For the past five years, I’ve rolled up to my parents’ house on Thanksgiving with my specialty: a chai masala pumpkin pie. Velvety with the perfect sweet-to-spice ratio, the pie makes the whole house smell like a mug of chai tea. Every time, at least one family member declares it “the best pumpkin pie I’ve…
Read moreLost in Symptom-land: How to Live Life When Doctors Don’t Know What’s Wrong with You
The only thing worst than hearing a terrible diagnosis is “all your tests look normal.” Let me start this by saying that I’m an English teacher, not a doctor. Literally none of this is medical advice. Last fall I came home from school on a Friday, and I felt like I’d been hit by a…
Read moreWhich Jeans Are Cool Now?
An infinite quandary. By the lovely Grace Farris. P.S. A fall makeover and cozy pants. 0 COMMENTS
Read moreHow to Make Home a Haven (Plus, a Huge Sale)
How do you wind down at night? Lately, I’ve been watching funny movies and reading gripping books while wrapped in our softest winter sheets. Brooklinen, the Brooklyn-based bedding brand that we’ve loved and used in our home for a decade, is kicking off their Black Friday Sale by offering 20% off site-wide. Here are our…
Read moreThe Getup: Clean Textured Layers
Whether you’re heading home for the holidays or heading out for a nice evening, the right fall outfit is comfortable, easy, and effortlessly cool. Special thanks to Thursday Boot Co. for believing in Primer’s mission of affordable, quality style and sponsoring this post. Donegal Wool Blend Car Coat Gap The Donegal wool blend car coat…
Read more9 Reader Comments on Kindness
With all the exhaustion that comes with being in my third trimester and running after our two-year-old, compounded by the heavy headlines in the news, I’ve found life to be overwhelming. So, I’ve been ending my days with small pleasures: chewy cookies, tender essays, and wonderful reader comments. Here are nine that made my heart…
Read moreGift Guide #4: Your Outdoorsy Sister Whose Texts Make You Laugh as You’re Walking Down the Street.
Bow earrings (big, small) because she is a gift to this world, from $22. Or an initial necklace charm in a beautiful font, $45. A voice-y, flavor-packed cookbook you know she’ll enjoy, like Tenderheart, More Is More, or Bake Smart. From $24. Ribbed half zip to wear for running, biking, traveling, weekend lounging, and just…
Read more8 Mashed Potato Mix-ins (What Would You Add?)
My hot take: mashed potatoes are the most important thing on the Thanksgiving plate… If you’re waiting for me to make a culinary case, I don’t have one. I have only my undying gratitude for the creamy, fluffy side dish that casts a glow of comfort over the entire dinner plate, whether it happens to…
Read moreShopping for Holiday Decor? I’m Sharing 24 of My Favorite Decorations in 2023
The holiday season is here, and I’m doing things differently for our 2023 holiday decor. Since we moved into our home in 2020, I’ve been “going big” on the holiday decorations. It’s the only holiday I “decor” for, and I’ve been thoughtfully adding pieces to our holiday displays and building up our collection for a…
Read moreGift Guide #2: Your Mom (or Mother Figure) Who Reads Poetry and Plays Nerf Basketball With Your Kids.
Cashmere neckwarmer for cold winter days, $88, or this $15 Heattech version. A striped vase filled with bodega flowers, $72. These are cute, too. Calabrian chili oil — smoothy and spicy with three kinds of chiles — for drizzling on pasta, veggies, eggs, and pizza, or dunking bread in, like a boss. $22. A wildly beloved…
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