Edition 01: October 2nd, 2026
Four things, thoughtfully chosen from this week.
In this edition:
01 - A fig tasting
02 - A pedestal bowl
03 - Apple picking
04 - TGIF
01 A fig tasting at home
Figs are in season right now, which makes it perfect time to have a fig tasting party. You can go as crazy with this as you want, or as chill. Have people come over with a basket of figs, or buy just one basket and have a solo fig party.
Figs are in season right now, which makes it the perfect time to have a fig tasting. You can go as crazy with this as you want, or keep it super chill. Have friends come over with a basket of figs, do it with your family, or buy a few varieties and have a solo fig party.
What to Buy
Look for 2–4 different varieties or colors of figs.
Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Kadota, Adriatic—whatever you can actually find.
You really only need a couple of each.
Set It Up
Cut the figs in halves or quarters.
Put everything on one big plate, platter, or cutting board.
Label the varieties if you know them.
Keep the first tasting plain so you can actually taste the differences.
Tasting Notes
For each fig, notice:
What does the inside look like?
How sweet is it?
Is it jammy, honey-like, berry-ish, mild?
How is the texture?
Pick a Winner
Everyone chooses their favorite. You could make a tiny scorecard, have kids give each one a rating, or just argue about which one is best.
If You Want to Get Fancy
Once you've tasted them plain, bring out whatever you have around: cheese, bread, honey, nuts, crackers, wine, or sparkling water. You can even try the figs with different combinations.
Make It an Occasion
You don't need to throw a major dinner party. Put some figs on a pretty plate, invite someone over, and call it a fig tasting. That's enough to make an ordinary afternoon feel like something special.
02 A Pedestal bowl for everyday makeup
I’m on a mission to make organizing my house even easier. A couple of months ago, I started using a ceramic pedestal bowl that I keep on my bathroom countertop. I used to use a a larger bowl, but I like the size and height of this pedestal I found at Goodwill, Not only is it pretty, but I can actually see what I’m using, and it’s easy to move around if I want to do my makeup while sitting on the floor in front of my full-length mirror like I did as a teen.
I also created a makeup stock cheat sheet with a list of my favorite and most-used products, including the exact shades, and keep it in the Notes app on my phone. I fed the list to ChatGPT, too, and set up alerts for when any of those products go on sale for 20% off or more.
And finally, I’m setting up a quarterly calendar reminder to take inventory on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. I’ll check what’s running low, what I’m actually using, and what needs replacing. Then, over the next quarter, I can keep an eye out for sales and restock accordingly instead of waiting until I’m completely out.
My rule: Buy replacements at 20%+ off when possible, and never keep more than one unopened backup of anything.
You could even go a little crazier and head to Sephora to have your makeup done and figure out your best colors and shades. Go in knowing you’re only going to buy one thing, but use the appointment to figure out what works for you so you know exactly
03 Apple picking in the Pacific Northwest
September is one of my favorite times of year in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). School is back in session, mornings turn crisp, afternoons still warm, and apples are coming into season. September
Crisp Facts About Washington Apples
Apple trees were planted at Fort Vancouver back in the 1820s.
Much of Washington’s apple industry is east of the Cascades, where sunshine, dry weather, and irrigation help orchards thrive.
Washington apples are picked by hand to help prevent bruising. Considering the state harvests around 10–12 billion apples a year, that’s a lot of picking!
Some apples go into refrigerated, low-oxygen storage after harvest. This slows ripening and helps keep them crisp long after apple season is over.
How to Pick Apples
Before you start, always make sure you are picking the varieties ready to be picked on the farm which varieties are ready and where you’re allowed to pick. A red apple isn’t necessarily a ripe apple, and different varieties are ready at different times.
Hold the apple gently, lift it up, and give it a little twist. Avoid pulling straight down or yanking on the branch.
Set apples gently in your bag or basket instead of dropping them in.
Once You Get Home
When you get home put aside any bruised apples to use first, and keep the rest cool.
My favorite things to make with apples are this apple crumble, apple sauce,
04 Bringing back TGIF
Remember how TGIF on ABC Friday nights in the 90’s made the whole week feel worth it?. Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, Home Improvement, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, I could go on and on.
If you don’t know, TGIF just means Thank God It’s Friday. On Friday nights when I was growing up, my parents would get takeout or pizza for dinner and we’d turn on the TV to channel 4.
A couple of weeks ago, remembering those Friday nights, I decided to bring back TGIF at our house now that school is fully back in swing. To kick off the new school year and bring everyone together, I thought I’d make the first TGIF a little event, and honestly, everyone should try their own version of a TV night to make Fridays special. I sent out invites to a couple friends from school and their parents. The lineup was mostly newer shows aimed at kids in kindergarten through third grade, like Bluey, Wild Kratts, and Pokémon. To make it even more special, I made a video in iMovie that mixed clips from the shows with real TGIF moments and some fun dancing games. It was a blast and the parents especially loved the chia commericals.
For snacks, I set out popcorn, some healthier fruit snacks, and Fruit by the Foot. ordered pizza for everyone and made a cute charcuterie board for the parents. I even made some goodie bags with slinkys and glow in the dark bracelets, and I ordered these cute trays from Amazon to add a little extra fun to the night.
Takeaway: You don’t need a special occasion to have people over. Pajamas, pizza, and a few favorite shows are enough to make a Friday night something the kids look forward to!
