Sincerely, Celisia x 100!! (Issue #100)
Today marks one hundred issues of this little newsletter – let’s celebrate!!
Hi friends!
Whenever I reach a new milestone, whether in my personal life or my career, the excitement is always followed closely by gratitude. As a writer and media creator, I know that my work means very little without an audience (you!) willing to read and engage in these conversations alongside me. I started Sincerely, Celisia in April 2023, and I’m so proud of the community we’ve built in that time.
Today marks one hundred issues of Sincerely, Celisia, and I want to thank you for being here, for supporting my work, and for caring about the same things I do. To celebrate, I thought we could take a little walk down memory lane! Below, you’ll find a roundup of some of the most-loved issues — plus a few of your favorite recommendations I’ve shared along the way!!
The Day They Ate The Groundhog (Issue #39) - A Groundhog Day meditation on surviving winter and the relentless passing of time).
Dear Diary (Issue #23) - On the art of memory-keeping. Why we write things down, how we archive our lives, and what it means to share the messy, mundane, and meaningful parts of ourselves.
The Long Arc Isn’t a Straight Line (Issue #99) - Thoughts on resilience, resistance, and remembering that progress isn’t always linear—especially when the world feels heavy.
The Chef Boyardee Effect (Issue #22) - A reflection on nostalgia highlighting childhood faves, historical recaps, and modern twists on treasured classics.
Boycotts, Backlash, and Bottom Lines: Why Ditching DEI Is a Losing Strategy (Issue #92) - Featuring my mom (!), a DEI veteran with two decades of experience, this one breaks down the coordinated attacks on diversity work—and what we can do in response.
Ya Lookin'? 👀 (Issue #15) - A fun deep dive on aesthetics, iconic imagery, and personal expression.
Finding My Own 40 Acres (Issue #94) - A candid piece on homeownership, generational wealth, and what it means to carve out space that our ancestors could only dream of.
My America is Beautiful (Issue #9) - A love letter (and a critique) of the complicated relationship many of us have with this country and what it means to hold pride and grief simultaneously.
Good Debater Syndrome (Issue #97) - A reflection on 10 years with Andrew. <3
What do you ~really~ know about the MLK assassination? (Issue #87) - A deep dive into a rarely told part of Dr. King’s story—including the 1999 civil trial that changed the way I think about U.S. history.
A love letter to Minneapolis (Issue #79) - On home, community, and why—despite everything—I’m staying right here in the city I love.
Lazy Girl Jobs - A Counterpoint (Issue #17) - Pushing back on one of the internet’s favorite trends: let’s talk about it.
"Don't Bully People Who Share Your Values" (Issue #96) - How the left’s obsession with moral purity can backfire—and why it’s time to shift from callouts to coalition-building.
From One Foodie to Another (Issue #6) - Because you know I had to include something food-related.
Whether you’ve been here since Issue #1 or just joined this year, I’m so glad you’re here. 💌
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
Top 10 Most Clicked Computer Room Links from Past Issues
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.
The Washington Post: We tested five TikTok cleaning hacks. Here’s what worked (gift link) by Kalina Newman
Essentially a life hack for cleaning hacks. Some of these work surprisingly well. And others? Not so much. 😂
Eater: Trader Joe’s Is a Frozen-Foods Fantasyland by Rebecca Flint Marx
I basically live in the Trader Joe’s freezer aisle, so roundup helped me skip the duds and stock up on the real gems.
The Washington Post: Don’t try to worry less. Worry smarter. (gift link) by Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
A refreshing, shame-free, research-backed take on worry and anxiety.
Cup of Jo: 13 Things To Do With Friends (That Aren’t Dinner) by Emily Kling
I love finding friend hangouts that go beyond the “dinner and drinks” fallback. This list has a ton of unique ideas, and includes a few themed parties I’d love to try sometime!
Slate: Young People Have No Idea What We Used to Do After Work. Let Me Regale You. by Dan Kois
A nostalgic look at the post-work life of people who were in their late 20s in the early 2000s. A fascinating look at how technology has shaped our relationships to work, friendships, and time alone.
The New York Times: The Wild World Inside Your Gut (gift link) by Alice Callahan
This article features experts in nutrition and gastroenterology answering the top 15 questions people have about their gut. It covers a ton of interesting aspects of gut health, and I really learned a lot!
BBC: Mouse filmed tidying up man's shed every night By Charlie Buckland
On the topic of lucky animals, meet Welsh Tidy Mouse, who was caught cleaning a man’s shed via night vision camera. The video is incredible, and I’m just so in love with this whole story.
Self: 5 Little Ways to Be a Better Friend When You’re So, So Tired by Jenna Ryu
Thoughtful, gentle tips for staying connected to your people even when you’re running on empty.
Racket: We Spent 38 Consecutive Hours Inside the Mall of America by Natalia Mendez and Joel Swenson
My husband, Andrew, and I are die-hard defenders of the infamous Mall of America. This chaotic little adventure made me want to go even more.
The New Yorker: How High Can High-Waisted Pants Go? by Rachel Syme
A fascinating deep dive through the history of high-waisted pants.
Featuring someone I’m obsessed with (talking about what they’re obsessed with).
Madison McGhee is a Los Angeles-based producer, writer, director, and investigative journalist originally from Charleston, West Virginia. I first met Madison through my work on Truer Crime, and I am in awe of the incredible work she is doing in the true crime space.
She is the host and creator of the breakout independent true crime podcast, Ice Cold Case, where she actively investigates the unsolved murder of her father, John Cornelius McGhee. After living without answers for over two decades, Madison took matters into her own hands and launched a podcast that took the true crime genre by storm. Not only does she delicately balance the emotional side of losing a father to murder with truth-seeking and fact-finding, but she also captivates the listener with her unique style of storytelling. Madison is gearing up for a big summer with the launch of her new show "LA Crimes" with LA Times Studios and a national podcast tour with the true crime/comedy podcast Affirmative Murder. Follow Madison @madison_mcghee and @icecoldcase, and snag tickets for the Family Matters Tour here.
Now onto Madison’s recommendations!
All things Gabby Windey
I mean, how could you not be obsessed with her? She is our generation's Jennifer Coolidge, if we actually knew what Jennifer Coolidge was thinking about. Gabby doesn't hold back and honestly, no offense to Hannah Horvath from Girls, but she might be the real voice of our generation. Not that you need an intro, but Gabby first graced our televisions on Season 26 of The Bachelor before becoming co-Bachelorette. But now (plot twist) she's happily loud and proud and *drumroll please* married to a woman. Gabby recently won season three of The Traitors, where the world fell in love with her all over again, and now I can't stop listening to her podcast and watching her Instagram stories.
Oh, and this clip will be my mantra for life
How much Benny Blanco loves Selena Gomez
I cannot get over how absolutely adorable and sweet Benny Blanco is every single time he talks about Selena, their relationship, her work, or any aspect of their life as a couple. We finally have an example of how we should be treated, and I have unofficially decided that when a partner treats you the way you deserve, they are “Benny Blanco-ing” you.
I've been on the road a lot (like, a lot a lot) and I was always intimidated by packing and overwhelmed by how to fit everything into a suitcase so that I didn't feel like I was lugging around stuff I just didn't need. When you're hopping from one city to the next, the last thing you want is to carry a heavy suitcase. And if you're traveling internationally, just be warned - Europe doesn't love elevators, so you'll be carrying your bag up and down a lot of stairs. I challenged myself to fit everything into the carry-on size Away suitcase, so I got compression packing cubes. These are not regular packing cubes, y'all. They're cool packing cubes. They compress so small, I was shocked at how much I could fit into my little suitcase. And trust me, if I can do it, so can you!
Backing Up My Files
I recently spent time with my friend who is a *nerd* but in the best way possible. He's built systems for backing up files and photos and any digital part of his life in a safe, encrypted way that makes him sleep better at night. And I could definitely sleep better at night. I have not graduated to the level that he is but I did start using these Samsung T9 SSDs and oh my goodness am I feeling better about having all my stuff safely backed up in case any of my tech shits the bed.
Things to try + share in the group chat.
Top 10 Most Clicked Pass It On Links from Past Issues
Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise I’ll only ever share items I love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️
One of my guests, Anna Houston, swore by her walking pad, and you all flocked to *check it out. I’ve recommended Anna Houston and her work in he past (check out her So Obsessed feature here), and I’d be remiss if I didn’t plug her first full-length album, which releases today!!! The new album, aptly titled Catharsis, is a rich landscape of love, loss, and unflinching honesty. With both soul-baring breakup ballads and upbeat anthems for blasting on a summer drive, Catharsis arrives just in time for the season!
I bought my mom this charm bracelet as a parent gift at my wedding. It’s a beautiful, high-quality, upgraded version of the charm bracelets I remember obsessing over in my childhood.
*These workout videos are unpretentious and easy to modify.
So Obsessed featured guest Kemi said she loves this jewelry brand. She’s always wearing a Yam piece, whether it's a bead in her braids (Yam x BREAD) or one of the posy necklaces that remind her of childhood!
*These bodysuits were one of my favorite clothing purchases of 2023.
Grey Bandit’s sweaters help me survive until spring! I was wearing their Cool Vibes Sweater when a lady randomly came up to me at a restaurant and exclaimed, “You’re so beautiful!” So, of course, 10/10 recommend (compliments from strangers not guaranteed).
Hands-free, slip-on shoes? Enough said. I have my sights set on this pair.
Last week, I wrote about our current political moment and how I’m trying to maintain perspective even as things get dark. Check it out!
Have a great weekend!
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