Hi, friends!

Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter, dear readers! This month, I’m thrilled to announce not one, but two exciting giveaways just for you. First up, we’re offering a chance to apply for our self-love photo session giveaway. This session was inspired by my monthly self-portrait photo sessions as a way to find myself again. If you’re interested, simply click the link below, answer a few questions, and by February 29th, you might be the lucky one chosen at random!  Additionally, calling all Authors! You can also apply for our one-page landing page website giveaway using the link below. Answer a few questions, submit your entry by February 29th, and you could be the fortunate recipient. Once applications are in and chosen at random I’ll be reaching out to start planning your photo session/onboarding for your unique landing page.

Exciting times ahead, and I can’t wait to make these giveaways a reality for some lucky winners! 📸📚💻✨ If you have any further questions or concerns after perusing the newsletter, please let me know by replying to this email ❤️

Cheers, Emily

Self-Love Photo Session Giveaway — APPLY HERE

Author’s one-page Website Landing Page — APPLY HERE

BOOK OF THE MONTH: “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle — I first read this book in 2020 and I can without a doubt say that it positively changed the trajectory of my life. The way the chapters are broken up similar to short stories of inspiration was one of my favorite parts. I still to this day keep this book in my collection and frequently revisit it.

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PLAYLIST // Top 5 Favorite songs on repeat for February from my all time favorite Hustle playlist.

“Two-Step Mamou” by Wayne Toups — this song is dedicated to my Pawpaw who recently passed away 1/9/2024. He lived to be 95, is no longer suffering physical ailments, and I know is excited to be back with my Mawmaw who we lost in 2009. These Cajun tunes were always playing in the background when were growing up and hanging out with family. They both left Louisiana in 1950 after they got married, moved to Houston, and raised 7 children in the same house my Pawpaw passed away in.

“You Don’t Know My Name” by Alica Keys

“All Of The Girls You Loved Before” by Taylor Swift

“Miss Independent” by Ne-Yo

“Como La Flor” by Selena

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Without the darkness, you would never know the light.”

WORD OF THE MONTH: Words are the foundation of human communication and expression. They allow us to convey our thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences to others, creating a bridge between our inner world and the external reality. Every word carries its own unique power and nuance, shaping the way we perceive and interact with the world. Having a “Word of the Month” has been me a source of inspiration, sparked creative thinking, and promoted my love for language. This month’s word is “limerence”.

Limerence: (noun) The state of being infatuated with another person.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: Shrimp Fried Rice

This section of the newsletter is dedicated to my Mom, who loves cooking our favorite Cajun recipes that were passed down to her from her Mom, my MawMaw. This month though I’ll be sharing one of my favorite recipes my Mom makes; Shrimp Fried Rice.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb 26-30 count uncooked shrimp (peeled and deveined)

1 tsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

3 tbsp light olive oil, or canola

4 large eggs, beaten

1/4 cup green onion, finely chopped

5 cups white rice

12 oz carrots and peas

2 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos

1 1/2 tsp sesame oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Let marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. Heat a large non-stick skillet on medium/high heat. When a bead of water sizzles and evaporates, swirl in 2 tbsp of cooking oil and add shrimp to the hot skillet and spread them out in a single layer. Cook 1 minute per side, or until cooked through and opaque. Remove from skillet and place in bowl.
3. Over medium heat, add beaten eggs to the same skillet. Break up the eggs with a spatula and cook until no longer runny. Remove to a bowl.
4. Wipe down the skillet with a paper towel and return to a medium/high heat. Add 1 tbsp oil and onions and cook green onion until fragrant, 30 seconds.
5. Stir in rice then spread it event over the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes without disturbing it and then stir and saute another 1-2 minutes. Rice should sizzle.
6. Drizzle 2 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminoes (or add to taste) over rice and stir well. Add sesame oil and vegetables and mix well.
7. Add cooked shrimp and cooked eggs back to the pan and mix well. Continue to cook until the rice is hot and sizzles, stirring frequently.

LATES ON THE PERSONAL GRAM:

WISCH’S WORDSEARCH:

February 2024

See you on March 1st for our next newsletter. If you haven’t signed up yet and want to receive the monthly newsletters please visit: https://emilywisch.com/newsletter