Welcome to The Simple Things, a newsletter inspired by one of my favorite Oscar Wilde quotes. Here’s where I embrace retail therapy with a full heart and a dwindling bank account, avoid my financial advisor’s calls, and distract myself with shiny things to avoid the hellscape that is reality. I’m definitely a model of Ted Lasso-level positivity here, folks!
I can’t remember how I came across this week’s newsletter title and subhead, but it resonates with me on a very deep level. Why is it so hard to listen to your own instincts? It’s so difficult not to give into the pull of popular opinion and advice of well-meaning loved ones and get carried away. My gut has never steered me wrong, yet I always second-guess her. I think, “This is the day she lets me down.”
But it never happens. Even decisions that seemed misguided at the time yield valuable lessons. I’m baffled at how much pressure I put on myself to always make the right choices and say the right thing when the only perfection I have is that I am perfectly flawed. There are no bad decision(s)1. I am making the best decision(s) with the information I had at the time. I whisper this to myself as a mantra, almost like a prayer. Not necessarily to help me make the right decision, but as a constant reminder to be compassionate to myself.
The retail therapy continues.
I don’t know if this happens to other people with long hair, but around the 5 or 6 month mark, the back of my head will turn into a tangled bird’s nest and it’ll get long enough to strangle me in the middle of the night (true story). For the former, I’ve been using L’Oreal 8-second Wonder Water, which has made my hair feel silky smooth and healthy. For the latter, I’ve made an appointment with Jessi at Beauty Ritual Salon (highly recommended by friends of the newsletter, SAS and JB) to nip any attempted murder plots in the bud.
This navy polo dress by Tuckernuck. IT. HAS. POCKETS.
I should probably be embarrassed at the number of times I’ve been to Lucian Books & Wine in the last couple of months, especially since I’m getting recognized by staff members. But you’d go back too if you had their fresh oysters topped with sweet and tangy pickled peach mignonette; crispy polenta with Calabrian chili; tomatoes and pole beans; ricotta gnudi; tagliolini with Australian winter black truffles; duck with chantrelles; and perfectly fried French fries with sorrel mayo. Get you friends like N, A, JW, SAS, and SP who are game to try everything on the menu. On top of that, the book selection curated by Katie (formerly of Cover Books) is the most wonderful collection of coffee table art books, cookbooks, and magazines. Wrap it up in a space designed by Seibert Design, and boom — heaven.
The last time I went to Ticonderoga Club, I loudly declared it was going to be my go-to, my third space, if you will. Then the pandemic happened. I went back for the first time this week and nothing and everything changed. For one thing, the front door is now the side door. We had the steak tartare with daikon radish chips; veal sweetbreads; summer squash pasta; and lamb sirloin. Everything was deceptively simple, yet complex in flavors. The tartare did little spicy-numbing high kicks on your tongue before being whisked away by the cooling freshness of the daikon radish chip. I don’t usually go for the offal category, but the veal sweetbreads were cooked to perfection — a sweet, milky finish that made me want more. The lamb was done two ways and was perfectly balanced, and the creamy pasta came with a hit of lemon that made me hyperaware that I have an addictive personality and can one be addicted to pasta? I don’t know, I was too busy licking the plate.
Nancy has requested (i.e. demanded) a self-service tea and coffee station in the guest room (i.e. her room). I took it as a perfect opportunity to move my existing kettle and upgrade to the Zwilling electric kettle. I’ve never had temperature options before, so don’t be surprised if you find me hyper caffeinated after I get my shipment.
I don’t cook or entertain as much as I used to, but I can’t stop buying tableware. I was so charmed by the mismatched silverware The Chastain collected from estate sales in the area, so I took a shortcut and ordered them on Etsy (also got a box to store them in, too).
I’m additionally obsessed with the glassware at Urban Bar and Libbey.
I dare you not to smile looking at the rainbow that is Estelle colored glassware.
Excuse me while I make wish lists of what I’d like to get from Conserva and Mrs. Alice.
These adorable surf boards by French artist Jean Jullien.
Life audit, anyone?
The Westside Quarry is now officially open as Westside Reservoir Park. Thinking of taking Scotty and a book out there. Might as well pick up some snacks and coffee from Kinship Butcher on the way. It’s been a while since I went on a date with myself.
Very intrigued by this female-founded on-demand wine service, Starbright Wines. They have a great selection of reasonably priced bottles. If you can’t decide, text them and they’ll make some personalized recommendations that can be delivered to you in ATL within 2 hours!
Currently obsessed with Sophie Wilson of 1960works. Her Kangxi-inspired ceramics are sending me into a tizzy — mostly because they seem to be sold out everywhere I look.
Also obsessed with Polly Anna Johnson’s cheeky pieces, especially her Might Never Happen charger and Be a Lady, They Said plate. She says UK delivery only, but I NEED them in my life.
Many thanks to everyone who have shared their feedback about this silly newsletter, it means the world to me! The things I mention in the newsletter are genuinely vetted by me and I don’t use affiliate links, so it’s wonderful to hear that parts of it resonate with you. If you’d like to support The Simple Things, feel free to share it with others. Or consider making a donation to UNICEF.org, who are working tirelessly to protect and support children currently affected by the events in Afghanistan and Haiti. Please let me know if you donate so I can personally thank you!
For the sake of argument, we are excluding racist and heartless comments and actions that hurt individuals and groups. These things are objectively bad and the fact that we have to make this distinction says more about our society than can fit in any newsletter.