morning pages and other 90s mom things

Hey 90s moms, it’s Andi again!

Back with your recipe, activity, and product recommendations of the week! I will be so honest too, I am going through it. Usually, I try to write these with as much joy and light as I can, but this month has not been easy.

I am going through some interpersonal conflict (I won’t name names, or I actually might later because I think a lot of us can relate), which as an Enneagram 2 is never fun. I am also going through health stuff, which truly does shine light and perspective on how easy it can be to take health for granted. And then the AC in my car broke, which in the middle of a Texas summer is just the worst.

I’m sharing all that not to be negative, but because I do want to share some behind the screens, to let you know that I, like so many of us, am going through things while I show up! And that is o👏🏼kay.

Moving on! For this week’s recipe, I cannot stop making this easy bone-in chicken thigh roast that is so simple but so delicious. Low effort, high yield.

90s Mom Chicken (OG recipe: Spend with Pennies)

Ingredients:

• 6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs

• 2 tbsp oil

• 1/2 tsp paprika

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 3/4 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 1/4 tsp dried thyme

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

• Dab chicken dry to remove moisture

• Place in baking/casserole dish with skin side up

• Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil and rub seasoning into the skin

• Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes

• Optional: turn the broil on high for 2-3 to crisp if needed (usually not necessary)

I’ve made it thrice now, and each time the skin is delightfully crispy and seasoned and the chicken meat is tender and the juice is the best part. You spoon the juice over when it’s all done and put it over rice and TRUST me. Convinced you can’t mess this up. Also little tip: always over season.

The weekly activity I am recommending, is Morning Pages, have you heard of it?

This is a creative practice taken by the book The Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron. This book is incredible and all about the creative journey, overcoming blocks, and just showing up. It is THE guide for creatives, and chances are if you subscribed to me - you are a creative person!

One of the concepts in it is to do morning pages, which is waking up early and writing 3 pages of your unfiltered, subconcious thoughts - whatever comes to mind. The goal is to empty your mind of all those little things we think about like: Do I need to do the laundry? Is that person mad at me. Here’s my new Substack business plan.

I have been doing this for the last two weeks now and it has been so helpful. And the best part is, it’s free! It just requires a little extra discipline like going to bed early to wake up early but you can do this. Also, technically you are supposed to handwrite these in a journal but I just created a Google Doc, named it Morning Pages and aim for one full page typed out right after reading the bible and it WORKS.

I think it’s partly why I’ve been able to grow so much this past week (almost 100 subscribers in two weeks is CRAZY). It is also how I’m getting through this month — writing it out and becoming more self-aware of all my thoughts in the middle of my personal storm. So if you are curious, go try it and report back. I want to see if it works for you! Even if you can just do one page next week, I think you’re going to love it.

P.S. Join us in AIM (Andi’s Instant Messenger) and keep me updated on if you do it or not / I will check in there to see if you complete them next week!

And then lastly, the product I am recommending is so cute, it is this sweet pink landline phone I found!!

Isn’t she lovely? I will say, I have no idea how this works and I have not bought it myself yet however, it has 4.2 reviews on Amazon (out of 23,640 people) so that’s good enough for me. It also is for AT & T users it looks like, which I am, but if you’re not - I suggest you look for an alternative as cute as this one! It’s under $20 and just would be so cute to use. And then let me know how it works too, please. Lol!

Alright, that is it for today but thank you again so much for reading these! Makes me whole entire week that my emails are being opened and read by you! And if you too are going through it, I’m with you. It’s going to be okay. Let’s take it one day at a time and look for small moments of joy this weekend.

Oh wait, last thing! I am planning to go live next Tuesday at 1pm CST with ! It is both of our first times going live, so come join! I’m going to be talking with her about how we are the last generation of adults to know no internet, and how we should start putting our phones away and listening more, especially to our children. Hope to see you there! (And if not, you can catch the replay <3)

xoxo

Andi 🌷

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