Isn’t it so wild that holding your friends’ babies and smelling their soft little fuzzy heads actually melts your heart a little bit?? I’ve been over here for the longest time like yeah okay, babies! Sure, whatever!!! Big deal! But guess what? These damn babies are really doing a number on me lately. I’m overwhelmed by a real feminine urge to uh, procreate or something? It’s almost like my biology has programmed me this way, it’s the strangest thing.

And don’t worry! We’re not planning on adding any offspring to our one bedroom apartment any time soon—I’m much more likely to spontaneously add another dog to the mix. But if you have a baby I’m gonna stick my arms out and say “I’ll have that” and hold them for as long as they’ll let me, that much is true.

Also if you’re a Starbucks queen (I am and I’m not ashamed) can I put you on to my current order? (Say yes.) Grande shaken espresso with whole milk, one pump of pumpkin sauce and two pumps of vanilla. Hell ya.

On My Brain 

I Have a New Job! (& Thoughts on Freelancing)

After 3ish years of freelancing (with a few contract gigs in between), I’m officially settling back down into a full time editorial role. Yesterday was my first day as a staff writer at… Wirecutter! 

In case you don’t know, Wirecutter is the product testing and review arm of The New York Times, and likely as you’re reading this, I’m at a new hire orientation brushing shoulders with a whole bunch of other cool, smart people starting this month. It was a pretty rigorous hiring process, and I can’t lie that I’m feeling proud that I made it all the way through. So naturally, I’ve been spending the bulk of my time leading up to orientation agonizing over what to wear. Even though I know I’m gonna get there and everyone will be dressed normally and all the mental turmoil will be for naught. But that’s girlhood<3 

I’m also equal parts angsty with first-day-of-school jitters and excited that I’ll be on a team of talented people again. I’ve been a sort of lone wolf for a while now, but when I took a short contract role at Hearst Newspapers earlier this year, I was reminded of how fulfilling it can be to be around smart, creative people every day (even if virtually). 

When I started freelancing, I needed a break from the corporate world of media. I had been laid off three times by that point (twice from the same company, lol), started and stopped a job I hated, worked a short stint at a hospital during peak COVID, and I was truly gun shy about working for another company that didn’t give a rat’s ass about me. 

And in that way, my first year of freelancing was such a relief. I felt fresh, motivated, and proud of all the work I was doing. I was writing for brands I had always wanted to work with, and I was pleasantly surprised by how many connections I had made, because my inbox was basically overflowing with work opportunities. I also started freelancing right around the time we moved to Jersey City and got Ozzie, so I deeply enjoyed the freedom to paint walls and mount shelves in the middle of the day, make elaborate lunches for myself, and go on long walks to the dog park. 

But—shocker—freelancing requires a high level of self-discipline and an embrace of ~hustle culture~, and after a while, it just gets exhausting. The initial burst of work slows down, and there’s so much to juggle with bookkeeping alone that I was burnt out on keeping track of all my invoices and a very unpredictable pay schedule. I found it increasingly difficult to stay on track with deadlines, and I felt a lot of shame about not being able to effectively manage my time. Throw an ADHD diagnosis in there and you’ve got a recipe for a quarter life crisis—but I’m finally feeling like I’m regaining some solid footing in my career. Oh, and I can’t wait to get a regular paycheck again. That’s gonna be so sick. 

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Is… Perfect 

Religious trauma? Horrendous fashion? Niche interpersonal drama? Swingers, bad extensions, problematic baby daddies? Yeah… I’m obviously in. As a loyal “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” viewer, I’m no stranger to the bizarrely dissonant world of Utah Mormons. And as someone endlessly fascinated by all things culty, I’ve already spent an inordinate amount of time trying to piece together how sodas with coconut creamer, temple garments, and long blonde hair with straight ends all have something to do with one another. 

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” follows a group of young Mormon moms who apparently make more money on brand deals if they get together and do some poorly executed TikTok dances together, idk. I had only vaguely heard of them before this show, but now that the show is out they’re all over my timelines, and I can’t get enough. My main takeaways: Jen needs to divorce her husband (also what grown man is naturally bleach blonde like that? It’s giving evil), Whitney is a narcissist, and Taylor’s penchant for getting food on her face while eating quickly made her my favorite one on the show. Please watch and report back. I need to talk more about it.

In My Cart 

Don’t Talk to Me Until I’ve Used My Ice Roller

One thing about me? My eyes will always take an opportunity to puff up. Allergies? Puffy under eyes. Glass of wine? Puffy under eyes. Salty breakfast? Puffy under eyes. Not enough sleep? Yep—puffy under eyes. And while I’ve spent most of my adult life turning my nose up at skincare fads, each passing year makes my skin a little less bouncy, and I find myself more attached to skincare products I never thought I would have needed. 

Case in point: My beloved ice roller. I cannot emphasize enough how soothing this thing is. I’m so addicted to the feeling of the cold plastic under my eyes that I won’t travel without it, but that’s also because my chances of being puffy while traveling are basically doubled (shoutout salty restaurant food and a poor ability to sleep away from home). You should have seen me at my friend Rachel’s wedding—I was rolling this thing over my face so manically all morning you would have thought it was actually keeping me alive. In reality, I was just hoping to erase the signs of the champagne I guzzled the night before and, even if it’s a placebo effect, I’m so glad I had the foresight to pack my ice roller. 

I also love to use my ice roller when my allergies are acting up, because rolling it over my swollen sinuses brings a level of relief that a bag of frozen peas can’t match. (Yes, I have been known to lay on the couch with frozen peas on my face in an attempt to soothe my sinus pressure.) It comes with a spare insert, too, which I keep in the freezer for days that I need more ice rolling than one insert can provide before melting. 

Speaking of Which, I Also Need a New Gua Sha Stone 

Surprise surprise, I was supremely skeptical about gua sha when it rose to popularity in the US, but listen… this shit woooooorks. After noticing how much better I felt when I used my ice roller, I figured that adding a little facial massage into my morning routine couldn’t hurt, either. I already had an angled gua sha stone that came in a 2-pack with a jade roller (the precursor to my ice roller), so between the oil and moisturizer steps in my skincare routine, I’ve started doing a few minutes of gua sha, too. Much to my shock and delight, I’ve actually noticed a difference in my face.

Now, is this an earth-shattering difference that other people will notice? Probably not. But I notice a slight difference when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and that’s enough for me. My under eyes are certainly less puffy, and I do think that with consistent gua sha my jawline is more defined (love). I did drop my jade gua sha stone on the bathroom floor though, and it cracked into two pieces, so I’ll be purchasing a new one before I turn into an old hag or something. 

In My Belly 

A Hash Brown Crust Quiche I Eat for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

This humble quiche was born out of a hosting necessity—I was having friends over for a Christmas brunch and I wanted to make a quiche, but one friend (Mr. Neck’s mom, actually) was gluten free. I adapted this recipe (which you can certainly follow exactly, if you’d like) and now make it all the time, because it’s both easy to make and extremely easy to eat, whether it’s fresh out of the oven or reheated by the slice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I’ve made it with small chunks of deli ham, chorizo, and bacon, all of which are fabulous. I also like to serve it with a simple salad—this past week I did arugula, strawberries, goat cheese, almonds, and a honey dijon dressing. Here’s my version of the hash brown quiche: 

For the crust: 

• 2-3 cups of frozen hash browns, thawed (I get mine at Trader Joe’s) 

• ¾ cup shredded cheddar 

• ⅓ tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika 

For the filling: 

• ½ cup of meat of your choice, diced 

• Half a small/medium yellow onion, diced (I like to brown them in a pan first) 

• ½ cup shredded cheddar 

• Tsp dijon 

• 1 small clove garlic, grated 

• 5 eggs 

• 1 cup heavy cream 

1. Set the oven to 425 F and grease the bottom of a pan (I usually use a glass dish, but you can also use a cast iron skillet or aluminum pan) with a little bit of oil (I do avocado oil!). 

2. Mix thawed potatoes and cheddar with spices and lots of salt and pepper, then press into the pan with your hands or a measuring cup.

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the crust is turning golden brown and crispy around the edges and turn the oven down to 375 F. 

4. Whisk together eggs, heavy cream, garlic, dijon, salt, and pepper, then fold in onions, meat, and cheese and pour into the crust. 

5. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the middle has set. 

A Warm & Cozy Fall Pasta Dish 

It’s time people, it’s time. Fall foods and pasta dishes are upon us. I’ve been very into Julius Roberts’ recipes as of late—he just makes really simple, hearty food and I love watching his cooking videos on his farm. I just made this pasta dish with chicken sausage and fresh herbs from my mom’s garden and it truly felt like a warm hug. I forgot to add chickpeas even though half of my purpose for making this recipe was to use up a can from my back stock of chickpeas (I do that thing where I anxious grab one every time I go to the grocery store, just in case), but I think it was just as well. 

You Ask, I Answer 

Q: “Wedding gift ideas?”

A: Perhaps not the most helpful, but my first response is: Refer to the registry. If the couple has any physical gifts left over after the shower, fab. But if they just want cash/a contribution to a honeymoon or house fund—you should do that! As someone currently planning a wedding (and someone passionate about gift etiquette), I can tell you that no one will ever be disappointed with ca$h dollars or something they’ve already picked out. Let’s make cash great (not tacky) again!!! Cash rules!

Need a gift suggestion for your mother-in-law’s birthday? Stuck on how to rearrange the furniture in your living room? Want to know what to do with a jar of marinated artichokes? Come to mama. Hit me up with your questions, and I'll answer them in an upcoming letter.