Happy Sunday! I’m still flying high from the official start of this newsletter and all the kind feedback I have received. I sincerely want to thank each of you for taking the time to read my work; I am still trying to convince myself this isn’t a dream!
Don’t forget to check back this week Wednesday as I kick off our (cook)book club with What to Cook When you Don’t Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers. More information below!
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A few things I am fussing over this week:
Tapas and Theatre
This weekend, my husband and I went to San Chez in Grand Rapids for tapas before attending The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Civic Theatre. I love tapas-style dinners and San Chez never disappoints. I could have made a meal out of their pan con tomate alone (of course we added manchego cheese)! One really cool thing, San Chez is very celiac friendly and has gluten-free offerings that do not feel like a compromise.
Morning Walks
With the (very) slight cooling in the weather, I find myself more eager for a morning walk. Once the kids are off to school, my husband and I can grab our coffee and head out for quick stroll through the neighborhood. This past spring I read The Open-Air Life (Bookshop.org, Amazon) by Linda Åkeson McGurk and was fascinated by the idea of friluftsliv; the Nordic notion of embracing the outdoors for a healthier, more whole life. There are so many ways we can incorporate nature into our lives, but if you are looking for a place to start Åkeson McGurk makes the case for walking, especially in the mornings if it fits your schedule.
Fall Coziness
Now that it is officially autumn, I have brought out all my favorite fall smells. I am stocked up on Mrs. Meyers Apple Cider scented products like this and this (Acorn Spice is amazing too!), and if you drop by my house between now and Thanksgiving I will be burning my Capri Blue Pumpkin Clove candles. Coziness is all about our senses, and for me these smells trigger instant hygge.
Netflix Binge
Who else is watching the new Netflix rom-com Nobody Wants This? Kristen Bell and Adam Brody are effortless in this series that sees a rabbi (Brody) and an agnostic sex podcaster (Bell) falling in love much to the disapproval of their friends and family. It is complex, romantic, and hilarious with a stellar supporting cast (Jonah from Veep!). I have not been this captivated by a series since Bridgerton.
(Cook)book Club
This Wednesday will be our first (cook)book club post in which I will be giving an overview of What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking, by Caroline Chambers, and cooking our first recipe together. Make sure you have picked up a copy at your local library, Bookshop.org, or Amazon if you are able to. This week I have chosen a low effort, high reward recipe that has been a hit in our household – Veggie Peanut Noods. It is infinitely adaptable and ridiculously easy ramen recipe with the most delicious, peanut-y sauce; I know you will love it as much as we do.
Dame Maggie Smith
I want to end this week on a moment of reflection – there are few of us who have not been touched by the talents of Dame Maggie Smith. Be it Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, or another of her many, many works, Maggie Smith was an actor in a class of her own. While doing some online scrolling I came across the 2018 documentary Nothing Like a Dame featuring Dames Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright, and Maggie Smith reminiscing on their careers. While I will definitely be re-watching Harry Potter in the weeks to come, this documentary feels like a fun way to remember and celebrate the extraordinary Maggie Smith.