Happy April! I missed last week’s post because I was in Austin, Texas. No, I was NOT there for the eclipse. My friend and I booked the trip ages ago, before I knew the eclipse was happening, and our departure date was two days before the big event. Oh well! We each brought our daughters and had a wonderful little Spring Break extravaganza. This will be a packed roundup with two weeks’ worth of random things to share. Here we go! Quote of the week: “Learning to have an inner life is like getting used to being outside in nature at night. At first, you can’t see anything and fear takes over. But ..read more

Happy Friday! And Happy Easter to those who celebrate. We do the egg hunt and the basket of goodies. I may get wild and make a quiche. Whatever you’re doing this weekend, I hope it’s fun and/or relaxing (or both—that’s the magical combination). Quote of the week: “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” — Joseph Campbell What I’m reading: I’m just about to finish Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Durraj. It’s a novel in interlinked stories about Palestinian Americans in Baltimore. I’ve really enjoyed it. What I’m listening to: I just fin ..read more

Welcome to Spring It’s cloudy and cool in southern California today, not very Spring-like, but I’m looking forward to the sunny days ahead. It’s been a rough week for me for a few reasons and I’m ready for the weekend. For local friends, I’m doing a little brewery gathering to celebrate my book deal on Saturday, so message me if you’re interested in coming by. Quote of the week: “I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow; but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.” –Agatha Christie What I’m rea ..read more

Happy Friday! I’m very much looking forward to the weekend and hope you are too. Here’s the roundup! Quote of the week: “I wish you endless dreams and the furious desire to realize some of them. I wish you to love what must be loved, and to forget what must be forgotten. I wish you passions. I wish you silences. I wish you birdsongs as you wake up and children’s laughter…I wish you at last to never give up the search, for adventure, life, love. For life is a wonderful adventure and no reasonable person should give it up without a tough fight. I wish you above all to be yourself, proud of being ..read more

First of all, Happy International Women’s Day! Here’s to equal rights and equal pay and equal everything. This was a big week for me because I was finally able to announce my two-book deal with Lake Union. I am super excited about this and can’t wait for you guys to read the books. The first book will come out around this time next year, with the second book coming out the year after that. I’ve started writing the second one and am having fun with it so far. Yay! Quote of the week: This week’s “quote” is actually a mini poem from Emily Dickinson that she wrote on the back of an envelope (and ..read more

Happy Friday! I hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day if you celebrate. I didn’t used to care, but now I have a daughter who cares, so now I care. All that talk about seeing things through your child’s eyes is right on. I don’t have a romantic partner, but I have so much love in my life and I’m cool with dedicating a day to honoring that. I’m very lucky. On to the roundup! Quote of the week: “None of us understand what we’re doing but we do beautiful things anyway.” –Allen Ginsberg What I’m reading: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. My book club selected this one for our nex ..read more

Greetings from a completely saturated Southern California. It’s been a wet and wild week. Here’s the roundup! Quote of the week: “if anyone is magically going to appear and suddenly make your life better, just know that person is always going to be you.” –Brianna Pastor (go pre-order her book Good Grief–it’s wonderful) What I’m reading: Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff. A story of women killing despicable men–fun read haha. What I’m listening to: Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate. I’m a big fan of Ashley Audrain and she has said that Ashley Tate has been her writing partner for years… so I had ..read more

Happy Groundhog Day! I guess Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, so we’re in for an early spring. More importantly, who is watching the Bill Murray movie tonight? One of my all-time favorites. On to the roundup! Quote of the week: “We are all meant to shine, as children do… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Marianne Williamson What I’m reading: I just started Martha Beck’s The Way of Integrity and I think it’ll be a good one. Before that, I ..read more

Happy Friday! This was an exciting week for me with some great news that I’ll be able to share soon. How’s that for a teaser? On to the roundup… Quote of the week: “One key to knowing joy is to be easily pleased.” –Mark Nepo What I’m reading: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. I was SO EXCITED to get an advance copy of this book. I am a huge fan of Rufi Thorpe. I’m about halfway through and loving it, as I expected I would. It comes out in June! What I’m listening to: Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included) by ..read more

I’ve had a weird-feeling week with a case of the blahs. Then I read today that Pluto is “shifting into Aquarius” tomorrow, which only happens every 248 years apparently and is supposed to come with some big changes. I am not a big astrology person and I don’t even know what “shifting into Aquarius” means, but I am willing to set aside my skepticism and trust that I’ll feel like a brand new human tomorrow…right? RIGHT? Okay, moving on… Quote of the week: “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” —Edward Abbey What I’m reading: They’re Going to ..read more