What even is there to say?

A random collection of bits and bobs.

2025 mood board

Mood

It took me 20 days, but I finally finished my 2025 mood board. I don’t care for the term “vision board” much anymore, but I love to have something to look at that captures what I’m hoping the year will feel like. There are some goals in the mix and some things I am excited about that are already on the calendar (our April trip to Edinburgh, for one!).

I’m still not sharing specific goals this year, but I did write a little bit about my word of the year over on Joy The Baker.

UGH.

I wish I had something profound to say today. I don’t. I feel betrayed, profoundly exhausted, and terrified. A few people (straight, white men have told me that it’s not going to be so bad and not to worry so much. Not only is that annoying, but it’s not true.

I spend my days with kids whose families will be directly affected by the changes proposed by the new administration. As a queer person, I fear what will happen to my rights. As a white, straight-passing, cis, queer woman in a marriage, living in California, my privilege is enormous, and I recognize that I am in a more solid position than many of the people in my community — a position that I intend to use to uplift others.

My goals for the next four years are to love and care for my students, friends, and community. There are tangible things on my list, too—preparing for climate disasters, building community, and gathering emergency supplies—but most importantly, I want to find ways to show up.

The small things are the big things.

One thing I learned last year is the power of a village. When my mother-in-law was dying, and Amy was caring for her, I was cared for so exquisitely by friends. I will never forget the people who showed up: my best friend and her husband bringing dinner over when I was feeling lonely so I would have some company, the friends who watched our dogs at the drop of a hat (and worked out logistics without my involvement!), the day I walked into my regular spin class that a dear friend teaches and her greeting me with homemade soup, bread, and treats for Amy’s first days home. The whole time Amy was done, my friends checked on me via text and phone, sent DoorDash cards and care packages, got me out of the house, and directed so much love our way.

I know it’s been said frequently in more eloquent words than mine, but community care will save us when we need saving. It feels more valid than ever as we enter dark and uncertain times. I think that the only thing we can do is show up and keep one another safe.

What I’ve been reading:

I recently read The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya, which had an absorbing plot but was fascinating in terms of craft. She compresses the timeline to the length of one stage play while also interspersing flashbacks to round out the story. I loved it.

I also read Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin. I’m a sucker for any book set in Paris, especially when it’s queer. This book was captivating and somewhat frustrating. It’s a very character-driven book (love!) with many conversations set between Anna (a Franco-American therapist) and Clémentine, a young girl deeply entrenched in the modern feminist movement. It’s set in two different timeframes, and there are satisfying Easter eggs about the connections between the characters’ pasts and present. My two complaints: one key section from the older timeline felt incomplete. I also feel like the novel suffered from a rushed ending, which is beginning to feel like a common refrain in my reviews of books lately. I don’t know if it’s a personal preference, but I like an ending that lingers. I don’t need a happy ending (I don’t even really want one), but I want to feel like the story is resolved and complete.

Writing

In silly, no-one-cares-but-me news, I am building a new writing routine right now (shifting location, goals, etc.), and one of the most significant changes I’m making is moving from hand-writing my morning pages to using 750words.com for them. I have always been a big fan of 750 Words (it tracks patterns in your writing, it is simple and not distracting) but tried to shift to handwritten pages, so I was doing Morning Pages in “the right way.” Unfortunately, writing three pages by hand takes me a long time (perfectionism, baby!), and I’d like more time to focus on the projects I’m working on. Another bonus: I usually use Morning Pages to clear my brain before writing, but sometimes, I jump right into my work. Doing it digitally allows me to copy/paste my draft into the document I’m using.

Things I Recommend:

• I’ve been taking a lot of comfort from Emily In Your Phone, her level-headed democracy-focused posts, and her musings on life. This is the sort of news and thoughtfulness I intend to focus on over the next few years.

• U Beauty has done it again! I recently tried their sunscreen, which they call their Multimodal Defender SPF 30, and it is delightful. It’s a unique balm texture — a little goes a long way. It wears smoothly beneath makeup with no white cast despite having zinc in it. The older I get, the more diligent I am about sunscreen; this is my new favorite. (You can still get 20% off your first order if you use “AMYESTES” as a code!)

• One more brief U Beauty recommendation: their Super Tinted Hydrator. I don't like wearing a heavy foundation when I’m going to work or running errands on the weekends. I was using Iris&Romeo’s Weekend Skin, but I’m now fully converted to the U Beauty tinted moisturizer. My skin looks glowy, I get just enough coverage, and it doesn’t make my skin feel dry. This Patrick Ta is my go-to when I want full coverage.

• I’ve been looking for good daily earrings that aren’t the gold hoops I’ve been wearing for a year straight. My requirements were gold, dainty, and preferably with flat backs so I could sleep in them. I finally found my dream set: these nap earrings by Maison Miru. I also got a tiny matching nose ring. I’m still wearing my Cupcakes and Cashmere necklace every day, and I think this whole set goes together perfectly.

• I have been looking for some new sweatpants that aren’t terribly pricey, and I found these Target gems. Barrel-leg, a great material, and a pleat down the middle that makes them look structured (so much so that I wore them to a teacher workday last week). I love this Lululemon Oversized Cropped Crew with them.

Things I’ve Enjoyed Eating Recently:

• This One-Skillet Crispy Chicken Thighs with Creamy Lemon Orzo is a new favorite. We hosted friends for dinner on a particularly chilly evening, and it was the perfect cozy, hearty meal. Next time, I’ll add a bag of spinach at the end.

• These Oat Protein Waffles. They get their protein from cottage cheese, not protein powder (a food I historically do not enjoy), but I promise you don’t taste the cottage cheese. I have been making a double batch, freezing half, and enjoying them for an easy breakfast. I like to throw one in a toaster and add nut butter and some fruit (I’m partial to a banana or strawberries).

• For my soup people: Tomato, Beef, and Acini de Pepe soup. I make it in the Instant Pot, and it’s warm and relatively quick!

I need YOUR recommendations, please:

I would LOVE recommendations for a daily full-body sunscreen, especially as spring and summer approach. Is everyone just wearing Supergoop every day? Does it stain your clothes (I love a spray to get my entire back without help) but I fear it will leave oil spots on my clothes. Does the Glowscreen (which I love for my face) work well on your body?

Related: I’m being bombarded by ads for Saltyface. Has anyone tried it? Also, what are you self-tanning your body with? The last time I used self-tanner was over 20 years ago, and I ended up with horrid streaks. I assume technology has evolved, but please recommend the kind you’d suggest to your grandma or a literal child.