Issue #61: Let Me (Re)Introduce Myself
Plus an exciting announcement of what's to come
There are quite a few new subscribers here, and I wanted to do a little reintroduction; plus, I’m adding something new to this newsletter space that I’m pretty excited about, so read on.
I’m an elder millennial on the cusp of turning 40. I love good TV shows, bad reality TV shows, savory snacks, cold beers, and group texts. I prefer mornings over late nights. My happy place is by a fireplace with a library book and coffee in hand and my dog on my lap. I love being an aunt. I have traveled to many places worldwide, but now I mostly enjoy exploring the PNW with my husband and dog.
A Throwback Nod to MySpace (the O.G. Social Media)
I remember setting up a MySpace account and trying to figure out how to customize my profile. My profile name was “ineverwearsocks.” You could have a profile song, and I changed mine as often as possible. I don’t miss MySpace, but I loved the weird questionnaires you could fill out. After seeing
do one of these on her Substack, I added it to my list, and here we are.
Nickname: Bruiser (but it is thankfully only used by a handful of college friends)
Most listened to song of 2024: Down Bad by Taylor Swift
Last beverage: Almond milk latte
Most dreamed-about travel destination: Scandinavia or Mt. Kilimanjaro
Last phone call: the vet called to check on the dog last Thursday
Chunky or smooth peanut butter: Smooth 80% of the time, but I love the chunky from Peanut Butter Co.
Word that you cannot stand: Segue - make it make sense that it’s spelled like that
Last song you listened to: the Dawes cover of I Love L.A.
Favorite vegetable: depends on the season, but right now it’s Brussels sprouts
Last time you cried: there were some tears when I saw the small businesses getting featured ads during the Grammy’s and the firefighters handing out the last award of the night
Have you dated someone twice: Nope
Have you ever been cheated on: Yep, my first real boyfriend was a turd
What are your three favorite colors: Green, White, and Yellow
Have you lost someone special: Yes, hasn’t everyone?
Have you met someone who changed you in the past month: My Friday happy hour group is always a mood booster. I love having a recurring appointment on the calendar with women who are pretty incredible and there are constantly new participants that join the group.
How many kids do you want: None for me
Ideal pet situation: a farm filled with animals, but right now, our dog is a one-animal in the house kinda guy
Who was your first best friend: Kate G, who lived down the street, and I love that social media allows us to stay connected today. No one sends better hype mail than that wonderful woman.
What did you do for your last birthday: Saw Billy Joel at T-Mobile Park with friends
What time did you wake up today: 5:00 AM (not ideal, but I watched TV in bed for a while)
Favorite pasta shape: Cavatappi
Name something you CANNOT wait for: Reputation (Taylor’s Version) and my March ski trip
Last time you saw your mother: last fall, when she came to visit for a long weekend
Most visited webpage: it’s probably a tie between the Seattle Public Library site and New York Magazine
Zodiac sign: Gemini (and everything about that makes sense to me)
Most used condiment: I’m in a mustard phase
What are you craving right now: the Detroit-style pizza we made on Friday night and cheese curds with hot honey and ranch
Piercings and tattoos: None
Something irritating you right now: the news
Who was your first concert: Billy Joel (clearly I’m a lifelong fan)
What’s the weather like: it’s snowing in Seattle this AM (probably why I’m craving hot comfort food
Favorite month of the year: May
Texts or phone calls: Texts
Last Costco purchase: Yoggies, heartworm medicine for the dog, a hair dryer, golden kiwis, a giant block of feta cheese, Graza olive oil, almond milk, rolled oats, and vitamin D supplements
This Space Gives Me a Place to Create
As my main job, I have been writing, consulting, and doing freelance work for six years. It’s been a roller coaster, but one thing I missed more than anything was having a space to share personal stories and real-time stuff I love. That’s where this newsletter came into play. No company expects clicks, and I’m not working on maximizing SEO and catering to the Google gods. Instead, it’s a space to share things I would at a happy hour date with friends like my monthly recommendations.
I can also deep dive into random topics that pique my interest and have a place to share that research. It gives purpose to the black holes I find myself in online.
And sometimes, I ramble on about whatever is in my brain.
The Exciting New Addition
I’m excited to add a section to this newsletter focusing on travel. In 2019, we took off on a year-long adventure around the world and started a website to share the places we spent time in. That website is updated constantly with new destinations and relevant information. I wanted a place to share more personal stories and interesting things happening in the travel space. So, I created…
This will be sent out once a month featuring one country/destination. I’ll share my experiences and places I want to shout about from the mountaintops. I’ll include movies, books, or additional internet links to help you fall in love with the destination and get some vital background information if you’re planning a visit. I’ve already got a notebook page full of ideas, so I cannot wait to start.
You will automatically get these additional emails if you are subscribed to The Cozy Chill. If you aren’t subscribed, it’s free to do so, and they will drop it in your email inbox.
I appreciate every click, scroll, share, like, comment, and subscription. And thank you for getting through my slightly self-indulgent post.
Cheers!
Steph