I’m not sure why we treat January 1st—the dead of winter—as a great time to start striving. I could think of nothing I’d rather do less when I’m in survival mode, and to be clear: winter’s short, dark days and freezing temperatures most certainly put me in that mindset. By a few months in, however, I think we have our legs under us a bit more. The routines are back, calendars are busy, and there’s more to look forward to.

Enter: glorious Spring. Blooming plants! Daylight Savings! New life! Promises kept! And God, the serotonin boost I feel when the sky is still light out after I return from work and the gym… It’s like I have my life back. What a miracle. Spring offers a new world, and a new lease on life, if you let it. What will we do with that precious energy? In the spirit of a reset and renewal, I offer you my 5 little intentions for the spring season:

1. Grow something. I’m starting with planting a vegetable garden. I have a nice backyard and plenty of sunshine, and though I’ve never been much of a green thumb, I figure starting with a nice raised bed and some light research can do wonders for a little cultivation.

   

2. Create more. In a non-work-related capacity, that is. To an extent, working on my house qualifies, but since I’ve maxed out the budget on big changes for now, I’d like to turn back to older pastimes like painting and drawing. when you are “creative” for a living, hobbies like this feel daunting or even sometimes exhausting to consider, but the loss of doing things with my hands is a real one. I miss the way it forces my brain to relax and approach problems in a different way. Time to try again.

   

3. Keep going. I’ve been strength training for 45 minutes, 3 times a week every week for almost 2 years now (with exceptions for travel and illness, of course.) I also have a Peloton bike at home for days when I’m not in the gym with my trainer. The results have been, well, very slow coming but remarkable nonetheless. I’m learning that like muscle, discipline builds on itself in action. I’ve never really been good at discipline, so the mission here is simply to keep practicing it.

   

4. Read more books. So far this year, I read all six Game Changers books (zero regrets), and I’ve since enjoyed The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Horse by Geraldine Brooks, and a couple others that were less memorable. Next on the list are Buckeye by Patrick Ryan, and Strangers by Belle Burden. That’s an admirable start for me, a person who can go many months without turning a page. And you know what? I am better for it. How obnoxious.

   

5. Be less online. I keep draining my phone battery down before it’s even 5pm, and to me that says enough. The mission is: Stop the scroll. Look out the window. Put my fingers in the dirt. Go for a walk without headphones or a camera... etc.. Should we call this peacemaxxing? I’ll see myself out…

Happy Easter, should you celebrate. But more importantly: happy spring!

Thank you for being here,

1. It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

I’m sure my old movie-loving father introduced me to this, as it’s not high on the rotation for most. But it’s so charming, and a classic vintage New York comedy. There’s also a very cute dog. My synopsis is below, but it’s also fun to go in blind and enjoy each little twist.

An elderly serial squatter makes his annual visit to the 5th Avenue mansion of a real estate tycoon, who usually is out of town for the season. When his heiress daughter runs away from finishing school and heads back to the city, she is surprised to find not only him, but a group of drifters in her house, including a young war veteran she quickly has eyes for.

Instead of revealing her rich girl identity, she pretends to need a place to stay and woos him. When her father returns home to find her, she convinces him to begrudgingly play pretend with the visitors.

This is such a good hidden gem!

More vintage chaos…

2. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Chaos, a career reckoning, and the resulting comedy go hand-in-hand with Christmas in this silly romance. It has everything: a quirky character actor, a wandering cow, a baby swallowing a watch, and a woman who must prove herself Ina Garten-esque to her editor and her unexpected guest.

In it, a popular magazine columnist is asked to make a POW survivor’s Christmas wish come true, and quickly must make the imaginary homemaker life she writes about a reality—or at least put on a good show of it. She immediately falls for the soldier, which greatly complicates the escapade, wherein she’s pretending to be married, a mother, and fabulous cook.

It’s worth a watch for the outfits alone. I always wear a gown and fur bolero on Christmas!

Now for something in color…

3. Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)

This has always been one of my mother’s favorites, and we first watched it when she got the VHS for Christmas one year when I was a kid. Technically a four-season vs. purely Christmas film, this eye candy musical captures a midwest family in flux as they celebrate the World’s Fair coming to their city, while they simultaneously recieve the news that they’re moving.

Judy Garland positively glows in this movie, which was directed by her future husband.

The youngest sister is played by Margaret O’Hara, a standout and perfect match to Garland’s iconic presence. Even if you don’t watch the whole thing, at least watch this…

How about something from this millennium? Okay…

4. The Holdovers (2023)

A new classic, I saw this endearing film in the theater and it’s been in the rotation ever since. When we walked outside after, I really expected to see snow on the ground, that’s how transportive it feels. If you really watch it (no phones!) you’ll see what I mean. The music, the establishing landscape shots, and the classic Northeast scenery is a great stage for the phenomenal acting.

A boarding school teacher is left to babysit the students who have nowhere to go for the holidays. A late-arriving parent whisks most of them away for a ski vacation, but without a permission slip there’s one very complicated young man left alone with the teacher and a grieving school cook, who recently lost her son in Vietnam.

I love any story that gives context, grace, and a chance for transformation to a lifelong curmudgeon (relatable), so this is just delightful to me.

I’m sorry in advance for the last one...

5. The Family Stone (2005)

I know, I know. This is hardly a sleeper find. But it’s so touching, funny, and relatable, not to mention the ambiance… My parents lived in Riverside, CT for over a decade, and the house was right down the road, I always ogled it on the way to church…

For a movie so filled with people and loudly-expressed big feelings, I love the quieter scenes of reflection by the matriarch played by the late Diane Keaton.

Spoiler alert: For anyone who has lost an immediate family member, it is a difficult club to be in (especially during the holidays) and I think telling stories of grief, loss and remembrance are important. Because life is full of…

The end!

I know this list is not exhaustive, but it is personal. I hope you watch something that fills you up. Happy holidays, my friends!

For me, 2025 began hilariously with a car fire. I was driving home from getting my oil changed at the Volvo dealer, when 3 minutes in, I noticed a plume of white smoke emerging from the engine block. In a matter of seconds, the car was engulfed and totaled before the fire department could get there. Suddenly, I was without my last remnant of my Ohio life, standing next to a group of highly-entertained hibachi chefs filming the incident.

I think it was staring into the flames of a mechanic’s botch job when I realized: girl, you have to get a grip. This stupid incident was comical, and a paper cut compared to the coinciding devastation of the LA fires’ obliteration. Sure, the car could be yet another thing I add to my long list of things happening to me over the past two years, or I could decide to move on. Okay, I thought, I’ll give acceptance a go.

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Vintage Instagram photo of a Note to Self Print Shop (RIP) quote by Sara Kate from Pastiche Studios

Anyway, perhaps as a level-set for who I am today, I thought a little AOL chain mail style questionnaire circa 2015 could be fun. Please feel free to leave your answers to these questions in the comments or a post of your own, I’d love to know more about you, too.

1. What is the most-played song in your music library?

The most played is probably something gym/workout-related that is not actually reflective of a favorite song… so I’m deviating. The first two are in this playlist.

This month: Come Closer by Sombr, I love his entire album, and this song has such a great beat and matches my level of cranky on a number of occasions.

This year: Let’s see if Spotify Wrapped validates this, but I think it’s Rein Me In by Sam Fender featuring Olivia Dean. Both artists are so incredible!

This decade: I’m not 100% sure, but I really love Maggie Rogers so it’s probably one of her debut album songs like Back In My Body or Light On. This album has no skips and I listen to it all the time.

2. What is your favorite thing about your current occupation or job, whatever it may be?

It’s always the satisfaction of completing a project, and seeing it hit the airwaves. I’m the first to critique it, but that’s life as a creative. We’re always thinking about what’s next, and how it can be different or better. And that’s fun!

3. City or country?

City. And I’m fortunate to have a nice mix of both with a house technically in the city, but with a yard and the niceties of fresh air and friendly neighbors.

4. What is your coping mechanism after a really bad day?

Lifting at the gym, a Peloton ride, or a brisk walk. And if it’s really bad: probably complaining to my mother, who is a great listener, empathizer, and giver of advice.

5. Favorite item in your closet right now?

These shoes. I wear them too much. And also these jeans… I don’t wear them rolled up like they have them styled—but they’re great! Trust me.

6. Skill or craft you still want to learn or work on?

Woodworking. How does one learn woodworking? But I’d be unstoppable if I could build my own shelves.

7. What is your most precious keepsake?

Probably something from my late older brother.

8. What’s at the very tip top of your holiday wish list this year?

I don’t really have any urgent desires this year. I’ve asked for a few books. I’m hoping this one will motivate me to do something meaningful with my back yard!

9. What’s your favorite spot in the town/city/state you currently live in?

My porch. Ha! No offense to North Carolina, I just like being home most of all.

Thank you for reading, I hope you play along…