Scribble(s)
Jewel released the song “Hands” when I was in fifth grade. I remember listening carefully every time it came on the radio, captivated by the lyrics, trying to hold them in my memory as my parents drove. “Spirit” wasn’t the first CD I owned, but it’s the first I remember NEEDING. I lay on my stomach, on the floor of my bedroom, pouring over the lyrics in the liner notes. I studied them as though I would be quizzed.1 I hadn’t heard anything like it before. Every word felt like poetry.
I realize now that I’ve always gravitated toward artists who know how to use their words. I like a dance-y bop as much as anyone (I WILL be putting my hands up every time “Party in the USA” comes on), but it’s not what I listen to every day.
It’s what’s always drawn me to Taylor Swift. I’ve been sitting up and paying attention since the very beginning. “You made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter?” Come ON. “They told me all of my cages were mental/so I got wasted like all my potential?” Let’s GO. “So you call me up again just to break me like a promise/So casually cruel in the name of being honest?” YOU KNOW IT.
It’s not just Taylor, of course. It started with Jewel. “Looked to everybody but me/To answer my prayers.” Then there’s Noah Kahan “I'm still angry at my parents for what their parents did to them.” And Olivia Rodrigo? “God I wish that you had thought this through/before I went and fell in love with you.” GAH.
These are the songs that have soundtracked my life. While doing homework on the floor of my bedroom. While driving my first car: a bright blue GMC Jimmy. While dancing around the kitchen with the kids. It’s the music in the background as I work, bake, clean, and parent.
All that to say, I’ve spent much of the past twelve days trying to absorb all 31 (Thirty! One!) songs on The Tortured Poets Department. Is that even possible? Not so much. I’ll be processing these lyrics for the rest of my life. As well as trying to score Eras Tour tickets again ASAP.2
Around the Internet
And to stay on the so musical theme this newsletter has taken so far, this is the best thing I read regarding all the TTPD discourse. (The last line is perfect and “Where’s the ‘delight’ in staying up until dawn to finish listening to an album as if it’s a college paper we’re cramming to complete by the morning?” is *chef’s kiss*)
My Instagram friend Jillian has been writing the most 🔥🔥🔥 poems all month. “Get In Loser, We’re Embracing A Childlike Sense of Wonder” is one of my favorites.
Speaking of poetry, (and TTPD, ahem), I joined Jillian and several other fabulous writers for a special Tortured Poets Department edition of their wonderful Part-Time Poets Substack.3
“…what if the most loving thing we could do for our kids was to learn to regulate our own anxiety about our kids?” …is probably something I need to tape to my bathroom mirror.
On decanting your groceries (or not).
TikTok roundup: Anxious girlies don’t need a reason. I will never look at this cheese, produced in the Kraft region of America, the same way again. Did anyone else need to check into the Emotional ER after their first TTPD listen? The most accurate thing I’ve seen as baseball season begins.
Eating
I watched this TikTok for a Chicken Grinder and immediately added my own version to our meal plan. Tyson dubbed it a “fancy sandwich” and it was DELISH.
I’ve evangelized for this granola before, but the Eleven Madison Park Granola is perfect. It’s all I can do not to consume the entire tray right when I take it out of the oven.
I’ve also been on a lil’ snack plate kick. Nothing revolutionary, but these might be turning me into a pickle person.
Fun Things
If you see me this summer, it’s a good bet I will be wearing these Vuori pants. I’ve ordered two pairs and I might already need another. They’re lightweight, comfortable (read: elastic waist), and a great length even on little ol’ me. I feel like you could dress them up and they would also be a perfect airplane pant. I can guarantee I will be living in these while sitting on the sidelines at baseball this summer. I also ordered this shirt and it is SO soft.
I’ve been having some major shine issues lately and felt like my skin was absorbing my foundation as fast as I put it on. I picked up the e.l.f. Liquid Putty Primer: I use a fairly generous amount, pat it onto my face, then let it sit for 30-60 seconds before doing my foundation. It seems to have solved my problem!4
Still have that album memorized, obvi.
Something even more impossible than trying to process 31 songs at once.
It’s one of the most delightful things in my inbox every month and you should absolutely subscribe.
For now. We’ll see how it stands up to summer humidity.
Thanks for the rec on the Vuori pants! I haven't seen that style before! I LOVE that brand (my wallet wishes I didn't)!