5 Quick Things

photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Project 365, Day 6

Sitting here in my dining room—my makeshift office—staring at my cursor, I’m not sure what to say after a day like today in this country. I don’t want to write about it. What more is there to say? But write I shall. Good days will come, bad days will come, and I’ll write no matter what, unless my fingers fall off. That’s my goal for the year. Can’t quit six days in!

So because there was enough seriousness, enough anger to go around, I’ll just share some love instead. Or rather, some things I love. I’ve read some great new things and found some new things to blow my money on that are worth mentioning, and that’s what it’ll be for today. I have to get to a place where I don’t feel like posts like today are cheating you as a reader, or myself. A mix of short-form and long-form is good for us all, don’t you think? That said, here are five quick things at the top of my noggin right now:

This article that a reader shared with me. OMG. Fair warning: it is VERY long. It actually took me over an hour to read, but I don’t regret a single millisecond of it. It was stunningly beautiful. Heart wrenchingly told, but not in a sad way. From my reader (thank you again for sharing): “I linked an amazing essay I read this weekend, that addresses things that magically fall in your lap, feeling like an imposter and being right where you need to be. Not to mention beautiful writing.” If you have a spare hour (hahaha), give it a read.

This handcrafted ceramic bowl I’ve been keeping on my kitchen counter with marinated red onions. I first discovered said onions during my first Whole 30. They’re subtle but add a slickness and unctuousness to anything you put them on…and I put them on everything. Terri who runs No Crumbs Left designed these bowls with an artisan local to her and I just love it so much. I use it for plenty of other things when not on onion duty. Proof:

It’s great to add to a little bar with citrus, hold nuts, mix up spices, stir up a dressing. Not too big, not to small.

These dairy-free, sugar-free salad dressings. Yes, again Whole 30, but I was VERY impressed with the ranch and the white balsamic specifically. Listen, I grew up scrapping the remaining ranch dressing off my Bob Evan’s salad appetizer plate with my bare hands growing up. I take ranch very seriously. I’ve tried other dairy-free off-the-shelf versions, even tried to make my own. NOPE. But this one, it’s the real deal.

I brought up these butter socks in a post earlier this week, but they are so good, they are worth another mention. I have one pair…these things are holding it down for me. Keep my feet warm, but not sweaty, and they are so cozy. In fact, I think I’m going to buy a few more now that I mention it.

And finally, I never quite understood the record player hype. Being in LA, essentially the epicenter of the record player comeback, I just felt like they were space taker-uppers. But I was sent one as a corporate gift this year (this one) and have had so much fun with it! I picked up a few records for me (all oldies, Beach Boys greatest hits, that kind of thing) and some for Charles (old school hip hop), and it’s added such a nice, tangible aspect to my evening routine. I throw in a record, go cook something, walk back to flip the record when it finishes, rinse and repeat. In the words of my Charles “This thing was the sleeper hit of Christmas.”

Alright friends, I’ll see ya tomorrow!