The Mood Board #045
What does your creativity look like this summer? Plus, my most fashionable friend shares her style picks, the four books I'm currently reading, and more.
My creativity this summer has been all about giving myself grace and allowing myself to show up as I am. My executive functioning has been struggling this summer, but I’ve also found pockets of wonderful creativity. I’m reminding myself that intense productivity and creativity are not the same thing. I can be creative and also take long naps or zone out here and there. I can work hard and play hard; write spontaneous poems in my journal; stay up until midnight finishing a work project; dance around my apartment alone on a Saturday night. I’m letting myself live without a lot of rules this summer, and while at times it feels chaotic, it also feels free.
I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on how your creativity feels this summer. Not with judgement, not with any intention other than to notice. What does it look like? What does it feel like? Take a moment to notice. Give yourself grace.
I hope you find pockets of wonderful creativity and joy, whatever that looks like for you.
xx Brianna
You might notice that the second half of this monthly edition is only for paid subscribers now. Free subscribers will get access to all Inspiration Diaries, a few sections of this monthly roundup, and any random extra posts I write.
Paid subscribers get:
✨ Access to the entire monthly edition of The Mood Board
✨ Creative prompts for every day of the month
✨ Weekly office hours with me
✨ Discounts on any workshops or events that I host
✨ More coming soon! 👀
The Mood Board annual subscriptions are 20% off now through the end of July.
Quick reminder that I am teaching a workshop this August! More info, link to sign up, and a paid subscriber discount here:
Upcoming Workshop: Intuitive Writing
Do you have lots of ideas for things you want to write about but don’t know where to begin? Do you feel like there’s something you can write about but you’re not sure exactly what? Do you want to write more but aren’t sure how to carve out the time?
🍵 DONA Tea – one of the amazing brands that was featured in The Mood Board’s first PR boxes – sent me their Tea Concentrate Trio to try, and let me tell you that they are all absolutely delicious. I love how easy they are to make: You just mix equal parts milk and concentrate and you’re good to go! I use Forager Project Organic Dairy-Free Creamer and ice to make a fabulous iced latte. Want to try DONA yourself? Use code THEMOODBOARD20 for 20% off! Shop here.
🌹 I recently joined Kayli Mylius’s Muse Maison online community, and it’s been such a lovely space. I love that the Discord channel is filled with inspiration, the workshops are grounding and thoughtful, and the pieces she shares on Substack are incredible reads (you’ll see a recent favorite of mine below in The Reads). Check it out here!
🗞️ Related, I have joined Kayli Mylius’s beautiful newspaper, The Intentional Muse, as their managing editor! If you are interested in contributing as a writer, artist, or poet to the paper, please reach out to me at hello@briannaschubert.com and we can chat! Note that right now for writing we are especially looking for research-based pieces, deep dives, reported pieces, and guides, though we also accept essays, thought-pieces, poetry, and other forms of writing (except fiction).
💌 My friend Michelle Dufflocq (who just shared her Inspiration Diaries last week!) recently started a sweet snail mail club. I adore her art style and it brings me such joy. Check it out here.
☀️ Well People officially has the B E S T face sunscreen I’ve ever used. And frankly, Well People is winning in so many departments of my skincare/makeup routine right now. I have been loving and using their Skinforia Serum Foundation, Superpowder Blush in Sweet Persimmon, and Biobronzing Priming Serum daily, and I’m obsessed.
💁🏼♀️ While we’re talking about my faves, I’ve been loving Nécessaire’s rosemary shampoo and conditioner this summer. Makes my hair so soft and strong!
✨ I’ve surely shared this before, but I think about this piece that Shlo wrote about finding our core values for The Good Trade at least every few months. I was recently thinking about it again, feeling incredibly at peace that my life is very aligned with my five core values right now. I highly recommend giving it a read and taking the core values assessment here to discover yours!
✏️ I’ve been doodling a little cartoon version myself in every journal entry this summer, and it’s been so much fun.
🧺 This has been my favorite laundry soap as of late! I love that it’s a powder because there’s no wasted water, and it doesn’t make my clothes powdery or weird. It also smells divine. My favorite scent is Aristocrat.
🛍️ I’m obsessed with this Instagram account @icantaffordthisbutmaybeshecan. There are incredibly unique (albeit expensive) finds, and I love browsing.
🫐 Milwaukee Blueberry Fest was this weekend, and I found so many beautiful treasures! The candle holders are from The Polish Flat, the washi tape from Aleigh McDermott, necklace from Thrift-Tee Business, stickers and button keychain from Kyra’s Creative, money clip from Oh, Hey Dan, and snail from ZEME Ceramics. It was the best market I’ve been to all year!
☕️ Dreaming of this pour over coffee maker. I want to be able to make pottery like this someday!
🤤 I’m still thinking about this shakshuka I made last weekend for breakfast. Here’s the recipe I used!
🌈 Question of the Month: Where are you spending the most of your time and energy lately?
Have you been keeping up with the Inspiration Diaries? Comment below who you’d like to hear from next!
Paid subscribers get daily creative prompts sent to their inbox every month! Here’s today’s prompt:
What is something that’s inspired your dreams throughout your life? Do you notice any consistent sources of inspiration?
