This is the Kos newsletter: warm email notes from a friend. Finding the simple joy in parenthood, bodies, spirituality, creativity, and beauty. Sound like your jam? Subscribe below for weekly notes.
Hello from the other side of Barbenheimer! What a time to be alive. How’s your summer going? Ours wraps up with the start of school in about a week and some grandparent visit action. I’m excited for both.
A housekeeping note
Apologies for not sending notes every Sunday like I have in the past. My writing routine’s been thrown off since May. But I’m hoping to get back on that Sunday schedule once school starts + a sane routine ensues. I like that weekly cadence and the idea of a Sunday note. Sorry again.
A few things of note
I loved Barbie. I can’t stop thinking about it. There were a few bits that were like yeah yeah, men are dumb yadda yadda that I couldn’t done without but my gosh, overall, what a flick. Truly felt like a movie made by women for women in 2023. I bawled like a baby during those closing scenes. Next up, Oppenheimer! P.S. Kinda love the new Ninja Turtles movie. Splinter will have you rolling, and the music is so good. 7.5/10!
I’m living vicariously through Kristin’s newsletter on her life in Seoul with her Korean boyfriend. I miss Korea every day. Go subscribe to her newsletter now if you have any K culture curiosity! (want to know something? Kristen and I “met” through a Cup of Jo excel spreadsheet where women were saying where they were from and meeting up with our CoJ readers in the same city. Ours was Seoul! Blogging isn’t dead you guys.)
Craig Mod is the coolest. Long walks through Japan. Photography. Coffee table books.
We’re thinking about doing another house exchange next summer. Where should we go? We used Behomm for our Copenhagen exchange in 2016 and may go that route again since it was so seamless.
What’s your favorite perfume? This is my #1 floral.
I forgot about smoothies until ChefBae’s green one. Yum. I had everything already on hand so easy peasy.
I’m still on Twitter. I don’t know why.
Taking this online course on AI and prompt engineering.
My favorite bra and favorite (not cute but VERY solid) sports bra. Just threw out my old and updated to new.
I’m enjoying the latest season of The Kardashians. <insert embarrassed emoji>The Kris Jenner party where they all wear wigs so they look like her?!?! This season of The Bachelorette is also hitting the spot. What are you watching these days?
Love Taipei trailer. Eek!
I started a walking group with my local church ladies. I am so excited. Crossing my fingers some of the older ladies come bc I mostly want to chat with them and get all the life advice.
Reading Lately
What have you read lately? I’ve had weirdly good luck from Little Free Libraries in my neighborhood. I grabbed Happy Place by Emily Henry and Little Weirds by Jenny Slate.
A friend gave me Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood for my birthday and it was *so* fun. I don’t understand these huge authors that are also PhDs and successful lawyers (Loveboat, Taipei’s Abigail Hing Wen) and such?! It’s so amazing.
We all Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman (CW cancer) Cried like a fool. I love Catherine Newman—her writing is raw and funny and real.
If you liked this newsletter, there’s one thing you can do that will help me more than anything: share it. You can share this post now by clicking below. I see and appreciate every like, comment, share, and good vibe. xo Koseli
Thank you, thank you for sharing my newsletter! I am so bummed our time here really didn't overlap. I think we would've made great friends IRL, but glad to have you as my internet pal! I also discovered today that we have the same taste in books! Loved We All Want Impossible Things and of course all things Emily Henry! xox
Let’s talk about advice from our elders. I am so there. Are you feeling the 40’s yet? When are you there? And by 40’s I mean “fortys” as in the indescribable feelings of the encroachment of 40. Because I think that’s part of it.
Also, Barbie: A++. I’ve seen it twice and want to go again and always.