IRL was like catching up with an old friend. She and her husband Robin graciously invited us into their beautiful home and studio, and we had so much fun filming videos together (check them out here and here) as well as just chatting about life, finding meaning in work, and building a business. More recently, we’ve traveled quite a bit in California. During cookbook launch week, we went to Los Angeles to sign 400+ cookbooks at Now Serving LA (the coolest cookbook shop in LA), and then to do a book chat with the lovely Joanne of The Korean Vegan. PS: If you are in LA, the vegan pastries at Baker’s Bench are fantastic! Then another book chat + signing close to home at my local bookstore, The Book Catapult, with my lovely friend and artist Sarah Stieber. Followed by a weekend staycation to celebrate my mom’s 69th birthday, which was spent playing games, more reading, lounging by the pool, and eating cake (the best vegan cake in San Diego is from Hazel & Jade!). Next up, we flew up to San Francisco for a book signing at the Book Passage store. Being back in the Bay Area (where I went to college) always makes me feel nostalgic, and this trip reminded me of how beautiful the architecture is in San Francisco. We had some tasty eats at Burma Superstar (the fermented tea leaf salad is a must!), Wildseed (the corn fritters and seasonal squash pizza were my faves), and Shizen (the pumpkin tempura specialty roll and green mango nigiri were fantastic). And finally, I’m writing this in the air on my way back home from Dallas for a bloggers’ conference. The food was definitely not as good as in SF (no surprise lol), but it was really nice to connect with other food bloggers about what we’re working on, how we approach content creation, and navigating the challenges (and perks) of running a small business. Okay, that’s it for this month! Drop me a line below and let me know what you’d like to see in the next edition :)
