A Friday Buffet
No. 007 Welcome to November: Thankful Season has arrived.
Hello!
It’s a gorgeous morning in New England and I’m scratching my head…it’s really warm for the beginning of November! I’ll take it. Temps will soar into the 70s here this weekend and despite Jacket Season being my favorite, I don’t really mind this spring-like dip. However, I have definitely put a pause on browsing the sweater sales.
Halloween came and went (we had 9 costumed kiddos ring the doorbell so our monster-size-bowl of candy is still here) and now we’re in the Holiday Season countdown. Or some of us have already arrived. I have mixed feelings on that!
I hope you had a great week and have something fun planned for the weekend. And if your version of fun means doing nothing at all…enjoy! There’s not much that’s more satisfying on the weekend than enjoying it however you please.
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram! :)
Admittedly, I have had a somewhat difficult time deciding on what to write this week. I’ve debated a handful of topics, but want to keep things real (as I should) since it has not been a simple task to determine this week’s discussion. Work has been beyond busy so my free time has been decidedly away from my laptop, which is not helpful in terms of this letter since I type it…on my laptop.
In the interest of time and keeping your interest (don’t go!), I’ll keep things somewhat short and sweet this week (something new!) since the last thing I’d like anyone to remember - or consider - after reading my writing is that I ramble without purpose.
Sometimes I do ramble! I am not always concise, but I am working on it. The joy of this newsletter, unlike other writing outlets, is that I can shape it however I please. Whatever strikes my fancy on any given week is what I’ll be sharing here. On that note, let me finally make a point: it’s November. It’s the Season of Giving. So let’s take a moment, put things in perspective, and make sure we’re doing our part to not only help ourselves, but help those around us, too.
Thanksgiving, and everything that it symbolizes, is definitely my favorite holiday. Family and food - what could be better?! I’ve been fortunate to celebrate this holiday every year with family and have decades-long traditions that still pop up as well as new ones that have taken shape as everyone has grown and changed and life has happened. Life! It happens and it keeps going and I think it’s particularly important to recognize (however obvious it may be) that your life is not the same as someone else’s.
While some love Thanksgiving, others are not as much of a fan. It may be a difficult day for some, for various reasons, and it may be the best day for others. I think what is important to acknowledge is that everyone’s lives are exceedingly different, but that does not make anyone’s version of life wrong or bad, better or worse. My great could be your gross and vice versa.
It seems ridiculous to point out that we’re all different and celebrate (or not celebrate) the holidays in different ways and that is OK. Of course it is! However you choose to go through this time of year, I hope you enjoy it to whatever degree you’re able. And if this time of year is just plain rough, I hope you do something for yourself to make it a bit brighter and easier.
During various situations this week (at a restaurant, watching a TV show, hearing several news stories) I have been acutely aware of how I need to keep my view of what’s difficult in check. Of course, everyone’s version of difficult varies significantly, but for the sake of this discussion, I’m keeping it all from my own perspective (makes sense).
From listening to a bartender’s grueling work schedule, to learning about people who have devoted their careers to feeding those in need, and a handful of news stories that left my jaw on the floor, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the idea that I should be doing more. And I should never take for granted the work-life balance I have created for myself.
So how does this connect to Thanksgiving, my favorite family-and-food-fueled celebration? Well, I’m not sure if it does in a direct way, but let me try explaining further. This time of year (November - December) makes me acutely aware that not everyone gets to celebrate holidays the way I do, not everyone wants to celebrate the way I do, and the entire idea of enjoying and celebrating and relaxing is pretty different from home to home, person to person.
I would love to make more of an effort this year to give more of my time, make more donations if possible, and generally be out there more, helping others. My work as an Executive Assistant is definitely in the realm of helping people, but on a very different scale. In my free time this holiday season, I’d love to find ways to make a difference in the lives of others who don’t have it as easy, or as not-difficult, as I do the majority of the time.
Yes, I have medical stuff that patters in the back of my mind, and various other worries that I could discuss for paragraphs on end, but in the scheme of every day, things are really good. I should be so lucky to even type away about my minor woes when there are people out there struggling for meals, having difficulty paying their bills, and worrying about issues far, far greater than the ones I often consider “frustrating and annoying.” Time to check myself and start making a difference. One day at a time.
Thanksgiving Season is a time to be thankful for what you have, but more importantly, it is a time to think of how to help others. We’re all in this together, right? I’m still working on how I’ll be handling holiday gift guides this year, but you know it will include a charity component and plenty of ways to make a difference.
Thanks for reading, everyone; I’m so glad you’re here.
We’re keeping it brief for today’s Buffet so let’s get to it!
The cropped puffer from J.Crew arrived and its really good! Still on sale, too.
Chelsea Boots are a style I admire, but am not sure make sense for my mostly-at-home workweek life.
A tribute to the great Gael Greene; this is a piece she wrote in 1970 that has valuable advice for today!
Already looking forward to episode two on Sunday, did you see The White Lotus season two premiere? The opening credits music just swirls in my brain, constantly.
We also need to figure out who will be killed in Sicily since that’s a central theme of the show!
This piece about five things a visitor noticed during a week in NYC made we want to do the same ASAP. Especially this time of year!
I am very much in favor of the last-minute, same-day invite for a weeknight dinner party. Shockingly, I’m not great with planning ahead in regard to fun.
One of my favorite cooking blogs, The Woks of Life, came out with their first cookbook! I need to order it right now. Their recipes are wonderful!
Speaking of sales and puffer coats (I am who I am), this caramel-color, cropped puffer from Banana Republic is on major sale and looks major chic as well. #coatcollector
Just for fun luxury: Love the colors of this Small Vertical Cabas Celine bag. It’s so cute!
Cheers and joy,
Mollie
