5 Things to Tell You
The Fancy Food Show is real and it's *spectacular*
1.
If you haven’t signed up to go through The Artist’s Way or Walking in This World with Laura Bass and me, what are you waiting for?1 Trust me when I say these 12 weeks of creative discovery and accountability will have a lasting impact on your creative life.2 If you don’t know what in the world I’m talking about and would like to learn more, let me know!
What people are saying:
This program has forced me to take an even deeper look at myself and my life and what I want to be "when I grow up."
The cohort jump-started something new in my creative life and gave me the confidence to keep working on it.
We also offer Creative Direction—an hour of one-on-one time designed to help you clarify your creative dreams and take the next steps forward.
That was sincerely the best use of my money and time- I will definitely schedule another in the future. To have the collaborative brainstorming, thoughtful questions, and ability to help me listen to myself—what a gift!
2.
Andy and I went to NYC for four days in June, and I’m still smiling about how wonderful our time was.
Andy is a buyer for a family-owned grocery store in D.C. and attends food shows to try new products and connect with suppliers, vendors, and wholesalers. His boss generously offered to cover my airfare and booked us a hotel in Midtown two days before the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show (that’s actually the name!) started.
Honestly, every bit of our trip felt like a highlight, but the shortlist has to include an incredible tasting menu at Catch, browsing Chelsea Market, walking around Little Island, taking the High Line to get everywhere and snapping pics for garden inspo, grabbing last-minute cheap tickets to a show, stunning worship at Good Shepherd New York, and being treated to plate after plate of incredible Italian food at Michael’s of Brooklyn by Michael himself. Being married to a food buyer has its perks!
Andy’s boss snapped this pic of us while we weren’t looking. 😍
The Fancy Food Show was an insane experience. These two videos capture it well: thousands of food vendors from all over the world handing out samples.
Look at all this cheese!
I think I’ll ask for a cake made out of cheese for my 40th birthday.
Even sitting at the airport for hours due to a delayed flight was enjoyable. I stole one of Chloe’s watercolor postcards and tucked it in my backpack for an NYC artist date and worked on it at LaGuardia in front of this mesmerizing water feature.
3.
I recently finished Shark Heart (mostly beautiful and intriguing but occasionally horrifying) and the audio version of Summer Romance (a satisfying love story that is so much more than a love story—also, it’s closed-door, which I appreciate). I’m nearly finished with Saving Ruby King. Next up: The Paris Novel.
I texted this quote from Shark Heart to my friend Jillian, who responded, “omg I wrote down that exact quote!”
“And then Lewis caved, as usual, to the chatter of resistance, the recitation of his very important responsibilities, the weighty things that would require all his life force, attention, and creative energy, why he should not do the thing that was, deep down, most important to him.”
OOF. I need to write that on an index card and tape it above my desk.
You can catch up on all the books I’ve read lately here. Controversial opinions: I expected more from Real Americans, and Long Island was occasionally great but ultimately maddening, and I wish I had picked up another book instead. Both books maintained a certain distance from the reader but offered just enough intrigue to keep you engaged.
4.
Aren’t we all secretly wondering what everyone is cooking this summer? I recently hosted a friend for the weekend and was proud of myself for keeping our food simple and affordable. Other than getting gelato, we didn’t eat out. I served taco salads with beef, black beans, cheese, pickled red onions, fresh corn, and tortilla chips; turkey, cheese, and lettuce sandwiches on potato rolls and orzo salad with bell peppers, cucumbers, red onion, and feta; and my favorite summer breakfast for the past ten years: strawberry rhubarb crisp bars served cold with Greek yogurt (Fage 2% all the way). For dessert, we had popcorn and Trader Joe's dark chocolate peanut butter cups. *Chef’s kiss.*
5.
I’m leading a writing workshop at my local library next week! Eee!! Come if you can!
Okay, that’s it for now! I want to know: what book disappointed you this year? What on earth are you cooking these days? And would you eat a cake made out of cheese?
Registration goes up to $139 on August 1. Take this as your sign to register now!
Don’t feel like you have a creative life? Join us. 😊
Fancy Food Show is peak spouse job perks 🔥 that photo of him looking at you needs to be framed.
That picture of you two is the cutest!!