let's talk thru: october

whew.

Honestly, writing this feels vain. In light of what’s going on in the world, a little newsletter about my month feels superfluous and unimportant. But I also know that 5 years from now, I’ll be thankful I wrote it.

No one is asking for my take on what’s going on in Israel and Palestine. And honestly? I don’t fully know what to say. My heart hurts for both parties. Palestine is not Hamas and Israel is not their government. I wish people had peace, I wish everyone had a place to call home.

I’m also learning that I ingest news better when I read it on news websites rather than listen to/watch it on podcasts or read social media posts. BBC and Reuters have been my go-to sources to keep up on both International and domestic news. I fell off my daily news consumption rhythm, but now I’m trying to be better about staying informed in our overwhelming information age.

READ

🔘 read on my nook
🎧 audiobook
📚 reread
🔖 library
📔 own

🎧The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne
rating: it was fine

Sometimes, an idea should stay an idea and work on execution for a bit longer.

This book is like Indiana Jones meets The Mummy, but with sisters. Sounds PERFECT for me. But instead, I got a predictable tale filled with tropes and stereotypical characters.

📚The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
rating: loved it- reread

One of my favorite books ever. It’s not for everyone, but it’s for me. It’s atmospheric and creepy and academic and builds to a beautiful apex and chilling conclusion.

Unnamed main character is about 16 and finds a book in her diplomat dad’s library with “drakulya” inscribed. She asks him about it, and he begins to tell her the story of it’s origin. The story is multilayered in timelines and a favorite of mine as soon as the air turns crisp.

📔Teacher of the Year by M.A. Wardell
rating: liked it

A cute, simple love story. Marvin is a kindergarten teacher up for Teacher of the Year. Olan is a new single dad. Sparks exist, but so do friendship and discovery. I enjoyed that there wasn’t a big “outing” or drama around their sexuality, it was a love story with a human element that all can see easily.

📔The Biography of X by Catherine Lacey
rating: really liked it

Hands down the weirdest book I read this year so far. It takes things that have happened in history or political figures and writes an alternate history in the backdrop of a widow’s journey to writing her wife’s biography.

What makes this so weird is 1) the alternate history 2) the character of X.

Honesty moment, the alternate history took me a little time to figure out. I googled something and then had a moment like…Yeah wait no way this is real, and I realized what the author was doing.

The character of X is a weird one. She pulls herself into these characters and her wife figures out that some people know her wife by completely different names. To some she’s an Italian immigrant, to others she’s an elusive writer, to others an artist, and so on and so on. I enjoyed the development and awareness of the main character not only unraveling her wife but her marriage and herself.

📔On Beauty by Zadie Smith
rating: really liked it

Smith writes a lot of REALLY unlikeable people who make you laugh and also want to shake them. It feels like you waver between hating them and understanding them. Which takes a masterful writer. Smith does an incredible job of making a book feel vibrant with the setting, but also with people. I feel like I could see each character and how they would function in their world.

🔘Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
rating: really liked it

I needed a little romance cleanser and this was PERFECT for my mission.

Ama is an up-and-coming wedding planner who just booked a wedding with a high-profile influencer…who already has her florist picked out…who is Ama’s ex.

Great banter, past flashbacks, good tensions of career and personal, and hot scenes!

REALIZE

With the horrible news going on around the world, I have learned that doing things in my own backyard help me feel hope. We early voted in our local election because it was a vital one. Our incumbent mayor, Ken Moore has done a lot to keep our southern city very moderate and kind to all people. For example, he approved a Pride festival that many Christian (“christian”) fundamentalists were trying to shut down. His opposition was Gabrielle Hanson. She is a conservative fundamentalist that upholds white surpremacy groups, doesn’t condemn neo-nazis, and all around sucks.

Luckily, Moore crushed Hanson by winning 80% of votes. Which gave me hope for where I live.

I have realized that local elections truly do matter. Hanson was an alderman before this and the fact that she had any power makes me feel ill. From now on, I know I’ll do a better job and paying attention to what is happening where my feet are and my home is planted.

ORGANIZE

I referred to this in my last newsletter, but my closet has been a pain point since moved in. It’s small and I could never seem to get things to fit the way I need them to. UNTIL NOW

I bought these drawers from amazon and y’all it’s so good. Simple, small, easy to put together and fits my underwear, bras, socks and leggings. I now feel like my closet works! And I don’t hate it! Seven years in!

BUY

I have given up the hopes of a black and white striped sweater after buying three and returning all of them. So instead I purchased a simple black and white striped tee that can accomplish my outfit inspirations.

My knees have decided I’m using them too much and tendonitis has begun. So I bought this brace that’s also an ice pack holder and it’s been a lifesaver.

I saved outfits that had birkenstock clogs too many times. But alas, I didn’t feel like spending $150+, so I bought amazon dupes and they are good! Not great, but work.

These pants from Old Navy are comfortable and a great relaxed fit.

My friends opened an online boutique! They hosted a launch party and I got two very cute shirts.

EAT & DRINK

Let’s talk about these:

Top Left: Hole Donuts in Asheville. OH MY GOSH. Dream donut texture. It was like an elephant ear/funnel cake. Crispy outside, light inside. Every flavor was incredible. A lovely pairing to driving the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Top Right: Chai Pani in Asheville. I will never be the same after the Chicken Kathi wrap. I would go back right now just for that. The flavors were incredible.

Bottom Left: On our way out of Asheville, we stopped at Chocolate Fetish and brought home this box of chocolates that lasted maybe one night. The staff was so kind and helpful and every piece was delicious.

Bottom Right: At work I helped plan our annual Latte Art Throwdown and we had a local pizza pop up and man oh man FAB pizza. Best I’ve had since Italy.

WEAR

PRAISES for the temps going down so I can LAYER and feel like myself again when dressing. Big wins for me are the middle and bottom middle outfits. They feel like ME and that’s always fun to find when dressing.

WATCH & LISTEN

The joy of my life lately is introducing Connor to a beloved series. It’s got heart, heists, action, and most importantly- FAMILY. That’s right. We’ve been watching The Fast & Furious series. They are so freaking funny. They aren’t supposed to be comedies, but let’s be honest, they are. Every movie gets more and more outrageous.

The podcast I added this month is Wiser Than Me hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. As she enters her 60s, she wanted to talk to women who are older than her in the aging process. It’s profound and funny, and I enjoy listening to these incredible women.

TRAVEL

We made a short weekend trip to Asheville! Connor wanted to see the fall colors and they were out the higher up we went in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Here’s the thing though, this year, we invested in a very nice mattress (Saatva if you are in the market), and now it’s hard to sleep anywhere else. Truly. We were going to stay one more night, but headed home.

MEMORIES

🎭 We went and saw Michael Blaustein at Zanie’s. Hilarious and so inappropriate
🍎 Walking to our farmer’s market in perfect fall weather
☕️ Latte Art Throwdown at work went great and was a blast