issue #22 - the one where I said yes

July 04, 2020

I said yes to a new book club. To a new side venture. To introductions. To help when offered.

But Rho’s pleas to stay home from school? I said no. Sorry kid.

If this is your first e-mail from me, welcome! In addition to writing the book How To Pack, I'm an entrepreneur and angel investor, an avid reader, and a mom of two boys (a 4 year old and a 2 month old).

Every Saturday, I share the 25 best reads from the Internet (culled from the daily shares on my Instagram), the books I've read that week, and things I'm generally loving at the moment. You can join the conversation on all these articles - and more! - in my Facebook group.

Looking for my packing list template? Here you go!

#ThingsILove This Week

  • Banza is a pantry staple around here, and I’ve been whipping up a paella-esque dish every weekend with their rice (with Field Roast’s chorizo, which is DELICIOUS). Stirring a hot pan for 30 minutes may sound like torture in the summer, but the dish is worth it (recipe can be found on the Recipes highlight on my Instagram).

  • Misfits Market is one of new favorite things - every other week, I receive a giant box (in eco-friendly packaging) of not-so-pretty but perfectly ripe produce for only $20. Every box is a surprise, and it’s been really fun to whip up different dishes based on what’s in my box. I'm pllanning to make an eggplant pasta and throwing a ton of the vegetables on the grill this weekend,

  • My morning routine has been nonexistent for the past few months, but am trying to ease back into it. I dug up my old Five Minute Journal and my copy of The Daily Stoic, and have been sipping a travel mug of tea (prepared the night before and left on my nightstand) while I go read, journal, and meditate before I let myself look at the phone.

  • Some fun features that published this week - my interview on Hashtag No Filter (one of my favorite podcasts!), a generous feature in The Everymom, and my advice on maintaining a happy marriage after kids.

  • I thought this episode of Be There In Five (on Mormon blogger empires) was FASCINATING. It’s nuanced, respectful, and Kate’s analysis is spot on. I also loved the latest Bad On Paper episode on summer beauty and their fall live show update (get your tickets here!), and I subscribed to Luminary just so I could listen to Tabloid.

  • Things I love and am frequently asked about on Instagram - my favorite vitamins (both their pre-natal and their essential one for women), my Amazon shop, the app to save #5SmartReads to read later, the marriage check-in my husband and I do every single week. Small Packages (one of my portfolio companies) is the curated gift box company I’m always talking about - get 15% off your order with the code HITHA.

What I read this week:

  • Fresh Face (gifted by the author) - a delightful, smart book on skincare and self-care, filled with so much good information and feels like you’re wandering through Sephora with your most brilliant beauty expert friend. Mandi’s company, Baalm, has one of the best newsletters ever. Sign up here.

  • Training School For Negro Girls (gifted by pressHER book club) - this is one of the best short story collections I’ve read in a long time. It’s nuanced, unapologetic, raw, and reminds me a lot of Kate Chopin and Jhumpa Lahiri’s story collections. This is one of my favorite books read this year, and potentially ever. Really.

  • The Right Swipe - I bought this book strictly because of its cover, and I was absolutely delighted by it. It’s a great romance that doesn’t shy away from some serious issues - sexism in tech startups, CTE in professional football, loss. I don’t know why I’m slow to the Alisha Rai wagon, but I’ll be binge reading all her books in the coming weeks.

Current book reviewshere,every bookI’ve read this year, and all myAmazon favorites.

The Top 5

The Catch Up

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

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