SoJo, Spreadsheets, Scrunchies, Miso, and Terracotta Plates

(My Week in 10 Pictures)

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I don’t really have an intro (or outro) for this missive. It’s quite a mishmash and doesn’t follow any natural pattern or order. I’m honestly reflecting on the things that have brought me any semblance of joy over the last [four] week(s). I hope you enjoy! (If you do, please leave a comment below and share with a friend.) Ciao for now!

SoJo:

I love when my life naturally aligns itself. Last week, I was begging for a break, a beat, and a refresh after feeling burnt out from work. I’ve been pitching my ass off and working not to hoard my creative ideas. You know, taking the necessary [baby] steps to “put it out there.” Balancing creative projects and the traditional work that pays Con Edison has always been tedious, but lately it's been overwhelming.

That’s when I received a timely email from TransparentBlackGirl inviting me to a spa day (in collaboration with Pattern Beauty)! (Obviously) I RSVP’d, thrilled for a mere mental break.

When the day came, I was ecstatic. The retreat was perfect timing because Daylight Saving Time had just begun, and my body felt it. (My body also felt the three glasses of prosecco and mezcal I’d imbibed the night prior.) I arrived in Edgewater, New Jersey, around 10:15 a.m. and greeted a group of approximately 15 women. We changed into the black workout clothes we were instructed to bring and journeyed to the yoga room to partake in breathwork, meditation, and a vulnerable journaling session. We went around the room sharing our intentions, declaring what we desired from life as it pertains to career, balance, and rest. It was an incredible experience, sharing and feeling slightly exposed. The experience reminded me I’m not the only one striving, rebuilding, or having trouble balancing.

Feeling communal post-meditation, we ventured to the famous infinity pool and hung out until lunch. After lunch, we took some photos and then set off to explore what SoJo had to offer. The spa day included a day pass so we could stay until close if we so desired. I desired. I hung out in the baths and saunas, dabbling in the ice room only when my body reached the brink of overheating.

On my perusal through seven floors of baths, sweat rooms, and pools, I noticed my mind was clear. I’m unsure if it was the company or environment (Por qué no los dos?), but I was reinvigorated and excited to tackle my creative projects! I felt inspired and tranquil. I took that feeling with me as best I could throughout the week, and I still refer back to it when I need to feel motivated and/or not alone when approaching a creative hurdle. Beyond work, I found the spa the perfect way to bond. I brought up the experience at my standing monthly homegirl hangout. I suggested we bridge and tunnel it across the Hudson and sit in restorative silk waters while we gossip and catch up. We’re going to try it soon!

Honestly, the $85 round-trip Uber ride was worth it; no regrets. Well, there is only one: I regret not booking a deep tissue massage or a body scrub! I guess I’ll have to wait until next month’s homegirl hangout.

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Budget Spreadsheets:

As I mentioned in Resolution, Shmesolution, one of my 2025 resolutions is rebuilding my finances. Even though the world is going to shit and at times I don’t fully understand the point of a balanced checkbook or Roth IRA, I know one of the hallmarks of being a functioning adult is keeping a balanced budget and not having to check my bank balance before buying groceries. Not to mention, I’m sure Santander is tired of me claiming fraud because I can’t keep accurate track of my available balance. (Just because it’s available, doesn’t mean it’s not accounted for.) That brings me to the next phase in my financial journey: creating a budget.

I was paying bills and jotting down payments on loose paper, knowing the paper would eventually be misplaced, lost, and/or wind up in the recycling, never to be seen again. Frustrated, I knew I needed a different solution for tracking my expenses and expenditures, so I went to the best search engine, TikTok, and scrolled through my favorites folder for a video about creating a budgeting spreadsheet I’d saved a few months prior.

It took approximately an hour and lots of pausing and rewinding, but ultimately my focus resulted in a gorgeous color-coded spreadsheet that is coherent and auto-tabulates. There’s a section for everything: savings, debt, expenses, and extras. There’s a column for what I want my budget to be and a separate column for what it realistically is. I

outfitted the “Expenses” section with weekly rows because I don't earn a set salary as an artist/creator. I also include my projects and partnerships in the “Notes” section, along with their payment schedules and deadlines, so I know when the time has come to open Gmail and start harassing and heckling. My Monday budgeting time remains filled with groans and tears, but having all the numbers in front of me makes the hour more seamless and thwarts avoidance. Another practicality is the spreadsheet being accessible via phone, so if anything needs to be updated (Last minute Uber rides, anyone?), I can conveniently tally it while out and about.

Finally, and most importantly, my budgeting spreadsheet validates rémy sumé. I do know Excel and relevant formulas. That skill line on my résumé is no longer a lie!

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Big Ass Scrunchies:

This section serves as a quasi-continuation of my last dispatch’s section on the perfect slickback bun.

Big ass scrunchies are not a new phenomenon by any stretch of the imagination. They’ve been making big heads look small since Rommy Revson invented them in the 80s as an alternative to ribbons and smooth fabrics. They have, however, reentered MY consciousness because I can finally wear them without looking like an extra from Saved by the Bell.

I’m going to be honest, what brought the scrunchie back into my awareness was not a serendipitous shopping experience; it came my way via a PR package from Glossier. They recently released their new scent, Glossier You Fleur, and sent a beautiful box of things one would need for the “Fleur” experience: gardening gloves, the fragrance (full and travel size), and a lavender scrunchie.

The scrunchie was the first thing I reached for when I opened the box because I love an accessory. I immediately put the scrunchie in my hair, noticed it coordinated with my outfit, and made my way to 125th St. to run a few errands. The lavender plissé elastic added a bit of razzmatazz to my plain outfit of a white Peter Pan collar button-down, blue Levi straight-leg jeans, and mary janes. Due to my wire glasses, the completed look *did* give Reagan-era trad-wifery, but in a chic, non-evangelical way. It gave the illusion of effort without the exertion.

It’s funny because I’ve had four oversized Ganni scrunchies I snagged on sale, and rarely donned them outside of chore day. However, thanks to my hoarder tendencies, I had them on hand for the day my hair finally cooperated! The next day, I followed up the previous day’s look by throwing a substantial blue Ganni scrunchie in my hair. It was my mom’s birthday, and green is her favorite color, so I paired the accessory with a green mock neck sweatshirt and green Homme Plissé trousers for a full day at work and meeting my friends for a Korean BBQ dinner. The addition elevated the look from a simple, sporty outfit to an ensemble that gave the impression of care and undertaking. (You can also hide a less-than-perfect bun behind layers of beautiful fabric!)

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Miso:

We’ve reached the time of year that makes me understand why people cold-turkey their medication. (Do not do that, I’m just saying I understand.) The sun is setting later, the temperatures are rising, and the earth is waking, stretching, and yawning from its winter slumber. I’ve been getting out of the house to take advantage of the crisp, sunny days with the help of my pandemic bike, Miso. I took the above pictures after I dropped a package off at my neighborhood UPS. I opted for a bike ride instead of paying the MTA. I thought I would run the quick 20-minute errand and return home to write. However, I felt compelled to stay out and soak up the sun, my bike winding through the hills of Harlem. In the chase for endorphins, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in a while.

My 20-minute jaunt became a two-hour side quest that was a perfect precursor to my return home to begin my daily writing practice.

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Terracotta Plates:

The only thing I love more than beautiful crockery is beautiful crockery for a steal. I found these glazed terracotta pasta bowls dusty and neglected on a shelf. The first thing I noticed beyond their gorgeous, speckled ochre color was that they match a pair of cappuccino mugs I bought from Cloud 9 Clay a couple of years ago. I’ve been looking for coordinating dinnerware since I purchased the mugs; they’re some of my favorites for breakfast in the morning. I couldn’t bear to leave the store without them.

Thinking of how I would explain this purchase to my budget spreadsheet (and overflowing cupboard) when I got home, I figured I’d bring just the bowls to the register for a “price check,” the total would persuade me to return them to the dusty shelf. I shouldn’t be spending anything with a trip to Lake Como looming in the very near distance. However, when the sales associate read the total to me, I had to give myself an imaginary hair tuck: $4.53. Yes, that’s right, roughly $2.25 each! Not only a sight to behold but damn near a giveaway! It’s the kind of purchase that deludes me into thinking I could start a viable Etsy shop.

I would never.