Manifesting Orders not Eclipse Energy.

First things first, this week at Graze was actually pretty decent? I manifested a bunch of orders and they actually showed up. I'm not even kidding. I lit my little candle, did my thing, and ORDERS. If you don't believe in manifestation that's totally fine but also maybe try it because it's working for me right now and I'll take all the help I can get.

(Also eclipse season is absolutely wrecking me but we'll get to that in a minute.)

I worked the shop for six straight hours Saturday and I was in the zone. You know that scary productive zone where you look up and realize you've accomplished an entire week's worth of tasks in one afternoon. Prepped orders, restocked supplies, did the thing where you deep clean that one corner you've been avoiding for weeks. You know the corner I'm talking about. Every shop has one.

By the time I locked up, I was feeling myself. And you know what you do when you're feeling yourself? You take yourself on a solo date, obviously.

Enter: Fishbones

If you haven't figured it out by now, Fishbones is basically across the street from the shop. Sort of but definitely on my way home anyway so it would be rude not to stop in, right? That's the logic I'm going with. Plus after six hours of hustling, I earned a bevvy.

I slid into my usual spot at the bar and immediately felt that "ahhh" moment wash over me. You know that feeling when you're finally off and can just... exist?

I saw a bunch of my favorite regulars which is always the best. There's something about seeing familiar faces when you're out solo that just hits different. Yes, I'm alone but also I'm not? Community is weird and wonderful like that.

The Bologna Conversation That Lasted Forever

Here's where it gets good. I ended up chatting with two new couples at the bar, super nice people, the kind you immediately click with over shared appetizers and good cocktails. And somehow we spent the entire time talking about bologna.

I'm dead serious. Not like, a quick "oh yeah bologna sandwiches are nostalgic" and move on. No no no. We went DEEP. Different brands of bologna. The fancy stuff versus the cheap stuff (and whether there's actually a difference). Regional variations. Ways to prepare it. Do you fry it? Eat it cold? Thick slices or thin?

I was sitting there thinking that this is the most random and also most delightful conversation I've had in weeks. Because when was the last time you had a genuinely passionate discussion about lunch meat? And yet here we were. Me and four adults with strong opinions about processed meat products, living our best lives on a Saturday afternoon.

The timing was almost too perfect because I've been on this massive ham, cheese, and butter kick lately. I cannot stop thinking about it. The simple pleasure of really good ham (or bologna, we're not judging), mild white cheese, butter on good bread. That's IT. Nothing fancy, no artisan this or locally-sourced that (even though I'm obviously all about that life usually). Just pure, simple, childhood nostalgia in sandwich form.

Grammy's Sandwich

My Grammy used to make me this exact sandwich when I was little. Ham, cheese, butter. The butter had kind of melted into the bread in this weirdly perfect way. The cheese would be room temperature. The ham was always that thin-sliced deli ham that's slightly sweet? I can taste it right now just thinking about it.

And apparently this is also how French people eat their sandwiches? I could be totally wrong about this but I'm pretty sure jambon beurre could be the sandwich in France. I’ve been there and I don’t remember it being a thing.

The Six Hour Productivity Secret

Can we circle back to the productivity thing for a second though? Because I feel like I unlocked something on Saturday.

Usually when I'm at the shop, I'm bouncing between a million tasks. Customer inquiries, prepping orders, remembering to eat lunch (spoiler: I usually forget), putting out whatever small fire has erupted. It's controlled chaos on a good day, actual chaos on a normal day.

I'm realizing I need to build in more of these days. Specifically block off time where I can just BE in the shop and work without the constant context switching. My millennial brain is already fried from the eclipse season and years of multitasking, giving it a break might actually be the secret to getting more done AND feeling less exhausted.

(Also taking yourself on solo dates after accomplishing things is highly underrated. Normalize celebrating yourself! Buy yourself the apps! Sit at the bar and talk to strangers about bologna! Live your life!)

The Takeaway (Besides Bologna)

I think what I'm trying to say here is that sometimes the best weekends are the ones where you're unexpectedly productive, reward yourself with a simple pleasure, and end up in the most random conversations with new people.

Sunday Meal Prep: An All-Day Affair

So Sunday is my typical meal prep marathon and it takes an entire day. I'm talking from the moment I roll out of bed until I'm physically too tired to chop another vegetable. This is just how Sundays go when you run a catering business and also want your everyone to eat real food during the week.

In between all the containers and the portioning and the "why did I think this was a good idea" moments, I managed to sneak in a banana cake for my son. And not just any banana cake. This thing came out SUPER moist and banana-y. The kind of moist where you're like did I actually nail this or is this a fluke? (It was probably a fluke but I'm taking the win.)

The recipe was pretty straightforward but the key is really ripe bananas. So the ones you almost threw away three days ago because they looked sad. Those are the ones. Trust me on this.

My 45 Minutes of Peace (ft. Antiques Roadshow)

So my husband took our son out for a bit tonight and I had approximately 45 minutes to myself. Do you know what I did with this precious, sacred time?

I threw on Antiques Roadshow. I know. But one second, there's something so soothing about watching people bring in their random stuff and find out it's either worth $12 or $80,000. No in-between. Just chaos.

And speaking of $80,000, there was this segment with these Charles Loloma bracelets from 1981 and they were valued at EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. The look on that lady's face was absolutely priceless. And honestly? They were kind of cute. Like, I could see wearing them. Not $80k cute for my budget but aesthetically? Yeah, I get it.

Eclipse Season is Really Effing With Me

Okay so real talk, eclipse season is hitting haaard this week. I’m tired in a way that's not just I worked too much tired. It's that deep, existential why am I so drained and also emotional about everything tired.

If you don't believe in this stuff, that's totally fine. You do you. But for those of us who are sensitive to this cosmic chaos, it's real and it's A LOT. I've been trying to be gentle with myself (keyword: trying) and not beat myself up for feeling off.

The manifestation thing is helping. The banana cake helped. Antiques Roadshow helped. We're just taking it one day at a time over here and being grateful for the good moments.

Un-Birthday Boxes Are Almost Here! 🎂

Speaking of good things, have you ordered your un-birthday box yet?? We're doing a limited run for the end of this week and they're extra special. I put a lot of love into these and they're perfect for anyone who just wants to celebrate being alive without waiting for an actual birthday.

(Which, in eclipse season, feels very appropriate. We made it through another week! Celebrate!)

We only have a limited number so if you've been on the fence, now's the time. These boxes are packed with all the good stuff : cheese, sweet treats, the works. Perfect for treating yourself or someone you love.

Snow Day Hot Toddies?

Also, and this is a genuine offer. If you live nearby and want to come over tomorrow to drink hot toddies and make snow angels, hit me up. I'm serious. We're in New England, we might as well lean into the winter vibes while we can.

This is what eclipse season does to me. I get all community minded and want to invite people over for warm drinks and chaotic snow activities.

The Week Ahead

So that's where we're at. Orders are flowing (manifested!), meal prep is prepped, banana cake is baked, and I know way too much about vintage jewelry now.

This whole eclipse thing is still doing its thing and I'm just riding the wave. Some days you're killing it and some days you're just trying to stay upright. Today I'm somewhere in between and that's okay.

If you're feeling the cosmic weirdness too, you're not alone. We're all just out here doing our best.

Thanks for being here and for supporting Graze! You guys make this whole chaotic beautiful journey worth it.

XX,

Abby

Song of the Day: Lana Del Rey- White Feather Hawk Tail Deer

Really into this spectral psych-folk vibe right now but also what's it really about? I don't want to rabbit hole it and end up disappointed so I'll just continue to love it for what it is. Sometimes not knowing is better. Sometimes we just need the vibe.

P.S. : If you're in the Chelmsford MA area and need catering for an event, party, or just because you don't feel like cooking, we've got you covered. Eclipse energy and all.