issue 17 - new year, new fresh

housekeeping updates from FRESH HQ, realistic new year's goals, boosts of energy for your ears, JLo's beauty secrets, retrograde-proofing and more

happy happy 2023 to you, dearest readers! or should we say FRESHers? you’ve made it to another new leaf, there is much to be proud of yourself for. thank you for being here with us also, we can’t wait to jump into what this year has in store for us, with you.

at FRESH HQ, we’ve been taking in the new year spirit and doing some tinkering behind the scenes on the operational side of our newsletter. here are a few housekeeping updates from us:

let’s uncork this new year, and let it serve us up some pure bubbly goodness. we’re all due for some of that, i do think

• Substack was kind enough to add a wordmark logo option, hence our jazzy new FRESH logo at the top of our navigation bar, when you read issues on our site!

• a supersized variation of the logo is now welcoming all our new FRESHers on our initial subscription landing page, here she is:

where it all began! we’re also getting close to our first birthday 👁

• we’ve made some adjustments to the perks for our types of subscriptions, to better reflect what we intend paid subscriptions to be here for, going forward. from trial and error earlier on, writing an extra paid-only issue on Fridays was just too much to keep up with weekly, so paid issues will be on an infinite hiatus for the time being.

here’s what your subscription options are looking like now:

concept: you, with eternal bragging rights of being the first FRESH founding member!

• going forward, we’ll keep all issues sans-paywalls - i’ve never enjoyed getting hit with a big block of censored text once i’ve sunk my eyeballs into an intriguing piece of writing, and i reckon you’d rather not either, when reading your latest issue of FRESH. we shall leave it up to your own discretion of choosing whether you’d like to pay to read, if you have the means to - it’s a decision more apt in your hands, rather than controlled by us with exclusivity. keeping writing accessible is a core value of FRESH, and this option feels more aligned with what we stand for.

if you’d like to switch your subscription up for the new year, and make our year in one go, you can do so right below:

POV: your email inbox, replying to the latest issue

• i’ve only recently discovered that when you reply in-email to any FRESH issue (like you would with any other regular email), your message will go straight back to the FRESH mailbox, and we can reply to you all! please feel free to make the most of this feature and send us your post-issue thoughts, if you prefer that over commenting!

CALLOUT FOR FELLOW WRITERS!

we want to feature your writing on a future issue as part of GUESTFRESH, our special guest writer section! you absolutely don’t have to be an ~officially certified professional writer with published pieces reaching millions of readers - if you enjoy writing as a craft and a process, and would like to showcase your writing to fellow FRESHers, we’d love to have you on board.

we invite you to cover whatever topics currently take up space in your brain/heart/soul, written in your personal style, with the standard layout of FRESH issues as a guideline (we’ve got a helpful Google Doc for you with all the info you need). no length requirements!

drop us a message on instagram, or an email at freshbywing@gmail.com!

phew - that went on for quite a bit! back to your regular scheduled programing:

the FRESH five

short lists of five things, to kick the issue off

it’s that time of year again.

5 realistic, and more bite-sized new year’s goals i think i’ll actually be able to keep:

1. continue getting a few stretch sessions in per week for my body. those post-workout and post-run stretches hit especially good

2. get on a plane to somewhere, anywhere - this is on my bucket list every year, we’re on a 2 out of 2 streak for the past two years and looking to make that 3 out of 3!

3. organize another bling by wing giveaway - it’s been a long time since the last one, and they’re always fun to do. if you’ve got requests for specific types of jewelry or items you want to see in one, leave a comment below or shoot me a quick message on instagram!

4. listen to more of my record collection, now that i finally have a turntable to play them on. i’m doing a series on my stories to introduce records i’m currently playing, and some storytime on when and how i acquired each one - though some of them will probably end up on a future FRESH issue too!

5. respecting my worth and the phase of life i’m currently in, without wishing i was someone or somewhere else. i can only be myself as i am in this moment, and respecting that means living in a way that makes most sense for who i currently am - not with the daily routines that i had five years ago, or the thoughts i will have in my head in five years.

FRESH: live sets

if you need a boost of energy:

• this funky, upbeat set from Mark Broom at East London venue Space 289 (which has unfortunately now closed its doors), recorded by Ministry of Sound.

if you need a BIG boost of energy:

the ABGT500 stage looking lovely in our signature FRESH pink and yellow, and we are feeling it.

• Above & Beyond @ ABGT500 - i was there in person right in the pit for this set, yet found myself not enjoying it as much as i thought i would. usually i have an unspoken rule of not rewatching recordings of shows i’ve been to in person, but i made an exception for this one - and it was worth it! somehow, something clicked on my second experience of it. leans very heavy on the darker and techno side of things, a refreshing spin on A&B’s usual sound.

if you want to keep the vibes relaxing and chilled out:

• Lawrence Guy’s Boiler Room London set from 2016 - what a Mojito would probably sound like if it became a DJ set. going to go pour myself one (virgin only in this house) right now.

FRESH: beauty

Jennifer Lopez’s Guide to Glowing Skin & Face Contour

Vogue’s GRWM style series has long been a favorite of mine, and this recent one from JLo has a notable addition to regular beauty routines you don’t usually see. part of her pre-routine prep includes saying a short affirmation, such as “i am in perfect health always”. the mental and emotional getting-ready is perhaps just as important as the physical steps - think i’ll be trying to add this to my routine too, and making the experience more intentional.

FRESH: interviews

Billie Eilish: Same Interview, The Sixth Year

the premise of this particular Billie Eilish interview series has been fascinating to watch unfold in real time and real life over the past few years - answer the same questions every year, and watch yourself from years past give their answers too. i don’t keep very updated on what else Billie does day to day, but i do tune into this Vanity Fair video every year. there are insightful nuggets of wisdom to be found in each, some laughs, and some poignant moments of reflection on previous selves.

FRESH: astrology

Retrograde-Proof Your Year

sanctuarywrld

A post shared by SANCTUARY (@sanctuarywrld)

we enjoy a little astrological guidance here at FRESH HQ, just to keep informed on what those big floating rocks around and near our planet are up to. you may have heard we are currently knee-deep in yet another Mercury retrograde (or gatorade, whatever you want to call it) - it’s not the time to make bold changes or rash decisions, your technology will act up and your plans will change, blah blah blah. take it all as a point of guidance, and trust your internal discernment above all else.

we came across this little Mercury retrograde survival checklist on our feed the other day, equipped with daily goals for you to stay present and in check this month. i’ll be giving this a spin, especially since some of these are things i’ve had in mind to do already - feel free to join in for some extra retrograde protection!

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and we’re off on our way into this new year! we wish you the best of luck, and are sending unexpected blessings your way. our FRESH turbo gears are on and ready to blast into the rest of this year with you!

love and new year cheer,

wing

alright, over to you now - hit up the comments section, or reply to this email with your thoughts! if you enjoy a little prompting:

• what would you like to see FRESH cover going forward?

• are you setting any resolutions or goals for this year?

• got any tried-and-tested beauty secrets to share?

• do you feel affected by Mercury retrograde? if so, in what ways?

head over to freshbywing.com to catch up on past issues of FRESH, and find us on instagram!