Baguette Gazette: Things I'm loving, 2024 intentions + "solo dates"

Is this thing on? 🗞️

Hi friends. Happy February and welcome to the latest installment of “Baguette Gazette”. I took a break from writing it since turning off paid subscriptions [for the time being] in December, but found myself missing it. So for now, I’ll be sending these out monthly to all subscribers.

(If you’re new around here, hello! Baguette Gazette is a monthly catchup where I share recommendations, personal updates, and what’s going on behind the recipes at TNB HQ.)

• In The Know: Only a couple of episodes in, but I’m obsessed with this new animated comedy. Co-created by and starring the hilarious Zach Woods - of The Office and Silicon Valley - the series is set at NPR, a fictional [?] public radio station where Zach’s character hosts a culture show similar to the iconic “Fresh Air”. The series pokes fun at culture tropes and each episode features a Zoom interview with an unsuspecting celebrity (Norah Jones, Mike Tyson, etc.) As someone who listens to actual NPR daily, I think it’s extremely hilarious - the second episode had me laughing to tears - albeit a bit niche.

• Dopamine Nation: I’ve had this book on my list ever since being captivated by the author on Armchair Expert. A psychiatrist and mental health researcher with 20+ years of experience, Dr. Anna Lembke is an expert in addiction. The book details the physiological and psychological mechanisms of addiction - to everything from drugs and alcohol, to social media, food, and sex. We all use compulsive behaviors as an escape to some degree, so I think this book would be illuminating to anyone.

• Gaspard Cardigan: Sézane is the epitome of “French girl style” (as the internet defines it, anyway…) and I too have fallen prey to their gorgeous marketing campaigns. I’ve been eyeing this sweater for months and when I finally got it, I wore it almost every day for two weeks straight. Their knitwear definitely lives up to the hype and if you consider the cost-per-wear, there’s considerably less sticker shock.

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Is it just me or was January 56 days long? I must admit, I’m a bit exhausted. There’s so much pressure this time of year, especially for entrepreneurs/creators. We’re always thinking about growing, making a bigger impact, and wondering if we’re moving at the proper speed - but never more than in January. It feels like the time to set goals and get on the trajectory for “success” in the new year.

Last month actually marked seven years (gasp) since I left my full-time marketing job. So much has changed in the food media industry since 2017 that I almost feel like I’m starting from scratch…?

One of my professional goals for 2024 is actually to do less. Looking back at my entrepreneurship journey, I’ve been really lucky and have had some incredible opportunities. Ones that 2017 me would’ve been incredulous about. But, I’ve also made many mistakes. So. Many. Mistakes. One of them was diluting my focus, spreading myself too thin. And if I’m being truly honest, probably being afraid to truly commit.

So this year, I’m working on sharpening my focus, saying no to things that don’t align, and doubling down on the activities that do.

What are your intentions for the year? Tell me in the comments!

Scenes from solo walks

On the personal front, one of my intentions is to take myself on more “solo dates” (a term I picked up from Leslie of

morning person

, similar to Julia Cameron’s “artist dates”). This is something I started last year and quickly realized how much joy, peace, and inspiration it brought me.

My solo date of choice is a long, early morning walk - preferably on a Saturday. I’ll usually pick a neighborhood or destination that I love but rarely visit (like Brooklyn Heights or Central Park), and set aside a few hours to wander. Another stipulation: no podcasts or music while I’m at it.

Walking alone clears my head, begets new ideas, and makes me feel embodied. I’ll always stumble across a new shop, café, or street, and it’s just nice to experience something new, no matter how seemingly small. I think that people need that - to see new things, have a change of scenery - to feel expansive.

The “solo” part is key because it creates space to just be with yourself. It’s a totally different experience from being with another person - talking, gauging their energy, etc. (Especially for someone like me with people-pleasing tendencies.)

Curious: do you go on solo/artist dates? What do they look like?

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