Comfort food: volume 04

Volunteering, feel-good books, podcasts and more.

Substack friends, January has been anything but easy.

But instead of diving into the emotional rollercoaster of the past few weeks, I wanted to share this “comfort food” list I drafted earlier this month—a little reprieve of sorts.

I’ll admit, I’ve been feeling creatively zapped ever since the fires began (in addition to other news I’m sure I’ll speak to later), but I genuinely love sharing here and wanted to find a way to ease back in. So here we are! Let’s get into this month’s most notable.

Volunteering: I’ve been volunteering with Wags & Walks for over a year now, and with the LA fires, it’s been incredibly fulfilling to support those in need alongside the LA community. I’m even considering fostering a pup—just waiting on my landlord’s blessing. And yes, I’ve fostered puppies before (I always get very attached), but it’s such a rewarding way to give back and pour love and energy into something else.

Rewatching classics: Lost in Translation, Good Will Hunting, Catch Me If You Can…

These movies are incredibly nostalgic for me. I get lost in the storylines, the beautiful scenery of Tokyo, the nuanced characters, the storytelling…escapism at its best.

Reading > scrolling:

I’m putting a stop to my scrolling habits. Things got a bit out of control these past few weeks, and it’s time to swap the endless scrolling for something much more nourishing—like a good book. Here’s what I read and loved towards the end of 2024:

• Good Material by Dolly Alderton—relatable and full of British humor. So up my alley.

• Everything I Know About Love also by Dolly Alderton—the most beautifully written memoir, ultimately about female friendship and learning how to adult. I can’t say enough good things about this book (or author). This quote really got me:

“Life is a wonderful, mesmerizing, magical, fun, silly thing. And humans are astounding. We all know we’re going to die, and yet we still live. We shout and curse and care when the full bin bag breaks, yet with every minute that passes we edge closer to the end. We marvel at a nectarine sunset over the M25 or the smell of a baby’s head or the efficiency of flat-pack furniture, even though we know that everyone we love will cease to exist one day. I don’t know how we do it.”

Playing on Pinterest: okay, this is technically another version of scrolling but also feels a lot more nourishing than say, TikTok or Instagram. Would you agree?

Friday pancakes: My boyfriend and I like to extend our weekends by waking up a bit earlier on Friday mornings and making pancakes and coffee together. I’ve been making an apple compote lately, and it’s been the most delicious little addition. I’m happy to share my (very loose) recipe if anyone’s interested—just let me know.

Lisa Kudrow on Armchair Expert: My favorite moment from this episode was when Lisa shared how, after a series of rejections and a bout of depression, she started every morning by walking to her local bakery for a pain au chocolat. Something about getting outside, treating herself to something delicious, and getting sun on her face allowed her to start feeling more like herself (she also booked Friends soon after). It’s such a beautiful example of how small, intentional acts really can shift everything.

Reading on Substack:

I love it when I find myself on Substack over other social platforms. It’s a much better way to start your day, promise. Here are some of my favorite reads from recent weeks:

• Where I Find the Time to Read by Jordan Santos

• My Sustainable Morning Routine by Lindsay Scholz

• Yearly Review: Reflections and Visions by Maddy Odom

If you’re in LA (or know anyone affected by the fires), how are you doing, really? And for those outside of LA, feel free to share some good news here. I’m sure we’d all love to hear it.

Ciao for now,

Jess