Indulgence is about excess

Pleasure is about savoring what you have.

Welcome to The Simple Things, a newsletter inspired by one of my favorite Oscar Wilde quotes. This is a reminder to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, like an ice cold Coke with lemon, Chappell Roan’s music, and the auto AC button in my car.

Today’s titular quote is from

Pluripotent

’s Substack post called “On Not Having Enough Money”.

I tend to ramble, so you might have to expand this email to avoid missing anything. If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please let me know by hitting the heart button or subscribing!

---

In case you couldn’t tell by the humidity and the hardworking hums of HVAC systems around town, Atlanta is officially in summer mode. Is it just me or is it hotter than ever? The rain doesn’t help because like N so aptly described it, “It basically just feels like we’re lobsters trapped in a boiling pot.” So true, especially the fact that I too am delicious and go well with melted butter.

“Fuel, Medicine, Pleasure” by Krista Diamond for Longreads. Diamond mentions an interview with a longtime search and rescue ranger, where the ranger warned hikers against packing foods they think they should eat and instead pack foods that they’d look forward to eating like, cold pizza or other junk foods. This not only helped to prevent hyponatremia, it also created an incentive for the “psychology to get yourself out of the canyon”. Think there’s something here about self-compassion being a strength.

I learned a lot about dress construction and why some of the simplest and best-looking pieces are often the most expensive. [The Cut]

Been trying to cut back on some inessential spending and I came across this list called the “Deliberation Station” somewhere online that’s been super helpful:

1. Have I thought about it for at least 48 hours?

2. Does it solve a genuine problem?

3. Do I already own something similar?

4. Can I be productive and happy without it?

5. What is my current mental state?

6. What is the real reason I want to buy it?

9 out of 10 times the answers are: no, no, yes, yes, unhinged/frenetic, gratification that I am productive and fulfilled in my life. This plus only allowing myself to submit 1 Amazon order a week has been really helpful in curbing many compulsive purchases.

That’s not to say I went cold turkey because I am a human living in capitalism and I can’t help buying shit:

• Hanging mesh shower caddy with hooks - Holds my soaps, travel wash cloth, detangling comb, etc. Great for shower stalls after lap swims and in hotels (why are there never enough hooks or holders in the shower?). Folds flat while traveling.

• Car Phone Holder - Did you know they make car phone holders for specific car models? I just typed in the make and model of mine on a whim and found this one that fits around the screen. It’s super ideal for me because I’ve never really liked suction cup or adhesive holders and why would I want to block precious cold air with a vent holder? In this heat? No way! It does cover up the top left corner of the screen, but it’s really easy to move and a small price to pay for not forgetting my phone in the console any more.

• Strucket Strainer & Bucket w/ Drain - I use mine mainly for rinsing swimsuits, handwashing, and soaking my orchids. I like that the strainer can be used as an agitator.

• Travel Space Saver bags - Great for a recent trip to Vancouver where I had no idea what we were doing or how reliable the weather would be.

• XL Heating pad - Recommended by my PT who says the microwavable ones with clay beads retain heat the best.

Sexy items, aren’t they? I have no regrets.

Recently finished The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley and I absolutely loved it. In the not-so-far future, the British government has acquired a time machine portal and in an effort to understand how it works, they extract a couple of random people from different eras to live in the modern day. Each of these “expats” are assigned “bridges” to help them assimilate. It’s a bit romantic, science fictiony, and perfectly droll (read: British). Couldn’t stop thinking about hereness and thereness for weeks after.

If only we can pause time to read more lovely books like this one.

Have been on a cooking tear lately. I made this creamy chicken mushroom soup and brought it into the office for lunch and apparently offended Nancy with its sheer garlicky presence. Have heard no complaints about this surprisingly light cheesy broccoli soup, so I’m assuming it’s fine. Since it’s been so hot, I’ve started making 豆花 dòu huā, which consists of cold, extra soft tofu drizzled with a sweet ginger syrup. The tofu was store bought but I made my own syrup and the results were extremely refreshing. I have so many happy memories associated with this simple dessert. [Bon Appetit]

This might be the best caesar salad dressing recipe I’ve ever come across. Instead of using tinned anchovies and anchovy paste, the recipe calls for fish sauce. For years I’ve wondered why my caesar dressings never carried that umami punch I was looking for and turns out it’s been in a bottle this whole time. I make a big jar of it to keep in the fridge with some salad greens and poached chicken breasts for a quick slutty salad. What makes a salad slutty, you ask? When it’s just dripping with dressing. This is no time to be skimpy.

Yes, I will be watching this movie.

23 Reasons to love libraries. [School Library Journal]

Umm… no I’m definitely not cleaning my emotional support water bottles enough. [Washington Post]

Eve Matheson

wrote a beautiful essay about the dogs in her life and I absolutely cried when I read this: “To love a dog is to agree to be heartbroken. They will not outlive you, unless like my great-grandmother, you get a puppy when you’re 97 or 98. They will not outlive you. The heartbreak is part of the bargain. The heartbreak is part of the bargain.”

Came across these gorgeous (and compostable!) wax-paper disposable wares on

laura reilly

’s Substack and think they would be such a cool way to elevate any picnic or barbecue. Or just stay inside BECAUSE IT’S FUCKING HOT.

Wasara wasabi

When you’re in a TV/film streaming rut: A Good Movie to Watch

100 ways to share your work without relying on social media, H/T

Platonic Love

Everyone wants to be a lifestyle brand! And that’s okay by me if they have thoughtful merch like Il Buco Vita, the homewares arm of New York’s Il Buco restaurant. This salt cellar is absolutely charming and how can anyone just choose ONE of these casserole dishes?

The goods from Il Buco

Taking a page from

LF

’s Substack and making a bucketlist of summer activities for Summer 2024. Just to start:

• Iced coffees in the morning

• Aperol spritzes in the evening

• River reading - Find a reasonably shallow and non-slippery part of a river. Plop down a camp chair. Add refreshments, sunblock, a hat, and a book.

• Eat at least 1 tomato sandwich

• Make at least 1 tomato pie

• Be a tourist in my own town

• More lazy pool days

• Ice cream every day

Sorry I sweated all over you,

G