no 73: may digest
the best things I read, watched, shopped, saved, and ate in may including a prescient dystopian novel, perfect meals for when it's too hot to eat, and the iced tea addiction that is fueling my summer.
The monthly digest is a summary of the best things I have read, watched, listened to, saved, shopped and considered each month. As usual - she’s a bit long, so you might want to check out the browser version or expand in email.
You know the internet joke about the universe helping you grow?
This one has stuck in my head for years, coming to mind whenever things feel particularly *difficult*. Usually it makes me laugh – an exasperated eyeroll at the idea that the universe is conspiring, caring enough to teach me some profound personal lesson. But over the past year, through burnout, major illness, and most recently the five month chaos of a home renovation, it’s one I’ve thought about alot.
Oddly enough, it wasn’t the big things that wore me down. It was the small, stupid ones. Molehills that accumulate until you find yourself traversing a mountain. Being out of our house and routine challenged me in ways I didn’t expect.
Earlier this month, as we finally moved back in (and toilet trained our toddler at the same time, because why not make things harder), it felt like death by a thousand cuts. Every delay, every mess, every inconvenience. But in the middle of all my grumbling, I came across another quote that stopped me cold:
"What a blessing it is to be tired in the pursuit of a challenge of your own choosing".
What a blessing it is to be tired, in the pursuit of a challenge of your own choosing.
This one hit hard. What a blessing it is to be tired from restoring the home I plan to grow old in. To be exhausted (and okay, annoyed) from teaching my child something important, even when it’s messy and inconvenient.
I actually wrote this digest at the end of May, but have hesitated to publish it. A lighthearted roundup felt tone-deaf amid the headlines of ICE agents raging children’s graduations, and tearing people from communities they’ve lived in for decades. No introduction that I wrote came close to striking the right tone, or finding the right words.
And in the time I took to reflect and settle back in, I thought about how even my hardest days rest on an extraordinary foundation of stability, safety and choice. I’m a second generation American. My father's parents immigrated from Scotland and Ireland in the 1950s, and I grew up believing two truths: it was a blessing and a privilege to be here, and that America was great because immigrants, like my grandparents, were an integral part of our society.
I was heartened to see thousands of peaceful protests yesterday, with an estimated 12-13 million people turning out across the country to reinforce that message and stand up for the ideals of our nation.
Undoubtedly, this is the real growth opportunity from the universe. Not just to grow into someone who can weather chaos, or find perspective in hard seasons. No, the real growth is refusing to let gratitude for the challenges of my choosing become complacency. My grandparents left everything they knew to pursue a better life for themselves and their children. As the recipient of that privilege, it’s my responsibility to use my resources and my voice to build a world where more people have the chance to do the same.
It’s far from over, but it’s a start.
Database of Immigration Resources (in English and Spanish)
Okay that’s it for today. Love you,
open tabs
American Society & Politics
2024 Presidential and Senate Election Results Called into Question as Lawsuit Moves Forward - AP
The White House Health Report Included Fake Citations - Dani Blume & Maggie Astor, NYT.
You’re a bitch and that’s why we lack community -
What the fastest-growing christian group reveals about America - Molly Worthen, The Atlantic
Health & Wellness
Skinny Tok is the new pro-ana -
Tiktok Bans #SkinnyTok after European Regulators Raise Concerns - NYT
On being in your mid-thirties with no Botox -
Motherhood & Parenting
The Strange Politics of Feeding Your Toddler -
The frightening reality of advance directives in pregnancy -
Gen Beta babies will have old money names -
books
A very light reading month for me! After seeing author of Land of Milk and Honey C Pam Zhang speak at a Seattle Arts and Lectures talk I had to reread the dystopian story about a chef for the elite at the end of a global food systems catastrophe. (Still as striking as on my first read, if a little eerie for 2025). I also read her first novel, How Much of These Hills Is Gold, a historical adjacent novel about two siblings navigating the American west in the wake of their father’s death. Highly recommend for fans of Steinbeck and other early Americana literature, with a deeper consideration of how the west was built and the experience of non-white settlers.
Currently Reading: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. I’ve been on the library waitlist for MONTHS for this highly acclaimed speculative fiction novel. Written in 1993, the story begins in the summer of 2024 in the midst of extreme climate related weather changes, a highly contentious political election, and rising inequity and social unrest. It’s a surreal book to read in our current political and environmental climate, and I’ve been seeking out a lot of analysis on PotS as I consider how to integrate the lessons of the book into my own perspective and worldview.
kids books
Several great selections from the library this month! We loved Umami by Jacob Grant, about a penguin who goes on an adventure to discover new foods and flavors - lots of fun opportunities to introduce new tastes for our two year old, which was double the fun. My sweet little empath child was also obsessed with Love and The Rocking Chair by Diane Dillion, a very heartwarming book about the role of a rocking chair in a family as it grows and changes. We also got our giggles out with a dual check out of There’s a Bear in My Chair and There’s a Mouse in my House, both by Ross Collins. Finally, we have recently become obsessed with the STEAM Stories books – Robot Repairs by Johnathan Litton was an amazing book for curious toddlers / young kiddos introducing early concepts about technology and problem solving. We have been searching out all the other copies at the library and I highly highly recommend it!
What I lacked in books this month, I more than made up in TV and movies – unusual for me in the spring and summer honestly, but no complaints here! I enjoyed the sort of cringey, coming of age show Overcompensating (on Amazon Prime) about a closeted college student attempting to navigate his way through his freshman year. Despite some valid critiques (confusing time setting based on very millennial culture references and antiquated attitudes about sexuality, some annoying characters that don’t ever really get redeemed, being a “gay show for straight people”, per this excellent analysis by Tell the Bees), I found it perfectly pleasant. I largely watched while multitasking (cooking dinner, doing laundry etc) but there were several stop and laugh out loud moments.If you were in college between 2010 and 2016, you’ll probably enjoy,
Finally got caught up on Last Of Us S2 (HBO) and am so glad I did. Was not emotionally prepared for *that* twist, but enjoyed the new season and the starring role Seattle played – could absolutely see the PNW going off the rails after being forgotten in a zombie apocalypse, if I'm completely honest, and I love that for us.
It’s not often that I find myself influenced to watch something I initially had zero interest in (only recent example was Shrinking, which a friend took months to convince me to try!) but my Threads algorithm recently decided that I was the kind of person who would Really Enjoy Andor on Disney+. Like…. Every third thing I would see on the app for weeks was just people gushing about the show and how good it was. I was as into StarWars as your average nerd-adjacent advanced reader as a child - watched the originals repeatedly with my siblings, saw all the prequels and the most recent movies out of cultural obligation, but never cared enough to get into any of the TV shows. Reader, I regret to inform you that it’s excellent. It started a bit slow for me, but was genuinely compelling in masterfully telling the story of ordinary people fighting the creeping rise of fascism in their everyday life. Season 2 feels eerily prescient for the present day, considering it wrapped filming in February 2024.
Finally – recently started The Better Sister (also Amazon Prime) - Jessica Beil and Elizabeth Banks play estranged sisters – one the high profile wife of a man who is murdered in their home in the Hamptons, the other his addict ex (and mother of his child). It’s a moody thriller full of wealth, power and mess. A summer watch if I’ve ever seen one.
I also had the incredibly rare!!!!! opportunity to watch two movies uninterrupted on a recent cross country flight (shoutout to my two year old and Ms. Rachel). I wouldn’t say that My Old Ass (loved and reviewed here!) and Conclave go together thematically, but it made sense to me! I was weirdly emotional about Conclave on the heels of the recent death of Pope Francis and election of Pope Leo as someone born and raised Catholic (and fairly conflicted today). I thought it was a beautiful reflection of the way that the pomp and circumstance and closeness to power colors and complicates even the most humble faith – and I have never heard a more blisteringly Catholic insult than “some people are chosen to be shepherds, others to manage the farm”. Iiiiiiiiincredible.
Absolutely devoured the Blink podcast after it was recommended by a friend – detailing the stranger-than-fiction story of a man with a terminal diagnosis that turned out to not be quite what it appeared. Content notes for significant drug use and medical trauma!
With the warmer weather I have been on the craziest iced tea kick – cannot get enough of something cold, only mildly caffeinated, and barely sweet to sip on once it’s stopped being a reasonable time for coffee. Have been making large pitchers of this ginger peach black tea and a Moroccan mint to keep in the fridge and they are *chef’s kiss*. I also recently learned that HonesTea was discontinued in 2022 (which is devastating because their peach iced tea was the closest replacement I could find in Seattle to the beloved Publix Peach Tea of my childhood). Luckily, the original founders developed Just Iced Tea to continue to support their network of fair trade and organic tea farmers once HonestTea shut down, and their White Peach Tea is also phenomenal.
If you’re also on a peach kick – I absolutely will be making frosted peach lemonade at my earliest convenience.
If y’all know me, you know that summer is my season to primarily make “it’s too hot to cook” recipes. I’m currently living on the Sungold Tomato and Butter Bean salad from Haley Catalano’s new cookbook By Heart - it’s fast, it’s delicious, and it is perfect for hot summer days. Highly recommend serving with a swoop of lebneh and a great crusty bread. Equally excellent – the peach, tomato and frizzled halloumi salad from Molly Baz’s Cook This Book. This one can be even better the second day if you cook up some fresh halloumi! My toddler is also obsessed with this broccoli caesar salad, which I think should qualify the recipe for every single award.
I have been hard at work on a very specific project in the kitchen where I recreate all my favorite sandwiches that I’ve ever eaten. It’s a (slightly unhinged) labor of love, but it’s one I'm hoping to share with all of you once I finish perfecting the recipes (aiming for the next few weeks!). If you need me, I’ll be inhaling slightly different versions of my top 10 favorite sandwiches until I get them perfectly.
For Seattle folks: I finally stopped into the new ice cream spot Many Bennies in Fremont. I love the approach – they blend fresh fruit into vanilla or sweet cream ice cream- and it’s absolutely pheeeeeeenomenal. Expect lines at peak times, but I went during lunch and got in and out no problem. Also new in Fremont – the team behind plantbased spot Livbud has evolved into Hushy’s Sandwiches. I stopped in during the soft opening – the ham and comte was tasty, but the roasted carrot was phenomenal. They’ve got great bread, and are supposed to roll out softserve at some point too!
In pursuit of my iced tea habit, really enjoyed the new Yoka Tea in Madrona. I’d love to go back to try their milk tea and matcha, but for a hot afternoon at the playground the strawberry jasmine iced tea was perfect. Also high-key great: Slow Day Coffee in Belltown.
Finally – summer hours and dinner have returned to Saint Bread / Heave Ho & Hinoki, which is one of our favorite spots for an easy family dinner (much easier than trying to wait out the line for brunch on a weekend!) Also of note - the Saint Bread cardamom croissant is life changing.
I’ve been making a ton of progress on cleaning out my beauty and skincare products, so much so that I’ve cleared out entire categories. I snagged the Maelove peptide squad serum as a budget friendly swap for a higher end caudalie serum I finished this spring – I’ve been liking it a lot as the first layer before a moisturizer. Added a lighter weight gentle foaming cleanser to my routine as a compliment to my current oil-to-milk cleansing balm - especially with warmer temperatures and more sunscreen, I had been feeling like the oil cleanser on its own wasn’t quite getting everything off. I think I finally found my perfect tinted sunscreen and fully influenced the group chat – see glowing review, below.
I’ve been holding strong on my resolution to buy fewer than 15 new clothing items this year (so far so good!) but with warmer temperatures and a lot more time outside being active with my son, I’m realizing how unprepared my summer wardrobe is after years of exclusively dressing for the office when it’s 80 degrees. After checking my budget and sitting on my shopping cart for a few weeks I finally went with this matching shorts and tank set that will mix and match with a few individual pieces I already have, and picked up a few exercise dresses secondhand (poshmark has a great selection from OV that are around half the price as new!!)
Otherwise, the earlybird HQ has been on a low-spend quarter because I’ve been spending all my time and money finishing this god forsaken renovation! (It never fails to amaze me how many last minute things come up, even when you have double and triple checked that you have everything!). Since the primary impetus for the renovation was ameliorating environmental health concerns, (old house shit like lead paint and asbestos) after years of reading about (and stressing over) the health risks associated with gas stoves, we switched ours out for an induction cooktop. After literal years of cooking with gas, it’s definitely a learning curve but I’m loving the control and peace of mind.
used up:
Slow empties month! Finally finished the Crown Affair Hair Mask I purchased last summer and can’t recommend enough – y’all know I LOVE CA, and if this project to use up all the products I own before buying anything new has taught me anything its that the CA products work better than pretty much anything else I’ve bought and I’d just budget to make them the only products in my routine. Also finished (and replaced) my go-to mascara of 4+ years, no surprises here.
May was a bit crazy at earlybird HQ with some cross country travel and the end of our renovation / moving back into the house Tried to focus my editorial calendar to have fewer but longer and more time intensive issues to give each one the time and attention they deserve. Would love to hear your POV on this approach to the publishing cadence for the summer!
I read that gen beta baby name article and was shocked to see my daughter's name at the top of the list of names trending. And to think we thought we picked something unique lol. Also, can't wait to try that Merit sunscreen -- thanks for the rec! Did you find the shade tough to pick?
“What a blessing it is to be tired, in the pursuit of a challenge of your own choosing.” I will be chanting this to myself until our 10week old puppy stops teething and waking us up 2 times a night!! 😅