Coffee Break #004: Roombas have feelings too!
Plus: a new paint scheme, maple pecan pie, and a striped sweater.
Dear Friend,
Happy Sunday! I’m currently trying to decide if I want to repaint my office. It’s been my ideal shade of millennial pink for nearly four years now, and I love it, but I’m getting a bit bored. I’ve been pinning photos of light, dusty blue colors for years now, and part of me wants to pull the trigger, but also the idea of taking everything off the walls and painting sounds exhausting.
Here’s my moodboard so far:
The only new things are the paint color, bookshelf, rug, and throw pillow. I think the light blue looks so pretty against the gold velvet chair I have. But like… so does the pink I have currently. See my dilemma? Anyways, thoughts welcome. Onto the rest!
This week smells like…
Maple pecan pie baking in the oven.
Dust and cinnamon from the Christmas decorations in my basement.
Expensive bubble bath, because self-care is worth it.
This week sounds like…
Vienna – Billy Joel
Sea of Love – Cat Power
Life in the City – The Lumineers
This week feels like…
Autumn’s second wind.
A soft new sweater on a crisp day.
The first twinkling lights of the holiday season.
Reading updates, new releases, and more news from the stacks.
Just Finished
It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard – This book was so sweet, I really liked it! I was pleasantly surprised by all the references to Broadway and music theatre, as a huge theatre nerd myself. It was also the perfect book to read after coming home from a week spent in Brooklyn and NYC. I felt like the side characters were pretty well fleshed out, and loved the dynamic of Adam’s family. My main complaints were that Adam felt a little too perfect at times, and it got to a point where I wanted to scream, “Oh my god just talk to each other for once.” I know there’s an element of that feeling in all rom-coms, but sheesh. All in all, a delightful and heartwarming book with plenty of spice.
Currently Reading
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon (out April 7th, 2026) – I was putting together a massive list of new releases for 2026 (wink, wink) and came across this book. I immediately requested it on NetGalley, and was fortunate enough to receive an eARC. I started reading it, and I can already tell it’s going to destroy me. It’s set in a near-future where household appliances are sentient, and follows a little robot vacuum named Scout as she decides to explore the world. It’s giving Brave Little Toaster vibes, and it has already made me cry in the first two chapters, so I’m anticipating really loving this book.
Up Next
I’m gonna be honest, I have no clue. My physical TBR pile is threatening to overtake my office. My NetGalley eARC shelf grows larger by the day. I’m starting to genuinely fear for the amount of books I want to read vs. the time I have left on this planet.
Things I’ve read, saved, shared, or bought this week.
My husband got me this Instax Mini Link 3 printer, which prints your phone photos out onto the classic Instax mini film. I’ve been printing tiny photos out CONSTANTLY. I’ve also saved a ton of adorable frames and photo albums for Instax photos. I’m having way too much fun.
Interesting – author Sarah Hall’s new book, Helm, is being released with a “Human-Written” sticker on the cover. I think this is a great idea. I’d love to believe that every traditionally-published book was human-written, but in this day and age, it’s hard to know for sure. Taking a firm stance against generative AI in creative endeavors feels like a good next step for the publishing industry.
Alexandra Gater is one of my favorite home decor Youtubers to watch, and this recent makeover that she did is to die for.
If you’re looking for a way to stay informed about politics and current events, but you prefer to get your news from someone who feels like she could be your best friend, then Hot Tip is for you. I love Alex Friedman’s ability to seamlessly blend humor, wit, and millennial pop culture references while reporting on the actual issues, events, and policies that are affecting the average American. I always read her newsletters top to bottom, and really can’t recommend them enough!
I’m obsessed with this pink and brown striped cardigan with a ruffled collar from Anthropologie, but I can’t decide if I would actually wear it or if it would feel too busy.
Also, how cute are these Landline hoop earrings? They look exactly like a coiled landline phone cord. I used to love twirling those around my finger while I yapped on the phone for ages. My fellow old people will understand.
What I’m eating (or rather, what I’d like to eat) this week!
Breakfast
Goat Cheese Quiche – we made this for breakfast this weekend, and it’s so good. Pro tip: add a little balsamic vinegar to the onions while you’re caramelizing them. It tastes SO good.
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks & Drinks
Maple Pecan Pie – my husband is making this for our family’s Thanksgiving, so he’s doing a test run this weekend and I get to be the lucky taste tester.
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I love that dusty blue! I can't get enough of dusty blue/maroon/marigold/brown as a color combo lately.
Please help me I live in terror of my Roomba. She only ever screams at me in German despite my best efforts to change the language setting.