FALL IS HERE!

WE REALLY DID MAKE IT

Helloooo! We did it! We made it to another weekend!!!

I don’t know about y’all, but here in Chicago, we are fully in fall mode. (I did have breakfast with a dear friend the other day who pointed out that I’m still not wearing socks. But it’s time to dust off your cozy supplies, because the season is nigh!)

A couple quick notes, aka reasons to email me:

• Fall recipes: If you want to contribute to the upcoming fall recipe roundup, send a link over!!!!! 

• Book club is coming up! This month, we’re reading Kate Stayman-London’s wonderful Fang Fiction. We will meet to discuss it on Sunday, October 27 at noon Central time. Email me if you’d like a zoom link! 

• I’m always taking your delights!!! Send pics!

  • In any ot these instances, the address to email is gretamjohnsen@gmail.com.

A non-sponsored endorsement

This might be kind of weird to write about, but I love these water bags. My mom and I first learned about them from a massage therapist more than 20 years ago, and our households have had them ever since. They come in a variety of sizes and you can actually lay on them, which means the extra big ones are extra awesome. My favorites are the minis, partly because they come in a two-pack, partly because they fit perfectly around my feet or under my pillow. 

I use these in all seasons, hot or cold.  I’ve brought these things with me to Hawaii in August (cold), and Montreal in March (hot). They’re so lovely for chilly toes or sticky necks, and they make fun, sloshy, creepy surprises if you forget them in bed and someone else happens upon them. They do start to slowly leak eventually, but I’ve never had a catastrophe with them -- though I do recommend constant vigilance around cats. 

Just the other night, I thought, is it time to switch from ice bag to hot bag? The answer was not yet, but any second now, I’ll be ready!!!

Along this note, I’d love to know: what’s the winter cozy thing you can’t live without? - 

Homework from Allison Raskin

Allison is a WONDERFUL human. I first had the pleasure of meeting her at an event for her first book, Overthinking about You: Navigating Romantic Relationships When You Have Anxiety, Ocd, And/Or Depression. Now she’s back with I Do (I Think): Conversations about Modern Marriage. Allison brings her whole self to everything she does. She’s smart, she’s generous, she’s FUNNY, and she’s asking questions about relationships that a lot of us would like answers for! Here’s her homework for y’all: 

DO: Tell people why you love them

Hello, Gretagrammers!

I’ll admit it’s been a tough few months for me. After six weeks of caring for my mom as she battled CJD, she passed away on September 23. The whole experience of losing her has shown me the importance of never missing an opportunity to tell people not just that you love them but why you love them. Get specific with those compliments!  And if a random nice thought crosses your mind, make sure to share it out loud with whoever it was about.

You don’t want to find yourself in a position of wishing you had said certain things before it was too late. So think of this as your reminder to say it all now. And then again later.

xoxo,

Allison

I TOLD YOU SHE’S AMAZING! To celebrate the release of her new book, I’m giving away two copies: one to a lucky GRETAGRAM paid subscribers, and one to the first person who upgrades to a paid membership today! As you know, all posts on here are totally paywall-free so everyone can read everything I write. If you can support my work, I would really appreciate it!!!!! In addition to my undying gratitude, you’ll also be entered into every giveaway I do. (Congrats to Cassandra and Lora for winning tickets to the upcoming Jenny Slate event I’m moderating!) 

I’ll do the drawing first thing Monday, so if you want to be in on it, upgrade before then. 

That’s it from me! Talk to you next week! 

P.S. Do you like this email?! Spread the delight and forward it to a friend! (Or spam an enemy, lol!)