Hey friends,
I’m still finding my rhythm here, but I’m loving the chance to relive favorite experiences as I write—and making new friends at The Oasis! I hope something in this week’s Midweek at The Oasis brings a little light to your day or inspires you to try something new!
✈️ Travel:
A few weeks ago, I was on my way home from an AMAZING trip with Lois to New Zealand and Australia, and decided to fly through Hawaii. I had the choice between a 5-hour layover or 24 hours—so of course I went for the 24 and turned it into a mini vacay!
I’m still shocked at how much I was able to fit into one day. Honestly, it felt like I was there for a full week.
I highly recommend taking advantage of long layovers whenever you can, and exploring the “in-between” of your travels. It’s such a great way to see more of the world!
And the best part? I accidentally checked off an iconic Hawaiian bucket-list destination at the end of the day—one I didn’t even know existed! (Read about that here!)
🎧 Listening:
I’m completely obsessed with “If Only I Can Wait,” the newly released track by Bon Iver and Danielle Haim of the band HAIM. Bon Iver’s collab with Taylor Swift on “Exile” is one of my all-time favorites, so when I saw he was teaming up with Danielle—who sings with Taylor on “No Body, No Crime”—I knew I’d love it.
Bon Iver’s voice is hauntingly beautiful, and Danielle adds a smooth, melodic depth. Together, they’ve created something truly magical.
📚 Reading:
I finally got around to reading Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear—a book I picked up a few years ago but never actually started. (And yes, I’m laughing as I write this because I basically procrastinated reading a book about procrastination.)
I’m only about halfway through, but I’m already seeing small shifts in my daily habits, and I can tell this is one of those books that makes a long-term impact. I even told my teenage son, Beckett, that he’s officially assigned to read it next. If I’d had this kind of toolkit earlier in life, I can only imagine how different some things might have been!
I’ll be sharing my full review soon on the website under “Books.”
Have you read Atomic Habits? If so, I’d love to hear what you took from it—or if you have any book recommendations for me to read next!
🎓 Learning:
If you watch a lot of YouTube, Instagram Reels, or TikTok videos, you may already be familiar with comedian Elyse Myers. If not, you have to check out my all-time favorite video of hers here!
A while back, she started crocheting and made a few tutorial videos—including this one on granny squares, which has become my favorite crochet tutorial ever. I started watching and learning along with her on my trip to the Panama Canal this past October, and had so much fun making these!
I almost have enough squares for the bag I’m working on, and I’ll update you all when it’s complete. (See Elyse’s tutorial on retro granny squares here.)
🧩 Playing:
Okay, I have to know—do you play LinkedIn games?! Lois introduced them to me on our Panama Canal trip, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I mean it—I haven’t missed a single day!
There were originally four games: Queens, Pinpoint, Crossclimb, and Tango. But this week was a big one for LinkedIn games because they just added a new one: Zip.
Tango is my current favorite, and I’ve figured out a few patterns that help me solve it faster. If anyone’s interested, I’m happy to share my tips!
So… do you play? And if you do, which one’s your favorite?
📺 Watching:
I just finished the first episode of Hulu’s new original series Paradise—and it’s SO good. There’s a real chance I’ll be binge-watching the next seven episodes for the rest of the day.
Paradise is an apocalyptic political thriller—but with a twist. (Because, you know, what we really need right now is more political drama!) I don’t want to give too much away, but just think Stepford Wives meets The Day After Tomorrow. Trust me, you’ll understand what I mean by the end of the first episode. 😉
Tell me—what’s saving you this week?
Hit reply—I’d love to hear from you!
What are you reading, binge-watching, or learning to do right now?
From my cabana at The Oasis to yours,
Amber
