Howdy, buddies!

How’s your summer season winding down? Mine got here to an abrupt halt once I returned to work at my kids’s college and jumped right into a model new place. Final yr, I used to be a Trainer’s Affiliate within the 1st Grade, the place I learn Little Home on the Prairie and reminded kiddies to maintain their fingers out of their ‘lil noses. This yr, nevertheless, there’s a para scarcity in Nashville—and perhaps throughout?—so I’m working with a gaggle of children who want much more assist. It’s a humbling expertise, to say the least, and I’m very a lot studying as I am going.  Within the meantime, I’ve included just a few issues I’ve been loving throughout the lengthy, sweaty month of August. Hyperlinks are under and have a soothing Sunday!

Xo,
Toby

• Emily Sunberg has an unique approach on Substack and the way it’s turning “everybody into writers the identical method Instagram made everybody into photographers…” Which jogs my memory of my favourite word from Samuel Johnson: “No one however a blockhead ever wrote, apart from cash.” (Feed Me)

• Is lore summer season’s hottest accent? 100% sure. (The Face)

• What am I even doing on ESPN?? I landed by way of Gloria, after all. This interview with a skydiver who survived a 14,000-foot fall is thoughts bending. (ESPN)

• I’m from the south, so thanks notes are my faith. Just lately, I put a guide in my neighbor’s mailbox. In flip, she mailed me a thanks postcard then I texted to thank her for the beautiful postcard. That is widespread sense. R. Eric Thomas agrees. (Asking Eric)

• A pleasant addition to your letter routine, I discovered these for my mother’s birthday. As a lifelong Jeopardy! fan she’s going to be over the moon. (USPS)

• The Dancers of Stud Nation is a brief doc from The Los Angeles Occasions that dives into the circulation state of line dancing. Taking line dancing lessons was on my listing of issues to do that summer season, and I nonetheless haven’t gotten round to it however now I’m much more impressed. (YouTube) 

• As Winona Ryder says in this gorgeous profile, ““Everybody makes use of [the word icon] now, they usually don’t know what an actual icon is.” All my idols are Gen X, and Winona Ryder can be my without end icon. (Harper’s Bazaar)

• OG Mother-blogger-turned-Substack-sensation Jessica Reed Kraus dove into the trad spouse controversy, which I used to be fully oblivious to as a result of, I dunno, I didn’t assume some of these influencers have been nonetheless drumming up drama. It’s an attention-grabbing take. (Substack)

• Did you see Twisters? I believed it was kinda mediocre so far as summer season Blockbusters go however I did love the soundtrack. And Glen Powell, naturally. I cherished him, too. So did Ann Helen Peterson, who shared her unified principle on Glen Powell.  (YouTube + AHP)

• Do you may have any merchandise that make it easier to get up within the morning? My youngsters are up at 6am so I get up at 5am to learn/write/train or, admittedly, simply sip my espresso and scroll. Possibly it’s due to this early name time that I’ve everlasting raccoon eyes, however these puppies assist. (Amazon) 

• I’ll undoubtedly be slipping Pleasure’s Chewy Chocolate Brownie Cookies into lunch packing containers this yr. Additionally, it’s time to revisit Pleasure’s family-friendly recipes. I nonetheless make that rooster salad as soon as a month as a result of it’s one of many few dishes all three youngsters willingly gobble down. (Pleasure the Baker)

• How enjoyable is it to step contained in the thoughts of Missy Elliott? In case you occurred to catch this tour please don’t inform me as a result of I’m insanely jealous. (NYTimes Reward Hyperlink)

• Everybody’s favourite face mentor, Val Monroe, has some Golden Rule-type ideas on the query Is Self-Kindness Making a Comeback? (How To not F*ck Up Your Face)

• “The shot is symmetrical, succinct, and exceptionally Mannian. The immutable diner and its pervasive simplicity come to encapsulate the auteur’s imaginative and prescient and true issues.” Elissa Suh’s tackle Michael Mann’s diners is just scrumptious. (Mubi)

• On a very completely different word, right here’s an indepth take a look at the Australian structure of Bluey I didn’t know I wanted. Possibly I’ve gone full Mother, however I do echo the writer’s sentiments: Even for those who don’t have youngsters, this present is a must-watch. (Schmatta) 

• Essentially the most magical factor I ate all summer season was a lemon-mint bar from the Minions popsicle stand at Common Studios. I’m nonetheless looking for that excellent hit however was impressed to purchase this, which didn’t disappoint. (Jeni’s) 

• Comfortable/in gentle frocks they stroll the streets/to whereas the time away. (Poets.org)

• Vote. Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote. (USA.gov)