Hello friends! How are things in your world? I ended the school year and finished the third semester of my MFA program, including a critical thesis (I’ll link my 50 pages of thoughts on using speculative techniques in nonfiction below, jkjk). It feels good to have a break and to settle into this slow, sultry time of year. I’ve been organizing my house (a thrill to my Taurus self!), hanging out with my dogs, reading, writing, and putting my body into the pool as often as possible. I’ve also been working on getting ready for next school year (something I genuinely enjoy) and watching an obscene amount of Law and Order: Criminal Intent (look, I’ve made it through all of SVU, and mama needs some stupid TV to tide her over while she lesson plans).ย
My wife and I took a brief jaunt to hang out amongst some big trees last week, and it was a true delight. I remember how much I love to be in nature once I’m there, and for the rest of the summer, I plan to prioritize a weekly hike, time by the river, or other nature adventure. It’s such a good reset; living in California, I feel so lucky to have so many choices about how I get to experience the outdoors. We also booked a camping trip to celebrate five years of marriage (you can read about our first camping trip together here, in my first post for JTB!), which I’m looking forward to. Despite my declaration that I’m mostly an indoor kid, I’m learning that you can teach an old dog (me) new tricks.ย
I hope you’re doing whatever feels good during this slower-paced season.ย
โข I’m mildly obsessed with Leslie Stephens’ Morning Person Substack right now, and I loved this edition about using this summer as a solo reset with hiking and solo camping. I am also incredibly excited to read Leslie’s debut novel, You’re Safe Here, which comes out this week! Preorder it here! (Substack, Bookshop)
โข Last week, on June 19th, we celebrated Juneteenth. If you, like me, weren’t quite sure what that is and why the day is important, I suggest reading about the history here to learn about the history of Juneteenth and its importance to the Black community.ย (National Musem of African American History and Culture via The Smithsonian)
โข ‘Tis the season for THE CAKE OF SUMMER: Lemon Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake. It’s worth heating the oven for, I promise. A slice with iced coffee in the morning? Absolutely. At night after a day outdoors? You know it. (Joy The Baker)
โข Stop wasting your fridge space. Did Salmonella write this? (The Atlantic)
โข Emma Copley Eisenberg’s book Housemates came out recently, and it’s OUTSTANDING, and her article about how “right” and “wrong” ways to be queer are changing fiction was a great read. (Bookshop, Esquire)
โข I regret what’s in my camera roll. I relate to this, and I miss the days when Instagram was just silly photos of me and my friends or sepia-toned photos of whatever was happening instead of perfectly posed pictures. (Substack)
โข I made you a little graphic about my favorite slump-busting summer reads and some other stuff, too. (Substack)
โข How do you know if you want kids? This topic is such a nuanced, difficult conversation, and this piece does a beautiful job of grappling with it all. (The Good Trade)
โข The best summer salads! (Bon Appetit)
โข People who made friends as an adult share how they did it. (Self)
โข One thing about me is that if you come over to swim in my pool, you’ll have a variety of frozen treats that I expect you to pluck from my chest freezer at will. It’s summer, you better HELP YOURSELF. A few of the things I’m stocking this year: Saltine Cracker Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches, Roasted Strawberry and Toasted Coconut Popsicles, and Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Bananas. (Joy The Baker)
โข As always, discussions about supporting small businesses are layered, and this piece about how Costco will stop selling books year-round was a great read. (Substack)
โข How Q became everything. I had to sit down after reading this. (Mother Jones)
โข How to give (and receive, ugh) criticism well. It’s fine; typing that word didn’t make me cry. (The Atlantic)
โข 15 Lifechanging Books To Read and Re-Read. What books would make your list? I would add Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things (my all-time favorite book to give people I love) and Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff. (The Stripe, Bookshop).
โข I find all of the memes asking if someone’s going to match their freak HILARIOUS. If you also have to Google the memes the youths discuss, you can find an explainer here and listen to the Tinashe song that started it all, “Nasty,” here. If you’re sensitive to spicy lyrics, skip this one, okay? Also, for fans of “Hacks,” Hannah Einbinder reports that she and Jean Smart “match each other’s freak” by “doing a Monopoly deal and going to Maggiano’s.” Absolutely, yes, please. (Mashable, Spotify, Today)
โข Gen Z is right about our need for sleep. (Fast Company)
โข My friend Becca is currently shopping for Art Teacher Necklaces, and I need to start, too. I’m very into this one and this one. They fit my vibe (or shall I say, “match my freak”?). (Substack, Etsy).ย
โข Why being a perfectionist is bad for your health. (Self)
โข I loved learning about the daily habits of happiness experts. (Time)
17 Responses
I look forward to your monthly posts and thank you for them Amy. They are a veritable treasure trove! I always find food for thought in the articles and essays. The link to the lifechanging books is so very appreciated. Have a wonderful week.
Thanks, Angela! Wishing you a wonderful week!
I read Kristen Neff’s more recent book Fierce Self Compassion in a book club and that was the hardest practice I’ve ever done. There are some fantastic tools that I practiced in that book club that I still use today at our incredibly helpful in my healing. Great choice!
I have that book on my “to read” list and honestly, I’m a little nervous? Cultivating regular self-compassion was hard, and now I have to be FIERCE? Like…? But it’s a life-changing practice, and this makes me want to move it up.
Omg the article links are going to last me the week! Thank you thank you for curating a wonderful list of internet reads! so much better than doom scrolling twitter ?
My upside down smiling emoji turned into a question mark,lol :)
Yay, I’m so glad! And Twitter is terrifying these days :) I can’t brave it anymore. Wishing you a wonderful week!
I cannot believe your college professor would survive teaching in the year 2024. Fire?! Destroying student property?! Your substack is laugh out loud funny and Iโm putting holds on all of your reading recs at the library. (Except sandwich, which I have preordered and am looking forward to reading on the beach.)
He wouldn’t make it now lol. I am definitely dating myself (graduated from college in 2005, this was in 2004ish — A DIFFERENT ERA!). Facebook stalking has shown me that he retired which I think is best for all. And thank you for reading!
I agree with Marine – your posts are my favorites! Iโm still thinking about that blue vase from months ago, and today I was struck by the totally amazingly 90s teen nostalgia necklace you linked to, but also the reminder that criticism isnโt about me personally and a yay that my perfectionism isnโt as bad as it used to be.
Oh gosh, that blue vase…I still fantasize about it. I should probably just buy it haha :) And feel like I need both reminders — that criticism isn’t personal AND that perfectionism isn’t healthy (and mine has improved) tattooed on my face. I’m so glad you enjoyed!
I love your monthly posts! Theyโre the only ones where I find myself clicking on almost every single link, and this one did not disappoint! Iโm currently exploring a new-to-me city and look forward to browsing the local bookstore for some of those โread and rereadโ titles :)
This is so kind, Marine — thank you! I hope you enjoy your city adventure, and that you found some great books!
I judge online speech and debate for grades 3-12. Giving criticism is a learned skill. Framing things positively—“this would make your speech even better” vs. “this wasn’t a good thing to do”, is imperative. I always make sure to let students know what they did WELL too. And I applaud the spirit of most of these students—most are truly eager for feedback because they want to improve. You can’t say that for most adults!
As a middle school teacher, I could not agree more — kids tend to be eager and genuine in their desire to improve! And somewhere along the way, we stop doing the compliment sandwich (here’s what went well…here’s what could be improved…here’s another good thing!) with adults AND we stop being eager for feedback. I think that as we get older, we get so set in our ways. It’s too bad — always much to learn! But also, who doesn’t love to have gentle, constructive advice, right? And thanks for working with those kids — I think speech and debate is such a good outlet!
What a great list of links this Sunday! Thank you for the variety and interesting reads, Amy.
Thanks Jill! Hope you’re having a great week!