November Faves
It can feel overwhelming to process the news cycles, and sometimes I have to consciously remind myself to detach from the digital world. So this month I’m sending along some things I’ve been enjoying lately, despite everything, and I hope the things that are bringing me some joy this fall can bring you some, too.
Taste
The holidays are for (among other things…) food, and lately I’ve been loving Tetsushi Mizokami’s globally famous “Uncle Tetsu’s” Japanese cheesecake. This is no brick-out-of-Brooklyn cheesecake; it’s so light that you can have seconds, thirds—okay, we ate both cakes. The original is a can’t-miss, but the chocolate is my current fave.
See
Sundays we’ve been doing family field trips to Melrose Trading at Fairfax High School—a new tradition. It’s all small vendors, and with small vendors come small oddities… you never know what you’ll find. From lava lamps to garden gnomes to that must-have retro Furby, we always come home with some treasure.
Touch
Even in California I can appreciate the art of a cozy sock. These from Mira Blackman are tops. Small batch, tie dye. I wish you could reach through the screen and feel how soft they are! My feet sent me a personal thank-you note; yours will, too.
Smell
On a birthday trip to Miraval a couple of years ago, Mom and I discovered these plant-based balms from Laurel Skin that I’ve ordered and reordered and ordered and reordered ever since. Lately I’m loving the plant-based wildflower lavender, but you can’t go wrong.
Hear
I just started listening to The Queer Family Podcast. Jaimie Kelton puts her whole heart into this show, and you can tell. Each episode is so insightful, thoughtful, kind—and often very funny. Highly recommend the episode “Straight Women Offering to Carry Our Babies.”
Lastly, I’m sending my evergreen wish to consider preloved and/or overstocked clothing in a moment where flash-fashion is getting the glamorous magazine cover treatment. I got this jacket at the Outnet.
My bookstack this month is:
