I missed last month’s newsletter. Do I feel a little guilty? Yes. Was it intentional? Not really. It was the last week of July, and I was knee-deep in packing for our trip to Greece. The kids were home from school and fully committed to their summer job as screen zombies. We skipped summer camp since we knew we’d be gone for most of it anyway.
Meanwhile, my brain was doing that thing where it spins in ten different directions at once. I knew I had to focus on packing, but I kept grabbing my phone instead. I’d scroll through Instagram and get sucked into posts about the Deaf cast of Waitress at Lincoln Center and all the post-show buzz. I was there, and it was my first time seeing an outdoor show. Definitely something I meant to post about. I just never got to it.
Digital Detox, but Make It Family Style
Watching my kids glued to their screens made me more annoyed than I care to admit. Mostly because I knew I was no better. I felt overstimulated and distracted and a little resentful. That’s when I knew something had to give.
So I packed our bags, posted a quick IG story saying I was going on a digital detox, and deleted every single social app from my phone. Also from my husband’s and my kids’ phones. Total reset.
For four full weeks, we were just us. No feeds. No scrolling. No rabbit holes.
And it was bliss.
Greece Was the Algorithm
After we got back from Greece, I felt like a fish out of water. The kind that’s flopping around wondering where the sun went. We had just spent weeks soaking up the sea and the sun, eating good food, living life, and being fully present without constant distractions. No alerts. No noise. No comparison traps.
I didn’t realize how much lighter I’d feel without the usual scroll, click, repeat. Even my kids were shockingly pleasant. We were more relaxed. Less reactive. Nobody was melting down asking for more screen time. A summer miracle.
Re-entry into reality was rough. I came home and instantly felt disoriented. Once I put all the apps back on, it felt like everything came rushing in with a firehose. Like stepping off a quiet beach and straight into Times Square.
What I learned is this: the digital world can be fun and useful and yes, sometimes a good laugh over a cat meme is just what you need. But too much of it is just noise. It pulls us out of ourselves. It messes with our mood. I’ve snapped, with fangs out, more than a few times because my dopamine was fried from scrolling.
So now, with school just days away, I’m craving structure. The kind where my kids are out of the house and I can breathe. The kind where mornings are mine again. The kind where I can think without someone screaming, “I’m hungry,” while watching a YouTube short on loud enough to shake the walls.
Life > Likes
Stepping back this past month gave me room to breathe, but also room to think. As a Deaf founder, I feel the pressure to show up all the time. But this break reminded me that Lovecore was never about being online 24/7. It is about building something that matters. And things that matter need space to grow.
With that said, there will be a few changes in how I do things moving forward. Not less heart. Just more intention. All of it in service of doing this with more love and less burnout.
Takeaway:
You don’t owe the internet your constant presence. Take the break. The world will still be here when you come back. So will TikTok. And probably that cat in a sweater. When you return, you’ll be better than ever.
Lovecore HQ: What’s Been Happening?
Not much to report. Shocking, I know. But here are two quick updates:
One: My cut-and-sew vendor let me know they’re tied up with a large client and won’t have capacity for the rest of the year. Maybe even into next year. So now I’m back to vendor hunting. Pray for me.
Two: Remember the self-love bundle giveaway from May for Mental Health Month? The winner, Venesse (aka @astro.woke), posted the sweetest unboxing video. She slipped into the Love Buzz PJ set, looked amazing, and ended the clip with a kiss from her partner. My heart? Fully melted. It was exactly the kind of unexpected love boost Lovecore needed. Big thanks, Venesse!
What I’m Loving Right Now (Because Sharing Is Caring):
📺 TV Series: Wednesday. Fall is in the air, which means it’s time for something moody and mysterious. Wednesday on Netflix totally hits the spot. Dark, clever, sarcastic. I have always loved a good twist and a weird mystery, and Tim Burton never misses.
📚 Book: Breathe: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor. I read this while I was in Greece, and now I am thinking about how I breathe like it is a full-on personality trait. The lesson? Breathe through your nose, not your mouth. Breathe slower. Breathe deeper. It might just change your life or at least keep you calm when someone cuts you off in traffic.
🧴 Skincare: Colorscience Sunforgettable SPF 50. Where has this been all my life? It is a tinted SPF that blends like a dream and makes my skin look like I actually slept and drank water. No stickiness. No greasiness. No new hyperpigmentation this summer. Just bottled magic, honestly.
🛍️ Outfit: Tori Romper by Steve Madden. You know that stretch of weather when you do not know what to wear? This romper solves it. Comfy, cute, and perfect with a denim or leather jacket. Fall layering made easy, and it does not fight you when you are in a rush to get dressed.
🥤 Drink: Liquid Death Cherry Obituary Sparkling Water. I grabbed this on a road trip and did not expect much. But wow. It is like soda’s edgy cousin who quit sugar and joined a band. Tastes amazing, and the branding makes me feel like I am doing something rebellious just by drinking water.
What’s Next?
Here’s an updated sneak peek at what’s in the works: the Lovecore x Stuart Adelman Edition – Love’s Gone Bananas Boxers.
Left: banana boxers mockup. Right: original sketches by Stuart Adelman. This is the concept phase, but you get the idea. I’m actively searching for a new vendor to bring them to life. Trust me, I’m just as impatient as you are.
Also, I may be popping up at Deafopia at the American Dream Mall in NJ on September 20. If it works out, I’ll be bringing the love (and maybe a surprise giveaway). 🫶🏼
XO,
Nickie
P.S. I’m glad you’re still here. Thanks for sticking around, even when I disappear for a minute. And oh, almost forgot. Happy Labor Day! Now go do absolutely nothing.