I got fired, and I'm finally ready to talk about it

Something a little different this week.

Reika and I have always had a yin-yang vibe going on, and that’s why we work: I’m the high-strung counterpart to her ultra-chill persona, the fiercely loyal Scorpio to her balanced Libra. So it only makes sense that all of her most creative thoughts come in the form of a flurry of emails to me in the middle of the night, while I prioritize a 9 p.m. bedtime.

Last week, I was surprised to wake up to an email from her about how she wants to share an experience that was a huge turning point in her career as a designer. It’s a good story, and certainly an inspiring one, but it’s also highly personal and vulnerable.

To protect her privacy, we’re going to paywall this issue, and we’ll be back next week with our usual free content. And some exciting news: Starting next Wednesday, we’ll be adding a weekly bonus issue called We’d Take It Home, where we’ll highlight one home product we’re loving and how we’d use it, plus little glimpses into our own homes and lives.

All sound good? Great! Now, if you could hit the little ❤️ heart ❤️ on this post, either at the top or bottom of the page, we would be so appreciative. Liking a post helps other people find us.

📚 Reading: I picked up Claire Lombardo’s Same As It Ever Was on a Mother’s Day stroll through the West Village, and was immediately gripped by the fear that I might not like it, and then I would own it. I needn’t have worried! This sharp, absorbing family saga dives into the intricacies of marriage and parenting across generations, and it’s completely unputdownable.

🎧 Listening to: Sarah Jessica Parker on Call Her Daddy. I could listen to SJP talk for hours, but my main takeaway from this interview is that she takes the subway, and I hope to run into her soon.

👩‍🍳 Cooking: Garlicky, paprika-y shrimp. Here’s the recipe: Chop up garlic cloves (the more, the better). Throw it in a pan with a pound of shrimp, sprinkle lots of paprika and a little salt on top, and cook. Add it to salad, tacos, or eat it by itself—this easy, flavorful protein hit is a staple in our house lately.

🛍️ Shopping: This pretty Wabi Sabi Les Fraises pillow from Maison de Vacances. I ordered it for my otherwise minimalistic bedroom to infuse just a tiny bit of cottagecore in my space, and I’m so happy with my decision. — Leigh

Getting fired wasn’t the plan, but it was the push I needed

Reika: Life has thrown me a lot of curveballs over the past five years, and one of them came in the form of a phone call letting me know I was getting fired (yes, fired, not laid off), completely out of the blue. But let me back up…