The DM | Issue Eight
Or the one where we drink, ahem, think about that time the world (almost) ended
Happy anniversary of the day we really understood that the pandemic was bigger than toilet paper shortages and all of our future plans! 364 days ago, Devon and I met at Noble Riot in Denver and joked about the apocalypse. It’s fine?, we said. Cheers?, we said. One week later, we both lost our jobs. LOL.
A lot has happened between then and now (don’t worry, we both now have jobs again) but we’ve also realized the pandemic was actually really good for our friendship. Without COVID-19, we may not have The DM. And then we wouldn’t have you. And well that, THAT would be the real shame.
So cheers to you, Coronavirus. We hate you and can’t wait for you to end and yet, thank you for the strange gifts you gave us over the course of this long, sad year.
This week’s episode goes well with one free roll of tp with every purchase of a bottle of wine, putting on your day pajamas, and pouring one out for all the plans that might have been.
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From Meg
Squarespace
I grew up in a household where my dad regularly decided we needed to update our Tupperware. Our Tupperware is nice, but THIS Tupperware is really nice, he would say while loitering in a Costco aisle. Meanwhile, my mom was content putting our leftovers in freshly dishwashed parmesan cheese containers. For many years, I have settled in the space between. Containers that looked like Tupperware, but rarely sparked joy. Until quarantine. I woke up one day and I realized my dad was right. Our Tupperware is fun, but can we do better? We spend so much time together. And so it began.
Let’s begin at square one, where you’ll meet Inka, the pretty, sustainable storage brand where you can pretend that you will eventually put your leftover quinoa and sushi and other things you really don’t eat at lunch but maybe someday you will. From there, perhaps open your tabs to Open Spaces, a website so millennial and minimalistic, you’ll wonder just where you hit the like button before you realize you’ve spent $40 on a beautiful plastic box. And why stop there? I also found these pretty containers from Hay where I store all my dry goods (bonus points if you invest in a label maker, I did, and I regret nothing). Then head on over to the Container Store and get a few things from the Marie Kondo collab. Are those angels singing from inside those bamboo pantry bins? Yes, my fellow storage junkie, yes there is. Need more, want more? I am not the first to embark on the prettiest storage containers, and I certainly won’t be the last.
Ahead of the curve
I could talk myself in circles about my love of squares, but if you want to think outside the box, let’s talk about the rise of blobject, shall we? SO. As I’ve been saying for months in certain social circles, the curvy trend is HERE. It first surfaced as an instagram DIY early in quarantine last year (yes, thank you I did finally sell THAT mirror) and has now taken on a life of its own. Care to flubber your own lifestyle shopping habits? Come to my Ted talk happening now where I’ll be discussing candles, this (!!!) pitcher, bookends, and mirrors (again) because I had to come full circle.
Getting in shape
The fetal position, that is. While I am watching less tv this year, I’m not a complete monster. This week, you can find me watching Ginny & Georgia, which has made for a wonderful weekday binge for those looking for a Gilmore Girls meets 10 Reasons Why meets Euphoria vibe (specific, but you’ll understand). Please consume while wearing this sweatsuit with a glass of wine in each hand. Yep, I said it.
Speaking of shapes, here’s a *geometric math problem I’m trying to crack. If you can solve for x, please let me know, happy to let you rent a room in my sick crib.
I want to live here x while wearing this dress
———————————————————— = X
My salary
From Devon
Take me to the recipe already
Remember when the internet got in a big fight about food bloggers who make you scroll past an essay full of personal tidbits and life stories before getting to the recipe you came there for? Well, things might’ve been different if the haters had sooner discovered Just the Recipe, an app that cuts through the fluff and gives you…just the recipe. Personally, I still like to dig into a lengthy post from time to time, but I have used the app recently with this lemon vinaigrette, the perfect egg salad sandwich, and these treats that I usually make from a box mix.
Those who can’t write, read
Confession: I don’t consider myself much of a ‘writer,’ especially in the creative writing category, despite the fact that I am a) a communicator and marketer by trade and now, b) a newsletter writer for 'fun'. As such, an age old adage that has always stuck with me is "to be a better writer, read voraciously” (please note I’m adlibbing a bit with that one), so I try to consume as much *inspirational writing* as I can.
In this spirit, I offer a few sources of good writing - and therefore, good reading - that I’ve loved lately. Take from them what you will (or, at the very least, read one of them and tell me what you think):
Modern Love’s ‘Tiny Love Stories’ and this week’s installment that I really liked, particularly the story about treating yourself to the nice marmalade because life is, well, short
Culture Study and last week’s newsletter titled ‘No I’m Not Ready’, in which the writer brilliantly captures how I, too, am feeling about ‘The New Normal,’ the collective trauma of the last year, and what it will be like to party with all of our pals at weddings again
600 Acres and Posie’s post about savoring those delightful sensory moments of early spring as well as a delightful grapefruit cardamom olive oil cake (see also: the note above about verbose food bloggers)
The happy spring flowers I bought after reading the 600 Acres post above which I am now writing about - so, see, it *helps*!
Messed up Negronis
As the seasons transition from winter to spring, so do my drinking habits, in that I’ll soon be switching it up from red wines to whites, Old Fashioneds to Gold Rushes, and regular Negronis to ‘Messed Up’ Negronis. What’s a Messed Up Negroni you might ask? Great question. Also known as Negroni Sbagliatos, this lighter version of the ever-classic Italian cocktail is made with Campari, vermouth, and Prosecco instead of gin, which always seems to hit the spot on warmer days. I’m also just a sucker for a bitter drink with a bit of bubbles, so there’s that.
I opted for said drink during a recent visit to my always-number-one-favorite pizza spot on a ‘it-feels-like-spring!’ day, which reminded me how much I love them, hence why I’m here suggesting you enjoy one (or three) for an apertivo hour al fresco ASAP.
Weave on
Given that I’ve filled my own home with an ample amount of color, I shouldn’t have been surprised by how quickly I became obsessed with this textile artist’s huge, bright woven wall hangings upon discovery. Feel free to go down the rabbit hole along with me.
And, before you go, a quick snapshot of what I’m currently:
Curious to try: this new David Chang-approved and seemingly v cool microwave cookware brand (thanks for the tip, Josh)
Listening to: a little bit of country (a Marfa, TX-recorded cowboyish guitar ballad) / a little bit of rock n’ roll (a Pink Floyd cover) / and a little bit of the Baby Driver soundtrack (because I forgot how good it was)
Thinking about: this podcast episode about toxic positivity
Obsessed with: these boots, which I may or may not be wearing all spring/summer/fall/forever
Making because it’s *still* winter: homemade crunch wrap supremes (thanks to Mackenzie for championing these years ago) and skillet cookie sundaes
Never underestimate a good container