Under the Oaks: One Year
It never felt like something I had to do because I always wanted to.
Welcome to Under the Oaks, a quiet place to sit and read in the Land of Oaks and Roses.
Today marks one year of writing to you on Substack. I honestly can’t believe I sent you a newsletter every week for a year! It never felt like something I had to do because I always wanted to. It’s so special to build, and nurture, a place that’s all about following curiosity, sitting with beauty, and encouraging ourselves to grow, together. Despite whatever chaos is going on, this place brings me back to myself. My intention is to give that feeling to you too when you find yourself here. To celebrate one year, I put together a greatest hits list. It’s not just based on likes but also on private messages I’ve received from you, and more. For newer subscribers (hi and welcome!) this can serve as your introductory tour around a place I hope makes you feel at home. Thank you for reading/thinking/sharing/growing here! Every interaction with you is such an honor.
Most Loved:
What You Find When You Lose Yourself In Motherhood
Motherhood is the most rigorous job I've experienced. It's the type of work you take on minute by minute because the size of an hour will swallow you. I don't wonder whether I'm working hard enough. I know that I am. I know the value of my work not because a salary tells me but because I feel it inside my own body. There's no applause for making it to t…
Most Private Messages:
Telling the Truth with Sasha Martinez
“You go to a party, and you're there in the room with some people who are posing and some people who are over in the corner, you know, crying and telling you about their divorce. And I don't know who you wanna be with at that party, but I'll always be in the corner with the person who's saying the real thing.” Cheryl Strayed
Most Shares:
You guys shared this checklist so many times! I love that it’s a helpful resource between so many pregnant/TTC/new mom friends! If you haven’t seen it in awhile, I update it with potty learning, toddler and kid’s sections too.
Most Likes:
Rainbow Magic
I’m someone who dedicates time to silly things. I’ve always been like this. As a kid, crowded rooms with awards and trophies were alluring, but not alluring enough to pull me away from my scrapbooks, or puzzles or my forever favorite: “a project.” My almost 5-year-old daughter is the opposite in a lot of ways. She loves a crowded room. She just won her first award. Throwing a party for her people is pretty much her dream. At least once a week since January she’d stop and say: “should we talk about my party?” Her ideas were big and wild and fun and the things childhood memories are made of.
Most Comments:
What’s This Pretty Land?
There are some of you who have been reading this newsletter for close to 8 years, which sounds crazy as I type it out! 8 years ago, I launched a fashion brand called Rallier. I was 20-something, living in Greenwich Village with my boyfriend, and about to put something into the world that started as a small voice in my head. I had convinced incredibly ta…
Most Views:
Lessons from the Second Child
It only took a few months of being pregnant with my second baby for everything I knew about motherhood to change. I wish that women were given more credit for the true physical and mental feat that is pregnancy. I spent 100 days feeling like I could throw up at any minute. Then I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and spent the last 100 days pricki…
Most New Subscribers:
The Realest Wardrobe Essential
Left: Gap Sweatshirt, Gap Joggers. Right: The Great College Sweatshirt, The Great Stadium Sweatpant.
Most Bought:
Of all the products I’ve shared, this is the one the most of you bought! I originally shared it with you over my pajamas lol. Shopbop just released a new chocolate brown version here too.
Giving Tree
Giving Tree is a giveaway for paid subscribers. This week, I’m giving away one of my favorite face creams from Ursa Major. Reply to this newsletter if you’re a paid subscriber (or become one this week!) and would like to receive this from me. I’ll pick someone who hasn’t received one yet <3
See you next week!
Congratulations! You’re an amazing writer💕