2026 So Far

what an amazing up and down six months it has been

I can’t believe we’re six months into 2026 and it’s summer.

I genuinely don’t know where the time went. You’re telling me it’s now 30 degrees while it was just 5 degrees a few months ago?! Time is weird. It’s a social construct.

Usually this is the time of year where I check in on my journals, and I definitely thought about writing that in this post. Instead, you can watch it here.

In the spirit of posterity, I’m writing about the small things that made up the first half of my year. I’ll be honest, I write these mostly for myself, so I can look back on past Abbey and reminisce. Here’s how it’s been from January to June this year…

📺 TV

hyperfixations

I started the year watching Heated Rivalry after much convincing by Keisha (on my birthday week!) and finishing Stranger Things, just as my TV was set up in my bedroom. Honestly, cute boys on my TV? I ain’t complaining (yes, I still have a huge crush on Joe Keery). Kidding aside, love both and I admittedly got sucked into the HR rabbit hole on social media. I enjoyed People We Meet on Vacation, even if I haven’t read the novel. Swoon!

Towards springtime, I caught up on the latest season of Shrinking, and it didn’t disappoint. This feels like the definition of a comfort comedy for me, and I enjoyed spending my introvert Sundays winding down and watching episodes.

Koko suggested Rooster as it was written by Bill Lawrence (of Ted Lasso and Shrinking), so I renewed my HBO Max subscription as it coincided with the final season of Hacks. I sobbed so much; it was such a great ending to an amazing show (please watch it). Simultaneously, I was curious about Lena Denham as her memoir just came out, so I started watching Girls.

I don’t know what to feel about Girls. But I made it past season four and I enjoy putting it on while I cook or fold my laundry, so that’s got to count for something, right? Also, New York in the 2010s was truly a time (don’t get me started on the music, it’s great).

🎬 Film

My brother and I watched Sentimental Value in the cinema and I loved it. I’m a fan of Joachim Trier’s films, and I’m hoping to check out Oslo August 31st and his other work (The Worst Person in the World is part of my four favorites on Letterboxd).

During Berlinale, I attended a talk with Olivier Bugge Coutté (editor) and Eskil Vogt (writer) on collaborating with Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value. That same week, I watched Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (I loved) and Enjoy Your Stay (this was stressful).

L: director Auraeus Solito after Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros screening R: a poster I made for our private screening at home

Gabs, my fellow pop culture and film girly, stayed over and we spent Friday and Saturday binge watching some Oscar noms, in this order: Marty Supreme, Train Dreams, and Sinners (in the morning). I can’t tell you how many times G & I screamed (and wanted to give up) while watching Marty Supreme—it was good but definitely not for me. I loved Train Dreams, and Sinners was a masterpiece.

In recent months, the most I remember is watching The Emperor’s New Groove (for the first time ever…omg, so good) and Hoppers (this was really cute and location was inspired by Yellowstone National Park). Last weekend, I rewatched Cars for its 20th anniversary! Kachow.

Not many movies this year, but it’s okay! I try to keep myself updated with upcoming releases but I don’t find myself resonating with some titles.

📚 Books

The reading bug didn’t quite hit this year until April!

I read Emma Gannon’s Table for One, continued with Lily King’s Heart the Lover, and just wrapped up Rainbow Rowell’s Cherry Baby. All good reads, though I think I need a break from fiction after this.

in my paperback era this year

I spotted a copy of Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn at Keisha and Glo’s desk, and asked to borrow it. Eventually, I found myself annotating so many pages that Keish kindly gifted it to me. I felt so seen reading it, and it allowed me to look at love not just through the typical romantic lens, but also through how it’s prevalent in many forms. I don’t know if I’ve ever been “in love” in the sense of the word, but reading through this book (I’m halfway) has offered so much perspective on what love could be and how it can exist in my life.

🎵 Music

Not much to report on the music front, but Homewrecker by sombr has been on repeat since February (so catchy). I've been having an emo pop punk renaissance lately (Fall Out Boy, The Maine, Sum 41, Yellowcard, Paramore), and I'm back on my Taylor Swift rotation after a year off.

This summer I'm picking up the guitar again, so naturally I've been revisiting songs I used to play in high school. Looking at you, Thunder!

I'm so excited to see Djo perform live later this year, in Italy! Remember my huge crush on him that I keep mentioning? Checks out.

🎨 Creative Practice

I’m so glad I started the year cutting my work hours in half (for a few weeks). I wanted to focus on furnishing my apartment and making time for side quests, which turned out to be a bright spot in the grey winter days.

Once spring came trickling in, I started a sketchbook practice. I don’t update it every day, but it’s been a fun creative exercise I keep myself accountable with. It’s definitely an exercise in paying attention as most of the subjects I draw are from what I saw in my walks.

Apart from restarting my creative practice, I’ve been deep in some interesting art rabbit holes, starting with this post. I watched video essays on UPA, and recently found myself digging into Otl Aicher and his remarkable work for the Munich Olympics.

Turns out he also designed the Sparkasse logo (it’s a German bank, I have an account there). I went even further and read about Erik Spiekermann and his contribution to everyday German life—Deutsche Bahn’s branding and wayfinding.

All of these rabbit holes inspired me to start a digital garden, a place to write everything down from my deep dives into design, art movements, and the creatives I keep discovering. My Stockholm trip played a big part in this process, and it’s slowly becoming a little archive of things I find interesting.

🇩🇪 Life in Berlin

I turned 33 in January, on a cold and rainy Wednesday. Thanks, Berlin.

L: lemon olive oil cake! / R: Raoul Hausmann at Berlinische Galerie

I started my day with a yoga class, then went on a solo museum date at Berlinische Galerie, window shopped for a TV, baked my cake the night before, and invited Gabs and Venice for a simple dinner (I made salmon and hoisin garlic noodles). It was simple, just the way I like it.

I still love cooking, albeit it definitely dwindled down after my tooth extraction which made me extremely sad. Glad that I’m back to my usual cadence—I started meal prepping breakfast (this is on rotation) and trying new recipes (from NYT Cooking, my favorite subscription ever as an adult). Baking is on pause, but I’m thinking of trying new cookie recipes now that it’s picnic season and I have an excuse to share.

My biggest win as of recent times is I go to strength class twice a week now! I didn’t plan it that way, but somehow the habit stuck, which I love. I think it’s a big reason my mental health has been feeling more regulated than usual.

shoutout to my fave coaches, you know who you are

I found two coaches whose classes I enjoy, and will make an effort to commute around the city for. I think that’s a plus, and that I get to spend time with friends while working out (I just realized after typing this that almost everyone I’m close to goes to the same workout, lol).

On the home front, wee! It’s coming together. I finally got a TV and ordered my dream TV stand from Tylko. I moved things around so I now have a really nice and cozy reading corner in my bedroom. So many firsts! I’m so happy to see everything come together.

I’m a new Marimekko fan by the way

My office is looking so good. I got myself a scanner for the first time ever and it’s a game changer (I now have scanned journal pages as part of my rewards—it’s so fun to put together). And I finally convinced myself to get a coffee grinder so my daily filter brew tastes great, which means, lesser trips to the cafe!

Also, my apartment turns a year old in July. I love living here! I’m so grateful and still can’t believe I live in this apartment and neighborhood in a city I love. I never take this for granted.

🎢 Highs & Lows

My brother visited Berlin last February, on one of the coldest weeks of the year! It was so nice to spend time with him as it was his first time in the city (and I got to host him). We watched movies, of course, and went to museums, coffee shops, and cooked a lot. I miss him! He’s now living in Japan so I’m considering visiting him later this year.

I had this very pensive period that started after I had my wisdom tooth extracted mid-March up until early May. It was so uncomfortable but looking back at it now, I definitely needed to sit with my feelings, come to terms with it, and move forward (nothing too bad, just the usual existential dread I have every now and then).

I remember ranting to my friends saying, “Why is everyone married?!? 😠” because I was feeling extremely lonely and uncomfortable with myself for a while. Still am, but I can feel it wear off as I become more comfortable with where I am in this season of my life.

On the topic of marriage, my best friend asked me to be her Maid of Honor! I’m so honored (pun intended).

of course she asked me while we both wore our Heated Rivalry shirts

This is the second time I’m doing MOH duties (last year it was for my sister). I have to get started on designing the wedding monogram this month as she ties the knot in Manila this October. This is going to be such a special time—I love her so much and I’m so excited for this new chapter for her and her partner.

Some really great things at work: taught a journaling workshop at Modulor, went to Chicago for Chicago Stationery Fest as we launched this sticker book, and rebranded my Patreon to Creative Growth Club.

at the Modulor workshop last January

I also updated my website—working on it gave me a much clearer picture of who I am and where I’m headed. Oh, and getting into the Skillshare Top Teacher program and Patreon Creator Ambassadors Program in the same week was a full-circle moment I didn’t see coming. Long term projects are also taking shape this summer! So, so incredibly grateful that things are moving.

🌞 Summer Plans

My big summer goal is I just want to spend it with people I love and care about, and in the city (of course, day trips permitted). I want to take long park walks in the sweltering heat and cool off in the shade. I want to spot all the Komorebi moments as I put one foot in front of the other. I want it to feel like a movie except it’s my life and it’s amazing in every way that it is and could be.

I yearn for never ending conversations and for quality time. For days that flow into weeks that will give me reasons to feel the most alive. I want to draw, write, take photos, film, capture these moments as much as I can, and remember how good I can have it. I hope I can soak it all in and allow myself to have a proper Berlin summer, whatever that means for me.

And no work on Saturdays.

Happy summer everyone! I hope you savor the season, soak up the sun, and carve out time for creative pursuits. What are you up to now that the warmer months are here?

Credits: cover photo by Jenny Peñas for my website