Week in Review
Reflecting on why I'm posting, plus easy moments with friends that brightened the week
I’ve been thinking a lot about why I’m writing here on Substack — why it is bringing me so much joy despite feeling uncomfy and self-indulgent in curating and sharing details of my little life that no one asked for. Here’s what I think about this:
I feel creative on the internet in a way I haven’t felt since like…myspace css. I’ve been seeking more creativity in my day-to-day and this is satiating my creative side in a lot of ways. I’m also finding myself consume content differently and more thoughtfully, and that feels good.
Writing in longer form is a lot more therapeutic than I anticipated. Not just in being open about my emotional state of the moment on the internet for all to see, but when I reflect on all the stuff that I pack into a week, I see a pretty cool person reflected back at me. I am working on seeing me the way my friends see me because “cool girl” is not the view that I have of myself. But it’s hard not to like myself when so much goodness is mirrored back at me.
Most of my subscribers here are just friends and family, and you’ve told me that you enjoy reading my posts! That is enough for me to keep doing it. You might know and be a part of a couple “pieces” of my week, but I get to share almost all the pieces and that is rewarding for me to get to do.
Putting things that I want to do in writing makes them real and adds some accountability for myself. I so badly didn’t want to get up early on a Monday and go to a climbing gym by myself, but I had put it here that I would and it pushed me to just do it. I’ve also been noodling on some concept of Spatulabula for so long, and I just did it! It’s on the internet!
The world is a nightmare right now and I find myself spiraling very easily. Substack feels cozy and safe and happy and pretty, and I’m happy to contribute to that right now.
So, I think I’ll stay!
Here’s what else went down this week…
Happenings
I’m a climber now, lol. I did it - I went early on Monday morning to take my belay test when the gym was quiet. I passed and did a few auto-belay routes. OK maybe just a couple — which was enough to make it challenging to simply open my water bottle. I made it back two more days this week and am having so much fun! I knew that it would be a workout, but it is equally as mentally challenging. It requires complete presence and focus to think about where to put my hand/foot next. I had several moments where I did something hard and audibly was like “omg you just did that.” Very into this new hobby and proud of myself.
Sarah and I went to 92NY for a talk between Tinx and Chelsea Handler. It was Chelsea Handler’s 50th birthday and she’s such a badass. She’s hysterical and blunt but not in a mean way. She’s really into knowing herself and building up women. I forgot how much of a fan I am of hers. Her 7th (!) book just dropped, and I am looking forward to reading it because I have really enjoyed several of her others.
We had a midweek dessert hour to celebrate Christina’s birthday. We had cookies that her mom made and brought whipped cream, toasted walnuts, cherries and chocolate caramel sauce to add a little pizazz. It was a delightful way to break up the week.
Robin and I resumed our morning walks in Prospect Park. We used to do this weekly, but they fell off when Robin got a new job that meant being in the city early most days. It was a beautiful Friday morning and it was just the best to start the day catching up.
My mom was supposed to come into the city for a Friday get-together, but there was some sort of dRaMaTiC computer hacking situation that meant I had a free night. Olivia and I met for an impromptu cocktail hour at Bearded Lady and then I checked out a new noodle spot in the neighborhood. I just love how easy it is to see my friends on a whim and explore new spots. It was a delightful way to cap off the work week!
Maggie and I booked an April girls trip to Santa Fe, our first trip in over a decade of friendship that will just be the two of us. I am very excited and open to reccs! We also finalized the travel on
’s birthday. Love you bday gal, so glad you were born!!!
The Week in Food
I made a Blueberry Lemon Coffee Cake from The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook that honestly disappeared too quickly. Oops. Would recommend.
I whipped up some Peanut Tahini Noodles as a quick weeknight meal and it was packed with flavor despite being so easy. This is another Ambitious Kitchen recipe. Truly, everything in that cookbook hits.
I snuck in just before closing at a new noodle spot in the neighborhood, Don Udon. The curry rice was so good and the Udon flavorful and comforting. Plus, it is a tiny space with a little counter around the kitchen. The windows fogging up, reading my book, watching the owners work around the kitchen — vibes were good.
It’s not all rainbows over here. I had a burnt quesadilla between meetings one day. Not recommended.
The Week in Books
Currently
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney | 👀 | OK this is picking up. The staccato writing style without punctuation just takes some time to get into.
Someone Else’s Shoes by JoJo Moyes | 👂🏼 | We’ll
seehear.
Finished
Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair | 👀 | 2.5 Stars: This is generous. Cute enough I guess? But just too unrealistic. Stars for the ~life lessons~.
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan | 👂🏼 | 3.5 stars: A romance with smut level 0. Who knew there were so many life lessons in skateboarding? Regardless, easy and entertaining enough audio listen.
Content I enjoyed this week
I really appreciated this post from Pandora Sykes of
on how she reads so many books. It resonated with me because I often get asked “how do you do all that you are doing?!” Her post is a reflection on time and how we get to choose how to spend our disposable hours. What we choose to do means not doing something else — for Pandora, books take the place of a consistent workout routine and cooking. For me, I rarely watch TV and don’t havemuchtime to date. 😜 As she says, “It’s not the right way to live a life, it’s just the way I live mine.”I loved this piece so much.
One of my favorite reads is the Sunday posts from
— where they share the GOOD that is happening in the world. This is something that I need to see right now, and I appreciate the icons they use to indicate if it was driven by activism or lawmakers. Example post here.
Things I don’t regret spending money on
Booking an Amtrak from NY to Providence to see my bestie (hi
) and get to be at the birthday brunch celebration for her three year olds. I’m currently sitting in Moynihan Hall while the train gets progressively more delayed in 15-minute increments. A bummer, since a quick trip like this means that every minute is one minute less with my bestie and her family…regardless, it’s worth it. (Update: paid even more money to get on a less delayed train. No regrets.)
To the cool girls,
xo, C
I’ll tell you this in several channels, pls never stop writing, I really treasure this little slice of your brainwaves.