We did it. We made to another Friday. Today is the last day of school for my first two small people, who are very excited to be d-o-n-e with distance learning for a bit. And honestly, same. We’re over here singing Ramon’s song of rest and dedication.
🇫🇷 Round 2 of #TravelThursday was a hit last night; thank you for all the suggestions! There was Edith Piaf and chocolate croissants and macarons and croque monsieurs. We used Bon Appetit’s recipe and I made bechamel sauce like someone who has their life together. We’re doing Thailand next, which will be so fun because Ben loves Thailand (spent some time there in college and took two years of the language), and he will care so deeply about getting the dishes correct, he will probably just do it all.
🍷 Also! I’m at an age where I haven’t had red wine in probably year, because it makes me feel awful. I hear tell that if you *checks notes* buy a wine that’s more than $8, you might not get a headache, but I am not about that life. I am about that Bota Box life. So we gave these wine wands a shot and they totally work! No headache, no upset stomach, no generally feeling like human garbage. Well, feeling like that, but for other reasons.
😆 These impressions on @jfirstman’s Instagram made me HOWL. Lil bit of a language warning if that bothers you.
🛠 The thing on Twitter that made me cry the hardest this week was the Dad How Do I? YouTube channel. I sobbed. Uncontrollably. A dad who grew up without his dad made a YouTube channel teaching people how to do things a dad would have taught them. The purity is unmatched.
📺 I have not watched Ben Platt’s concert special on Netflix yet, but I am very excited to do so. I am also looking at Big Flower Fight….anyone have a yay or nay?
🍔 Very VERY into this Instagram account of a very cute family eating. It works. I promise. And bonus: if you just want to watch the tiny toddler Sarang eat (you do, I swear), she’s here.
❤️ This quick Twitter thread of fate and love. Click through to read the whole thing:
📚 I have almost finished listening to The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd and I like it a lot. Some of it annoys me, but I love love love historical reimaginings like this, so it’s pretty much a win for me. Has anyone else read it? I’d love to know your thoughts!
👋 We had a few people comment last week that they had NO IDEA there was a (rather vibrant) comment section, and so if you’re reading this in your inbox, I want to tell you there is a lovely comment section, full of glorious humans that you will be obsessed with. WELCOME.
💌 Some cool news is that Substack (where this little hive of beautiful people congregates) is so blown away by all of you and how you show up and how you are the literal best, that they asked me to lead a workshop that’s basically just all about how we want to braid each other’s hair. So since Lil Swipes/Lil Treasures (lol it’s been so long since I wrote a Swipe Up) is powered by YOU, I would love to do a little informal research. If you find this place to be something moderately lovely in your life, I’d love to know why. What happens here that makes it work for you? This is NOT me fishing for compliments or anything like that: I know the magic lies with you all. But I’m just interested in hearing your perspectives as to what it’s like on the other side of the internet. You can leave it in the comments or you can email me at hello@erinhmoon.com.
As always, I hope you’ve had a week where the good tackled the bad as much as possible.
Yes to the only place I take time to read comments. I feel like I'm at a slumber party and everyone is talking excitedly and I'm getting the third and fourth words of each conversation and am generally overwhelmed with a sense of love and satisfaction.
I am about 2/3 through Book of Longings and I have so many thoughts. I love reading it, I am equal parts inspired and frustrated with Ana and Jesus—it is coming alive for me so much. It makes me think of The Red Tent except I’m enjoying it more. I already know I’m going to need to write about it just to untangle all the different things I’m thinking about.
I like that you have a good balance between practical stuff like recipes or tips or products you like, silly and fun entertainment things, and serious/spiritual/real life stuff. What brings it all together is your personality shines through, even as you know and meet the needs of your audience.
1) Erin, as community leader, you beautifully set the tone - your posts encourage a way to communicate with each other respectfully, supportively, and with the greatest of care. As someone else said, I love to read the comments here, knowing there won’t be anything to make me cringe or my blood boil or make me cry in a bad way. You have a gift for attracting good people 🥰
2) The above mentioned good people - I don’t know any of you IRL (is that even still used?!) but think you all are swell!
Earlier this week my husband and I split a dozen Krispy Kreme regular glazed donuts - nothing like a stick of butter rolled in glaze to get me through the rough times!
Erin! I love Lil Treasures because, especially now, it gives me a needed relief from the constant barrage of.... everything. I know that I will smile when I read your newsletter and your writing will make me laugh. Laughter with friends is something I ache for now and even though I think you think about me 0% of the time, it feels like a friend is telling me a story and I get to laugh with them, even with distance. It’s a gift and a light. Thank you!
I am really enjoying The Book of Longings. I have about 75 pages to go. I think Kidd took an easy way out on some of her character development. That said I struggle to write a coherent paragraph and she creates lovely books. I really enjoy Kidd's writing and have loved the ensuing conversations I've had with my book club about Art and Religion. Specifically how they inspire each other and how the Church on occasion shuns art it's afraid of. It's been a fun conversation about the influence of art and religion on the culture at large. Any book that sparks thoughtful conversation and is written well is a 5 star read for me.
I was offered a new job a few weeks before we shut down the world, and during the final interview, said job was described as a situation that would feel like “the fog of war” for a while. (Yikes...but, what are you gonna do, right?) I don’t actually know when I started officially because somewhere in the midst of learning Teams video chat and setting my remote work schedule I was finishing one job and starting the next one...from home.
We were called back into the office three weeks ago, but it feels like a lifetime. “Fog of War” seems accurate. Particularly when a coworker starts an impromptu meeting in the hallway at 3:30 on a Friday, following a photo session for a new headshot (What? Why?) that apparently needed to happen on the hottest, most humid afternoon we’ve seen so far. But whatevs. I’m sure the day will end like every other day this week: dinner the moment I get home then falling asleep on the couch like a kindergartner on the first week of school. I only get up to brush my teeth and dump myself into bed.
I didn’t get into too many weird food habits or bake any bread during quarantine, but I did make a cake. And ate it all myself. And made sure to purchase all ingredients to do it all over again. Since I never had a chance to bake Second Cake before returning to work, I found myself getting a spoon and eating icing straight from a can, after dipping it into a vat of rainbow sprinkles (because #classy. See also: #fatigue). Again, whatevs.
But it is not all bad. My new team is great. They are eager to include and teach me. And my Right-Hand Gal has the best laugh and a good sense of humor.
Love Lil Swipes. I look forward to it each week. Never more so than today!
Okay so as I referenced in my original reply I have been watching Nashville. Well there is a character named Luke Wheeler who was played by actor Will Chase. I'm always intrigued by actors who are on a show playing singers to see if they can really sing. So I google him. Aaaand now I'm knee deep in youtube videos of his musical career. OMG he played Roger in the last Broadway cast of Rent I'm just SLACKjawed watching him belt this out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1RCoIJD5JU
Wow! Who knew this comment section was thriving? (Obvi all of you did.) I will keep it short because I am new, so howdy/hola I'm Heather (in both languages). I love Lil Treasures. My husband and I are in the midst of purchasing our first home and stress/anxiety are rattling my bones most days but on Fridays there's always something good in my inbox. (Hungry Fam and that Pastor singing!) And today I discovered the comment section! Lil Treasure indeed!
I'm in CA and can't ever get to these until Friday afternoons, but I love this newsletter/community. It reminds me of another one from the Sorta Awesome podcast. It is the best part of the Internet - connection and support and laughter and shared goodness. This is the sort of stuff we need, and sometimes can't find IRL. Thanks, Erin for hosting us and setting this tone of generosity and kindness. My main treasure:
Our 10th anniversary trip had to be cancelled. And that's fine, we want to be safe/protect others, etc. But if we are spending it in my back yard in 117 degree heat, I need something that feels vacationy to look forward to. So earlier this month I started putting together my Corona Backyard Beach Resort and Spa list on Amazon. Aaaaand then one by one all the stuff I'd listed was no longer available. Or wasn't the right size. (We have a weird, long, narrow patio.) Or was 4 times as expensive as it was two weeks ago.
I had a full-on pandemic-sized meltdown over my dumb above ground pool order as it all crashed to pieces on Monday. It has been an intense 10 years of marriage (family deaths, job losses, friendships ending in flames, faith deconstruction, etc.), capped off by a pandemic where we are on the verge of losing our business/livelihood/insurance. I just needed a win. Is it too much to ask for a dumb little swimming pool and a floatie?
But after a good sleep and a cup of coffee, and readjusting my expectations again, I managed to put together another selection of cheesy backyard fun. I even managed to snag a set of alternating corona bottle and lime shaped twinkle lights. I got a 10 x 6 inflatable kiddie pool, and that feels about right. :) Things start arriving on Tuesday, and I am feeling much better. I'm building a playlist and composing a menu.
Mostly I'm thankful for my guy and for ten years. We made it. We are making it. We are surviving a freaking pandemic. One week at a time. Cheers, lil Swipes! Thanks for listening and for sharing all your fun stuff.
Ladies, it's been a week! Last week my work life went to crazy town, to the point I had to work some over the weekend. The lunacy continued this week and it's been a tough one. I've been struggling with anxiety, which wasn't helped by five days straight of rain (no, I don't live in the Pacific N/W. I live in N.C.). For that reason, my treasures this week aren't as many, and are fairly simple.
1. A beautiful puzzle. I haven't done puzzles in YEARS, but bought one for a friend's Christmas prezzie. They were BOGO so I picked out a pretty one for moi. Started it Sunday. At first it was taking FOREVER and made me want to throw temper tantrums...until it started calming me and being something to still my mind.
2. I'm watching Togetherness by the Duplass brothers. Heard them interviewed on Brene Brown's Unlocking Us podcast and that made me want to check it out. It's both charming and painful to watch - kind of like life.
3. God Bless Erin Moon for introducing us to Tabitha Brown. Bless the Lord oh my soul, I love her.
4. Kelly Jo and Melanie keep writing me, even if I turn into a snail sometimes.
My favorite thing about this space on the internet is I can come here - be honest and say I've had a tough week with anxiety and know I won't get voted off the island even though I'm saying that in a space specifically devoted to sharing treasures. Maybe that's the secret sauce - an intention of lookin for the good from the week and a desire to share the good with others to bring them some joy, too?
Here's what I know: somehow there is an unwritten code of conduct where we say things that are helpful to one another, give each other the dignity of making our own decisions handling our own business, and bring each other some brightness and levity, in whatever state we find one another. That's an unusual and priceless gift right there.
I also think the pandemic upped the anty on this thing, too. Perhaps it's a little easier to extend grace in areas where we might have previously had some (ahem) OPINIONS, because more than ever it's clear we're all just doing the best we can.
My binge watch of the week? Sweet Magnolias on Netflix. I have two episodes left, but I need about 5 more seasons. If you are considering it, I would call it a PG show somewhere between Gilmore Girls and a teen drama like Dawson's Creek with Hallmark Channel vibes but elevated. LOL. I really thought that through and it still sounds ridiculous. Don't expect Meryl Streep to pop in, but I am loving it!
Snuggled in with my cold brew and a cozy blanket to catch up with all my internet friends!
Erin, I’ve been vegan for almost 4 years. There is no way Tabitha Brown’s complexion is 100% her diet. I’m guessing it’s a dose of good genes! Isn’t she a delight, though?!
Agree with what everyone said - in a world fraught with fear and division, this space feels like a balm. Silly and fun but also deeply authentic and real. On that note I keep thinking I want to cut bangs on myself. I know is a terrible idea because 1) just had a baby so #hormones 2) not a hairdresser 3) four years ago I spent months growing out previous bangs —- yet I keep googling images of bangs #facepalm
I love Fridays. It's so much fun to read everyone's updates!
First, to answer your questions, Erin - why I love this space:
1. To echo what other folks have said, this space feels so genuine and authentic. You can truly "like what you like", find new things to like or try or watch, without feeling embarrassed or question your taste. You can express true joy and sorrow and everything in between.
2. I have always enjoyed expressing myself via writing versus talking. I was the weird teenage girl that used every excuse in the book to not have to talk to her friends on the phone (even though I had the sweet see-through phone in my room...priorities...). I rejoiced when AOL chat became a thing, and prefer to text/GroupMe/email rather than FaceTime/MarcoPolo.
Lil Treasures
1. The hubs and I started rewatching Community this week, and I forgot what a gem it was. The characters are so good and awkward and funny and flawed but such a delight.
2. I've been working on my 1500 piece puzzle and I am almost done and it makes me a little sad that it is almost complete. I have to find myself some more puzzles.
3. I finished the book Conviction by Denise Mina, and it was such a great mystery. The author created a true crime podcast as part of the book, which created so many layers.
4. Speaking of mysteries, my husband gave me a subscription to Dear Holmes https://www.dearholmes.com/ for Mother's Day, and I could NOT be more excited! It pretty much combines some of my favorite things: snail mail, mysteries, and competition. The game is afoot!
YAY I'm back for my second week in the Lil Treasures comments and I'm very excited. I want to be friends with all of you, so I thought I'd introduce myself briefly. I'm Jess, NC native, rising senior M.Div. student trying to figure out how I'll do a *virtual* pastoral internship this summer. Also, like, what ministry I'm even "called" to. Bless. I am so thrilled about having this to look forward to on Fridays.
Erin, I was going to post about Ramon's prophetic word and I am so glad you did.
My best IRL lil treasure this week was when I ordered Moe's and they forgot my catering size queso and they gave me DOUBLE what I ordered when I went to pick it up. So I've had queso for several meals three days in a row and I'm not ashamed.
Ben Platt's live concert special on Netflix was also a DELIGHT and I recommend to all.
Other than that, seeing friends in person this week from a distance has made the crappy days less so. I feel basically the whole spectrum of emotions every day, and I've tried to be more of an observer of my feelings rather than a critic, which has helped. Spaces like this make me feel more human. <3 Hugs to you all!
I'm trying to read this newsletter earlier on Fridays instead of saving it, so I can start playing with you all in the comments!
My highlight from this week was finding a new way to do my quarantine/summer hair that is fast, easy, not hot, cute enough for video meetings, and buys me yet another day before washing it (and let's be honest, showering at all because I live alone and see no one anymore).
1. Tabitha Brown --- oh my word. I love her. I'm not Vegan by any stretch (you guys cheese and salami are my love language) - BUT her videos? I adore her. And some of the ones she posts at night. Have I cried in bed watching her remind people they are loved? Yes. Heck I'm tearing up right now because her spirit is so needed right now.
2. We canceled day care officially. My son Lincoln (who is 7) used to go to a center in the mornings before school and then in the summers because they would do fun activities and field trips. That's not happening now. It's basically school aged kids in a rather small space and no idea how those kids who are there get their distance learning done etc. But he has been home now since March 16. We used to have to pay a 10% holding fee then it upticked to 25% of our typical monthly rate -- well we knew summer was on the horizon and so were the summer rates ($200+ a WEEK). So we put in our 2-week notice. THEN the message went out on how parents who stayed enrolled but didn't have their kids attending would now have to pay FULL tuition to hold their place. Yeah. SO glad we made this decision.
I know decisions have not been made about school for the fall, but right now our plan is to just roll with it and work with our employers to respect what we can/can't do. If school is back to the standard in the Fall we are going to have to find a new morning option or my husband said he'd find a way to to WFH until the time Linc would get on the bus.
Hot tip, when you are thermal screened walking into your office, you have to extend your coffee holding hand as far as you can without dislocating your shoulder to avoid setting off any issues.
I know you're like "um excuse me Mel, where have you been all morning?" You guys, today my office is only open a half-day and they felt making me have 2 meetings that lasted from 8:30-10:30 was a good thing? WHY? WHY?!
Okay so some treasures for the week
1. Erin, that Dad How Do I? ...... tears. Like. OMG.
2. Speaking of Dads. He is booking the house in Yellowstone for October. His words "we need a light, no matter how small at the end of the tunnel" So fingers crossed that it happens.
3. A Sephora order - I will be tapping into more of the items I got (serums and magical potions) once I use up some items. Here's a question -- I already use and love The Ordinary's "Buffet" serum in the morning. If I wanted to add Vitamin C, can they be used together? Or do the Peptides and Vitamin C cancel each other out? Will they duel to the death on my skin? Should I throw all these things out and just go back to using some really old version of Oil of Olay like my great grandma used (the pink lotion! She used that and dove soap, that was it)?
4. Wearing a jumpsuit today (I got it at Target last year, the fabric is patterned in such a way that my husband says looks like either flags from a ski hill or star wars TIE fighter) plan on wearing a jumpsuit tomorrow. Love jumpsuits.
5. Shout out to my Pen Pal Danielle! Love you hunny. I plan to watch the May Popcast AUA and write a letter. Watching those past ones and reacting in letter form brings me so much joy, you have no idea.
6. ALIAS ON AMAZON PRIME - why yes I am rewatching!!!
7. Nashville on Hulu - nearly done with S4
This group.
Oh how do I love thee?
I was expressing last week that each Friday, this group, the replies -- its such community. I know we all come from totally different walks of life but its such a safe place. Its kind. It real in the fact I feel we don't filter. Its not about perfection. I exhale, inhale, maybe cry, exhale more. Its one of the highlights of my week. We see each other. We hear each other. We care.
This always brings me so much joy. I’m up in the air re. Big Flower fight. I keep watching, but I’m not sure I love it. I’m just chasing that Bake Off feeling.
I have to admit to some jealousy that people are getting done with school. My students have 2 weeks & my kids have 3 - and it is getting exponentially more challenging. Maybe my fam will indulge travel Thursday’s too.
1. Tomorrow my tiny person turns 3! He's like a tiny sour patch kid these days, but as Busy Toddler says, ”being three is fine.” Add in quarantine and you've got a party! 😬Trying my best to toe the line between mom guilt for a lame party and realizing we’re going back to the basics and only doing what's necessary and not stressing about the unimportant things. But here I am...feeling guilty. 😂
2. Our church is doubling down on keeping our community strong through quarantine and summer by doing a short summer Life Group session, online and in person (socially distant as possible). My husband and I are hosting our very first group outside at our home bonfire style--everyone brings their own lawn chairs, food, etc. We have 13 acres of space and we’re limiting it to just a few couples but I'm still so nervous that we won't be any good at it. 😬
3. We took family pictures this week and they involved various breeds of livestock, tractors, and cowboy hats/boots—the epitome of an Arkansas photo shoot. I wish I could show them here. My tiny human should be on a Wranglers ad or something. I'm biased but man. Heart melter. It was a fun night that we all needed!
4. I'm also usually just a creepy comment reader but have been trying to comment more! Erin, I want to marry those chocolate croissants. Most of my reasoning for wanting to visit France one day is for the croissants. Is that bad? That may be my favorite bread product. Also, we don't have a TJ close to us, so I wont be able to try them anytime soon. 😭
1. Monster: DC Sniper podcast. So good! I was in 8th grade when the sniper attacks were happening and I remember being legitimately nervous to go out and feed my cows by myself after dark. Guys, I lived in very rural southern Idaho. 😂 So anyway, it's been fascinating to explore the sniper attacks beyond the very vague understanding I had as a 14 yr old.
2. The Google Read Along app. It has all sorts of little books at various reading level (that aren't completely stupid! Rare for leveled early readers!) and it listens to your kids read and awards stars for each word they get right and helps them along with words they don't know. My 6 yr old (who reads more like a 2nd grader) is pretty into it.
3. Animal Crossing Pocket Camp app. It's not high brow at all, requires very little brain power, and also sets up a weird world where friendship is explicitly transactional, and yet! It's just kind of delightful to play. Plus my kids are very into watching me play.
I have not watched Big Flower Fight, but is next on my list of British Reality TV, because apparently they do everything better in the UK. If you haven’t watched Interior Design Masters or Glow Up, do so immediately! The drama is delightfully polite, which just makes it funnier to me. I was so sad when IDM ended because watching people with accents cry over beautiful wallpaper is cathartic.
You guys. Our trip to Wisconsin this week was pure chaos and joy wrapped in one.
We prepped by learning all about The Badger State and made a poster to show off a few things Wisconsin is most known for. My 4-year-old (the one who chose the destination) even contributed a lovely horse/spider named “Cookie Jar Junior”. Our homemade cheesehead hats were a hit, especially with the 7-month-old who tried relentless to eat his.
As far as the actual meal goes, the wheels fell off a bit. Imagine small children wearing cheese hats. One doesn’t know where his pants are. All are simultaneously using their outside voices in a chorus of hangry feelings while polka music plays in the background. Meanwhile, husband and I stress eat cheese tots in an effort to “embrace the chaos”.
Nevertheless, we really did love it, chaos and all. We will be on to our next location next week!
PS Shout out to my Midwestern lil swipes who helped me brainstorm some fantastic foods and ideas!
My in-laws are coming for the weekend which means I feel stressed about cleaning my bathrooms, but that is far outweighed by the fact that I miss them and can't wait to see them, plus I will finally be able to finish mopping the post-flood basement without being interrupted 47 times. And my father-in-law is going to help my husband fix the upstairs sink so we won't be brushing our teeth in the bathroom off the dining room any more.
I am reading a book called "Linguistics for Non-liguists" for a grad school class and it is making my nerdy heart sing.
If you like puzzles and haven't played any of "The Room" games for the iphone, check them out. Def worth the price.
Yesterday was the last day of my school year and I cried like a baby alone on my couch as I read the poorly punctuated thank you emails that my students sent. I was so mad when I got moved to sixth grade this year, but I had the best class ever, plus I got to do e-learning with people who are more tech savvy than me. Shouts to all the k-2 teachers out there. You are the real heroes, doing Zoom calls with 20 6-year-olds.
On a related note, I drove around on Wednesday delivering cookies to my students because this was their last year of elementary school and so we had to celebrate a little. It took all day, and was perfectly wonderful. I even drove into the city (Chicago) to deliver a cookie to a student who was homeless when the year started and now lives in an apartment out of district, and seeing that she has a nice place to live now just about ended me. Not being able to hug them was hard, but seeing their faces was almost enough.
And now it is "summer vacation", but we're all bored so I'm starting a girls' math group called "Queens of Digitopolis" (Phantom Tollbooth anyone?) because I just can't quit these kids.
This thread is literally one of the highlights of my week. Everyone is so genuine and loveable and I can't say thank you loud enough to Erin for curating and founding this loveliness. Checking back in for new comments is my reward for taking care of house business around here on Fridays. Love to you all.
Okay. I am settled in with my over creamered coffee (it's just how I roll) and some madelieines (a tribute to your French Thursday Erin but also a treat I have often...haha!) to enjoy one of my favorite parts of my week. Y'all. I love this place so much. It's safe and fun and I love how we share our stories in such a unique and sweet way. <3
That story of love and fate. Oh my heart! And the Hungry family. I don't like to watch people eat but that's amazing.
This week's treasures include roasting two pans of vegetables and we are still eating the leftovers and it makes my heart and tummy happy while my husband sits and is like ewww. He is a weirdo who does not like vegetables. Sigh. I keep trying.
My niece has been facetiming this week and it brings my heart immense joy. She is almost 10 and she just recently started doing this. I think she is so over her parents and little sister with all this togetherness in the pandemic so she is calling me to get a break from them and I will take it, people, because I adore her!
We survived online orientation last week and have moved on to advanced scheduling and while I don't enjoy contacting students via phone especially my non-office phone google voice has come through and made my life way easier!
I took part in Target's bogo sandal sale this week and cannot wait to get them. I may have no where to go but I will have cute sandals for one day!
Several friends have gotten little kittens this week and now I want one. I need someone to talk me off the ledge. They are hard work. They meow a lot. They......are so stinkin cute.
It's been a quiet week and for that I am thankful.
I'm sitting here hitting "open in new tab" to make a list of things to watch/read/giggle over in my little breaks throughout the day! - Ramon's inspired breakdown about rest has been a VERY good place to start!
Treasures this week:
-Really heckin' good food. I finally jumped on the Everything Bagel seasoning train and WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG. my millennial avocado toast was LIT this week. Also I made collards the way my adopted southern granny taught my mom for the first time (we're damn yankees from NY who moved to north florida when I was 11) and it was EVERYTHING.
-sending a tiktok a day to my sisters group chat (neither of them do Tiktok. We lovingly call my younger sister Nick Miller after the New Girl character cause she's an old man) I pick the one that makes me laugh the most wholesomely and send it on to them. I like to think I bring them joy.
-recording for sunday morning broadcast with our church praise team. It's the first I've sung with harmonies with people (outside of my car, that is!) since mid march. and the first I've been back in the church building. It also meant a little bonus time with the Boy. :D
-SPEAKING OF. the Boy gave me a freakin' LEGO international space station set for my birthday cause he knows I like space and LEGOs. I FELT SEEN. building it took up a good part of my saturday and that time not spent stressed over anything but chilled out on the floor clicking bits of plastic together was a treasure in and of itself.
Also, I'd totally braid ALL y'alls hair. you guys make my friday mornings.💛
It has been a week here. Nothing big just the same stuff we are all dealing with in the days of Corona. I did read a awesome book which was a highlight. It just came out at the beginning of May and is called “Summer Darlings”. It’s about a girl who is a nanny on Martha’s Vineyard one summer in the early 60s. She falls in love and finds that maybe having money isn’t everything. It would be a great beach read if you are lucky enough to get to do that this summer. I read it in two days.
Hellooooooooo! 👋 (Julia Child style. My three-year-old has been doing this impersonation lately with a big wave & it’s a major highlight.)
First of all, YES to The Big Flower Fight. 🌸🌺🌿 It’s v GBBO-esque, & although I don’t think anything can actually top GBBO, it’s a fun watch. Plus the things they do with flowers & plants is just unreal.
Speaking of plants & flowers - they are my lil treasure this week! For a while, I’d convinced myself I couldn’t keep any plant alive no matter how “easy” the Internet claimed it was, but for Mother’s Day, I bought a begonia, farrow, Spanish lavender, & a tomato plant. Then I actually researched & learned about each one, & it has been super fun to tend to them each day. Plus, my mom (who lives in a different state) has a major green thumb, so I’ve also treasured asking for her advice & showing her each plant’s progress on Marco Polo. 🌱 So far, I have found that growing things in a time of uncertainty & upheaval is a patient & peaceful practice.
Alsooooo big shoutout to Beauty Counter’s Countercontrol Matte Effect Gel Cream aka my new moisturizer forever. It not only works well for my skin, but it smells like summery goodness. ✨
Okay, now to write about how much I love this community of Lil Swipes. 💗 For one, I don’t get a ton of time to browse the internet, so seeing/watching/reading everyone’s lil treasures is pretty much the only way I get my fix. 😂 And just the combination of warmth, humor, encouragement & love that shows up here is quite beautiful. I love seeing women cheer each other on & up, laughing together over ridiculous memes & TikToks, & reminding each other we are never alone in what we are going through. Super, super grateful to be a part of that every week. 🥰
I am new around here (referred by Sarah Bessey‘s field notes) and I have to say this has become a new highlight to my week! Thank you so much! Also - I tried reading The Book of Longings as well. I love Sue Monk Kidd and this is my kind of book but I kept getting tripped up over her legalistic and (often time, incorrect) portrayal of first century Judaism. It just crept a little too close towards long held Christian attitudes that have contributed to anti-Semitism for me to continue reading. Which is disappointing because I really wanted to love the book.
Hey everyone! I LOVE red wine, but the last bottle I consumed before I got pregnant gave me awful headaches for the first time ever and it took me an embarrassing number of mornings to figure out the glass of wine before bed was what was making me feel awful. So I may be getting those wine wands soon!
Here are some treasures:
SNACK: If you’re looking for a protein bar that does not taste like Stevia Sand Taffy, you need to try Perfect Bars. They taste like peanut butter cookie dough and are amazing. I think the key is they need to be refrigerated (but are good for 5-7 days unrefrigerated), so they don’t have as many ingredients trying to keep the dang thing shelf stable. I eat one a night for my 2 am pump snack.
TV: I’ve started Amazon Prime’s Upload and and finally jumping into The West Wing on Netflix for the first time during this maternity leave. Recommend both!
PANDEMIC THOUGHTS: We sent my toddler back to daycare this week, and gosh darn it if I don’t actually miss being home with that goober all day. Yes, it was rough trying to work from home with him, but I had to make my weekly overnight oats without him yesterday and I was legit sad about it.
Lastly, I need somewhere to brag about my brother because he’d kill me if he knew I did it: he’s 24 and got laid off from his brand new post-college job in the pandemic, so he moved back in with my parents and has become our unofficial night nanny and personal chef for these newborn twin days. It’s been SO HELPFUL and it’s so sweet of my textbook Enneagram 5 brother to help. So thankful for him.
I’m new here(I think this is my fourth swipe email) but what makes this worth the read is there is something that makes me smile, laugh and just feel normal(well as normal as anyone can feel) I love your energy and hilarity. I am so glad I found your CFA vids on Instagram. It’s been a bright spot in my week.
Erin! Couple things, 1) semi-long time reader, first time comment leaver, glad to be here. 2) LOVE your travel Thursday idea so much, I just suggested it to my sister who needed more ideas to keep her kiddos entertained. I would like to go be their personal chef if they pull the trigger on it because it combines my two favorite things, food and travel 3) Wine wands!??? I have ADVERSE reactions when I drink wine and these may save my life especially before I move to a country that drinks wine like water 4) delightful anecdotes, videos, and writing as always. Keep up the great work! ❤️
I have had a banner week! I’ve had my most recent parenting/ my own thoughts column go viral-ish, as much as it can in a town that’s eight miles long and four miles wide. My 4 year old who has verbal apraxia has added several new words to vocabulary. I saw a new, delightful endocrinologist who gave me such hope I cried. Which was the first time I had cried this whole week!
The things that bringing me joy are making up random cocktails from things I find in my fridge! Lemon, cucumber and mint vodka slushees, cherry vanilla Diet Coke vodka with a fancy straw, yes please! And Leslie Jordan’s Instagram account is a magical place! Every time he utters “Well sh**. Whatca y’all doing?” I basically lose my mind giggling.
I’m here because some of the things I find worth celebrating are often minor but matter. Those things are celebrated here with genuine feeling.❤️
This little treasure of an email is the highlight of my week. It’s like a check in with your girls. See how everyone is doing and what’s giving them life right now. I love how the internet brings people together when often times it can be a hard place where everyone has an opinion and thinks they’re right.
That’s not this place! I love seeing what everyone is watching, reading and doing. I love how we come together to embrace those who’ve lost loved ones and are struggling. It’s a safe place.
2. Wine wand???? You may have just changed my life
3. I love this community because it is a kind, welcoming space. It is a mix of serious, earnest, and silly (which is my sweet spot). Your own warmth and authenticity set the tone. When someone comments, it feels like a conversation where people are truly listening and seeing each other, and isn't that what we all need?
Jennifer Garner’s hair styling session (suggested by Jamie B Golden!) has inspired my new favorite quarantine hairstyle.
Yesterday I bought a hat. Provided the rain actually goes away and we don’t need an ark, we will be outside a lot in the coming months as we ease into social activities. My poor skin and hair need some protection, so I bought a lovely hat yesterday that brings me delight to wear AND looks pretty cute.
I’ll 2nd/3rd/bajillionth these comments re: why this is awesome. I am a super-lurker (mainly bc I can’t type a comment out before the baby & my big kids start screaming) but this is literally the only place on the internet where I look forward to reading the comments. Erin, you keep it hundo p real and the mix of positivity with crazy real life is exactly what I need to acknowledge the good and the hard. Thanks for doing this weekly - I spread out reading it over all day Friday as a treat to myself!
I love you and this weekly collection of awesomeness! It brings me joy, informs me on new things, makes me laugh, and also makes me feel like I’m not alone. Erin Moon, you are a delight and I love your weekly newsletter and I look forward to reading it every single week! I click every story, watch every video, listen to every song because you always find the best parts of the internet every week! Thank you!
I got to watch part of the Ben Platt concert special and he does a cover of "The Joke" by Brandi Carlile that will make you bawl your eyes out. Taylor Swift's "City of Lover" concert special is on the docket for this three day weekend as well!
While I'm not one of those people who didn't know the connects were here, I am more of a lurker who hearts other people's comments. I wanted to respond to your question about why this newsletter - and let's be honest, email is just too hard today.
I have two primary reasons I hang out here.
First, your newsletters are a collection of random awesomeness. While I don't make the time to go around the world collecting random awesome things, you do. And then you put them together for us. Honestly, wine wands probably just changed my life. So put another way, you're like that friend who you go too when you're like, "Hey, I've got this problem with..." and you always have a solution...but you're clairvoyant about what my problem is.
Second, who you are and what you do (or at least how I found you originally) is you speak to people seeking community. I listen to the Bible Binge, which is how I find you, because traditional churches are often broken badly and they don't have good community spirit. They are these random quasi-political organizations masquerading as houses on fellowship and worship. So, you've created a place for people seeking a community to gather and you cultivate that space with openness and acceptance.
Finally, while I do think all the people here are awesome, you at least present as authentic and real. So many people are trying to create an image on the Internet. I truly believe you're just being you. So, I'm drawn in by authenticity... yours and that of the people who gather here.
That pastor singing to the piano has given me the strength I need to get out of bed and potentially cook breakfast instead of eating a granola bar for the 6th day in a row.
Also, didn’t know Ben Platt had a Netflix special. I’m going to spend my Friday night watching that and singing harmonies because we should totally be friends.
Ok well I looked up that cute eating family and now I NEED kebab fries in my life.
Yes to the only place I take time to read comments. I feel like I'm at a slumber party and everyone is talking excitedly and I'm getting the third and fourth words of each conversation and am generally overwhelmed with a sense of love and satisfaction.
I am about 2/3 through Book of Longings and I have so many thoughts. I love reading it, I am equal parts inspired and frustrated with Ana and Jesus—it is coming alive for me so much. It makes me think of The Red Tent except I’m enjoying it more. I already know I’m going to need to write about it just to untangle all the different things I’m thinking about.
I like that you have a good balance between practical stuff like recipes or tips or products you like, silly and fun entertainment things, and serious/spiritual/real life stuff. What brings it all together is your personality shines through, even as you know and meet the needs of your audience.
Why I love this place:
1) Erin, as community leader, you beautifully set the tone - your posts encourage a way to communicate with each other respectfully, supportively, and with the greatest of care. As someone else said, I love to read the comments here, knowing there won’t be anything to make me cringe or my blood boil or make me cry in a bad way. You have a gift for attracting good people 🥰
2) The above mentioned good people - I don’t know any of you IRL (is that even still used?!) but think you all are swell!
Earlier this week my husband and I split a dozen Krispy Kreme regular glazed donuts - nothing like a stick of butter rolled in glaze to get me through the rough times!
Erin! I love Lil Treasures because, especially now, it gives me a needed relief from the constant barrage of.... everything. I know that I will smile when I read your newsletter and your writing will make me laugh. Laughter with friends is something I ache for now and even though I think you think about me 0% of the time, it feels like a friend is telling me a story and I get to laugh with them, even with distance. It’s a gift and a light. Thank you!
I am really enjoying The Book of Longings. I have about 75 pages to go. I think Kidd took an easy way out on some of her character development. That said I struggle to write a coherent paragraph and she creates lovely books. I really enjoy Kidd's writing and have loved the ensuing conversations I've had with my book club about Art and Religion. Specifically how they inspire each other and how the Church on occasion shuns art it's afraid of. It's been a fun conversation about the influence of art and religion on the culture at large. Any book that sparks thoughtful conversation and is written well is a 5 star read for me.
What. A. Week.
I was offered a new job a few weeks before we shut down the world, and during the final interview, said job was described as a situation that would feel like “the fog of war” for a while. (Yikes...but, what are you gonna do, right?) I don’t actually know when I started officially because somewhere in the midst of learning Teams video chat and setting my remote work schedule I was finishing one job and starting the next one...from home.
We were called back into the office three weeks ago, but it feels like a lifetime. “Fog of War” seems accurate. Particularly when a coworker starts an impromptu meeting in the hallway at 3:30 on a Friday, following a photo session for a new headshot (What? Why?) that apparently needed to happen on the hottest, most humid afternoon we’ve seen so far. But whatevs. I’m sure the day will end like every other day this week: dinner the moment I get home then falling asleep on the couch like a kindergartner on the first week of school. I only get up to brush my teeth and dump myself into bed.
I didn’t get into too many weird food habits or bake any bread during quarantine, but I did make a cake. And ate it all myself. And made sure to purchase all ingredients to do it all over again. Since I never had a chance to bake Second Cake before returning to work, I found myself getting a spoon and eating icing straight from a can, after dipping it into a vat of rainbow sprinkles (because #classy. See also: #fatigue). Again, whatevs.
But it is not all bad. My new team is great. They are eager to include and teach me. And my Right-Hand Gal has the best laugh and a good sense of humor.
Love Lil Swipes. I look forward to it each week. Never more so than today!
Okay so as I referenced in my original reply I have been watching Nashville. Well there is a character named Luke Wheeler who was played by actor Will Chase. I'm always intrigued by actors who are on a show playing singers to see if they can really sing. So I google him. Aaaand now I'm knee deep in youtube videos of his musical career. OMG he played Roger in the last Broadway cast of Rent I'm just SLACKjawed watching him belt this out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1RCoIJD5JU
Wow! Who knew this comment section was thriving? (Obvi all of you did.) I will keep it short because I am new, so howdy/hola I'm Heather (in both languages). I love Lil Treasures. My husband and I are in the midst of purchasing our first home and stress/anxiety are rattling my bones most days but on Fridays there's always something good in my inbox. (Hungry Fam and that Pastor singing!) And today I discovered the comment section! Lil Treasure indeed!
I'm in CA and can't ever get to these until Friday afternoons, but I love this newsletter/community. It reminds me of another one from the Sorta Awesome podcast. It is the best part of the Internet - connection and support and laughter and shared goodness. This is the sort of stuff we need, and sometimes can't find IRL. Thanks, Erin for hosting us and setting this tone of generosity and kindness. My main treasure:
Our 10th anniversary trip had to be cancelled. And that's fine, we want to be safe/protect others, etc. But if we are spending it in my back yard in 117 degree heat, I need something that feels vacationy to look forward to. So earlier this month I started putting together my Corona Backyard Beach Resort and Spa list on Amazon. Aaaaand then one by one all the stuff I'd listed was no longer available. Or wasn't the right size. (We have a weird, long, narrow patio.) Or was 4 times as expensive as it was two weeks ago.
I had a full-on pandemic-sized meltdown over my dumb above ground pool order as it all crashed to pieces on Monday. It has been an intense 10 years of marriage (family deaths, job losses, friendships ending in flames, faith deconstruction, etc.), capped off by a pandemic where we are on the verge of losing our business/livelihood/insurance. I just needed a win. Is it too much to ask for a dumb little swimming pool and a floatie?
But after a good sleep and a cup of coffee, and readjusting my expectations again, I managed to put together another selection of cheesy backyard fun. I even managed to snag a set of alternating corona bottle and lime shaped twinkle lights. I got a 10 x 6 inflatable kiddie pool, and that feels about right. :) Things start arriving on Tuesday, and I am feeling much better. I'm building a playlist and composing a menu.
Mostly I'm thankful for my guy and for ten years. We made it. We are making it. We are surviving a freaking pandemic. One week at a time. Cheers, lil Swipes! Thanks for listening and for sharing all your fun stuff.
L'il Swipes!
Ladies, it's been a week! Last week my work life went to crazy town, to the point I had to work some over the weekend. The lunacy continued this week and it's been a tough one. I've been struggling with anxiety, which wasn't helped by five days straight of rain (no, I don't live in the Pacific N/W. I live in N.C.). For that reason, my treasures this week aren't as many, and are fairly simple.
1. A beautiful puzzle. I haven't done puzzles in YEARS, but bought one for a friend's Christmas prezzie. They were BOGO so I picked out a pretty one for moi. Started it Sunday. At first it was taking FOREVER and made me want to throw temper tantrums...until it started calming me and being something to still my mind.
2. I'm watching Togetherness by the Duplass brothers. Heard them interviewed on Brene Brown's Unlocking Us podcast and that made me want to check it out. It's both charming and painful to watch - kind of like life.
3. God Bless Erin Moon for introducing us to Tabitha Brown. Bless the Lord oh my soul, I love her.
4. Kelly Jo and Melanie keep writing me, even if I turn into a snail sometimes.
My favorite thing about this space on the internet is I can come here - be honest and say I've had a tough week with anxiety and know I won't get voted off the island even though I'm saying that in a space specifically devoted to sharing treasures. Maybe that's the secret sauce - an intention of lookin for the good from the week and a desire to share the good with others to bring them some joy, too?
Here's what I know: somehow there is an unwritten code of conduct where we say things that are helpful to one another, give each other the dignity of making our own decisions handling our own business, and bring each other some brightness and levity, in whatever state we find one another. That's an unusual and priceless gift right there.
I also think the pandemic upped the anty on this thing, too. Perhaps it's a little easier to extend grace in areas where we might have previously had some (ahem) OPINIONS, because more than ever it's clear we're all just doing the best we can.
My binge watch of the week? Sweet Magnolias on Netflix. I have two episodes left, but I need about 5 more seasons. If you are considering it, I would call it a PG show somewhere between Gilmore Girls and a teen drama like Dawson's Creek with Hallmark Channel vibes but elevated. LOL. I really thought that through and it still sounds ridiculous. Don't expect Meryl Streep to pop in, but I am loving it!
Snuggled in with my cold brew and a cozy blanket to catch up with all my internet friends!
Erin, I’ve been vegan for almost 4 years. There is no way Tabitha Brown’s complexion is 100% her diet. I’m guessing it’s a dose of good genes! Isn’t she a delight, though?!
Agree with what everyone said - in a world fraught with fear and division, this space feels like a balm. Silly and fun but also deeply authentic and real. On that note I keep thinking I want to cut bangs on myself. I know is a terrible idea because 1) just had a baby so #hormones 2) not a hairdresser 3) four years ago I spent months growing out previous bangs —- yet I keep googling images of bangs #facepalm
I’m not good at finding stuff on the internet but this socially distant wedding in Brooklyn is EVERYTHING. I’m obsessed: https://www.instagram.com/p/CATAjXzHCE7/?igshid=h39wvrhj923l
Grateful for this space!!
I love Fridays. It's so much fun to read everyone's updates!
First, to answer your questions, Erin - why I love this space:
1. To echo what other folks have said, this space feels so genuine and authentic. You can truly "like what you like", find new things to like or try or watch, without feeling embarrassed or question your taste. You can express true joy and sorrow and everything in between.
2. I have always enjoyed expressing myself via writing versus talking. I was the weird teenage girl that used every excuse in the book to not have to talk to her friends on the phone (even though I had the sweet see-through phone in my room...priorities...). I rejoiced when AOL chat became a thing, and prefer to text/GroupMe/email rather than FaceTime/MarcoPolo.
Lil Treasures
1. The hubs and I started rewatching Community this week, and I forgot what a gem it was. The characters are so good and awkward and funny and flawed but such a delight.
2. I've been working on my 1500 piece puzzle and I am almost done and it makes me a little sad that it is almost complete. I have to find myself some more puzzles.
3. I finished the book Conviction by Denise Mina, and it was such a great mystery. The author created a true crime podcast as part of the book, which created so many layers.
4. Speaking of mysteries, my husband gave me a subscription to Dear Holmes https://www.dearholmes.com/ for Mother's Day, and I could NOT be more excited! It pretty much combines some of my favorite things: snail mail, mysteries, and competition. The game is afoot!
YAY I'm back for my second week in the Lil Treasures comments and I'm very excited. I want to be friends with all of you, so I thought I'd introduce myself briefly. I'm Jess, NC native, rising senior M.Div. student trying to figure out how I'll do a *virtual* pastoral internship this summer. Also, like, what ministry I'm even "called" to. Bless. I am so thrilled about having this to look forward to on Fridays.
Erin, I was going to post about Ramon's prophetic word and I am so glad you did.
My best IRL lil treasure this week was when I ordered Moe's and they forgot my catering size queso and they gave me DOUBLE what I ordered when I went to pick it up. So I've had queso for several meals three days in a row and I'm not ashamed.
Ben Platt's live concert special on Netflix was also a DELIGHT and I recommend to all.
Other than that, seeing friends in person this week from a distance has made the crappy days less so. I feel basically the whole spectrum of emotions every day, and I've tried to be more of an observer of my feelings rather than a critic, which has helped. Spaces like this make me feel more human. <3 Hugs to you all!
I'm trying to read this newsletter earlier on Fridays instead of saving it, so I can start playing with you all in the comments!
My highlight from this week was finding a new way to do my quarantine/summer hair that is fast, easy, not hot, cute enough for video meetings, and buys me yet another day before washing it (and let's be honest, showering at all because I live alone and see no one anymore).
Oh- two more items
1. Tabitha Brown --- oh my word. I love her. I'm not Vegan by any stretch (you guys cheese and salami are my love language) - BUT her videos? I adore her. And some of the ones she posts at night. Have I cried in bed watching her remind people they are loved? Yes. Heck I'm tearing up right now because her spirit is so needed right now.
2. We canceled day care officially. My son Lincoln (who is 7) used to go to a center in the mornings before school and then in the summers because they would do fun activities and field trips. That's not happening now. It's basically school aged kids in a rather small space and no idea how those kids who are there get their distance learning done etc. But he has been home now since March 16. We used to have to pay a 10% holding fee then it upticked to 25% of our typical monthly rate -- well we knew summer was on the horizon and so were the summer rates ($200+ a WEEK). So we put in our 2-week notice. THEN the message went out on how parents who stayed enrolled but didn't have their kids attending would now have to pay FULL tuition to hold their place. Yeah. SO glad we made this decision.
I know decisions have not been made about school for the fall, but right now our plan is to just roll with it and work with our employers to respect what we can/can't do. If school is back to the standard in the Fall we are going to have to find a new morning option or my husband said he'd find a way to to WFH until the time Linc would get on the bus.
Good morning from MN my favorite Friday crew!
Hot tip, when you are thermal screened walking into your office, you have to extend your coffee holding hand as far as you can without dislocating your shoulder to avoid setting off any issues.
I know you're like "um excuse me Mel, where have you been all morning?" You guys, today my office is only open a half-day and they felt making me have 2 meetings that lasted from 8:30-10:30 was a good thing? WHY? WHY?!
Okay so some treasures for the week
1. Erin, that Dad How Do I? ...... tears. Like. OMG.
2. Speaking of Dads. He is booking the house in Yellowstone for October. His words "we need a light, no matter how small at the end of the tunnel" So fingers crossed that it happens.
3. A Sephora order - I will be tapping into more of the items I got (serums and magical potions) once I use up some items. Here's a question -- I already use and love The Ordinary's "Buffet" serum in the morning. If I wanted to add Vitamin C, can they be used together? Or do the Peptides and Vitamin C cancel each other out? Will they duel to the death on my skin? Should I throw all these things out and just go back to using some really old version of Oil of Olay like my great grandma used (the pink lotion! She used that and dove soap, that was it)?
4. Wearing a jumpsuit today (I got it at Target last year, the fabric is patterned in such a way that my husband says looks like either flags from a ski hill or star wars TIE fighter) plan on wearing a jumpsuit tomorrow. Love jumpsuits.
5. Shout out to my Pen Pal Danielle! Love you hunny. I plan to watch the May Popcast AUA and write a letter. Watching those past ones and reacting in letter form brings me so much joy, you have no idea.
6. ALIAS ON AMAZON PRIME - why yes I am rewatching!!!
7. Nashville on Hulu - nearly done with S4
This group.
Oh how do I love thee?
I was expressing last week that each Friday, this group, the replies -- its such community. I know we all come from totally different walks of life but its such a safe place. Its kind. It real in the fact I feel we don't filter. Its not about perfection. I exhale, inhale, maybe cry, exhale more. Its one of the highlights of my week. We see each other. We hear each other. We care.
This always brings me so much joy. I’m up in the air re. Big Flower fight. I keep watching, but I’m not sure I love it. I’m just chasing that Bake Off feeling.
I have to admit to some jealousy that people are getting done with school. My students have 2 weeks & my kids have 3 - and it is getting exponentially more challenging. Maybe my fam will indulge travel Thursday’s too.
1. Tomorrow my tiny person turns 3! He's like a tiny sour patch kid these days, but as Busy Toddler says, ”being three is fine.” Add in quarantine and you've got a party! 😬Trying my best to toe the line between mom guilt for a lame party and realizing we’re going back to the basics and only doing what's necessary and not stressing about the unimportant things. But here I am...feeling guilty. 😂
2. Our church is doubling down on keeping our community strong through quarantine and summer by doing a short summer Life Group session, online and in person (socially distant as possible). My husband and I are hosting our very first group outside at our home bonfire style--everyone brings their own lawn chairs, food, etc. We have 13 acres of space and we’re limiting it to just a few couples but I'm still so nervous that we won't be any good at it. 😬
3. We took family pictures this week and they involved various breeds of livestock, tractors, and cowboy hats/boots—the epitome of an Arkansas photo shoot. I wish I could show them here. My tiny human should be on a Wranglers ad or something. I'm biased but man. Heart melter. It was a fun night that we all needed!
4. I'm also usually just a creepy comment reader but have been trying to comment more! Erin, I want to marry those chocolate croissants. Most of my reasoning for wanting to visit France one day is for the croissants. Is that bad? That may be my favorite bread product. Also, we don't have a TJ close to us, so I wont be able to try them anytime soon. 😭
3 Treasures from me:
1. Monster: DC Sniper podcast. So good! I was in 8th grade when the sniper attacks were happening and I remember being legitimately nervous to go out and feed my cows by myself after dark. Guys, I lived in very rural southern Idaho. 😂 So anyway, it's been fascinating to explore the sniper attacks beyond the very vague understanding I had as a 14 yr old.
2. The Google Read Along app. It has all sorts of little books at various reading level (that aren't completely stupid! Rare for leveled early readers!) and it listens to your kids read and awards stars for each word they get right and helps them along with words they don't know. My 6 yr old (who reads more like a 2nd grader) is pretty into it.
3. Animal Crossing Pocket Camp app. It's not high brow at all, requires very little brain power, and also sets up a weird world where friendship is explicitly transactional, and yet! It's just kind of delightful to play. Plus my kids are very into watching me play.
I have not watched Big Flower Fight, but is next on my list of British Reality TV, because apparently they do everything better in the UK. If you haven’t watched Interior Design Masters or Glow Up, do so immediately! The drama is delightfully polite, which just makes it funnier to me. I was so sad when IDM ended because watching people with accents cry over beautiful wallpaper is cathartic.
I’m so torn about reading The Book of Longings. Read lots of good reviews but can’t get past feeling the whole premise is blasphemous. 🤷🏼♀️
You guys. Our trip to Wisconsin this week was pure chaos and joy wrapped in one.
We prepped by learning all about The Badger State and made a poster to show off a few things Wisconsin is most known for. My 4-year-old (the one who chose the destination) even contributed a lovely horse/spider named “Cookie Jar Junior”. Our homemade cheesehead hats were a hit, especially with the 7-month-old who tried relentless to eat his.
As far as the actual meal goes, the wheels fell off a bit. Imagine small children wearing cheese hats. One doesn’t know where his pants are. All are simultaneously using their outside voices in a chorus of hangry feelings while polka music plays in the background. Meanwhile, husband and I stress eat cheese tots in an effort to “embrace the chaos”.
Nevertheless, we really did love it, chaos and all. We will be on to our next location next week!
PS Shout out to my Midwestern lil swipes who helped me brainstorm some fantastic foods and ideas!
Happy Friday, lil treasures!
My in-laws are coming for the weekend which means I feel stressed about cleaning my bathrooms, but that is far outweighed by the fact that I miss them and can't wait to see them, plus I will finally be able to finish mopping the post-flood basement without being interrupted 47 times. And my father-in-law is going to help my husband fix the upstairs sink so we won't be brushing our teeth in the bathroom off the dining room any more.
I am reading a book called "Linguistics for Non-liguists" for a grad school class and it is making my nerdy heart sing.
If you like puzzles and haven't played any of "The Room" games for the iphone, check them out. Def worth the price.
Yesterday was the last day of my school year and I cried like a baby alone on my couch as I read the poorly punctuated thank you emails that my students sent. I was so mad when I got moved to sixth grade this year, but I had the best class ever, plus I got to do e-learning with people who are more tech savvy than me. Shouts to all the k-2 teachers out there. You are the real heroes, doing Zoom calls with 20 6-year-olds.
On a related note, I drove around on Wednesday delivering cookies to my students because this was their last year of elementary school and so we had to celebrate a little. It took all day, and was perfectly wonderful. I even drove into the city (Chicago) to deliver a cookie to a student who was homeless when the year started and now lives in an apartment out of district, and seeing that she has a nice place to live now just about ended me. Not being able to hug them was hard, but seeing their faces was almost enough.
And now it is "summer vacation", but we're all bored so I'm starting a girls' math group called "Queens of Digitopolis" (Phantom Tollbooth anyone?) because I just can't quit these kids.
This thread is literally one of the highlights of my week. Everyone is so genuine and loveable and I can't say thank you loud enough to Erin for curating and founding this loveliness. Checking back in for new comments is my reward for taking care of house business around here on Fridays. Love to you all.
Okay. I am settled in with my over creamered coffee (it's just how I roll) and some madelieines (a tribute to your French Thursday Erin but also a treat I have often...haha!) to enjoy one of my favorite parts of my week. Y'all. I love this place so much. It's safe and fun and I love how we share our stories in such a unique and sweet way. <3
That story of love and fate. Oh my heart! And the Hungry family. I don't like to watch people eat but that's amazing.
This week's treasures include roasting two pans of vegetables and we are still eating the leftovers and it makes my heart and tummy happy while my husband sits and is like ewww. He is a weirdo who does not like vegetables. Sigh. I keep trying.
My niece has been facetiming this week and it brings my heart immense joy. She is almost 10 and she just recently started doing this. I think she is so over her parents and little sister with all this togetherness in the pandemic so she is calling me to get a break from them and I will take it, people, because I adore her!
We survived online orientation last week and have moved on to advanced scheduling and while I don't enjoy contacting students via phone especially my non-office phone google voice has come through and made my life way easier!
I took part in Target's bogo sandal sale this week and cannot wait to get them. I may have no where to go but I will have cute sandals for one day!
Several friends have gotten little kittens this week and now I want one. I need someone to talk me off the ledge. They are hard work. They meow a lot. They......are so stinkin cute.
It's been a quiet week and for that I am thankful.
I'm sitting here hitting "open in new tab" to make a list of things to watch/read/giggle over in my little breaks throughout the day! - Ramon's inspired breakdown about rest has been a VERY good place to start!
Treasures this week:
-Really heckin' good food. I finally jumped on the Everything Bagel seasoning train and WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG. my millennial avocado toast was LIT this week. Also I made collards the way my adopted southern granny taught my mom for the first time (we're damn yankees from NY who moved to north florida when I was 11) and it was EVERYTHING.
-sending a tiktok a day to my sisters group chat (neither of them do Tiktok. We lovingly call my younger sister Nick Miller after the New Girl character cause she's an old man) I pick the one that makes me laugh the most wholesomely and send it on to them. I like to think I bring them joy.
-recording for sunday morning broadcast with our church praise team. It's the first I've sung with harmonies with people (outside of my car, that is!) since mid march. and the first I've been back in the church building. It also meant a little bonus time with the Boy. :D
-SPEAKING OF. the Boy gave me a freakin' LEGO international space station set for my birthday cause he knows I like space and LEGOs. I FELT SEEN. building it took up a good part of my saturday and that time not spent stressed over anything but chilled out on the floor clicking bits of plastic together was a treasure in and of itself.
Also, I'd totally braid ALL y'alls hair. you guys make my friday mornings.💛
It has been a week here. Nothing big just the same stuff we are all dealing with in the days of Corona. I did read a awesome book which was a highlight. It just came out at the beginning of May and is called “Summer Darlings”. It’s about a girl who is a nanny on Martha’s Vineyard one summer in the early 60s. She falls in love and finds that maybe having money isn’t everything. It would be a great beach read if you are lucky enough to get to do that this summer. I read it in two days.
Hellooooooooo! 👋 (Julia Child style. My three-year-old has been doing this impersonation lately with a big wave & it’s a major highlight.)
First of all, YES to The Big Flower Fight. 🌸🌺🌿 It’s v GBBO-esque, & although I don’t think anything can actually top GBBO, it’s a fun watch. Plus the things they do with flowers & plants is just unreal.
Speaking of plants & flowers - they are my lil treasure this week! For a while, I’d convinced myself I couldn’t keep any plant alive no matter how “easy” the Internet claimed it was, but for Mother’s Day, I bought a begonia, farrow, Spanish lavender, & a tomato plant. Then I actually researched & learned about each one, & it has been super fun to tend to them each day. Plus, my mom (who lives in a different state) has a major green thumb, so I’ve also treasured asking for her advice & showing her each plant’s progress on Marco Polo. 🌱 So far, I have found that growing things in a time of uncertainty & upheaval is a patient & peaceful practice.
Alsooooo big shoutout to Beauty Counter’s Countercontrol Matte Effect Gel Cream aka my new moisturizer forever. It not only works well for my skin, but it smells like summery goodness. ✨
Okay, now to write about how much I love this community of Lil Swipes. 💗 For one, I don’t get a ton of time to browse the internet, so seeing/watching/reading everyone’s lil treasures is pretty much the only way I get my fix. 😂 And just the combination of warmth, humor, encouragement & love that shows up here is quite beautiful. I love seeing women cheer each other on & up, laughing together over ridiculous memes & TikToks, & reminding each other we are never alone in what we are going through. Super, super grateful to be a part of that every week. 🥰
Hope y’all have a great weekend!
I am new around here (referred by Sarah Bessey‘s field notes) and I have to say this has become a new highlight to my week! Thank you so much! Also - I tried reading The Book of Longings as well. I love Sue Monk Kidd and this is my kind of book but I kept getting tripped up over her legalistic and (often time, incorrect) portrayal of first century Judaism. It just crept a little too close towards long held Christian attitudes that have contributed to anti-Semitism for me to continue reading. Which is disappointing because I really wanted to love the book.
Hey everyone! I LOVE red wine, but the last bottle I consumed before I got pregnant gave me awful headaches for the first time ever and it took me an embarrassing number of mornings to figure out the glass of wine before bed was what was making me feel awful. So I may be getting those wine wands soon!
Here are some treasures:
SNACK: If you’re looking for a protein bar that does not taste like Stevia Sand Taffy, you need to try Perfect Bars. They taste like peanut butter cookie dough and are amazing. I think the key is they need to be refrigerated (but are good for 5-7 days unrefrigerated), so they don’t have as many ingredients trying to keep the dang thing shelf stable. I eat one a night for my 2 am pump snack.
INSTA HIGHLIGHT: This highlight is a parody of Insta Q&A’s where all the answers are Taylor Swift song clips 😂 Apparently this is A Thing, but these questions related to breast pumping killed me: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODk4NDU2Mzk0Mzc1Njkx?igshid=1dp4m729fkaal&story_media_id=2148358438885888311
TV: I’ve started Amazon Prime’s Upload and and finally jumping into The West Wing on Netflix for the first time during this maternity leave. Recommend both!
PANDEMIC THOUGHTS: We sent my toddler back to daycare this week, and gosh darn it if I don’t actually miss being home with that goober all day. Yes, it was rough trying to work from home with him, but I had to make my weekly overnight oats without him yesterday and I was legit sad about it.
Lastly, I need somewhere to brag about my brother because he’d kill me if he knew I did it: he’s 24 and got laid off from his brand new post-college job in the pandemic, so he moved back in with my parents and has become our unofficial night nanny and personal chef for these newborn twin days. It’s been SO HELPFUL and it’s so sweet of my textbook Enneagram 5 brother to help. So thankful for him.
This may have been shared before but....it's 3 minutes long but TOTALLY worth it!
https://youtu.be/YTaUc6H9aPg
I’m new here(I think this is my fourth swipe email) but what makes this worth the read is there is something that makes me smile, laugh and just feel normal(well as normal as anyone can feel) I love your energy and hilarity. I am so glad I found your CFA vids on Instagram. It’s been a bright spot in my week.
Erin! Couple things, 1) semi-long time reader, first time comment leaver, glad to be here. 2) LOVE your travel Thursday idea so much, I just suggested it to my sister who needed more ideas to keep her kiddos entertained. I would like to go be their personal chef if they pull the trigger on it because it combines my two favorite things, food and travel 3) Wine wands!??? I have ADVERSE reactions when I drink wine and these may save my life especially before I move to a country that drinks wine like water 4) delightful anecdotes, videos, and writing as always. Keep up the great work! ❤️
I have had a banner week! I’ve had my most recent parenting/ my own thoughts column go viral-ish, as much as it can in a town that’s eight miles long and four miles wide. My 4 year old who has verbal apraxia has added several new words to vocabulary. I saw a new, delightful endocrinologist who gave me such hope I cried. Which was the first time I had cried this whole week!
The things that bringing me joy are making up random cocktails from things I find in my fridge! Lemon, cucumber and mint vodka slushees, cherry vanilla Diet Coke vodka with a fancy straw, yes please! And Leslie Jordan’s Instagram account is a magical place! Every time he utters “Well sh**. Whatca y’all doing?” I basically lose my mind giggling.
I’m here because some of the things I find worth celebrating are often minor but matter. Those things are celebrated here with genuine feeling.❤️
This little treasure of an email is the highlight of my week. It’s like a check in with your girls. See how everyone is doing and what’s giving them life right now. I love how the internet brings people together when often times it can be a hard place where everyone has an opinion and thinks they’re right.
That’s not this place! I love seeing what everyone is watching, reading and doing. I love how we come together to embrace those who’ve lost loved ones and are struggling. It’s a safe place.
1. Dad How Do I....😭 Wonderful.
2. Wine wand???? You may have just changed my life
3. I love this community because it is a kind, welcoming space. It is a mix of serious, earnest, and silly (which is my sweet spot). Your own warmth and authenticity set the tone. When someone comments, it feels like a conversation where people are truly listening and seeing each other, and isn't that what we all need?
Things giving me life this week:
This video has brought such joy to our family. It’s Christian culture niche, but too funny: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2OTWWgu7VG9VzxzSKD9XvlzjcxJN6v3wA0WfwGNIyHzXhi4Y8WfHMkkj8&v=_LRNymg35YU
Jennifer Garner’s hair styling session (suggested by Jamie B Golden!) has inspired my new favorite quarantine hairstyle.
Yesterday I bought a hat. Provided the rain actually goes away and we don’t need an ark, we will be outside a lot in the coming months as we ease into social activities. My poor skin and hair need some protection, so I bought a lovely hat yesterday that brings me delight to wear AND looks pretty cute.
I’ll 2nd/3rd/bajillionth these comments re: why this is awesome. I am a super-lurker (mainly bc I can’t type a comment out before the baby & my big kids start screaming) but this is literally the only place on the internet where I look forward to reading the comments. Erin, you keep it hundo p real and the mix of positivity with crazy real life is exactly what I need to acknowledge the good and the hard. Thanks for doing this weekly - I spread out reading it over all day Friday as a treat to myself!
I love you and this weekly collection of awesomeness! It brings me joy, informs me on new things, makes me laugh, and also makes me feel like I’m not alone. Erin Moon, you are a delight and I love your weekly newsletter and I look forward to reading it every single week! I click every story, watch every video, listen to every song because you always find the best parts of the internet every week! Thank you!
I got to watch part of the Ben Platt concert special and he does a cover of "The Joke" by Brandi Carlile that will make you bawl your eyes out. Taylor Swift's "City of Lover" concert special is on the docket for this three day weekend as well!
Gotta love a woman who has found a way to fix cheap wine.
While I'm not one of those people who didn't know the connects were here, I am more of a lurker who hearts other people's comments. I wanted to respond to your question about why this newsletter - and let's be honest, email is just too hard today.
I have two primary reasons I hang out here.
First, your newsletters are a collection of random awesomeness. While I don't make the time to go around the world collecting random awesome things, you do. And then you put them together for us. Honestly, wine wands probably just changed my life. So put another way, you're like that friend who you go too when you're like, "Hey, I've got this problem with..." and you always have a solution...but you're clairvoyant about what my problem is.
Second, who you are and what you do (or at least how I found you originally) is you speak to people seeking community. I listen to the Bible Binge, which is how I find you, because traditional churches are often broken badly and they don't have good community spirit. They are these random quasi-political organizations masquerading as houses on fellowship and worship. So, you've created a place for people seeking a community to gather and you cultivate that space with openness and acceptance.
Finally, while I do think all the people here are awesome, you at least present as authentic and real. So many people are trying to create an image on the Internet. I truly believe you're just being you. So, I'm drawn in by authenticity... yours and that of the people who gather here.
That pastor singing to the piano has given me the strength I need to get out of bed and potentially cook breakfast instead of eating a granola bar for the 6th day in a row.
Also, didn’t know Ben Platt had a Netflix special. I’m going to spend my Friday night watching that and singing harmonies because we should totally be friends.
Happy Fridayyyyy! 💕