From My Desk - Oct 29, 2020
I’ve taken some time to rest and recharge ahead of a long, dark winter in sunny California. Ironically, I saw more of the gorgeous state in two weeks as a visitor than I had after a year of living there. Classic, right? My trip brought me a deep sense of closure on a painful chapter, gratitude for the friends and memories I could create with fresh perspective, and renewed focus for the life I am building for myself in New York. I know that the seeds I planted during my year there did not go to waste and instead have led me to new opportunities that have me thinking of California fondly again.
I don’t intend to be pessimistic but the reality is that we will living in isolation to avoid the virus for the foreseeable future. So I’m turning my attention to the things within my control that help me keep spirits as high as possible. I’d love to know what is keeping you in a good mood these days!
Here are a few discoveries my desk to yours:
Took the plunge on Prime day and bought myself an InstantPot for $40!! The first recipe I had to try was bolognese because I needed to know if I could skip the 4+ hours of simmering and have it taste just as good on a weeknight. The answer is YES! Used this recipe and swapped red wine for white as the bottle was already open! Hands down the best bolognese I’ve made. What should I make next?!
I spent the weekend quarantining after my travel and it was the perfect reason to catch up on fun new releases including the Borat sequel on Amazon Prime and the new season of My Next Guest on Netflix with Kim Kardashian West and Lizzo! Borat was the levity I needed and I found the interview with Kim really raw and eye-opening as she talked about sensitive topics she doesn’t typically address.
A friend had shared an interesting article with me about women leaving the workforce and it stunned me. “While this pandemic will eventually come to an end, the damage it is doing to women in the workplace could last for decades.” Women are required to take on more at work and in their household with zero additional support or resources. Have you been rethinking your career because of the pandemic? More on this topic to come.
[Trigger warning] Chrissy Teigen wrote an emotional and heartfelt post about her experience losing her child that had me teary eyed. She is unapologetically honest and raw. I applaud her for being a voice for so many women who suffer silently.
What are you doing for self-care these days? I’m trying to drink 64 oz of water a day, go through my stash of face masks, and have a fun weekend activity to look forward to. I’m bringing back my Sunday home facials because mascne seems to be here to stay. I exfoliate, purify, and hydrate in that order.
PSA: Is it me or is the election all we think about every second of the day? It’s the final countdown and I feel my anxiety rising thinking about the aftermath of either outcome. I hope you are taking moments to get involved and politely engage at the level that feels right for you. This is my reminder to you that you do not have to share your political beliefs at your workplace if you do not feel comfortable. If directly asked who you voted for, it is okay to say “I’m not comfortable sharing that” or “I’d rather not talk about it at work.” End of story.
Be safe,
Andrea
Joshua Tree National Park
