Welcome to List Person

A weekly newsletter featuring the thing I love most: lists

I’m a list person.

Lists, for me, are an attempt to both organize and maximize my life. There’s weekly grocery lists and uninspired To-Dos, yes, but there’s also my growing catalog of favorite spots in New York and books to read and Uzbek supermarkets to stroll through. (My infamous Fun List has check boxes for both the new Joan Didion exhibit at the NYPL as well as "Go to Mexico City.” That’s what I call range.)

I’ve wanted to start a Substack for a while—to have an excuse to write for me. By trade, I’m a copywriter, writing all day on behalf of brands. I love it, but it’s not my voice. It’s theirs.

Recently, I’ve been pitching and writing lists for New York Mag’s The Strategist (including a curation of egg cups and another of cordless lamps). It’s been so fun, a reminder that lists can live beyond my beloved Notes app.

So here I am, with a newsletter dedicated to lists. I’m already making them—why not share? It could be the spring veggies I’m eyeing at the market, day trip ideas from the city, my current supplement stack, hobby ideas, or recent pleasures. (Have you read the Pleasure Lists? A personal favorite and inspiration.)

When I’m journaling in the morning and smooth-brained, unknowing what to write, I craft a list of things that make me stupidly, radiantly happy. It’s always a nice way to start the day, and I think this will be a perfect intro to me and my new newsletter.

Here goes nothing!

21 Things That Make Me Stupidly, Radiantly Happy:

1. Crawling into fresh sheets

Pleasures need not be groundbreaking.

2. Wandering around in Kalustyan’s

I once went after two Hot Toddy’s and did major damage in the spice section.

3. Reading Wendy Cope’s “The Orange”

Simple! Joys!

:,)

4. Floating on my back in the ocean

I would never do sensory deprivation therapy, but there is joy in feeling weightless and at the whim of the waves.

5. A big stack of pancakes

And a pad of butter. Mmmmm.

6. Drinking a Negroni Sbagliato on a patio

An Aperol Spritz will do, too.

The bubbles, the orange slice, the bliss

7. Taking out contacts after a long day

Until Lasik <3

8. Dancing

I’ve written about my relationship with dance here; I love going to MOVES a few times a month to get into my body and out of my head.

9. Watching a gangly puppy run

Waiting for the day I can get a basset hound puppy.

10. Finding something at a sample sale that made the wait worth it

Snagged these baby blue Sandy Liang ballet slippers last week after eyeing them for literal years.

11. Not ordering dessert, but the restaurant bringing it out anyways

When Brett and I were in Greece last year, the tavernas always brought a dessert out on the house. It’s like they knew I wanted it anyways.

Lunch should always end with a zesty orange phyllo dessert

12. Making a galette (without the juices spilling out while baking)

Dinner party or book club gathering, this is my go-to dessert.

13. Warming my face in the sun

On my yellow-checkered blanket in Central Park. On a dock. In my parents’ backyard.

14. Going on a PBW (Park Bench Walk)

By that, I mean strolling on the outskirts of the park path, reading all the heart-warming plaques.

Neta sounds like a beautiful lady

15. Hanging something successfully on the wall with an amateur tool kit

Take that, Task Rabbits.

16. Driving to my hometown ice cream shop and eating in the parking lot

Puppy Chow Freeze. IYKYK.

17. Boarding ending and no one filling the middle seat

There’s not many euphoric moments while flying besides this very moment.

18. Catching snowflakes on my tongue

It’s easy to write about the sun-drenched joys of spring and summer, but snow is pure magic.

19. Eating ripe fruit over the sink

When the juices drip all the way down to your elbow…

20. Listening to my friends laugh

Bonus points: When a friend tries to tell a story and they can’t finish because they’re already laughing at the punch line.

21. Making lists

!!!

I could keep going, but that’s all for today. Here’s to many more lists!

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