Phew

Jan 27, 2025

Good morning you beauties.

I’m still reeling from the Eaton Fire - finally able to be back in my house AND have power and drink the water and start to exhale. I was one of the lucky ones and am filled with gratitude to the first responders, as well as to the entire community of LA that showed up for those who lost everything, including members of my own family. It was … well, I’m still not really all there, you know?

What I will say, is that when something like this happens, it’s very clarifying. I was at a Writer’s Retreat the night I got the Mandatory Evacuation notice, so what I’d packed for the retreat was what I had… for a couple of days? Couple of weeks? Forever? I didn’t know. And it’s becoming more and more clear that my neighborhood was VERY lucky. One gust and… well, you’ve seen the stories. It was harrowing and heartbreaking and surreal.

It’s going to take time to process.

But, what I do know is that sitting at my desk on this rainy Sunday writing to youall feels like the most beautiful thing I’ll never take for granted again.

I am truly grateful.

Each month, I’ll gather:

🤩stuff to watch, read and listen to

🌱 cool crafts to do with your litto hands

🌈 music to soothe

🥑 good food and great places to eat and drink

🕯calming things

*****

🤩

There’s a lovely Chelsea Detective Christmas Special afoot.
We’ve also got a Season 12 of Father Brown - consistently one of my faves.
This is a lovely clip from one of the FOUR Gardeners World Winter Specials. Just lovely.
I love AN ALBUM. It’s such an art - making an entire experience for the listener. And Rosé’s album, Rosie, feels like it should be on vinyl and wafting through an A-Frame house… it’s just perfect.
Once again, it’s the FINAL season of Vera (although my theory is that they’re seeding a prequel like Endeavour/Morse did. Vera in the 80s? Yes, please.)
I also really loved their final episode documentary, Farewell Pet. It was a wonderful look back. Apparently so, because after I finished it I started right back at the beginning of the series. And it’s the best choice I’ve ever made.
My niece made a wonderful playlist for spring, because we all need a little serotonin right now and my other niece has a substack filled with playlists of the newest releases in KPOP. Both are just musical joyousness. Much needed.
One of my new favorite cozy mysteries from the last coupla years was Darby and Joan. And they just came back with a second season!

🌱

So, just know that this (and one other thing mentioned below) are my new personality. Like… I can’t be cool about it. I love the Travelers Company Notebook. I asked for one for Christmas and it’s just… finding the right inserts and setting it up and just… I love it and I invite you to ALSO make one your whole personality.

🌈

🥑

So, I found a new little snack: Yoggies. As I’ve said COUNTLESS TIMES, I have the constitution of an 18-year-old Standard Poodle, so I was over the moon to find these delicious snacks that actually kinda helped with my tummy!? Unheard of!
This is a shout out to King Taco — thanking them for getting my family through the Eaton Fire. Their food is SO delicious, it really does make everything a little bit better.
While we were evacuated, my mom and I would drive through the 7Leaves drive through and get macarons and THIS delicious drink. It became a highlight in a pretty dark time.

🕯

So, my AirPods continue to dribble out of my ears and then have the most amazing bounce radius… so, I bought THESE little straps to help WHEN not IF they burble out of my ears.
So that other thing I was talking about that I’ve made my whole personality? THIS FRIGGING AMAZING PEN. I honestly.. it’s so good. I have the .38 and I just love writing with it, it makes my handwriting look awesome… I love it.
While I was up at my sister’s for the holidays I tried two new shampoos! And they were both lovely!
- I tried the Fenty Shampoo and it smelled lovely and left my hair soft and shiny!
- But, Fenty can be a bit expensive, so we also tried the Monday Shampoo. And it was also lovely! I don’t know which one we tried, but they all seem lovely!