Welcome to Sincerely, Romance with Marjorie Muller.
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I’m often a writer who doesn’t write. But lately I’ve been realizing as an artist I am always creating. Some weeks more than others, but always something.
Naturally, that means a Substack series is in order:
Introducing, The Weekly W(h)im.
What is The Weekly W(h)im? In other words, The Weekly What I Made (the H is silent after all)!
The Weekly W(h)im is an opportunity to celebrate the act of creation regardless of the type of creation. An artist’s creation doesn’t stop when they turn away from their medium. It’s in the everyday. In the cooking and housekeeping, the noticing, the unwinding.
I’ve noticed lately how much I create in my free time.
In a digital world, there is something romantic about creating. And if we are romanticizing creation, we should acknowledge we are creating even when we aren’t under the impression we are creating. We aren’t only creating when we are engaging with what we call our art.
Sometimes it’s trying a new art form. The pastels you wanted to try but have barely touched. The guitar you used to play daily but now sits and gathers dust.
But there are other ways we create too, the less cut and dry versions.
We’re creating when we’re making a meal for ourselves. When we make a spreadsheet or a Canva graphic for work. A well-formed message to a client or friend. The way we make the bed or rearrange a room.
Without further ado, let’s get into the first edition of The Weekly W(h)im!
What I Made (6/14 - 6/21)
Historically, every summer, I get the Summer Sads. This summer, I’m committed to not getting them and so far, the fiercest combat method has been buying treats from the local farmer’s markets.
So far, I’ve bought broccoli rabe, garlic scapes, asparagus, a purple cauliflower, some garlic cheese spread, a basil plant, and some mint. All of these have made for some of the most decadent eating experiences of my life.
I love vegetables but I never knew just how romantic they could feel!!!
There’s also something about having ingredients on hand that are diverse staples that can twist a dish you already make. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with miso paste and harissa.
I’ve been feeling less like someone who cooks lately and more like a homecook. Suddenly, the recipes are merely suggestions. What to add, when to add it, what to remove, what to substitute has all become instinctual after so many years cooking for myself (and now my boyfriend who is deeply blessed to receive my spreads - he always leaves the kitchen better than he found it afterwards).
However, this doesn’t apply to baking which is still a science more than an art.
I was compelled to make cinnamon rolls. Having grown up with the Pillsbury ones as an occasional treat, I thought I’d try my hand at making them. Honestly, it was quite a success (albeit a long process).
I’m a huge fan of a glazed old fashioned donut (specifically from Do-Rite donuts here in Chicago) and thought I’d try my hand at making them myself. I avoid frying for the most part, but this process was surprisingly simple? Even if the oil was too hot at first and totally burnt my first try (but I ate that one too and it still tasted great).
I replaced sour cream in the recipe with Greek yogurt since I’ve been obsessed with having Greek yogurt around for sauces, etc. And it’s soooooo !!!!
Finally, I had a bunch of mint I had to do something with. I’m a big mint coffee girl so I made some mint simple syrup which has proved to be incredibly useful not only for coffee but for cocktails too.
I still have a lot more mint so more mint tequila smashes on the way.
Oh, oh! I wrote this week too. Shocking, I know, after committing to 50k May and promptly ignoring the commitment.
We’re already 4 weeks into the second round of my Romance Incubator and we did our first writing sprint last Thursday! It was a treat to spend an hour with these brilliant writers, checking in after 15 minute sprints, and getting updates on where they are in their processes.
And…I may or may not have written 1,000 words for the second draft of Just What I Needed (which I’m toying with renaming Rock Bottom Rockstar - thoughts??) which is HUGE. I’ll share an excerpt here:
“To having fun and being the influence!” Noor chirps.
Before I can roll my eyes, a blanket of balloons falls from the ceiling and music blasts through the speakers courtesy of the DJ who I definitely recognize from backstage at Rockaplast five years ago. We don’t make eye contact.
I lean my head to the side to avoid an oncoming balloon.
“Being the influence,” Ezra remarks from beside me. “I like that. That’s clever.”
Somehow, his enjoyment of her ridiculous phrase makes me like it a little more. A man in the sobriety game that long and not jaded…that’s admirable.
Hopefully that wet your whistle. I’m hoping this momentum continues.
What did you make this week? Share your W(h)ims in the comments or write your own W(h)im to share with your subscribers! I can’t wait to see what you’ve made!
✒️Post Script
Next Thursday is our first monthly Q&A!
What would you ask me over coffee? About romance writing, reading, or living a romanticized life. Ask me anything!1
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