Welcome to this edition of Dimanche (That Means Sunday), a roundup of things that caught my eye this past week.

This week was a busy one. It was exciting because I accepted a new full-time job, took on some freelance assignments, and made more inroads career-wise. But because of all this, the week was also tiring. By Saturday, I was feeling worn out and a little overwhelmed by everything I have on my plate.

Then I went to yoga. Actually, I forced myself to go because what I really wanted to do was sleep in. When I got there, my teacher was talking about how there’s a new moon and how that can affect us emotionally. I’m not sure I subscribe to the theory of lunar energy affecting mood, but I definitely think that changing seasons and stress can wear on us.

It’s important to take some time and check in with yourself, especially during times of transition. It’s easy to just power through the change but if you stop and sit quietly for a while, it can be more effective. I’m glad I went to yoga yesterday. It centered me and made me realize that it’s okay to take a two hour nap or spend a few hours in bed.

There’s some good stuff in Dimanche this week. I hope that you can find some quiet time today to sit back, relax, and read this post with a good cup of coffee or tea.

Without further ado, here’s Dimanche:

I stopped by Blueprint Coffee’s new location this week and I’m in love. The shop, which has its original location in The Delmar Loop, recently opened on Watson Road. The shop is in a rehabbed garage and it’s so cute and charming. There’s lots of good light through garage door windows, long tables, and most importantly, delicious coffee. I’d recommend checking it out soon. 

While you’re in the neighborhood, you should probably stop by May’s Place. I discovered the vintage store a couple weeks ago when I went to dinner in the neighborhood with my boyfriend. It’s down the street from Farmhaus and it has some of the best vintage clothes and accessories in town. The shop also has a good selection of local products including soap and tea.

I enjoyed this article about Chef Jenn Louis’s life after restaurants. Louis, an internationally-renowned chef who’s based in Portland, OR, recently decided to leave the restaurant business after some personal and professional upheaval. I admire her grit. I also like what she has to say about cultivating mindfulness and the evolution of Portland’s restaurant scene. Read the Q&A in Plate Magazine.

Can we talk about these chocolate chip cookies? Awesome. I saw this recipe from Dorie Greenspan earlier this week and I couldn’t stop staring at the picture. I’m definitely making them soon. The recipe is originally from the pastry chef at Mokonuts, a breakfast and lunch joint in Paris. Check it out in this New York Times‘ story.

Barack Obama has been pretty quiet since the 2016 election, but Friday, he broke his silence. I’m so happy he did. He addressed a crowd at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ostensibly to get students to vote but also to critique the current administration and point out threats to American democracy. I like what he had to say about demagogues. Read more about his address in this New Yorker article.

Michelin just revealed its 2019 Bib Gourmand list for D.C. and it made me *pretty* nostalgic. There are some old favorites of mine on the list including Timber Pizza, which just made the list for the first time. I want to stop by again the next time I’m in D.C. They have some of the best pizza I’ve ever tried. Read more about the Bib Gourmand list in Washingtonian.

Looking for affordable Middle Eastern food in St. Louis? You should check out my latest Cheap Eats column for St. Louis Magazine. I highlighted some of the best Middle Eastern dishes for less than $10. Come for the recs, stay for the picture of tabbouli. Check out the full list here.

Last but certainly not least, California’s surf scene isn’t as idyllic as you may think. I was surprised to read about surf “warlords,” or people who go to extreme lengths to keep outsiders off their beach. I guess it’s annoying to have tourists constantly crashing your scene, but I think the locals take it a little too far. You can learn more about the situation in this Guardian story.

Enjoy your week! Here’s a song to get you started.