The Friday Newsletter | My First Writers Panel + Fig Bars!

Hello sweet readers 💙

I write to you feeling like a NEW person compared to when I last wrote – hooray! I'd had back to back viruses I wasn't recovering from and I was really worried I'd developed some sort of post-viral syndrome / long-covid-like thing! BUT the one thing that seemed like it could help (after getting blood work back) was an iron infusion. So I went ahead with that and thank god I did because I now feel 90% back to my normal self!

It feels as if I'm starting the year again honestly! I've been going to therapy weekly, trying to implement lots of habits and strategies to help my mental health/Autism/ADHD (more on that further down) and trying to focus on enjoying life everyday – now that I have the energy!

I had my ADHD screening at the end of last month, which confirmed I have the combined presentation (inattentive & hyperactive). It was with the clinical psychologist who did my Autism assessment. I decided to go back to her before trying another psychiatrist because of how craptastic the last psychiatrist experience was.

Since getting that confirmation, I feel like I've both (A) taken the biggest sigh of relief that I'm not making it up, because it really causes me to struggle each and every day, and (B) like my ADHD has become so much more pronounced now that I have the "permission" to acknowledge it. I've previously seen myself as more "autistically-dominant" but now that I'm learning about how ADHD presents in me, I reckon in time I will come to feel both parts as equally.

Here are some things I've been doing that are helping me get through the day more easily (many ADHD-related), which might help you too...

Always having my water bottle full & nearby when I sit down to work. As otherwise I get dehydrated & groggy, making it doubly-wubbly hard to get up again.
Setting a limit for certain apps on my phone. I've set Instagram & TikTok combined to 25 mins total per day. Now it feels like a game – to not reach the threshold. Plus it's helping me get back into other restful outlets.
Grouping activities together – like cooking & cleaning. I know that will sound like common sense to a lot of people, but Autistic/ADHD brains can find tasks more overwhelming (involving a lot more steps) than they do to the average person. It has to do with task initiation and executive functioning challenges. Pairing symbiotic tasks together means I can more effortlessly achieve the desired end goal (a clean space) which boosts my mental health in the long run!
Taking away barriers where I can (to help with task initiation & executive functioning). For me this has meant making the same (favourite) meals more often and not eating completely vegan - which helps me evade chronic gut symptoms (as I've mentioned before I eat some eggs and fish now). I'll also layout my clothes the night before, put shoes on to cook & clean in the evenings (otherwise I find it hard to muster the energy) and change into comfy clothes around 3pm (which feels like a reward and helps me continue the day).
Writing out brain-dumps & lists everyday. My brain feels like there is constantly so much noise/detail/thought happening at once. Pausing each day to write out what I'm feeling and the things I want to do (sometimes multiple times), is helping me to both reduce the noise in my head and not become paralysed by wanting to do so many things but not really remembering what they were & feeling too anxious to start.
Swapping out Instagram & TikTok for Pinterest. Because I don't find it addictive, just creatively energising with its book, interior & recipe recommendations.

WRITING & FREELANCE.

I've been reading and scoring entries for the 2024 Richell Prize! Run by Hachette publishing – it's a prize which tries to cultivate the career of an emerging writer. I had about 100 entries to read and it was so interesting and a real privilege! I will say though MY GOSH people like to write about serious/traumatic stuff. I think there's a real assumption that "good writing" will feature traumatic content and while that's fine when it's good, it can get a little tedious when it's not!

I'm so nervous to mention this – time to rip the bandaid off (!) – but I'm going to be on my first ever panel at the Emerging Writer's Festival (in Naarm/Melbourne from 5th -15th of September). The event is an online Masterclass in creative living and has many other beautiful, far more talented people apart of it. The event's for a couple of hours on Thursday 12th and you can read more about it & buy tickets here : )

KITCHEN.

I'm still on the Vegan Ham & Cheese Salad Sandwich train (TOOT-TOOT!) & loving every minute. So fresh and fun to eat. I made Honey & Chilli Crunchy Cauliflower and it was smashing! Need to figure out an air-fryer version so it's simpler to do. Also this Nicoise Salad I made with twice roasted potatoes was a 10/10!

Been baking up bits & bobs – Ginger Crunch Slice, Peanut Butter Sheet Cake and Wagon Wheel Slice (which will be in the cookbook!).

Been having so many delicious dinners. Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowls are my current fixation, this Vegan Lasagna with Pesto Tofu Ricotta was the cosiest meal to enjoy by the fire and I tried crushing chips over Vegan Mac & Cheese and it was ELITE! Try it friends : )

Twice Cooked Potato & Leek Potatoes (a seasonal must!), more Kimchi Carrot Tofu Hash bulked out with an egg and Ginger Tofu Beetroot Pad Thai Noodles from my low fodmap cookbook Big Mouth.

Playing around with 90s dips – Artichoke and French Onion Dip (made from mixing vegan sour cream with french onion soup mix!). Kimchi Toasties (forever & always) with Instant Asian-Style Soups I bulk up with tofu and greens. Then some Hawaiian Sweet & Sour Meatballs which were fun but not my favourite.

I have been making lots of homestyle Japanese recipes from Rie McClenny's book Make It Japanese. Hiyashi Chuka (Japanese Cold Ramen), Tofu Karaage, Japanese Potato Salad and Omurice. All SO DELISH!

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WATCHED.

Okay, Simone Biles Rising is quintessentially a NETFLIX documentary. Like I don't think it would have required much effort on their part to put together (it's extremely formulaic) but I still lapped it up. The whole world of gymnastics will always be so fascinating and electric to me, plus Simone is such a queen. The first 10 minutes of the first episode is slow, but it picks up from there.

READ.

Almost Adulting, By Arden Rose popped up on my Pinterest feed and it looked like a charming, quick read with big sisterly over-tones. For context – Arden is a long-time YouTuber from LA and this lil' guide targeted at those in their early 20s holds chapters on sexuality, making friends as an adult, cooking for yourself and moving out. It read like a fun, interesting, informative chat with a friend. ⭐⭐⭐

Margo's Got Money Troubles, By Rufi Thorpe... omg READ THIS BOOK! This book is hyped for good reason and will ABSOLUTELY pull you out of a reading funk. It's about Margo (a 19 year old community college student) who becomes a young single mum without a means of supporting herself. So she starts an OnlyFans account and the story goes from there. It's about independence, the male gaze and proving yourself. Just a fresh, unique coming of age story full of deeply flawed but very likeable characters. Things happen from the start to the end. It's going to be made into a mini series with Elle Fanning playing the lead and I can't wait. Hope it's good! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Melanie Saward's new book Love Unleashed, is only the second romance book to be written by an Indigenous author in Australia – and it's SO good! The protagonist Brynn, flies to New York from Brisbane after her mum passes away from cancer to follow her dreams. But instead of landing the writing internship she's spent years working towards, she ends up at a below minimum wage job at a doggy day care to make ends meet. It's full of fat/blak (& Black) character representation, dogs, love interests, NY magic and personal growth. Go support Melanie, I love her writing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After (unsuccessfully) applying to SICK Magazine's 6th Issue I bought the issue anyway and was so glad I did. SICK is made by sick and disabled people and features writing on the very topic. I waited until I was feeling a little better to read this – but I loved so many of the essays, finding many words of comfort about what it's like living with depleted energy. It features a few Australian authors too! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

RECIPE.

This week's recipe is for Orange, Pecan & Fig Bars. Inspired by the squashed fly slice biscuits I had growing up as well as Italian Cucidati biscuits. These smell like CHRISTMAS ~ fruit, nuts and a zesty twang! Really moorish and perfect with a cuppa. Hope you enjoy them : )

Thank you for reading & supporting my work!

Phoebe (they/them) x

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