February First
The Idea of You. Whiskey + Cider. Osmo Creative.
Hello to my crew. Welcome new subscribers! Your inbox is precious space so Thank You for being here. Feel free to peruse weeks past, visit my about page or read this blog post. I ushered in February with a Crushed Grape pedicure and a Pistachio Latte. The OPI color is a relaxing vivid lilac and the Starbucks drink with vaguely sweet, earthy pistachio lends itself kindly to espresso and steamed milk.
📚☑️ READ
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. If the cover of this novel veers slightly cringe, the writing is levels away from that. Last summer I went on an impulsive kindle purchasing spree. Then I read Tom Lake in hardcover form and it took me forever to turn pages through. The Idea of You sat idle in my carousel but alas I finally swiped in for a read. A sensational plot finds a 39 year old divorced mother pulled into the international orbit of a 20 year old boy band heartthrob. The story of Solène + Hayes is juicy, tender, steamy, heart pumping, fast paced and apparently the movie with Anne Hathaway is coming out in May?!
I often think of my male readers (so happy you are here!) and how my book reviews (lately, but also, mostly) skew towards feminine. If you have a female counterpart in your life, and she likes to read in a similar genre of books, she would probably not be mad about receiving one or two as a gift (or a compliment to a gift) should you be stuck on what to buy her for an upcoming holiday.
☕♨️🍊DRINK
Blessed be the steamy hot beverage on a frigid day. Here is an all star line up: whiskey + hot cider + an orange wedge + a cinnamon stick.
If you completed dry January — how did it go?! I did not but cheers if you are planning on a well deserved drink today!
🚸🎨FOR THE KIDS
Camden got Osmo Creative last year for his 4th birthday. We officially set up the iPad (Christmas gift) and this interactive drawing on a dry erase board game was an instant hit. We’re talking giddy squeals of delight upon seeing what you draw pop up on the screen.
You are instructed to draw various things as it walks you through a story, and what you’ve just drawn becomes a part of the adventure. There are more kits and games to learn, but I’m really impressed with it. If you have older kids I’m sure we’re late to the party but what a smart game for kids who love to draw and create!
🎧LISTEN/🎙️PODCAST
Asked by Ayana — Ayana Lage is a blogger and freelance writer who sits down each week to interview — other bloggers and freelance writers! Truthfully, her sphere is wider than that. Back in 2021 she chatted with Mandy Moore about becoming a Mom, and Mandy shares intimate details of her birth story. Caroline Moss dishes on her writing process, Carmen James on her experience as a Montessori educator, Zara Hanawalt on freelance writing and raising twins. It’s all about successful women navigating shifts and twists on life’s path. The conversations are substantial and illuminating. I recently found her and listening to a podcast interview from 3 years ago still feels relevant.
This weeks newsletter was the first one I sat down to put together THIS WEEK. Usually drafts are brewing well in advance and then I’m editing, overthinking it a bit, wondering about my range of audience, etc. I genuinely enjoy sharing what I am loving lately as it feels lightweight and approachable, which was was my intention from the start.
Longer format pieces have been free flowing and whatever is buzzing through me has seemed to tumble out intuitively. When you are writing anecdotally using your own stories, then hoping to promote your newsletter, it is easy to get caught up in the ‘me’. I don’t want this to feel self important, I want to share and recommend and inspire you. I naturally gravitate toward what’s uplifting.
Always feel free to reach out — if I can answer questions or remark on anything — I am here! (So many of you have. And for that I thank you.)
I’ll take a queue from the kids this week — don’t worry, do you + be HAPPY.
Writing for your audience is a bit like trying to read the room when no one has arrived yet. You cannot predict what will strike someone, nor how it will move them. But that is not your responsibility. Once words are out in the world, they are no longer ours. They belong to whoever reads, hears, or otherwise ingests them. How they are interpreted is not our business. ~
I’m going to check out that podcast. Sounds really good!
The Idea of You was such a good page turner. I read it so long ago, I would probably enjoy reading it again!
Have you held that mug up in a zoom meeting yet ;)