We had the privilege of attending two concerts in the month of September. TWO. We haven’t seen two concerts in the whole of the last decade, so to say that this was a rare treat would be a gross understatement.
First up was Weird Al Yankovic! My husband and I are both lifelong fans of Al’s silly parody songs, growing up with treasures like “Eat It,” “Like A Surgeon,” “Amish Paradise,” “Another One Rides the Bus.” Neither of us had ever seen him live, so when we saw he’d be performing in the...
We were excited to attend the Puget Sound Book Festival in Bremerton again this year, as it was a major highlight of our Summer 2025.
As a book lover, there are few things more exhilarating than rows and rows of books and bookish treasures. And I definitely grabbed my fair share. But, perhaps even more exhilarating still, were the HOARDS of fellow booklovers. Sometimes we are lead to believe that people have stopped reading books, but it is in these moments that I am assured that there are...
Friends, it’s the end of July!
Summer is just zipping on by. And we are trying to grab as many moments of joy as possible over this way (including ongoing attempts to embrace our Gen X Summer aspirations – with mixed success) :)
To that end, my husband and I decided to try something we’ve never tried before. We read a book together. Or more accurately, we bought two copies of the same book, read it separately, and discussed it together. I borrowed the idea from another book I was reading, and...
A couple of weeks ago, my husband shared a hysterical YouTube video by a couple that regularly makes us laugh with their silly songs. This time they were singing about Gen X Summers (see link below). It was such a hit of hilarious nostalgia that it got me thinking about recreating our own Gex X Summer. So… I started planning.
First, I decided on certain loose “rules.” We would try to avoid tech as much as possible (read: stash the phones and laptops). We’d listen to music on cd (luckily we...
One of my best pieces of advice for friends and family wanting to improve their writing is... READ.
Nothing helps you internalize story structure, dialogue, and character arc like immersing yourself regularly in novels.
So, if you really want to write better, spend some time every day reading. Permission to put down the phone. Power down the laptop. Turn off the t.v. AND JUST READ INSTEAD.
If you need some ideas for books, https://bookshop.org/shop/ginahandley.
My husband and I had a delightful trip to Victoria, BC this month (you might remember from previous newsletters that we are trying to do an adventure each month in 2026).
We visited most of the “must-sees,” The BC Royal Museum, The Parliament Building, Chinatown, The Empress (for afternoon tea), Butchart Gardens, Oak Bay, Roger’s Chocolates, MUNRO’S BOOKSTORE (if you haven’t been – it’s a gorgeous space). Simply put, Victoria is a stunningly beautiful city, full of stunningly beautiful...
My husband and I committed to having some brand of adventure each month in 2026. Thus far, we have visited a local arcade (and spent a small fortune playing skee-ball), attended a raucous musical at our favorite Seattle theater, enjoyed a peaceful weekend getaway in Port Gamble (lovely afternoon tea service included), and this month… we “did” the spring fair. The Puyallup Fair is always something we enjoy (whether the spring or fall offering), and after attending many (many) times, we have...
It's That Time Again...
March is my birthday month (yay), and I always look forward to it (yes, even as I get older… and older):)
Each year, in preparation for the big day, I think about how I would like to celebrate the passing of the previous year and the welcoming of the next. I have spent birthdays enjoying my favorite meals, being pampered at beautiful spas, riding my favorite attractions at Disneyland, playing laser tag with some of my closest friends, receiving surprise deliveries...
It's That Time Again...
My husband and I celebrated Valentine’s Day by taking a ferry to Seattle to see “Spamelot” at the 5th Avenue Theater (not for the first time).
As we waited for the show to start, we chatted with one of the staff about how delightfully silly the show was, and how therapeutic it felt to be able to have the opportunity to laugh alongside other people (perhaps especially in this moment in time – when it can sometimes feel like we are being constantly bombarded with...
Happy(ish) 2026, Bookish Friends!
First things first, WELCOME to my first bookish newsletter! Thank you for being here. I am hopeful this little monthly offering will bring a smile to your face... and some inspiration for your reading/writing/creativity goals. So, without further ado...
The truth is that I just can’t quite quit Christmas this year. I mean, I am never really ready to take down the tree and put away the lights and decorations (regardless the year). But this year. This year I am...
