My mother-in-law invented the out-of-school bunny. At the end of every year of high school and college — Amber and I have been together almost twenty years — she gave Amber a small gift. Why a bunny? Guess if it’s good enough for Easter. My mom gives “happys.” Small gifts for no reason.

I inherited this infrastructure of whimsy, trained to find the special in mundanity and to build my own calendar of small ceremonies. Life is fun, but it takes fun makers. People who notice the magic and highlight it. A lover of gifting, I derive pleasure from creating my own gift-worthy “events.” They don’t have to be extravagant. They don’t require an annual commitment.

I like to give teachers something at the end of the first week back — a box of pastries that says congratulations on surviving. I like to send an irreverent, self-composed haiku to a friend the morning she starts a new job. Copying my mother-in-law’s out-of-school bunny for nieces and nephews is a favorite. I’m not saying this from on high. It’s a muscle I flex like my biceps — when I feel like it. I’m not looking for abs. Erratic, thoughtful gestures stick in a way predictable ones can’t.

For Amber, my favorite invented gifting ritual is the end of summer. She'd rather sweat all day than feel a chill — summer is her season, and she mourns its end. For two years now, I've marked it with a gift: a celebration of a season full of life, a promise of next. The end of a chapter, not the book.

The end of last summer also marked the end of her maternity leave, which earned it extra gravitas. I started with a fish bag from Tonset Road — I like stuffing gifts into a vessel worth keeping. I'd seen these bottle stoppers online and was determined to find the maker. After a late night of internet sleuthing, I landed on Gelber & Sons. I commissioned four resin stoppers in the colors of our favorite Milton Avery. Rounding out the bag: a water bottle, a cerulean blue hair clip, and a gift card for breakfast at our local favorite — less a gift than a promise I'd take her for pancakes.

This year: a summery tea towel from Stephanie Seal Brown. A carved heart from Wrong Marfa — camp vibes. I’d have whittled it myself, but I have two kids under four. The lies we tell ourselves.

Rounding it out: Homemaking with Babs. Before you get offended — this isn’t me coercing Amber into tradwifery. She discovered Babs this summer, like everyone else, and loves her. If you don’t know Babs, start here and here. This is love.

Do you have any made-up gifting ceremonies? Just because.

Adam here…

If you are looking for books on firefighters at the Knoxville Public Library, they are at our house. Split amongst two library cards, the Fords fully depleted their stash. Not to sound all Etsy poster from 2009, but we did a lot of living, a lot of laughing, and a lot of loving this month. We swam in the river and roasted s’mores — the marshmallow drying in sticky remnants on our cheeks. My affection for old glass was stirred as I spent a decent portion of the month laying in a fever dream — curse hand, foot, and mouth — staring out our old windows, up into sprawling red oaks, the pitter patter of feral squirrels on the roof.

Here are 12 things from August worth screenshotting. OR you can just save this post — or, even better…

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Here is what we covered this month on Screenshot.

• All of our art. A show and tell of sorts, we lay out all the art we have collected over the past year for our own home — before demo ever begins.

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• If you only do one thing as a parent. The top parenting tip from my therapist and why it all comes down to repair.

• How to eat your cantaloupe. Frozen, but there’s more to it. Plus ten or so other summer pleasures.

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Let’s get to it.

1. Drink your jam. Brooks Reitz not only makes a compelling argument for using jams as a failproof route to delicious cocktails but also pulled together a great assortment to get started. Particularly eyeing this strawberry rose geranium.

   

2. Finback X West Kill Beer Can. Starting off strong with two alcohol related recommendations makes it look like I drink more than I do. In truth, I may have five drinks total in a year. However, this beer collaboration between breweries West Kill and Finback would be a good one of those five. From the description, it has notes of blueberry, summer rose and bright citrus with tropical fruit undertones. Let’s be honest though, the design is why it lives in my screenshots. I can get behind this quality of folk art on a beer can. Screenshotted via Michael Robbins,

   

3. Passive aggressive napkins. Not the biggest fan of text-laden napkins, but this message must reach the masses. They appear to be from here, but I’m not following a private account for some napkins. A quick search online exclusively turns up options with abysmal typography. Screenshot via Lily Wick.

4. Back to school labels. Labeling our kids’ stuff is the bane of my existence. Premade labels make it easier. Keep it simple. I like the classic fonts but, if that feels oppressive to youth, go with retro. I like retro with the round labels.

5. “How 20 Well-Read People Make Time for Books.” To be honest, we were initially shocked by the people they were able to pull for this feature. Then, we realized the newsletter is by New York Magazine. Still a great list. I can’t get enough when it comes to people’s habits and particularly enjoy reading honest takes about the sacrifices required to do something you value and enjoy. A few quotes if you aren’t convinced:

   Keith McNally: “Although I read, on average, a book a week, I only enjoy about one book in six. The other five make me either jealous or furious.”

   BJ Novak: “Occasionally a visitor comes to my place and sees all the books and says skeptically, ‘Did you really read all these?’ No, of course not — it’s a bookshelf, not a trophy case.”

   

6. Receipt art. Screenshotted from Monk Pictures, a receipt depicting a Donald Judd chair. The whole account is confusing yet alluring. How exactly is the buyer selected at random? Nevertheless, worth throwing your name in the hat if you too think this receipt floated on a large white matte in your office would up your cool factor.

   

7. Jens Risom’s Utilitarianism. Screenshotted from a visit to Jens Risom’s family escape on Block Island. Big fan of cubbies filled with Off! and sunscreen. Artifacts of summer.

8. Mocktail heaven. A curation of mocktails — see: I don’t drink a lot — via Our Amagansett House. Regarding non-alcoholic concoctions, we share the same sentiment:

   They need edges.

   Vinegar. Ginger. Bitters. Grapefruit. Chilli. Herbs. Salt. Something sour, something bitter, something faintly medicinal.

   Take away the booze and you have to put the mischief back in somewhere else.

   And perhaps most importantly: this is an easy drink to make another one of. No muddling seven herbs while everyone else is having fun.

   

9. Glass saucers. A few years ago, we noticed — and liked — the glass chargers underneath the plants at KRB. This week, someone asked and we received. There are lots of different options.

   

10. Neon Newt salad. We screenshot everything they post. Looks like a ranch with dill. In the words of our son, “it’s so refreshing!”

    

11. Setsuko Klossowska de Rola’s Swiss home. Scenery Magazine has caught our eye. Editorially, there is nothing like it currently on the market. Even better in person, issue five’s feature on the Royal Opera House, on the big pages no less, feels like treasure. Introductions aside, photographer Brett Lloyd’s work on Japanese artist Setsuko Klossowska de Rola’s Swiss home in issue four deserves any and all accolades. It’s hard to look at the feature and not feel your love for design and for creatives stirred. The piece — aptly named “The Magic Mountain” — moved me to tears.

12. Dishwasher safe is a suggestion. Life requires a bit of calculated risk.

See you in September. More screenshots soon.

A + A

Adam here…

If I’m being honest, this post started solely as a plea to eat your cantaloupe frozen. To me, it is that serious. Specifically, place the cut up cantaloupe around a large plate in the freezer on top of a piece of parchment paper. This makes it easier to remove once frozen. Frozen cantaloupe is good enough but eating it while it freezes (about 2/3 of the way to frozen) is superior. The texture and taste is unrivaled.

Playlists at dinner. Nothing electrifies an ordinary dinner like a bit of background music. I used to insist on making the playlists myself and then realized that the pursuit of perfection was keeping me from doing it at all. There are plenty of terrific, already created playlists. When in doubt, I just pull up one of Austin Kleon’s. It’s not even the kind of music I would typically listen to, but they are always the perfect complement to a dinner. Here is a recent playlist he made for a family road trip.

Swimming. A few years ago, I made a pact to get in water every chance I got. It never fails me. Clarifying and a reminder that it’s all going to be ok.

Manresa Ravine Shorts. Sold out (sorry), but I love them. My brother turned me on to the brand. Regrettably, I missed out on the cobalt pair but did manage to snag the brown and red.

Fire station visits. If your kid stares into the windows longingly for long enough, it turns out most firefighters will graciously raise the large glass doors and offer a tour of the firehouse. All of them have actually seemed pretty excited to do so. We recently started a new project in DC. Since we are those parents, we passed a fire station and saw the longest fire truck. From our nightly study with our son, we knew it was a tiller fire truck (a scarcity in Knoxville) and before we knew it, the guys gave us a full tour and insisted Amber hop up to grab a picture for Emmett.

Iced cappuccinos. Nothing added. Simple, easy, and rich.

Looking for license plates. Molly Young got me started on this and it keeps me alert. Last summer was four leaf clovers (which I never found) and this summer is license plates.

Lemon (or lime) water. Groundbreaking, I know. But, I don’t do it and I am shocked every time how much I like it — particularly in the afternoon. We also made cucumber mint water this week and kept a pitcher in our refrigerator to alleviate summer colds.

Baby ponytails. Enid just now has enough hair for small pigtails or ponytails. They look ridiculous and fit her spunky personality. A 2026 parent goal of mine is learning to braid.

I believe I can engineer perfection. It’s a core part of who I am. If I just work hard enough, smart enough, fast enough, I will eliminate mistakes, discomfort, conflict. I would never expect this of anyone else — they’re human. But me? I can do it. It’s a special form of unconscious vanity.

August makes it worse. Back-to-school season brings up a lot of parental emotions: relief, guilt, nostalgia, just to name a few — and underneath all of it, a low hum of am I getting this right? I love drop off and pick up for one reason. It always affirms my belief in humanity — that everyone is doing the best they can. Of course there are terrible, neglectful people out there. But they are the anomaly. Most people, even if they don’t read what I read, vote how I vote, or dress how I dress, still hug their kid with glee at pick up. They still pause on the sidewalk, already late for a meeting, to fix a ponytail that fell out. We all want to do right by our kids.

About a year ago, shortly after the birth of our second, I asked my therapist:

“As someone who has worked with families as well as teens throughout your career, what would you say are the predictors of a good long-term relationship with your kids?”

I’m not so naive as to think there are three simple steps to a healthy relationship with your kids. But if such a thing did exist — hypothetically — what would they be?

Him: I’ll start by saying it’s not something you can reliably engineer.

Me: Of course I know that. But what are the things you actually see that matter?

Him: A few things. It’s not about perfection. Giving your kids the perfect life, access to everything we think matters — that doesn’t necessarily build a great long-term relationship. I’ve seen just as many young adults struggling because their parents never let them in on their own mistakes. They come to therapy holding an impossible standard, this belief that they’ll never live up to their perfect parents. Their parents weren’t perfect, but they never showed it. In moderation, modeling mistakes, healthy conflict, and disagreement is the best thing you can do for a kid.

Me: Any examples?

Him: In high school, I asked my dad if I could drive to the next state to see a friend. He said yes. A few hours later he came back to my room and told me he’d changed his mind. As a teenager, that felt massively unfair. He could have said “because I said so” and shut the whole thing down. He didn’t. Instead: “I know this feels unfair. I wish I could say yes. Here’s why I changed my mind. I’m not even sure it’s the right call, but as your dad, it’s my job to make the best decision I can with what I know, for your well-being. I’m sorry to disappoint you.” That didn’t take away the sting, or the anger, or the phone call to my friend. But it shifted something. It told me my dad was a person too. I didn’t agree with his reasons. I felt connected to him anyway, because he let me into how he got there.

Me: So you are really modeling your own fallibility in real time.

Him: Another one — meet them where they are. Even if you don’t understand where that is, be open to wanting to know.

Me: By showing up? Talking to them about it?

Him: That, but also like the story with my dad. Say your kid is into something you don’t totally get, don’t see the value in. Think about what it would mean to hear, honestly, “I want to understand this about you. I’m having a hard time getting there, but I do want to, and I’ll keep trying.”

Me: It’s so interesting — that flips the whole thing on its head. It’s not about being perfect at living in their world. It’s a willingness to try, said out loud.

Him: Right. And it doesn’t have to be constant. You don’t need to go overboard, turning every dinner into a therapy session. A little goes a long way. Kids remember the moments, not the volume.

Me: So it’s not about getting the response right, either.

Him: No. It’s about repair, not precision. You will get it wrong. You’ll say the sentence you wish you hadn’t, hold the line you shouldn’t have held. The relationship isn’t built on never doing that. It’s built on what happens after.

Me: What does that actually sound like?

Him: Smaller than you’d think. It’s not always the car-and-the-friend story. It’s “I’m sorry I raised my voice. I was upset about something else, and I took it out on you. That wasn’t fair to you.” That’s it. That’s the whole repair.

I keep circling back to this, months later, at pickup, watching kids run into their parent’s arms.

I told Amber about the session. She’s an Enneagram One — hates being wrong or, more specifically, feeling like a bad person. She winced. Why would I ever deliberately make a mistake to teach my kids a lesson?

Nobody’s suggesting you make mistakes on purpose. The mistake is coming either way. It’s hard for perfectionists — foreign, almost, the idea that failure isn’t the enemy of the plan, it’s part of it. We are not infallible. We will get it wrong. What we do next is the only part we actually control.

It’s not about perfection. Meet them where they are, don’t go overboard, and repair.

The fixing is the fix.

A home without art is like a fair visit without funnel cake. Unremarkable. Lacking joie de vivre.

One of my fondest sibling memories is with my sister when, home from college, she would impart upon me her art-school wisdom. We would sit at our kitchen table and paint, her correcting my line or teaching me that mixing blue and brown was a far superior way to create a rich black. Art has always played a role in my life. My parents have art everywhere and consistently collected new works on vacation. They put me in art lessons from a young age — an anomaly for boys in our small, rural-America town. I would go as far as saying that my art background is the single factor that most prepared me for my work as a designer.

We are in the process of some pretty major home renovation planning — more to come on that. We only buy art we love. Here is some of the art we have sourced thus far — before demo ever begins.

I screenshotted this abstract from John Born and filed it away in my memory palace — what Amber calls my almost photographic memory — in 2023. John mostly works in ceramics. Painted on unfolded paper bags — I appreciate the role of texture. We will frame it floating to showcase the raw edges.

Mari Andrew’s “Zipper” has lived on my “I would be happy with…” list since I first saw it in 2020. Six years later, I finally pulled the trigger for our all-wood, Swedish-informed mudroom. Composed of metal and wire, a little bit of sculpture goes a long way in giving a home life.

For Christmas 2025, Amber commissioned a snail sculpture for me from Chris Condon. On his docket for this winter (commissioning requires fortitude), it will perch on the top shelf of an antique 19th C. French apothecary cabinet at the back of our living room.

Our son’s daycare art. When it comes to arts and crafts, our son applies himself minimally. In this instance, it panned out. Not too much, just enough. I plan to frame it by floating it on a large white matte. Should probably spray with a clear sealant to protect the color as I’m sure it was slopped on with cheap paint.

A pair of tiny Clark Derbes. Perfect to prop on a desk, in a window, or nested in a gallery wall. Hand for reference. I am ready for my gig in hand modeling if you are hiring.

Cynthia Greig’s phone looks like a painting but is actually a photograph of a phone that she white washes with paint before photographing. It lives, and will continue to live, in our daughter’s room. Particularly enjoy that the phone is disconnected.

Leslie Wortmann’s box ball also lives in our daughter’s room. In person, the detail is exquisite. Can you find the hiding praying mantis? Big fans of some adult pieces of art in kids rooms and then more juvenile works or their own art situated in tandem.

When Michael Swaney released these clay figures he made based on drawings his grandmother did from his own childhood imaginings, I was likely the first to inquire about international purchasing to the store in Spain. They said no. Story of my life. I politely asked that they let me know if they changed their mind. A week later, I received a note saying I could now purchase. I bought two from the store and two more from Mike directly — all equally and wonderfully weird. I am open to some of them finding other homes, but the owl stays with us.

W. Tucker does some quirky stuff. This airplane drawing is very small (about 4x6) and, after framing with a large mat to create negative space, will live in our son’s room above his new “big boy bed.” Why is airplane crossed out? Unknown. That’s the allure.

“SPF Gossip” by Ty Williams. Our son has named the trio Frankie, Peggy, and Margaret, but I think the middle one is more of a Lisa. This is a cool piece to nest in a bookcase or in a gallery wall.

The Museum of Infinite Outcomes in Knoxville just put these dream posters up around town — essentially a hotline to call and tell them about your dreams. It's the kind of thing that's just odd enough to frame and hang on a gallery wall. I DM'd them and snagged a copy.

A rock painted like a tennis ball. The ideal paperweight. By genius Elizabeth Saloka. Did you guys see the brilliant rocks she did in collaboration with Alex Mill yesterday?

This photo won the National Geographic photo contest back in 2015. This would usually be the kind of thing that would turn me off from purchasing the work — out of fear it would become ubiquitous or, worse, a grown-up version of a Lisa Frank folder. I would have been wrong. I bought this in college, and we never tire of it. It’s mesmerizing and everyone who visits comments on it.

Also going in our son’s room, we finally snagged this from Frankie Gardiner. The work feels light and humorous to me — the spirit of youth in painting form. Big fans of our kids taking these art works into their own homes some day.

Family Photos

Family photos are personal. For me, I prefer them used sparingly. I like a grouping on a table (a singular table) or an odd framed photo here or there. I prefer family photos to be a little less “on the nose”. More of an allusion to family rather than a literal representation.

Our son’s middle name, Porter, comes from his great-grandmother Porter Harris. She was a spitfire, full of life, and the room lights up when anyone tells a story about “Po.” When my grandmother died, we got a copy of this killer photo — Po, dressed in a fur-lined jacket and a bowler hat while smoking a cigarette on my grandmother’s back patio. Baller. It’s small — 3x5 — and we framed it in a double cream matte and a subtle white frame. We were adamant that the framing juxtapose a square aspect ratio on top of the rectangular photo. The result is quiet and heirloom-like.

For Valentine’s, I framed these photo strips all together from our trip to New York where we had just gotten our first round of ultrasounds back for our daughter Enid. I asked that the framer call once the matting was complete for me to write a hand-written message right on the matte prior to adding the frame. Framing hand-writing of any kind is a favorite.

A friend took this on a basic Fujifilm disposable camera last summer and just got them developed. Our friend group swimming in the mountains, it’s not a posed, literal representation of family. It’s a vibe. Thinking a tight frame with a thin matte. Overall dimensions no more than 5x7.

I’m mad I don’t own

Now that I have two kids, “we don’t hit” may as well be our official family slogan. Part of the gentle parenting starter-pack, I wonder if a giant pink piece proclaiming “Mama Said Knock You Out” sends a subconscious message of aggression. I’m still mad it’s not mine.

Practical tip

Take a picture of each piece as you get it. Create a Pinterest board (ideally a subsection) under your home’s primary board and name it “Art.” Once complete, pin them to the board. For each piece you upload, add in the following in the description:

Name of work

Artist

Dimensions L x W

You then have a reference and gallery of sorts and can see all your art at-a-glance. Also saves you from the headache of pulling the piece every time you need dimensions.

Adam here…

Every July, we celebrate the birthdays of both Amber and our best friend Jake — my two favorite motherly Cancers — AKA Mothers Superior. I wanted the text in print, but script I was given, so script I accepted. My favorite game this month was “am I a baby or have my meds induced heat-intolerance?” Fun times. Enid started walking and got half a dozen new teeth which was the sweetest. I updated my list of 100 things that made my year. A short-cut to dopamine, I highly recommend you start one of your own now if you haven’t. A note on my phone from July 16th says only: “If yo.” If anyone knows where I was going with this thought, feel free to reach out. It could really go in so many directions, so I’m pretty open to ideas.

Here are 14 things from June worth screenshotting. OR you can just save this post — or, even better…

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Here is what we covered this month on Screenshot. This was our second annual Christmas in July. Essentially gift recommendations for people who want to gift special things while also enjoying the process.

• Introduction to Christmas in July. Ground rules and why we do it — it’s not about consumption. It’s about showing those love to those we care about through gifting.

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• Stocking Stuffers. Engraved combs, candy, and the $7 trick for keeping your tote bag on your shoulder. It’s all there.

• Gift Guide Part 1. The best gift we received last year that cost virtually nothing. Plus, our favorite glasses, the only wallet Adam will use, and the bag we are giving to our sister-in-law.

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• Gift Guide Part 2. The wooden box your grandchildren would fight over, airbrushed t-shirts for dirty santa, and four artists to consider if you must gift art. Don’t miss the throwback to Honey Boo Boo.

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• I would be happy with… Everything on Adam’s personal Christmas list — realistic or not. A very prescriptive trip to New York, a hand-crafted box fan, and the author’s tour he refuses to miss again.

Let’s get to it.

1. Homemade Limeade. Chef Phoebe Cole-Smith shared her picnic tips (and recipes) with Dôen. We are particularly intrigued with the fruit and herb combinations for her homemade limeade. Her suggested combos:

   Blueberry + Basil

   Plum + Tarragon

   Watermelon + Hyssop

   Peach + Lemon Verbena

   Making the peach and lemon verbena limeade today.

   

2. Climbing Nasturtium. Nasturtiums are in for the summer. We told you so. The case is closed. Screenshot also via Phoebe Cole-Smith.

3. Pickle Mayo. The condiment of the summer for burgers. Via Tina Harris.

4. London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. The new book follows a London teenager who falls into a dangerous circle after posing as the son of a Russian oligarch. It's Adam's current read.

   My twin brother got me hooked on Radden Keefe’s writing with The Snakehead, and I have been a big fan since. I lack about 100 pages and have found the book propulsive. Reading his work always feels nurturing to me — like a masterclass. You feel as if you are in the hands of a true master of their craft.

   

5. Unprepared. Tote phrase for a friend who is a mess and doesn’t take life too seriously. Screenshotted via Ty Williams.

   

6. Homemade Houseboat. This month, The Boston Globe picked up a story of two friends who converted a sunken pontoon into a houseboat. Watch the videos and tell me you aren’t tempted by this level of simplicity. There is even a YouTube channel with longer videos. Feels like great background consumption.

   

7. Buzz Kill. Adam discovered this lighter from Imogen and Willie after Christmas in July wrapped but says:

   If you insist on giving a more traditional manly gift, let’s make it this “Buzz Kill” lighter.

   

8. French Farmhouse. A supreme talent, we were thrilled when designer Isabel López-Quesada shared this heavenly snippet of her French country home. The ultimate exhale. One of our prized screenshots.

   

9. Jonah Meyer Raccoon. Jonah Meyer, artisan behind much of Sawkille’s genius, can do no wrong. This raccoon he posted last week wants to live in our house. He pulls off folk in a way that never feels kitschy or obvious.

   

10. Snail Bell. We have never wanted an Antique Cast Iron Snail Front Desk Bell more than we do now.

    

11. Watermelon Jelly. Stissing House chef Clare de Boer shared her recipes for a seafood boil — sans paywall — and while the seafood part is all fine and good, it’s the watermelon jelly that had us screenshotting. New summer bucket list item.

12. Turning 13. Stella Blackmon is a generational talent. Her ability to nestle you inside nostalgia that feels both now and then is pure magic. Her new film, in collaboration with Nowness, explores a young girl’s reflections in the days leading up to her thirteenth birthday.

13. Nanmoku Clips. For the past six months, we have been on the hunt for quality, good-looking aluminum clips. Last week, KlayNZ shared that they were now carrying Nanmoku clips from Japan. Ordered one of every clip.

    Nanmoku is a family-run manufacturer that has specialised exclusively in aluminium clips since the 1940s. Nanmoku is now in its fourth generation and is the only company left in Japan making aluminium clips. The aluminium is smelted and rolled in-house before being formed into each clip.

    May our chips never be stale.

    

14. “Can everybody say goodbye to Tommy?” Great Advice for Shitty People is our new favorite Instagram account. Another favorite: “Give guests a -1, ‘Everyone is allowed to uninvite one person.’” See, now that’s a party. The less the merrier.

See you in August. More screenshots soon.

A + A

Adam here…

Amber hates giving me gifts. She says I have impossible standards or just buy it myself. She’s probably not wrong with one caveat. I am realistically happy with a well-stuffed stocking of my regulars, a gift card to our local bookstore to stock up on a few months’ worth of reading, and a little gift here or there. However, I do dream big and, if you want to know what I truly want for Christmas, I will tell you. While a few things I want are unattainable, most are not implausible. I will say, you generally can’t add my wants to a cart and checkout. You have to contact a gallery, obtain pricing, place on hold, and wire money internationally.

A few years ago I started a Pinterest board called “I would be happy with…” not as a way to showcase exact items but to instead show a general feel or type of thing I think would be memorable to open on Christmas morning.

Recently I finished the Throwing Fits episode with David Sedaris — lived up to the hype. They get into gifting, and Sedaris says it best:

I always think the best gift should be something you didn't ask for. It's just something you didn't know existed in the world. [Y]ou open it and you think like, wow, I've been looking for this all my life, but I didn't even know what it was.

Lightbulb. That’s the whole philosophy. Not about money. Requires a certain obsessiveness — someone paying attention, staying curious.

Updated list below. Things I would be happy with — and have zero expectation of receiving:

I would be happy with…

Art. Always art. Ron Gorchov is the coolest and atop my Christmas list. The works carry equal power, stand alone or grouped. I spotted a smaller Gorchov nestled in this expertly executed wall of pictures in Phong Bui’s apartment in The World of interiors.

I would be happy with either of the above via Larsen Warner. I am well aware these are wildly out of my budget. It’s called delusion. If you are planning to buy me one of these masterpieces, please direct your inquiry to info@larsenwarner.com.

I am careful about floral art, but the way Gael Towey captures color and life in her monoprints is unbeatable. Once again, I must have a way to sniff out that which is not for sale. Or at least that which may not be for sale. When I asked her last year if she ever sold her work, she responded with a cool “occasionally I do.”

I have not asked him for fear of rejection, but I would love a page from Tom Hammick’s sketchbook. When framed, this is exactly the kind of work that grounds a grouping of art and lets it all breathe.

I have talked about this box fan before. I like what I like. Made by Nico B. Young, it is created with fiberglass and wood. If you missed Nico’s work on author Miranda July’s kitchen, you must check it out. Plywood covered in a butter yellow epoxy resin. Even if it’s not for you, it’s a work of art. Not sure how, but it looks like the fan might still be available. A Christmas miracle?

I initially felt a little resentment being sucked into the groupthink of the design community’s obsession with the annual Smythson diaries. After using for four years, I would be happy to sign on as a board member of the cult. I expected the ultra thin pages to bleed ink and just get on my nerves, but they don’t. Light as a feather, they feel luxurious. The planner is highly durable and the weekly configuration with the blank lined page on the right is exactly what I need. I write a full to-do list on the right for the week (organized by subcategory — work, fun, home, etc.) and then pull those tasks to appropriate days on the left. Most importantly, it works for my brain and the system sticks. The annual diaries don’t usually release until sometime in the fall.

The Smythson card holder appeared in my stocking stuffer post, but it’s time for mine to be replaced — in Sandstone.

We did a newborn session with film photographer Bethany Sams for both Emmett and Enid. It’s easy and the shots turned out genuine in a completely unstaged way both times. Now that we are out of the newborn phase and in a pretty sweet place, I would like to do a session this summer or fall.

One of my most unrealistic expectations is to be taken on a trip. I don’t even need to cross an ocean. The direct flight to New York would work. We typically visit a few times a year, so it’s not a heavy lift or learning curve. I say unrealistic because it requires the other person to read your mind, have access to your calendar, and arrange childcare without you knowing. It’s a logistical feat. However, a man can dream.

I want to fly out early morning and spend three nights (I could be swayed to two) at The Bowery.

For meals, I want a dozen oysters and fries at the American Bar (my personal preference over the Polo Bar). Superiority Burger in the East Village is also high on my list. Neither Amber nor I are vegetarians, but foodies rave about it and I could dedicate an album to my screenshots of their gelato. Gelato-adjacent, L’Industrie Pizza’s cantaloupe soft serve feels mandatory.

Let’s catch Gustavo Dudamel conducting in his inaugural season with the NY Phil — preferably Mahler 5 (end of September so technically an early Christmas gift) or Beethoven’s Ninth in the spring. The Metropolitan Opera programmed Aida throughout the spring, sure to be a quintessential, glamorous opera experience.

I relax as well as a chihuahua in heat. Two massage appointments in one day feel overly indulgent, but I would like to try. Two places on my list: Mio Head Spa (an authentic Japanese head spa) and Perry Street Reflexology in the West Village.

Considering sofas for our own living room, I would like to visit Schneller and test a few we have been eyeing.

Moving on.

A bottle of homemade lavender for my coffee would feel luxe and immediately usable. If you really love me, throw in a bottle of homemade vanilla simple syrup too.

I would like to own a copy of Sally Mann’s memoir that I begrudgingly returned to the library — unread — after racking up ten bucks of fines.

This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett is one I read this year from the library and would like to add to our permanent collection. Patchett’s essays are masterful.

David Sedaris routinely comes to Knoxville on tour and we have missed him every time. Not again. I will see David Sedaris on tour in 2027 if remotely feasible.

I am not a huge jewelry guy but do like an occasional ring or two. I would like a ring (pointer or pinky) with a small piece of moonstone embedded in it. From Scosha — the way their hand shows in their custom pieces has a cool vibe. Amber is a Cancer and moonstone reminds me of her.

This Donald Judd Chair wants to sit at the top of our stair landing and I want to let it.

Remember when I wrote about Weigel’s Chocolate Milk and mentioned wanting an album to document the design of our own home? I am still waiting for a custom leather scrapbook with a milk bottle embossed on the front from Vogel Bindery.

I’ll be honest. I can’t tell if these are totally going to work in the way that I am hoping, but there is only one way to find out. Santa, bring me these blue Salomon sneakers.

That concludes this year’s Christmas in July. Happy gifting.

Adam here…

Part Two. I always have fun pulling these together. I love to gift, and this batch has a little more range than the last — some functional, some just beautiful, a couple that don’t exist to buy at all.

Gifting Part Two

Are you familiar with Nik Gelormino’s work? You should be. I came across him during an intense period where I convinced myself I would enjoy spending an artist residency at Salmon Creek Arts (despite all evidence to the contrary).

Salmon Creek Farm is a 33 acre sanctuary of precious riparian and coastal redwood forest habitat, on Central Pomo land. In 1971, a commune was established during turbulent times by a group of young visionaries seeking less extractive and more intentional ways of living in what came to be known as Albion Nation. Now in the hands of the 501c3 Salmon Creek Arts, we imagine this sanctuary serving as a pocket of light, where you might “journey to refuel for what it is we need to do on the planet.” There is the possibility for both deep solitude - in private handcrafted iconic cozy cabins nestled among the coastal redwoods - and sociability with others sharing the land, and our wider community on California’s stunning Mendocino Coast.

Give yourself five minutes to click through the cabins on their site as well as their Instagram and tell me if you too don’t at least consider taking a glance at the application.

Back to Nik. While doing my deep dive on the camp, I came across his work. You MUST look at this door he made. Not exactly a Christmas gift (or is it?) but unbelievable artistry. He makes these equally exquisite carved boxes. An heirloom for keepsakes. Fill it with collected love notes, precious items or memories shared with a lost loved one, or something more functional like essential oils. Or leave it empty and put a simple notecard inside — “For our memories, past and present.”

Email him: ngelormino@gmail.com.

The World of Interiors is the one subscription, in my opinion, with the most mileage when it comes to gifting. Timeless and interesting. I also think giving a subscription to young lovers of design goes a long way in making them feel big and that their interest is taken seriously.

I have not stopped thinking about Napkin Apocalypse since this story on their garbage man. The sweetest. Worth studying their halloween costumes while you are there. They sell (cool) merch, and you should support them. I like the Trashboy hat that comes in kid and adult sizes but am particularly fond of the “GEMINA THE CROOKED NECKED GIRAFFE TEE.”

For a discerning minimalist, I wouldn’t blink twice to order this spiral floral clip. A single stem on a nightstand. Sculptural art that could act as a paperweight when not in use. I have a knack for finding things which are not for sale — this might be a dead end. The entire site is in Japanese but I found the email for you — contact@azmaya.co.jp.

I think one of the best gifts money could buy is a matching set of glass hurricanes with several packs of replacement candles.

I don’t love to give coffee table books for Christmas, but if I did give one, it would be The Maine House. Both the first and second are good, but we both prefer the first. It’s the exact kind of book you want to sit with on Christmas afternoon. If you value old quirk, you should have this in your library.

If I had to choose one single category of item to gift (and to receive) every year, I would choose pottery. It requires knowing someone less than, say, art without sacrificing specialness. Right now, I’m into the soda-fired pottery from Clam Lab. She just did a summer drop — just in time for this series. If you insist I pick for you, order the yellow ash berry bowl and this dark copper crystal vase.

Pro tip: when picking out pottery, consider what will go in it. It’s about the combination, not just the vessel. I would not pick the dark copper vase if I was solely picking on what I like the look of, but the way it would hold vibrant dahlias pushes me to checkout.

If you do give art, try Claudia Keep, Chad Etting, Frankie Gardiner, and Hugo Guinness. My favorites of theirs are above. These are all safe bets for finding smaller (I would always err on the smaller side when gifting art), special pieces. I don’t mean safe in a way that implies these artists are doing mass-market, derivative work. To the contrary, I don’t think that at all. They are just doing art in a quality, fun way that I believe would appeal to a wider audience.

I live in these shorts over the summer. From heritage tennis brand Boast, the shorts have built-in briefs that feel ultra-lightweight and comfortable. The leaf is a Canadian maple but people will constantly think you are advertising marijuana. It’s something you have to move past.

If you enjoy psychology and getting in other people’s heads, two games worth gifting are Priorities and Codenames. Codenames is an all-time favorite.

I mentioned author Catherine Newman’s gift guides here. A screenshot pulled from one of her guides, Newman gave this airbrushed t-shirt to Samantha Irby. If you don’t take yourself too seriously, it would be fun to do this for every single person at a holiday gathering and take a group picture in your shirts.

For the control freak in your life, how about this smartphone label maker? It’s low-profile and has great reviews.

Personalized gifts (sewn, embossed, engraved, etc.) are go-to’s for me.

Socks from Eva Joan. You could even go with a simple motif (star, heart, clover, middle finger).

Or some special socks embroidered with hand-writing by Cressida Jamieson.

Customize a small cooler. I recommend perusing Molly Young’s license plate posts (1, 2, and 3) for ideas.

Chelsea Handegan put us on to these name patches. I like the names but think there are other, more creative words too.

I mentioned the combs from France here and think they also make great standalone gifts when accompanied with a hand-written note.

Hope Benson’s Custom Rocks have been on my gift list since I saw WKP Builders use one in their new office. Would make a great door stop. Pieces like this that make people stop and notice are always winners.

The way Anya Hindmarch uses real hand-writing for personalization feels next-level. The passport case would be a good foray into this world. I first discovered the brand through Caitlin Fisher when she shared a pouch with “I love you” written by each of her kids. Again, an heirloom piece. Gifting at its finest.

The final installment of Christmas in July will be everything I personally want for Christmas. Prepare to judge. Next Wednesday.

Adam here…

I said it last year, and I’ll say it again.

Maybe part of gifting is opening someone’s world, giving something they didn’t even know they wanted. Sure, a gift can be (and often is) something we want or need, but it feels stale if we approach gifting only from this angle. At the very least, a gift should add joy to someone’s life. That’s it. Keep this in mind and have fun with it.

Gifting Part One

One of my favorite gifts I received last year was virtually free. One of my best friends made each of his friends a special origami of their favorite animals or something else representative of them. It mostly cost him his time, but still sits on his friends’ bookcases, nightstands, and kitchen window sills. Fun, special, and a reminder that a great gift doesn’t require extravagance.

While we are on crafty gifts, how about giving everyone a homemade popsicle basket. When mixed with more elegant or contrasted things, it’s cool. Just search for tutorials. You could even make them with friends at a holiday gathering.

I will talk about the La Soufflerie iced tea glasses until I am blue in the face. These are our every day glasses. Gifting someone fourteen (always a dozen and two extras) of these would be the flex you think it is. Every day luxury.

Two sets of these ultra thin Japanese glasses also work if you are in the market for a shorter option — or prefer thinner glass.

My mother-in-law and I share our love of condiments. Thinking of putting a basket of condiments together for her. For starters, how about this Japanese Barbecue Sauce, a bottle of Tart Vinegar (have to follow to know when they drop), and our favorite stone ground mustard.

We visited Bunny Williams’s house in 2024. She had this round, woven tray full of sparkling waters. Could be fun for a sparkling water enthusiast to give a similar tray filled with bottles of varying bubbly.

A friend gifted us the Breville Smart Kettle and it was a major upgrade from our previous, basic water heater.

While you are shopping on Williams Sonoma, another friend of ours (one with rigorous standards) has mentioned that one of her go-to gifts is this citrus press. I’m not personally in my hand juicing era yet, but then again, I don’t have this citrus press. Could this be the answer to all my woes?

I have had my Smythson card holder for almost five years and highly recommend. It’s all I carry and, though it’s almost time for a replacement, it has held up very well despite me being rough on it. It’s low bulk, holds more cards than you would think, and doesn’t require bicep strength to get a card from it. I have it in Sandstone.

The ultimate luxury is setting someone up for success right out of the gate. Help your artist spouse get into the film game with the top-of-the-line Contax T3. It’s pricey but meant to last and can actually be repaired when you encounter issues. If buying second hand, check the item description and make sure they say they have been tested and don’t have issues. Many people prefer the Portra 400. I prefer the 800. Buy a five pack of the Portra 800 (good for inside and out) to go with it.

I often think heart jewelry feels cheesy, but I am partial to the folk heart pendant from Dunlap Ellerkamp.

My wife asks me to play tennis all the time. We are both very much amateurs but enjoy playing from time to time. I have been dragging my feet a bit but, to show my willingness to play, I invested capital into a new racket for her. My research revealed two rackets to be good options when you want to up your (somewhat limited) game — the Wilson Clash 100 or the Babolat Pure Drive. We have had the same ones for so long, the coloring transfers to our hands every time we play.

I like to give bags. Amber is someone who sits on a potential purchase for years until it is no longer made and she has to move on to the next product that she will debate and discuss until it too is discontinued. Thus, I buy her bags. She’s not really into purses per se — more of a tote queen. At the recommendation of Helen Rice, I got her the Minnie Tote in natural canvas from J Stark for Christmas last year, and she loves it. It’s small enough to not add bulk but big enough that you can actually carry what you need. I feel like she would also like the Franklin Tote — more vertical in shape and comes in great colors.

I screenshotted this Hulken bag from Ruby’s Recs and plan to gift to my sister-in-law who is a big thrifter and is always lugging things around.

I like the thought of making everyone in your life a custom painted tote. Could be elaborate or simple. Pay homage to a favorite movie, grab a stencil set and paint something bold, or just write in Sharpie. Not a great artist? I kind of love that more — so bad it’s good.

I am looking at these Kluane goose down jackets for Amber. We don’t do any “mountaineering,” but she hates being cold — winter is her nemesis. People rave about their warmth, particularly in harsh cold. I’m sure the Inner Parka would do for Tennessee, but if you live farther north, the Outer Parka might be suitable.

Unsuprisingly, Kaitlin Phillips put me on to them and, if you require further endorsement, here are her words:

Have you ever tried to look nice in the cold weather and then you show up at the bar and the hot girl is just in a great puffer? Might just be me, but if not, I like these. “At Kluane Mountaineering, everything is custom. You decide the outer fabric, inner fabric, whether you want velcro, or snaps, or hooks. You decide what the hood, cuffs, and flaps look like. You can make your jacket a psychedelic rainbow technicolor adventure.”

Don’t be put off by the process. That’s what makes it special.

For a kid (or quirky adult), I like the Ceramic Piggy Bank by Nicholas Newcomb — “handmade piggy banks for first time savers.”

If you made it this far, this last recommendation is a special one for you. Reach out to Somsack Sikhounmuong, the creative director and co-founder of Alex Mill, to have him customize a soap dish for you. He can use rocks you send him. I can’t imagine a better gift for a rock or shell collector. Or send rocks from a special place you both share.

More special things coming in part two. This Friday.

Adam here for part two of this month’s series Christmas in July. If you missed the introduction where I laid out what you can expect and some other ground rules, I recommend you start there.

While I don’t tend to gift practical gifts, I do believe practical gifts given in mass are greater than the sum of their parts. This is the joy of a stocking. Sort of a personal care package if you will. I still recommend all of the items from last year’s stocking stuffer post. Don’t be surprised if there are repeats here. Don’t trust anyone who recommends exclusively new things each year. This is consumerism, not expertise.

Stocking Stuffers

Start with the staples:

My stocking is sponsored by Big Chapstick — specifically Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint. It’s not a stocking without chapstick, but fancy chapsticks stress me out. These last forever and don’t feel precious.

We are a bath family. Ancient Minerals bath salts are the most potent, effective epsom salts we have used. If you must shower, this eucalyptus shower spray is the best. Our bathrooms are small and turn into steam rooms quickly, ideal for this past year’s viral season. Turn on the shower and generously spray. Helpful for a sore throat and general congestion.

For masks, I recommend three. Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask is our go-to general mask. It’s best when you just feel tired and dirty. The second is Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask. I actually use it as my aftershave in lieu of the traditional, overly scented stuff. Post shave, I lather with this (a little goes a long way) and never get razor burn or breakouts. The third is Sofie Pavitt’s Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment. This stuff is no joke and not for sensitive skin. Read the directions and don’t leave on for more than five minutes. However, it’s crazy effective for spot treatment.

We started using Trillium Soaps out of Rockland, Maine this past year. I actually prefer the bars unwrapped but for two extra bucks, you can buy a wrapped bar. Scent is personal but, if you only get one, get the spearmint. I usually prefer peppermint, but this is the exception.

After having two kids, Active Skin Repair is mandatory. We use it on bug bites, scrapes, bruises, and eczema patches. Amazingly effective. Do your own research, but we use it on our kids too. Not a glamorous endorsement, but our entire family had a terrible bout of double pink eye earlier this year. Our only real relief was spraying Active Skin Repair directly in our eyes. Do your own research, but it’s a thing. My eye doctor — the best — says that hypochlorous acid as an eye treatment is one of the most exciting recent developments in eye care.

Dr. Scholl’s Heel Repair amazes me. I don’t have a lot of issues with blisters, but Amber does any time she gets new shoes or travels. Pandora Sykes recommended this blister stick, and I plan to drop a stick of it in Amber’s stocking.

She also recommended these self-sealing toothpaste caps. Intrigued, particularly for lazy children or parents that are somehow always holding a toddler when they are trying to brush.

Miss Mouth’s is a miracle stain treatment spray for toddler and adult stains alike. Before washing, spray treat stains and leave outside in the sun for a few hours and the stains will almost always completely disappear. It feels illegal. I am personally interested in getting back into the market for tide pens after experiencing envy when I watched a stranger pull one out at the farmers market. I never have enough Magic erasers and think they should be stocking prerequisites.

Doing any doomsday prepping? You want my mom on your team. She always puts one can of this De-Icer in our stockings and, while it might not do the trick if we lived somewhere with a harsher winter, it fits the bill for the occasional morning of heavy frost in Tennessee.

I plan to give these cable ties, recommended by the Creative Director of Alex Mill, to all tote users. Check out how he uses them — genius.

As I said last year:

Every year, my parents gave each of us an ornament that was, in some form or another, representational of our year. Maybe it was an ornament that was a favorite food, a favorite children’s book, or a sport or instrument we played. When we got our own homes (and trees), they gave us the box of ornaments as a personal starting kit of lifelong memories to jumpstart our own Christmas decorating. We have already started this tradition with our son and will begin with our daughter this year. We bought our son an egg (his favorite food) the first year and a school bus (bus obsessed) the second. Buy two if you want the memories to stay on your tree once you gift your kids theirs.

Start with John Derian and More & More Antiques.

A great comb goes a long way. My everyday comb is The Benjamin. This past year, I gifted The Indomitable to all the men in our family and had them engraved — almost as a shared heirloom. The kids felt so special they had the same comb as their dads. It was pretty sweet.

I probably won’t want a fan come December, but someone (maybe also Pandora Sykes) recommended this Easy Acc Fan. I forget that suffering through the heat with no relief is not the only option. They will thank you next summer.

Sometimes, you just need to set a timer and commit to twenty minutes. This Low-Tech Timer is on my wishlist.

Amber breaks all my umbrellas. No lie. She replaced the one she most recently broke with The Davek Solo. It’s perfectly light, sleek, and compact. An aside, I think this would make a great graduation gift.

Liberty puzzles are perhaps out of stocking stuffer territory but deserve a mention. They are beautiful, unique, and expertly crafted. Our family did this snack cake puzzle over the 4th, and it was a hit. We did several 500-piece puzzles. Nice to finish in an afternoon and just enough to scratch an itch.

Stationery is another form of personal care. I always peruse Choosing Keeping and do one larger order a year. I can’t tell if I love or hate their new fruit peel masking tape. Leaning towards love, particularly the watermelon and melon. Would be fun for kids or on the envelopes of summer invites.

Step up your game with this mechanical pencil. I routinely give the small Kaweco Pen to friends and family. I also particularly like the look of this Zebra blue ballpoint pen.

You might remember our pen post, but Bjorn of Eva Joan’s answer stuck with me most and feels like a challenge.

Only pen I use is the Pilot G2 (.38) in black.

It’s a grocery list pen. I think most of the pilot pens are trash but the .38 picks up on the smallest of shifts. It’s the only pen I’ve found that reveals how someone wrote - it won’t go further than your gesture.

In my head it’s the great revealer.

Added to cart.

Throw in a Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser. The original grade-school fidget. Is this as universal of an experience as I think or did I just have a quality art education?

I somehow always run out of binder clips and really dislike buying more. You can do it for me though.

For paper goods, go for this stenographer’s notepad or The Printery’s Note to Self pad. I am still mad they discontinued the Stable pads. Their plane notecards would be great for a conscientious kid and might encourage quicker thank you notes. My favorites will always be the Sunbursts.

Last year, our son’s school sent home a card with a stamp of the Head of School’s face and “approved by (enter name here).” It was funny and would make a great stocking stuffer. It’s not the sort of thing you buy yourself. Similar here.

Author Catherine Newman has put out a gift guide for years — since 2012! She mentioned this mango in her 2023 guide and we gave several last Christmas. As she promised, they were a hit. It’s scented and most satisfying. Our three-year-old played with it for a decent amount of our recent car ride across the state.

My neighbor routinely calls me a chocoholic despite having never expressed any particular affinity for chocolate. Wires were crossed somewhere along the way. The older I get, I actually prefer candy. Mera & Longhi hard candies are new-ish to us but feel decadent. The flavor profiles are interesting. We like the herb mix but they make a fruit mix too if you want something safer and sweeter. For better or worse, my brother turned us on to BonBon a few years ago. The Raspberry Puckers are go-to’s for stockings and for self-congratulatory rewards throughout the year. Their mixes are also terrific if you want to try a lot of candy.

I am not a key fob person but, if I were, this canvas fob looks smart.

For books, this year I am giving two that you can finish in an hour or two after a post-Christmas lunch nap:

Heating and Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly

The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt

Another book, you will either hate or love If… (Questions For The Game of Life). We love it. A go-to for gatherings of introverts. There is a book two and three too.

Gift Guide: Part One next Wednesday.

Adam here…

Christmas in July is back for its second year. If you missed year one, my recommendations stand. Catch up on the archives here, here, and here.

Here are the ground rules. Same as last year.

“COME ON AND RING THOSE BELLS AND LIGHT THE CHRISTMAS TREE.”

With as much twang as she could muster, this refrain (from a somewhat hokey gospel song) remained my Nana’s lyric of choice year-round. Addicted to Hallmark movies, she always seemed ready for Christmas, at least in spirit. Maybe she was on to something, keeping the magic alive. Christmas can be hard, sneaking up on us - unsuspecting victims numb from the back-to-school madness and heat-induced delirium from summer that seems now to linger well into October. As soon as the heat dies down, dodging cold and flu season becomes a full-time job, an illness easily setting non-essential tasks (gifting) back a few weeks. A busy season, the Christmas season requires a lot from us.

Why not do some prep work now? Enter: Christmas in July. I thought it would be fun to spend July exploring all things gifting.

Let’s lay some groundwork.

1. I am not telling you that you are behind nor am I wishing away the current season. I love summer - a season where time idles and life explodes with possibilities. I enjoy shopping for loved ones more in this season than when I feel cold and uninspired. My intention is to alleviate pressure. I believe gift giving is a chore for many of us rather than a deliberate way to celebrate life and honor those we love by spreading joy and whimsy. By thinking ahead, even if it’s just brainstorming, hopefully you can keep your focus on others and why we celebrate when the Christmas season arrives.

2. Gift guide fatigue is real. I feel it too, especially in the thick of the holiday season. I’m not going to feed you lines about how my gift guide is not really a gift guide. It is. I am receiving no commission for linking any items in any of the guides. If it’s listed, I like it and think you might too. It’s that simple.

3. Gift giving is my love language. I believe people deserve to be celebrated and that giving gifts gives us a wonderful opportunity to do so.

4. I am not practical. Practical gifts bore me. If you are looking for the best iron, I am not your guy. (Update: I am open to growth and am coming off of my high horse. I am feeling a titch more generous towards practical gifts this year.)

5. If you are looking for fast, budget items, this isn’t for you. That’s not to say everything on the guides will be unaffordable. I don’t believe things have to be expensive to be good or carry meaning. I only mean that budget is not the lens through which I approached these guides.

6. Along the same lines, Screenshot’s ethos will always be quality over quantity.

7. My recommendations are not generally gender-specific. Does any man actually want a flask? The guides are not curated with a specific archetype in mind. I understand the urge to do so but personally find this limiting. Buy for the person, not for who you think the person should be. Gifting should be personal.

8. I am hesitant to say this because it feels controversial, but I believe we tend to be stingy with our money and have the ability to give better, more thoughtful gifts. Per Kaitlin Phillips of Gift Guide:

   “I accidentally burned a friend’s house to the ground once.” That’s the first line of “British Columbia — 1972,” a story by Cookie Mueller. That’s the whole story. By which I mean, it’s a story about what Cookie Mueller — who is high on cocaine, who has just tied her toddler to a plum tree outside a burning building — runs back in to save.

   Cookie, and her friend Howard, must make the value selections themselves. Their friends are out of town. Oops! “Howard and I hysterically grabbed a huge plastic container with a lid on it. We carried it out carefully, whatever it was; we would risk our lives saving it. Later we found out it was garbage.” Slipshod though their methods, they manage to carry out a Victorian blue velvet couch, Tiffany lamp, radio, mahogany rocker, selected crystal stemware…and three bottles of whiskey, for a well-deserved nightcap on the lawn.

   Only then do they remember the paintings. “We went into instant art panic. It was getting dangerously late to be in the house, the roof was about to fall.” For some time, they stand in the burning building fighting about which artwork to save. “THIS ARTIST IS MORE FAMOUS! Howard yanked a painting off the wall. BUT THIS ONE’S WORTH MORE! I grabbed another. We hadn’t much time. NO TAKE THIS ONE! IT’S OLDER!... BUT LOOK AT THESE BRUSHSTROKES.” A curatorial spat mid-Apocalypse. Howard loops the picture wires over his head. Easy to imagine the paintings slapping against his chest as he runs out of the house, neck pulsating. (Cookie never says if they lost any good paintings in the fire. I imagine her to be, even under duress, a fairly deft curator.)

   It’s a story I think about every holiday season. You must admit that the bulk of gifts that you give and receive are not worth saving in a house fire, and that this is your fault: You are not inspiring people to give you radical things. You yourself can spend more, and if not more, better.

   If not more, better. YES.

9. Special things take time to make. Artists and makers have commission schedules and waitlists that are often several months long. One more reason to start now.

Christmas in July Editorial Calendar

I. Intro and Ground rules - Today

II. Stocking Stuffers - Friday, July 10th

III. Gift Guide Part 1 - Wednesday, July 15th

IV. Gift Guide Part 2 - Friday, July 17th

V. “I would be happy with…” or everything I personally want - Wednesday, July 22nd

I hope you’ll join me. It’s going to be a fun month! More screenshots soon.

June was teeming with life. Curls from the humidity, bubble baths, and new teeth. Adam gave a flute recital he worked really hard on. We had the chance to source some truly special antiques for client homes. That said, June was busy and not without its challenges. We are learning not to shut off the things that fill us up and give us joy and meaning just because life isn’t perfect.

Here are 11 things from June worth screenshotting. OR you can just save this post — or, even better…

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BUT FIRST…

Here is what we covered this month on Screenshot.

• 20 things I find cool: Summer edition. Low fuss, simple pleasures, nothing try-hard. Cool is the new chic.

  Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

• Summer reading recs. Everything Adam recommends you read this summer. For people who like to read books that feel like the season they are in.

Let’s get to it.

1. Summer round-up. Nothing makes us want to bust out the film camera quite like summer. Take a second to click through this round-up of summer images and see if you don’t feel your shoulders ease.

2. Good work.

3. Bubble Bath. If you don’t want your hand to cramp after stirring in bubbles, this suds surprisingly well for a clean brand. We have the lavender and the eucalyptus mint and our kids enjoy both.

   

4. Blue and white done right. A timeless color combination that doesn’t feel like Grandma’s china. Entirely fresh. Via Mark Cunningham.

   

5. Washcloth Tray. This tickles something in our brains. Screenshotted via Jake Arnold.

6. Hop Jigs. By Tiernan Courell. The perfect album to loop if you too play the same songs over and over.

   

7. David Sedaris at home. Incredibly charming photos of David Sedaris by photographer Winnie Au. The ability to capture someone’s essence is a gift.

   

8. Queen Anne’s Lace. We think stylist Andrew Thomas is incredibly talented and love his take on a simple arrangement. Big but not clunky.

   

9. Utilitarianism. A used kitchen is a good kitchen. Screenshotted via Charles de Lisle.

   

10. Space Poster. For less than fifty bucks, this limited edition Tom Hammick poster would make a cool addition to a space-obsessed kid’s room. Good art and feels simultaneously youthful and adult.

11. Calling card as birthday invite. Five deserves a celebration. What a great keepsake and clever birthday invite.

See you in July. More screenshots soon.

A + A

Adam here…

My love of reading was nurtured by my mother in the way young infants are “nurtured” in baby swimming classes. That is, thrown into the water and snapped at until they follow the sound and float, blinking to clear water from their eyes while gasping for air. A staple of my childhood summers were daily (sometimes twice a day) trips to the library. We descended the tight, creaky stairs winding down to the basement – the house of children’s literature – where my mom insisted we check out the maximum allotment of ten books a piece. My twin brother and I could swap books and read up to twenty before returning for another ten each – making forty books a day possible and necessary to keep us at the top of the star chart leaderboards.

This sounds like I hated it. Truth is, I relished these trips. My mom made them special. She encouraged us to follow our interests and suggested topics tangential to our interests. Driving us to and from the library required sacrifice on her part, scheduling her days around ours. On our way out, we would stop under the trees at the front of the building and search for roly polys. I am grateful my mom encouraged reading and understood the doors that learning opens.

I would later spend two summers in the same space as a library helper where I would reinvigorate my love of reading between alphabetizing shelves, sneaking games of solitaire on the dusty Dell, and awaiting the high of checking patrons out with speed.

My alacrity for reading this year is akin to one of the Hungry Hungry Hippos dislocating its jaw to maximize marble intake. Metaphorically, I can’t eat enough books. The best part of any indie bookstore (not up for debate) is the staff recommendations – even better if accompanied by the little note card that gives a sentence or two of the bookseller’s thoughts. Once you get to know the habits and preferences of a particular staff member, you illuminate your book soulmates – a personal concierge to help book your next read.

READING PREFERENCES

I prefer to read books that have a strong sense of place. If I’m at the beach, I want the setting to be at the beach. It cements me in the moment and enriches both the present and the read. I like memoirs and any novel centered on dysfunctional families. The glimpse they offer into someone else’s life (fiction or not) almost matches the high of eavesdropping on the surrounding tables’ dinner conversations. To me, some books are seasonally specific. I can’t read about snow in summer.

Stepping into the role of personal book concierge, consider this my shelf of summer reading recommendations – notecards included.

*Note, I don’t give star ratings. For me, it either makes a mark or it doesn’t. That’s my criteria.

NOVELS

Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash (FICTION)

Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (FICTION)

No One’s Coming by Kevin Hazzard (NONFICTION)

Life Undercover by Amaryllis Fox (NONFICTION)

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (FICTION)

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (FICTION)

Sandwich by Catherine Newman (FICTION)

Among the Bros by Max Marshall (NONFICTION)

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett (NONFICTION)

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (FICTION)

NOVELLAS (A chance to feel superior by finishing a book in one afternoon, just in time for dinner)

*I found all of these via Ruby’s Recs who has served as my own book concierge for much of 2026.

Heating and Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly

The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt

Grayson by Lynne Cox

Ongoingness: The End of a Diary by Sarah Manguso

MY OWN SUMMER TBR PILE

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Hold Still by Sally Mann

A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett

Grab a good book and enjoy the sunshine. More screenshots soon.

Adam here…

Remember when I said I kind of hate the word chic? Forced into ambiguity through overuse, it has lost its meaning. The core of chic, to me, has always been simplicity. That’s summer. Low fuss, simple pleasures, nothing try-hard. Cool is the new chic.

Here are 20 (niche) things I find cool about summer.

1. Freshwater swimming. Even after surviving a self-diagnosed brain eating amoeba. Twice.

   

2. Spartan benches/ church pews. Shaker summer.

   

3. Swimming pools that touch grass. Very Gen Z of them.

   

4. Unashamedly sleeping late. Whoever introduced shame to rest should be fired.

5. Nasturtium. Better than geranium.

6. Cheap wood stakes. Good enough.

   

7. No ice. For real water drinkers.

8. Old beach towels. Ideally mismatched and sun-worn.

   

9. Bringing small gifts back from a trip. Buy another bag if you have to.

   

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10. A casual sleeve roll. Lesbian chic.

    

11. Subtle hand tattoo. I wouldn’t do it but support you.

12. Rock collecting. Admirable commitment to the analog.

13. Little bitty drawers. Where else are you going to keep your rocks?

    

14. Box fans. Humble luxury.

    

15. Alex Katz paintings. Vibrant and deceptively simple.

    

16. Seasoned fries. That are actually seasoned — a light dusting does not count.

17. A go-to salad dressing recipe. No more than five ingredients.

18. Fiestaware. Indestructible and reminiscent of school lunch.

    

19. BLT’s. “I love bacon. Bacon is good for me.” — King Curtis

    

20. Homemade signs. Summer enterprises. You can mow your own yard come September.

    

What’s on your summer list?

See you at the pool. More screenshots soon.

May was the sweetest month. We visited two fire stations. We stumbled onto a remote control car racing tournament while looking for Knoxville's dump truck competition — which is, for the record, a whole thing. Market season is back and, so too, is our favorite weekend ritual. We finished Hacks and cried. We ate too many sweet things and have no regrets. We sat on concrete bleachers on a blissfully sunny evening and cheered for kids we love at the end of a baseball season. We said goodbye to the teachers who made this year. Our Enid turned one and got the celebration she deserved. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, we felt a deep love for our work — our creative brains alive and excited.

Here are 14 things from May worth screenshotting. OR you can just save this post — or, even better…

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BUT FIRST…

Here is what we covered this month on Screenshot.

• The one thing teachers want — from a former teacher. We walk the walk and tell you exactly what we gave this year.

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  Teachers deserve more than we could ever give them. Sorely underpaid and grossly underestimated, they have wiped boogers (or worse) with their bare hands, listened to unlimited whining regardless of age, and sat through more meetings about things they have no say in than should ever be required of anyone. Despite all of this, they have done what they signed up to do — teach your children. And even more, the great ones love what they do and love your child. I promise.

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• Reflections on being a parent of two. Via 52 micro poems. Planning to print and put in a book for the kids when they are older. One of the 52:

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  FALSE ALARM

  Amber slams into my shoulder, jolting me from sleep. Our son is so still, we can’t seem to wake him. Panic activated, I say, “Dammit, rip his sleep sack off!” A sharp intake of air, he responds with a perfect, piercing cry.

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• Stock your bar with a lightweight. I know. An intriguing premise. Let someone who doesn’t really drink advise you on booze for the summer bar. Don’t worry, we don’t fake expertise. Two great mocktails, barware we actually use, and five bottles of wine worth trying this summer based only on their label.

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  Unequivocally, I would be an unpleasant drunk. There is at least a 90% chance you would have to check me into the ER. I am hypersensitive and do not like the sensation of feeling out of control of my body. I have never been embarrassed by this. I don’t mind when others drink, but I know myself well enough to know it’s not my ministry.

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Let’s get to it.

1. Dandelion ikebana. We might as well reserve one spot on each month’s screenshot digest for Deborah Needleman. Simple, sculptural, and the power of three.

2. The Lonesome Dove. Adam’s read for the month.

   I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give this a go. A western and not in any way related to my interests, I have enjoyed it so far. A nice surprise, the book is a lot funnier than I expected. One caveat: I am about 200 pages in. I find books over 450 pages a bit tedious, so knowing I have 700 left after reading the first 200 feels a bit daunting.

   

3. Tom Hammick’s studio. The possibility of piles of pigment. I can almost smell the slightly earthy, chemical scent through the screen.

4. Frisson. Anyone else get a strong, calming response when you watch other people create? Turns out, it’s called frisson:

   A brief, psychophysiological response to deeply moving stimuli. Often described as "aesthetic chills," it triggers a tingling sensation down the spine or arms, accompanied by goosebumps. It is commonly induced by beautiful music, profound art, or emotional movie scenes.

   

5. Pillsbury Delight. Immediate screenshot via Alex Delaney. Anyone have a project for us in Richmond, Virginia?

6. Paper food boats. We are in a season of really hitting our stride with play dates and parent group meet-ups. A few weeks ago, at one of these gatherings, they used these instead of paper plates. The parent told us, since having kids, they have moved to these and find that they are great for holding (and containing) food. Our son piled his high and, despite our hesitation, carried it to his seat with ease. Converted.

   

7. LOLWUT. Seen in downtown Knoxville, we need to email it to Molly Young for her ongoing series: Part 1 and Part 2. Save for a quick laugh.

   

8. Winter Road I. We kicked off a new project in DC this past week and, having a bit of time to explore, headed to the National Gallery of Art to see Georgia O’Keefe’s “Winter Road.” Sadly, it is not on view right now. We were still able to see some great modern works in the East Wing and hope to see this quiet work on a future visit.

   

9. Big Boy Bed. Speaking of O’Keefe, we have been studying this twin bed from her studio for our son’s first big boy bed. Good bones, little fuss.

   

10. Great Barrier Treehouse. Not an actual treehouse. Feels like it. A masterclass in maximizing space and keeping simplicity interesting. The orange fly swatter is a must. Also the third artist studio in this month’s digest — this one belonging to designer Martino Gamper and artist Francis Upritchard.

    

11. Moon Lists. We are both reflective but neither are journalers. We did some reading on these journal prompts and are intrigued. We are a proponent of anything that grounds focus and teaches you to really see. The author keeps a substack where you can glimpse a few prompts.

12. Catholicism: Lessons in Creative Direction. Made us chuckle.

    

13. A worthy bathroom. Steve Martin posted this on his Instagram — “Finally, a trailer bathroom that is worthy.” Never seen anything quite like this row of sinks. Note: plastic bottles of blue soap for humility.

    

14. Worth the effort. Not including this as shameless self-promotion, but instead as a reminder that everyone wants to feel valued. Taking the time to show this level of care is a lost art and made our week.

See you in June. More screenshots soon.

A + A

Adam here…

Unequivocally, I would be an unpleasant drunk. There is at least a 90% chance you would have to check me into the ER. I am hypersensitive and do not like the sensation of feeling out of control of my body. I have never been embarrassed by this. I don’t mind when others drink, but I know myself well enough to know it’s not my ministry.

With that said, I do like to have a good time — and to host. There is a reason the phrase “social drinking” exists — the fanfare surrounding it makes the whole thing feel like an event. Non-alcoholic offerings should not lack fanfare.

Bar recs from a lightweight

Wines. I don’t drink enough to claim any real connoisseurship. It’s a judge-it-by-the-cover situation. It’s my only option. The five bottles I recommend for summer based on the label alone:

1. Gulp Hablo Orange. This is what Comic Sans wishes it could be. Fun and a great excuse to kick off a lively discussion about weight-lifting. We love an orange wine. This bottle is actually in our fridge as I type.

   

2. De Fermo Montepulciano Rosato. Subtle, low fuss. Like a spunky grandmother.

   

3. Ruth Lewandowski Tatto 2024. An atypically shaped label with a storm, fighting demons, and a marching band warrants a second look.

   

4. Feints 2024. Another Lewandowski, it feels a bit saccharine but mystical in a way that feels perfect to celebrate Midsummer.

   

5. Las Jaras Superbloom 2024. Groovy.

Frozen cocktails. These frozen palomas are a crowd favorite. Nothing beats them. The frozen format also means no one has to commit to finishing in one evening.

Mocktail. A go-to is Lurisia mixed with San Pellegrino — essentially a zero-proof Aperol Spritz. You can drink it as-is, but the added bubbles make it last longer, which is my preference.

I had a pineapple shrub last time we ate at Stissing House. On the hunt for a great recipe. While the website leaves room to be desired, this recipe looks promising.

Zero Proof. Agua fresca is a good way to add variety to the drinks menu, and guests can always spike their own with a splash of tequila. This summer we’re doing watermelon:

• 1 whole watermelon, cubed

• 1 cup lime juice

• 1 cup simple syrup

• Mint to garnish

Kombucha is another go-to. Walker Brothers makes some great options — we like the citrus and cucumber melon. If you are in Knoxville, we recommend Frog Juice’s Mint Raspberry or Peach Lavender.

Non-perishable essentials

Glasses. For a grown-ups only option, we like these thin Japanese glasses introduced to us by Brooks Reitz. For kids and clumsy adults, we suggest these Picardie tumblers. Our kids drink out of them all the time (even our one-year-old) and we have only ever broken one — a testament to their durability.

For a colorful option, these Reed Smythe tumblers house a mean mint mojito.

Ice buckets. Pure silver is beautiful but requires careful storage and constant polishing. Be realistic with yourself. You are either the kind of person who does the maintenance or you aren’t. When it comes to ice buckets, I am not. Glass is my go-to. It reads classic in a way that a lot of other options feel — to me — transitional. Unsurprisingly, my favorite glassware store in Paris has just the ticket. Special, good-looking, and won’t break the bank. I’d buy two. When hosting, we always like to have at least two wine options open.

Wine stoppers. When you don't drink much, finishing a bottle in one sitting isn't really in question. For corking open bottles, I came across resin toppers made by Gelber & Sons — a California artist who will do whatever colors you like.

For Amber's birthday last year, I sent him a photo of our favorite Milton Avery and had him match four of the colors. They feel fun and summery, and I think they make a terrific gift. I came across the ones he made for Rory’s Place, a restaurant in Ojai and reached out directly.

If you have a ceramicist friend, this is also a good commission.

Ice. Even mocktails deserve fancy ice. I am aware that experts advise the use of spherical cubes. Not at risk of expertise, I don’t like the shape. Cubes for me please.

Water. A glass bottle filled with water on the table is one of the easiest upgrades in hosting. Just save an empty wine bottle or two. It costs nothing extra and reads as considered.

Mixers. A proper mixing glass elevates any party. Likely placebo. Doesn't matter.

Bottle opener. Creel and Gow makes great animal bottle openers — a go-to hosting gift for us. We like the rhino and the otter.

Cheers! More screenshots soon.

Adam here…

Enid turns one in less than a week. Some parenting reflections.

I <3 NY

We ride into the city, Amber white with motion sickness. I squeeze the pressure point in her wrist until my fingers cramp. I keep squeezing.

STRESS TEST

Having a hard time measuring our son’s heartbeat a few days before the birth, a stress test is ordered. “For me or for the baby,” I want to say. Not the time. While Emmett passes the stress test, I do not. I insist that Amber lay on me each night until I feel the baby kick enough for my liking.

BIRTHING BALLS

The doula leading our birthing class asked me to weigh in with a few pieces of advice (we were the only couple gearing up for baby number two). Advising the other couples to lean on their friends, I begin with “I assume you have friends.” A blunt phrase, the class laughs. It wasn’t a joke. I hope they do.

WORDS FROM MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD NIECE

“I don’t want him. I don’t like him and stuff.”

BAD ASSERY

After the birth of our daughter, I draft a text for those waiting on the news. I type out: “Amber is a bad ass.” I debate if it will offend. The only adequate description, I press send. Women are badasses, especially Amber.

FIRST NIGHT THOUGHTS

I don’t know you. But I want to.

LACTATION CONSULT

In a southern accent — “Suck, suck, suck. Looooooooong paaaauuussee. Suck, suck.”

SOUTHERN COMFORT

First-time parents just home from the hospital, we religiously assess our son’s breathing. I count the rate per minute of breaths and analyze each grunt. My mom casually mentions using a mason jar lid to test my sister’s breathing. Neurotic generational wisdom, we never left home without it.

FALSE ALARM

Amber slams into my shoulder, jolting me from sleep. Our son is so still, we can’t seem to wake him. Panic activated, I say, “Dammit, rip his sleep sack off!” A sharp intake of air, he responds with a perfect, piercing cry.

UNDER PRESSURE

Amber’s blood pressure skyrockets three days after the birth. My father-in-law rushes her to the ER. I frantically gather our things and the baby. My mother-in-law, Emmett, and I head to the hospital. Time moves in slow motion. I slam the car in park and run full speed through the garage and front entrance of the hospital. Later, my mother-in-law tells me through laughter, “I think the people in the lobby were scared of you.”

IN THE TRENCHES

We call my brother Andrew and ask if this is normal. “For a while, it’s going to feel like you are in the trenches, bombs coming in on all sides. It gets better.”

GLASS HALF FULL

My favorite thing to do is give positive parenting news. “It gets better after six weeks.” You need hope.

UPA (UNSOLICITED PARENTING ADVICE)

Bleary-eyed from exhaustion, I run into someone I know at the grocery store. “It just gets harder,” they warned. As I walk through the cheese aisle, I wonder how this is meant to make me feel.

THE MYTH OF BLACK AND WHITE

I know without a doubt, my worldview has seismically shifted — the world is now exclusively washes of grey.

INSIGNIFICANT

Waiting on friends outside after Enid’s birth. “I want to remember this forever,” I think. The bright blue concrete curb.

IN THE STARS

Enid is born. A best friend sends us her astrology chart. A Leo rising. Some fire. Thank gosh.

NOSE GOES

After worrying it was weird the first time, I take every kiss I can get — Enid biting my nose with her sweet, milky breath. I hope I get to kiss them forever.

TOP NOTES

A sufferer of allergies, I don’t love fragrance. After initially finding myself annoyed that our children came home from daycare smelling of perfume, I now see the smell as a reminder that they were held.

STAGNANCE

9:36 A.M. Up since six. I count down the minutes until my time is my own. I check to see if it’s lunch time. 9:42 A.M.

DNF

I always finish the books I start. Soon after our daughter is born, I start a new book. The opening starts with a kidnapping. DNF.

SouthernASMRLady

Overstimulated, I routinely nap to SouthernASMR lady — a woman who organizes dollar store shelves in her spare time, makes cheesy jokes about her ex-husband, and restores order to the Dollar General while I lose consciousness. Better than melatonin.

FEAR OF LOSING IT ALL

After a crying fit in the middle of the night, sleep evades me. I sit in the living room with a cup of coffee in darkness and coveted stillness reading Grief Is the Thing With Feathers. The narrator has tragically lost his wife, left with his two sons. My greatest fear, my heart beats faster. I cry when I read:

“And then our Mum and Dad were in love and they were truly dry-stone strong and durable and people speak of ease and joy and spontaneity and the fact that their two smells became one smell, our smell. Us.”

WINNING PARENTING

At therapy, I ask how to ensure a good long-term relationship with my children. I would like to shore this up as early as possible. “You want parenting to be like a steady train with tracks,” he says. “It’s much more like sailing. You must constantly reassess and alter course for survival.” I’ve never sailed before, I think.

I KNOW NOTHING OF CARS

What would it mean for my son to see me try to meet him in his world?

WORTH IT

To love is to risk.

EMPTY THREATS

“Ok. If we don’t bring the stroller, you have to walk. It’s a long way, and I’m not going to pick you up,” I warn. Soon called on my bluff, I scoop him up, his now gangly legs swinging against my sides as I carry him back to the car.

IT’S NOT CLOCKING TO YOU

Angry with me over the imperfect distribution of cinnamon on his oatmeal, my son “puts me in his water bottle, locks me up, and throws away the key.” Ope.

GERMOPHOBES ANONYMOUS

Prior to the birth of our children, I initiate a discussion as to whether it would be appropriate to wear a mask in my own home in the event my child had a stomach bug. “What’s the point in all of us getting sick,” I argue. The memory intrudes as I wait in line for a prescription. My son having sneezed in my face, I feel his spray on my cheek. I leave it there and swipe my card.

LITTLE GREG

I pick my son up from school. Smiling ear to ear, a model size replica of my father-in-law. I’m grateful I love Big Greg or this would be tough.

LATE NIGHT WORRIES

Interior designers by trade, what if he thinks we are materialistic? The next day, we walk in the door of a friend’s house for a playdate. My son immediately says “is this house decorated?”

OVERCOMING EGO

I pretend not to be competitive, but deep down, I want to win. When my kids scream in public, I am embarrassed. I catch myself. In their tears, they need me more than my ego needs preservation.

OVERCOMING EGO: PART II

I resist the temptation to ask Emmett’s teachers where he would rank (hypothetically speaking) among his three-year-old peers.

TRADE-OFFS

I miss sunset most, those hours now full of diaper cream and Eric Carle.

WELL-INTENTIONED

Let’s make a photo album a year. Pictures still sit in a shared album on our phone.

ON A WALK

My new favorite sociological experiment. Who acknowledges them. Slows down enough to see them.

PERSPECTIVE SHIFT

My son breaks my favorite ornament. It feels inconsequential, my focus now on teaching him that mistakes happen.

SELF CARE

Vasecto-me time.

AN EXCUSE FOR EVERYTHING

Maybe they are teething.

OH

I think of my mom driving me everywhere, a life spent waiting outside my music lessons and sports practices. Was she bored out of her mind?

BOOBOO

The very first day of daycare, Emmett falls in the driveway. A few nights later, afraid of infection, we spend the evening outside of children’s hospital urgent care. For two hours, we stroll in circles around the neighboring dentist parking lot before we are given an over the counter ointment. We know tomorrow will be rough. On the drive home, we both say “I’m glad we came.”

PICTURE DAY

Our son’s first school picture looks like a work badge, a semi-balding middle aged man staring emotionless at the camera caught mid-pose while asking “should I smile?” We choose Style D with the cheesy, heinous leaf border and frame it.

OVER BRUNCH

We fly to New York on business. Over coffee, we wager what kind of night the kids had. Is it too early to text?

LATE NIGHT TO-DO LIST

Remember to research how tall a fire truck ladder can actually reach.

GOOGLE SEARCH FROM APRIL 2026

My baby ate a violet.

SWEET CANNIBALISM

My Nana always told me she wanted to eat me with a spoon. I want to eat my children.

ROUND HEADS

We walk around smug about the perfectly round heads we created together, further emboldened as the grocery cashier comments “what a beautiful head.”

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Our power goes out. We head to grandparents. Granddad brushes Emmett’s teeth while Grandma pulls the freshly laundered sheets from the dryer.

MARGINALIZED

Filling out school intake papers, we count our blessings one at a time as we list out the people allowed to pick him up from school, until we run out of space — adding further contacts in the margins.

BROWNISH GREEN

Our son was born with his mother’s beautiful blue eyes. My eyes a non-descript brown, I hope they stick. “What age does eye color solidify?” I google. Both now have eyes that are an ambiguous shade of brownish green.

INTO THE LOOKING GLASS

The best and worst of me reflected back. Depends on the day.

FATHER’S DAY

I can’t wait to go get coffee and hang out for the day. I hear my son wailing in the kitchen. I run in and ask what’s wrong.

He says he doesn’t want to go to the coffee shop.

Where does he want to go.

He says he wants to go to Father’s Day.

MY WHOLE FAMILY

At night, Emmett insists he be carried to bed in my arms, Amber’s arm wrapped around his head and his arm wrapped around Enid. The way he requests this: “I want all of me.”

I’m taking it a day at a time, course correcting as I go. I’m learning to sail.

Adam here…

May is nuts for parents. For teachers, I can only liken the end of the school year to running the last leg of a race immediately following knee replacement surgery — except you are also in charge of ushering a hundred teenagers over the finish line who, stunted by the possibility of summer, have lost their will to function.

Teachers deserve more than we could ever give them. Sorely underpaid and grossly underestimated, they have wiped boogers (or worse) with their bare hands, listened to unlimited whining regardless of age, and sat through more meetings about things they have no say in than should ever be required of anyone. Despite all of this, they have done what they signed up to do — teach your children. And even more, the great ones love what they do and love your child. I promise.

I taught for ten years. This is a first-hand account. I can tell you exactly what teachers want. It might surprise you.

They want to feel seen, valued, and appreciated. However you can best do that — do it.

THE ONLY REQUIREMENT

Write a thank you note. It costs next to nothing. Do it on any paper you have. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It does have to be hand-written, more than three sentences, and specific. Put in some effort.

I kept two full boxes of notes from my years in the classroom. I don’t remember every gift I received. I will never forget the notes.

If you do nothing else, do this.

WHAT BEING ”SEEN” LOOKS LIKE

If budget allows for more than a note, great.

The principle is simple: make it about them. Trying to impress them is not about them — it’s about you. A photo of yourself, even one that includes them, is more about you than it is them.

If you give me a pack of seeds to plant by myself in my garden after running the last leg of a relay, I’m going to crash out. This is more work and for sure a source of guilt over the summer as they sit unplanted on my kitchen counter. Give the gift of a guilt-free summer. If they are a master gardener who plans to spend the entire summer gardening and you know this, forgive and ignore me. Otherwise, forego the Cosmos.

Ideally you have formed some kind of personal connection with their teachers through the year. What do they like? What are they into? The older your kids, the more they can — and should — contribute ideas. There is no better way to teach a child to see their teacher as a human being who gave a lot of themselves over the course of a year.

THE FORMULA

I handle gifting in our family. People assume it’s Amber. I don’t correct them — credit misses the point. My formula for year-end gifting is simple:

A gift card. One personal item. A hand-written note.

GIFT CARDS

We give the same gift card to every teacher in the class unless we have specific knowledge of personal preferences. We prefer local when possible — a local gift card is also an excuse for an outing, which is its own gift.

Some years we’ve done Amazon or Visa, which are practical and universally useful. Other years we’ve given Magpies, our local bakery, or Union Ave Books, our local indie bookstore. Adjust the amount to your budget.

PERSONAL ITEMS

These are things we have actually given. The nicer ones can stand on their own (sans gift card) if you choose.

• Hand soap — See: wiping boogers. “Wishing you a germ-free summer.” This pink grapefruit is the perfect summer scent.

• Bar soap — Trillium Soaps in Maine is our go-to. The scents are natural and fresh — their lavender and spearmint are hard to beat. The hand cut bars feel simple but elevated.

• A crystal — Quirky and not for everyone — or maybe it’s even better for a teacher who doesn’t seem “the type.” We printed the meaning of the stone and cut it out in fortune cookie size paper strips to put in the bag. Emmett picked the colors of the bags for each teacher as well as the stones. We also included a hand-written sentence of why he said he chose each stone for that particular teacher. We called them personal oracles from Emmett.

  

• A small rock from Elizabeth Saloka — You have to DM to order. I like the tootsie roll, eraser, magic 8 ball, or these film rocks — “thanks for all the moments.”

• A book — Slightly risky. If you go the book route directly, inscribe it. Think Anxious People by Fredrik Backman for an English teacher inscribed:

  I’ll never be able to repay you for giving me my love of reading. May summer bring you warmth and low anxiety. Forever grateful for you.

  Or simpler:

  A favorite for my favorite.

  The inscription is where the gift becomes personal. Don’t skip it.

• A notebook from Choosing Keeping — partial to the weird Chintz Cats. Again, must know the teacher.

• A favorite pen — with a sentence about why we thought they’d like it specifically

  

• Our favorite rock vase — hand-made luxury that every teacher deserves

  

• A ceramic berry bowl — we get ours from a local maker but these are also fun

• Leather luggage tags (embossed) — Full transparency, we have not done this yet. But, I intend to. I would want to put a phrase that fits the class or each of the teachers. Maybe something the teacher says all the time that’s funny or interesting. Another possibility would be an embossed bookmark. ETSY has some solid options.

All of these gifts say: someone thought about you.

WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY GIVING THIS YEAR?

Talk is cheap. We’ll walk the walk and tell you.

Emmett’s teachers are absolute delights. Quirky, worldly, and among the most caring people we have encountered in his school life. They are invested in the school community and in the broader community around it. From daily conversations over the course of the year, we have come to know and love them.

The main event: a $50 gift card to Union Ave Books. Supports the local community and a guilt-free excuse to pick up a summer read. If the budget allows, we believe teachers deserve extravagance — fifty bucks covers the cost of a full book (or puzzle) and then some. This is not a competition. Do what works for you.

The personal: The goose seems to be an unofficial class mascot. They use the phrase silly goose with some regularity. They refer to themselves as “goose forward.” They call Emmett a “goose on the loose.” Earlier in the year, we gifted them a classroom copy (out of print) of our favorite picture book for when kids are having a bad day — brilliant illustrations by Marla Frazee prominently feature a cantankerous goose.

We found some cool goose stickers to drop inside the hand-written cards. The sticker itself costs almost nothing. The value lies in the personal anecdote. Admittedly didn’t find these in time, but really enjoy the goose with a knife if you are willing to opt for a bit of unhinged humor. Feels poignant for chasing insane toddlers around on the daily.

The note: While I won’t share exactly what I am writing in each note (that’s personal), I will say that, a sap at heart, I tend to be loquacious. I use my best notecards.

On wrapping: I take the same care with wrapping that they have taken with our kid all year. I like a colored tissue paper (very cost effective), silk or grosgrain ribbon, and a special gift label. I want opening the gift itself to feel like a gift. It’s a small gesture toward saying: you matter.

A quick note on support staff: Don’t forget the people who make the school run. Small tokens of appreciation are always appreciated. Food seems to be the go-to and they end up with a lot of it. I would avoid it. Unless you are the guru of homemade baklava — the one exception. Cards are once again appreciated. For Christmas this year, we did a potted amaryllis and a card. They sent us the best updates every week, an unexpected point of connection this winter. For end-of-year, we are doing a small, hanging mobile by a local maker.

To the keepers of silly geese, thank you teachers.

Aside from oak pollen threatening our existence for the entirety of the month, April is tops. We will never get over the chartreuse, almost fluorescent green actualized by a thunderstorm as if the leaves are attempting to match the lightning’s intensity. Azalea and rhododendron blooms dot the Tennessee landscape in pinks and purples. The weeds and mosquitoes are emerging but mostly kept at bay for now. Egged on by warming temperatures, inspiration flows like the Mississippi. We started new seasons of favorite TV shows (Your Friends & Neighbors and Hacks), read several noteworthy books, and figured out how to successfully integrate a quirky bookcase into a beautiful staircase. Don’t be fooled. Life was not without complications. Not only did we unsuccessfully attempt to introduce barrettes to our almost one-year-old daughter’s hair, but Adam's debit card was eaten by a Walgreens envelope after picking up a prescription. And this is after he ardently advocated for the eradication of this policy. Worse than the loss of the card, we have all had to listen to him gripe about it.

Here are 15 things from April worth screenshotting. OR you can just save this post — or, even better…

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BUT FIRST…

Here is what we covered this month on Screenshot.

• Screenshots from Adam’s potentially half-identical twin brother. We can almost guarantee you will walk away knowing at least three new brands. If you enjoy getting lost in links (that are actually worthwhile), this is for you.

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  My twin brother, Andrew, is my best friend and favorite fool. My personal troll, he recently talked me out of buying a pair of leather sandals from the LES in New York — “No one wants to see you in a shoe that looks like your wedding ring is on your toe.” Touché.

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• Thirteen people (who we knew would have strong opinions) on the pen they reach for when it counts.

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  Only pen I use is the Pilot G2 (.38) in black.
  

  It’s a grocery list pen. I think most of the pilot pens are trash but the .38 picks up on the smallest of shifts. It’s the only pen I’ve found that reveals how someone wrote - it won’t go further than your gesture.

  In my head it’s the great revealer.

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• Learn from our mistakes in working with flowers — with a list vases to put them in.

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  Chicken wire will make you question life. After finally locating the wire cutters you inevitably didn’t put back in the toolbox, you then have to roll out a sheet of chicken wire — guesstimating the amount you need and hoping it’s enough. You have to step on said wire to keep it from rolling back up as you cut and — oh yeah — because you are a normal person and don’t sharpen your wire cutters regularly, it’s going to feel like a gym workout, you pleading for the wire’s cooperation. After the cuts are made, you are left with sharp prongs that will attack you as you roll it. Even if you, by some miracle, get the ball the right size on the first go (and don’t collapse the holes so much that thicker stems won’t even go through), you still have work to do. You must then press the ball into the vase and awkwardly secure it using tape that will come loose a million times as you arrange the flowers. By the end of it, you will feel repulsed and your swear jar will be at capacity.

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• 22 niche things Adam thinks are cool — because chic is out. If you know Adam, you know this is classic him.

Let’s get to it.

1. The importance of “stuff”. Screenshotted from designer Sally Wilkinson, we enjoy seeing a real collection of “stuff” put together so successfully.

2. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. Adam is a little over halfway through this collection of essays by Ann Patchett and has already deemed it a five star read. From Adam:

   Ann possesses an ability to capture the essence of humanity. It’s hard to explain. You just have to read her work. She eats poison ivy, auditions for the LAPD just to write about it, and gives poignant writing advice applicable to any creative endeavor. A fellow Tennessean, her description of Tennessee’s plants and sub tropical climate that sends them growing rampantly — uncontrollably — made me proud to call this state home.

3. Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA. Adam’s only other five star read from the month. A great depiction of the realities and sacrifices the job requires. It’s so detailed — sharing how operatives lose a tail or pass messages to assets using chalk markings — Adam said it felt illegal. Highly recommend.

   

4. Emmet Gowin. American photographer, Gowin’s work was on display at Pace Gallery in New York this month in his exhibit: Baldwin Street: Photographs 1966-1994. We were unfamiliar with him but were immediately taken with his black and white imagery reminiscent of other American greats — his work feels very Sally Mann adjacent. Stella Blackmon is another visual artist producing work with a similar visual language. His initial exposure came through photographing his wife Edith and his own children. There is a movement and vivacity in his depiction of family that feels honest.

   

5. ih8ithere. Adam says this all the time — mostly sarcastically. Seen on a boat tote via @ironicboatandtote. Proof there are no (or very few) original ideas. Thinking ahead to 2027, would be great engraved on a Smythson Diary.

6. Your Friends & Neighbors. Season two kicked off a few weeks ago. An excellent premise. If you want to cringe and feel slightly on edge, this is for you. The show stresses us out, but we can’t turn away.

   

7. Eucalyptus lounger. Via Arborica, a new standard for park benches nationwide. Curious about the smell, we did a quick search: “Eucalyptus wood typically has a faint, earthy, or slightly woody scent, but it does not smell like the strong, medicinal, minty aroma of eucalyptus oil found in leaves. The oils that create that famous aroma are concentrated in the leaves, not the timber.” We’ll take it.

8. Good Hang with Amy Poehler. Yes, this made the list again. It’s that good. We aren’t huge “celebrity” people. They’re just like us or whatever they say. However, this podcast is deftly crafted. It is most satisfying to listen to an interviewer do their homework and ask real questions. A masterclass in humor, making others feel loved, and learning to laugh at yourself. We particularly enjoyed the episode with Fred Armisen. Watch the clip above of him “expertly” blowing smoke about the Alaskan Pipeline.

9. The Great Divide. Noah Kahan’s newest album — an album that feels like a quintessential American summer, heartbreak and all. “Porch Light” is the stand out.

10. Annabelle Dinda. We aren’t exactly the first to break the news of Kahan’s massively anticipated release, but maybe we are the first to tell you about singer Annabelle Dinda who is opening for him on his summer tour. Remarkably talented lyricist with an emotionally gripping voice, the texture and thickness of her tone are exquisite. Start with “The Hand” and “Logging Field.”

    

11. La Minervetta. Now this is a hotel room. In Sorrento, Italy. A good room informs the way you live in it, and this might actually make us sit down to write postcards home.

12. Parent Humor. Agreed. The teacher in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is suspicious. Our favorite comment on the post:

    The purple ear is troubling. should probably see a doctor

    

13. Parent Humor Part II. “We have dead plants at home.” Wise beyond his years.

14. The Outsiders. We saw it at the Tennessee Theater when it was in town. If it is near you, we are assigning it as required viewing. Unbelievable cast. Three hour drive? Worth it. It’s never convenient to support the arts. You can always find a reason to say no. Buy the ticket and go — and bring tissues.

    

15. Reclaimed Gym Floors. We can’t get this bathroom using reclaimed gym floors —by design firm Retrouvius — out of our heads.

See you in May. More screenshots soon.

A + A

Adam here…

I kind of hate the word chic. It’s become cloying.

Ever the hypocrite, I shared a list of 15 things I find “chic” about a year ago.

*immediate citizen’s arrest*

Moving forward, cool is the new chic. Less try-hard. Less classist. It’s just… cool. Here are 22 (niche) things I find cool.

1. Blind monograms on totes. To read it, you gotta want it. Don’t shout at me in red.

   

2. Accepting a compliment. Stop rambling and say thank you. It’s ok to enjoy praise. Returning a compliment with a compliment feels disingenuous no matter its truth.

3. Basic coolers. Yep, the ones that leak. Nostalgic and anti Big Yeti.

   

4. Floor plans. It’s the hatching in the walls for me. Good design in its simplest form.

5. Listening to an entire album straight through. Attention span required.

6. Wrapping gifts in newspaper. Not for the earth. Because it looks cool.

7. Remembering someone’s name. As an introvert, I’m tired of always remembering your name without reciprocity.

8. Colored electrical cord. Ideally silk. Even brown counts.

   

9. Drawing on restaurant napkins. Or writing a quote stolen from a neighboring table’s conversation.

10. Knowing what you like. No pink M&M’s — I agree with Mom.

    

11. Picking up coffee without asking for orders. Taking charge in an epidemic of decision fatigue is the ultimate gift.

    

12. Handwriting. If you have ever written me, I likely have it in a drawer.

13. Not carrying a water bottle. Are we really that parched?

14. Always having tissues in the car. Mother superior.

15. Decanting butter into a butter dish. Biceps should not be required for use.

    

16. Saying no when your kid asks for a hamster. It’s a rodent.

17. Having a piece of your own art in your home. Being able to make is underrated.

18. Glasses and a pencil in shirt pocket. Disqualified if mechanical.

    

19. Saying “I love you.” It’s free.

20. Old paintbrushes. A life well-lived.

    

21. Neurotically organized supplies. Labels with numbers only preferable.

    

22. Religiously keeping up with eagles via livestream. I’m scared of birds, but having a hobby is in.

Stay cool. More screenshots soon.