The What’s Up Roundup #3: The Search For Balance

THE WHAT’S UP ROUNDUP #3: THE SEARCH FOR BALANCE

Hello, McFly |9.26.24

Not Fade Away

We live for our families. We work for a living. Where do we live in all of that? A few years ago, reaching a crisis point, I was brought to a discovery: I needed a hobby. The grind-all-the-time mindset that had started as a badge of honor had left me burnt out and disappearing, much like the McFly siblings above. In my journey to incorporate just-for-me joy into my every day, I discovered that having activities I that were mine alone made me a better mom, a more creative writer, and a better coworker. In my most recent blog, I explore how hobbies aren’t just a “nice-to-have” experience—they’re critical to our identity and sense of balance.

READ THE BLOG

Homage To A Quirky, Effortlessly Cool Queen

The Great Kate

Thesis: The early aughts were truly lightning in the bottle for the fashion world. My objectivity here is questionable, admittedly. I started at Lucky magazine in early 2005 and it was one of the most formidable experiences of my career, where I met so many of the people who still hold such influence (and respect) in my life today.

For me, nothing captured that moment and its whimsical optimism more than Kate Spade. Her designs felt like they were pulled out of Willy Wonka’s fashion house, yet they never seemed to be trying too hard. When Kate Spade died by suicide in 2018 it was a gut punch. A life that tapped into an otherworldly enchantment, cut short.

Recently I found myself absorbed in this engaging, sad, nostalgic Wall Street Journal piece about Spade and the struggles her eponymous brand, now owned by Tapestry, has had since it was sold shortly before her death, and after. It’s a great read on the balance of honoring a brand’s legacy while evolving it for the future, and if you have a moment I really recommend it.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Unbalancing Act

Blessed Mabon, A Few Days Late

The fall equinox came and went, and I was still trying to find time to put together this newsletter, much less celebrate. The irony is not lost on me: The day we honor the earth’s balance, when darkness and light are in equal measure, and I am literally losing my juggling act. A few years ago, as I started following The Wheel Of The Year, Mabon quickly became my favorite Sabbat (outside of Yule, which is my birthday, no gifts please, ok if you insist). I love that it is a call to the coziness of home, that it is a time to celebrate the harvest of our hard work, to see what all of our efforts have wrought and to feel peaceful. I love the way the sunlight gets so golden, and the smell of a home where something has been cooking on the stove all day.

Apples are a symbol of Mabon, and in celebration I wanted to share with you one of my absolute favorite recipes given to me by a beloved friend who has since passed. The first time I had it was when we threw a baby shower for my unborn godson, who started college this fall. Every time I bake it it reminds me of my friend and the warmth of that time, and it inspires me to slow down, to savor this moment, and know that it will go by quickly. If you are inclined to make it, I hope that your first bite is enjoyed while you’re surrounded by friends and laughter.

LET’S GET COOKING!

I HOPE THIS EMAIL FINDS YOU ZIPPING UP YOUR FAVORITE HOODIE,

JULIA