A cozy book I’m loving, my everyday mom tote, vintage baby pants

Hello from a cozy, rainy Sunday! I hope you had a good weekend. My family and I had a lovely time celebrating Rosh Hashanah—Shana Tova to you if you celebrate! I love this time of year and the reset mindset it brings. Personally, I’ve been thinking about this letter and how I want to keep sharing the things I love, and committing to sharing something book-related each week.

Some background: I’ve been an avid reader my whole life, but I went through a reading slump after having babies. I very slowly started getting back on track last year with a regular reading routine.

I’m a huge advocate for what I’ll call “imperfect reading.” As in, it’s okay if you just have fifteen minutes a day to read. It doesn’t have to be this big undertaking. Honestly, a fifteen-minute span of reading feels like a huge win for me these days. I’ve also admitted in the past here that I’m a pretty slow reader. I like to take time with the words on the page. I’m in awe of anyone who reads more than five books a month! Personally, I think reading one book or even half a book a month is better than nothing.

I also believe it doesn’t matter what type of reader you are or what you read. I read all kinds of books across all genres, from lighthearted romance to heavyweight literary fiction to dragon-filled fantasies to celebrity memoirs. I read whatever strikes my mood. Sure, I share honest opinions about what I read here, but I don’t believe any type of reading or book makes a person more worthy, cool, smart, or whatever. I don’t look down on anyone who reads Colleen Hoover books, and I also don’t look up to anyone who’s read all of Virginia Woolf’s books. I’m just celebrating that you’re reading a book in a world that tugs our attention toward screens (and now AI chatbots 24/7). What matters is that you’re reading and enjoying A BOOK!!

Having kids now makes my pro-book stance feel all the more urgent. I hope books are here to stay. I hope it’s not the “end of reading.” Seeing all the ~young people~ reading a book by the pool this summer made me very happy. Books expand our horizons, challenge us, inspire us. Books help us develop more empathy towards others. Books keep us all a little more human in a world that seems to be turning less human each day. I hope this inspires you to pick up a book and read today, even if it’s been a while, or even if you just have five minutes.

OKAY my little pep talk is over - here’s the good stuff from the week…

Receipts from the Bookshop by Katie Clapham. I am LOVING this book, and I also love Katie’s Substack, Receipt from the Bookshop! I highly recommend it if you need a cozy, charming read to escape for a bit. Receipts from the Bookshop is a diary of a bookshop owner’s days in a charming seaside village in the UK. Katie has such an entertaining writing style—even two sentences about her observations of the people who come in and out of her store can make me laugh. I giggled on the couch many times this week while reading, to the point where my husband has asked me what I’m reading. It’s this!!

On my books radar: With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick, a dark thriller about a new mom seeking her long-lost friend and community in Manhattan.

1. A follower on IG asked me about my baby carrier recently. It’s the Artipoppe, and I do love it. I’ve used it for both kids now. (The brand gifted it to me - huge perk of my job!) I also have this one, which is a good alt for 1/3 of the price and has a nearly identical design with the cross-back buckles (ALISHAR for 10% off). Between the two, I prefer the Artipoppe for its comfort, sturdiness, and style (leopard print forever!).

2. This tote bag has been my new everyday “carries all the things” mom bag. I get lots of compliments on it - I love that the khaki color goes with everything.