Hi friends!

Hope you filled your cup up this weekend and welcome to another Monday! I’m already on my second glass of homemade cold brew, so let’s get it started On a High Note: A Monday roundup of inspiring, fascinating, fun and/or helpful snippets and ideas to try, read, make, cook, drink, do, and so on!

Without further ado, grab your coffee and dive into our favorite highlights to check out this week!

On a High Note: Vol 18

Read...

I’m Traveling, Even Though I’m Stuck at Home

Photo of Rick Steves via The Atlantic

“A huge Rick Steves fan while traveling, I really enjoyed his piece for The Atlantic about living the traveler essence while spending time at home during this season — as Rick says: ‘For many people, travel is a way of life. When not on the road, we dream of being on the road. As we fly home from one trip, we’re planning the next. That certainly describes me. And yet, several months into the pandemic, I’ve realized that the essence of traveling requires no passport and no plane ticket. A good traveler can take a trip and never leave her hometown.’ Such an inspiring read as we savor the last bits of summer and gear up for a new season to explore — even it’s just within our bookshelf or backyard.” —Kendall

Smile with...

Tim and Fred Williams, as they listen to iconic songs for the first time!

“22 year-old Twin brothers Tim and Fred Williams from Gary, IN (Chicagoans are familiar with Gary as it’s right across the border!) grew up exclusively listening to gospel and rap, and while they developed a deep appreciation for music, many of the classics were never in their rotation. They decided to start a Youtube channel filming themselves reacting to hearing iconic songs and artists for the first time–and it is PRICELESS. Growing up with pretty much only one genre of music myself (country) Also I remember my reaction to hearing classics from other genres for the first time, and I know this will strike a chord (literally) with all music lovers!

I was introduced to their Youtube channel in my Equilibria slack group (shout out to Leigh for sharing!) I must have watched these kids for 45 minutes straight!!! You can’t not be happy watching them experience these legendary songs for the first time ever!” – Jess

Here are some of my favorites:

**Dolly Parton’s Jolene (which was retweeted by Dolly!)**

**Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight (which is what made them go viral)**

(Don’t miss the part of the song where the beat drops at 4:54!)

Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You

Learn with...

Diane Keaton!

“Have you guys seen Diane Keaton’s “Diane by Design” IG TV Series?! I absolutely adore her and her signature style — and her short videos do not disappoint! From fashion tips to cooking, she shares little snippets about her interests. My favorite is her clip about architecture. If you’re a Diane fan, give these a watch — her outfits alone are worth your time!” —Kendall

Play...

The UKULELE!!!

“Okay okay so I might be a broken record here, but in case you missed it, I got a Ukulele last Wednesday and I have been playing it nonstop since. I can’t tell you how much I needed this hobby!

First of all, music makes me so incredibly happy, second of all, it’s shockingly easier than you’d think to play, and perhaps the greatest benefit of all–you absolutely cannot look at your phone or multitask while you’re doing it. It’s the ultimate therapy!

If you’ve always wanted to play an instrument, or you were involved in choir or band when you were younger and just miss music in general (like I did!) I highly highly recommend getting one! You can see all the details and my tips for getting started right here!” –Jess

Do...

Upgrade your space for (nearly) free

Photo via The Everygirl

“Is there any better feeling than falling in love with your space all over again after the simplest of tweaks? (Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved rearranging my room and trying new things in my space!) Whether it’s swapping furniture, decluttering or hanging art, sometimes a small change can make all the difference in a room’s vibe and subsequently, your mood in it! Check out these 6 nearly free ways to transform your home via The Everygirl for some simple design hack inspo!” —Kendall

Wear...

This $39 “bathrobe cardigan” 😜

“I’ve been keeping tabs on all my favorite Nordstrom sale purchases (see the full “Pandemic-friendly” list over here). While a lot of them are sold out already, one of my top picks is still available in many sizes–this $39 buttery soft long cardigan that is basically like a bathrobe but looks like normal clothes. It’s perfect to wear now when your AC is on full blast and you KNOW I will be wearing it later when it gets cold outside! FYI–runs true to size, I took a small.” –Jess

Take action...

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A post shared by so you want to talk about… (@soyouwanttotalkabout)

A LOT of things are requiring our action these days, but I wanted to take a second to call your attention to saving USPS. There are SO many reasons why this is important and requires our collective attention, the most pressing reason being that this will significantly impact a free and fair election. The Postal Service is also one of the nation’s top employers of people of BIPOC (39% of the workforce, according to their website) AND women (40% of their workforce, according to their website).

You can swipe right on the above for a very nicely laid out graphic that lists just a few more reasons why our country depends so heavily on the Postal Service.

If you have two seconds today, text “USPS” to 50409 to use my favorite tool, Resistbot, to send a letter to your representatives urging them to support USPS. It takes two seconds. You can also buy stamps, or anything else from the USPS “gift shop”–I mean, how cute is this little mailbox holiday ornament, if you’re wanting to get a head start on your holiday shopping?!