Monday Missive: November 2

What We’re Reading and Watching

Holidate on Netflix was just the silly rom com my life needed this week! The premise is that Emma Roberts family is terrible and basically all shame her for being single at 29, so she meets this very cute fake-Hemsworth guy and starts spending every major holiday together as “Holidates.” While Christmas bookends the holidays in the movie, it covers an entire year, so isn’t exactly a made-for-tv Christmas movie, but was definitely made in that spirit! - D
This is less reading and watching, and more listening, but I was so excited for the new Ariana Grande album. It’s definitely an album about being in love, and in lust, so don’t listen to some of it with kids around, but overall a very chilled-out vibe. My favorite songs so far are “Just Like Magic,” “Positions” and the intro "Shut Up” which kind of seems like the AG version of Taylor’s “I Forgot That You Existed” from the Lover album? - D
The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John is just the kind of fun and suspenseful read that’s perfect for taking my mind off of things this weekend. I breezed through in two days and enjoyed every minute of hiding out under my Bearaby blanket and relaxing with a book. - E

I’m late to the trend, but have been noticing all of the cute brown tweed, slightly oversized blazers out there and wishing I had one! I have my eye on this one from Uniqlo, in the brown, especially the “mannish” fit - it feels like the perfect transition piece that would keep me warm as I try to eat outside a few more times! - D
Now that the weather is cold, I’m wearing slippers around my house all the time. I have a few pairs of these classic ones from Boden that look like squishy ballet flats, but I’m also eyeing these fluffy ones on Amazon for a little extra flair.

I need serious distraction this week, so am deciding to tackle finally perfecting the gallery wall in my bedroom! I’m going to use this guide from Emily Henderson, with a print I bought a few years ago from Inslee Fariss and one that our mom bought years ago in France to “anchor” the whole thing. - D
I made my first chili of the season this Sunday, while we recovered from our Halloween sugar hangovers and watched football. Chad likes a straightforward recipe without a lot of beans, and this is my go-to from the geniuses at America’s Test Kitchen. I tend to adjust the seasoning so that it isn’t too spicy for the kids and then Chad and I douse ours in hot sauce and avocados.