November Diary: what I read, loved, & releasing "should"s!
I think most high-achieving women are always *should*-ing themselves...
This post is a little long for your email app and is best read in browser, here!
I usually share a “Everything I Read” recap post at the end of the month, and some sort of diary with things I loved and short personal essay mid-month. This time of year is NUTS, so I did neither, oops. No one cares, we’re all going to die, but first we’re all going to have a peppermint mocha and see The Nutcracker or something, I hope.
Before we get into it, if your inbox is a soup of emails and you’ve had to indiscriminately mark all as read or delete— same. Here are a few new letters that I’ve published recently that I’m rather proud of:
I’m hoping you read these because it’s been quiet as hell around here! Are we all just really busy or am I in my flop era? You can tell me.
Part of me not sending my November reading newsletter is that I am ASHAMED of how little I read. It was a historic low month for me and for the first time ever, I fell behind on my Goodreads reading goal to read 100 books this year. 🫠
This shouldn’t be a surprise to me but for some reason it is— obviously my new TikTok cooking hobby has gobbled up 85% of my time. These days I have 3 modes: cooking or prepping to cook or host, working or consulting or interviewing, and spending the small sliver of time that’s left with my friends/family/boyfriend. Reading, writing, working out have all fallen to the wayside1. Argh!! And somehow I’m still behind on my 30 Days of 30 Martha Stewart Recipes too… (I can’t say the rude comments are making me want to spend more time on this project.)
Here’s what I did manage to force down my eyeballs.
The Paris Deception by Bryn Turnbull // This is my third Bryn Turnbull book and I’ve waxed poetic about her audiobooks before. This book about smuggling priceless art out of Nazi hands in occupied Paris was inspiring, engaging, and had me on the edge of my seat at times! Like all her other books, it’s fiction that’s based on true historical events. I really love the audiobook performer’s commitment to doing fantastic accents. She slayed, as usual.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros // I feel like I was one of the last people on earth to read this and ACOTAR. I did prefer ACOTAR and felt like the author pulled from ACOTAR and other books a little liberally, but this definitely captivated me and I was on a page-turning spree, propelled to the very end.
Iron Flame (the sequel to Fourth Wing) by Rebecca Yarros // I fear I feel like this book flushed the momentum of the first book down the toilet. The ending made me mad? I disliked it so much I may actually opt out of reading the third book coming out soon…
Heartburn by Nora Ephron // I needed a palate cleanser after Iron Flame did me dirty. I gobbled this down in one sitting, a re-read for me but hits a little different now that I’m older. I love me some Nora Ephron, though I’m not sure this holds up as much these days.
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey // I was at The Ripped Bodice with my friend Emily, and I happened to mention I’d never read a Tessa Bailey (known for being pretty steamy). Emily made me buy this on the spot and I’m so glad she did. Excellent, excellent stuff. She is reading the sequel now and is going to tell me how it is— I’m scared to pick up another Tessa Bailey because the first was so good, I fear nothing can live up to it. This book made me miss when men used to work outside…
I am obsessed with the seasonal flavor of Poppi. I’m not even a Poppi head. I’ve never had another flavor of Poppi in my life. That said, I am addicted to this one and I am stocking up as though I will never have another again (possible with seasonal flavors, IMO!). It tastes like a less sweet cranberry 7-Up.
I was planning a Christmas Cookie and Cocktail Party for this past weekend and was disappointed when after Thanksgiving there were basically no good holiday baking packages from any of the food media players— alas, NYT came to the rescue, as they often have been doing these last few years. How fabulous are these Peppermint Cookies? I also made the Gingerbread Blondies, Eggnog Snickerdoodles and Iced Oatmeal cookies.
I can’t get enough minty lip balm. It’s my favorite lip balm, year around. (I’ve written at length about Laneige’s Candy Cane, which is already OOS at Sephora!!) Just think of it as a mojito in the summer months and a candy cane in the winter months. I treated myself to Rhode’s new candy cane glaze and Topicals new(ish) balm as well— which I love. I had wanted Rhode’s cinnamon bun lip treatment (sold out) but I didn’t act fast enough, so I moved on the peppermint the day it dropped!
I resonated deeply with Helena’s piece on how you can always leave— almost every founder or operator I’ve consulted for seems “stuck” to the business. Sometimes I wonder if they actually even like their concept or business at all. You can always leave. I have, multiple times now.
Benny is a new-to-me energy drink with adaptogens that I’ve been enjoying, courtesy of their lovely founder Paige, who I met through Crown Affair’s Seedling mentorship program. Great founder, great product! I really do need energy this time of year…
A few nights ago I went to the ballet and saw The Nutcracker with my friend Julia. First we shared a grilled cheese at Café Luxembourg. It was festive and fabulous, and we can’t stop being delighted by the gorgeous costumes and just how damn talented the dancers are.
Lately, when I’m not baking seven dozen holiday cookies, I’ve been juggling a few different (exciting! scary!) opportunities and trying to decide which is right for me and my next chapter.
The tug of war is a little exhausting, and I’ve found myself back in a headspace where I am projecting what I think others (my parents, my boyfriend, some almighty prim and proper imaginary judge of the universe?) want me to do— or “should”-ing myself. I do some of my worst work as a person when I feel like my back is up against the wall or I “have to” do something! It brings out my most terrible qualities: childlike petulance, excessive emotion, rock solid stubborn-ness.