What I’m Reading.
+The Original by Nell Stevens. Loving this immersive historical fiction — it’s our February book club pick! (BTW, reminder you can sign up for our special edition book club emails here! These come out once a month — the day I publish my book reviews — and have fun bonus content!)
+A Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay for my morning poetry fix.
+Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. A romance reader favorite, and I’ve somehow never read this or any of their other works (it’s a duo behind the pen name).
*I started keeping track of my books on GoodReads in case you want to follow there. Trying to add books at the top of my TBR as contenders for upcoming months of book club as I go!
**I need a new audiobook rec. Any slam dunks recently?
What I’m Writing.
+About “things that turn into air” — the sentiment behind my “February Is For” piece. The transience, the purification, the cyclicality. These are such February thoughts. Things dissolving, melting, transforming, all against a canvas of uncertain weather and the firstling light of would-be spring. (Sometimes you can find crocuses by the end of the month.)
+Collecting thoughts (by hand) on what I learned writing my book this year.
+Concept piece: “Things to do while waiting for your big break” (trick title; there are no “big breaks” in life — just hundreds of micro-breaks and micro-wins! Be ready to celebrate all the small ones!)
+My longer form fictional piece, which I mainly just skim and make tiny line edits to when I am feeling low on creative juice. The MMC has his own playlist that I sometimes listen to while I’m driving around. It gives me this early high school feeling. First track: “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins.
What I’m Loving: Beauty.
+Virtue shampoo and conditioner – – deeply hydrating and leaves hair, like, Keratin-level straight (at least for me; note that I have generally straight hair, but if I leave it to its own devices, it gets all crimpy wavy in the back, and not in a cute way).
+TenOverTen Rose Cuticle Oil and Epres’ ePHD nail bonding treatment. (My sister turned me onto the latter.) The snowstorm invited me (forced me) to wear my nails bare the past two weeks, and it’s been great for my nail health. I’ve been applying these two products religiously and my nails have never looked healthier.
+Saie dew blush in the color Chilly. Deserves its own cult following.
+This petite round brush for my bangs.
+This in-shower body oil. LOVE, and smells like vacation.
What I’m Loving: Clothing.
+Negative whipped loungewear. Sorry, can’t stop talking about this set. So soft and comfortable, and also sexy. I love the new pink color! I have this in sand, but the pink…!
+RDV tote. My exact color sold out but it’s the Traversee S Whip style and can be worn buttoned or unbuttoned, with strap or not. She’s a perfect everyday size and just so cute. Might be enhanced by a fun bag charm — TBD. PSA: I ordered mine directly from the French site but ended up paying a ton in shipping and then an unexpected $50 import tax from the shipper (DHL), so would rec tracking one down from an American retailer if possible.
+Fancy sweatshirts to style with jeans. Damn jeans! I’m so tired of them. Sweatshirts seem to be the only thing making them palatable right now. My three faves right now: AYR, Marine Layer (on sale and reversible; I got mine in the cheery cardinal red, per my bird avatar), and Loup (shrunken, petite fit).
+Kule turtlenecks. I wore my stripe this week and ordered in the white, too. Has such a great Jerry Seinfeld / Billy Crystal in “When Harry Met Sally” vibe — normcore magic.
+AYR jeans…I’m obsessed with every style they make.
+Got this denim tweed blazer as my spring statement piece. Planning to break it in at a coffee date next week!
What I’m Watching / Listening To.
+”Pluribus” on AppleTV — we’re almost done with the series. Strongly rec. Really interesting thematically and beautifully shot and acted. Beyond that, we watch a lot of movies — nothing great or of note recently IMO — and have been re-watching “Seinfeld.”
+”Okonski: Etrance Music” (jazz, for working), “Bad Book Girl Playlist” (carpool/hanging out), “Willie Nelson: Late Night” (evening music — lots of duets and covers, more on the jazzy side). Also, for select moments and moods: Pink Pantheress, Clairo, “Aperture” (ofc), Olivia Dean (still), Sierra Farrell, Faye Webster, Wet Leg.
What I’m Loving: Fitness.
+Ally Love on Peleton. She recently came back on the platform after a maternity leave and I’m loving her “rebound” energy! Favorite moment this week: on one of her HIIT ride’s, barreling into effort 8 of 18: “Are you ready? Yes or yes?” (Whoooweee, let’s go! Brought the energy to my desk and day — We’re here, we’re where we’re meant to be, and we’re ready for what comes.) She is making me love exercising, which I never thought was possible.
+Nike Metcons. Just got a new pair for strength training and they truly are the best — so comfortable and supportive and stabilizing.
What I’m Loving: Home/Kitchen.
+Flannel sheets on the bed. Never thought I’d be a fan — was worried I’d sweat all night long — but oh, are these good. Like sleeping in a hug.
+BonBon gummies. I’ve turned so many friends and family onto this candy! They come in the cutest little boxes, too. Great gift. I sent some to my sister after a tough week!
+Fresh flowers. Picking up a little bouquet any time I’m at the grocery — these work wonders for the midwinter blahs. Ordered this cheerful vase for my studio fleurs.
+Forgrave Brightside Black Tea. My favorite early afternoon pick-me-up. This beautiful tea brand is owned by a Magpie reader! I’m in love with this caffeinated flavor.
What I’m Trying / Buying.
+My Internet friend Katie turned me onto this depuffing wand. I’d heard a lot about it before, but I scooped one up while on sale.
+Playing around on Substack. Not using it to publish anything new but do enjoy leaving the little notes — like little post-its! You can follow me here.
+Tache sent me these pistachio milk lattes! Currently in my fridge; will be opening one up shortly as an afternoon pick me up.
+Vuori All the Form leggings. I’m a big fan of their “All the Feels” leggings but ordered a pair of the performance-oriented version. I love that these come in a short inseam!
What about you? What are loving and shopping and watching and writing this month?
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I’m very eager to dig into The Original next! I almost never have the book before your review so this is exciting. I’m currently in the middle of What Happened to the McCrays? And not super loving it – although I did breeze through and enjoy her earlier We Are the Brennans. Also listening to The Fury, but the narrator has a kind of robotic/AI vibe which I’m not enjoying. Did you read the Silent Patient? I would say that book is better than his two more recent efforts.
I’m watching the Olympics! I’ve tried to get my kids pumped up by watching Cool Runnings and Ice Princess in January 🙂 We’re also stealing an idea from my husband’s colleague, who’s family has a special host country themed dinner for the opening ceremonies. On our menu – pumpkin risotto served with meatballs, and TJ’s fettuccine Alfredo for the kids (aka “favorite noodles”). I thought about chicken Milanese but it seemed like a lot to manage with risotto! Also watching my firstborn play basketball for the first time, on the school 3/4th grade girls team. First game was this morning and I think we achieved our two goals: have fun and learn basketball. They were significantly outscored but took it pretty well!
Not writing anything besides communications for a committee I’m serving on…but keep feeling a nudge to seek out writing prompts. Suggestions welcome!
Hi Stephanie! Thanks for this charming glimpse into your life right now. Love your Opening Ceremonies spread — so fun for the kids. They’ll absolutely remember that for years to come. Re: writing prompts: try following Suleika Jaouad on Substack! She has such a great archive of writing prompts. I’ll turn to her when I’m stuck!
xx
I’m reading The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control as a buddy read with my brother, But I’m Bored as my current parenting book, the excellent Inspector Grant mysteries by Josephine Tey (first one was written in the 30s, I got them all for 2.99 total), I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy as my current memoir, and I can’t wait to dig into the new Celia Lake and the new Ashley Herring Blake preorders I just got. I think I’m a bad book girl in the always reading under the desk sense—every spare moment, even while shampooing my hair. The kindle app says I’m on a 272 week streak. 2024 I read 155 books and 2025 was only 80, and I feel more myself when I read, so I’m making time for it.
You’ll have to let me know about the McCurdy! I keep hearing her work mentioned but am a little whipsawed by the titles / cover arts / etc…but of course “don’t judge a book by its cover”…
xx
So I might go back and finish Pluribus. .y partner he did not really like it. I am loving Shrinking and while I just started the series now one of my friends from grad school works on it as crew. Yay film school friends!
Book- i am rereading the other bolyn girl as seeing Six i got the inspiration to go back and delve into this period.
Have not watched the latest Bridgerton yet but look forward to it.
And wearing lots of pinks and fun Colors like your Magpie necklace which is fun!
Aw — so glad you’re getting mileage out of the necklace! I liked the earlier seasons of Shrinking but not sure I want to stick with it…let me know what you think as you make your way through the series! I found it got a little too comical/cartoonish or something?
xx