Marriage & Mouth Tape

Hello, friends! Today is July 28th, and it’s my fifth wedding anniversary. My wife, whose name is also Amy, and I got married a bit later in life, but wow, it was worth the wait. We had our wedding in the backyard at the first house we shared and crammed 50 of our nearest and dearest under a huge tree for a yummy brunch that my family and friends pitched in to make. We told everyone that we were celebrating our engagement, but then BAM! Married, right in the middle of it! A few people had figured out the surprise, but it was still delightful to shock many of our guests.

The day was hot (112 degrees!), and everyone was sweaty. Our wedding was not fancy or magazine-worthy. But the day was simple (zero debt), joyful, and full of love, and one of the happiest of my life. I wouldn’t change it for anything. Marriage is even better. Being married to Amy makes me feel less alone — I never feel isolated or like I have to face things on my own. I also get to be around someone who makes me laugh so hard it’s unbelievable and a person who balances my seriousness and tendency to be hard on myself with gentleness and kindness. 

Sorry for gushing, but today reminds me that the best things in life aren’t usually that complicated: they’re simple, involve the people we love, and help us learn to be gentler, kinder, and more fun. Few things are better than that. I’m grateful to have those sorts of gifts in my life. 

I’m wishing you this kind of joy in these unprecedented times as we make our way through these hot, languorous days of summer.

• I love Marimekko patterns and have enjoyed browsing the Maripedia for a delightful trip through all of the patterns they’ve featured through the years. (Marimekko)

• “Time seems to speed up as you get older. And you wonder—is it biological, or is it because life had more novelty when you were a child? Travel partly answers this question—with more novelty, time slows way down again,” and other touching travel advice. Plus, the best airport snacks from Hudson News, according to Conde Nast Travel editors (though the lack of gummy candy on this list is suspicious at best). (Dynomight, CNTraveler)

• Why you should trust your gut. (The Atlantic Gift Link)

• Every summer, I remember that the Honestly WTF DIY jewelry tutorials exist and spend time making the cutest jewelry with the materials I’ve bought the summers before. Recommend. (Honestly WTF)

• All I want to eat right now is some combination of a berry, a buttery crust, and a vanilla ice cream. Our girl Joy has us set, with her Blueberry Cobbler tricks and this incredible Cornbread Peach Cobbler that you can cook over a fire or inside your oven! (Joy The Baker)

• How celebrity book clubs actually work. Also, I discovered Kaia Gerber’s (she’s a model and Cindy Crawford’s daughter for all of us Olds) book club, Library Science, and it is so chic. Kaia wore a t-shirt out that will allegedly be part of their merch drop and I am checking every second as I will need to own it. I think a lot of bookish gear is cheesy but this is delightful. Anything that makes reading cool is a win to me. (Esquire, Library Science, W Magazine)

• What to do if your people-focused job completely drains your social battery. I’m book marking this since I go back to teaching very, very soon. My fellow helping-profession pals, take note. (Self)

• What friendship means to an introvert. As an introvert, I wish more people understood that it’s not that I don’t want to hang out, it’s that I need wayyyy less of it to not feel overwhelmed. But I love you! (NYT Gift Link)

• Is mouth taping actually effective? Finally, the hard-hitting journalism I’ve needed. (The Cut)

• For my lit nerds who also love a pop culture moment: I wrote this McSweeney’s piece, “Ernest Hemingway Visits Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club” for you. (McSweeney’s)

• I’m always so grateful for friends who are just a bit older than me and can shepherd me through the things ahead. An ode to “I’ll Go First Friends” (with a warning that this one does have some spicy, NSFW language/activities mentioned, so if that’s not your jam, skip it!). Also, the cost of having friends (should we consider friendships an investment?) and how in South Korea, groups create gyemoim — shared savings accounts between friends to be used for trips, meals, and shared expenses — to keep their friendships strong. I love this idea so much. (Substack, NYT Gift Link)

• I love school supplies and found this article about the backpack that most Japanese school children use for all six years of elementary school charming and fascinating, and an insightful look into Japanese culture (with plenty for us to learn in the US). I also put together a list of my all-time favorite office supplies and classroom supplies over on Substack. I have strong feelings about office supplies, and yes, you should get a laminator. (NYT Gift Link, Substack).

• If you want pie without having to expend the energy required to make a pie, these Berry Cobbler Pie Bars are incredible. I might be a bit fixated on cobbler-esque things right now. Rightfully, I think. (Joy The Baker)

• How to party without regrets—tips for both hosts and guests on everything from when to arrive, how to manage your drinking and other forms of imbibing, when and how to leave, and the proper ways to express your thanks! This article contains some truly excellent advice. On a similar note: everything you need for outdoor dining this summer. Nothing better than inviting people over for dinner al fresco. (NYT Gift Links)

• Elephants have names for one another. WHOA. (The Atlantic Gift Link)