This is the Friday post, a roundup of everything that’s on my radar this week. Paid subscribers get access to the full Friday post and other perks. Subscribe for $5/month here.

Happy Friday and happy February, all! First, thanks to everyone who’s subscribed and sent sweet messages about how much you enjoy this newsletter. It’s lifted my spirits this week in a week that needed much spirit-lifting!

Today’s post is jam-packed, so let’s get into it. Including…

• Our February book club pick and an exciting announcement 💘

• All the best soups I made this week (plus a soup hack)

• A fantastic read on finances and monthly expenses

• The gel pen I enthusiastically recommend

• A phone accessory I’m convinced we all need

• My bookish sparkle of joy this week

—Alisha

• What I’m cooking: This week, I made an intentional decision to lean hard into soups. It just felt like the right time to do it. Cold, wet, gray days? SOUP. Soup is always the answer! Pureeing a bunch of delicious stuff (I use this) and not having to turn on the oven feels like a win to me. My best soup hack is one I learned from friend of the newsletter Carey: use Better Than Bouillon instead of buying individual chicken/beef stock cartons. So much simpler, cost effective, and uses less packaging.
  
  Here are the recipes I made this week (all from Smitten Kitchen; Deb can do no wrong) that received a five star review from my s/o, a very significant accolade indeed…

  • Braised ginger meatballs in coconut broth: I used chicken instead of pork and it was still delicious.

  • Broccoli cheddar soup: My secret shame is that I love Panera’s brocc cheddar soup. This one is reminiscent of that rich flavor, but better.

  • White bean soup with crispy kale: It’s like a grown-up version of a baked potato soup. The beans add a luxurious creaminess without relying on dairy.

• What I’m buying:

  Sharing a few small purchases this week that made my life a teeny bit better…

  • 🖊A very good pen: I guess I’m now at the age where I enthusiastically recommend a pen. I recently got the Uni-ball Signo UM-151 Gel Pen (0.38 mm) and it’ll be the one I stock up, re-order, and swear by. It glides across the page, the ink transfers smoothly, and that fine point tip is just chef’s kiss to me. (I bought it with my five-year journal as a gift to myself.)

  • 🍇 A new accessory for my accessory: I might be in my I don’t need a purse era — I’m a heavy Apple Wallet user so my phone has everything on it anyway, but I still want to be somewhat hands-free. My favorite influencers have been toting around this gorgeous “phone wristlet” and I ordered one this week. Will report back and take pics!

  • 🙆‍♀️ My new go-to WFH makeup: I don’t love wearing makeup but my recent breakouts and subsequent dark spots have made me reach for this new-to-me tinted moisturizer whose praises have been sung by beauty industry insiders. It’s my new favorite. It gives a bit more coverage, is less oily/runny than others I’ve tried, doesn’t cause breakouts, and—drumroll—has SPF 30 in it, too. (If you’re okay with a thinner consistency and beautiful light coverage, I highly recommend this Westman Atelier foundation.)

• What I’m watching: Dumb Money on Netflix. This dramedy is about the GameStop stock chaos caused by a Reddit community during the pandemic. I enjoyed it from beginning to end, and the cast is stacked, starring Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogen, America Ferrera, Pete Davidson, and Sebastian Stan.

Got a rec? Looking for a rec? Share them here in our subscriber chat. There’ll be a fresh thread each month. 🌼

“Scotcharoos are a midwest staple!”

Thanks to reader Amanda, who alerted me to the existence of these Rice Krispie treat-adjacent desserts. As a butterscotch lover, my mouth is watering!!! (Here’s my previous newsletter about the joy of Rice Krispie treats.)

📚 I’m THRILLED to share that our February book club pick is GOOD MATERIAL by Dolly Alderton! It’s a perfect little rom-com treat for us. 💘 Thanks for all your ideas and votes. We’ll plan to discuss the book in the last week of February in a discussion thread here.

Introducing: in-person & Zoom book club meetups

Some of you shared interest in doing in-person or Zoom discussions, so let’s try it out! It’s a fun way to meet new people in your area and hang. Paid subscribers, please scroll to the bottom of this email for more details. ☺️

Giveaway: Win a copy of GOOD MATERIAL!

As a treat for paid subscribers, I’m giving away 3 copies of our pick. If you’d like to enter, please leave a comment with your favorite winter soup recipe. 🍲

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Reads:

• Like Nora Ephron, With a British Twist [NYT *gift link] — This headline about Dolly Alderton, the author of our book club pick, got me more excited to start reading.

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