Two cosy things.

Hi friends,

Dropping into your inbox this morning before the rush begins around here — we’re celebrating the 18th birthday of my son’s girlfriend — yay for adulthood, finishing school and possibility! Before a beautiful dinner, we’re hosting a relaxing day around the pool.

Sydney’s going to be a balmy 30 C, and I can’t wait for a day filled with young adults laughing. It feels like just the thing we need more of in the world right now.

Before I head off to make the Cardamom Tres Leches cake (delicious, you should try it!), I wanted to give you two cosy things.

Ready?

1. Use the good <insert yours here ♥️♥️). For me today that’s the good crystals candlesticks and lovely tapers. The Latina birthday girl’s favourite colour is red. For you, it might be tea in the bone china cup and saucer, or showering with the heavenly cake of soap you got as a gift. Would you consider using one of your special things today? You’ll get a little thrill of cosy joy.

2. Keep moving forward. Change always happens, so get your sneakers on, and keep your eyes wide open. (This one’s for me more than for you — are you listening to yourself, Catherine??) Remember to KEEP MOVING. I love this beautiful quote from American poet and author Maggie Smith, who wrote the book by the same name.

No matter what we want, life always has many endings…but that does bring beginnings. And of course there will be the next adventure…so we might as well be ready for change.

If your weekend is peaceful, I’m so glad. And if you need a little lift, I hope you’re appreciated by all the people you’ve been given to love.

Happy Sunday!

Love Catherine x

P.S. The Fun Stuff!

• Maggie’s book, Keep Moving, is here.

• Don’t rush by this. Take one minute to listen, please. You’re so much more than you think you are.

• Wrapping flowers to gift them. (I have this dream of growing flowers in my back garden so I can cut and gift them to friends. Maybe one day!)

• The Cardamom Tres Leches cake, if you missed it.
  

Here's some quick courage for us all.

Hello from beautiful, sunny Sydney!

Yesterday I attended an event at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and this is the view from the outside deck: our beloved Opera House, iconic and forever beautiful. In fact, the opening of my new novel takes place on the steps of the Sydney Opera House at dawn.

People asked me yesterday, what does it take to write a book? And I started to answer this:

• Love and patience.

• Self-belief.

• A willingness to keep at it, day after day, whether things are going well or not.

• Thick skin. An acknowlegement that you’ll put your voice into the world and be told it’s “Wonderful!” and “Terrible!” over and over and over.

But this is what you’re already doing now. Writing a book or any big project takes the qualities you’re also using in your own life when you love people.

Your family, for example, takes love and patience, self-belief that you’re doing a good job, and a willingness to keep at it when you’re not. It takes guts to love your people, and courage to keep loving when things aren’t perfect.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because we all have dreams that feel hard.

You do. I do.

But here’s what I believe: loving anyone or anything is hard — but it’s also worth it. And you’re already doing it.

So…

If you have a dream in this third act of your life (improve family relationships, make or do something new, find like-minded friends, be willing to make a change), the key is always love.

Be kind to yourself.

Turn your “I shoulds” into more curious and loving “I coulds.”

And have a go, my friend. See where that takes you.

Love, Catherine x

P.S. The fun stuff!

• Can we talk about this book? If you’re in your third act, it’s amazing. I started reading it and immediately got my husband to buy his own copy so we could discuss. WOW. It’s about legacy, career transitions, living with purpose and planning our lives post-50.

• Cardamom Tres Leches cake. I love cardamom — my favourite spice. This looks divine.

• A Latina friend showed me the best, easy concealer for under-eye circles. Love this one. Comes in five colours, so you’ll have to give it a try in store to get the right shade for you.

• The prettiest vegetarian zucchini pie for a girlfriend lunch. Wow.

• Cute new sneakers for summer — with skirts and dresses. I love these! So comfy and great for wide feet.