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The soundtrack to my life, Emily in Paris interiors, distraction-free phones, painterly tarot cards, and more.
A grab bag of things I’ve liked, saved, and shared lately.
🌊 We spent last week in Manzanita, a small town on the Oregon Coast just south of Cannon Beach, and it was a wonderful, late summer trip. My kids’ school is closed the week after Labor Day and since most people are back to school, we’ve been able to plan last minute getaways the past two years. Somehow the Oregon Coast has eluded me until now, despite growing up in Seattle and being back here since 2020. It’s like the Northwest’s version of Cape Cod — salty air, shingled houses, grassy dunes, abundant seafood — but with hiking, tie-dye and Tevas instead of sailboats, stripes and boat shoes.
It’s paradise for kids and adults alike — the beaches are huge, some with caves and tide pools to explore. We lucked out with warm, sunny weather and when the coastal mist rolls in it makes for some magical photos. All our meals out were delicious and there is no shortage of options as small towns dot the coastline, each with their own unique character. Some highlights: Hug Point, browsing Wheeler Station Antiques, the best fish and chips at Ecola Seafood, a quick hike to watch the surfers at Short Sand Beach, the beach in Manzanita, and a visit to Tillamook Creamery (I never thought I’d want merch from a creamery… but their branding is so good!).
🍝 In the middle of season 2 (or 3?) of Emily in Paris, my husband turned to me and said “Am I just high or is this show actually good?” Like everyone else, it started as a hate watch for me. My Dad watched with me during COVID lockdown — I would make fun of how unrealistic it all was, and he made up a drinking game that involved taking a sip every time they showed the Eiffel Tower. Fun for all! But four seasons in, I genuinely enjoy the show: Emily doesn’t post dumb social media content anymore, her over the top fashion and styling is a breath of fresh air from the monotonous clothing of today, and the production design is eye candy. Who wouldn’t want to spend an evening in Paris sat at the bar of L'Esprit de Gigi?
The storylines are silly, but I’m interested in the collective internet hunt to determine the impeccable paint colors they used for the Savoir Grateau office. I’m not sure if anyone has definitively figured it out yet, but many have tried, see here and here (my money is on Farrow and Ball). Who’s excited for the new episodes in Rome?
📱 I’m always trying to reduce screen/phone time, especially over the summer when I really just want to be outside and away from my computer as much as possible. This summer, inspired by an article I’d saved awhile back, I finally took action and deleted most apps from my phone. I essentially turned my iPhone into a dummy phone that can only call, text, play music, take photos, show me the weather, and teach me Spanish.
At first, it was weird. I kept picking up my phone, as I always do, but there was nothing for me to do or look at. Slowly, I started to pick it up less. Without notifications, I’m blissfully unaware of all of the news and chaos happening 24/7. I love it! My capacity to consume content ebbs and flows and right now it’s at a low. If you’ve been trying to spend less time on your phone, or if you’re constantly feeling distracted, try it out. You can always look at things on a computer or reinstall apps, but maybe you won’t want to ;)
You don’t have to make a permanent commitment to a distraction-free phone. Just experiment to see how it feels. I recommend you go all the way and delete every distracting app, so you can feel the simplicity and clarity that comes from having absolutely nothing pulling you towards your phone. Remember—it is very easy to reinstall all of these apps.
— Six Years With a Distraction-Free iPhone
💽 Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse came on the radio one day (!) and I was instantly transported back to middle school. It gave me an idea: to create a playlist of all the songs that are reminiscent of a specific memory, time, or era in my life. You don’t even have to like it (uh, Lifehouse…). I’m working on mine and trying to dig deep to remember the random songs I don’t hear anymore: All I Wanna Do was my little sister’s favorite song when she was a toddler, Spice was one of the first CDs I bought in fifth grade, Use Somebody reminds me of a party in the East Village after college, Madeline Peyroux whisks me away to summer in a café in Paris. What songs would make your list?
Recently, I shared this with a friend and she told me about a similar concept: 40 for 40. I think there are different versions of this, but essentially it is a playlist of 40 songs for your 40th birthday. It could be a song from every year you’ve been alive, or your 40 favorite songs, but I’m starting to put mine together and I’m thinking more along the lines of songs that make me happy or feel like my energy or essence. Then if I want to do it again at say, 50, it could be a totally different playlist.
🔮 I have always loved astrology, but never really dipped my toes into tarot.
, whose writing I love, includes a tarot card of the week at the bottom of her newsletters. It helped me realize that tarot is not about fortunetelling, as I had assumed, but more about reflection. In her words:As most modern readers will tell you, the tarot is not about fortunetelling, nor is it about neat, definitive answers. The cards are simply one path to reflection, a way of better knowing ourselves and others through universal themes. If this reading resonates with you, great! And if not, no worries. Take whatever may be helpful and leave the rest.
Over the summer, two of my friends were also talking about tarot and it piqued my interest even more. One afternoon, while popping into a shop filled with crystals (as one does), I found a huge selection of tarot cards in the back of the shop and took some time to browse and pick out a deck that “spoke to me”. I ended up buying this Tarot for All Ages deck, partly because it sounded nice to have a kid-friendly deck, but more so because I thought the cards were so beautiful and Georgia Keefe-esque.
In a different “witchy” shop down the street, I bought this Animal Spirit Deck — something I would have never ever looked twice at, but I was with a friend who recommended it. I’ve been taking both decks around with me the last few weeks and it’s been very fun to do “readings” — solo or with a group — and my kids love the Animal Spirit Deck.
If you need a crowd-pleaser meal for a group, this NYT yakitori-style salmon recipe is so delicious! We made it twice recently to rave reviews both times — it’s pretty easy and looks impressive.
I am determined to learn how to grill better so I bought this cookbook over the summer — my cookbook club cooked out of it last month and everything was very good! Her website is also packed with grilling recipes and late-summer/fall is the perfect time to cook al fresco.
Lastly, I stumbled on this quote last week and wanted to share:
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about."
– Charles Kingsley
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