Present Joys: Anniversaries, Memorization, Cross-generational convos and Bruce at Home

Lee and I celebrated our five year wedding anniversary this past weekend. We’ve been together nearly thirteen (!) years which is amazing. At times it feels like no time has passed and at others it feels like eons since we first met. To celebrate we had a cozy morning together with our beloved pitbull Whisper. Lee made us a Dutch baby pancake with jam for breakfast. Then we went to a spin class (we don’t usually work out together but I’ve been wanting to for some time and our anniversary seemed a perfect occasion). We ended the night at baby bistro for one of the most beautiful meals I’ve had out in LA. While waiting in line for the bathroom, I learned that the couple ahead of me were celebrating their 47th anniversary. Their advice to me: “It’s a journey, be patient.” <3

I trust Joyce with everything, admire her to no end, and am in constant awe of how thoughtfully she composes herself and her life. Her love for the Rose Cleansing Oil inspired me to try their Discovery Kit and wow these products feel really nice (plus it’s fun to try new things)! Gifting this kit would be a lovely gesture for a friend in need of a little pick-me-up. I’m going to keep a few at the ready for that very occasion.

Our friend and client, Trinity Mouzon Wofford, just published her first cookbook: “Eating at Home”. It was a joy to see Trinity present the book at Now Serving this past week. Her perspective on cooking at home, an exercise in truly being present, was exactly what I needed to hear. Excited to make the Lamb and Sweet Potato meatballs and yogurt sauce for a potluck this week!

Lee and I were chatting the other night about how we’d like be able to recite a piece of text from memory because we never use or practice that skill anymore. We were thinking classics like Hamlet or The Iliad and then just today I found this! I’m not sure this is the one I want to commit to memory, but I love that they help you learn a poem in such an interactive and thorough way. We need more of this.

We came home to this cute illustration of Whisper on our fridge the other day. Our dog sitter had made it while caring for him and left it as a small gift without telling us. It was such a welcome surprise when we saw it! We love it so much.

I’ve been lucky to have some lovely conversations recently with women who are decades beyond me in age and wisdom. At my friend Wendy’s baby shower, I got to chat with her friend Katie about motherhood, lessons from past relationships, and how she accesses joy after her husband’s passing. At my nephew’s birthday party, I caught up with my sister-in-law’s mother-in-law, Ginger. We also chatted about motherhood, family dynamics, and staying true to yourself. I left both conversations encouraged, inspired, and craving more community that ripples beyond my own personal pond.

Ever go karaoke-ing with your friends and tambourine so hard that you’re left severely bruised on your hand and thigh? 🫠 That was (a completely sober) me a few weeks ago. My bruises have finally faded but the good memories still remain. 🎵

It’s been rare to have a free weekend lately, so as soon as we realized our Sunday was open, Van and I skipped town to Santa Barbara. For me, quick getaways outside of LA is a reliable way to reset. We had some time to kill before our lunch plans with friends, so we holed up at Handlebar Coffee Roasters for a couple hours. Van usually works from home while I tote my laptop around to work from any number of cafés around town. Coffee shop time is usually a solo activity for me, so it felt like a treat to be able to spend that time together. We sipped our coffees while Van sketched some designs for a desk he wants to make and I worked on a website design for a client.

There are certain items I’ll be curious about but will delay purchasing solely because of the price tag. Many laps were made around Erewhon before I finally gave in and bought the english muffins and tortilla chips—confirming both are great. I finally came around to buying the Dior Forever Skin Perfect foundation stick and dammit, it’s good. It’s already creamy on its own, but I’ll mix it with some Saie Glowy Super Gel (lol these product names) for an even smoother application.

With our nephew’s birthday party and a day trip to Santa Barbara, we spent most of our weekend away from the apartment. Bruce is absolutely a homebody, so it was very cute to see him sink into his comfort zone once we were back and settled in on Sunday night. Whether he’s napping belly-up beneath blankets or running amok as Labubruce (what we call him when he enters his nightly demon mode), I love that he has the space to be fully comfortable, fully himself.

I picked up this book from The Book Den in Santa Barbara and was pleased to learn of 1) Millard Sheets’ watercolor and oil paintings (I’d previously only known him for his mosaic murals) and 2) the book’s designer, Merle Armitage. Eying Armitage’s beautifully designed book on Martha Graham next. —Joyce

Present Joys is a project by Present Studio. We specialize in bespoke branding and web development for specialty e-commerce businesses looking to grow with intention.