Bonjour, mes amis! Did you have a good week? Mine...was a whirlwind. (I know I keep saying that, but this year has been bonkers.) This was the week of ALL THE NEWS. Observe:

1. WE'RE GETTING MORE TAYLOR AND SAM BOOKS!!!
2. I STARTED MY OWN PUBLISHING HOUSE!!!
3. I FOUND OUT HOW TO CHANGE TWITTER LIKES TO SQUIRRELS!!!

As for other happenings:

New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry was my very first guest on A WORD ON WORDS, and the show aired this morning. Check it out here.

I'm doing #NaNoWriMo, and got my first words in on my newly finished back porch. It's official: I am in love!

I am obsessed (no, really, obsessed) with my friend Tara Stiles' recipe for olive guacamole. Check it out!

Having trouble deciding what to read next? This quiz should help you out, brought to you by XOXO After Dark.

Um, THEY ARE MAKING A NEW STAR TREK TV SERIES! Cue the excitement!! (squee)

Face it, chickens: there are some days when you're too slammed or zonked to make it to the grocery store. That's why there's Shipt, who will deliver your groceries right to your front door with just the click of a button. Yes, it's true! Check the website for locations, but if you've found yourself pining for a Grocery Fairy Godmother, Shipt is it.

On the Tao, I hosted the lovely Kim Alexander, who just wrote a fabulous fantasy debut (spoiler alert: she's wicked funny!).

Don't forget: there's a new November contest! Have you entered yet?

And on The Wine Vixen, Amy dished about her favorite go-to Chardonnay (folks, it's cheap: less than $10 a bottle), which actually pairs quite well with this Braised Chicken & Herb-y Mushrooms recipe from the archives. 

That's all from me this week. Hang in there— I know this is the time of year when schedules fill up quickly, you have to stand in never-ending lines at the post office, and your mom won't stop calling you about holiday menus and strategies to keep Uncle Morty in check at Thanksgiving this year. When you're feeling overwhelmed by the I must do it all feeling, remember to stop. No really, just stop. Take a breath. And remember that life's purpose isn't found in a perfect holiday experience. If we're being honest, life happens in the little moments each day, in the ordinary. So when you're feeling anxious by the plans, take a second and recognize a little miracle or two. You might be surprised how much easier it is breathe a second or two later.

Xoxo,
JT