1. Wanting this week – Doc Martens!!
Remember these? Did you have a pair growing up? I did. I had a pair which I just loved – they were this red oxblood pair but with a slight marbling effect, and I just thought they were the most perfect thing ever. I remember they were the most expensive shoes I had ever bought but I wore them for two years. Then I forgot about Doc Martens, all the way until earlier this year, when I saw them on display at Nordstrom. I tried on a pair, and they were just as I remembered – sturdy, heavy, so cool. This time I am after one with a bit of a heel, so I love this one above – but it’s heavy. Debating. Also, Zappos has more sizes if Nordstrom (linked above) doesn’t have yours.
2. I want to hear your thoughts on the WSJ article about the awkwardness of tipping at casual establishments. I have to say I agree with a lot of the article – I usually end up tipping at least 15% even when it is just a “grab the croissant” situation but there is one place near us that has the gall to have 30% as the DEFAULT option and I just refuse. It is obscene! And the prices are already bougie to begin with.
3. This is a short article (I have a long one coming up next!) but I really wanted to hear your thoughts, about waking super early, and going to bed super early, at 8:45, via The Cut. What do you think? I’ve actually thought about doing this several times but lately as it’s been getting colder I just want to hibernate in the morning. I always have so much to do though. Should I try this?
4. A long and necessary read, via The NY Times – Jane Doe Ponytail. Complex, unnecessarily tragic, and not something you can moralize in a neat little bow.
5. This week I finished Where The Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens.
I heard about this book probably the way most people who read it did, through Reese Witherspoon when she announced it for her book club (the outcome all authors pray for, after we say our chants to our Lady of Oprah). Sometimes I try not to recommend such “big” books on the blog – I figure many people have already heard of them and want to shine the spotlight on less publicized titles. This week, however, it doesn’t work out – I tried about three other smaller, niche books this week while traveling and they all didn’t do it for me so finally I turned to this one. And it was wonderful. A wildlife tale set in Florida marsh territory, this novel is both a coming of age, a murder mystery, and an ode to nature. Some parts of the plot might require some suspension of belief – but really, you can tell this was written with such love and care, and I absolutely sped through it. Highly recommend Where The Crawdads Sing.
4 Comments
Anna
October 26, 2018 at 12:21 pmAfter having baby, my creative life suffered. I have a regular job. I didn’t have any period of uninterrupted time to draw, or read or write. I tried utilizing the time after baby goes to sleep but often times found myself mindlessly browsing the internet. I agonized and didn’t quite know what to do until quite recently when I got into a rhythm of sleeping early with the baby and getting up early, like 6am, and focus on my creative work for about 2 hrs. It’s been great! The morning hours are so precious. I often times truly feel a sense of flow. If you are already thinking about it, I highly recommend giving it a try!
Bee
October 26, 2018 at 2:10 pmWow 800+ comments on the tipping article! I used to be firmly anti-tipping for counter service, but a friend recently snarkily pointed out that “if I could afford to pay $6 for a latte I can afford tipping on it”. Eek! Now I generally do 20% unless the service is atrocious.
I so want to go to bed/wake up early so I can go to an exercise class, but I’m always SO tired. With an 18 month old, I don’t think it’s going to get better anytime soon…
I have a trip to the east coast coming up, so maybe when I return to west coast time I’ll try to stick to an early bed time.
bisbee
October 26, 2018 at 8:02 pmI’d love to read the tipping article…very frustrating when you link to a WSJ article. I don’t subscribe!
Getting up early…I am retired, but when I was working (through last December), I got up at 4:50 every morning. I didn’t go to bed at 8:45…more like 9:30. We had flextime at work…whenever I got to work, I left 8 1/2 hours later. Now I don’t have to get up early… I’m usually up around 7:15. But…my time is my own!
Karrie
October 27, 2018 at 2:24 pmI get up at 6am Monday to Saturday. I am a SAHM with a 4 and 6 year old. I get up that early to shower and eat before I have to get the kids ready. There are times when I have gone to bed at 8:45pm. Other times it could be later, thanks to just being online, or reading, or trying to catch up on shows. Later can be like 1am. On average I am in bed at 10:30pm. Is going to bed early helpful? Yes. Do I always feel well rested after going to bed early? Not always. But a 10 minute cat nap during the day works well too if I’ve had a late night.