January 23, 2026
1. We found a place that baked excellent turnovers and strudels and I’m in pastry heaven. Unfortunately they are far far away but I accidentally bought enough to freeze for later so we’ll be good for a little while.
Helping folks: Aji shared some critical needs fundraisers here.
January 16, 2026
1. A fundraiser to help support immigrant parents & families in south Minneapolis who are facing hardship—and in some cases eviction—because they can’t go to work. From Nicole Chung.
2. This individual has really been going through it. We contributed weeks ago but his campaign hasn’t gotten any traction. Can you pitch in a bit?
A story
The Teleporting Disaster Fairy
by Rati Mehrotra in Uncanny Magazine
January 9, 2026
1. I sure wish I had any knack for painting at all. These beautiful plastic-free watercolors from Beam Paint are calling my name but for gifts because they’d be wasted on me.
Challenges this week:
January 2, 2026
1. We saved the best visits for last. The most soothing family and friends visits were this week and I can feel the tension drain out of me when we’re with them. Much needed breaks before I dive into the frenetic pace of 2026 at the office. (Ugh.)
2. I’ve been brainstorming merch for JB’s shop and have found a couple possible vendors for their art. I’m planning to order samples this month, hopefully that helps us figure out what might make sense for the online shop vs the tabling sales.
December 26, 2025
1. Our local burger place does all compostable everything and their answer for straws is pasta straws and they work beautifully. They don’t disintegrate while you’re using them, hold their form, and they’re compostable.
December 19, 2025
1. I’ve finally cleared up the growing mountain of cardboard boxes in the garage, making it feel nearly roomy and spacious by comparison. That felt like a low effort fix. I need to make some decisions about where to store other supplies that are currently very cluttery where they landed during unpacking.
2. A treat: two free books from Ilona Andrews.
3. PiC built on my progress in the garage clearing out more stuff to hand down to friend’s kids and it looks so much better! Between this and my semi-obsessive organization efforts inside the house, there’s almost some order to be chaos.
Helping folks:
A small, disabled family navigating long term unemployment.
December 12, 2025
1. PiC brought home soft, delicious and free chocolate chip walnut cookies!
2. I met a friend’s 3 month old puppy and it was also delicious 😋 snuggly and sleepy and puppy breath which is both wonderful and stinky. It was the shot of puppy therapy I desperately needed.
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