Issue #251: good books, comfort food, and new rituals 📚

Editor's Note

A recipe for Peak Cozy

We made it to the end of the year!
by Mary Anne Porto, Associate Editor at GNI

Folks, we have officially made it to the final week (the... apex?) of our Peak Cozy series. Woohoo!

My definition of peak cozy is something like: a stew simmering on the stove, both of my hands around a mug of my favorite tea, partially watching a movie, partially laughing with everyone about something else. I asked my colleagues how they’d identify the feeling:

• “An apple pie spice scented candle, The Holiday, reading books together on the couch, a roaring fireplace, snow outside, shearling-lined boots, cuddling with the pup.” —Alisha

• “It definitely involves a blanket that I don't have to share with anyone else. Something braised. Would love to play a board game as well.” —Carey

• “Fire pit nights, noodle soups of all kinds, and a bottle of red wine.” —Megan

• “The feeling of being snowed in the evening before school is canceled. A crackling fireplace paired with pasta, puzzles, and my people. But mostly pasta.” —Olivia

I'm sensing a theme here, which is: good food, being around the people you love, and somehow enveloping yourself in warmth. Keep reading for lots of ideas to get you there. —Mary Anne
 

• We're hiring for another part-time, remote role! If you or someone you know is interested in becoming our Freelance Creative Project Manager, you can find all the details and apply here.

• Whoooops. In the latest Downtime Dilemma, we incorrectly referred to Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler as a memoir. Sweetbitter is a novel, and Danler also wrote a memoir, called Stray.

• This is our last issue of the year. Thank you for reading in 2021, and we'll see you in your inbox in January!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: TARCHERPERIGREE

lots of cozy things for you

While you read, might I suggest listening this cozy playlist Olivia curated?

• Books: It was a delight to collect all of these GNI reader-endorsed books to get you out of a reading slump. If you need even more recs, these are our favorite books of the year:

  • "I can't stop thinking about The Final Revival of Opal & Nev—how good the writing was, how culturally relevant it is, and how it feels like nonfiction, but it isn't." —Carey

  • "Is this a safe space?! If I'm being honest, it would be The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. It's a romance novel, which is a genre I typically never read. It was fast-paced, made me go down a Harry Styles internet rabbit hole, and most important of all, got me out of a months-long reading rut." —Alisha

  • "Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart explores how we make meaning of our emotions and the overall human experience. I’ve been referencing the book throughout my day-to-day." —Olivia

  • My pick is Funny Weather by Olivia Laing. I adore the way she wrote about different artists, spanning mediums and time periods (Georgia O'Keefe, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Freddie Mercury, Sally Rooney, agh!). Some of the essays made my heart hurt, and some made me physically put the book down because I wanted to savor the experience of reading it.

• A Bright Cellars wine subscription is the gift that keeps on giving, thanks to their personalized wine quiz. You (or the friend you're gifting to!) are guaranteed to love the bottles you're matched with—if not, they'll send you a replacement. Get 50% off your first box today. Sponsor

• Comfort food: This cozy chicken chili recipe is shareable and scalable, says Olivia. Megan loves Carla Lalli Music's big Pot of Beans because it can be veg-friendly and easy to serve by the ladle. Alisha made Grossy Pelosi's vodka sawce recently, and it was a crowd pleaser. Carey says these cookies are awesome because they're uncomplicated to make (she used store-bought jam), but seem as if they were super effortful. And all of Eric Kim's recipes have been on heavy rotation in my kitchen this year. For true comfort, I'd go with this — fish sauce butter is a combo of words I never knew could be so magical.

• Ritual ideas to mark the end of the year:

  • Alisha does end-of-year journaling, with guided questions like "What have I learned this year? What am I looking forward to next year? What are my guiding lights for next year?"

  • I decided to start a new annual tradition recently: I went through all my cookbooks and took photos of the recipes I definitely want to get to in 2022. The books I took no pics of are now in a pile to be distributed between friends and Little Free Libraries.

  • Another idea I love: write a few letters of appreciation to authors whose work you enjoyed this year.

• “When I hit my late 30s, my tolerance for cold really decreased significantly—which is not ideal when you're trying to socialize outdoors. I highly recommend these tumblers; pop in a tea bag and some hot water before leaving the house. Instantly warming!” —Leslie Price, co-founder of Gloria, a weekly newsletter and media brand for women who aren't yet old, but aren't still young Guest Rec

• My recent holiday look: This double-ended eyeliner was splurgey, but super easy to work with. I do not care that it's no longer summer, I'm using this wave spray, the only one that's ever really held my hair in waves, all year round. I want everyone to know that Old Navy sells this Mariah Carey shirt that I'm wearing to festive gatherings and will be wearing to sleep the rest of the year.

• Heading somewhere warm this season? Andie's swimsuits should come with. They're stylish without sacrificing comfort, which means you can focus on having fun instead of adjusting and tugging all day. Plus, the variety of styles are here for any occasion—pool party or beach day, lounging around or diving in. First time customers can use the code GIRLSNIGHT20 for 20% off! Sponsor

• Board games: I asked my brother, who helps make coffee for board game nights, for his cozy family gathering recs. His suggestions: The Crew: Mission Deep Sea is great for a group of different ages and different levels of board game knowledge. Fog of Love is like a rom-com, if you're spending holidays with a partner. And, sometimes a good aesthetic is what gets people to join the game: try Wavelength or Monikers for a pretty tabletop.

• "bell hooks will be missed, but the legacy she leaves behind is monumental and enduring, much like the ideals of love she put to the page." (The Guardian)

• Why it's time to retire the phrase "the Julia Child of..."  when talking about women in the food industry. (Eater)

• I'm personally very into the new Pantone color of the year. (CNN) 

• When identity is mentioned only as an aside, "the inclusion excludes." (Believer Mag)

• How Indigenous mentors are preserving knowledge in the digital age. (Grist)

• Is it fun or terrifying to you that apparently crows can talk? (The Oregonian)

• How to get out of a reading rut. (Downtime Dilemma by GNI)