Greetings Earthlings, Today’s subject line comes from a conversation I had with my son, Owen. He asked, “In places without enough water, why don’t people drink the rain?” With my ear tuned to beautiful phrases, I knew Drink the Rain was one such phrase—and today’s subject line.
While The Letter is arriving too late to act as a gift guide, it’s never too late to pour you a glass of my favorite things and suggest you drink up—like the rain.
Here are some thoughts and things (in no particular order):
To know me is to know… I move my furniture almost weekly.
With 346 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5-star reviews, Cliff Tan is onto something. He’s unstuffy—an architect who offers furniture layout solutions and feng shui guidance to the common folk.
I follow him on IG. I’ve ordered his book. I love his vibe, and his arguments are compelling. “If your back is to the door, someone might kill you, and you won’t see it coming.”
Here, he talks about the placement of your desk.
I wouldn’t mind owning this dress.
Check out Krista Lavrusik.
If you’re like me, you’ll hate her until you realize her style is impressive (and then you’ll hate her again). From then on, it’ll be love-hate—just accept it.
Her 333 challenge got me. She takes three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes and creates as many outfits as she can with them. The number is usually 17. Add accessories like a scarf, hat, and earrings, and the outfits exponentiate.
Go now, pre-order Drawn, a book by my friend and design partner, Craig Frazier.
Craig is the most prolific and generous person I know, and we just so happen to work very well together (though I’m neither prolific nor generous :).
While I don’t own it, I would like to—Alex Mill Fair Isle Cardigan.
Order this book on ADHD in teens. My copy is on its way. What about yours?
Win the week. I first heard the phrase on Smartless when hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett interviewed the great Steph Curry.
In talking about his coach’s approach to a season, he said: “There must be a level of detail to how you approach the year. For us, we have to win the week. That's what we call it. So, however many games there are that week, it gives you a singular focus on what you need to do to win the week. We need to have a winning record every week. And that's how you get the little bite-size motivation for a nine-month journey with many emotional roller coaster rides throughout the year.”
I wrote down the phrase: Win the week. Like, drink the rain, it zing. Turns out, there’s a book with a similar title—Winning the Week. You bet I ordered mine. Maybe you want to as well?
PS: Win the Week will always sound better than Winning the Week, but nobody asked me.
This photo of my mom, dad, brother, and me—one of only a few, as they divorced when I was very young. I have no memories of them together.
Unsurprisingly, I created the same reality for mainly Emma without realizing it—which happens when we procreate without awareness of where we came from and how it will impact who comes after us.
Lesson learned. Now, my job is to help my kids break the cycle they may unknowingly recreate. How? Awareness. Talking about where you came from, how it impacts your parenting, and how it’s their choice whether they want to continue the cycle. Whatever it is, do it with your eyes open. 👀
A note from John on what the holidays mean to man on Death Row:
The Holidays are to me just another day in any year. My smile is how others see the Holidays, I simply give others the respect on their beliefs. Lonely is not a feeling I understand. Always live your life enjoying each day in what gives you happiness./////. Happy Holidays to you, kids, family and friends. Again Simone, my joy comes from others who see Christmas in a spiritual way. J.
I’ve always wanted a mug warmer, (said a privileged woman living in Mill Valley). I don’t have one, but someday I will. If you need a last-minute gift for someone you love—you’re welcome.
One more last-minute gift for my Northern California friends—a Heath Ceramics bud vase (okay, any vase from Heath). Iconic design, simple, sweet, and universally loved. Stop into their store (Sausalito, SF, and LA) and make someone’s (holi) day.
Finally, a shout-out to my dearest oldest friend, Amy, a rad woman and kick-ass farmer. For years, she’s grown grapes for Dave Phinney (The Prisoner, Orin Swift, Savage & Cooke Distillery, etc.)
This particular Chardonnay is her first from a vineyard they planted a few years ago in Santa Barbara. While it’s out of my price range, it may be right in your sweet spot. Drink up!
Finally, finally, one of my favorite projects—writing The DuMOL Dirt with my design partner Craig Fraizer—for DuMOL Winery.
Issue 04: Anatomy of a Bottle just dropped. The issue is just as it sounds: a look at the lesser-noticed–though-no-less-important details of the bottle and its compadres—everything but the wine. Previous issues include: Soil, Fog, and Harvest.
For the uninitiated: The DuMOL Dirt is a quarterly publication with an approachable view into winemaking, written by me, and designed by Craig, as we learn from DuMOL’s winemaker.
We’ve reached the end of Issue 115. I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay. I’ve certainly enjoyed having you. Until next week… Simone
And, of course, Happy Holidays to all, and all a good night. ❤️
“If your back is to the door, someone might kill you, and you won’t see it coming.”
This is a great point. I currently have my back to the door and it bothers me, but it means my window is directly in front of me with the way my desk is currently set up. Otherwise, my back would be to my window! And I don't want that either. Also, someone might come out of my window and try to kill me and I won't see it coming. Feng Shui is stressful.
P.S. Your dad had the coolest hair/beard combo. And I’m convinced you traveled back in time to stand next to him in that photo. You're holding yourself!
Happy Holidays!!
This hit the spot again!
I loved Steph’s interview on Smartless. Win the week. Perfect! Thanks for bringing attention to that.
Happy Holidays 🥳