Hi Reader,

I apologize in advance for starting this email with a less-than-peppy note, but my frame of mind is in a bit of a funk and full on sad mode because I had not one but two cats die this week.

RIP Mercy and Layla. I'm such a cat lover and Mercy was one of the saddest cases that came to us; we found her in front of the Mercy hospital thrift store so we aptly named her Mercy. She was a fun cat and had a loud personality!

Layla we got as a kitten 15 years ago. The first 6 months she was with us she laid on my husband's lap all day while he was recovering from a horrible shattered heel and ankle from the ladder falling while he was hanging siding on a house at work. She was our oldest animal and the pet we've had the longest.

I will miss them both. And weeks like this remind me why I try so hard to be present in the every day, even when it's just the mundane stuff like feeding the cats or cleaning up a pet mess — again.

When life hands me a sadness or a setback, this is my go-to response: I find comfort in the little things.

I'm going to love on our other animals this weekend, love extra on my husband since he's the one that takes the brunt of the physical practicalities when an animal dies, and I'm feeling the need to read a homemaking book or maybe a cozy mystery.

I hope you have had a more positive week and have fabulous weekend plans!

And here is all of the new stuff from Home Sweet Homemaker this week.

🏡 From the Porch

Take a Survey & Win a $10 Gift Card

If you wouldn't mind helping me just a little (like 3 minutes!), click here to take a short survey and be entered to win one of three $10 Amazon gift cards I will be giving away on August 31!

Big Weekend Sale

Everything in the Home Sweet Homemaker shop is 25% off this weekend, both digital and physical products! Get started with fall fun with the Fall Cozy Starter or keep living the summer till the end with the new print copy of Home Sweet Summer.

The sales ends Sunday at midnight so head to the shop now to get your favorites!

​Shop the Weekend Sale →​

💗 New Products I Think You'll Love

I got so much awesome feedback on the recent survey I sent out, and found that two of the fun things on my "want to do" list were wanted by many of you...so here they are — The Analog Life & Second Bloom Sundays.

The Analog Life newsletter is for those wanting to be a little more intentional about slowing down and stepping away from all the noise and overwhelm of this world.

Second Bloom Sundays is for empty nesters or those moving towards this stage who are seeking to just not feel so alone.

Each newsletter is $5/month (or get a discount for the annual subscription). Join one or both below!

$5.00 / month The Analog Life A weekly letter for slowing down, unplugging, and living a little more by hand — delivered every Thursday. What you'll... Read more JOIN NOW

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$5.00 / month Second Bloom Sundays One email, every Sunday. A place to write this next chapter instead of rushing through it. What you'll get One letter... Read more JOIN NOW

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The Cozy Shelf Society

The book club is officially live and we are saving you a seat! The first book we're reading is a fun one to get us started — Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Ellie Cosimano. Members will get to make suggestions each month and help decide the next book. We'd love to have you join us! (Don't forget to use code FIRST10 for 50% off your first month.)

What's New This Week

A quick catch-up on everything fresh this week.

Vintage Recipes

• ​Spinach Salad with Frozen Spinach​
• ​Biscuit Supreme: An Old-Fashioned Cream of Tartar Biscuit Recipe​