Vol. 61: Short & sweet & a poem

Hey friends & happy Tuesday! Today's newsletter is short & sweet in a reflection of the absolute chaos that end of year provides. 

Books, books, books

Recent reads: Fatima Asghar’s When We Were Sisters was an incredible, lyrical slow burn of a novel. I love it when poets write novels. Asghar tells the story of three young Muslim American girls who lose both their parents in tragedy and examines the legacy of grief on a family coming of age.

Currently reading: I finally picked up Token Black Girl: A Memoir by Danielle Prescod. I’ve followed Danielle on social for two years now and her memoir so far has been a really brutal look at the self-hatred she developed growing up as one of very few Black girls in a rich, white environment. As Bae and I inch ever closer to the stage in life where we’ll begin our fertility journey, I think often about how I will show up as a white mom of a Black child and am grateful for how Danielle’s vulnerability informs that commitment.

My current chunky project book is Garrett M. Graff’s Watergate: A New History. I carried this 700+ page hardcover on the metro three days last week and am still only 140 pages in. LOL. I absolutely loved Graff’s The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11, a permanent recommendation for unputdownable nonfiction. Watergate is not an oral history and as such, is very different. It’s started out slowly but now that I have the cast of characters down (I'm taking notes - the President indeed had all the men), it’s picked up - right when a bunch of library holds put this long read on pause.

TBR alert: I’m lucky enough to be part of the same online community as the talented journalist (and dog wrangler), Monica Potts, and am extremely looking forward to her forthcoming The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America.

Small Business Corner

In case you missed it, check out last week’s gift guide! A reminder that Libro.Fm audiobook bundles make a perfect gift while supporting your fave local bookstore.

IF I OWE YOU AN EMAIL, IMAGINE WHAT I OWE MYSELF. This merch from Amber Burns is perfect.

It’s holiday market season which is extremely My Shit as someone who loves Christmas, shopping, and shopping small! I hit up the Silver Spring holiday market on Sunday and found two new local and woman of color owned businesses I want to highlight:

Body Scrubs by Rebeca has some amazing body care products. We picked up a scrub, butter and lip scrub but she also sells a gift basket that would be a great gift for yourself or a loved one.

I bought a candle from Lê Đèn Cầy Co which features the most beautiful vessels and scents inspired by the maker Ashley Le’s Vietnamese heritage. I purchased Ma’s Bouquet but also loved the incense and all her citrus scents. 

Community Care

Let’s do today’s community care corner differently: rather than I tell you where you can give, YOU can tell ME where to give - whether that’s mutual aid, individuals in need of support, or organizations whose work you admire. I’ll select at random from the submissions and donate up to $30 today.

Self Care Corner

I’ve been listening to Bria Jones’ Delusional Diaries podcast and something she said really stuck out to me: “I don’t take advice from anyone I don’t want to be like.”

This simple but powerful mantra then sent me down a rabbit hole of considering how those in my life fit into this rule. It’s not necessarily black & white - I may want to emulate someone’s approach to their friendships but not their finances, someone’s creative pursuits but not admire their career, etc. I'm curious: How would you apply this saying to your own life? Is this a current practi

even now/we can be present

I’m closing out with adrienne maree brown’sspell for reclaiming the moment. This poem fed my soul and I hope offers you some peace & support as we reflect back on 2022.