Happy Friday, readers! The days are suddenly feeling a lot shorter (although does anyone else feel like their “bonus” hour of sleep didn’t feel like much of a bonus this year?) On the bright side (ha!): dark nights make for lots of cozy evening reading time.
This has been a great week on the blog: we shared our first holiday gift guide for book lovers, and 15 memoirs I loved so much I’ve read them more than once. Yesterday we had a lively discussion in the comments section about the high-quality, long-lasting pieces you’re happy to have in your wardrobe.
My favorite finds from around the web:
• Jane Austen’s unfinished novel comes to the stage. “I found it quite frustrating, trying to find the right outcome for Emma — to try to give this young woman a future from a fairly bleak opening.”
• It’s okay if you haven’t read Harry Potter. Really. It is.
• How to find more time to read. I was on Crystal Paine’s podcast this week talking about how I find time to read (but not on airplanes).
• My minimal wardrobe. “You can literally stop the cycle of buying yet another thing that you won’t really love AND you can keep your closet and drawers from filling up with unnecessary extras.”
• What should you read next? For thousands, the person to ask is Anne Bogel. This is a fun profile in The Washington Post.
Favorite Instagram:
Yesterday I documented my daily life way more than usual as part of my friend Laura Tremaine’s (fka the Hollywood Housewife) #onedayHH project. Head over to my Instagram to check it out; maybe you can join in next year?
On the blog:
One year ago: 4 easy gifts for the men in your life. “My husband is hard to shop for—as is my dad, my brother, my father-in-law. They know what they like, own most of it already, and don’t want more stuff.”
Two years ago: Gilmore Girls: A series in books. “Enjoy this glimpse at just a few of the 339 books we saw Rory reading in the original seven seasons.”
Three years ago: The tough love guide to planning ahead (if you’re not naturally a planner). “A few years ago, I started training myself to think three steps ahead when I schedule my time, considering possible outcomes and making contingency plans when necessary.”
Four years ago: What are you proud of? “I can easily identify and articulate the things about myself that frustrate me, the areas where I fall short, the items that remain perpetually uncrossed on my to-do list.”
Five years ago: My 8-year-old wants an Etsy shop: thoughts on raising young entrepreneurs. “How do I encourage–rather than squelch–her creativity and entrepreneurial instincts?”
Six years ago: Christmas shopping success comes down to three things: time, energy, money. “This year, I want to reclaim the fun of Christmas shopping. (And if it’s not always fun, I at least want to keep it palatable.)”
On the podcast:
One year ago: Episode 105: Reading makes the whole day better.
Two years ago: Episode 48: It’s good to be a special readerly snowflake.
Have a great weekend!
10 comments
Washington Post?!!! Oh Hooray for you:))
I love the “My Minimal Wardrobe” piece. I recently had to buy a whole new work wardrobe and decided to make my life easy: I now have a uniform. 5 blouses, 2 skirts, 2 cardigans and a jacket that all go with each other. It’s easy, it’s simple, and it saves me a huge amount of time staring at my wardrobe each day. Success.
Ooh, I also love the “Christmas Shopping Success” post from the blog 6 years ago (I need to print the buy/make flow diagram for my wall!).
The point about asking what people want as a gift: this goes two ways. It is helpful to have a running list for yourself that you can pull from when people ask.
Christmas/Birthday Lists are huge in my family. Everyone has one, it’s held by an appropriate person (partner, parent, etc) and so when PersonX can’t think of what to get you, they can call whoever has your list and ask for an idea. The lists go from vague (“Give me a copy of your favourite book” or “Pretty cupcake cases”) to very specific (including a link to where the product can be found).
If all else fails, you don’t know what to buy someone and they don’t give you any ideas – donate some money to charity in their name, warm fuzzy feelings all round.
“It’s ok if you haven’t read Harry Potter.”
Um, NO, it isn’t?!?!!
Today’s links were extra great!
Congratulations on the Washington Post article, well done! That being said here is my rebuttal on the Harry Potter commentary…’Really. It is not okay.’ Just kidding, sort of, not really. Sorry, I just love it so much.
2 thoughts…
I am really working on the minimal wardrobe idea but still find myself drawn to the shiny object. What I have started doing is: making myself wait 24 hours before I actually buy/order-you know, the cool purple boots…!
I am super happy about your profile in The Washington Post! Well done, I knew you were amazing but not how much! Well done.
I love the What Should I Read Next? podcast!
Yay for being in WaPo! Congratulations!!
I appreciated the article on HP. I don’t dislike HP but not into it. At all. Even though everyone else in the family loves it. But I’ve also never liked fantasy – just not my genre.
A Washington Post profile? Congratulations!
That Washington Post piece is so fun! Although, I must admit – I often think of you as my personal book guru and then I read hundreds of thousands and I think “huh…I guess it’s not me” ?