October 7, 2022
Dear Friday,
You are here, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share my days with you with my FIRST-EVER Weekly Love Letter. This week has been another lesson in “adapting” to the new school schedule for my boys while juggling the everyday tasks of working, managing homework, driving my boys EVERYWHERE (thank God one has his license), pretending to keep up with the ENDLESS piles of dirty laundry, and figuring out what to make for dinner AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN. I swear, if the laundry crisis in my home doesn’t break me, coming up with dinner plans will. Oh, and did I mention…I adopted a duck?????
I was 100% on point the past few days ( not my typical reality) with planning, organizing, and executing new professional adventures for my reading and writing life. This weekly love letter is one of my latest creations. Here is the deal…Life is hard, and it doesn’t blink an eye when it drenches us with monotonous tasks and uninvited stress. And while I do not believe every day needs to feel like a trip to the Magic Kingdom, it is VITAL to experience sparks of joy throughout the day that nourish you inside and out.
It wouldn’t be human if I didn’t admit to saying that I, more often than not… look forward to the weekend. I mean, duh, of course, I do. But as crappy as some of my days feel, I DO NOT want to wish them away just to get to Saturday & Sunday. Number one, this ages me faster, and I prefer to remain youthful for as long as possible. And two, it is not living in the present moment, which I so desperately work on doing EVERY DAMN DAY (it’s wicked hard, people).
So without further ado, here is Dear Friday! I hope it brings you great pleasure and unexpected delight.
xoxo,
Kelly
SHHH…CAN’T YOU SEE I’M READING
I just finished reading Yellow Wife by Sedeqa Johnson for the September #DEARBASICBUDDYREADS, and it was 5-star fabulous. It’s a historical fiction novel set on a slave plantation/jail. Johnson’s book has a very strong sense of place and time. It is utterly heartbreaking and 100% maddening. The characters are raw and hauntingly beautiful, and their stories will linger in your mind long after you finish the last page. If you love The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, then Yellow Wife is for you. I CAN NOT recommend it enough. It is also under 300 pages, so it is not only quick but also packs a punch in a short period of time! Make this book happen. Also, grab a copy of The Chain by Adrian McKinty. It is our October Selection for #DEARBASICBUDDYREADS. Head on over to INSTAGRAM to sign up for our end-of-the-month chat.
I CAN’T HEAR YOU…I’M WEARING HEADPHONES
You by Caroline Kepnes has been on my TBR for a while now. I have been tailoring my reading to match the season, and I think “A Stalker” fits in beautifully with the spooky vibes of October. I do not put much stock into star ratings, but I believe this book fits the bill for 5 BIG ONES. It’s 100% literary, for one. Think quintessential NYC bookstore, writers bopping around the city working on their MFAs quoting famous writers, and reading THE NEW YORKER like it’s the Bible while completing the NEW YORK TIMES Sunday crossword puzzle in pen. The characters are needy, greedy, a tad bit narcissistic, and over-the-top messy. Kepnes’ book is a beautiful mix of sexy and creepy, and I could not stop listening. I am psyched that there are two more books in the series and a rumored 4th. You has also been adapted to the screen and is on NETFLIX. More on that later. Lastly, I enjoy listening to my books on Libro.fm because they support local bookstores. Feel free to use my referral code. I am not an affiliate, just sharing a great app.
NETFLIX & CHILL
Ok, so how about HULU & CHILL for today? Let’s be clear. There is no real “chilling” going on here. Just pure trying-to-get-through-one-episode-a-night-without-falling-asleep kind of watching, either alone or with my hubby. I just finished watching CANDY on HULU, and it was phenomenal. This mini-series is based on the 1980 murder in which Candy Montgomery was accused of murdering her friend Betty Gore with an axe 😳. Here is the scoop. Jessica Beil is sensational in this. The late 70s early 80s depiction was so freaking on point. The color palate was orange, yellow, brown, and avocado green. The eyewear was heavy and thick…think coke-bottle glasses. The characters were mysterious, raw, and totally depressing in the best possible way. The camera work was wicked cool and gave me all the DEXTER vibes. I thought the graphics were done exceptionally well, focussing more on the story itself and not on a ton of disturbing imagery. The “murder” was definitely…SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. I am still processing all the details. The best part of this show is that you are in and out in five episodes, and if you pay close attention…you may even spot Justin Timberlake in the cast 😮.
WHAT THE HELL AM I MAKING THESE PEOPLE FOR DINNER TONIGHT?
I have realized that I will be making dinner every damn night until I die unless we go out or get takeout…so basically, FOREVER! I am sharing a recipe I made this week that is SOOOO EASY. It’s a dump-in-the-crockpot-and-go situation, and it’s good. This Chicken Taco Chili is the bomb. Serve it over fluffy rice (or cauliflower rice if you are keeping it tight) with shredded cheese, guacamole, and a piece of cornbread for good measure. It tastes EVEN BETTER the next day and freezes like a champ. You are welcome! CLICK HERE AND START COOKING…I mean, dumping 😂
I WRITE THE SONGS THAT MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD SING
Yeah, so…I don’t actually write songs. Instead, I write about books I love, life in general, and I’m maybe even working on a book or two 🤷♀️. Today though, I am THRILLED to share my latest piece published on Grown & Flown. It’s about my couch, seriously. Doesn’t that sound CAPTIVATING??? In all honesty, it is a love letter to all the messy couches out there and to all the moms who stress over keeping them tidy. Instead of focusing on catalog-worthy couches with gorgeous faux fur blankets and pillows strewn about, let’s pivot our mindset and appreciate the memories that are being made on this central piece of furniture and all the respite it provides us from our fast-paced world and over-scheduled lives. See…now you are intrigued 🥰! READ IT RIGHT HERE!
MY BODY’S A TEMPLE…BLAH, BLAH, BLAH
Oh my God, it kind of is, and I am TRYING to do all the things for myself physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s a process, friends. Two things for you this week. Number one, drink water! I am hit or miss with this one. I can say that when I drink A LOT of water each day, I see and feel a difference in myself. The numbers on the scale go down, and I am less hungry and feel less tired. I have zero clue about the science behind the whole “water” thing. Do we drink half of our body weight in ounces, or do we lug around a huge and, might I add, obnoxious GALLON water bottle with ridiculous reminders written on the side (which we apparently need)? I do not know. What I do know is that if you are consciously drinking water throughout the day and inconvenienced by MULTIPLE trips to the restroom (especially when you are driving), then you are probably drinking enough 🤷♀️!
I am also expanding my personal development reading these days. I am finishing up an Advance Reader Copy of The Book of Boundaries by the lovely Melissa Urban (CEO/Founder of the Whole30). I am beginning to believe that boundaries are EVERYTHING, especially as you get older. This book comes out next week and is one for your shelf. Big thanks to Random House for hooking me up with this gem. You can pre-order it RIGHT HERE!
FRIDAY I’M IN LOVE
That’s right, my sweet friends. It is Friday, and I am here to share what I’m in love with this week. Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice…That’s What Dreams Are Made of. Am-I-Right? So I truly love making my coffee and have been playing around with making my cup align with the whole PSL season. I do not like sugary-tasting coffee, so most of my coffee-enhancing purchases have been failures. That all came to a screeching halt this week when I purchased Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Flavored Oat Beverage. I have found my winner. It is light with just a touch of sweetness, and I am 1000% obsessed with it. A splash of this in your coffee will bring you much joy…I promise! Make this “milk” happen!
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