i promised you horoscopes and i lied

I even forgot that I was supposed to draft this over the last week because things have been so freakin’ crazy. For that, I’m sorry. I’m glad I went a whole month doing this though, because it’s been an adventure. I’m still debating what format this is going to take because sometimes I just don’t have the energy. And I’m learning that’s okay. I think the last year has shown me that sometimes it’s okay to take it easy, to be gentle with yourself and to respect what my body, mind, heart and soul are telling me to do. And sometimes that means compromises. So no horoscopes for this one (especially because we’re reaching the beginning of April.) In fact, I’m actually slowly distancing myself from my formal astrological practice in general to focus on studying more techniques and working. I promise it’s truly not a bad thing— I’m on hiatus for my practice until I can rebrand (planning on hiring a designer soon— it’s rough work) and also utilise what I’ve learned in my classes to create better, more tailored offerings for you. For that reason, I’m just letting things roll. If you have interest in a reading, just reply to this, or hit me up. I’ll have a waitlist and I’ll be a little more selective in who I take since my hours are already pretty limited.

ok, bitch but what about the stuff n’ things?

It’s been super fun to write about things I covet, or currently own or are consuming. But sometimes this format isn’t sustainable because I’m freakin’ tired. Writing this newsletter takes time haha, the weekly format isn’t super great for me because I forget about it— but it’s been a fun experiment for the last month! You will be having stuff n’ things in every newsletter, but I think it’ll be less prominent in features to come. Now I’m just writing about my life, and what’s been happening, and what you can do about it. I truly have no idea where this is going next. I do know that while I’ll try to keep up the weekly newsletters, I might slip up here and there because, life happens. Anyway, Aries season means an astrological new year, and that also means SWITCHING THINGS UP BC ITS ALSO THE WITCHY NEW YEAR. So let me switch shit up.

But also, please listen and watch if you already haven’t. Gay Satan lives.

t’s bday szn means moar treats!

My partner (known to the internet as ‘T’) is a 0º Aries sun, which means he’s an exalted sun, MF! It also means he gets all the treats for his birthday, and gives me time to show off all of my local friends (though some of them have nationwide shipping) who have contributed to the delight that has been the ingress into Aries szn!

Sixteen Mill: Gluten Free (and also non-GF, but they’re better known for their GF options) baked goods, bitches! They do ship their goods nationwide, but if you’re local to NYC (especially if you’re in Brooklyn)— they have more offerings at their farmers market stands in Park Slope and Greenpoint. Also if you let them know I sent you, they can make you customs. For instance, I was really into cinnamon rolls (I still am, ok) and they baked me cinnamon rolls… because… I asked for them. And they weren’t sugar-free or GF. They were just beautiful cinnamon rolls? T really loves their GF sourdough bagels though, and their cheddar-scallion scones (pictured above) are pretty dope too. They also made us a miso-mushroom tart and focaccia once and I almost died. I mean, I’m dead now too, but you get what I’m saying.

but yeah, he also got 2 cakes for his bday.

Cakes for No Occasion: T doesn’t even like cake. He prefers pie. Or at least he did until I got a cake from CfNO for Christmas. Along with a Mayo-shaped dog cheese log. Then he specifically requested they make his cake for his birthday. Here’s where the glory of this story comes into play: they were closed for customs. So I shot them a DM asking very nicely if they could squeeze me in for one even though I dropped the ball and didn’t expect them to be so busy. I waited. And while I waited in panic, I ordered another cake from Yip Studio (linked and feature below) in the meantime. Then they got back to me and were like “YESSSS WE WILL DO IT WE LUV U!!!” (I’m paraphrasing and I’d like to think they actually love me but ok) This beautiful creature is a chocolate-citrus cake with guava curd and salted buttercream. There are rosewater jelly and white chocolate dipped lychee accents all over the cake. It’s a pretty mermaid cake right at the end of Pisces szn, into the beginning of Aries szn.

Yip Studio: The cake above is by Amy Yip, baker and owner of Yip Studio. This is not the cake she made us. She made us a Kaia-shaped yuzu cake with yuzu curd and black sesame cream cheese frosting. It was fucking delicious. She is who I messaged in a panic asking if she would make a cake for my partner. And bake that cake she did. Her smallest size fed a bunch of people. I had to bring the leftovers to work. It was cakesanity. It was also delicious. I will probably order again.

i’m too high to write more

At least anything super meaningful. As always, I have no idea what I’m doing, but I do find it peculiar, but also cute (pecuteliar?) that I am so willing to document my eventual mental breakdown on the internet for the whole world to read. I promise I’m well-adjusted and happy, this is just what it looks like when I’m actually busy and, dare I say… productive? Sometimes life ebbs and flows in ways we didn’t expect. That’s where I am now. I will end this by saying please support your local businesses, pay reparations to your local QTBIPOC, take care of each other, take a break when you need to, hydrate and start cleaning up the shit and take it out to pasture.

I love you all

x

(as always feel free to send me a response, tip me, my venmo is @christalei, or love on me. i will return the favour. mutual aid xo)