Issue #133: Pumpkin spice fraught-te
Good morning, shoppers!
What a time to be alive! The sun is shining, there are fresh horoscopes in the air, and things are, frankly, pretty dandy. That’s right: Dandy! I’m in high spirits after getting the very first ARCs of my upcoming book, which is out in December. I feel like a broken record (and the playlist is going to be on repeat for the next few months, to warn you in advance), but it’s absolutely wild to see something I’ve been working on for so long in physical form, plucked from my head and printed on paper. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it, nor do I want to.
We hope you’re having just as sunny a week, whether it’s just a brightness of the soul, or weather too.
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Kase + Maggie
To borrow a line from the late Johnny Cash, “I’ve been everywhere, man.” And I mean, everywhere: I’ve spent the last seven weeks jumping into chilly lakes, gorging myself on piles of oysters that taste just like the ocean, scouring stock at West Coast thrift shops, dozing off on airplanes and working from the backseat of several vehicles. I spilled my heart out to a couple of bonfires, laughed until I couldn’t breathe at terrible Mark Wahlberg impressions, hell, I even milked a goat at a county fair. It’s been a summer. Am I exhausted? Is my bank account begging me to stop? Does my apartment miss me? Absolutely. But as I prepare to make my next stop (Chicago) and reflect on a rough couple of weeks earlier this summer, I’m really, truly, just happy to be here, no matter where that is geographically. —MC
There’s something wrong with me where I turn on TV series for “background noise” then get totally invested and rewatch them for weeks on end, start to finish. Grey’s Anatomy? I’m a doctor now. Parks and Recreation? I get a rash basically every time I so much as look at a tree, but let’s Knope it up. Friday Night Lights cemented my Texas Forever mentality and fooled me into thinking I know a single thing about football. (I do not.) The latest stop on my tour of binge-watch mayhem was The Office, every night for weeks. I even pulled my husband into my spiral, to the point where he insisted that I not watch the final handful of episodes without him. The absolute gall. Our main takeaways: Wow, was Jim’s hair goofy in the earlier seasons, and Steve Carell is a comedic genius. We keep muttering “I’ll have the gabagool” at each other, and it has me thinking that this may be an essential household purchase. —KW
From the brilliant minds of Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley and illustrator Leslie Hung comes Snotgirl, a highly-fashionable blogger saddled with terrible allergies, a great sense of humor, questionable friends and an ever-present ex-boyfriend. I’ve been staying up super late, tearing through volume after volume of this very relatable, very hilarious comic book series. Ever worked online? Thought more about your outfit than you probably should? Nicknamed your friends like they were characters on your blog? This one’s for you. —MC
“I am in my uncool thirties,” I recently said with great authority, throwing out ideas for an unplanned day that included getting a new ear piercing or going on a ghost tour. After a long, weird Q1 and Q2 of Figuring Stuff Out, I’m just here to like what I like and do stuff that makes me happy. Following my heart has lately led me to some real toddler fashion, including a deep fascination with and love for exercise dresses and skorts. Skorts! My kid wears what stores call “cartwheel shorts,” and I’m ready to embrace them too, especially since these styles usually have pockets for my snacks and things. Sweat-wicking? All-in-one garment? Fun colors? I am in, in, in. My only regret is that I leaned into this urge so late into summer, when I could have been wearing activewear skirts for months already. —KW
There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who unpack the moment they return from a trip and those who let their luggage linger. Maybe it’s the byproduct of living in an apartment for so long, but I’ve got to reset moments after I walk in the door (the alternative might be spontaneous combustion, I don’t know). It’s how I settle back into my space. However, one thing I’ve learned over the past two months is that there are certain things you should always keep packed and at the ready. For me, it’s my toiletries. Nothing gives me more anxiety than making sure I’ve got all my lotions and potions (and that they’re under 3.4 ounces. Death to checking a bag!) Thanks to these see-through cosmetic bags, I’ve created a fail-safe kit that contains everything from sunscreen to overnight lip masks. It lives in my linen closet, I can always see what I’ve got and what’s missing. It’s grab-and-go-go-go! —MC
Everyone gets something a little different out of running (for us, the biggie is a sense of accomplishment from getting it done), and the organization Girls on the Run is committed to getting school-aged girls off and running. The effects impact so much more than their quads — participants get the social, physical and emotional benefits of the activity, the beginning of what could be a lifelong habit. There are Girls on the Run chapters across the country — check out their website to find your local chapter and get involved or donate.