August 12, 2022

Hi First name / there,

How is your week going? I’m wrapping up my internship on Friday (which is today because I’m sending this later than usual, oops) and am so ready for a vacation. I head to Colorado this weekend for some qt with Geoff’s family and I’m looking forward to slow mornings and hikes in the cool mountain air (and between you and me, some time away from our dog children lol).

 

Ready as I am for a break, this summer has been a nice change of pace. Apparently working a full-time internship feels like slowing down, which is interesting to notice about myself. And if I’m being honest, I feel pretty apprehensive about the upcoming semester. 

 

To share a bit more of the nitty gritty, I’m enrolled in four classes and will be working a combined 30 hours per week between my graduate assistantship (hello, tuition remission and in-state tuition!) and my internship with HUD (a role that could very likely convert to a full-time staff position). Add in A Place to Call Home and my content creation work… well, you can imagine why I might feel apprehensive. It’s temporary, though. After the upcoming semester, I’ll have a much lighter courseload in my remaining three semesters. *gulp* 

 

It’s with this short-lived intensity in mind that I plan on using my time in Colorado as a work retreat of sorts. I mentioned on my Instagram Close Friends stories that I’m working with a brand strategist to help me get a handle on things, and so far, this is the best investment I’ve made in my business. Summer has always felt like a season of change for me, and it feels synergistic for PCH to take that journey now too. Things will in all likelihood look quite different around here by year’s end, and I think you’re going to like it. 🤗

 

In the name of shifts that feel right, I’m trying a little something new with today’s format. I hope you enjoy. 🧡

🚕  Ever hear about the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956? Quick recap: as America started to become more car-centric and suburbs sprawled, the federal government literally tore through vibrant communities in order to build highways. And wouldn’t ya know it – many of those destroyed neighborhoods were majority Black, brown, and poor. Well, the feds feel pretty bad about that. Enter: the Reconstructing Communities Program. (Streesblog)

 

🌴 Renters in expensive metro areas like San Francisco and New York are looking to buy elsewhere. I was pretty surprised by some of the places Redfin says they’re looking! (New York Times)

 

🦀 Speaking of out-of-town, it looks like my dream house in Baltimore’s Charles Village is still on the market. Along with the other rowhomes on the block, it was built in 1900 by the Peabody Heights Company and has the most impeccable interior finishes. Mentally, I’ve already moved in. (Redfin)

 

🖤 Everything that exists around us was designed by someone, and the concept of placemaking seeks to use public spaces to strengthen connections between people. There’s a growing movement of trauma-informed placemaking that’s working to build trust and safety in communities like Providence, RI and Parkland, FL. (CityLab)

 

👗 This story about what to do with clothing you no longer wear has been rattling around my brain for the last week or so. While somewhat depressing, I did find it a helpful lesson in what to actually do with my old stuff. It also points out that cotton is one of the easier fabrics to recycle or repurpose, which then led me to Cotton Inc.’s Blue Jeans Go Green project. Yup, looks like old denim makes pretty decent housing insulation. (The Atlantic)

 

Quick reminder that based on feedback from our Member Survey, you’ll now receive these newsletters every other week. But I have a lot to share so sometimes it might be more frequently 😅. In the meantime, keep an eye on my Instagram Close Friends Stories because you know I’m gonna post the heck outta this trip. 

 

Until next time,

🧡 Dominique

She’s not fully sold on the idea yet, but I’m trying to convince my mom to let me redesign her house and install a few updates while I’m home for Christmas. It’s basically a hodge-podge of weird wall colors that she picked (and hates) and her husband’s furniture from his last marriage, none of which fits the scale of the house. 

 

I helped her take measurements over FaceTime the other day, so I am holding out hope. I sent her a screenshot of this reel from my friend Ryia’s house to ask her thoughts. Her response: 

Lol it's promising, I swear! She’s not sure what her style is yet, but I started a Pinterest board for us to work from. Take a peek! There’s not a ton there right now but it’s a big step that she’s open to the idea. 

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