A Few Things to Tell You Vol. 3
a book launch, reading recs, sewing dreams, and more!
Well, hello there! So happy to see you today!
In case I haven’t mentioned this often enough yet, I’ll be in Madison, WI today helping celebrate the launch of my sister-friend Suzanne Warye’s NEW BOOK!!! If you’re local-ish and can come to Ink & Ivy Book Boutique, I would LOVE for you to come and say hi!
Seriously, celebrating a book launch with someone you’re close to is like celebrating the birth of a BABY ~ if you ever publish a book, I hope you have a friend like me to scream about it from the rooftops!!
And if this day isn’t exciting enough, how about YESTERDAY?? I did have to work all day leading and attending professional development sessions, AND got my COVID / flu vaccines at lunch, but I started my day at 4:00 am listening to the new album, and then attended the movie event with my friends and my youngest in the evening. SO FUN. We wore the bracelets we made, did our nails, and had a blast!
And now, a start on catching you up on all the books I read in the middle of September and neglected to tell you about, a bit about some creative projects, and some random tidbits …
Similar Themes, VERY Different Books
A few weeks ago I read two 2025 releases back-to-back and was amazed by just much they had in common while being oh so very different.
Wreck by Catherine Newman (October 28) and Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee (available now) are both books that center motherhood and illness, but do so in such different ways that I was struck, yet again, by how vast the reading world can be.
I feel the need to preface my thoughts on Wreck with the fact that I think I am the number one fan of Newman's books We All Want Impossible Things and Sandwich, which means that Wreck had a LOT to live up to. And I did like it! It just didn't hit me in quite the exact ways that the two previous novels did.
Wreck is a perfectly messy tale of a midlife couple and their children and an aging parent, with a whole lot of time devoted to a mysterious health issue and the death of a community member. If you're like BRING ON THE MENOPAUSAL ANXIETY, you'll love this! Very much autofiction, which makes me feel tender toward Newman after reading; but honestly, I have enough of my own worries that being so deeply inside hers too was a bit much for me.
Okay, and now for the book that I loved very much in spite of the title. Possibly my least favorite title (not book!) of the year? So very cumbersome. Regardless of the poor title choice, though, Katie Yee’s tale of breast cancer, divorce, motherhood and friendship will stick with me for a long time. I adored the unique format and nameless main character, and ultimately was pleasantly surprised that this is the book of these two similar-themed titles that I will remember with more fondness. If you read it, please know that my favorite character was the best friend!
My First Sport Since 2005
Okay, sport is a questionable term, but I was telling a colleague this week that I just signed myself up for my first sport since having kids and am SO EXCITED!! What sport, you ask?? GARMENT SEWING.
When I say I signed myself up for a sport, I just mean I made a long out-of-the-house commitment to a very scheduled single thing, something I haven’t been able to do since having my first baby in 2005. This is also the first time in years that I have no scheduled kid weekend driving commitments!
Last Saturday I was browsing my email and came across my local fabric store’s newsletter in which an exciting new class series was mentioned, and the pre-requisite for the series was being held … THAT AFTERNOON. I immediately signed up for that day’s class, Intro to Garment Sewing, and once I saw the instructor in her AMAZING clothes, I signed up for the entire Build Your Own Wardrobe class series. It’s a COMMITMENT, both time-wise and financially.
These classes are one Saturday a month from 1-5 pm in October - January, and then two Saturdays each in February and March. I AM SO EXCITED, and I just know I’ll have so much to tell you as I learn and make mistakes. I have a lot more to say on all of this, but I’ll save that for another day - maybe Tuesday?
A Quick New Skirt
Yes, yes, I already sew, but those skills are limited to lots of other things and only ONE garment ~ my favorite skirt pattern. I made another one last Sunday and just LOOK at that adorable book fabric!
Some Random Tidbits
I loved this essay from Garrett Bucks
Last Sunday’s baking win (NYT gift link)
A new favorite pair of shoes from my favorite brand ~ to wear with my skirts, of course
Chelsey’s Fall 2025 Romance Collection was a treat in my inbox
Lit Hub’s compilation of all of the fall reading lists is much-appreciated ~ I’m attempting to read that most-recommended title but my brain is wanting other things right now
As always, I adored Anne Bogel’s Fall Book Preview
I can NOT stop wearing the clearance jeans that Kuleigh shared about last month - LOVE them & the $20 I paid for them! Note that I sized down two sizes for these - so much wonderful stretch.
Okay, that’s all for today! I hope you have a restful and / or invigorating weekend and get to read a few pages …
Thanks for stopping by!
