issue #46 - the post-rage cleaning one

July 05, 2020

What is rage cleaning, you ask?

It usually comes after a hysterical crying session. It’s a Tasmanian Devil-style cleaning of a single room, with tunnel vision of getting the room whipped into tidy shape.

This was 1:30 pm for me, yesterday. I was in tears because I couldn’t find one of Rhaki’s foods and I devolved into a crying puddle - which caused him to lose it as well. It culminated with a furious cleaning/tidying of my room at my parents’ house, with decade old beauty products and piles of paper and broken jewelry finally being thrown out, old pieces of art hung on the wall with nails and my eyeglasses case as a hammer, and my newly assembled desk chair and desk set up in a corner so I can have a quiet place to work from.

It’s where I’m putting the finishing touches of this newsletter, editing tomorrow’s podcast episode, and planning out my week. Rho runs in and out of the room - usually with a coloring book and markers in tow. I can keep an ear on Rhaki, whose room is right next to mine, during nap times.

It’s given me a much needed sense of control over this uncontrollable situation. And I’ll take it - and can’t wait to tackle my bathroom and closet next.

Hopefully without the tears, this time.

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 5 year old and a 10 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!

Two Smart Things

Podcast is returning tomorrow! I’ve finally got in the groove of recording and editing here in PA, and I’m excited to share these two with you.

#ThingsILove This Week

  • Things I have ordered and have brought me some value - this oil pulling rinse that has made my teeth slightly whiter and feeling remarkably cleaner, a mouse/keyboard set and laptop stand (tip - order this hub for extra USB ports), and comic book sets about unicorns and narwhals for Rho.

  • One of the week’s smart reads had me returning to Todoist for task and project management. The first thing I read before setting it up? My friend Victoria’s post on how she uses Todoist.

  • Peloton just launched dance cardio, and I AM LOVING THESE WORKOUTS. I’m also loving BollyX Indian dance workouts, which are so much fun that you almost forget you’re working out. Highly recommend taking advantage of their offers right now - 90 day free trial on the Peloton app, and $49 lifetime access to BollyX (worth it!).I know it’s impossible to support every small business right now. But here are some that have helped made sheltering-in-place a little easier:

  • BURU - a windbreaker for rainy walks, classic pajama bottoms and top that work for day and night, and this buttery sweatshirt that you will live in. BURU is a self-funded small business, and the owners live around the corner from their office and package every order with full protection and care.

  • Equilibria Women - my CBD regimen has been a lifesaver right now. Equilibria is also donating this box to 1,500 women working on the front line of this COVID pandemic - everyone from grocery store employees to hospital workers. If you know someone who deserves a little something, please nominate her.

  • Universal Standard - my new favorite brand, and creator of the pants that I won’t stop wearing. They’re quietly donating basics from their Foundation line to medical professionals working on the front line. I have family members and friends who are living at the hospital day in and day out, and initiatives go a long way in lifting spirits. If you can, call your local hospital’s ER and ask what night you can send dinner over from a local favorite restaurant, or where you can drop off extra toiletries and personal care products.

  • Everlane - I’m also living in their leggings and French Terry sweatshirts, and I might have to add a $95 cashmere sweater (or two) to the mix (I love wearing their men’s sweaters with my leggings for some extra comfort). If you shop from their 100% Human collection, 100% of profits are donated to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response. Might I recommend this sweatshirt?

  • Book Of The Month - books are giving me such comfort right now, and one of the first addresses I changed when we came to PA was my Book Of The Month subscription. April’s books look VERY good - I read and loved Beach Read (full review below), and I selected The Library Of Legends for myself. My book club also picked The Two Lives Of Lydia Bird (a March selection) for our next Zoom book club.

  • Libro.fm - independent bookstores have been hit SO hard by the pandemic, and Libro.fm is the easiest way to help them. Think of Libro as indie Audible - for every book you purchase and download from the platform, the sale is recorded to your favorite independent bookstore. If you set up a new membership, you can get 3 free books with code HITHA. My recommendations? Daisy Jones And The Six, Untamed, The Dutch House, Catch And Kill, and In Five Years.

  • SBT Stitches - so many of you have asked me where to learn needlepoint. SBT Stitches is how. I took Shana’s Decorative Stitches class and learned SO much, and she’s got an incredible beginner class and kit to learn how.

  • Splendid Spoon - we packed and brought over a bunch of our Splendid Spoon smoothies and soups before we left New York, and I am so glad we did. They’re so nourishing, comforting, and very, very healthy. It’s a nice offset to my nightly glass(es) of wine (yes, I know it’s a depressant but frankly it’s also keeping me going right now).

  • Play Osmo - BLESS THIS COMPANY FOR ENTERTAINING MY CHILD FOR AN EXTENDED STRETCH SO I CAN WORK. I ordered Rho’s sets from Amazon, but they’re offering 20% off kits and games on their website. We have the genius family starter kit and the monster kit for Rho, and I will likely get him the coding kits during this promotion. Osmo kits aren’t cheap, but they have been worth every penny for me since they keep Rho occupied - quietly - for long stretches and help me get my own work done.

  • And always, please support your local small businesses with take out orders or purchasing gift certificates, leave as large a tip as you can manage, and say thank you to every grocery store worker, delivery person, or healthcare worker you know. A little kindness goes a long way.

What I read this week

A quick note - I hope you reserve the books I recommend from your local library, or purchase them from your favorite independent bookstore or the audiobook fromLibro.fm.

  • Beach Read - (ARC provided by NetGalley, early release offered by Book Of The Month) - I have Julia Whelan - the Meryl Streep of audiobooks and author of one of my all-time favorites My Oxford Year - for this recommendation. It’s a poignant, emotional, wonderful journey that I purposefully read slowly to savor every intentional word. January and Augustus reconnect by chance in a sleepy Michigan lake town, and challenge each other to write a book in their respective genre. January is tasked with writing the next great American novel, and Augustus is to write a happily ever after. What unfolds is such a special story. Beach Read blew me away, and it was a joy to read. Highly recommend making it an April BOTM selection.

Current book reviewshere, and here are all my random Amazon favorites.

Hitha’s Favorite Things

  • Libro.fm is my favorite audiobook app (it credits your favorite independent bookstore with the sale). Use code HITHA to get 3 audiobooks for the price of 1 when you create a monthly membership. You can find my favorite audiobooks here.

  • This is the only book club I’m a member of

  • my Amazon shop

  • my favorite vitamins (both their pre-natal and their essential one for women). Use code HITHA for 10% off your first 3 months.

  • CBD has been a lifesaver for me. Get 20% off your first order with code HITHA.

  • my favorite produce delivery company that supports small farms in the process. Use code COOKWME-NM5DMZ for 25% off.

  • the app to save #5SmartReads to read later

  • the notebook that has changed my life (see how I use it here and here). Get 15% off with code HITHA15.

  • the marriage check-in my husband and I do every single week

  • my favorite workout - and why. Use code G37YVV for $100 in accessories (spin shoes, weights, headphones - oh my!)

  • 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

The Top 5

The Catch Up

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Reply

or to participate.