issue #204 - the one redefining dating
Hitha on the dates she's been going on lately
A few housekeeping items before diving into the newsletter:
I will be speaking alongside my friend Amanda (her newsletter is fabulous, sign up here) at The Grand’s New Year Soiree on January 23rd. You can request an invitation here (enter HITHA2024 to answer the question “What brings you to The Grand, and you’ll be entered to win a 1:1 mentoring session with me).
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When was the last time you went on a date? What was it?
Would I be wrong if I assumed you’re racking your brain for the last coffee, drinks, or dinner you went on with your partner or a romantic interest? Did you consider the meal you enjoyed with a friend? The 1:1 time you had with your child? The solo lunch you enjoyed?
And why is it that our default definition for a date is one with a romantic partner, rather than quality time with someone important to you?
As I ease into the new year, I’ve been prioritizing dates of all types.
There was the midday stretch I spent with Rho last weekend, walking through Central Park, enjoying a couple of exhibits at The Met (with these amazing family guides), lunch at our favorite restaurant, and a bookstore visit.
There was my walk with Julia earlier this week. We circled the Great Lawn while talking about everything from newsletters (subscribe to hers, it’s fantastic), relationships, families, the random things we’re loving, and transportation.
There was my bookcation last week (more on that below), which was the most restorative 24 hours I’ve had in…well, I can’t remember.
Having read this, I want to repeat my questions, and add an important one.
When was the last time you went on a date? What was it?
When is your next date?
This is your reminder or permission slip to look at your calendar and carve out 30 minutes or an hour to take yourself out. Visit your favorite café with the book you’re reading (if you need a recommendation, I got you). Grab an early dinner at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try. Treat yourself to a manicure and a podcast.
These little acts of self-love have been defined a number of ways - romanticizing your life, self-care, unicorn space. I keep coming back to the famed Carrie Bradshaw quote:
“But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous.”
Take yourself on a date. You deserve it.
Take A Bookcation
this post is sponsored by Expedia Group
I only wanted one thing for the holidays this year - a bookcation.
It’s exactly how it sounds - a trip specifically to read a book (especially one I’d been waiting 2 years for). I wanted a very specific vibe and set of amenities for this book, which included:
A cozy, elegant vibe
A bathtub
Excellent food and drinks (both in the onsite restaurants and in-room dining)
Comfortable common areas, in case I get tired of the room
Hotels.com delivered - quite literally.
I filtered my search down to 3 top choices - The Ned, The Beekman, and The Hotel Chelsea. Their SmartShopping feature allowed me to compare the hotels side-by-side (price, ratings, amenities, photos) and helped me settle on The Ned.
The Ned was perfect. The property is casually, moodily elegant - velvet and leather armchairs and couches, gorgeous molding, curved rooms, huge windows, and the all-important claw foot tub. The service is friendly and attentive without overbearing, and my room was surprisingly quiet even though the my room overlooked Broadway (the bed also feels like a cloud, with the softest sheets). My One Key platinum status got me a room upgrade to a 1 bedroom suite and early check-in, with a bottle of wine waiting for me. I opened my book and read while soaking in the tub, curled up in every chair in my sitting room, and lying in the bed (where I also took the most restful nap).
After a quick change and a dab of makeup, I ventured downstairs to enjoy a Negroni and a giant bowl of cacio e pepe at Cecconi’s, one of the onsite restaurants (where I read some more). When I returned to the room, my bed was turned out and ready to be climbed into to continue reading.
If I wasn’t reading, I was sleeping - and I had the most restorative night’s sleep.
I finished a few more chapters while enjoying breakfast and lounging in bed before I checked out The Ned Club to read some more, and enjoy one last bowl of pasta (this time, the fusili pomodoro).
It was the perfect mini-getaway. The only question is what book - and at which hotel - will I be bookcationing with and at next?
The Top Reads From This Week
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Monday: How Two Pharmacists Figured Out That Decongestants Don’t Work
Tuesday: Eli Lilly launches website to help patients get weight loss drugs
Wednesday: men explaining the barbie movie to me
Thursday: issue 7: varsity reader
Friday: Are you a headache person? You don’t have to suffer in silence.
The rest of this week’s reads:
January 8, 2024
January 9, 2024
January 10, 2024
January 11, 2024
January 12, 2024
What I Read This Week
The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout - this series is my entire personality now and I’m not mad about it. Themes from the first two books apply here (nerdishly bureaucratic, Poppy and Cas need to keep their hands off each other during dire times, huge twist at the end), and I feel like I need to finish the series in the next week and half before House of Flame and Shadow comes out (and becomes my entire personality)
The Weekly Thali
Thali is a traditional Indian meal made up of a number of dishes (presented in their own small bowls), served on a single platter. It feels like an appropriate description of a grab bag section of Q&A, recommendations, and random links shared this week
Shaking up my AG1 with a scoop of protein powder before I drink my coffee has been the best way to start my day. My hangry moments have basically disappeared and I end up making better nutritional choices the rest of the day. I set my supplements (iron, berberine, probiotic) and my shaker bottle out the night before.
When I get deep into work mode, I forget to eat lunch (and I know how absurd that sounds, but it’s true). I’ve been making what I’ve dubbed a monster smoothie (5 cups of frozen veggies, protein powder, a Blender Bomb, and almond milk) and sipping it while I stay in my work flow (these smoothie tumblers are the best). It’s easy to make and drink, it’s got a great macronutrient profile, and you get most of your day’s required fiber in this single meal.
We revamped the gallery wall in our kitchen with these picture ledges, these art-storing frames for each of our kids, a canvas print of a piece the boys created during the break, a family picture, and some of the kids’ favorite art. I love looking at the wall now, and it’s much easier to change up than it used to be.
Some things we made this week - crispy rice (we made it with spicy tofu), 5 ingredient chocolate chip cookies, and clean-out-the-freezer veggie soup in our multicooker (I like to add flax seeds to help thicken it up and add more fiber)
What I wore this week - the best workout sets, the coziest dress (and more from this new-to-me brand), my new favorite sweatshirt and pants, a sweatsuit you can wear outside of the house.
This week’s questions and answers are in this post (and please ask your burning questions in the comments of the video):
Take care, drink some water, and call someone you love.
xo,
HPN