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Sara Rosso's Newsletter
www.sararosso.com
California seaside

Here's what I've been thinking about and reading in 

November. 

These last months were busy for me. If you're following me on Facebook or Instagram you may have noticed that I had a new addition to my family this summer: Eleanor! She's been amazing to watch grow (I’ve been posting the occasional picture on Instagram stories – they disappear after 24 hours so keep an eye out), and the fact I have paid maternity leave and healthcare makes me even more grateful with all that's going on with policy changes and proposals in the U.S. - new families really need the support!

I did spend time working on my summer bucket list as well as my garden, which you can see often on Instagram Stories as I harvest the eggplants, tomatoes, butternut squash, summer squash, and more. Now I'm cooking in my Instant Pot and freezing ahead of the winter.

I've also been replying to all your letters, cards, and postcards via my snail mail initiative and I'd love to keep doing it, so send me a note, a thought, a pic, or a postcard. My P.O. box address can be found on this post or at the bottom of this newsletter!  

Thanksgiving is next week in the U.S., one of my favorite holidays, and one I kept up all the years I was living in Italy. Here's a post about the expat perspective of celebrating Thanksgiving in Italy 10 (!!) years ago. I hope you and yours are well. Please reach out! I love hearing from you.

Find this newsletter useful? Forward it on, or click here to Tweet. -Sara
 
Tickle your Neurons
Left Brain: On technology, business, productivity, and self: 
  • I feel that loneliness and isolation are at the root of a lot of our societal problems, and something men suffer from a lot more than women. The Legion Lonely dives in. 
  • You've heard of the 80/20 rule, but what about the 70 Percent Rule - When to Delegate? The idea of letting go of perfection is an interesting one, though I tend to equate 70% to the old grading system - just passing. 
  • And speaking of delegation, what about decision fatigue, the stress and labor of having to make too many decisions? I reduced some wardrobe-wise by dressing in an almost capsule wardrobe, but this guide about how to beat decision fatigue has some good pointers.
  • Avon calling...so long Tupperware parties, the new way of selling to friends is happening on Facebook with beauty, essential oils, and even leggings! But are your friends really making a living or are they part of some multi-level marketing scheme? Quartz and The New Yorker investigate.
  • This article on the New Midlife Crisis for Women was shared far and wide with friends and caused some polarizing opinions - some wholeheartedly agreed and others completely disagreed. What do you think? And related...the ambition collision for women in their 30s.
Right brain: On food, travel, design, music, and photography: Bonus:

My One Big Thing: Spotify

I've had a love-hate relationship with music streaming services. Fun fact: I was an early user of Pandora, a competitor to Shopify. I was in the Italian version of Glamour in 2007 (10 years ago!) talking about it (you can see on my blog the pic of me with uber-impractical asymmetrical straight hair). Then they cut off access to Europeans due to licensing issues, and I stopped. Later Apple had radio stations, for free, which weren't bad but are now only part of their paid Apple Music service. So I stopped. 

And slowly, I inched towards Spotify. Though I love my digital music library, sometimes I just need to hear music I don't own. YouTube has a lot of songs but you can't play most of them from your mobile when you're not in the app. Dealbreaker.

Spotify's biggest strength is playlists. Aside from the gazillion playlists curated by Spotify staff and complete strangers, you can easily create your own, and it even suggests related songs to add to it. You can also follow artists and listen to their entire catalog. And you can have a 'genius' sort of playlist generated from a song via their "Radio" option.

A basic account is free - limits being ads, not being able to play a specific song, and no offline mode, but worth checking out! The ads aren't bad, though when one comes on in the middle of a relaxing piano playlist, you will really notice, so I wouldn't suggest it for your next dinner party. When I try to put the baby down for the night...I make sure I have the phone close by. Will I go premium? Maybe. In the meantime I'm enjoying my free account.

Here's a playlist I created of some of my favorite motown/soul songs: MMMovin' Motown Soul. I love the Spotify-staff-created Peaceful Guitar and Piano in the Background for very low-key dining or relaxing, or Lush Vibes if you want a little more of a beat. Music for Concentration or even White Noise are good for work, too.

You Might Have Missed from My Sites

How I Meal Plan: Tips & Advice
 
Meal planning, not to be confused with meal prepping —where are you prep a week’s worth of meals in a single work session —has been a lifesaver for me for the past 12 months or so. It's the only way I'm not eating every meal out with a newborn! 
 To My Girlfriends: How to be an Independent Woman in a Relationship
  
 
We need to talk more about finances, especially women! I've been sharing this article a lot lately with girl friends and strangers, too. Read the article.

Sara Rosso

About Me: I'm a digital strategist, writer, and photographer. I obsess about food, technology, and travel, and not necessarily in that order.

Besides finding my writing on my sites, food & travel on Ms. Adventures in Italy, and technology and growing a business on When I Have Time, you can find me on Twitter @rossoInstagram rossosara, and Facebook

If you want to say Hi, tell me how much you love/hate what I wrote or share a story of your own, just hit reply!
Disclosure: None of the links were sponsored in this newsletter. Amazon and Skillshare links contain an affiliate code which don't change your price. Thank you for supporting this newsletter!
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