The majority of today's Monday Memo was written far in advance, but it was important to start with this today.
This Anti-Racism resource guide was very thoughtfully compiled and and has been shared widely, but I want to give it a permanent home on my site and ask that everyone bookmark it. If, like me, you are looking for resources to educate yourself on anti-racism and how you can raise your own awareness and action around anti-racism, I strongly encourage you to give it a thorough read. It contains helpful articles, books, podcasts, films, resources for parents, and much more. I look forward to making my way through the list and will be watching 13th by Ava DuVernay on Netflix tonight.
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As a parent, I know that conversations about race must start in the home. One important way to make sure you’re raising children in an anti-racist environment is to be intentional about what they're exposed to everyday. The toys they play with, the books they read, the shows they watch, the music they hear. To start, I’ve been researching children’s books, and have found the Coretta Scott King award winner list as well as this list to be a helpful starting point. I’m also following @theconsciouskid on instagram who has an excellent book list as well available on their patreon page. So far, I’ve ordered The Day You Begin, All Are Welcome, Same Same But Different, Mixed: A Colorful Story, and Think Big, Little one.
Look, I don’t love the name. But, I do love the functionality of a good scarf, especially right now. I recently shared an Instagram tutorial video on how to tie an oversized scarf or sarong into a headband/mask that is convenient, cute, and, well... mandatory when leaving the house. Check out CDC guidelines here on face cloth coverings for non-medical persons, and then start digging out your favorite scarves. Aside from a really aesthetically pleasing way to wear a mask (and an adorable headband), I've honestly found this method to be the most comfortable, secure way to wear a mask. For the scarf (and statement earrings, thank you for noticing) that I'm wearing in the video, check out my post here.
How cool is this?? The New York Times recently released a massive article that gathers together the actual recipes for 12 beloved restaurant dishes from all across the country. While I highly encourage you to support local businesses by taking advantage of their takeout offerings as much as possible, we're all doing a lot more cooking and baking these days, so I thought it would be fun to take a stab at this list. Beginning with bananas foster omggggggg….
H&M is taking a very cool, minimalist approach to their summer swimwear offerings which I really like for the somewhat minimalist summer we’ll no doubt be having. There are an impressive amount of affordable swimwear options to shop through right now, but I’m partial to this adorably striped one piece, sporty high-leg number, and ribbed one piece that’s belted. We’ll need little more than a swimsuit and cool cover-up to consider this summer’s stash handled.
Clinton St. Baking Company in New York is famous for its pancakes, but since we’re not exactly saddling up to brunch any time soon, I think this tutorial is a real treat. Clinton Street’s chef Neil Kleinberg teaches host Herrine Ro how to expertly upgrade a box of standard pancake mix to near-Clinton Street standards. Not the real thing, but all things considered, pretty pancakishly perfect. Also give me those blueberries.
If quarantine introduced you to daily WFH lunches for the first time, by now you might be craving—see what I did there?—a little fresh inspiration. What’s Gaby Cooking is an endlessly helpful site for real-life recipes when you’re bored, in a rut, or just want to cook something scrumptious. She has a whole “bowls” section, and if you do a bit of meal prep on a Sunday afternoon, you’re set with delicious WFH lunches (that you haven’t eaten 1000x already) all week long.
I know what you’re thinking...um, Mary, we’re not going to the beach right now. Ah, yes, but friends, this chair is also absolutely brilliant for picnics in the backyard or at a socially distanced park. Picnics are all adorable fun and games on a blanket until your back is killing you and your only solution is to collapse into the fruit salad. Tote these babies along and recline atop your picnic blanket in perfect comfort.
Ummmm please don’t bother me I am quite busy depuffing with my Finnish Carelian soapstone eye stones that I’ve cooled in the fridge to place atop my face and feel fabulous, thank you. Bonus points for their little eye holes that allow me to see if someone is trying to sneak up on me. I am always watching. Approach with caution.
Can you even handle this cuteness? I cannot. I am unable to handle it. This is not handled. If you’re looking for your summer sneaker, there is no better option than this collaboration of floral dreams right here. Does it make anyone else long for the Laura Ashley days of their youth? How many pairs of floral shoes are too many? Asking for myself.
Stop what you’re doing and watch the video for this Amaranth vase. I’m serious. You know how when you have flowers in the house, you kind of forget to keep trimming and changing their water everyday (because it's an extremely annoying process)? Let’s stop that. Because this is actually a genius system for watering, trimming, and draining your flowers that helps you get the most life out of them that you possibly can. It also has the bonus of being quite cute with multiple color and style options.
Hello, brain fog? This is Mary. If quarantined life, stress, and just overall craziness has left you feeling a little less sharp than usual, I really recommend training your brain (it’s way more fun than than the phrase suggests) with Lumosity. Its brain games help improve your focus, memory, and sharpness while also being just plain fun to play and an outstanding socially-distanced activity.
How cool is this?? A friend recently sent me SnackMagic and I found it to be the sweetest (literally and figuratively), most thoughtful thing ever. It's a customizable snack delivery service that's basically adapted everyone’s favorite office perk to the home offices we’re all currently working in. You can use SnackMagic to send snacks to coworkers, friends, or really anyone you’re missing during socially distant days. If you’re a manager or employer who wants to send something to your team, this is a really cool and thoughtful way to let them know you’re thinking about them. And yes, you 100% have my permission to send snacks to yourself.
I have sung the praises of C-tables and how convenient it is to have a small table space in my couch area for any number of working mom reasons. But these tables actually take things a step further by folding neatly over the arm of your sofa, taking the functionality of sofa arms to entirely new heights. Is anyone else dying to order takeout and cue up a movie just looking at these things??
7 thoughts on “Monday Memo No. 85”
Your anti-racism content was so unexpected and yet SO very appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you for using your voice and platform to better our world. I hope everyone follows your lead.
(And I continue to love the rest of your content. Definitely checking out that scarf tutorial and ordering the sofa arm table!)
Is the sudden anti-racism stuff about the George Floyd tragedy?
Racism may be a factor, but as my husband and I have been discussing, this is more about police brutality and cowardice. Why did none of the people standing around watching the man die DO something? Yes, someone may have been shot by a cop if he or she had tried to intervene. So?
Not only do I intend to raise my children understanding that all human beings have equal worth and value, but I also intend to raise them into courageous people who will willingly lay their lives on the line for others. Everyone is so damn worried about their dreams, their plans, their lives, and yes, their safety, that when it matters, they cower in the face of injustice. They don’t take the stand or risk taking a bullet. If you are not willing to die for your beliefs, then you don’t really hold those beliefs.
Soapbox rant over. On a different note…
Lumosity doesn’t really “train” your brain to do anything broad such as improve memory or focus. It only improves your ability to play the particular games curated for you in its repertoire. I tried Lumosity out years ago, and began reading literature about brain function around the same time. The problem with Lumosity is that it claims the brain works in a way that the brain demonstrably doesn’t work. When playing games on Lumosity, the brain learns the specific tasks, not the concepts behind the tasks. If you want to teach yourself to improve in various areas (like focus, for example) playing “brain games” is a bad idea. It’s far better to develop a routine or learn a new skill that requires a great amount of attention to detail, like cross-stitching or a new instrument. The reason this works is because your brain has to work in tandem with your actual body to learn something, or develop “muscle memory.” It’s the same reason why you’ll remember something if you physically write it down on an actual piece of paper, but not so much if you save it as a note on your phone or computer. This is also why exercise is so important for brain function!
Anyway, that’s all. I hope I didn’t come across as condescending, since that was not my intention at all. I really do love your blog, Mary. Your style is impeccable and you’re gorgeous. And you’re a clever and witty writer.
The person who filmed the video was a 17 year old black girl. You really going to blame her for not throwing herself at the police? Why don’t you blame the cop who put his knee on another human’s neck for 8 minutes.
I do blame the cop. This is a horrific example of police brutality. Sorry for not being more clear about that.
Hi Maria, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. The horrific murder of George Floyd is indeed one of many recent tragedies that has sparked the current anti-racism movement in America and around the globe. Sadly, I don’t believe that it is more about cowardice, though the acts were certainly cowardly. I believe that racism played a large factor indeed but I completely agree with you that it’s critically important to raise our children with the understanding that all human beings have equal worth and value, that diversity is to be acknowledged and celebrated, and that it is never okay to stand by silently in the face of such brutality and wrongdoing. It’s devastating and despicable that none of the other people watching Officer Chauvin did anything, most notably the other three officers who thankfully have now also been arrested. I pray that justice is served for George Floyd and all of the other victims of racism–the many we know and the countless we do not know.
Thank you for your thoughts on Lumosity! It’s such an interesting perspective to hear and one I’ll keep in mind as I use the app more.
I appreciate your generosity Mary. You seem to understand what I was trying to get at, and have fleshed out some details I failed to point out (since I considered them assumed), such as how the people watching Mr. Floyd die included the other officers, and yes, out of everyone there, their lack of intervention is the most egregious. It is a good thing that amidst all the corruption in our world, justice is still being served for George Floyd, though he sadly did not live to see it.
While we may not all be given opportunities to be martyrs for our various causes, in the meantime, it is best to uphold our beliefs the way you are upholding yours: with maturity, thoughtfulness, peace, and clarity. Whatever our disagreements may be, I’ll certainly toast to that.
Mary,
Thank you so much for including anti-racist content in such a thoughtful and informative way. I always appreciate your content, and how you keep it on point. This is a time of great reverence, grieving, and hope for change. It’s also a time to nurture each other and ourselves. You help us do that so well.
Thank you!
– Laura