July Scribbles

Hi Barbie!

I know that people have been declaring every summer “Hot Girl Summer” since about 2019, but I’m calling it: this one, Summer 2023, is actually it.

2020 and 2021 were too lost to the pandemic to be anything as audaciously bold as “Hot.” And 2022? We were still trying to find our footing. But 2023? It. Has. Arrived.

Let me make my case:

• The Eras Tour

• Related: Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

• The Barbie Movie

Okay, so really my argument boils down to Taylor Swift and The Barbie Movie. Can you blame me? It feels like the entire cultural aesthetic right now is swathed in sequins and pink spandex and bedazzled with friendship bracelets. People are wearing heels again. Glitter is everywhere. There is an ACTUAL shortage of pink paint.

If you thought I was done talking about the Eras Tour after last month’s newsletter, you thought wrong.

It feels like us women are healing ourselves by embracing our femininity. I recently read This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch¹ which is all about finding joy even—maybe especially—in our ridiculous passions. Because finding joy? Is actually not so ridiculous after all. The real absurdity is that women felt the need to be ashamed of the things that bring us joy in the first place.

The dedication page of This is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch. It is perfection.

We women are out there this summer delighting in our God-given joy. And we’re doing it while wearing pink and saying “Hi Barbie” to each other on the street and trading friendship bracelets and scream-singing our favorite lyrics and buying merch and watching live streams on TikTok and dissecting it all in group chats with our sisterhoods.

We’re healing ourselves from the inside—from our inner children on out—and I’m so freaking proud of us. I’m here for every moment of untamed girlish joy. It feels so good to be a part of it all.

Around the Internet

• Connections. Wordle and then this, every morning.

• All the Barbie things (SPOILERS, obvi): The Biblical undertones. One of the scenes I can’t stop thinking about is one studio execs wanted to cut. What Was I Made For? has me tearing up, every time. Especially when paired with beautiful TikToks. Please give Ryan Gosling all the awards.

• Okay, one more. “That’s the joke, of course — and the punching heart of the film. Barbie doesn’t argue that the world should look like Barbie’s world so much as dare you to find offense in it, to just try and make the argument that a judicial branch with a token man is somehow offensive.”

• This piece is about so much more, but this line stopped me in my tracks: “I stopped accompanying my morning tea with a knee-jerk social media ‘check.’ What was I checking for?”

• As a kitchen and bath designer, I promise you this is God’s honest truth.

• This TikTok about all the things that are none of my business is spot-on.

Eating

• I didn’t think I liked chicken burgers (Too dry!), but I’ve made these Chicken Teryaki Burgers twice within the past few weeks. Splurged on the good brioche buns and it was WORTH IT.

• I’ve been drinking sparkling lemonade² mixed with red wine³ on repeat as my Cocktail of the Summer. It’s refreshing and light and probably way too easy to drink. I’ve also been mixing them up for anyone I can and have yet to find someone who doesn’t go for a second glass.

• We grilled up this bruschetta chicken last week. I added some red onion and balsamic vinegar to the bruschetta topping and that made it *chef’s kiss.*

Fun Things

• Discovered that we can just pack up the kids for a 4-hour roundtrip excursion.⁴ And like, it’s not a big deal? We can just do that? And all I grabbed as I walked out the door were some car snacks and water bottles? And I put them in charge of packing a few books and small toys for the car? And nobody complained about being bored? And it was really quite enjoyable? Who knew?

  

  

  

• I bought the Toddy cold brew system a couple of months ago after chancing upon some random, unrelated, but unanimously positive reviews. They were earned. I’ve been making my own cold brew for a solid decade with a few different methods, and the Toddy is so far my favorite. It makes strong, rich coffee and I love its simplicity.

• Boy Brow forever, but on days I want my brows to have a little more oomph (like when seeing the Barbie movie, perhaps?) I’ve been loving this brow set. Even for someone who considers their makeup skills to be average, I find the little brush easy to use.

• Did I order this hat? Yes. Yes, I did.

1. Another thing I can’t stop talking about.

2. Limonata San Pellegrino

3. Red wine of choice: Stella Rosa. I couldn’t drink it on its own (too sweet!) but it’s perfect for mixing.

4. Apparently Minnesota is home to one of the top ten toy stores in the entire WORLD. Now you know.