The Weekend Edit No. 14
A gripping new movie, a Sex and the City podcast, photos of Holiday House's kitchen, and an update to the newsletter
Dear reader,
Happy Friday! How was your week? First off, we are devastated by the fires in California, and our hearts are breaking for those affected. Half of our management team is in L.A. and we’ve been in contact with them over the last week, and on our monthly call yesterday, they let us know they’re safe and didn’t have to evacuate, thankfully. If you want, you can click here for ways to help those impacted.
This week was an emotional one for us for a few reasons, some much too deep to try in fit in a newsletter, but it was also one that brought forth clarity and realizations. That’s what the start of the year is for, isn’t it? Adjusting to the reality of another year, deciding what is in and what’s out, making resolutions and maybe even doing a little Dry January? We are not participating in that this year, but we have cut back a little, especially compared to how much we consumed over the holidays. Yikes.
We’re in total hibernation mode right now. I love January for so many reasons, and a big one is how it’s so cold but it’s not the holidays, so we can enjoy staying in with just the family and turn on every lamp in the house, cozying up on the couch, making soup, and just soaking up the joys of being home with nowhere to rush off to. We made a pact to eat every dinner this winter with lit candles on the table, and I’m happy to say we’re off to a great start.
Speaking of dinner, we made a trusty old classic for Matt’s birthday dinner this week, and we had forgotten how easy and good it is. We love Publix’s recipes, and this Shrimp Scampi with Roasted Peppers and Spinach might just be our favorite. It’s so flavorful and, as an added bonus, just really pretty to look at. Serve with some homemade caesar salad and French bread and your dinner will be absolutely perfect.
In other news, and not that it’s the biggest deal, but we have decided as a team that we will not be posting to our blog, PJandThomas.com, going forward. We’ve decided to focus all of our time and attention and creativity on Okay McKay. It’s something I’ve considered for over a year now, and after talking with our manager about it yesterday, it finally made sense. It was like I just needed to hear it from someone else. It’s a decision we both feel good about, and we’re excited for what it means for this newsletter. The blog won’t be going anywhere, though. You will still be able to access all of the posts over the last seven years, we just won’t be posting anything new. Maybe one day we will return to it, but as of right now, you can find all new posts right here on Okay McKay.
Meanwhile, we have started up Keep & Delete again on the newsletter! Every evening, I will be chronicling the best (Keep) and worst (Delete) part of our day, in an effort to put the day’s events into perspective. I’ve done it for over a year now, and our family plays it every night at dinner, and it really does help to process life and all the ups and downs it brings. Those posts won’t be sent out with our regular ones, but if you would like to opt in to receive an email in your inbox every night with the day’s Keep & Delete, follow these instructions:
Navigate to your account Settings page via www.substack.com/settings. ...
Under Subscriptions, click on the publication that has sections you'd like to subscribe to.
On the next page, slide the toggle next to each section you want to receive notifications about.
Regardless if you opt in to receive emails for Keep & Delete, they will be there every evening around 8p, and they’re free for everyone to read. You can click here to read the entries so far.
Lastly, we spent the afternoon at Holiday House yesterday shooting a few campaigns, and the light was absolutely perfect, so I wanted to share a few photos with you. I wish you could see this kitchen in person. It’s my favorite one we’ve ever done.
Have a cozy weekend, friends!
Welcome Distractions
Watch “Lee” on Hulu.
Based on the incredible true story of model-turned-war photographer Lee Miller, this film captivated us from the very start. Winslet is dazzling as Miller, which she helped produce (and even paid the wages of the entire staff for two weeks when the production ran out of money). The film is a harsh reminder of the horror of World War II and all the destruction Hitler caused. A must-see.
Read Want to Read More in 2025?
This article, from TIME, is about how many people resolve to read more because of its proven benefits, from improving mental health to boosting empathy and reducing stress, but the real joy of reading lies in its sheer enjoyment. To turn this desire into a sustainable habit, measurable goals (like the “Read 25 in ’25” challenge, which involves reading for 25 minutes daily) can make all the difference. By making reading a consistent part of everyday life and following practical tips like quitting boring books, keeping a to-be-read list, and replacing social media time with reading, it discusses how we can unlock the benefits while embracing one of life’s simplest pleasures. I know I plan to read more this year, and I found this article super helpful.
Listen to Are You A Charlotte?
If you, like me, are a Sex and the City fan, then this is a treat for you. Kristen Davis takes you through the show and gives you all the behind the scenes tea and she shares untold stories from the making of it, along with discussing the themes of the show that are still relevant today.
A Closer Look
If you’re looking for daily style inspiration, might I suggest giving Maisonhomme a follow on Instagram? Think vintage Ralph Lauren and J.Crew vibes, and an endless supply of 80’s and 90’s movies chock full of classic men’s style. One of my favorite IG accounts to follow.
Weekly Fave
PJ brought our farm dog Adeline home today and she is officially going to live with us in town, and we’ll bring her to the farm when we stay at Holiday House. Since she’s living here now, he also upgraded her food and water bowl to the Neater Feeder, which is supposed to be spill-proof and mess-proof, and with almost 32k four and a half star reviews, we’re feeling optimistic about how well it’ll serve us all.
We’re so excited to have her living with us full time now!
You May Have Missed…
Have a wonderful weekend! We’ll see you on Tuesday. If you feel up to it, please like this post and share it! It helps get the word out and lets others discover Okay McKay. Thank you, friends!
It was my hope that 2025 would start well for you all and it seems that maybe the case. I’m happy for that. I suspect consolidating your work onto the one platform is going to help with all the “ball juggling” that your job must take. It’s nice having everything under the one umbrella. Makes it easier to check in with you all. I totally understand and agree with the winter nesting. I love this time of year for that reason too. Love and big hugs all around. ♥️🤗
Oh my… I dream of that kitchen all the time, it’s one of the most beautiful ones I’ve seen, and plan to copy you a lot when we get the chance to have a kitchen of our own hahaha!
And dreams come true, because I’ve always secretly wished you moved everything in Substack 🫣 it’s so much easier when you have the Substack app, I get my notifications, I can have the app reading things out loud for me. I loved the blog, but I kept forgetting to check for updates, and it was harder to comment on. Super selfish of me, sorry!
We’re nesting in as well, and expecting 7 inches of snow tomorrow, so best timing ever. Although on Tuesday we’re flying to Puerto Rico and then Miami to visit some friends. It’s all about balance, even with the weather!
Xoxo
Marcos & Pablo