“It’s still January?” Every year when this week hits it feels the same and yet is still surprising. Yes, we still have another week to go in January!
This week has been especially challenging post-inauguration and has me exploring different ways to both engage digitally and practice news ways of softening heightened anxieties. Enter Substack! I’ve always been an inconsistent lurker, but between a few paid subscriptions that I was gifted for the holidays (thanks,
!) and the exodus of several of my favorite creators from TikTok, I am finding myself here on Substack as part of my daily ritual. Plus, I’ve always been curious about a journaling practice and the opportunity to document (and share?) things that are happening in my life or pique my interest, so here I am with my first post. Mostly for me, but also for my one subscriber — LOL, hi . We’ll see how long I stick with it…After returning from five weeks with family in Arizona last weekend, a quote in the book I’m reading stuck out to me this week:
“Zee and I talked about how luxurious it felt to do nothing in New York City, a place where you could do anything. He kept saying “opportunity cost,” that the opportunity cost of doing nothing in this city was so immense that it felt opulent.”
As an Brooklynite, I often feel a burden to Get out more! See more things! Experience! Explore! I felt a pressure to reacclimate to the city with activity, but instead leaned into re-nesting at home. This quote was so timely for me — a reframing to the opulence of nothingness is exactly the antidote to that pressure.
Plus, it’s been freaking cold!
So here’s what’s been up!
Happenings
Book Club (of all Book Clubs): Book club weeks are just the best weeks because time spent with this crew is enough to fill my cup for a week. Olivia hosted us this month and served a delicious soup. We were missing Sarah (our queen of icebreaker discussion topics), but shared some of our favorite gifts given and received before we discussed our January book, Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange. A consistent theme this year: all things cozy!
Spoilers Only group pic Damp January Continues: Not quite dry but instead I’ve been intentional about when to have a drink this month. When given the option, I’ve asked whether I really need or want a drink. More times than not, the answer has been no. Instead, I found myself at Minus Moonshine several times picking up fancy kombuchas (very into these) and canned Ghia (yum). I’m thoroughly enjoying the exploration of alternatives, which is funny because three years ago when my besties visited (one who was pregnant), we went and bought a bunch of NA drinks and our sentiment was a bit different: “This would be great with tequila!”
2025 Gals with Goals: I hosted my besties Liz and Robin on Friday for dinner, cookies and some crafty goal writing. Each year, I grab two pieces of paper and some markers and jot down reflections from the past year and goals for the next year, grouped into nine categories (physical health, mental health, finances, work, friendships, relationship, travel & explore, family and self-care). I have been doing the same format since 2017 (!) which is always a fun part of the experience — to look back and note all that I have accomplished since then. Past me would be so proud! We also made bingo cards like all the cool girls. I still have a lot of squares to fill out, so send me ideas!
Going on a single date is the most daunting thing on here so far. Social & News Diet: I found myself in a very unhealthy emotional and mental state on Tuesday as the first executive orders rolled in. I’ve cut back on all socials (including my beloved TikTok) and mainstream news. There’s a hole where all my immediate Taylor and Travis updates would be, but so far I’m doing MUCH better and instead of doom scrolling, I’m seeking creative outlets instead, such as…
Watercoloring:
inspired me with her watercolor kit, which I immediately also purchased. (Maggie is the friend you want to copy, which I do most of the time.) I’ve been doing an almost nightly mini painting and it’s been such a fun and helpful winddown. In fact, in a moment of sadness/anxiety this week I instead reached for the watercolors and it helped my nervous system calm down SO much.
Lol I didn’t say they were GOOD. Pickleball: I signed up to sub in a beginner pickleball league and it was very fun and pushed me towards 1) more pickleball and 2) doing activities alone, both things I want to do more of this year!
This Week in Books…
Finished
Finding Me by Viola Davis: Fantastic listen that powered me through the last 15-hour day of my road trip from AZ to NY. I love a memoir and hers is beautifully written and reflective. I understand why this cinched her the EGOT. Five stars from me.
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange: This month’s book club pick. As (almost) always, I enjoyed the book more after our discussion. It is highly thought provoking with themes of generational trauma, addiction and Indigenous history, but the structure was hard to follow. 3.75 for me. (I plan to listen to the Indigenous Peoples History of the United States next on Olivia’s recommendation!)
Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter: OK I love to listen to an easy rom com while I’m walking Otis and I started this one without knowing it was YA. I almost put it down, but then I was hooked by the adorable high school drama, feelings and romances. It made me giddy! And was just the light, unserious romance I think I needed on my return to NY, where a lot of not light and serious feelings were waiting for me.
Currently
The Week in Food…
I joked with Maggie that I’m on a soup diet. My fridge was full of soup that I rotated between for lunch and dinner…No regrets, these were both delicious!
I love to play Marry F@#$ Kill with random things. At a past work onsite one of the debates was croissant-donut-scone and we have not let those who married scones forget it. That was top of mind when I made Jalapeno Scallion Cheddar scones from the new Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook (WHICH I LOVE). The scones passed the test, but still not sure they’d beat out croissants and donuts…They did however, go great with all my soups.
I gave my breakfast salad a bit of rest this week and found myself reaching for Kodiak Pancakes — banana walnut one day and fluffy regular another. More protein is on my 2025 goals list.
Pancakes and my new favorite mug from Changing Hands Another win for Ambitious Kitchen (seriously, everything has hit)… This Roasted Carrot Cauliflower Quinoa Salad is delicious and healthy.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Yes! (I made these with GF flour while in Arizona and they were amazing, too!)
I am pro-dough ball eating.
Things I don’t regret buying
I have been on a bit of shopping SPREE (I blame the aforementioned nesting). A lot of the money I saved by spending less while in Arizona is no longer saved, oops. Here’s a few things I don’t regret.
On Black Friday, I was sitting with Olivia on the beach in Barbados with a Pina Colada shopping the Schoolhouse sale and ended up getting this quilt in a twin to have on my couch. It’s something I normally wouldn’t spend as much money on but boy am I happy I did. I didn’t get to fully experience it before my Arizona trip but have fully enjoyed getting cozy with it this week.
Otis approved. I have the Levi’s Baggy Dad Jeans in two colors now (She’s Nice, Fan Flare) and I *love* them. Shoutout to Levi’s warranty — they sent me a voucher for a new pair when I (finally) reached out about wonky pair. (Someone actually reviewed a picture of me and my belly demonstrating the defect…this fact makes me chuckle!)
This art by
(lordcowboy.com) that I am looking forward to framing.These just-perfect-amount-of-ugly Birkenstocks clogs, that I can’t stop turning to for dog walks and errands. Cool girl
even said she might copy ME.As someone who loves to cook, tell me WHY it took so long to get a metal spatula like this one. Immediately has been put to use with all the pancake making this week.
A new mug from Changing Hands bookstore in Phoenix (an instant favorite spot) makes me happy and reminds me that my parents/housemates have the same one across the country.
Group Buzz
Things in my chats:
The Telepathy Tapes, a podcast that explores telepathic abilities of non-verbal individuals. This has hooked a few people and it’s about to hook me.
This Lawrence music video, where my best friend Olivia makes an accidental appearance near the end credits. It’s hysterical in the best way and I’m jealous that Olivia can say she is in a music video that has almost half a million views.
Severance — it’s back and even though Liz properly pointed out that Mr. Milchick is quite hot IRL, I’m still scared of him.
Aaron Parnas…need I say more? I’ve cut back on mainstream news and look forward to more focused updates on Substack that allow me to do additional research when needed. My group chat is buzzing with Aaron updates.
OK this was truly so fun and cathartic for me — way more than I expected. Might continue! Cheers my friend. (Intentionally not plural, LOL)
xo, C
In honor of Team Taylor playing tonight, shoutout to my dad who sent me Taylor updates while I was driving last week. I got such joy hearing these updates from Siri.
You are a Substack natural!!!!! Honored by my mentions. I’d read this weekly - keep it coming! Xoxoxox love you