We must reject not only the stereotypes that others have of us but also those that we have of ourselves. // Shirley Chisholm
+ Why hybrid work is emotionally exhausting.
+ The perfect cotton sweater, under-$25, also in plus.
+ There’s nothing effortless about being a woman.
+ These J.Crew tall boots are on deep sale. These suede boots are <$100.
+ ‘I’m tired of explaining why I don’t drink.’
+ This mother-of-pearl ring is fabulous (an under-$20 version).
+ Five Reasons to Take the Job You Don’t Want.
+ 20% off all rings at Baublebar. I love this dome ring set.
+ Smoky Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Soup.
+ Sephora’s minis let you test new products. This brow/lash serum is amazing.
+ Moms in Middle Age: Lonely, Overworked, and Often Online.
+ Business Casual Outfit: Long Cardigan + Oversized Shirt + Flare Pants
+ Microsoft Word has chosen sides: one space after the period.
+ A relaxed, but sultry, date night top. Also in black.
+ Need to fix a busted zipper? Just grab a fork.
+ These small wood trays are so useful for trinkets, kitchen items, etc.
Long Read. It’s time to change the way we talk about what women in politics wear.
Which books are on your recent purchase list? Admittedly, I don’t have much time to read these days, but I’m still stacking up books that look like a good time. (Maybe I’ll get to them in ’23?) Here are a few.
Leave your best new books in the comments.
{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}
Interesting take on hybrid work. I’m about to start a hybrid position that is in the office once a week, and I’m pretty stoked about it. I’ve also never worked fully remote and am worried it’ll be hard to stay motivated. Especially with starting a new role, I’m kind of looking forward to at least working some days with my new coworkers while still saving all that time and energy that comes with commuting. I also work in comms, so the easier exchange of ideas that comes with being in the same space is probably more beneficial than in other roles.
I do get the challenges with the lack of consistency though. I recently had a job that was four ten hour days a week with my “weekend” smack in the middle of the week and Saturdays off, and I never knew what day of the week it was. It was a little different in that I was going from working to not working versus working in different environments, but still, I could see how a one day in, one day out schedule is less than ideal.
Setting a schedule is the only thing that saves me working remote, when I do. Otherwise I can’t stay on track.
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar is a great short read. It’s a fantastically written story of relationships that pulls you in and makes you want to find a spare moment to read more. At times I just stopped to marvel at how the author thought to put certain words together because I had never seen them used in such a way, yet it made perfect sense. I can’t stand books where the syntax is too clever by half, but this book didn’t have that kind of feel. It all just worked. Truly, I laughed, cried, and audibly gasped, none of which are usual for me when reading. It’s an incredible work of art.
I’m really into fantasy and sci fi. Some I would recommend:
Spinning Silver
City of Brass (and the whole series)
Master of Djinn (I didn’t think I’d like a steam punk book, but I got so into it)
Wheel of Time series (they just turned it into a show on Prime, but the book is of course better)
The Night Circus
The Fifth Season (and the whole series)
Everybody I know loved The Night Circus but I just couldn’t get into it.
SAME Kellie! I tried so hard!
That’s how I felt about Matchmaking for Beginners.
Life is What You Bake It by Vallery Lomas. I went to law school with Vallery and she’s a kind, hardworking, fun person. She won the Great American Baking Show while working as a layer in New York, but it never aired due to circumstances way beyond her control involving me too era allegations against one of the judges. She quit being a lawyer and went after baking. It’s a crazy story, she’s a badass black lady lawyer baker and someone I am happy to support, and her recipes are easy to follow and well written. The book has interesting takes on southern history – it is much more than a cookbook.
I read a lot and the best books I have read lately include The Maid by Nita Prose, The Last Dance of the Debutantes by Julia Kelly and I listened to Sharon Gless’ autobiography and it was hilarious and lovely. Totally recommend her book on audio.
The Four Winds By Kristin Hannah, excellent
I liked this one too. It was my first Kristin Hannah book. I have several others on hold at the library.
Also great article on non-drinking, More people should talk about it but no one does, You get looks and made fun of and even if your taking a break from alcohol. Hard in social settings so having a glass of water/liquid helps
I didn’t drink for several years in my 20s, you would have thought I joined a cult by the looks.
For other fiction readers, I just picked up Piranesi and The Priory of the Orange Tree from bookshop.org and am excited to (eventually) read both. Each were on many best-of fiction lists in 2021 and 2020 respectively.
Priory is “feminist high fantasy,” and with men writer occupying much of the fantasy space for so long, I’m excited to read more written by women and with different types of roles for women in the story.
The Priory of the Orange Tree looks so good! I just put a hold on it at my library.
Have you read The Broken Earth triology? It’s written by a woman of color and it’s excellent. Definitely a little darker, but the world building is incredible.
Piranesi was SO SO good. Loved it. I also want to read The Priory of the Orange Tree.
I am a very occasional drinker because the medication I take is liver-processed. Happy hour after work? I have a club soda with a lime, and if anyone asks why I’m not drinking or don’t drink, I say “I just don’t.” Close friends/family know, but no one is entitled to an explanation.
Books, I’m mid “Everything I Never Told You” by Celeste Ng and it is excellent. I tend to reach for thrillers, so I’ve also recently read “Mr. Murder” by Dean Koontz and “The Alienist” by Caleb Carr. Both were very good reads.
I got The Paid Bridesmaid as my free Amazon Prime book in December. It was really good – a nice light cozy read
The Art Forger was really good. I recently read A History of Wild Places: A Novel and loved it. The Midnight Library also really stuck with me. I currently have at least one library book ahead of Crossings by Alex Landrigan but I can’t wait to read that one. Apparently you can either read it cover to cover or read chapters in The Baroness order, and it’s a completely different book. I am SO intrigued.
I felt the last sentence of the ELLE article on effort in my soul. Thanks for sharing!
Hard endorse on the Art Forger – I finished it about two weeks ago and can’t stop thinking about it! I go through 1-2 novels a week and this one was definitely the best one I’ve read in a few months.
Oh my word, that cocktail ring — I must have it. I was actually about to pull the trigger on a more expensive Tiffany ring but this one is a stunner. Thanks for the link! (Now if I could only remember my ring size, ha!)