Coffee Break #021: American Girl magazine, wedge flip-flops, and work-life balance.
Your weekly roundup of inspiration and ideas to build your dream life.
Dear Friend,
Doesn’t the first week back from a vacation always feel like the longest week in the world? I feel like I forget all of my schedules and routines while I’m flitting from cute boutique hotel to cute boutique coffee shop on the other side of the country, and then get a very rude awakening Monday morning when reality sets back in.
So all of that is to say that I did nothing but veg (or rot as the kids say, though I hate that term) all weekend and it was lovely. Happy Monday Tuesday! (Thanks technical difficulties).
In Brief
📚 Reading
I’m about to finally read Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, and I’m very excited. I remember seeing the synopsis when it came out ages ago and being really intrigued, but it just fell off my radar until this year with the series having just come out.
🍔 Eating
Almost entirely by accident, my husband and I have gone mostly vegetarian. We’ve been really loving this Crispy Sesame Baked Tofu recipe from Eat with Clarity – it’s pretty simple to make and sooooo tasty.
📺 Watching
We’ve undertaken an Arrested Development rewatch, and my god is that show funny. That’s all.
🎶 Listening
I found this amazing Gap June 1990 playlist and it’s been on repeat. Apparently Gap workers used to curate handwritten playlists for the stores? Amazing.
📚 Books & Creativity
Weekly Task
Choose one subject from your personal curriculum and spend 15 minutes exploring it (read an article, watch a short video, or browse a book).
Roundup
I’m loving this super cute guided journal The Daily Play by Brittany DeSantis – it’s got 365 prompts to help develop creativity and curiosity. (Thanks to Blue Star Press for sending me a copy!)
I’m extremely obsessed with Book of the Month’s new “nobody reads anymore” campaign.
CN Traveler rounded up their definitive list of best indie bookstores in the country. One of my all-time favorite bookstores here in Chicago, Myopic Books, made the list!
The shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Prize in Fiction has been released! I have some reading to do. So far, I’ve only read one of the picks (Heart the Lover) but I’ve been meaning to read most of the others.
I haven’t seen the Devil Wears Prada 2 yet, but apparently it features an “AI” meme that was actually painstakingly hand painted by a real artist. How cool is that?!
🧥 Personal Style
Weekly Task
Invest 30 minutes in proper garment care – mend a tear, re-affix a button, condition leather, steam wrinkles. Your clothes really can last a long time with some TLC.
Roundup
Fellow short queens rejoice! I’ve finally found a pair of wide-leg jeans that don’t make me look like I’m being swallowed by a denim factory. J.Crew Factory was kind enough to send me some items from their spring collection, and I’m obsessed with these Wide Leg Cropped Jeans. They have petite sizing, which means they’re actually the correct length for my 5’0” self too.
Harper’s Bazaar purports that the 90s wedge flip-flop look is back.
Ummm so Hill House did a collab with American Girl to create doll and girl-sized Nap Dresses… think I can cram myself into a girl’s XL? I think yes.
A couple weeks ago I snagged these rib knit comfy pants at Uniqlo on a whim, and I am OBSESSED with them. They fit perfectly, even length-wise, which is kind of a miracle (so if you’re tall, they might be a bit cropped). Also they’re super comfy. I’m about to order one in every color.
How freaking cute are these sardine hoop earrings??
🏡 Home & Interiors
Weekly Task
Organize your bathroom so your daily routine is smoother. Remove products you don’t use daily, and rearrange your everyday items in a way that makes sense.
Roundup
Loving this piece on ways to dress up instant noodles from the editors at Bon Appetit.
How gorgeous is this super colorful bungalow in Australia? The floor-to-ceiling millennial pink really speaks to me.
Half Baked Harvest has rounded up 40 easy weeknight dinner recipes, thank goodness.
Need some shelfie inspiration? Here are eight ways to curate your open shelving. Gotta say though, none of these people have enough books.
💸 Career & Money
Weekly Task
Look back through the last few months of spending and cancel any subscriptions you’re not using or have forgotten about.
Roundup
Loved this piece by Megan Schnarr on what to do when you outgrow your current life.
And I’m taking notes on this piece from The Living Standard about the small weekly habits that make her life easier.
Interesting read on the people who watched The Devil Wears Prada and thought… yeah, I want to do that. Resonated for me, who watched it as a twelve year old fashion-devotee and couldn’t understand why Andy walked away in Paris. 32-year-old me understands a lot better, but still.
These are the best jobs for work-life balance, according to a career expert.
💌 Connection
Weekly Task
Create one ritual with someone you love (weekly coffee, monthly dinner, annual trip, etc).
Roundup
Heads up, in case you forgot, Mother’s Day is this weekend. My go-to for gifting is Belle and Blush – I love creating a curated gift box for my mom, and they have the largest selection of any of the gift box marketplaces I’ve used. This is not sponsored I just love them!!!
Another big hit that I got my mom a few years ago was an Aura digital photo frame. It’s super matte and looks like a real frame, but it’s really easy to add photos with the app – and we can all collaboratively add photos at any time. I really want to get one for myself! (also not sponsored since apparently everyone else is getting sponsored by them lol)
The Good Trade offers some ideas for alternative ways to measure the quality of your life.
Want to write a letter to your future self? This website will deliver it in your desired time frame.
How cute is this peas in a pod necklace? Would make a great best friend gift, or another idea for Mother’s Day!
✨ Joy & Whimsy
Weekly Task
Create a "things that spark joy" photo album on your phone so you can look back at it when you need a mood boost.
Roundup
Huge news. I went in search of old copies of American Girl magazine from the 00s. (“If only I’d kept mine!” I shouted to the heavens). There were a lot on eBay, but they were surprisingly expensive – like $15-$20 for a single issue. And that’s how I discovered that there’s a MASSIVE treasure trove of issues that have been scanned in their entirety and are free to read on Internet Archive.
How cute is this website that allows users to leave reviews for human experiences on Earth? You’ll note that “math” currently has the same rating as “spiders” – 2.5 stars.
Do you, like me, have issues forcing yourself to stop doomscrolling? Now you can install a Chrome plugin that lets a large cat force its way onto your screen to block your scroll. Adorable and effective.
Here’s a map of fun and whimsical sidewalk installations all across the world.
I found this massive archive of 60s and 70s design inspiration while looking for something for a recent project. All the fun bright colors and illustrations!!!
⏰ ICYMI
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thank you so much for sharing and so glad the article resonated with you. ALSO just read your entire list and that is a great round up. a GAP playlist?!?!! I need to listen to this. I have also been obsessed with uniqlo right now!
Hiiii I’m one of the crazy gap workers with a playlist. Mine spans late 90s to early 00s and I will never get over the nostalgia.