4 Tiny Ideas+Rituals
#3 A Softer Start to Your Week
All photographic beauty is by me, unless otherwise credited.
As you know, I’ve started something new. Every week, I share my ‘4 Tiny Ideas + Rituals’—little things that make the start of the week feel a little gentler. Some about food, some about beauty, some about finding a little steadiness before the week comes rushing in.
You might notice the title of my newsletter has shifted a bit. After reflecting, I realized that these tiny ideas and rituals aren’t just for Sundays; they can bring a softer start to any day of the week. So, while the ‘Sunday’ part is gone, my intention remains the same: to help you ease into your week with joy + intention.
Before I share my 4 Tiny Ideas+Rituals, here are 3 things:
Mark your calendars for a March 6th Spice Spoon Cookalong (exclusively for my newsletter subscribers)
I wrote a tender, heartfelt piece for my Andaza series, on legacy, motherhood + cooking by intuition. I hope it resonates with you.
In April I will be hosting a Food Styling Workshop, VERY EXCITING. More details, soon!
Happy Monday.
I hope your weekend has been lovely. Here are 4 Tiny Ideas+Rituals I am leaning into this week—simple things that make the week feel a bit more intentional. I hope they inspire you in a small way.
1) Repurpose Leftover Basmati Rice into Rice Cakes 🍚
I cringe at the idea of food waste, and I know you do, too. We all know what is happening in the US with egg prices and extortionate grocery prices in Canada (I live in Toronto), so all the more reason to repurpose leftovers.
If you eat rice as much as we do (my heritage is Pakistani, Afghan, and Persian, so you can imagine the variety of basmati rice I have in my pantry), you can easily repurpose leftovers to make these delish rice cakes.
And with Ramadan right around the corner, they make a great option for iftar, too. Hot, crispy, and perfect with this spicy green chutney.
2) A Cake Tradition (Because It Just Works)
As you know, I love a tiny weekend baking ritual that makes the week feel gentler. I have an evergreen cake recipe for you: an Almond Cardamom Cake. It’s gorgeous with your morning coffee, and since it’s winter, you can drizzle it with my Cherry Sauce to remind yourself of summer (only 3 weeks till Spring, by the way).
3) A Taste of Summer, Even in Winter
There’s something magical about turning frozen summer fruit into something jewel-toned during this dreary winter season. My Cherry Sauce is a perfect example, because you’ll want to spoon some of it over a slice of Almond Cardamom Cake.
Call it a cherry sauce, jam, or coulis—the beauty of this is that it’s made with frozen cherries, and is lovely on top of your breakfast oatmeal, or yogurt. Feel free to smear some on a slice of sourdough, slicked with butter.
Honestly, after this crazy snow storm in Toronto, I am fed up of winter, so I will revolt and pretend I am sitting on my patio in June, with the sun shining on my face, eating vanilla bean ice cream with this cherry sauce.
I need this kind of visualization, don’t you?
4) Weaving Simple Joys into Your Week
We all know that feeling too well, heavy hearts, too much on our minds. Have you heard of the concept of weaving? It is a practice I’ve embraced to make life’s tasks feel less heavy and lonely.
It’s about combining activities that organically fit together—like running errands while spending time with a friend.
So every few weeks, I “weave” in a plan with a dear friend. As her and I are immersed in our creative worlds and motherhood (she is a ceramicist), we don’t get to see one another as often as we would like. We start at the florists on ‘Av & Dav’, before strolling into Summerhill Market for a few groceries.
It’s not just about the errands—it’s about being together, sharing space, and making those small, simple moments feel special. This small act of sisterhood and companionship turns a mundane task into something more intentional and enjoyable.
I encourage you to indulge in some weaving this week:
✨A walk and a chat with a friend (it feeds the soul, and gets your heart pumping)
✨Listen to a podcast related to something on your to-do list: parenting, renos, or your business, while you’re doing an essential task, like chopping vegetables for dinner
‘Weaving’ isn’t about multitasking—it’s about combining gentle activities in a way that feels natural, without overwhelm.
What will your ‘weaving’ moment be this week?
May my 4 Tiny Ideas+Ritual be useful, and bring a little ease to your week. If you give any of them a try, I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts in the comments (and a ‘like’ ❤️ helps this post reach more readers, so I’d be grateful for that). Wishing you a calm and intentional start to the week ahead.
All love, Shayma x
Love the concept of weaving activities, I must do this with my friends. Lovely pictures as always, by the way! :)