Picnic blankets, NYC shopping, and why Alex Cooper is secretly brilliant
Links we sent our friends #106 feat. author Anna Mitchael
Hey, it’s Aja. How are you holding up? I’m scared and angry and tired — and trying to hold on to the small joys. Like going to a festival Saturday afternoon with Aliza, her parents, and Jude, where we joined a dance floor with a bunch of babies, toddlers, and kids to learn some samba moves (from an incredible dancer here on a special visa from Cuba). Everyone dancing was smiling, laughing, and completely present. As I told Aliza in a voice note the next day: I need to spend more time with young kids, and I need to start dancing again.
I have a feeling today’s guest, Texas-based writer
, would’ve been shimmying on the dance floor with us. On her lovely Substack , she publishes “short stories with a poetic twist”: the kind of writing that makes you pause mid-scroll and feel something. We’re so excited to read her new book, They Will Tell You the World Is Yours, a collection of vignettes about womanhood.Anna’s Links:
I came into summer a little too hot with the book release and a lot of travel. Now I am making an effort to settle and be. A great picnic blanket is foundational to this plan — as is this app, and reminding myself these beauties are right outside.
One summer button-down to rule them all.
17-month planners give me that fresh start feeling without January fresh start stress.
Bonus: the best pens.
My neighbor and I are baking our way through this cookbook and sharing the results as we go. I recommend the cookbook, but more than that, I recommend doing this with a friend. It’s a potent and dependable joy to ring someone’s doorbell and say, “I made this for you.”
Aliza’s Links:
Bookmarked
’s favorite NYC shops and ’s Portland weekend guide for the trips I’m taking to both cities next month.Sandals that go with everything. (Use code PLATONICLOVE10 for 10% off.)
Phone charging… but make it joyful?
For our wedding, my friend Alex gave us a set of glasses that are some of our favorites to this day. In a similar vein, here are more great gift options.
Aja’s Links:
After I said last week I didn’t like Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper’s interviewing style,
sent me this (persuasive!) article explaining why she’s actually a brilliant interviewer.A delicious, healthy, and versatile summer salad — and it comes together in just twenty minutes.
Is this the best ice cream you can buy in stores??
I’m so excited for my bachelorette on Martha’s Vineyard this weekend (which Aliza, who knows MV inside and out, planned!) I used the occasion to buy this fun weekender from a new-to-me French brand. (Aliza: Hoping there’s going to be more dancing this weekend!)
My Spotify Premium audiobook1 of the moment is Doppelganger (narrated by the author Naomi Klein). It’s a fascinating deep-dive into far-right conspiracy theories. A friend warned me against listening to it right now, but I’m finding it oddly comforting as it helps me make sense of the “other side.”
What’s helping you slow down this summer? What small joy are you holding onto right now? Asking for a friend, ha.
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PSA: Last month, to my — unpleasant — surprise, I discovered Spotify Premium caps you at 15 hours of listening per month! I thought it was unlimited! I ended up paying $12.99 for a 10 hour “top off,” so I could finish my book, but wanted to warn the other big listeners out there…
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I also ran into that problem with Spotify audiobooks- and it's 15 hours of book time, not actual time, says person who tried to beat the system by listening at 1.5 speed.
An MV Bach! LOVE IT have fun and please tell us all about it after!!!