Friends we are ( thankfully) finally coming out of a deep freeze. We’ve had some form of ice and snow on the ground here in Louisville for the better part of 2 weeks and frankly, I’m over it. I’ve mentioned this before but I grew up in Memphis, where 40 degrees is about as cold as it gets in winter. A couple of inches of snow will shut the city down. I’ve lived here for over 10 years and I’m still adjusting.

I’ve been watching everything unfold in Texas and the rest of the south with a heavy heart and an empathetic mind. As a southern ex-pat living a little too far North, I never experienced a real winter until I moved here. They don’t have salt trucks or plows in the south. Winter clothes are the same as summer clothes. Back home, I’ve worn t-shirts on Christmas day because it was 75 degrees. I say all this to say it’s hard to prepare for something that literally never happens. I mean would you expect people in LA to have snow plows? I wouldn’t.

I hope if nothing else the events of the past year have taught us all to extend more grace to others as our circumstances can change at a moments notice. Luckily spring is upon us, hopefully sooner rather than later. Here’s some reads to kick off the week after the jump!

First up, how to help our friends in Texas that are suffering right now.

This NYT article about motherhood during the pandemic is both infuriating and expected.

This is an interesting piece on the everchanging Instagram algorithm and how it has affected creatives across industries.

My go-to single serving pancake recipe. Sometimes I add chocolate chips if I’m feeling adventurous.

I can’t stop thinking about this article on how women survive and compartmentalize trauma in the wake of the insurrection.

Ditch the bottled teriyaki sauce and make this instead.

A must read deep dive into the myth of the black middle class.

I watched Promising Young Woman a couple of weeks ago, and it was a refreshing narrative on rape culture and it’s affects on women. This interview with director Emerald Fennell gives some insight to her process in making the film, and how we do a disservice to women when we normalize predatory behavior from men.

Hope this helps kick off your week strong. Tell me, what’s the best thing you’ve read recently?