Well, look at us—Cooped Up is officially a newsletter! If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been around since the live broadcast days, thanks for sticking with me through every phase of my personality.
Speaking of phases, we finally—finally—took down the giant 20-foot reindeer in our front yard. Yes, you read that right. Twenty. Feet. Tall. We built it ourselves because apparently, we don’t believe in subtlety. It stayed up so long we considered just throwing some Mardi Gras beads on it and calling it seasonal decor. Honestly, at this point, it felt less like a Christmas decoration and more like part of the neighborhood HOA.
Let’s get into it.
The inaugural reindeer erection from years ago. A proud family tradition standing 20 feet tall and just as hard to take down.
The Cookie That Stole My Heart (and Possibly My Dignity)
Behold: Martha Stewart’s Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies, aka the best cookies I’ve ever made. They’re crispy on the edges, chewy in the middle and have just enough salt to keep things interesting—kind of like your favorite friend with no filter.
Do they look like cow patties? Sure. Do I care? Absolutely not. Would I eat 12 in one sitting? Physically impossible, thanks to my GLP-1 medication. But emotionally? I absolutely would.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt This is the book about an old lady and an octopus that I didn’t know I needed. It’s funny, heartbreaking and weirdly profound—like if The Golden Girls met Finding Nemo but with more existential wisdom. I got way too emotionally attached to a cephalopod and, yes, I cried when it was over. If you need a book that’ll make you feel all the feelings (and reconsider your relationship with seafood), this is the one.
This KitchenAid Mixer with a Wooden Bowl– It’s stupid expensive (around $700), ridiculously beautiful, and I’m currently manifesting it into my life. It’s not going to make me a better baker, but it just might make me feel like the kind of person who casually bakes sourdough on a Tuesday.
The Perfect Lounge Set – These cashmere joggers from Quince (about $100) are soft, cozy and perfect for pretending you’re “working from home” when you’re really just debating if it’s too early for a nap.
Silicone Baking Sheet Liners – Because scrubbing cookie residue is not part of my self-care routine. These make baking (and cleanup) effortless, which means more time for the important things—like eating the cookies. (Prices start around $9, which feels like a bargain for never having to scrub a pan again.)
Thanks for joining me on this new Cooped Up adventure. I don’t know exactly where it’s going, but I promise there’ll be laughs, oversharing, and occasional life wisdom squeezed in between the nonsense.
If you’ve got questions you want me to answer or ideas for what you’d love to see in future editions, hit reply—I’d love to hear from you.
