Left was my favorite mug at my grandparents’ house (yes the very same grandparents as in my Substack post To Grandfather’s House We Go)… my grandmother grew up in a Norwegian-American community in Iowa where all Lutheran services were held in Norwegian and my mentally disturbed grandfather was a multi-generational Texan so it made me smile.
Top-right WAS MY FAVORITE MUG until I broke it and I still haven’t replaced it. I have a set of the bottom-right mugs that I use for everything.
May 10, 2024
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but this one is always the first i think of, when i found it in the thrift store i didn’t even think i just grabbed it. i still laugh when i read it in the mornings.
Mar 20, 2025
(1) Variety cowgirl mug — just a nice illustration, nothing crazy. The mug is really weighty and reminds me of diner mugs. Hey jennie peep their merch from 5(?) years ago.
(2) Hasami porcelain mug — this is a nerd purchase, I ask for one every year for secret Santa and it’s been 3 years straight of getting these beauties. Sort of a pain to wash but worth the effort. The texture alone is a reward in itself.
(3) Quiet Mountain Cafe mug — printed on dinex mugs which are usually reserved for hospitals / summer camps, it’s very nostalgic. But the cool thing here is that this mug was releasing and I was so excited to support a local brand and it turns out my wife went into labor that morning!!! I messaged them and asked if there was any way he’d hold a set for me and he did. By the time we got back home the mug had arrived and it was my first cup of coffee as a dad. Will always cherish this mug.
May 10, 2024
I haven’t a single mug of my own to speak of at the moment but this is my favorite mug at my generous hostess’s house :~)
Mar 20, 2025
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My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebody—be it a relative or one of my best friends—was to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too 💌
Feb 23, 2025
May 28, 2025
🖐
I’ve been thinking about how much of social media is centered around curating our self-image. When selfies first became popular, they were dismissed as vain and vapid—a critique often rooted in misogyny—but now, the way we craft our online selves feels more like creating monuments.
We try to signal our individuality, hoping to be seen and understood, but ironically, I think this widens the gap between how others perceive us and who we really are. Instead of fostering connection, it can invite projection and misinterpretation—preconceived notions, prefab labels, and stereotypes. Worse, individuality has become branded and commodified, reducing our identities to products for others to consume.
On most platforms, validation often comes from how well you can curate and present your image—selfies, aesthetic branding, and lifestyle content tend to dominate. High engagement is tied to visibility, not necessarily depth or substance. But I think spaces like PI.FYI show that there’s another way: where connection is built on shared ideas, tastes, and interests rather than surface-level content. It’s refreshing to be part of a community that values thoughts over optics.
By sharing so few images of myself, I’ve found that it gives others room to focus on my ideas and voice. When I do share an image, it feels intentional—something that contributes to the story I want to tell rather than defining it. Sharing less allows me to express who I am beyond appearance.
For women, especially, sharing less can be a radical act in a world where the default is to objectify ourselves. It resists the pressure to center appearance, focusing instead on what truly matters: our thoughts, voices, and authenticity. I’ve posted a handful of pictures of myself in 2,500 posts because I care more about showing who I am than how I look.
In trying to be seen, are we making it harder for others to truly know us? It’s a question worth considering.
Dec 27, 2024