Dear George,

I know you belong to my friends Kate and David, but you’re just such a cute kitten that I think I’ll adopt you as my kitty-nephew. Just stay a kitten, okay?

Dear Autumn,

You’re here, you’re here! Tonight the air is a bit chilly, and today at Lick there was butternut squash/cinnamon/brown sugar ice cream, and yesterday I wore jeans and boots, and today I roasted okra and it wasn’t horribly hot in the house. Hooray, you’re here!

Dear Rachel,

For the past few days, you have accompanied me on treks across Austin for an upcoming article, and it has been so much fun. Let’s pretend I have articles to write every day, and visit shops and eat things together forever.

Dear Austin food shop owners and staff,

Thank you for being so dang nice, and for answering all my boring questions, and for letting me take pictures of you, and for making such amazing things for our community. You’re the best.

Dear Husband,

Thank you for patiently trying to wake me up when I ask you to, even though I never get up and beg for ten more minutes and oversleep and then have to rush out the door. Thank you for saying it’s okay for us to buy Halloween candy even though we won’t have any trick-or-treaters. Thank you for dancing with me at your brother’s wedding this weekend, even though we were the only ones on the dance floor. Thank you for kissing me on my eyelids when I’m stressed out. Thank you for being awesome.

Dear Simplicity,

I am looking for you. I am hoping for you, and preparing for you. I am ready to spend less, cook more, consume less, connect more. I am ready to decide what is important in my life, and focus on those things. I am ready to figure out what makes me happy and what makes me stressed, and what to eliminate, and what to indulge in. You are a vague and constantly-changing goal, but I am headed toward you nonetheless.

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for sending me cards and bracelets and hope. Thank you for texting and calling and checking in. Thank you for being understanding and loving and patient. Thank you for making me laugh and inviting me out and making me feel wonderful inside. I love you all more than you know.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!♥