Buongiorno, readers. Anyone got any plans next Tuesday?
This month I consumed two important works of media:
Let me start by saying Martha Stewart is the absolute blueprint to me. She is the coolest person I have known to exist in modern history and I think she’s one of the most important people alive today. I grew up extremely influenced by Martha through my mom who subscribed to her magazines, watched her show, bought her books, and built a home as beautiful and creative as anything I saw Martha do. I wanted ten more hours of this film — there was a lot missing, and I agree with Martha’s criticism that there was too much emphasis on her trial and incarceration. (She said “It was not that important. The trial and the actual incarceration was less than two years out of an 83-year life. I considered it a vacation, to tell you the truth.” !!!!) Her life is fascinating and her work ethic and focus are unmatched. (She hates waste, inefficiency, avoidance, impatience, people who think they can do more than they can do, not paying attention to details, and people who are mean just to be mean.)
If I love Martha for her example as a professional and careerist, I honestly love Ina Garten for her example as a happily married woman. Besides she and her husband being mutually obsessed with each other (the dream) (though for them it was hard-earned), Ina has been a blueprint for me as a shop owner. I’ve studied the way she purchased, operated, and grew Barefoot Contessa, which was originally a fine foods store in East Hampton, and tried to take lessons to apply to my own shops. Honestly at my core, I am just a shop girl. I love shopping myself and I love SEEING MY shoppers, knowing I am providing an experience to them that maybe offers escape, fantasy, inspiration, a getaway, a little treat.
For me though, it’ll always be Martha.
My goal in November is to STAY HOME. Have you seen those memes that are like “every time I leave the house I spend $50.” That’s absolutely me. I need to reel in the spending and focus on paying off the loans I took out to open Ceremony in April, and besides that I need to get mentally focused for the next legislative session in January which will hit me like a Mack truck when it comes.
Each legislature lasts for two years, and January will mark the start of my last biennium. I’m now a senior member of the Nebraska Legislature which feels horrible because I am only just starting to understand how things work in there. Term limits were a huge mistake! Can we at least extend it to three terms?
Honestly I’d stay in there as long as they let me. This work has taken a decade off my life but it’s extremely fulfilling to me.
In September I went to Northern Ireland with a delegation of seven Americans as part of the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) program, sponsored by the US Department of State. The trip took us to Belfast, Armagh (the birthplace of my third-great-grandfather, and where his nephew was tragically killed during the conflict), and Derry, where I had the opportunity to meet with local political leaders, engage in discussions about community-building and economic growth, and learn more about the region’s complex history and post-conflict resolution efforts. On the last night of the trip, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner at the Parliament Buildings, where I had the honor of delivering a final address on behalf of our group. I shared the lessons we’ve learned about how important it is to keep our State Department and tradition of U.S. diplomacy in the cause of peace strong. I have serious criticisms about U.S. foreign policy, which I’ve always been direct and vocal about, but seeing the positive impact our country’s diplomatic efforts have made in Northern Ireland was a reminder of how vital it is to fiercely protect and strengthen that tradition.
My boyfriend Bobby and I spent a few days last week in Santa Cruz where we saw Alison’s Halo, a bucket list band for us (Sunshy is my favorite song of theirs), and Panchiko (fascinating how they got rediscovered). In the last week we also saw A Place to Bury Strangers in Atlanta and Jesus and Mary Chain and Psychedelic Furs in Omaha. Two weeks of great shows, plus catching up with old faraway friends.
I spent Halloween doing endless laundry and deep cleaning my freezer. Ash went as a Vault Dweller from the game/show Fallout. Probably spent 3 months making the costume, it was perfect.
Tell me why I woke up to JD Vance picking a fight with me??? Bro I am not the one.
Riley Gaines too. Haha
Lisa Milroy - Personal Items, 1984
Tabasco the Bull
Sarah Pater - Cocktail with cherry (vacation view), 2020
Patrick Puckett - Orange Dress, 2020
I recently bought a bunch of this printable water-soluble fabric stabilizer to experiment with creating some custom embroidery patterns. You may know that 10-20 years ago, hand embroidery was my bread and butter and paid the bills, and I am noticing a resurgence in it on social media and want to get back in the mix to create some patterns for new kits. So stand by for that… (And maybe there’s a better way than using these printable sheets? Still researching.)
This was definitely a pay-over-time purchase, but I impulse bought a Diane Von Furstenberg jumpsuit that my friend Jenny sent me (it has crossword puzzle print, it’s for you!). When it arrived it was like oh shit…I unfortunately need this in every color now. It’s one of the most flattering things I’ve ever worn, I think. I wore it to the annual event for the Nebraska Democratic Party and I’ve gotta concede it was kind of a showstopper. Paid for itself already in compliments.
Repurchased this Joanna Vargas Vitamin C face wash. It smells incredible, makes my skin soft, and then I skip the vitamin C serum. It’s a treat and only buy it maybe once a year but it’s definitely my favorite cleanser.
We carry the cult favorite Hobonichi Techo planners at Five Nine now. I picked up a pistachio one for myself and I’m committed to using it in 2025!!!! I will do it and finally be organized!
May be the last person to get on the Colette Pants bandwagon, but on it I am. Maybe they are basic, I’m not sure, but the cropped ones fit me perfectly. I have a wool camel pair, a black denim pair, and a white linen pair.
Thanks for reading. I am first and foremost a shopgirl. The best way to support me/my family/my staff, help me pay my rent, and validate the work that fulfills me is by supporting my businesses Five Nine and Ceremony. I’ve been a small business owner here in my neighborhood for 20 years and I’m so grateful to get to do this. It’s really a dream come true every day. Free Palestine, go vote, take care.