November Edit: Thrift Queenery, Cozy Comforts, and Throwback Tracks
She's surviving! ✨
Well, hello! I hope you’ve been having a cozy time as fall winds down. I haven’t had nearly enough pie, but hope to remedy that soon.
I love November because the Christmas lights start popping up everywhere, and that brings me instant joy. I’m still in survival mode, though, as evidenced by these facts:
I haven’t published anything since my last monthly wrap-up post.
This here post is being published on a Sunday.
I’m writing most of this on December 6th, and my Christmas tree still isn’t up. (If you don’t know, I’m usually a November 1st person.)
Anyway, thank you for being here! And here are my favorites from last month.
The plaid nail set I had for most of the month. I was suddenly bitten by the nail art bug again, after probably a year of solid colors.
A new Switchyards co-working space opened in Toco Hills. I loved working from this location because there are so many food options in the same shopping center.
Adding IRL friends on Finch. Yay for self-care accountability and motivation!
Thrifting success! I made out like a bandit at a few of my favorite Goodwills. I also enjoyed shopping at and donating to Lost-N-Found Youth Thrift Store (and feeling a bit better supporting their nonprofit, knowing donations are less likely to end up in a landfill).
Got another fun little bookmark—this time sour gummies!—for the dopamine.
Sézane opened up shop in Atlanta, and I was over the moon about it.
Everlane’s ‘The Everywhere Pant.’ I bought these for work a few months back, and they’re in constant rotation. The fit and quality are great. I have them in Toffee.
Attempting to get into playing Nintendo Switch games. (Would you believe my therapist suggested games to help get me out of my rumination cycles?) If you have recommendations, I like cozy games (but not necessarily life simulation ones like Animal Crossing) where I’m building something or completing tasks. And fighting games.
Jocón (chicken and tomatillo stew) at home, which I really enjoyed but definitely shouldn’t have made on a weeknight. (Gift recipe link - good for 30 days)
The Decatur Wine Festival was an incredibly good time. I can’t wait for next year.
Bully Boy. Their grilled octopus unseated my former favorite grilled octopus in the Atlanta area (at Casi Cielo).
The curry duck noodles at Hawkers. The dish was unfortunately Beltline-sized and priced (I’ve only been to the Beltline location), but the flavors were delicious and memorable.
Dubai chocolate granola butter. It’s the only Dubai chocolate anything I’ve had, so I don’t have anything to compare it to. But it’s a fun snack, and I’m obsessed with the crunch in it.
Woodworking by Emily St. James: This book was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases. The story has a lot to say about the expansiveness of identity and the roles we perform in life. It’s about a trans high school teacher living in a small town in South Dakota who, feeling awkward and precarious, reaches out to Abigail, one of her English students and the only other trans person she knows. I didn’t love it as much as I expected to because it was too long and the plot dragged in places, but it’s a heartwarming and ultimately impressive debut.
The other five books I read were for Nonfiction November, so I’ll save my thoughts for my next post about them. In the meantime, check out this post from last year:
Lots of Balu Brigada, in preparation to see them live at Terminal West (they were as incredible live as I hoped).
I was obsessed with “The Dress” by Dijon and Olivia Dean’s cover of it.
Random throwback tracks, especially “So Good” by Destiny’s Child, and “Love Shoulda Brought You Home” and “He Wasn’t Man Enough” by Toni Braxton.
“Folded” by Kehlani was on repeat. She’s making music that sounds like the R&B I grew up with, and I love it.
This dark academic LoFi playlist got me through many hours of writing for work.
The Maintenance Phase podcast’s episode on raw milk: the history behind its consumption and bans, and how we got where we are today.
Hey, what’s going on with books?: A super detailed reflection on the state of the publishing industry, from what’s going on with the fantasy genre and bookstores to the commoditization of books as physical objects.
The Christian Bookstore Rejects: Sarah Bessey’s thoughts on being a devout Christian author who writes books geared for Christians and yet is almost never stocked in Christian bookstores.
The Doom Spenders: An insightful longform piece that is a “portrait of a generation on the instalment plan.” It focuses on the financial habits and mindsets of Gen Z Canadians, but I’d say everything applies to folks in the US, too.
a guide to emotional hygiene for overthinkers: Exactly what it sounds like—an affirming (and corrective) guide for those of us who are prone to overthinking.
The butter turkey I saw on someone’s Thanksgiving IG story / The olives graphic tee I should’ve bought from Nuuly / New York really did that—there is hope for us yet / The concept of random themed gatherings for very small groups / The Anthro skirt I was waiting to go on sale, which did and immediately sold out / Kayla Nicole’s Halloween costume / I can’t wait to host again / My mom’s sweet potato pie, which I’ll be reunited with soon
