This week, I’m thinking about gift guides. Last year I did a little round up of all the things I wanted but didn’t buy. It was cute and I was going to do that again this year, but honestly I didn’t want to make the collages. I hate silo-ing. And also, my list wasn’t as long as I expected. So instead, I’m going to share some hyper fixations.

More importantly, here is a list of some places to donate to: I love picking random projects from Donors Choose, CHiPS, The Bail Project, National Diaper Bank, Immigrant Defense Project, The Birthday Party Project.

NUMBER 1: I’ve been looking for a new console. I’ve had mine for many many many years and it is serviceable and fine, but it needs to be sanded and refinished and I don’t really love it enough for all of that. So every now and then I start to look at “consoles” ”credenzas” ”side boards” that could comfortably hold the art books and photo albums that are currently there. Of course the one I fell in love with is no longer made. OF COURSE.

Can I even confidently say that it works for my space? Eh, I am not certain! But that has not stopped me from turning into Gollum trying to find one. Could I get it made? Probably? But it would probably cost a small fortune, especially considering these details.

I lurk on every resale site to try to find a used one. Am I partially writing about this in hopes that someone will say “Leonor! I know a place you can find one?” Not no!

NUMBER 2: A tall girl’s plight in this world is finding good pants (perhaps this is also the plight of a short girl but I have never known that struggle). In my heart of hearts, I know I can find a dupe for these pants, BUT working my way through pants to try to do that would surely kill my soul.

The Levi’s Ribcage Wide Leg Corduroy Jeans are simply perfect. The right amount of stretch, perfect shade of navy blue, wide, but not too wide. I am always looking for them on resale sites so I can have a pair for every day and I lurk trying to find a pair in my size, hopeful about one day finding them in a different color.

The other pants that have truly changed the game which I scoured resale sites to get a backup pair (I was successful). The Avery Wide Leg Trouser Pants from Anthro. There are other iterations of these pants including both pleated and linen, but none that fall as beautifully as these. I love them. I am always chasing the high of trying on these pants for the first time and seeing that they were long enough. Real ones know.

NUMBER 3: 2025 joined the last few years as one where I could not stop thinking about getting new sunglasses. I’d inherited a green pair of Bottega sunglasses which I loved and wore for years until they cracked on the top of the frame. I then swiftly replaced them with a pair I found on ebay, the same exact style but in blue.

But after nearly a decade of them being in nearly every photo, I’d decided it was time for a change, but wowwwwww it was harder than I anticipated. I knew I wanted something big and opaque. If I was going somewhere with any sunglasses, I was trying them on. Luxury, discount, street vendors, mom and pop shops, if you had sunglasses, I was going to pick through them.

The one Friday in September, I was meeting a friend and OF COURSE I was early and I passed by Fabulous Fanny’s. I tried on nearly 20 pairs of sunglasses, maybe more? And then I found the winners. A deep shade of purple, large dark lenses, even a cute little hint of a cat eye. Did I flinch at the price? Absolutely. But after a hunt like this, I had to just do it.

I am sure 2026 will have some fun new things to obsess about and really, if you know how to source that console - CALL ME.

This week in reading. . .
I was very excited to read The Ten Year Affair. There was so much hype! And having finished it. . .I am not sure how I feel. I spent so much time thinking about the craft and writing process. As soon as I finished, I found this which was helpful in scratching like 1% of the mental itches. Sarah MacLean is a romance legend, but I’ve never read her work since it is mostly historical which is not my thing. Her first contemporary book, These Summer Storms was fun - a billionaire dies and an inheritance drama ensues. Toxic mom and sibling relationships. Hot dude who worked for the main character’s father.

In related news, my library card EXPIRED. How did I find this out? I went to put yet another book on hold and COULD. NOT.

​This week in Good Hang with Amy Poehler. . .
Queen Hayley Williams and Amy bonded over being short and I laughed out loud at Amy marveling at tall people, “I don’t know how tall people don’t tip over”. Amy, I have fallen my entire life! Clearly I have my height to blame. Amy also told Hayley how she loves to clean and organize because it quiets her mind. They talked so much about singing and music and it was really interesting. Amy did a vocal warmup at the top of the episode and then she and Hayley did a cool down at the end. This is like the fourth episode where Amy geeks out about singing. Someone invite us both to karaoke!

​This week in TV. . .
I do not care how the show resolves itself - watching Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys play off each other in The Beast In Me is so delicious.

Yes, yes, I started the horny hockey show. I kind of can’t believe they made it? Evan Ross Katz asked the showrunner alllllll the questions.

​​This week in a gif. . .

This week in a newsletter. . .
This character study of Julia Robert’s character from My Best Friend’s Wedding brought me much joy and delight.

Per beloved Roya’s newsletter, choose your moon. Like Roya, I’d like to be the strawberry moon - keep you on your toes if I am going to be sweet or tart on any given day, you know?

This week in google searches. . .

This week in one good thing. . .
Proofs from Zu’s picture day. How will I ever choose?!?!?

​This week in a quote. . .
“Taking a perfectly good tree and dragging it into your baseboard heated apartment until it molts needles and sap everywhere and then flinging it out onto the street pretending that shit is regular garbage.” - Mary H.K. Choi

​This week in artsy stuff and photo things. . .
These dark and lush photos of forests by Michelle Blancke.

Sometimes you just need to watch someone icing some cookies and making them pretty.

This week in last week’s most popular link. . .
Samin Nosrat’s go-to “I don’t know what to cook” meal was your top click last week.

​This week on the internet. . .
Amazing journalism - an interview with Willem Dafoe’s penis stunt double.

LOL the Times discovered junk journaling.

T Magazine asserting Gen X supremacy.

This interview with Helen Fielding of Bridget Jones fame.

I love Padma and while I typically loathe a fluff interview, getting her daughter to interview her was actually quite cute.

Anna Holmes on her mother’s memory loss and her own.

me, not translating,
Leonor

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