--- title: Stepping Away to Refuel - and What’s Cooking Next description: A mini vacation reset inspired my new Food Theme Weeks — mindful, budget-friendly meals using Aldi finds and global flavors. image: https://jadeandoak.com/hubfs/EA502A48-3AB1-42FB-8226-7C7ACD667C9E.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://jadeandoak.com/blog/stepping-away#main-content) [![Logo-Horizontal-Text](https://jadeandoak.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo-Horizontal-Text.png?width=1921&height=500&name=Logo-Horizontal-Text.png)](https://www.jadeandoak.com) - [Home](https://jadeandoak.com) - [About](https://jadeandoak.com/about-us) - [Shop](https://jadeandoak.com/shop) - [Blog](https://jadeandoak.com/blog) - [The Three R's](https://jadeandoak.com/relax-rest-refuel) Show submenu for The Three R's - [Recipes from July 2025](https://jadeandoak.com/recipes-vegan-july-2025) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://jadeandoak.com) - [About](https://jadeandoak.com/about-us) - [Shop](https://jadeandoak.com/shop) - [Blog](https://jadeandoak.com/blog) - [The Three R's](https://jadeandoak.com/relax-rest-refuel) Show submenu for The Three R's - [Recipes from July 2025](https://jadeandoak.com/recipes-vegan-july-2025) - [Contact us](https://jadeandoak.com/contact) [Contact us](https://jadeandoak.com/contact) [All posts](https://jadeandoak.com/blog/all) November 11, 2025 # Stepping Away to Refuel - and What’s Cooking Next By  [Lisa Russell](https://jadeandoak.com/blog/author/lisa-russell)  ·  2 minute read ### ![Taking a Pause to Refuel](https://jadeandoak.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EA502A48-3AB1-42FB-8226-7C7ACD667C9E.jpg?width=795&height=596&name=EA502A48-3AB1-42FB-8226-7C7ACD667C9E.jpg) ### Taking a Pause to Refuel Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your creativity (and your sanity) is to step away. I recently took a little *mini vacation* — nothing extravagant, just a few days to unplug, breathe, and truly disconnect. How often do you take time off but never really *disconnect*? A quick glance at Teams, Slack, or email can instantly pull you back in. Lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to be more present with friends, family, and myself, and to spend real time *offline*. As I begin focusing on my next steps and shaping my own plan, I find it exciting… maybe even a little all-consuming (in the best way). But even when you’re deeply inspired, slowing down creates space for new ideas to surface. That quiet time gave me room to reflect on how I want to bring more **intention** and **joy** into my everyday routines, especially when it comes to food. ### 🥢 Introducing My Food Theme Weeks Cooking has always been one of my favorite ways to reset. It’s creative, grounding, and somehow calming — the smells, the colors, the rhythm of it all. And the best part? You get to enjoy what you’ve made. Over the past six months, I’ve also found joy (and significant savings) in shopping at **Aldi**. If you haven’t ventured into one yet, I highly recommend giving it a few tries. While you won’t find every name brand, their store brands are surprisingly comparable — and in some cases, even better. I used to shop primarily at Meijer, but now I save about **20–30%** on average. The simplicity, the smaller footprint, and the quality have made it my go-to. So grab your reusable bags and a quarter for the cart — you might be surprised at what you discover! Starting this month, I’m launching **Food Theme Weeks** — little culinary adventures that bring global flavors, creativity, and mindfulness to your kitchen. Each week, I’ll explore a new theme — like *Thai Week, Mediterranean Week, Comfort Classics,* or *Quick & Easy*. You’ll see how I reuse ingredients across multiple meals, minimize waste, and make each dish feel like a getaway on a plate. And because many of us are looking for ways to stretch our budgets (especially around the holidays), I’ll also share how to keep things **budget-friendly**. Most of my ingredients come from Aldi, and I’ll include cost breakdowns, substitutions, and smart shopping tips so you can enjoy big flavor without a big spend. Think of it as a *mini vacation* — for your taste buds *and* your wallet. ### 🌸 Why I’m Doing This Cooking has always been my way to reset — a simple ritual that reconnects me to creativity, presence, and nourishment. I want these theme weeks to inspire *your* version of a reset, too — whether that’s trying a new recipe, taking a walk, or creating a small at-home retreat. Mindful living doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With a bit of planning and smart shopping, intentional eating can be both affordable and joyful. ### 🍋 Coming Up Next Our first theme week is **Thai Week!** I’ll be sharing: - Simple, flavorful recipes like Thai Basil Chicken and Larb Lettuce Wraps - How to reuse ingredients across multiple dishes - A short **Aldi-friendly grocery list** and budget-saving tips Follow along here or on Instagram @jade\_and\_oak for daily updates, behind-the-scenes prep, and a little inspiration for staying grounded through food. ### 🌾 Join Me If you’ve been craving a little reset of your own — join me. Subscribe to **The 3 R’s: Rest, Relax, Refuel** to get each week’s theme, grocery list, cost-saving tips, and recipes delivered straight to your inbox. 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