There’s a moment from Saturday morning that I want to freeze and live in.
I was sitting on the couch, journaling a stream-of-consciousness of the moment. Rhaki worked on a small jigsaw puzzle at the table, a few feet away. I heard Rho and my mother chatting downstairs, laughs punctuating the conversation.
The sun was shining through the windows, which overlook the neighborhood. I had this playlist softly playing from my phone, and I felt completely at peace and just happy.
I’ve been processing my 2024 reflections, and moments like these are the ones that stand out the most - meditating and journaling in the mornings, doing puzzles and playing board games with the kids, curling up on the couch to watch a show or movie with my husband, and settling on the couch in our living room to chat with my parents for hours.
Getting the Pennsylvania house set up was the biggest highlight of my year. The moments I envisioned when I first walked the plot - savoring a glass of wine and a small snack with my father on the evenings, waking up to the wooded view in the mornings, daily walks on the trail with the kids - are even better than I imagined.
I’m incredibly thankful for this home and the other big moments that happened this year - incredible speaking opportunities, publishing the paperback edition of We’re Speaking, wrapping up a dream partnership with Expedia and receiving a second Webby honoree for #5SmartReads, keeping things moving at work. But it’s the smaller moments - quality time with my family and friends, and rebuilding my health foundation on all fronts - that mean the most to me.
I’m immensely grateful for you - whether you’ve been here for a short time or for years, it’s an honor to be invited in your inbox every week. Thank you for your time in reading this content, in every reply and comment, and for just being here.
It means the world to me.
In case you missed it, I have two regularly updated posts on my Substack - my ‘impossible gift guide’ (handpicked gifts for the most difficult people to gift in your life), and my monthly plan (which has all the mindfulness practices, workouts, recipes, and joyful things).
I would be so appreciative if you upgrade your subscription to help support #5SmartReads (my weekly news series that amplifies underreported stories and underrepresented perspectives). I’m taking a note from
and am lowering the annual subscription to $30/year for the rest of the year.
Blood and Ash series
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
One of my beige flags is being a perpetual re-reader of some of my favorite books, and I’m in that reading mood right now. After re-reading Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, I decided to pick up the series that had me in a chokehold earlier this year. Blood and Ash is fairly unhinged - the main characters can’t keep their hands off each other at the most inappropriate times, and there are a fair number of illogical moments that had me tapping back to re-read and understand. The story, however, is addictive (especially when you read the prequel series Flesh and Fire, and I really should tandem read F&F when I hit book 3 of B&A). If you want to get completely lost in a book series and can overlook what I mentioned, I highly encourage it - and warn that it will hijack your brain and whatever little spare time you may have.
You can find my 2024 reads here, and my November reads here.
iPhone Case with Wrist Chain ($11)
I love a cheap thrill that turns out to be better than I had hoped - and this is the latest version of that. I’d been eyeing the more expensive Ossa wristlet case for a while, but wanted to try out the trend at a lower price point. What I love about the case I bought is that it’s Rho-and-Rhaki-proof (it’s withstood multiple falls already), and this one allows for the chain to be attached at all four corners. I’m absolutely delighted by this case, and the sun-and-moon design feels like a nod to my celestial themed teenage bedroom from the late 1900s.
Find this month’s Amazon favorites here.
Working Black Friday in the Rich Part of Town
published in Electric Literature
This essay should be mandatory reading for anyone shopping in-person, if only to be reminded of how to treat people and that real people are the ones working to check them out and staff the stores (and not robots - at least, not yet).
Honestly, it should just be mandatory reading because it’s simply brilliant - a study in modern retail, Karens, and how everything and nothing has changed in capitalism - based on Emily Mester’s months long stint working at the Mt. Pleasant Ulta after graduating from college.
It also influenced me to pick up a new tube of Beso, thanks to Emily’s sharp writing and enduring sales skills.
This mindless iPhone game is perfect when you have the urge to putz for a few minutes (great for kids as well).
I’ve been making a plate of microwave nachos nearly every evening - and I have no regrets.
My Black Friday shopping was spectacularly lame: a new heart rate monitor (my Apple Watch is old and the accuracy is way off), a morning/evening pill case for my supplements, and this tiny heart one for my thyroid and anxiety meds.
Things I would buy if I didn’t already own them - my favorite notebooks for journaling, the softest coziest blanket ever, an indoor herb garden, and this eye cream (it does it all - depuffs, hydrates, reduces dark circles, and feels heavenly).
Hallmark Christmas movies we’ve watched and loved - Christmas with the Singhs, The Holiday Sitter (loved the Mean Girls reference), Christmas on Call (Go Birds!). My best recommendation and proudest find is Next Stop, Christmas (my husband wanted a time travel Christmas movie and this one has that AND two stars from Back to the Future in it).
What I influenced my family members to buy over Thanksgiving - this fail-proof makeup palette, this Chanel-esque bag (100% leather and amazing quality), and my portable charger that I never leave home without.
If you enjoyed this weekend’s letter, please consider:
tapping the ❤️ icon below
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Please take exquisite care of yourself this week.
xo,
HPN
The way I bought that phone case with a chain so quick…now my husband can stop laughing at me when I carry too many things in my hand 😂 Thank you, Hitha! Love your sprinkles!