Have a Sweet Weekend.
What are you up to this weekend? We’re knocking around the neighborhood and making a fruit crumble. I’ve also had a few sinus headaches this week so I might stare at the ceiling for a while! Hope you have a good one, and here are a few links from around the web…
Paul Rudd’s new movie looks compelling.
Oooh, DSW is having a very good shoe sale this weekend (code VIPDAYS for 25% off). I’m grabbing these sneakers and these sandals.
Toby and I went to the Liberty WNBA game last night, and I remembered this hilarious reel.
What a colorful family house. That pink and green bathroom! (Architectural Digest)
Tenderly tracking my husband. “The third time my husband complained about not being able to refill his subway card, I began to worry that the vending machine wasn’t the problem.” This essay was heartbreaking and beautiful. (NYTimes gift link)
Remember my friend Sharon Beesley’s garden? She started the cutest gardening Instagram account.
On that note, what’s your garden style? (NYTimes gift link)
Banana Republic is 30% off through next Tuesday. I want to spend all summer in this top and this skirt.
I believe this so strongly. Even newborn babies are very smart, whole people!
I’ll take this Costco sample, but only so I can make an informed purchasing decision, hahaha.
And happy strawberry cake season to all who celebrate.
Three more Memorial Day sales:
* Ilia is 20% off site-wide. Their mascara is my all-time favorite.
* Macy’s is up to 60% off, including Le Creuset’s dutch oven — my mom’s used hers for 45 years!
*Boden is offering 25% off everything, like linen summer dresses.
Plus, three reader comments:
Says Celia on 10 things I never travel without: “I always, always, always pack the black Commando maxi slip. It’s technically an undergarment, but layered with an oversized shirt/sweater/tee shirt/jewelry/etc, it can be adapted for any situation (dinner/sleeping/flights/beach/you name it). And it’s easy to wash in the sink and hang to dry in even the smallest of rental homes.” Replies SLG: “Well, dang. I think this is the chicest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Says Laraine on what are your birthday traditions: “The birthday kid sits on our coffee table and turns to face each family member, one at a time. Parents and siblings each say something they REALLY like about the birthday person. One year, though, our youngest suggested we go around again and say what we thought they could improve on. We still laugh about that one.”
Says Gina on what’s made you laugh lately: “Just wanted to say thank you for building this community. It feels like hanging out with a bunch of cool female cousins. I especially appreciate those of you who are a little further ahead in life, since your advice makes me less anxious about what comes next in my own life.”
(Photo by Celia Catalino/Stocksy.)
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106 commentsbrb purchasing now
No Big Salad teaser from the weekend and 2 wedding related posts today ;)?
I recently learned that my ancestors who came to America in the 1600’s were Quakers and there is a memorial to them at the estate my great X8 grandfather built in the 1600-1700’s. I grew up about 4 hours from here and somehow landed exactly 3 miles from my ancestral home in America without knowing it. I have always identified with Quaker beliefs and now it makes so much more sense :)
Sinus headaches were how I learned I was allergic to dairy, soy and wheat. Might want to check it out.
Yes! Interestingly, allergies often appear or worsen during perimenopause due to the interaction of mast cells and reproductive hormone fluctuations. Mast cells are a type of white blood cell that releases histamine, among many other potential headache triggers.
This weekend my 20 year old son came home from college with 4 of his friends. They were going backpacking and were picking up some gear. One of the young men asked me if he could borrow a book. They just came back after having 3 great days in the wilderness and told me that one of them read The Glass Castle out loud to the rest. While four of them are out on my deck cleaning up right now, the fifth is reading out loud so they can finish the book before heading back to school. Young men are so much more complex than we give them credit for. They join fraternities, they apply for internships, they eat everything you put in front of them, they hug me and thank me for having them over and they read aloud to each other. Parenting just keeps getting better and better.
I love this! I have a two and a half year old son and this is the kind of future and friendships I hope for him.
They sound awesome! I looked up the book and it reminds me of movie I saw long ago, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. I will read it!
The Glass Castle is SO good.
Yes! I love this, so true. I have a young man of similar age, and I truly enjoy him at this stage of his life, and I can attest to the complexity of young men. There is the drinking, the mess, the dirty coffee mugs all over the house, being a bit scared when they go on their adventures but there are also thoughtful discussions (here in CA right now about the choices for governor in the upcoming primary, AI, and so many others), walks with discussions, new movie, book and music recs. And yes, hugs. E very much enjoy being the parent to a young adult.
I love this so much—thank you for sharing.What an incredible book and I’m sure you are an incredible mom!
This is just the best and gives me so much hope, AND delights me as I’m a Nana to a little boy. He’s such a joy.
WNBA!!!! I’m so excited the Comets are coming back to Houston. LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
I’m so sorry to hear about your headaches, Joanna! Have you talked with your doctor? My sweet Mom suffered through self-diagnosed “sinus headaches” for YEARS until she finally talked to her wonderful doctor, who diagnosed her with atypical migraines. We all wish she had spoken about them sooner! My doctor diagnosed me with daily tension headaches a few years back (triggered by heat, exercise, and loud environments), and while I am not much of a supplement person, there is actually a body of research supporting the effectiveness of magnesium glycinate and riboflavin to mitigate migraines. It’s made a bit difference for me. Hope this might help!
I can’t help but keep thinking about the NY Times article on Iceland pools of last WE round-up. I loved learning about this lovely tradition, but felt really unconfortable when I discovered the term “coolcation”, relating to going to colder places for holidays in the time of global warming. Here in France we’re going through our first heatwave of the year. It’s a record of how early and hot it is. I used to LOVE summers and now I dread them. We don’t have AC a lot in France and I find it very difficult to face heatwaves, leaving aside the impact on agriculture, wildlife, and what the future holds for the next generations… Less than 20% of the world population take planes. For me, its unacceptable to use the term “coolcation” without bringing our attention to the fact that this kind of unsustainable ways of life, done by a tiny pourcentage of us, privileged humans, is an important cause of global warming, makes me feel sad and helpless. I write this without judging anyone here. It’s more of a systemic problem than an individual one, and I just wish médias would communicate better about this.
Couldn’t agree more Maia, and so well put.
I feel this very much as well. We are experiencing the first heatwave here in Germany as well and I’m so sad and cannot enjoy the warm weather at all. It’s way too much too early. I’m also pregnant and wonder in what world my baby is going to grow up in and when it might become unbearable to live on this planet. Global warming is not a problem to solve by adjusting vacation plans – it kills and will kill ever more people.
Not sure if you’re up for a project but there is something called an evaporative cooler that does not emit climate destroying HFC’s. They work best in humid climates so not sure it will work in France but you can look up tutorials online. They are also called a “swamp cooler”. Stay hydrated!
Merci for bringing this up. For some reason, frivolous air travel is still accepted by most people in the usa (even amongst those who are concerned about climate change) nd no one is talking about it. Not to mention the over tourism that is happening everywhere and pressure on local housing as more and more apartments are used as short term rentals. This is a definite blind spot with progressive Americans and we need to change that narrative.
Thank you, Maia. I agree and Laura puts it so well- we have the same issue here in Canada. It is a blindspot, but as they say in Spanish… No one is a blind as he who does not want to see.
Oops: No one is as blind as he who does not want to see.
Brooklyn meet up? :) Hi Jo! I just moved to nyc (from ca!) and I wanted to ask – do you ever do meetups with this lovely community? It would be so much fun! X
Hi! We don’t organize official events but I wonder if some other CoJ readers would want to arrange a walk or something? People have done that in the past and it’s worked out really well! Xoxo
What an absolutely beautiful Modern Love essay – thank you for sharing. We lost our dad slowly to dementia. I can’t imagine experiencing that in a spouse especially at such an early age. Her tracking of her husband and decision to give him as much autonomy in the safest way manageable was touching.
Thank you for the NYTimes link on garden style! It is the horoscope of garden personalities! My garden personality was “cottage” and it was uncannily spot on.
I came to Quakerism in my late thirties, but one of the things that kept me coming back in the beginning was how respected my two daughters were. We live far from family, but every Sunday morning my children are surrounded by dozens of voluntary grandparents who tell stories about marching for civil rights, going to prison for their beliefs, and the importance of taking a stand against injustice no matter how small you might be.
Oh, Joanna, I will keep telling you every spring… strawberries do not belong in cake! hahahahahahah Thanks for keeping this site real, for real, though. There are so many of us out here who value this community, even though some of them are sadly misguided by your ongoing recommendation to bake strawberries into cakes. Ha!
@Abesha, I made the cake once, I even invested in a bag of barley flour after Deb/Smitten raved about it, and really disliked it. Nigella Lawson says that cooked strawberries have the texture of slugs, and I agree. I could not get past the texture. I don’t even like strawberry jam for that reason. But strawberry shortcake, or Victoria sponge made with raw berries? Nothing better.
The texture of the strawberries in this recipe was so unappetizing. I’m on team “no strawberries in baked cakes.” Raw strawberries on top of cakes? Yes, please!
I’m sure I would love strawberry cake. I love all cake. But the strawberry dessert this unambitious baker makes every strawberry season is strawberry pie. There is nothing simpler. I always top it with a 5 inch tower of redi whip. I also love and make the infamous “Strawberry pretzel salad ” It’s also easy. My husband is turning 70 in a few days and it’s hitting me HARD. We were 30 a minute ago. I’m saying that apropos of nothing really but it’s on my mind constantly and strawberry pie or lemon meringue were always his birthday choices growing up and I’ve done them for him too over the years. Mostly the strawberry pie. Like I said, simple. Not so the lemon meringue. Eeks. I had a fail with that one time when I carelessly thought tempering eggs was not really a thing..haha.
Haha correct! Strawberries belong (uncooked) in PIE!
Agree! Can’t do a strawberry in cake- yuck. Like biting into a baked thumb. And I love almost everything!! BUT I made this last night with a pound of frozen raspberries… delicious!
For the strawberry cake sceptics, I make the same recipe with rhubarb and dark brown sugar and it is incredible. It’s quite a sweet cake which is perfect for rhubarb, and the vanilla + caramel flavours of the dark brown sugar make it truly symphonic.
(I just replace the strawberries with the same weight of chopped rhubarb. I try to get the pink stems for aesthetic purposes.)
Strawberry shortcake is a fine alternative.
I feel like you’re in the minority here, though I haven’t made the cake yet. The comments on the recipe’s webpage are overwhelmingly positive. I guess even super popular recipes are going to have a few people who don’t take to them though!
I’m with you, Abesha! Strawberries adjacent, on top, or accompanying cake, but not IN the cake.
LOL agree! Strawberry shortcake the only way to go IMHO. I just do old school with bisquick and then to fancy it up I put some finely chopped mint and/or basil in with the strawberry and sugar mix.
I am allergic to raw strawberries so baked into a cake or in jam is the only way I can have them and I am always grateful for a good baked strawberry situation. Loving this recipe lately (I use a full bag of frozen strawberries) https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021174-strawberry-spoon-cake By the way, I developed this allergy in my 30s so beware, friends!
I made the strawberry cake a couple times with strawberries that started to get away from us. Now my 2yo constantly asks to add strawberries to every grocery list in the hopes that we have too many strawberries, which then require the creation of the strawberry cake
your opinion is controversial to say the least! :))
I wanted to thank this community and commenters for recommending so many great pro tips, shopping advice, friend and family support. Happily reporting back on some bitchin’ suggestions from this crowd: Crate and Barrel glassware and dishes – holding up great and so pretty Kalon Wireless Bras – comfy, stretchy and looks great under a T-shirt The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion – the audiobook narrations are amazing Golightly Cashmere – luxurious, USA-made, women-run hats and scarves, guaranteed for life Cover of “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” by JC Brooke and the Uptown Sound Cover of “Linger” by Royel Otis…sob! Rivals on Hula – My celeb crush Aidan Turner shirtless and horny? Sign me up :)
I finally had the courage this past week to end my mediocre 3-year-long relationship! Recently I had some valuables stolen and he implied it was my fault for not having been more careful with them, since I am, according to him, a generally careless and disorganized person. I took what he said to heart and repeated it to a friend, who immediately was like, “Back the eff up! That’s a really unkind and untrue thing to say about yourself!” and pointed out that I would never have gotten my current (dream) job, which requires intense attention to detail, if I was ‘careless and disorganized’. It’s amazing how just one comment can make you realize that things need to change. I ended up having a lot of long conversations with female friends, my mom, etc., voicing things about the relationship that I’d never previously told anyone. The wonderful women in my life gave me the courage to finally have the conversation with (now ex) bf, and I am now, blissfully, single once again. I can’t believe how much freer and lighter I feel now. I did quite a lot of crying but I’ve been in such a good mood since the first sadness passed. Probably I’m not done being sad altogether, but for now I’m embracing how good it feels to spend time with my friends in the beautiful spring weather and flirt a little with a cute English guy I know—which is how I’ll be spending my weekend!
I love being single. Having a bad bf is worse than having no bf!!
I will share this comment with my daughter. She’s in year 3 of what seems like a very similar relationship. Despite lots of crying talks with friends and family, she said she’s not ready yet to end things with him. I’d like her to see what it looks like from the other side. It’s hard as a mom who wants to support but also not specifically tell her what to do.
Proud of you Natalie!
Yay, Natalie! I’m so proud of my friends when they exit mediocrity in a relationship bc amazing deserves amazing. Therefore really proud of you bc we’re alllll friends over here. And I’m sorry you lost valuables! xx
Love this Natalie and I am also gearing up to leave a relationship with similar problems. I repeated something that my partner said to me as a joke to a friend and they were like wait wtf, that’s not okay. Sometimes you get so used to being put down that you don’t even notice it anymore! I can’t leave just yet but am so excited to feel freer and lighter on the other end.
Congrats Natalie! I’m so glad you repeated what he said and your friend spoke up-and you were able to really hear it! There’s an episode of Ted lasso where the takeaway is like, don’t speak up if someone’s dating someone shitty and I just do NOT agree. It can be really hard to see it when you’re in it, and it often takes someone else saying hey but actually you’re great for us to see it! I hope you get a great breakup haircut and enjoy a single summer!!
Hi Natalie, I am so happy for you! I was in a relationship with someone many years ago. I asked him what he thought the future held for us, I was thinking marriage and he said “I don’t want to wake up to your face every day”. That comment made the next steps so clear, it also helped me set a higher standard for the people I was in any sort of relationship with. Dating a jerk taught me what I didn’t want and what I would not tolerate. Enjoy your time, your life, your energy.
Anon for this. Your daughter sounds like a romantic, so in that vein, is she not worried that her real soul mate is passing her by while she is with this placeholder?
I need to end my 3-year mediocre relationship as well, and this is exactly what I needed to read. He’s a good human, but not an attentive or thoughtful partner and the indifference has really snowballed lately. It would be sad I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but I would be so much happier on my own. I’m 40 and don’t want to waste time with the mediocre any more!
My very best friend was not in a good a relationship. It was high school/college. He zapped her joy and she became a shell of herself. I couldn’t say it to her face so I wrote her a letter. I’m better at writing feelings than speaking them. At any rate, we didn’t talk for two years after. Unbeknownst to me, she was still talking to my mom and sisters. When she finally broke up with him, she asked my mom if I’d speak to her again. My mom said she didn’t know but she should try. We picked up exactly where we left off. And she still has the letter. She told me a few years ago and that she’ll occasionally read it. Sometimes I regret saying anything at all because we lost a few years. I’m still not sure if it was my place. It’s hard to know what to do. I’m so glad we’re friends though.
to Also anon who is 40 and needs to leave her 3-year relationship: in one of my many conversations with my mom about this, she told me that I was really beating myself up about potentially making him sad. She said that it showed I was a good and thoughtful partner but that a) there’s nothing wrong with wanting to break up, it’s not ‘being mean’ to the other person; and b) I should leave his feelings to him and focus on mine. Maybe that’ll be helpful to you. You got this!! PS Thanks everyone else for all the nice comments, they all made me smile! I had a great weekend and am seeing cute English guy this evening!
Wow, a lot of us around the age of 40 are leaving our 3 year relationships! That’s a comfort. Mine ended in February and while it was fine (we are still friends), he has some soul searching/therapy to do. I enjoy being single so the transition hasn’t been hard – life’s too short to be in a mediocre situation.
It’s been three weeks and likely no one will read this update, but I just wanted to pop back in to say that I did just end the mediocre relationship. It was hard and sad, but I know we’ll both be better for it in the future. Thanks, Natalie, for the encouraging words and solidarity!
Sinus headaches are so unpleasant. Hope you feel better. Your comment about staring at the ceiling came to mind when I came across this William Stafford poem. And it made me think how much I love the early morning, when I can have empty, still time before the day begins. Any Morning by William Stafford Just lying on the couch and being happy. Only humming a little, the quiet sound in the head. Trouble is busy elsewhere at the moment, it has so much to do in the world. People who might judge are mostly asleep; they can’t monitor you all the time, and sometimes they forget. When dawn flows over the hedge you can get up and act busy. Little corners like this, pieces of Heaven left lying around, can be picked up and saved. People won’t even see that you have them, they are so light and easy to hide. Later in the day you can act like the others. You can shake your head. You can frown.
This is beautiful; thank you for posting it.
I’ve been using Ilia’s tinted moisturizer for years and it’s so hydrating on my dry skin. I’ve tried cheaper brands but they can’t compare. Don’t know if it would be too oily on young skin but for this middle-aged lady it’s awesome.
I feel like sex after menopause and into the later years of life is a really under discussed topic. I’d love to learn more about what I have to look forward to!
Shout out for those of us farther along on our journeys still enjoying our lives fully!! And big shout out to vaginal estrogen cream. It’s a huge help for many of us, and it’s non systemic estrogen so it’s a good choice for most.
Check out NPR 1a’s recent series on this!! https://the1a.org/series/sex-week/
Vaginal estrogen helps immensely. If you are not already on Menopause Hormonal Treatment, especially the vaginal cream/insert, I highly recommend you talk to your doctor about starting (if you can). Best of luck and hang in there. This change we experience is finally now starting to get talked about more than in previous generations but we still have a long way to go!
Lexi, I’m 60 years old and besides being in menopause, I’m also undergoing breast cancer treatment with hormone therapy. My libido really plummets, but with intimacy-building work, we can overcome that – of course, if you’re in a loving relationship, which I am – we just strive to maintain physical affection and everything happens – ah! The inner youth remains the same – the desire for adventures, dreams and illusions – they stay! xxx kisses from Brazil
I feel like the consensus will be: 1) Communicating openly with your partner 2) Vaginal estrogen 3) HRT 4) Even if it’s not sex, physical affection in other ways to stay connected
Started the MDW with a bang trim and manicure, and saw the film Sheep Detectives! My goodness…what a sweet, funny, smart and charming film! Think a combo of Babe, All Creatures Great And Small, and an Agatha Christie and Knives Out mystery all rolled up into a lovely film! Heading up to the Olympic Peninsula tomorrow for hiking and and a picnic…and will share I splurged on a Le Crueset Dutch Oven last year…anniversary gift to myself and husband. My sister got my mom’s mustard colored one when the folks moved into a retirement community, and after watching lots of Ina Garten videos, I knew it was time to get one! Love mine…a lovely orange red ombre oval one!
Bahaha I actually just made the strawberry cake on Tuesday for a friend’s bday! I do indeed celebrate!
I have my kids for the whole weekend and we’re tackling yard projects, finally! Wood chips for the chicken run, weed whacking and mowing, digging up blackberries and a broken old clothesline and replacing it with a better one. Can’t wait! And maybe there will be some strawberry cake…I think they left some in the fridge!
My mom has PCA. It’s rare and I didn’t realize how much it would mean to read someone else’s story about it until I did. It took YEARS before she was correctly diagnosed, which is typical for PCA because it is almost always interpreted as an eye problem before the neurological component is clear. All forms of Alzheimer’s are hard and sad, for the diseased and for their family members and loved ones. What is hard about PCA is that while cognition declines, the person is becoming functionally blind at the same time. I hope there is a cure one day.
My mom also has PCA and it is getting quite advanced now and yet she is so young (70!). It is harder and harder to see her decline especially when our kids, born around her official diagnosis 6 years ago are developing so rapidly. In some ways I am happy she has been able to enjoy so much life these last few years compared to if she had a different illness, but when I think about the long path of decline still to come, and the impact on my dad, this is a painful road. I wanted you to know you aren’t alone and it is really hard.
My mom also had PCA, and it took multiple rounds of cataract surgery, eyelid lifts, brain scans, ophthalmologist and neurologist appointments to finally figure out what was happening and why. I’m her case, her memory/situational awareness was so strong that she could “fake it till she made it,” bluffing her way through conversations pretty convincingly…to a point. The day we realized she was actually completely blind, it was a total shock. The whole situation was heartbreaking and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Sending you strength and courage for the days ahead.
As soon as I read the title link about trackers, I had a feeling it was an Alzheimer’s story. How I both long for and dread their familiar ache. Caroline beautifully summarized the pull between guarding a loved one’s safety and bolstering their very necessary dignity. Like so many, it’s slowly stripping one of my people, too. My mother never remembers the million little things my father – her ex-husband – does every day because she can’t – won’t? – accept that she’d be in grave danger without his management. I like to think I’d be more cooperative if my time comes, but such a reality is probably too much to bear. Her choice of word – tenderly, certainly fits. “Let the disease be the thief, not me.” I wish peace for anyone affected by this disease.
Thank you for these links- they look delightful. I always go through them with my coffee, on my couch, Saturday mornings. I just wanted to extend my love to the San Diego community, particularly the Muslim community in San Diego. The terrorist attack of shooting up a mosque/school hurt my soul. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said the ummah (community) is like a body, when one limb hurts, the whole body aches. Those 3 men were all our fathers, husbands and sons. May Allah grant them peace in their graves and reward them with the highest of heavens and keep them in the company of the righteous.
Strawberry cake. It’s the crowd pleaser. I just made it last weekend (because I’m a weekend gardener) with our peaches and it was delicious. 🤤
where do you live that you have ripe peaches in May? or were they last year’s that you put up?
Re the Paul Rudd movie: It’s the same director, John Carney, as Once. One of my favorite films of all time, and the theme song, Falling Slowly, is also one of my truly most favorite songs….. I’m so sold just based on that!!! I listen to Falling Slowly at least once a day. Paul Rudd is kinda ok too ;)
It’s too bad Paul Rudd is so unattractive ;)
WAs talking to one of my students today , as she was complaining about having to lug her cello around. I shared with her the numbers from Once, the stage show, where the musicians were “dancing” with their instruments,including the cello!
Sashaaaa! that movie lives in my heart. And the scene with Once will never get old xx
I have had a hard time letting go of “things” all my life, but we had a church activity about cleaning out closets (ahead of next month’s clothing and housewares swap), and something just clicked in my brain. I’ve been getting rid of something(s) every day for a week, and I’m looking forward to a weekend of LOTS more of the same. Other people can enjoy my previously-loved things now! (Note: if it’s garbage, I’m just throwing it away. Not swapping or donating.) xox
Oh it’s quite lovely when whatever kicks in and it’s no longer scary but FUN to get rid of what’s no longer serving you! You feel so clear and free and deserve a gold star!! There’s nothing quite so wonderful as drawers with space and an empty shelf and a closet that isn’t jammed. I need to do a bit myself! Thank you for the inspiration ❤️
Sometimes having a buddy helps me! I like Dana K White’s books and sometimes I’ll throw on her YouTube while I clean and not really pay attention because then we’re both cleaning. I also love How To Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis.
Literally just pulled my (third of the year) strawberry cake out of the oven this afternoon. The best and none of us even like cake!
haha, i believe that so much, too, about babies being born whole people with individual personalities and everything right off the bat, but when i first opened the link and glanced at it i thought it said, “..children are not lesser potato-adults, but fellow beings…”
My husband and I have a date to properly clean our house… I know, romantic right! But we will then pop the prosecco and watch something really good on tv and read books in a house that isn;t hidden under months of dust. But first the dog has to run on the beach – which often means the cleaning doesn’t get done because the mood has changed (remember how there are months worth of dust? – hmmm we are a predictable couple). The prosecco was never dependant upon the cleaning.
We too have a Sunday date to reorg/ clean the garage….. in between much more fun days of hiking and treat food. And on clean day, after we’re done we’re taking our dogs on one of the best wild flower hikes around, hoping they ate in bloom by now. It’s so good even the dogs stop to smell the balsam root and lupines. And I will cry, remembering all our now gone dogs that lived this home so very much (I think heaven must be a lot like this hike at the end of May). Happy cleaning to you!!!! Have so much fun at the beach.
Strawberry cake season! We live in the PNW and every year I anxiously await strawberry season, so we can make this cake. My sons all look forward to it each year, and after picking strawberries at a local farm this week, we made it this morning!! Just as delicious as ever. Thank you Joanna for sharing the recipe all those years ago and starting such a lovely family tradition 🍓
A Quaker link!! You should do a series on faith — people’s stories of what their particular faith (or lack of faith) means to them, how they came to it, what they struggle with. I bet it would be genuinely surprising and sweet. Us Quakers are pretty cool.
Oooh, yes, please! Fabulous idea, Louisa. Hard second to this idea. I’d like to read about Quakers, Baha’i, Shinto, and Zoroastrianism in particular. This would be an amazing series.
I love this idea!
Agree, this would be a fascinating series. And go Quakers!
I agree! This would be so interesting!
Yes! I love Quaker wisdom on parenting as an atheist.
Another plug for the Quakers! I work in a Quaker school and know the author of that Atlantic article. There’s much to be learned from them.
Joanna-Do you have seasonal allergies? I always get sinus headaches with allergies this time of year. Rinsing my sinuses with a neti pot a couple times a day helps a lot and allergy meds. Hope you feel better!
Also do the saline rinse an have almost eliminated the need for pharmaceuticals
The links this week really touched my heart. My father was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It’s still early stages, but we’re all torn about how much to curtail his activities (mostly without telling him). The phrase “Let the disease be the thief, not me” will stick with me forever. Also, as a practicing Quaker and soon-to-be mom, the article about the alignment between Quaker values and parenting practices was really soothing. I worry a lot about being a good parent to older kids, when the time comes. Thank you, Jo and crew. This was a good way to end my week.
Hugs, Bexie. It’s so hard.
Bexie, I’m sorry about your dad’s diagnosis. It really sucks the wind right out of you. I promise there will still be moments of such clarity and beauty. There will be glimpses that let you know, he’s still there. My dad would sometimes tell a funny story (he was very funny and a great storyteller) that would have is all on the floor and him just grinning. Even in his very last days he said such profound things to me, things that are now his last gifts to me, things that were still so HIM. It’s easy to think you will lose him, and that will be all, but it won’t be. And spend the time now, you will be glad you did later. My heart is with you.
Yeeeup! Pulling out my le creuset dutch oven right now to make broccoli!
I love love love Ilia’s complexion stick so much!! But cannot for the life of me get over the strong smell of their mascara! Maybe I just got a bad batch?
Same! The smell is awful.
THIS!! I thought mine was going bad!! and got a second tube and thought how can I be getting the rancid ones every time??? Thank you for clearing this up. Their fat pencil lip in Kiln is the prettiest red- And I NEVER ever have been able to wear red. It does not smell ;)
For years I have used Ilia’s volumizing mascara in the travel size because I like the brush (wand?) more than the one in the regular size. The mascara does not have any scent, so maybe try this version?
Make sure you have a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom at night. I think the humidity has been quite low in NYC last week which dries out sinuses.
oh thank you!! I’ll do that tonight.