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How to be hygge: Our favorite cozy things

January 29, 2017 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

Winter has some terrible qualities, particularly if you live in an area that’s icy, slushy, or gray. But the season is a good excuse to cuddle indoors under a cozy blanket, binge-watch TV shows, read something comforting (or thoughtful or thrilling), and treat yourself to a snack.

When I heard the term hygge for the first time, I was captivated. It’s a Danish word that’s defined in a variety of ways, including “the art of building sanctuary and community,” “coziness,” and “making everyday moments more meaningful or special.” It may be a distant cousin to our English word hug. And it’s a term that’s become en vogue in recent years, particularly in the coldest months.

Since we’re in the depths of Midwest winter, with weeks of frigid weather to get through, I’ve declared this Hygge Week at The Smart Domestic. I asked some friends for suggestions on simple pleasures, and they’ve obliged with recommendations.

To kick things off, I’m recommending some creature comforts to help set the mood for us.

DRINK

We’re partial to Earl Grey tea in our house, but I also like herbal tea for late-night sipping. I’m eyeing this honeybush hazelnut as a caffeine-free option. (The tea shop I’ve linked is owned by a co-worker here in Ohio.)

If you’re a coffee drinker, I endorse A Love Supreme blend by Chicago’s Dark Matter Coffee. You deserve good coffee in your life, and this one is my all-time favorite with notes of cocoa, walnut, and cherry. If you want to slum it with something from your local grocery store or Amazon, I like Peet’s light roast. I’m also a sucker for novelty mugs, and this one by Adam J. Kurtz is my current “mug wishlist.”

EAT

Whimsy and Spice is an online sweets shop based in New York, and I’d like to try the chocolate butterscotch bars or some of their chocolate shortbread cookies.

If you prefer the Amazon Prime route, you can always go for some sea-salt caramel chocolates.

SNUGGLE

We have many throw blankets; I endorse this soft, machine-washable blanket as an all-purpose one (it’s often commissioned for pillow-fort building here). If I splurged on something new, I’d go for this modern blanket made of recycled fiber.

Who’s ready to get hygge? What’s your secret for staying cozy during dreary weather (or when you need some self-soothing nights at home)? 

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: comfort, cozy, hygge, hygge week

7 tips for finding affordable, original art

January 10, 2017 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

Over many years of decorating apartments (and now a house), my husband and I have moved away from movie posters and inexpensive prints (though we still have some around the house!) in favor of funkier art that reflects shared memories, travels, and cultural tastes. We’ve collected original art created by friends, paintings by my dad, prints from Etsy artists, and family photos.

Today, I’m sharing seven tips for how to start an art collection and add more personal elements to your home. I’ve certainly bought pieces from big-box stores and websites, but now when I look around my house, I see years worth of memories and personal connections. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way:

  1. Shop local: Coffee shops. Art fairs and street festivals. Open houses at art studios. Antique shops and thrift stores. Art is all around us, when you start looking for it. I’m partial to hipster craft markets and antique malls. Our favorite coffee shop in Chicago had a rotating selection of local artists’ work on the walls, and we found many pieces we loved, including the big piece from our friend Shira Ballon below.
  2. Make it personal: If your dad is a hobby painter (which is true, in my case), ask for a piece of his work to put in your home. If your cousin makes lovely watercolor paintings, commission a piece for your dining room. If a friend posts pictures of their art portfolio, make an offer to buy some of their work. You should always pay your friends for their work, OF COURSE.
  3. Do it yourself: There are tons of tutorials for how to create abstract art, oversized prints, string art, or other custom art for your home. If you’re even slightly crafty, try your hand at making your own art. Add your kids’ (very messy) paintings, and let them select some obnoxious decals for their bedroom walls.
  4. Collect pieces while traveling and exploring: On our honeymoon, we bought a small drawing at an art market in London. On a cross-country train trip to the Grand Canyon, we snapped lots of photos of American landscapes. On a family trip to Ireland, we shot photos of funny signs, gorgeous misty landscapes, castles, and cliffs. Now we have art peppered throughout our house that reminds us of some of our favorite trips.
  5. Go vintage: If you know you like a certain theme, subject matter, or style, search eBay and Etsy for vintage art that you might like. Or scour thrift shops, antique shops, flea markets, and auctions.
  6. Redefine “art.” Abstract sculptural pieces, sentimental objects, kids’ finger paintings… If you like something visually and you can figure out a way to mount it to your wall, IT’S ART. My husband found some giant, rusty gears at an auction for about $10 and mounted them on some rustic wood panels. Voila! Art! 
  7. Take your time! We have pieces we love that we printed from photos in the last few months, and we have pieces we bought eight years ago on our honeymoon. If you tweak your collection over time, slowly and thoughtfully, you’ll discover your preferences with styles, colors, and more. This amazing narwhal piece below came from our friend Rebecca, who sells her work on Etsy. We bought it several years ago in Chicago, but I love seeing it in our house now. 

When I look at the art on my walls now, I see stories, connections, and memories. But more than that, our art is about what we like, no matter whether it’s trendy or “normal.” I’ll add one more bonus tip: Get weird, and keep it weird. Art should be fun, and weird, and personal.

What are the stories behind your artwork and collections? And where’s your favorite place to shop for art? Tell us in the comments!

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: art, artists, collecting, etsy, home decorating

Smart gifts for your favorite people

December 1, 2016 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

holiday-gifts

I love the idea of Christmas shopping, with the hope that I’ve chosen a unique, perfect gift for everyone on my list. But the throngs of shoppers in big-box stores make me cringe. So I spend a lot of time making notes through the year of interesting, unusual, perfect gifts for my family and friends. If you’re in need of some inspiration, we’ve put together a little gift guide to generate ideas for your friends, sisters, husbands, brothers, and kids.

Books 

Here are some I’ve had my eye on:

  • In the Company of Women
  • The Underground Railroad
  • Swing Time
  • Born to Run
  • Cookbooks: How to Celebrate Everything / Dorie’s Cookies / How to Bake Everything

Children’s books

Here are some recommended (from your trusty children’s librarian blogger, Leslie) and entertaining books to keep the kiddies busy:

  • Nanette’s Baguette by Mo Willems (This is a great rhyming book and is pretty funny!)
  • Wake Up, City! by Erica Silverman (For those city dwellers in your life.)
  • Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty (There are a few others to check out too: Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer.)
  • Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess by Janet Hill (Great for dog lovers!)

Useful-ish things 

  • A pretty, minimalist teapot (paired with some good tea)
  • A wine sealer for open bottles (paired with a bottle of wine)

Pretty things 

  • A sparkly cardigan or a fleece wrap-cardigan
  • An interesting scarf
  • Charming jewelry

Nerdery

  • A tiny model kit
  • A death star lamp
  • A strategy-history game

For littles

  • Super-soft pajamas in any color of the rainbow
  • A warm hat for cold winter days
  • A tiny instant camera to capture fun moments in print
  • Toys! Like this camper-van, cool stacking blocks, a musical alligator, “smart dough” modeling compound, a circus story box, an activity book about America, or an adorable trolley (And yet, all my kid wants are “blind bags” with Trolls, Finding Dory, and Shopkins characters.)

What’s on your wishlist or shopping list that everyone should know about? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook! 

 

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: christmas, gifts, holidays, wishlist

25 smart, funny and delicious Instagrams to follow

October 25, 2016 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

A photo posted by feedfeed, Julie Resnick (@thefeedfeed.chocolate) on Oct 18, 2016 at 7:16pm PDT

We’ve talked before about our favorite podcasts and email newsletters; today I’m sharing my favorite Instagram accounts.

Instagram is mostly visual, which is great for scrolling during downtimes like holding a baby, riding public transportation, waiting in a doctor’s office, or just for quick mental breaks in your day.

Here are some of my favorites:

…

Read More »

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: instagram, internet, Internet finds, social media

Staying soft and being tired

September 22, 2016 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

img_7051Seven weeks ago, I welcomed my second baby boy to the world. We call him Theo. He excels at baby skills: Sleeping, eating, filling his diaper, and staring out into the world with wonder. He is a beautiful blank slate of humanity.

I’m stopping in here briefly to tell you about maternity leave, being a mom to two small humans, being sleep-deprived, and staying soft for a while.

…

Read More »

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: kids, maternity leave, motherhood, parenting

My books are the home I take with me

August 29, 2016 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

photo-1464865885825-be7cd16fad8dBy Hannah Nersasian 

International shipping isn’t cheap. You fill boxes, weigh them, use up the remainder of your overdraft in paying to have them wrapped and shipped 3,000 miles. The boxes travel slowly, meandering their way across the ocean, waiting in containers in ports with other boxes containing other lives, with other destinations. It takes time and money and effort to pack up and move, so it makes sense that you’d choose only the most precious possessions and that you’d weigh their value against their literal weight. You wouldn’t choose things that could be purchased again on the other side of the ocean for far less money than it’d take to ship them. You wouldn’t choose to take things you’ve already used and probably won’t use again. You wouldn’t choose things that are worn and old and probably have a resale value of about 20 cents. Except of course if you’re me, and those things are your books, and where you go, they go, no matter how inconvenient or irrational or expensive.

So when I moved to a suburb of Boston in 2010 (from London), I didn’t take furniture or dinnerware or even my good chef’s knife. I didn’t take my spice collection or some of the larger artwork that had hung on my walls since my teenage years. I didn’t take my stack of old love-notes and photographs. Some I’d pick up later, cramming what I could into overfilled suitcases and hoping my theory of ‘if I can lift it, it’s not too heavy’ would hold true. But most I’d leave behind in my parent’s house, dodging my mum’s comments of how once you’re married you really shouldn’t still be storing things in your parent’s attic.

What I did take, packed tenderly into two cardboard boxes with reinforced sides, were my books. Books that I devoured during my teens, trying desperately to understand myself and the world and love; books I’d destroyed with highlighter during my undergraduate degree; books that had changed my life; and books I’d never read but always meant to. In a few instances I took two copies of the same book for different reasons: a cherished inscription, a favorite cover. And as they sauntered across the Atlantic, as I finished up a job and attended my own leaving parties, as I spent three misguided months couch surfing to save money and pay off the aforementioned overdraft fees, I felt them missing from me. Their weight and familiarity, wit and wisdom, temporarily boxed up, sealed and floating on a dark ocean without a track-your-package option.

They arrived in Boston before me, a chunk of my heart waiting (along with my fiancé) when I got off the plane, claiming space for me in an apartment that was bleakly utilitarian, male and overrun by mice. I hated that apartment. The kitchen floor seemed to be designed to look dirty and the linoleum tiles had tiny pock marks in them perfect for catching dirt and never letting it go. The bedroom was painted a dark mauve. Our upstairs neighbor was a big guy who ran on a treadmill right above our bedroom every morning and the whooshing sound below seemed reminiscent of the womb, except not in a good way. The basement was semi-finished and smelled of mildew and mice. I was glad to be in America and thrilled to be in the same country as my husband. I hated that apartment.

Moving countries comes with the longest and strangest to-do list you’ve ever encountered. I had to complete a series of HPV vaccine shots (because for a brief moment in time it was a visa requirement, until it wasn’t), learn to drive, sign up for a Social Security card in my maiden name and then switch it to my married name once my green card arrived. I had to find a volunteer role to keep my resume from stagnating and find friends to keep my spirit from stagnating.

But top of the list was a bookcase for my books. I knew if I had to live in that apartment, finding a space for them would allow at least a corner of it to feel like home. I was right. Once my books were unpacked I felt myself start to relax a little, as if they emitted a quiet calm energy just for me. I spent those early months stubbornly working my way through the to-do lists and buying more books, feeling as though each new acquisition grounded me more definitely into my new life and claimed more space for me in that hideous apartment.

We’ve now moved, thank goodness, and my books were the last things I packed and the first things I unpacked. Even in an empty house littered with boxes to be emptied and belongings to be found, a full bookshelf equals home to me. And placing books on shelves is a sacred ritual, weighing each one for a moment before sliding it onto the shelf, that helps me accept and embrace my new environment. Filling shelves with books is an immediate statement of home and a quiet-but-bold declaration of self. Like a tortoise with his shell, my books are the home I take with me, just a little more awkward and a lot more expensive to carry.

Hannah Nersasian is a first-time ‘mum’ from rural, southwest England, currently living in Framingham, Mass., with her American husband, son and cat. You can read more from Hannah on Boston Moms Blog and on her personal blog. Find her on Facebook, or follow her on twitter @Alien_Hans.

We’re asking some friends to share their answers to one question: What makes a house feel like a home? If you’d like to contribute to this series, email thesmartdomestic@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: books, feels like home, home, home decorating

Don Quixote at home

August 22, 2016 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

By Katie Colt

As an adult, I’ve moved a lot. I don’t mean a couple of times—we’re talking ten moves in ten years. Ten moves from permanent dwelling to permanent dwelling, with “permanent” to me clearly meaning “temporary.” These moves do not include transitional stays at family members’ houses, in hotels, or a month’s summer study abroad program. My twenties were nomadic.

Though there have been good, compelling reasons for each move (Cohabitation! Bigger place! BATS!), the amount of mental, physical, and emotional schlepping required to complete each transition really takes its toll on my well-being. This is most likely why, no matter where I end up, the following art takes up residence on the wall of the most central room in my dwelling:Don Quixote at home

There he is: Don Quixote, naked, on a ghostly horse, in all his semi-cubist glory.

He’s quite the conversation starter. Why he is naked—and why my grandmother chose to paint him naked—is a mystery for the ages. But his presence in my home(s) has come to represent an appreciation for goofiness, familiarity, and a connection to family that allows every place I’ve lived to feel like I belong there.

My grandmother Miriam was many things: a college-educated woman at a time when many were not; a marriage and family therapist; a beloved mother and  aunt; a talented cook, baker, and hostess; and a skilled artist, taking classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago during the mid-20th century. Having loved Picasso and cubism, she started painting and emulated him, later creating gorgeous and bright abstract collages, which hung proudly in her homes and in the homes of those she loved.

As a child, Grandma Miriam toted me along to the Art Institute innumerable times, showing me Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Cassatt, and Picasso. She took me to the theatre, painstakingly tried to teach me how to knit (it never quite stuck), and allowed me to practice all my ice skating jumps and spins on her parquet floors (as long as I didn’t crash-land into her glass coffee table or indigenous clay sculptures). Spending time with her proved to be the earliest, most immersive cultural and creative education I never intended to receive.

I’ve made choices that have taken me in multiple different directions, both in physical location and career path. Along the way, I’ve struggled to feel confident in my creative abilities, which were always at the center of my person. However my self-esteem has suffered, at least my sense of humor has not.

Every time I walk into my living room, whichever living room it may be at the time, I can’t help but smile at the painting’s colors, its boldness, and its brazen embrace of the absurd. And I think of Miriam, and her artistic vision, her priorities, her love, and the importance of pursuing creative expression. No matter how nomadic my future, it is comforting that Don Quixote will follow, nakedness and all.

Katie Colt is a daydreamer, a diaper-changer, a writer, a baby-wrangler, a composer, and a carry-out queen. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @katiebabyhorse for a mix of the magical and the mundane.

We’re asking some friends to share their answers to one question: What makes a house feel like a home? If you’d like to contribute to this series, email thesmartdomestic@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: art, family, feels like home, home, home decorating, painting

What to read (during maternity leave)

August 8, 2016 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

Suzanne asked a few friends for recommendations to occupy her mind while she’s home with a newborn. Today, blogger (and mom of two) Hillary Copsey shares her recommendations for what to read. 

Reading is, in many ways, the perfect thing to do when you have a new baby to tend.

It’s quiet. It transports you from the tedium of diaper changes and the pleasant yet prickly trap of a nursing or sleeping baby. It can be done in fits and spurts, in any place and at any time – even in the dark of night, thanks to phones and tablets.

And reading aloud endlessly will quiet the screaming of a colicky child – at least for a bit. (May you never discover this for yourself.)

When Suzanne asked me to compile a maternity leave reading list, I dove into the search for recommendations with two big assumptions, based on hazy memories of my own reading habits after my sons were born. I read less when my boys, now 6 and 8, were wee, and the reading I did was short and light.

Both assumptions are false.

I’ve kept track of every book read, by month, for nine years, and because my boys’ birthdates are just two weeks apart, my maternity leaves fell in the same three-month period. Even as a first-time mom with a colicky newborn, my book count during that three-month period remained at the nine-year average. When my second son was born, I read two books above it.

I’m an omnivorous reader, and my maternity leave reading history reflects that, too. Just as in the years when I wasn’t rocking a newborn in the wee hours, my book lists from early 2008 and 2010 are a mix of genre and literary fiction, nonfiction, short stories, young adult, long-form journalism and favorite rereads.

All of this geekery to point out this essential fact: If reading is a vital part of your identity, a baby won’t change that. You will find time for it – and, if you have one, you should ask your partner to help you make the time. Reading was the thing I did to remain who I always was even as I became something new, a mother.

I have a list of recommendations, but here’s my best advice: Read what you enjoy.

Avoid parenting books. Skip the books you “should” read. Instead, turn to comfort reads, whatever that means to you. Take this time to wallow in what you love – baby and books.

Favorites from My Maternity Leaves

The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly – great particularly for boy moms

The Dexter books, Jeff Lindsay – quick, dark humor

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon

The Underland Chronicles, Suzanne Collins – The Hunger Games author

The Good Soldiers, David Finkel – longform journalism

White Teeth and On Beauty, Zadie Smith – So, here’s the peril of maternity leave reading: These two very good books blur together, read as they were in fits and starts while my youngest son was tiny.

Short Stories 

I always say I don’t love short stories, but my book lists shows that to be false. These collections are great, delivering smart, often funny or poignant social commentary in manageable page counts.

Tenth of December, George Saunders

Some Possible Solutions, Helen Phillips – particularly “The Doppelgangers,” but on a good day when you can laugh at yourself

The Paper Menagerie, Ken Liu

Drown, Junot Diaz

Where The God of Love Hangs Out, Amy Bloom

Vampires in The Lemon Grove, Karen Russell

Fiction 

This is a collection of books I still think about after reading in big, greedy gulps.

Lucky Us, Amy Bloom

The Royal We, Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

This Is Where I Leave You, Jonathan Tropper

Flight Behavior, Barbara Kingsolver

Ready Player One, Ernest Cline

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan

Alif the Unseen, G. Willow Wilson

Where’d You Go Bernadette, Maria Semple

The Flavia de Luce mysteries, Alan Bradley

The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

Mudbound, Hillary Jordan

Horns, Joe Hill

How to Tell Toledo from The Night Sky, Lydia Netzer

Monsters of Templeton, Lauren Groff

Summerland, Michael Chabon

The Likeness, Tana French

Finnikin of the Rock, Melina Marchetta

Speak, Louisa Hall

Old Favorites

These are the books I return to again and again. Even if you’re not usually a re-reader, you might find it comforting when your hormones are raging and you’re covered in bodily fluids.

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Anne series, L.M. Montgomery – Go for the later books. I’m telling you, Anne Shirley Blythe is a feminist role model.

Grimm’s Fairytales – I particularly like this version, Fairy Tales from The Brothers Grimm, by Philip Pullman

Song of the Lioness series, Tamora Pierce

Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett

Nonfiction

This list was compiled with the same criteria as the fiction list.

The Boys in The Boat, Daniel James Brown

Data-ism, Steve Lohr – Read this with Speak from the fiction list.

The 50-Year Silence, Miranda Richmond Mouillot

Being Mortal, Atul Gawande

Men We Reaped, Jesmyn Ward

Between The World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates

Online

We all have our corners of the internet that suck us in for hours, so I’ve kept this brief.

“The Midnight Zone,” Lauren Groff – my favorite line: “I taught them how to read, but they could make their own lunches.”

NextDraft – This daily newsletter from Dave Pell will keep you up-to-date with everything happening outside your house.

Tom and Lorenzo – Follow the celebrity fashion machine with witty commentary and lots of pictures of pretty dresses and pretty people.

Twitter is great for night-time feedings: Someone is always up, and you can pick and choose what you read further. Authors like G. Willow Wilson and Rainbow Rowell are great on Twitter. Following all your favorite news sources is never a bad idea. I also recommend @XplodingUnicorn for funny observations about parenthood.

Medium – The daily digest is a fairly decent round-up of interesting reads and/or the reads people are talking about.

After 10 years in Florida, Ohio native Hillary Copsey returned to the Buckeye State, where she works for a nonprofit arts agency, blogs at Not Raising Brats, and reads copiously. Find her on Twitter @HillaryCopsey. She and Suzanne would both like to #MakeAmericaReadAgain. 

Photos from the Library of Congress (1, 2, 3)

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: #makeamericareadagain, books, favorite books, fiction, nonfiction, reading, short stories, what to read

7 tips for moving with toddlers

June 27, 2016 by Suzanne 7 Comments

Let’s all ignore this study: “Moving can be hazardous to your health and wellbeing.”

We’ve noticed a lot of our friends have had to move from one home to another with toddlers (or babies, or older kids). Sometimes they’re moving back to their hometowns (as I did when my kiddo was about 7 months old); sometimes they’re taking better (or different) jobs that require a change in location. A lot of families move from apartments, condos or “starter homes” into bigger homes, or into better school districts, or to a neighborhood that’s more family friendly. (We realize sometimes you have to move the other way, into something smaller or cheaper, for reasons of job change, divorce or other life changes.)

Since I moved with a baby, our transition was fairly easy. We didn’t have to deal with discussions about new neighborhoods or toddler resistances to changes in routine.

So I asked a panel of experts (i.e. my sister and a friend from college) for tips to help other parents as they move. Our experts are married, working moms, each with a toddler. (For bonus similarity points: They’re both named Stephanie.) One moved within a city to a different house, another moved to a new city (in the same state) for work.

If you’ve got a move coming up, they’ve offered up some tips on how to help kids adjust and how to make the logistics easier in the midst of chaos.

TIPS FOR MOVING WITH KIDS

  1. Talk early and often with your kid(s).
    “We talked about the moving process and emphasized that everything/everyone/every pet would still be together at the new house. Rinse and repeat.”
  2. Introduce new parks, neighborhood, or home features with excitement.
    “We started playing at ‘our new park’ that’s only a couple blocks from our new house, driving by the house and frequenting things that were near the new neighborhood. We showed Thomas pictures we took of the inside of the house and especially his room. We emphasized cool features of our new house that we didn’t have before (‘You’re going to love swimming in your new pool!’).”
  3. Bribe your kid.
    “Give a special “new house” toy.”
  4. Pack strategically.
    “We were able to pack up a lot of the house without her realizing there was a huge difference (a 2-year-old doesn’t notice if you have empty kitchen cabinets and are eating on paper plates).”
  5. Hire movers!
    “BEST DECISION EVER!  It gets it done quickly and is least disruptive.”
  6. Set up the kid’s room first.
    “The day the movers came to the new house, we made sure to get her room set up first so it felt familiar.”
  7. Establish routines in the new neighborhood.
    “Once we moved in, we made sure to establish new fun routines in our new house and neighborhood. Other than missing seeing deer in our old backyard, the transition overall went pretty smooth.”

Thanks for sharing your tips, Stephanies! Readers: Got any other tips for parents who are dealing with a move? 

 

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: moving, parenting, toddlers

Our favorite smart email newsletters

June 10, 2016 by Suzanne Leave a Comment

Smart emails

As an avid reader (and connoisseur of the best the internet has to offer), I manage my reading in a variety of ways, from Feedly (for daily blog reads) to Pocket (for saving interesting longform reads for downtime and weekends) to email newsletters.

I’m a big fan of email newsletters: They come directly to me, they feel more personal than blog posts (because it’s addressed TO ME), and they dive more deeply than social media posts (because there’s no character limit or “read more” in an email).  I even started my own monthly version, because I think the medium is so compelling.

Today, I’m sharing my favorites. They’re the ones that have made it to my primary inbox after weeks and months of reading, because they’re compelling, unique, and offer perspectives I can’t find anywhere else.

NextDraft

Why I love it: A daily (weekdays only) email with links to some of the day’s biggest stories, with a heavy emphasis on politics, technology, and culture. I particularly like the “bottom of the news” section, which features quirky stories. (Sidenote: I tried The Skimm, a similar daily round-up of news stories, but I never adjusted to the tone of it. Some people LOVE IT, so I’m mentioning it in case you want to try a couple of these.)

Ann Friedman Weekly

Why I love it: Every Friday, freelance writer Ann Friedman shares links to her own work, as well as a CRAZY amount of other links. These stories cover pop culture, feminism, world events, and essays. (She also does a hand-drawn pie chart if you are a paying subscriber. I am!) I have no idea how she reads all these stories in any given week, and many of her readers spend their weekends working through her recommendations.

Lenny Letter

Why I love it: Interviews with smart women, personal essays from celebrities and everyday women, and occasional writing from actress/writer/director Lena Dunham. Comes twice a week, but I never feel like it’s too often.

Austin Kleon’s Weekly Email

Why I love it: A round-up of 10 interesting, artsy links from artist-writer Austin Kleon. Good for doses of visual art, creativity, writing, and occasionally music and pop culture.

Shout-outs to real-life people I know and like:

The Sleeper Hit

Why I love it: Writer Meryl Williams gives brief biweekly updates about her life (learning roller derby and exploring her current city of Portland, Oregon), while linking to her latest freelance and sharing her favorite reads.

Humdrum

Why I love it: Short essays from Christina Brandon. Compared to the other newsletters above, Brandon’s stands alone for its unique collection of themed observations and personal stories.

I Heart Words

Why I write it: Once a month, I pen a short advice piece (in response to anonymous questions) and share links to stories, podcasts, and recipes I’ve been thinking about. I’m interested in words, writing, compelling people-stories, living my best life, easy recipes, and bizarre animated gifs, so the newsletter is a round-up of those things. Essentially, it’s the stuff I want to share and discuss with my friends, but I don’t want to bombard them with single-link emails all month.

Is there anything else I should subscribe to? Are you on the email newsletter bandwagon? 

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: email, Internet finds, newsletters, reading, what to read

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