Welcome to The Simple Things, a newsletter inspired by one of my favorite Oscar Wilde quotes. Here are the latest material and immaterial things that have rolled through the revolving doors of my mind.
It’s never too late to make new habits. Here are 100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying, which is the best kind of approach.
Love that Wordle is a part of the cultural zeitgeist now. I love it even more that its part of a love story.
Writer Emma Straub on working in her neighborhood bookstore and opening her own.
This company customizes your vitamin gummies by 3D printing and stacking them for you.
I think I might need this eyewear stand for my bedside table.
This silicone cutlery cover from Muji would be the perfect companion for my home lunches. Doesn’t seem to be available in the US stores, which is annoying but also par for the course. It’s available on Ebay though!
While recording the audio book for Charlotte’s Web, it took E.B. White 17 takes to read Charlotte’s death scene because he kept crying.
Some homeowners signed up to get their homes renovated by home design influencers on the Magnolia Network and got way more than they bargained for. It’s a doozy of a story and a rare peek behind the scenes of HGTV-style makeover shows.
There’s a cargo plane used exclusively for transporting horses. It’s called AIR HORSE ONE. This is not a bit. Horse bit. Of course, a horse. Someone stop me.
After a balmy December, I’m happy we’re having legit sweater weather temperatures. Thinking of this masala chai the Samovar near my SF office made in large vats. Also going to try to recreate the spicy warm ginger tea I had after long days of hiking in the Himalayan foothills. Plus this soup flask because rejoice! It’s soup season.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this charming outdoor sink/counter set up that’s perfect for gardening, cocktails, and bbq-ing.
If I had more time, I’d love to keep a honey bee hive. But for now, I’ll settle for these flats from Patricia Green (currently 50% off!), this bee pendant, and these glass bee tumblers.
I used to be quite allergic to fragrances but I’ve somehow become a bit of a collector now? I read Corinne Bailey Rae’s favorite fragrance is Le Labo Jasmin 17 and have added it to my wish list. “Like a Star” is still one of my favorite songs ever.
Also added my name to the Ffern ledger after a friend’s recommendation. I appreciate that their ledger process allows them to remain true to traditional small batch production processes and better minimize waste. Each bottle ships with a sample so you can decide whether or not you want to keep it before breaking the seal.
This nugget ice maker comes up on my feeds so often that I’m starting to wonder if the Universe is trying to tell me something. Well guess what Universe, I’m not going to cave because I already have too much shit on my countertops.
That said, should I get a pressure cooker so I can make this miso risotto recipe in 5 minutes?
Charming carriage house in Greenwich Village is for sale.
Looking to upgrade your floatie game this summer? Consider these. Though I have a feeling they may not be Shoot-the-Hooch-friendly.
I can get down with these at a baby gender reveal party.
Never not relevant:
“You read something which you thought only happened to you, and you discover that it happened 100 years ago to Dostoyevsky. This is a very great liberation for the suffering, struggling person, who always thinks that he is alone. This is why art is important. Art would not be important if life were not important, and life is important.”
- James Baldwin, “Conversations with James Baldwin”
Hey camping enthusiasts — you may have your Patagonia-designed camp meal kits and your aesthetically pleasing camp gear, but you still won’t get me to leave my house to go camping with you. I’m sorry. Please accept me for me.
Brian Eno when asked why doesn’t dabble in NFTs himself:
I’ve been approached several times to ‘make an NFT.’ So far nothing has convinced me that there is anything worth making in that arena. ‘Worth making’ for me implies bringing something into existence that adds value to the world, not just to a bank account. If I had primarily wanted to make money I would have had a different career as a different kind of person. I probably wouldn’t have chosen to be an artist. NFTs seem to me just a way for artists to get a little piece of the action from global capitalism, our own cute little version of financialisation. How sweet — now artists can be little capitalist assholes as well.”
Recently watched:
Ascension, an Oscar-nominated documentary on China’s role as the world’s factory and consumption in China. Cinematography is kind of dreamlike and makes you feel like a fly on the wall, but doesn’t say anything new or revelatory. One scene showed some Chinese yuppies having a private high-end multi-course dinner with 48-year old Iberico ham. One woman coquettishly commented on how she would like to go to the U.S. some day because she “likes freedom” like she’s Emily in Paris. And I couldn’t tell if the guy talking about how water glasses were invented to accommodate large Anglo-saxon noses was joking or ignorant. I was cringing either way.
The Tender Bar - I loved this. Sweet, heartwarming, and funny. I’m a sucker for a coming of age story that has a curmudgeon with a heart of gold.
Abbott Elementary - I cackled. Reminiscent of Parks and Rec.
Euphoria S2 Premiere - “Fezzco’s grandma was a motherfuckin’ G.” And so begins one of the most bombastic and thrilling season openers I’ve seen in a while. This show gives me so much anxiety, but it is gorgeously made and heartbreakingly acted. I watched the behind the scenes after the episode and learned that one of the reasons why the show has a nostalgic photographic quality is that THEY SHOT IT ON FILM. They specifically requested Kodak to bring back this particular type of film and Kodak converted one of their factories just to make it. IT’s absolutely worth every effort and penny.
Highly recommend this great essay on how the half-hour tv format makes for excellent television, especially in comedy.
This adorable city hall wedding in SF.
“We need to stop relying on the compassion of individuals but instead build compassionate systems.” - @maaloufmd
For 25 years, Alexandre de Betak has been designing ethereal gorgeous fashion shows for the likes of Dior, Tiffany’s, Jacquemus, and more. It’s no surprise the home he shares with his wife and daughter (once a 17th century office building in Left Bank Paris) is just as stunning.
How cozy is this cottage in Cornwall?
I want to try these tortillas. They’re made with duck fat, pork fat, or avocado oil and made by Kansas-based, Mexico-born-and-raised Ruben Leal who wanted to recreate the tortillas he grew up eating.
Jacobsen salt discs, perfectly portioned for salting pots of water for pasta and vegetables. Each disc contains 10g of fine Italian sea salt.
A wallet finder that slides easily in any card holder and works with Apple Find My. Need to get one for Nancy.
You can never have too many lamps, I think. I got a pair of these to brighten up some dark bookcases and nooks.
Some helpful notes on how to rest well for a more creative, sustainable life.
So you didn’t do the thing today. And that’s okay.