Friday Roundup: Planned Parenthood, the consequences of tariffs and gorgeous flower arrangements
Plus, are chocolate and partying the keys to a long and happy life?
Hi friends,
I’m easing back in from my break, slightly more hydrated, marginally less inflamed, still wearing my sweatpants jeans and definitely rethinking what it means to live at a sustainable pace. Spoiler alert: it does not involve endless scrolling or pretending you’re a robot who can say yes to everything.
While I was technically “resting,” I also had some long-overdue time to reflect on the goals I wrote down in January for the next decade of my life. (Yes, decade. Midlife makes you weird like that.) So, consider this your gentle nudge to check in on your own big-picture goals—especially if, like me, you’ve been too busy putting out daily fires to even remember where the list is.
This week’s newsletter has a bit of everything: serious calls to action (hi, Pete Hegseth has no business running the Pentagon), big questions about women’s health research, and some joyful distractions, including a 106-year-old who says chocolate and partying are the keys to long life. Honestly? She might be the only person I’m taking advice from right now.
p.s. Don’t forget to comment if you want to enter the weekly book giveaway!
p.p.s. sweatpant jeans are 20% off with the code EMILYMIRAMAR through this weekend, March 31st.
Call your reps. Tell them you want Pete Hegseth removed as the Secretary of Defense. Let them know that you are watching and that you want them pushing on this issue. Read my take on the entire group text situation here.
SCRIPT: Hi, I’m a constituent, I’m calling to demand you push for Pete Hegseth to resign. I’m deeply concerned about the national security implications of war planning on a Signal chat.
Set boundaries around your availability. You don’t have to say yes to every ask or show up for every event. Say yes to what you can do well.
Track your small victories. Keep a “done” list alongside your to-do list. It’s easy to forget how much you’ve actually accomplished.
What Happens to Health Research When ‘Women” is a Banned Word? (The 19th)
Trump's federal funding cuts are shutting down studies on Alzheimer’s care, uterine fibroids and pregnancy risks — all because they focus on gender.
Trump Administration Plans to Freeze Family-Planning Grants (WSJ)
Tens of millions of dollars in federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other groups would be cut off while the administration examines their DEI efforts.
West Virginia Bans 7 Artificial Food Dyes, Citing Health Concerns (NYT)
At least 20 other states are also considering bills restricting the use of certain food dyes and additives.
The Tariff Man Is Coming for America’s Entrepreneurs (The Atlantic)
Trump is trying to turn back time and businesses are suffering right now. One small business has paid nearly $30,000 in the past two months.
The National Security Adviser From the Group Chat Also Left His Venmo Public (Wired)
A Wired review shows national security adviser Mike Waltz, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and other top officials left sensitive information exposed via Venmo—until Wired asked about it.
Make a gorgeous flower arrangement. Six steps to dress up those grocery store flowers from Queen Martha Stewart. Read it here.
How to be a more thoughtful friend. It takes some effort and organization but it is also totally worth it. Find out how here.
Write a great condolence note. How to express love and empathy in meaningful ways. Read more here.
BOOK GIVEAWAY: Every week we will be giving away a book to paid subscribers (US only). This week we have a copy of Melissa Arnot’s memoir, Enough. Melissa is the first American woman to successfully summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen and her book is about achieving incredible climbing and guiding goals as well as the many ways that women often feel like we aren’t enough in the world and how we can find compassion for ourselves.
→ COMMENT ‘ENOUGH’ down below for a chance to win.
106 Year Old Woman Says Chocolate and Partying Are Keys to Long Life. Could we love her more? Read her story here.
Nigella Lawson’s Guinness Chocolate Cake. Eat it for breakfast if you want. You deserve it. Get the recipe here.
A Wildly Colorful Dutch Home. It will make you want to paint all your walls. See it here.
If a Sneaker and a Ballet Shoe Had a Baby. Meet the sneakerina. (I feel like we wore these in 2002) See it here.
Good to have you back. JUST in case you have any concerns that your subscribers want to see you back quickly, we don't! We're here because we support you and we want you to take lots of breaks and be healthy and rested.
Welcome back Emily! Do take care. I would give one note to that call script and suggest not using war planning since they are using semantics as a cop out here. Something along the lines of active military operations planning or active military strike planning. More of a mouth full, but more precise and not as easily dismissed as inaccurate wording.