A Bestie for the Restie (Issue #48)
Today’s theme is friends – the celebrations, ceremonies, and community gatherings that make life worth living. <3
Do you have the best mom?? Or are you a mom yourself!? I'm cooking up something special for Mother's Day, and I’m looking for the best pieces of advice you’ve heard from the mom or mom-like figure in your life! Any life advice you’ve carried with you or that you love telling your own kids is welcome and appreciated. Don’t gate-keep your mom!! Reply to this email or leave a comment with the best tidbit of wisdom that made a difference for you. ❤️ I’ll be sharing a collection of faves in an upcoming issue. All submissions will be kept anonymous. (unless you’d prefer not to be!)
Hi friends!
I’m back from my family East Coast vacation, and I’m sloooowly settling into everyday life. Before jumping into our normal Sincerely, Celisia programming, I thought I’d take a few minutes on what I’ve been up to while I’ve been away.
But first, Beyoncé…
Obviously, I’ve listened to Cowboy Carter, and I’m in love! It’s so rare for an album of this length (27 songs!) not to feel like, “Uhhh, why didn’t you cut this down???” but somehow, Beyoncé made a collection of songs with zero skips!! Currently, the songs II MOST WANTED (feat. Miley Cyrus) and LEVII’S JEANS (feat. Post Malone) are my favorites. There are lots of great videos online breaking down the album, especially highlighting all the incredible samples and interpolations incorporated throughout the album. I especially liked the video below highlighting the Landslide interpolation used in II Most Wanted. Landslide (The Chicks cover) was a favorite song of my mom and me growing up, and so this felt like such a fun throwback!
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I ❤️ NY
This was the first time in a while that Andrew, my parents, and I were all in New York at the same time, so it was nice to explore together. Spring has definitely arrived on the East Coast, and I got some great photos of trees in bloom. My mom and I both love theatre, so we saw Water for Elephants (the acrobatics were spectacular!!) and Hell’s Kitchen (with music by Alicia Keys!). Both shows were phenomenal!!
The Art + The Artist
During this trip, I spent lots of quality time with my grandparents, which was really special since I usually only see them once every year or two. Whenever I visit my grandparents, I feel transported through time. They still live in the same apartment my mom grew up in and the same one I’ve been visiting my entire life. Also proudly displayed on their fridge is a picture of a cat that I drew probably 20 years ago!!
9 Years Together 😱
Andrew and I spent our 9th anniversary at Tatiana, which recently topped the New York Times’ roundup of 100 best restaurants in the city!
Soon, we were off to Maryland for my brother-in-law’s wedding! We got to explore D.C. a little and visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture (my second time there — still so much to explore and an impeccable experience the whole way through). Once the sun set, we walked around all the monuments before catching a train we thought was headed back to our Airbnb. We were wrong, headed in the exact opposite direction, lmao. When we finally made it back to get on the correct train, we were lucky to catch the literal last train back of the night. 🤦🏽♀️
The Great American Eclipse
Before my brother-in-law’s wedding, we all stared at the sky as the moon passed in front of the sun! (Eclipse photos from a friend of a friend). ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!
Wedding Time!
And last but certainly not least, my brother-in-law got married!! I kept a disposable camera on hand for some extra cute photos and had such a great time celebrating their love. <3
As I ease back into my daily routine, I want to pause and reflect on the people in my life who make it all worth it! Today’s issue is all about friends, enjoy!
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
I know how frustrating paywalls are! When possible, I’ll try to offer gift links through my subscriptions to support access to high-quality journalism.
Bon Appetit: How Dinner Parties Became the Fuzzy Blanket of Adulthood by Alissa Wilkinson
Eating food is maybe my favorite activity, and I love few things more than sitting down for a great meal with friends. This article was a comforting reminder of the importance of connection, and perfectly illustrates the unifying (and delicious) power of a good ol' fashioned dinner party.
Self: 5 Little Ways to Be a Better Friend When You’re So, So Tired by Jenna Ryu
I know how easy it is to cancel plans after a busy and stressful week, but when I can, I try to push against that instinct. Sometimes, rather than alone time and rest, what I really need is quality time with friends. I loved this article’s concrete tips about navigating adult friendships!
The New York Times: 100 Small Acts Of Love (gift link) by Melonyce McAfee and Catherine Pearson
Released in preparation for this past Valentine’s Day, this round-up of reader-submitted stories covers a wide range of ways to show up for the ones you love. The focus is on romantic relationships, but I think many of the suggestions would apply just as well for platonic and familial relationships you want to nurture in small, daily ways.
Featuring someone I’m obsessed with (talking about what they’re obsessed with).
Jordan is one of the first people I met when switching schools in 7th grade and we’ve been best friends ever since! She’s the honorary sister that first made me an aunt and she made a literally perfect human being – my nephew Noah 😭! In an issue about friends, it only made sense to ask her for her top recommendations! Check them out below :)
Fresh Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce
I love this recipe because it tastes so fresh, and the peanut sauce brings the whole recipe together. I add tons of cilantro, but my husband Ryan leaves it out, and they are still so good without it. (Editor's note: when Jordan makes a food rec, you have to listen! Truly, no one has better taste when it comes to delicious home-cooked dishes.)
These have been the perfect pajamas for my growing two-year-old son, Noah! What’s so cool is that these pajamas actually grow as he grows. They stretch forever and you can open the feet — so while Noah usually wears 18-24 month clothes, he can still easily fit his 6-12 month Little Sleepies (and honestly, could probably squeeze into the 3-6 month ones too). They are also sooo soft and come in tons of fun designs.
Speaking of Noah, this is the best lotion I’ve found that’s perfect for his sensitive little skin!!
This is the perfect recipe if you want something that’s easy to make, but doesn’t taste like it. It’s also a great base that can be open to whatever customizations suit your palate. I love adding peas to mine, and my cousin adds chicken!
I put off watching this show for a long time, and was honestly surprised I found it so funny! It’s been my go-to show lately, while I wait for American Horror Story to come back. 😅
I’ve loved Dove Cameron for forever, and am so excited about her new album! This song has been on repeat lately for me, but I highly recommend you check out her other music as well! (Editor’s note: Check out this article for an interview with Dove Cameron where she discusses the inspiration behind Sand and her new album!)
Things to try + share in the group chat.
I love gifting and receiving jewelry, so when I discovered Hey Harper through an Instagram-targeted ad, I quickly added it to my list! What really sold me on the brand is its lifetime warranty, which promises the color of the piece will remain the same even if exposed to water. If your jewelry ever changes color, you get your money back!! So far, I’ve bought a ring and a necklace and love both pieces! They have lots of different designs and trendy pieces for all jewelry styles and occasions.
I love cooking with and for my friends, and hope to try this Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Skillet Chicken (AKA Dairy-free “Marry Me Chicken”) soon!
Andrew and I started playing It Takes Two a few weeks ago, and it’s really been a blast! The 2-player game follows the story of a couple on the brink of a break-up who are transformed into animated characters and have to work together to heal their relationship to become humans again. It’s a really fun game that requires lots of interesting collaboration! A great after-work activity to mix up your evening routine. :)
My husband Andrew is an incredible storyteller, so obviously, I recruited him to guest write this Monday’s bonus issue. It is teeeechnically a republish, but it was first released when my audience was much smaller, and the story is too incredible to risk anyone missing it! Check it out here!
It’s good to be back, and I’ll see you again on Monday!!
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