FROM: STELLA

TO: LAURA

1. I had a fantastic weekend in Sedona last week with my husband (full travel report post coming soon). I’d never been before and loved seeing the gorgeous red rocks and going on a trip without much of an agenda.
2. I was very motivated by our podcast week to start listening to a few of Laura’s favorite shows that I haven’t tried and a few other new-to-me listens that have been on my list. Over last weekend, I discovered Household Name and I have been binging it like crazy. It’s a new series, but I’ve managed to listen to all but five of the episodes so far to date! My favorites thus far have been the episodes about Blockbuster, Waffle House and TGI Fridays. Which is funny because none of those brands are ones that are specifically nostalgic or big for me personally. The stories that they tell in the podcast are not about how the brand was built necessarily (like How I Built This, another podcast I love) but more a lesser-known story about the brand that you likely won’t have heard before.
3. We both had dentist appointments last week which was a fun coincidence. I usually don’t think much about going to the dentist other than a scheduling dance with my calendar. But this week I’ve been thinking a lot about oral health especially because my electric toothbrush just died a few weeks ago. I still have my wisdom teeth so it’s always a struggle to clean my entire mouth. I’m very intrigued by this Kickstarter project that has innovatively created a new solution for the traditional toothbrush.
4. My dad is coming to town next week for Thanksgiving and I’m making a list of places to go and things to do while he’s in town. Thrilled to refer back to Laura’s posts on great parent things to do in LA (eastside, westside).

FROM: LAURA

TO: STELLA

1. This week’s episode of The Cut featured an interview with the translator of the Ferrante series and I loved it! Seemingly against the rest of the population, I wasn’t super enamored with the books (I actually have been halfway through book 4 for…9 months now? Have to finish.); I liked them but wasn’t head over heels, staying up late to read them. However, hearing more about the anonymous author and what some of the underlying stories have meant to other readers makes me want to go back and read them again to see if maybe I just wasn’t coming at them with the right mood!

2. 

   There’s a framed map hanging over a couch in my living room that I despise. I didn’t hate it when my husband and I first hung art all over the house, but slowly (and very surely) it has stuck out as a sore spot to me. I really like Society 6’s wall hangings and am trying to figure out if that would fill the space in a better way… Now just have to decide on which one of the many that I love! [1], [2], [3], [4], [5].

3. My husband and I have done holiday cards for the last two years and each time had a really great idea to go with that ended up turning out really well. This year? I’m stumped! ISO creative, pet-inclusive, maybe pregnancy-related ideas!!
4. I’ve been battling a cold this week, which, coupled with my energy deficiency of being pregnant, completely shattered me! I’ve been sucking down lots of tea and hot water with lemon in my favorite travel mug to get through the days and cozying up with my favorite blanket as soon as I got home each night. Here’s hoping it leaves in the coming week.