Five Things: Issue 116
When I say I googled Lecrae quotes...
Back in spin class, and back to the newsletter
I am so so grateful to have had a little break to celebrate and rest.
I’ll say it, COVID-times weddings are still quite fun. Wearing a mask when not eating incredible hors d’oeuvres? Still fun! Wearing a mask on the dance floor? Can still get low! No dance floor at all? Still be pooped at the end of the night from overflowing with joy! I am so rich to have so many reasons to celebrate.
All indications show that Kansas City is about to enter the throw a rock hit a person with COVID phase, and it’s strange how in March the thought of staying home seemed so scary, but now I feel equipped to handle a couple weeks at home. I should say more equipped, because I will still miss the possibility of restaurant Caesar salad, and the hospital statistics offer little comfort. But I bought some art supplies and a humidifier, and am ready to get hunker down again in these weeks before the holidays.
Speaking of holidays, I am working on my Christmas card now, and if you have moved since last year, or want to join the list, fill out this google form.
This sentence now has links to the 100th issue master spread sheet, my instagram, my Outdoor Voices referral link (use this so I can try out their new Swift Leggings), and old issues of the newsletter.
Number One: Tody
I don’t know that I went looking for a way to revolutionize the way I cleaned the house, but I found it. The Lazy Genius Podcast tipped me off to the Tody app, which tracks how often you want a certain part of your home tended to, and reminds you gently to do so. It has totally changed the game for me, I used to be a “clean when it looks gross or people are coming over” type-person, and now I’m a “the kitchen is getting swept every two days, and the living is lightly dusted every week” person. It’s brought peace to my world. My main takeaway is that cleaning is much more gratifying when you are in the habit of doing it.
The pros:
Setting it up and using it is intuitive
It only sends you push notifications when you have like 25 tasks due
It’s easy to switch between “what needs to get done today” and “what needs to get done in the dining room” really easily
You get to decide how often you want certain tasks done, and it doesn’t shame you for only wanting to sweep the porch once every three months
The cons:
It costs $8, and even though that’s my weekly bagel budget, it feels like $400 in app money
It’s not exactly ~aesthetic~ it’s not tough to look at, but it doesn’t win any design points in my book
Number Two: Queen’s Gambit and Dash and Lily
After watching Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, I was like, “do I want to take up chess?” It was the perfect weekend watch when I was laying low trying to not get COVID two weeks ago. There is some darkness, but the first episode had me thinking that it was going to be dark-dark, and it doesn’t quite go there, so stick with it!
I watched Dash and Lily and it was just pure Netflix-quality joy. It’s no Sweet Magnolias, but it’s approaching, and there’s some tender little surprises. The audio mixing is sporadically horrible, so just have your remote in hand ready to adjust accordingly.
Number Three: Charles Curtis
It’s fairly well documented that I am excited about Kamala Harris and her bus. This week I had a record-scratch moment when KCUR pointed out that she is not, in fact, the first Vice President to not be a white guy. Charles Curtis, who served as Herbert Hoover’s number two, was a member of the Kaw Nation. And I’m a little embarrassed that as a native Kansan I’m just now learning about him - was Hoover’s presidency that bad? Anyway, now I want to learn more about Vice Presidents, it seems like the way to become interesting to talk to at parties. It might be worth mentioning that I was Executive Vice President of my sorority back in the day - we love a VP.
Number Four: The little things that make your day 1% better
As we approach the doldrums of Winter, I wanted to give you, and me, permission to go ahead and do the things that will make your day 1% better. Open the blinds! Burn through your candles! Put creamer in your coffee! Drink a big glass of water! Put on a coat and go for a walk! Read a dumb book! Surprise a friend with a gift! Use your eyelash curler! Make your bed! Moisturize! Learn a new game! Eat a moderate amount of raw cookie dough! Do the stretch where you lay on the floor with your legs against the wall! Take a class!
Number Five: Half-baked Harvest recipes worth the try
One way I am trying to make my week 1% better is by trying new recipes.
On Tuesday I made the Spicy Pumpkin and Cheese Stuffed Shells. Delish. Great on the leftover side too. Jumbo shells were nowhere to be found in Kansas City, I used bowtie pasta, so it ended up being more of a “pasta stack” if you will.
Friday night I made the Sheet Pan Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts. Also great. I over-floured the chicken, but it was a crowd pleaser, and brussels sprouts were just right.
As promised, here’s the link to Ticket to Ride. And here is a link to my favorite halloween costume I saw this year.
Testing out this comment feature...that Halloween costume at the end gently catapulted me into heaven.