An amazing birthday gift from my sons

And one thing a Handpicked reader asked me recently

It’s no secret that I absolutely love my birthday. I’ve had all great ones this decade: I turned 30 in Malibu (it was covid and LA was so strangely quiet), 31 in a backyard picnic, 32 among the sequoias. Yesterday, 33 featured the pier, See’s candies, shopping, homemade cards, AND boys who napped at the same time so I could sit around drinking tea and reading a magazine. And I launched my print shop, hooray! Nate took me to a romantic dinner at Cento and gave me the coolest book of photos shot by Paul McCartney during The Beatles’ heyday in the 1960s. A perfect start to my next revolution! I couldn't be happier to get older.

The best pasta in Los Angeles if you ask me

today’s bouquet

• Last week, a Handpicked reader emailed asking if we could chat; she wanted some expertise on starting a newsletter from scratch. We had *the best* conversation (and I was once again reminded of how much I wish all 1,156 of us could hang out together in real life). If you're thinking about starting a newsletter, I'm available for 30 minute consultations and I'd love to share my knowledge with you! 

• WELL, WELL, WELL. My sister Emily said this in our sisters thread: “It’s like saying ‘this man buried with his fishing pole must have collected fishing poles’ instead of ‘he must have liked ACTUALLY GOING FISHING’”)

• Got my eye out for: blue dresses. This block-printed one from Boden checks the “romantic but not cheesy” box. I’d wear this blue tulip-covered look to a wedding and this dreamy summer one on a date.

• All these blue dresses remind me of a great story. Years ago, I worked at Anthropologie in the Southport neighborhood of Chicago. One summer afternoon, I was working in the fitting room when an excited couple came into the store. The woman brought back a turquoise dress – similar to this one, but sleeveless – and when she stepped out of her fitting room, I commented, “Wow, that dress fits you perfectly! You look beautiful.” And then sort of breathlessly she said, “Thank you! I’m going to get married in it – right now! Could you cut the tags off for me?” Unforgettable!

• Okay one more: the story of a vintage Laura Ashley dress that became a hand-embroidered wedding gown. Get the tissues.

• A birthday plate that was actually made for Eleanor!

• My girls are really into baking independently lately, Kool Aid pie looks right up their alley.

• The other day I was reading Henry Goes West to my sons, having treated myself to a brand new copy after my childhood favorite lost its cover. I boldly declare HGW a perfect children’s book: a balance of dreamy colors, not-too-long pages, and a soothingly misadventurous plot. Top it off with a hilarious ending, and let's just say, I'm almost ready for a Henry the Duck tattoo.

His camera

• Heart eyes for these patchwork Levi's shorts

• I like reading newsletters from other LA folks, especially Bite Sized. 

• A great list of handmade art supplies you can buy on Etsy. Don't you love this watercolor palette box?

• A note to my kids I wrote a while back

• Can you tell me how to get to... The Vans x Sesame Street collection is the collab I never knew I needed. These would be so cute on my ingoing TKer!

• Lately I've been working on something hard for me: not nagging my kids. For example, instead of, “Please go throw away your trash,” something less commanding, like, “I see a trash can right there.” Any tips for nagging less? I’d love to hear.

• This week's family art project: leaf garlands (via Storq, maker of wonderful bras for moms)

“Sometimes I wish I could photosynthesize so that just by being, just by shimmering at the meadow’s edge or floating lazily on a pond, I could be doing the work of the world while standing silent in the sun.”
– Robin Wall Kimmerer (via COJ)

5 things from trader joe’s

Today it’s a recipe for the sandwich I can’t stop eating. Start with your bread of choice, toasted, then:

1. Almond butter spread on one slice.

2. Whole milk ricotta topped with crunchy jalapeño lime and onion and a sprinkle of salt on the other slice.

3. Thinly sliced fennel and green apple. As much or as little as you want.

4. Basil and cilantro. I prefer my fresh herbs by the fistful.

5. Spinach or other greens in the middle. Smash it all together and you’ve got an A+ veggie sandwich before you.

from the archives

• 07/20/22 - A mini Handpicked from the road!

• 07/21/21 - Women making sports history ⚾️+ a snack for SAHMs

• 07/22/20 - 29 hours in Los Angeles

• 07/17/19 - Happy birthday to myself!

“Love is a creative act. When you love someone you create a new world for them.”
– Trevor Noah

last thing

• Last week's most popular link: perhaps Amazon’s artsiest storefront

• A little reminder: some of the links in Handpicked I share are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy something, at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

• THANK YOU for participating in this personal archive. It means the world to me. I appreciate every open, click, and purchase more than you know.

• If you like this newsletter, maybe you’d like to:

  - forward it to a friend

  - book me for a 30-minute consult on newsletter crafting

  - buy a photo from my print shop

  - hire me for your next photo session