Whimsy Dispatch: Cloudy with a Chance of Jam

Your weekly guide to becoming the Creative Director of your house, including: a weekly menu, recipes, and other whimsical takes on the mundane. This week it's free for everyone!

⋆⭒˚.⋆Exciting news! We are a Best-Seller! ⋆⭒˚.⋆

But first, I want to extend a serious, heartfelt thank you. Feeling! Magazine has reached Substack’s bestseller list. I feel like I haven’t even let it sink in yet — I am just blown away. I started this Substack in 2023, with the hope that it would help me recover my creativity. I used to love writing. I had a vision of my own magazine as a kid, and I maintained a blog in some form from 4th grade until I was in college. Following the loss of my small business in the wake of COVID-19, and more so, the loss of identity in my own work that followed, I started a Substack as a sort of vote for hope that I’d like to create again. (I detailed my complex journey with creative work in tandem with grief here, if you want to peek into my heart a little more) Since navigating the grief of 2021, I have often tried to force creative work and ideas, and have felt immense frustration. I said things like, “I wish it came naturally to me like it used to,” or expressed, “I don’t know why I still want to create and share anything since all I get is hurt.” There was a brief time following the loss of my dream when I couldn’t even draw. It was bizarre…I’d sit down to do the very thing that used to be my safest space, and would erupt in tears and panic, unsure even why I was crying.

We waded those waters for years. It still pops up and surprises me sometimes, truthfully. I tried Substack and ended up putting a lot of pressure on myself to perform, naturally felt devastated when I didn’t meet my own standards, and ended up taking 7 months off from writing last year. I didn’t know what I wanted to say. I kept trying to make things up, but it didn’t feel good.

So I took some time to slow down, maybe for the first time since my store closed, and just listened. I could feel my tight grip on my own life, ambitions, and goals loosen. My friend Davida, who is an incredible artist, told me to “ask God to restore the sanctity of your imagination.” And so I did, every day.

I would start up on some new business plan, and Connor (the secret hero of Feeling! Magazine) would gently look me in the eyes and correct me. He course-corrected me a thousand times back to joy. He’d say, “I want you to play again.” I’d bring an idea to him, and he’d ask, “Does it feel like play? Does it bring you joy?” So my standard became, if 4th-grade Jenna wouldn’t have been enthused by the prospect, it’s probably not what I should be creating.

And just a month and a half ago, something finally clicked. Some light came back on. A resurrection in an area I thought was dead. I wanted to write badly, and I came back to Substack with so much to say. I feel like me again. My imagination is pumping.

And then you all showed up! With kind, thoughtful comments, contributing to the conversation. You’re on your own journey of pursuing joy, and you have incredible insight, questions, and discussions. My work isn’t something you click past on a story, you literally read my long writing?! I am humbled and so grateful. It felt like it came out of nowhere.

To anyone feeling stuck, you are probably moving forward, just not as fast as some standard you made up for yourself. But I’ve learned that slow is good sometimes. When I was ready to give up, that was when so many ideas came back! So keep pursuing joy wholeheartedly. Do things because they feel like play, not just to receive numbers on a screen.

And once again…thank you tremendously for investing in my work and my creative comeback. I am on fire with ideas and energy to create amazing things for YOU!

To celebrate the milestone, here is a free Whimsy Dispatch for everyone! I hope you enjoy it!

XO Jenna

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A quick little “About this Dispatch” in case you just stumbled upon it:

What if your home felt less like a to-do list... and more like a creative project? Every week, I will send out a paid subscriber-only post that functions like a Creative Director’s Briefing for your space and your heart! It's a curated mix of both organized structure and unexpected delight (my sweet spot).

You can read more about the heart of the idea here.

It always includes weekly inspiration for:

• Fruits, florals, colors

• A complete weekly menu for 5 meals, café items, and grab & go food (with printable recipes)

• A list of ideas to make home a little more fun

• A list of creative ideas for play, journaling, and making things with your hands

(Sidebar: I also think if you have children, everything on the list could be very fun to include them in! I’ve kept kids in mind!)

I think pursuing joy and whimsy is an act of hope. And I really hope I can help you in that pursuit!

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⋆⭒˚.⋆ THIS WEEK:

The June 8-14 theme is: “Cloudy with a Chance of Jam”

This week’s theme is soft, slow, and delightfully peculiar, like waking up in a cloud and remembering you have nowhere to be.

Inspired by blueberry skies, frothy lattes, airy textures, and the cozy surprise of jam in unexpected places, Cloudy with a Chance of Jam is a week of slower mornings, crumb-topped muffins, and tiny glimmers of joy hiding in your refrigerator door.

Everything this week is gentle and whimsical: dinner ideas that feel like cozy café specials, drinks with pastel hues and floating foam, snacks that pack easily in your bag but feel like a treat. I built the menu to reflect softness, roasted, whipped, folded, jammed, with a wink at those June-gray skies that sometimes hang around long enough to feel like friends.

If you’ve got some cauliflower gnocchi, a bit of sourdough, and a few bone-in chicken thighs in the fridge, you’re halfway there. And if not, you’ve got an excuse to go buy blueberry jam.

image source board here

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✦ Color of the Week: Powdered Periwinkle

Hex Code: #DBE0E6

A soft, moody blue that looks like rain clouds from a train window.
It pairs beautifully with white ceramic mugs, blueberry-stained fingertips, and the pale purple of lavender buds.

Try using it this week as a highlight color—on your nails, your notebook, or your plate.

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✦ Flavors of the Week

Think: pillowy textures, tart sweetness, and little bursts of whimsy.

• Blueberry Jam – bright, sticky, and slightly floral; try it with savory dishes

• Lemon Zest – a citrus spark that cuts through cloud-like textures

• Vanilla Almond Milk – soft and dreamy, ideal for lattes and baking

• Coconut Milk – creamy, tropical, and unexpectedly grounding

• Lavender – floral and calming; best in small, thoughtful doses

• White Miso – gentle umami that adds depth to soft, mashed bases

• Toasted Coconut – airy crunch with a hint of sweetness

• Mint – fresh, cool, and a green lift for anything too mellow

• Butterfly Pea Flower – sky-blue magic that changes color with citrus

• Sesame Seeds – subtle texture and warmth, grounding the whimsy

Try a flavor pairing:

• Blueberry jam + lemon zest

• Vanilla almond milk + lavender

• Coconut milk + white miso

• Toasted coconut + mint

• Butterfly pea flower + citrus

✶ WEEKLY FRUITS

• Blueberries – plump and moody; burst beautifully in jam, smoothies, or warm grain bowls

• Blackberries – inky and dramatic, with a tartness that wakes up soft dishes

• Grapes (red or concord) – roast them for a jammy surprise or freeze for a cold snack

• Lemons – bring sunshine and sharpness; essential for balancing rich textures

• Figs (fresh or dried) – soft and earthy, like jam with its shoes off

• Bananas – mellow, golden, and always ready to soften into smoothies or muffins

• Melon (honeydew or canary) – pale green and floral; slice into star shapes for joy

• Strawberries – sweet and nostalgic, even better muddled into drinks or jammed into toast

Tip: Layer a few washed fruits on a ceramic plate near the window. You’ll snack more slowly, and your counter will look like a Dutch painting.

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✶ WEEKLY FLORALS

• Dried Lavender – gentle and grounding; scatter in bowls or steep into afternoon tea

• Chamomile – sweet-faced and sleepy; float a few blooms in a glass of honey water

• Cornflowers – electric blue and feathery; a wild pop of sky on your counter

• Baby’s Breath – cloudlike and timeless; use to fill out any arrangement

• Poppies (fresh or dried) – delicate, papery, and slightly surreal

• Mint or Lemon Balm (flowering) – fragrant and edible, beautiful in both bouquets and bowls

• Eucalyptus – misty and cool-toned; hang in the shower or drop in a jug

• Anemones – inky-centered and dramatic, like stormy skies in bloom

Arrangement idea: Tuck a sprig of mint, a stem of dried lavender, and one pale bloom into a reused jam jar near your stove. It doesn’t need to match — that’s the charm.

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THE WEEKLY MENU:

CAFÉ RECIPES:

✦ Blue Sky Cloud Foam Latte

Ingredients:

• Oat milk

• Vanilla extract or maple syrup (I used vanilla bean syrup from Transcendence Coffee)

• Blue spirulina

• Espresso or matcha

To make:

1. Froth oat milk with a splash of vanilla and a pinch of blue spirulina until thick and foamy (use a frother or whisk).

2. Pour hot or iced espresso or matcha into a glass.

3. Gently spoon the blue foam over the top.

4. Optional: dust with cinnamon or lavender buds.

✦ Strawberry Jam Iced Matcha

(Mine came out with a really cool tie-dye look because I mixed it together too fast)

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp strawberry jam

• Iced matcha (your favorite mix or homemade)

• Oat milk

To make:

1. Spoon strawberry jam into the bottom of a clear glass.

2. Add ice and pour in matcha.

3. Top with a slow pour of oat milk.

4. Stir or don’t — the swirl is part of the magic.

✦ Sunshine Fog Latte (made with oat milk)

Ingredients:

• 1 bag Earl Grey or chamomile tea

• ¾ cup oat milk

• ½ tsp almond extract

• Lemon zest or dried florals for topping

To make:

1. Steep your tea in a mug or small pot for 5–7 minutes.

2. While it steeps, warm and froth the oat milk with vanilla.

3. Pour the tea into your favorite mug and top with foam.

4. Garnish with lemon zest or dried petals if you’re feeling whimsical.

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GRAB & GO MENU:

✦ Cloudberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana

• ½ cup frozen blueberries

• ¾ cup oat milk

• 1 scoop vanilla protein

• Optional: berry compote, puffed quinoa

To make:

1. Blend banana, blueberries, oat milk, and protein until smooth and purple-blue.

2. Pour into a glass or bowl.

3. Top with a spoonful of berry compote and puffed quinoa (or granola, coconut flakes, etc.).

✦ Jam Dot Muffins (Gluten-Free)

Ingredients:

• Almond flour

• Oat flour

• Eggs

• Maple syrup

• Baking powder

• Vanilla extract

• Your favorite berry jam

To make:

1. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another, then combine.

2. Spoon batter into muffin tins and dot the top of each with jam.

3. Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes or until golden and springy.

4. Let cool, then pack into parchment for on-the-go magic.

✦ Birthday Cake Protein Balls

Ingredients:

• Cashew butter

• Almond flour

• Vanilla protein powder

• Maple syrup

• Coconut flakes

• Crushed freeze-dried strawberries or sprinkles

To make:

1. Stir everything in a bowl until it holds together.

2. Roll into 1-inch balls and dust with more coconut or freeze-dried berries.

3. Store in the fridge for a quick treat when your energy dips.

✦Starry Fruit Cups

Ingredients:

• Green grapes

• Blueberries

• Blackberries

• Melon (cut into stars or cubes)

• Fresh mint

• Optional: edible flowers

To make:

1. Wash and prep all fruit.

2. Add to jars or containers with a sprig of mint.

3. Chill and pack for work, school, or long walks with no destination.

✦ Cloud Yogurt Cups

Ingredients:

• Yogurt

• Blueberry chia jam (or any jam you like)

• Gluten-free granola

• Coconut whipped cream (I really like Trader Joe’s version!)

To make:

1. Layer yogurt, jam, and granola in a small jar or cup.

2. Top with a dollop of coconut whipped cream.

3. Seal and store in the fridge for a soft, sweet break later.

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MAIN COURSE RECIPES:

*Fun update! I turned the main courses into printable recipe sheets! What if we designed a cookbook together?! Ah! These can all be saved and printed as a half sheet of paper (5.5”x8.5”).

Gluten Free Tip:

I’ve tried so many gf spaghetti that turn out terribly. I did Rummo’s gluten-free spaghetti, and it was the closest to the real thing I’ve ever tried — it did not fall apart!

A Note on Snacks:

I used leftover prosciutto and microgreens with some balsamic and avocado oil mayo on sourdough! Perfect lunch! I paired it with a cola Olipop, and Little Latke potato crackers!

EXTRA MAGIC:

✦ Domestic Spark

• Add a sprig of mint or lavender near your kitchen sink — it’ll smell better and look charming

• Use butter molds to make seashell-shaped butter!

• Use a cake stand for something unexpected: morning muffins, stacked citrus, your salt and pepper

• Clip a clothespin to your tea bag string, it feels old-fashioned in a good way

• Keep your frother on the counter for the week and froth everything

• Chill your mixing bowl before making salad , it’s subtle but elevates the whole moment

• Store your oats or flour in a wide-mouth jar and scoop them with a teacup

✦ Creative Play

Simple, joyful, tactile activities that spark imagination and delight.

• Save a clean jam jar and turn it into a mini vase, spice mix container, or place to keep matchsticks

• Write a grocery list with your favorite pen, and add one “just because” item to the bottom

• Dry citrus peels on a sunny windowsill and toss them into tea, simmer pots, or sugar jars

• Record a video describing what you cooked that day, you’ll love hearing it later

• Fold a cloth napkin differently each night and see which style feels the most “you”

• Choose one ingredient to learn everything about this week: its origin, uses, how to grow it, and a fun fact

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KEEP READING:

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