Details and inspo for making an adorable charcuterie board inspired by Eric Carle’s beloved 1969 children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Cool Ideas
A Behind-The-Scenes Look at New York City’s Epic “Cake Picnic”
New York City’s first ever “cake picnic” was a lovely, sweet affair that came to NYC from San Francisco for the first time in 2024. Fans of the series (myself included) were quick to call Cake Picnic NYC “Cake-chella”– and when we arrived to gather at a cozy event space in the lower West Village […]
Silent Reading Parties Are Emerging As A New Kind of Third Space. Here’s What To Expect.
A few weeks ago I went to my first “Silent Reading Party” sponsored by a lovely indie bookstore in my neighborhood, and I felt like I was participating in a quiet revolution. For several months now, I’ve seen bookstores all over the country– from NYC to LA– offering various spins on the concept of a […]
This is “The Most Calming Song in the World” According to Neuroscientists
Hunting for relaxation music and want to get really clinical about it? Marconi Union’s “Weightless” is literally the most calming song in the world– at least according to neuroscientists. Allow me to explain further. In 2011, British ambient band Marconi Union worked with sound therapists and researchers from Mindlab International to specifically design an 8-minute […]
Kiwi Picking in Virginia is The Fall Activity I Didn’t Know I Needed
Yes, you can go kiwi picking in Northern Virginia! Chances are you are reading this because you were like, “What?! I didn’t even know kiwi picking was a thing! I want to do that!”– and so here are the details, my friends: Kiwi picking at Virginia Golden Kiwi in Vienna, Virginia opens each Fall for […]
Maple-Date Chestnut Milk Recipe: A Local Food Lover’s Alternative to Hot Chocolate
This easy maple-date chestnut milk recipe is made from fresh-roasted chestnuts, dates, water, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. That’s it! If you’re a local food lover, it makes a beautiful alternative to hot chocolate for warm-weather sipping by the fire. Chesnuts are the ultimate winter season crop, a lovely treat to wait for […]
Chewy Idea: “People Can’t Read a Room Because They Can’t Read a Book”
Yesterday, my personal algorithm delivered to me a post by a writer/critical thinker who goes by AyaConnects on Instagram, who in this post shared her thoughts about the existential and socio-political consequences of the literacy crisis in America. She titled the post, “People Can’t Read a Room Because They Can’t Read a Book: The contingent […]
At This Charming Paw Paw Festival in Maryland, America’s “Secret Fruit” Shines
Momentum is growing behind a beautiful Paw Paw Festival that takes place at a 25-acre homestead in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Frederick, Maryland– an event that’s fast becoming one of the DMV area’s best-kept secrets in the realm of local food. Organized by permaculturist and landscape designer Michael Judd of Ecologia […]
5 Cool Places to Do Yoga in Denver
Denver’s yoga scene has evolved in recent years in tandem with the growing popularity of both the mindfulness movement and the modern public’s mounting interest in combining gentle exercise with immersive experiences in nature. By this, I mean that the best yoga in Denver often takes shape around nature and in community, from the sprawling […]
5 Wonderfully Calming Qi Gong Videos For Relaxation & Energy
In an era when most of us have a heightened awareness of the negative effects of overstimulation, the slow, methodical mind-body practice of Qi Gong has become increasingly appealing. Everyone wants to feel calm and centered in their minds and bodies, right? So why not look into the time-honored healing practices of the ancients to […]









