Something that really changed for me during the pandemic was the way in which I wrote this blog. Prior to March 2020, I wrote a few times a week, when I had time, about anything that came into my mind. Once lockdown started, I, like an extremely privileged and much less talented Virginia Woolf, suddenly did not have a room of my own. We live in a 1962 bungalow, and the desktop computer along with the actual desk that I had always used was utilized first by my older son who, unlike my younger one, did not have a laptop to do schoolwork with. Later, when we had purchased him a laptop, my husband took over the desk, as opposed to the dreadful “stand desk” he had put together on our bed. Those were trying times.
Recently I was chatting with a friend about all the wonderful hobbies she has; she is very crafty and lately has taken up spinning her own wool and then knitting with it. I am hopeless at any kind of fibre art, or craft or visual art, really, and I was lamenting my lack of hobbies. But Nicole, she said, you have a hobby! You have written your blog for all these years. I immediately perked up because yes! I have written the blog for all these years!
When lockdown started I didn’t want my writing to go by the wayside, but at the same time, I had absolutely no opportunity during the workday hours to write, and if you know me at all, you know that writing in the evening is not an option; I’m basically in a comatose state by the time 8:30 rolls around. I suppose I could have purchased my own laptop and worked at the dining room table, but I didn’t want to spend the money at the time. Instead, I decided I would write a little bit every morning before my yoga practice, and just jot down ideas at other times during the day, polishing up the posts on the weekends. I decided that I would publish once a week; perhaps twice if I had the physical space and mental energy to do so, but certainly once.
I have my own laptop now, and also my husband only works from home a couple of days a week, so technically I could write at any time of the day, but I have continued with this early morning habit. My Monday morning posts are long and could certainly be broken up into multiple posts, but I don’t want to do that. I like creating, I like really thinking about the way I want to say things, I like crafting sentences and putting words to my ideas. This blog is very much a record of my life; I can see my voice changing as the years go by, and although it is a journal for me, I want it to be more than that.
It’s Women’s History Month, and I took a Peloton ride that was a WHM Epic Sing-a-long; it is exactly what it sounds like, with fun music by female artists, and the instructor encouraging the in-studio audience to sing. This particular audience was unique in that there were a number of other female Peloton instructors, and it was fun to see them go to town with P!NK and Kelly Clarkson numbers. At the end of the ride, the instructor said “We are powerful women! But more than that! We are women who lift up and support other women!” and let me tell you, I was here for that. It was so fun, and I was walking around humming the playlist, on a high all day.
A few weeks ago I read the book Girls They Write Songs About; while I was reading it, I was mesmerized, when I wasn’t, I was thinking about it. I have been thinking about it ever since. It’s a really incredible book about the choices that women make and also about class, New York City, and, crucially, female friendships and how they can endure and also end. I was thrilled to discover that the author, Carlene Bauer, was on a podcast I enjoy – Everything is Fine – which is also the podcast on which I heard about the book in the first place.
Bauer said what she wanted to convey in the book, among many other things, is that friendships can end due to female-specific envy. When two women are in a “have and have not” situation, their friendship cannot withstand that kind of envy, and this is also where judgement comes in, with regards to life choices and situations. Bauer said that when we are young, we dream with our friends about our futures; you cannot judge the people you dream with, and when you do start to judge them for their choices, you can no longer dream with them, and the friendship ends. It is envy, she said, that powers the judgement, and then the friendship crumbles.
My initial reaction to this was no, that can’t be true, but on further reflection, I realized that just because I don’t want something to be true doesn’t mean it isn’t. I thought about my own friendships; past and present, the ones that are strong and the ones that have ended. Does envy play a part? Probably. The friends that are the closest to me are also the friends who have made similar life choices, and who are in similar life situations. I want to be a person who unequivocally lifts up and supports other women in their choices, but am I in an echo chamber of my own making? I don’t know; it’s an uncomfortable thought. It’s pretty easy to lift up and support women who are just like me.
Female-specific envy is something that I think exists, and results from our patriarchal society. We have been conditioned to think that there is only so much room, there is only so much space, that opportunities are limited and competition for those opportunities is fierce. Obviously this is a construct, because life is not a pie in which we all get a little sliver or a giant slab, and once it’s finished, it’s finished. It might be an artificial construct, but the bindings of that artificial construct are tight and lasting.
I started this blog in 2008, because it was something I thought I could do. I have always enjoyed writing, and I had started reading blogs on the Babycenter newsletter – Catherine Newman’s, in particular – when my older son was born in 2004. By 2008, my younger son had started preschool, I had branched out to reading a few more blogs, and I had just gotten my bearings after the stunning years of having two babies less than eighteen months apart. Over the past fifteen years, the blogging world has changed many times – from so-called mommy blogs to monetization, and back again to personal blogs – and here I am. Here we all are.
I love writing because it gives me record of being here on this earth; I like to look back and see what I was doing at any given time over the past fifteen years. I want my history written down, no matter how mundane or tedious that history may be at times. But more than just that, as bloggers and readers, we have a community that is supportive and does truly lift each other up, regardless of circumstances or choices. A lot of negative things have been said about our digitalized world, but I truly think that there is a lot of beauty in it. How else would I have discovered all of you? I have met so many wonderful women here. Some of us have met in person, some of us may never meet in person. If you are reading this, know that you matter to me, that you are important, that you are worthy, that you are deserving of every good thing this world has to offer. We are a community – whether or not you are a blogger, whether or not you are a commenter, whether or not we have ever met – and we are in this beautiful, messy, complicated life together. Together, we can truly work towards breaking those bindings.
Weekly Reading
Remarkably Bright Creatures. I am going to tread very softly here, as I know many people love this book. I am not one of those people. I did start this right after time change, so perhaps I wasn’t in the best frame of mind. However, I figured out the big “twisty character connection” before the halfway mark and that was the only thing that kept me reading this, to see if I was right. I was. This was not the book for me. I found it dull, I didn’t like the voices, and the characters grated. Onwards and upwards.
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage. love every word Alice Munro has written, and this collection contains one of my favourite stories: What Is Remembered, a story about a woman having a one-time affair and how her choices affect her life.
Swimming Lessons. It’s the mark of a good writer that can make a reader feel very passionately about the characters, and let me tell you about the husband in this book: he’s not the very worst husband in the literary world, but he’s up there, Steve. I was in a constant rage while reading this, and also in my mind quoting Amy March “one does have a choice who one loves.” Word, Amy. Each chapter that went by had me internally screaming LEAVE THIS ASSHOLE, RED FLAG RED FLAG RED FLAAAAAAAAGGG. So, um, the book is well done? With a decent ending, but also RAGE RAGE RAGE. And another one of the characters, I kept thinking “this woman needs therapy, STAT.” Well written book but also, all the negative feelings.
Thank you to Stephany (HI STEPHANY) for participating in my Ask Me Anything with the following question: Why did you start your blog and what keeps you blogging year after year? That concludes all my questions – for now! If you have one, fill out the linked form.
Happy Women’s History Month, my friends. Take good care. xo
I’m so glad to have found your blog, Nicole! You’re certainly someone who lifts other women up… and my feeling is that you do that for people regardless of whether they are like you or not. In fact from my reading here, I know you have had many different roles through the years–so you kinda have been several women? And you’re always reading about women in very different circumstances from you. I love this so much.
About female friendships and envy, I fervently hope that’s not true and that we’re able to talk about these things in relationships that matter to us. It was difficult, but it felt so good when I was finally able to say to a childhood friend (who had always wanted kids but wasn’t able to have them) that I was sorry life hadn’t turned out the way we planned. I think knowing I understood meant more to her than my pretending for decades that everything was just fine. And I’ve always had so much respect for another friend who was going to spend her 40th birthday with me, but then told me plainly that being around my partner, kids, and home would make her feel bad about her single state on her birthday, so she’d changed her mind.
That WHM playlist sounds awesome! Did they have older songs too? And I was one of those people who did like _Remarkably Bright Creatures_ 🙂. Love Munro, obviously and adding the Claire Fuller to my TBR. XOXO
Well said, Maya. Well said. I concur.
Oh, Maya, it’s hard to have those conversations! I admire you and your friends for your honesty.
The playlist was EPIC. It included Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, two of my favourites. I created a new Spotify playlist just to enjoy the feeling!
Thanks for your sweet words. I feel the same about you! xo
This playlist sounds so awesome, Nicole!
And thanks, Ernie! It’s easy to be eloquent about Nicole! 🙂
Thank you Nicole, this was beautiful! There is definitely a problem of female competition in our society, a feeling that there isn’t enough to go around. I bought into this when I was younger, but once I became aware of it, I realized that in fact we need to band together and build each other up. You have definitely done a good job of that, with your blog posts and the kind and thoughtful comments you leave for other bloggers. I liked hearing your blogging journey (I only discovered your blog in November 2021.) Selfishly, I wish you would go back to posting several times a week, but I can see how the Monday posts are perfect for you.
On a reading note, I’m glad you’ve now given me “permission” to skip Remarkably Bright Creatures. So many people have loved it, but it just doesn’t appeal to me. I”ll also skip Swimming Lessons because I don’t need any extra rage in my life. Thanks for the reviews!
You’re so kind, Jenny! Thank you! I agree – I think when we are younger and perhaps more insecure we can buy into that conditioning, but no longer!
OMG the rage that Swimming Lessons ignited in me. THAT GUY.
I think I am most envious of my friends from my academic days, particularly the ones who had kids and made it work, as I wasn’t able to do that. A lot of my local friends date back to my kids’ years in a co-operative preschool and a lot of them were SAHMs or had part-time jobs and had time to volunteer in their kids’ classroom, so that led me into friendships with people who had made similar life choices (at least at that stage of our lives).
On a related note, I started the blog in 2007, when I was coming to the realization I was never going to get the job I wanted and I thought chronicling the work of raising small children (ages almost 6 and 10.5 months when I started) would help me avoid self-pity.
Steph, I know exactly what you mean. Two women I worked closely with both went on to live and work abroad in our multinational company, and they both had children and have had very full lives. It just didn’t work for me, but I do think of them often.
This was lovely, Nicole. The issue of female jealousy/competition is one that I think is really played up by the media. Down here in real life though, I’m glad I almost never see it. I work in a female-dominated industry and I am happy that I have never experienced it. In general, we do all get along and are excited for each other’s successes. I also think it’s just part of growing older that we realize that life is not fair, and everyone has their own wins and struggles. I have a friend who’s husband makes $1 million a year (I KNOW) but I am not jealous of her at all because I can see what sacrifices her family has to make for that.
You finally read Swimming Lessons! I know, the husband is a class-A jerk. I wasn’t ragey about it though because if he wasn’t, there wouldn’t be a book! I loved the writing and I thought the structure was really clever.
I’ve also found that any time a book gets slapped with a “Read with Celebrity” sticker, I’m bound to not like it.
I am so glad you have never experienced that! How wonderful!
I had Swimming Lessons on my TBR for a while and I really do think that the writer was so talented TO MAKE ME SO MAD. But you’re right, if he was a good guy, then the book wouldn’t exist. BUT STILL WHAT AN ASSHOLE.
I love a good blogging backstory! I started my blog so that I could share recipes and over time it’s morphed into something else. I read blogs partly for entertainment, partly to get insights on how other people live their lives, and partly for tips and tricks on any number of topics.
I’ve heard very mixed reviews on Remarkably Bright Creatures…by which I mean one big loud yes from a Big Deal Book Blogger and a lot of “uh this book was not for me” reviews from regular folks.
Birchy, as always, I love your style. I like the chatty, life blogs!
RBC was just so not for me. I don’t know. It just grated on me. And I found it really dull too.
I love this Nicole. You are so talented at lifting others up. My life is better for knowing you and for being able to glimpse the world through your eyes via this blog.
You are so sweet and I feel the same way about you! xoxo
I just listened to that episode of Everything Is Fine and put Girls They Write Songs About on my TBR list. At the top, in fact. I’m going to like it. I, too, have been reflecting on how the pandemic has changed the ways in which I blog. I also used to write a few times a week, but once I was at home all the time with a husband underfoot I went to a once a week format. Kind of prefer it that, truth be told.
Ally, I think you’re going to love that book. I will be thinking about it for a long time yet and in fact, may just buy my own copy.
I have you to thank for the introduction to that podcast, and I listened to the episode TWICE.
I enjoyed learning about your blog process and the ways in which it has changed over the years. I think you do a great job celebrating and lifting up women. Your thoughts really resonated with me. I don’t feel like jealously plays a role in my friendships that have dissolved over time, but perhaps? I do recognize that my friends are mostly with women who make similar choices or who are following a somewhat similar path.
My very best friend – since high school, decided to end our friendship about 7 years ago. I do wonder if it had something to do with the fact that she was single with no children/in a very different life journey. I haven’t seen Banshees of Inisherin but I know it is about a longterm friendship that ends and I wonder if it will feel relatable. Other friendships that I’ve felt shift over time have been with people who are more focused on social climbing – clambering to be included with a specific set of moms. That mindset doesn’t interest me.
I so enjoy this blogging community. I’ve found it harder to develop new friendships the older I get, but I’ve really enjoyed meeting the moms of my college kids.
I really like the cover of the swimming lessons book. That’s probably all I would enjoy of that book.
Oh gosh, Ernie, that is so hard to lose a friend after so long. I think it’s so uncomfortable to think of the ending of friendships and envy, but there is some truth to that, I think. I also think it might be hard when two life paths really deviate from one another.
I loved reading about your blogging process and absolutely love showing up in this space to hear your “voice” which is refreshing and just FULL of wisdom.
Like you, I wasn’t a huge fan of Remarkably Bright Creatures. Maybe because of all the hype I was expecting more. It was fine, but not at the top of my reading list for the year.
Thank you so much, Elisabeth!
I think you’re right, it was “fine” but just so not for me!
Your quote: “I love writing because it gives me record of being here on this earth.”
That’s exactly why I blog too. I’m so happy that people are still writing blogs because I love reading them. I’ve had some sucky issues with spam lately that made me wonder if I really want a blog – but the answer is yes, I do!
I am so glad you do!!! I love your blog and I love seeing your creations. They bring me so much joy!
I also just read Remarkably Bright Creatures, and I loved it. I went in very skeptical because I am allergic to hype and it has been much ballyhooed, but I enjoyed it a great deal. The octopus thing is whatever, and the mystery’s conclusion was obvious early on, but I enjoyed the journey of tying up all the loose ends, and I enjoyed the voice of the characters. I don’t think it really deserves all the hype — it’s not especially brilliant or original — but I thought it was a really nice read and I gave it five stars on Goodreads. 🤷🏻♀️
Have you read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry? It seems up your alley so I assume you already have, but if not I recommend it! If you can trust my recommendations after what I just said in the preceding paragraph. 😂
Also, thank you for blogging. I don’t blog (though I did maintain a livejournal for many years) but I love reading the everyday thoughts of smart and interesting women like yourself. (I found you via Swistle, another smart and interesting woman!)
Oh, that is so lovely to know! I adore Swistle!
I have read that book and I did love it! It was just wonderful!!
I’m sobbing….good sobs.
I have lost friends because of the very things you mentioned. But one friendship in particular, my childhood best friend, died of cancer last year, and I can’t seem to heal. And this post appears to have been written specifically for my eyes to see. Thank you for taking the time to write this. I genuinely love both you and your blog. You have brought me so much joy, but you also see me when I feel so invisible. I really needed to read these words today. ❤️
Oh Kari, my heart hurts for you. The loss of such a special friend is so hard.
I am so happy we met in this world – you are such a lovely, smart, and wonderful woman and I am so glad we are friends! xoxoxo
I was SO NERVOUS the whole time I was reading that you were going to say that you weren’t going to write on your blog anymore. Whew! Crisis averted. It’s interesting that you didn’t immediately think about your blog as a hobby. I don’t usually list it as one of my hobbies, either, but I do spend quite a bit more time working on my blog than I do sewing and yet I’d list sewing as a hobby. Interesting the way our minds work.
(Don’t think I didn’t notice that there are no photos of Rex this week. I’m keeping track of these things.)
Isn’t it funny? Like, I would say gardening is a hobby, but I only garden for a few months out of the year.
Don’t worry, Rex photos will return! In the meantime, aren’t you glad we are on IG together? #rexspam forever!
I’m coming up for air/in need of a break so popped over to read your post. It’s funny because last night I was working on my puzzle and I asked my husband if he was playing chess on his computer and he said – ‘no I’m reading your blog.’ I didn’t know he read it until he mentioned a post recently. He really does not understand blogging AT ALL. His comment last night was – why do people care if you went to a park birthday party? That said, he is an intensely private person and has joked that if he had a blog it would be mindyourowndamnbusiness.com. I tried to explain that it’s part diary but part connection with others. Many of my readers, like you, have kids in older stages of life, so it’s kind of nostalgic for you to read about my decision about whether to include m&ms with their Valentine’s. And then there are those in the same stage of parent who thank me for being so real about parenting. Blogging has had a huge impact on my life and some of my closest friends are those I met through blogging! I am so glad you keep coming back to this space and that I found your blog in the last couple of years!
I did not love Remarkably Bright Creatures. It was ok but I think it was overhyped by the time i read it. It was fine? I’m reading “The Golden Spoon” right now which is a cozy mystery set at an estate in New Hampshire where a “Great British Bake-off” type of show is hosted. It’s a light, easy read. I mean, someone gets murdered so maybe i shouldn’t describe it as light! But it’s easy to get into and a good escape. I need to read some Alice Munro soon!!
Hahahah mind your own damn business. That’s too funny. My husband sometimes reads my blog, but not very often. My kids do not, they have no interest! It’s funny, we are all fascinated by that park party. WHY. Why would anyone do that?
In my adult life (which I broadly consider starting when I moved across the country alone to go to grad school at age 23) I have worked hard to be happy for good friends when they accomplish something they wanted to do or met someone wonderful or got a big raise or a new job etc (you get the idea). Sometimes it was a lot easier than other times for me to be happy for them, but I really try to hold on to the idea that a good friend is one who is happy for you when something good happens to you even if they are perhaps not in as good a place. I also recognize that I’ve not been 100% successful in this mindset but at least consciously working towards it has helped me keep 3 very good friends for decades through all kinds of ups and downs. I find myself saying to youngest that envy is totally understandable but a good friend is happy for a friend who is having something good happen to them and sometimes we just have to fake it until we make that feeling real. On the other hand, sometimes it’s time to let go of a friend who is incapable of being happy for you. It can be a tough balance.
Also thank you for the podcast recommendation – hadn’t heard of it before and it sounds like it’s right up my alley. Just downloaded two episodes to try!
This is such a great comment, Maggie. It is sometimes hard to be happy for a person when they have something we really want. But you are 100% right – fake it until you make it! This is just so wise, that envy is natural but being a good friend is something that can be achieved by being happy for a person.
I think you’ll really enjoy this podcast. We are similar ages, so you will get this reference – one of the cohosts worked at Sassy magazine! My people!
Female relationships can be fraught, can’t they? But they don’t have to be. When I look around at all the women we connect with via this community – we are all different in terms of stage of life, means, etc. but it “works” somehow. I suspect that authenticity is the reason. When I read your blog – or any of the others I follow, I can see/feel the person behind the blog. And when I read the comments, I can feel how the readers are lifting up the blogger, as the comments are so kind and empathetic. Honestly, we have a good group and I love them all.
Blogging has been a wild ride since the Mommy Blogging days – but I’m so glad to see that personal blogging seems to be making a comeback.
Thank you, Nicole. This post was beautiful and I love all the love that you put out into the world. I am grateful that our paths somehow crossed and that you are in my life.
I am very grateful to you as well Gigi! Our community is SO lovely and I’m so happy to be a part of it.
Those are all new books to me. I just finished a memoir which I will be writing about, along with others, in the future. I like your self-reflection about friendships and why they end. Like you, I don’t want to think it has to do with envy, but maybe there really are subtle jealousies that we are not aware of. I’ve always thought it was just drifting away and not having much in common anymore, but maybe those are just excuses that ignore the root of the reason it ended. Lots to process there.
Lots to process indeed! I am still thinking about it.
I am looking forward to hearing about the memoir! I do like a good memoir.
Awww, Nicole. This is such a lovely post — so uplifting! You do send out a lot of love to the world through your blog. I’m glad you continue to blog and, and I’m definitely glad I found you. I do believe that female envy is more common than we’d like to see, and it’s such a shame. I do think that it probably peaks in high school, thus with all the drama; but the older we get, the more confident/secure we are and have no need to prove anything. I want to read the Munro book!
True true true! I think as we get older, we can let that drama go. Huge, huge upside to getting older (along with the not-dying thing).
I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures and was very jealous that it was debut– to be that good right out of the gate!! Love your blogging backstory and your patriarchy analysis.
Thanks Sarah! Many people loved that book for sure!
Speaking of remarkable women, I just learned about the young woman named Sophie Scholl who organized against the Nazis from within Germany. Looking forward to reading about her.
Ever since I was a kid, Harriet Tubman has been one of my heroes. I want to be the kind of woman who DGAF about limits.
Oh, I have never heard of Sophie Scholl! Must look up!
I am glad you found blogging and that I found your blog! It is funny, I have a post in drafts about connections and blogging etc. I think many of us do not realize (or DID NOT) what blogging can bring to the table. It is a journal, it is a place to vent, a place to relate to others, and a place to connect. When I started mine, it was pretty much number one of the four I just mentioned. I did not realize that part of putting yourself out there is also finding and connecting with others who relate to or understand you and also being present for other people. I feel like a lot of the stuff online now is so much about number of clicks etc. but I really feel great when I have a few or several people who I really connect with and not only feel like I am part of their lives, but sometimes become part of their lives! It is very cool and I think one of the main things I love about blogging. Keep on trucking girl!
I agree with you 100% – the connection is so wonderful and such an uplifting part of blogging!
So many wise thoughts here. I know I have definitely been guilty of letting envy get in the way of friendships. I couldn’t really figure it out, but that bit about having friends that you can dream with … reading that made me realize that was probably a big part of what made us drift apart.
I think one thing that I value about the bloggers and commenters I’ve come across these past few years is the positive way in which everyone interacts. Sometimes on social media or forums like Reddit, the comments can get so toxic and negative and self righteous, but I never feel like that on personal blogs, or at least the ones I’ve been reading. There is such a feeling of respect and *interest* in other people’s lives and thoughts.
I think that we ALL have had envy get in the way of friendships, it’s an uncomfortable thing for me to face but there it is.
I agree with you – the personal blogs I read, all the comments are so supportive on the whole. It’s the one time where “don’t read the comments” is not the recommendation! Wait, did that make sense? I mean, I don’t read comments on any news articles because WHEW WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT. But on blogs, the comments are wonderful.
A beautiful post Nicole. I don’t comment often and started reading a few months ago. Lots to think about in this one that really help in taking a pause and seeing connection and supporting each other are so important.
Thanks so much for being here Shelly! xo
I just finished Girls They Write Songs About, and it read so cringingly autobiographical that I had trouble getting through it. Like, maybe the author is not her narrator, and maybe in fact she is a married mother of three who makes Halloween costumes from scratch, and maybe she did not have a friendship like that, and maybe she is not trying to RUIN HER FORMER FRIEND’S LIFE with this book in which she tells TERRIBLE SECRETS THAT WILL UNDERMINE HER FRIEND’S LIFE/MARRIAGE. But if not, then she’s written a book that FELT like a cringingly autobiographical novel, in which I disliked almost every character. I was also VERY BUGGED by the concept of friends named Rose and Charlotte supposedly born in 1973, who never once talk about how much they’ve always hated their old-lady names and how weird it is to hear them everywhere now, and what a wild coincidence it is that BOTH of them have such names.
I could see the point she was trying to make about friendships, but it felt to me as if she was Trying To Make That Point, and not as if the point were TRUE. The narrator was trying to blame herself (and possibly her friend) for envy, while simultaneously making very mean comments about the lifestyle she supposedly envied—which of course is not at all an impossible combination, but it felt like it was driven to an extreme. But also, I felt like she wanted to communicate: “GUESS WHAT, WOMEN WHO CHOSE SPOUSES/CHILDREN OVER CAREERS: WE CAREER WOMEN ARE SLEEPING WITH YOUR HUSBANDS, YOU ARE NOT ACTUALLY HAPPILY MARRIED, HA HA HA!!!!” And also, made her life as a self-supporting writer living in New York and bolstering the egos of other women’s husbands seem so extremely unappealing, which is not something I wanted to feel about self-supporting writers living in New York. Anyway, A VERY STIMULATING BOOK!!!
Very stimulating indeed!
I loved reading this! Thank you for answering my question. 🙂 I really feel like you are someone who lifts people up, especially women, and I feel better for having you in my life, even if it’s “only” through a screen. The connections we make through blogging are so important to us!
Everyone has raved about Remarkably Bright Creatures but I just don’t think it is for me!
Thanks for your wonderful question, my friend!! xoxo
Our blogging community is so special to me… and it’s especially wonderful because we’re such a diverse – in every possible way! – group of people (women).
I also did Jenn’s Epic Sing-A-Long Class the other week and I loved it. It was such an uplifting and joyful ride!
WASN’T IT GREAT! I’ve done it twice now because I loved it so much, and I never do that!
Every Monday I look forward to your blog post. I remember reading and making your recipes(still do!) on the other website you wrote for and hearing about your book fair days! I’m so glad I took yoga teacher training at the same place as you(it was a life affirming experience even though I never really taught yoga afterwards.) We are #booktwins and hope you keep writing and sharing. I bet our doodles would have fun together at an off leash too! 😊
Oh Anna, thank you so much! You are such a wonderful and supportive friend and I’m so glad our paths have crossed in so many ways! I’d love to meet at the park sometime!
You’ve got me thinking about this Female Specific Envy. I’ll have to dig into that one….perhaps I’ll read the book?! I love my friendships and they are all different from each other, mostly because of economic situations.
You are special to me too, Nicole. I love your blog, your family and your voice here!!
I feel the exact same way about you, Suz! xoxoxo
Nicole, as I (think/hope) I have said before, you are such a light in the blogging community. You write so well, and you share such interesting and thoughtful…things. (Sorry, it’s later than usual for me, and coherence flees after about, oh, 7 pm…) The question of female-specific envy is an interesting one. I don’t know that mine is related to female-ness, necessarily, but oh, I have job-related envy. Imposter syndrome, mostly.
That Peloton playlist sounds epic! I wish that non-Pelo-people (i.e. me) could download the playlists sometimes! 🙂
Oh thank you so much, Anne!
As for the playlists, I would be so happy to screenshot the playlist for you and send it your way!