Friends, family, complete strangers—hello! Today’s issue is short. Breaks are important for all of us. Plus, cadence is a principle I write by.
Tonight, my dad and stepmom are being honored at an event for an art school in San Francisco. The gala raises money for the school’s scholarship fund, which I need to tap to afford the tickets to the gala. However, as an offspring of the dynamic duo, the kids and I are invited at no cost (well, at someone’s cost ;).
“The event will highlight the tremendous impact this dynamic duo has had on the cultural life of the Bay Area, the state, and the country.”
Not too shabby, Dad and Carla. The cool-parent award goes to you!
As the only four kids (my kids, my brother’s kids), amongst 250 adults, there will be as many Cokes and Sprites as the kids can handle and even more questions from people they’ve never seen nor care to see. “How old are you now?” “Are you proud of your grandparents?” “Will you go to art school?” The kids will smile, nod, and wish they were anyplace else. Dutifully, Emma has agreed to be an art-school kid, while Owen wishes his grandparents were donors to a prominent Florida college with no art and all football. Keep dreaming, kiddo.
Emma keeps saying, “I’m going to a gala!” so there’s hope this will go well. We’re bringing copious art supplies for those boring moments during speeches—after all, it is an art school—and Owen has a computer in his pocket.
Next week, I’ll be sure to regale you with photos. Until then, you’ll just have to imagine a frenzied mom with her babies—all dressed up with someplace to go.
The non-professional photo to whet your whistle.
There’s an App for That
I discovered a new app, and I’ve used it a whopping once. I’m in. Yuka scans the bar codes of your grocery and beauty items and gives them a score based on their ingredients. It’s good enough to recommend.
I’d heard Oatly! was questionable in its ingredients. Still, I’ve been drinking it. Today, with my new app in hand, I scanned two options to see which was better for me. The proof is in the pudding.
The app suggests more healthful alternatives. For example, in place of Oatly!, they suggest Malk. I bought the milk.
You better believe I scanned everything and made choices I wouldn’t have otherwise.
With no brand or outside influence, the app touts itself as a neutral party in your healthful choices. I’m sold!
Add It, Then Remove It
Warning: Less than one person will find this product recommendation helpful.
I ordered this nail polish remover from Amazon. (Stay with me.) Its title had enough “natural, free, and mineral” buzzwords to convince me I was getting something halfway healthy for my nailbeds. The 60,600 positive reviews didn’t hurt, either.
To my utter delight, this bottle of something removes nail polish incredibly well—FAR better than the toxic stuff I’ve enjoyed for 30 years.
Add to cart. 🛒
PS: Its Yuka score is 78, proving it’s a goodie.
Voice for No Reason
I changed Siri’s accent to Australian. While we play call-and-response in the car, the kids and I get a kick out of how she pronounces words in a wonky-to-us accent. It’s a hoot.
Giv' it uh go, mate!
On your iPhone: Settings > Siri > Language.
Can I Get a Fuck Yeah?
In an interview with Anderson Cooper and Rick Rubin, Rick says: “I have no technical ability.” Anderson Cooper asks: “So what are you being paid for?” Rick responds: “The confidence that I have in my taste and my ability to express what I feel.”
👊
With love and gratitude, Simone
Owen wants to go to IMG Academy huh?
How cool that they’re being recognized! Clearly art runs in the fam. Enjoy!! 🎨