Coffee Break #018: Reading retreats, saying yes, and a happy Hannahversary.
Your weekly roundup of inspiration and ideas to build your dream life.
Dear Friend,
It’s nearly spring, I can feel it. Literally – it’s 60 degrees out and my window is open as I write this. In a few days, it’ll be in the thirties again, but tomorrow it will be 72 and I will feel more alive than I have in months. Ah, the midwest.
I’m staring down the barrel of four solid packed weeks so I soaked up every moment of doing nothing this weekend, with a dash of spring cleaning and resetting. It was glorious. Happy Monday all!
Love always,
In Brief
📚 Reading
I’m halfway through Ready or Not by Cara Bastone and I’m loving it so much. So sweet and laugh out loud funny a few times. I feel a 5-star coming on!
🍔 Eating
I have not been going to Starbucks much at all lately (yay local coffee shops!) but I happened to walk past one this weekend in the grocery store and noticed that they now have ube flavoring too, so I had to try it out. I have to admit, the Iced Ube and Coconut Macchiato was pretty delicious. Still don’t know if it was coconut milk or just coconut syrup but whatever honestly.
📺 Watching
I know I’m ten years late here, but we just discovered Nirvanna the Band the Show and have been binge-watching it. It’s incredibly funny (reminds me a lot of shows like Peep Show, Arrested Development, and It’s Always Sunny) and now I’m excited to see the movie that just came out.
🎶 Listening
Hannah Montana, mostly. They’re all still bangers.
🎨 Creativity & Curiosity
Weekly Task
Write a one-paragraph review of the last book you finished. You don’t even have to share it anywhere, just get in the habit of reflecting on what you’ve read in a meaningful way.
Roundup
The Everygirl purports that a “reading retreat” is the ideal girl’s trip for this year, to which I say – yes, I’m already packed, lfg. Side note – should we plan a Parenthetical reading retreat? Go in on a cutesy Airbnb and curate gift bags and all that jazz? That sounds like a lot of fun. 👀
Glamour makes a compelling case for hope in an exhausted America and why we should still all try to do our best and not give up – because true change is and always has been made by ordinary people doing ordinary, small things.
As Byrdie says, we’re in a literacy crisis, just read the dang smut. Hear, hear!
I discovered this delightful quarterly magazine called Oh Reader that’s entirely about – you guessed it – reading! I’m obsessed!
I love this idea of book publishers doing analog, IRL events more and more.
🧥 Personal Style
Weekly Task
Notice which shoes you actually wear versus which ones are super cute but always hurt your feet. I’m not even saying get rid of them! Just… think about this before you buy another pair.
Roundup
I desperately need these scalloped sunglasses from Anthropologie. My only question is – do I get the chartreuse or the tortoiseshell?
Loved these grown-up Hannah Montana inspired looks from The Everygirl. If you need me, I’ll be blasting “Life’s What You Make It” for the foreseeable future.
I’m very obsessed with Aerie and Pamela Anderson’s new anti-AI campaign. I’ve always loved Aerie, and I really commend their no-airbrushing, no-AI policies for ads and editorials. Also Pam looks so radiant???? I am so here for her comeback tour.
Loving this brown and cream crochet collared cardigan (say that five times fast) from Abercrombie.
I’m not entirely sure when the last time I bought a bathing suit was, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t this decade. Actually, wait, it definitely wasn’t this decade, it was like 2019. Anyways, it’s long gone now and I need a new one. This brown and white striped Marine Layer one piece has the perfect vintage vibes and hopefully enough coverage so I don’t feel wildly uncomfortable?!
🏡 Home & Environment
Weekly Task
Print and frame some photos. If you’re anything like me, you have frames laying around and you know which photos you want, but the multi-step process of getting prints, adding them to the frames, and hanging them up somewhere tends to stop you from taking action. Set aside 30 minutes this week and just do it!!!
Roundup
LaDouble J’s headquarters in Milan is maybe the dreamiest thing I’ve seen in a long while. That ceiling mural in the kitchen???? Need that in my house immediately.
Drew Barrymore’s home tour on Rue Mag is gorgeous as well. It feels so down to earth, but still beautifully styled and curated!
I finally caved and bought this cute ruffled sofa topper from Anthropologie this weekend. We stupidly got a white sofa last year, which I love, but with two pets… we’ve found ourselves constantly covering it with blankets to keep it protected. I decided that if we’re gonna do that, we might as well get something that fits and looks cute.
How cute is this green velvet pear-shaped throw pillow?!
This bathroom makeover is nearly unrecognizable. I’m obsessed.
💸 Career & Business
Weekly Task
Create a "no-buy month" for one category you often overspend on. For me? I hate to say it, but April is a no-buy month for books. I have unread books coming out of my ears. It’s a real problem.
Roundup
A super interesting article looking at some anonymized fashion Substackers who may make a lot off their newsletters, but still need to keep their day jobs. Though I would assume that most of them live in NYC so… your mileage may vary.
Loved this list of 51 low-energy ways to enjoy your life when you work a 9-5.
Another great post from Personal Brand Accelerator on how to create a signature content series that people actually want to follow.
I’m very obsessed with reading Refinery29 Money Diaries specifically from people who make a stupid amount of money. This one is from a lawyer in NYC who makes nearly $500,000 a year.
The Everygirl rounded up a ton of little luxuries that will elevate your desk or office and unfortunately I do need them all.
💌 Connection
Weekly Task
Call someone instead of texting this week. It might be awkward at first, especially if you don’t normally talk on the phone, but I promise it’ll be really nice.
Roundup
I cannot express enough how much I love this photography project about neighbor’s lives through their windows. I am beyond fascinated by the little slices of life I get to glimpse while walking around my city. And yes, if you’re wondering, I Look in People’s Windows did go triple platinum on my Spotify account.
How precious is this Keepsake Book guided journal? Pinterest always finds me the cutest things.
Today in “duh” – studies show that AI chatbots overly-affirm people who ask for personal advice. If people don’t stop treating LLMs as personal therapists, we’re going to have even more entitled assholes walking around.
I loved this beautiful piece on the magic of saying yes to strangers.
✨ Joy & Whimsy
Weekly Task
Treat yourself to one small luxury, budget permitting. A nice candle, some fancy bubble bath, fresh cut flowers.
Roundup
I stumbled upon Funday Press, a newspaper made up purely of games and fun facts – no news. It’s adorable and I love it.
I was looking up Mr. Men and Little Miss this week for design inspiration (as you do) and happened to see that they created a collaboration with Agatha Christie to make Mr. Poirot and Little Miss Marple. How cute are they????!!! I need all these books immediately.
I very badly want this pastel pink bicycle with a little wicker basket. My husband is convinced I will immediately die if I try to ride a bike in the city. It’s not impossible, but yet… the vibes…
I also really want this swan shaped pencil holder. Look at this diva!!!
In a similar vein, apparently people are making teeny tiny versions of the iconic porch geese for their desk. Desk goose!!!
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my girls and I did a reading retreat last year and it was one of the best vacations I've been on! Loved every second and would do again tomorrow if I could!