RL
Jess
/
Collections
/
Rec responses
Rec responses
Show map
All Collections
2026 reading
Living well
That game design life
The CTP way
Jew stuff
Sherlockiana
Murder by the book
Pittsburgh is awesome
Favorite media
Cool project ideas
Rec responses
5d
The CTP way
The 24 hour rule
•••
The rule is simple: you aren't allowed to say yes to anything right away. You must take at least 24 hours to think about it. This lets you do two things. First, you can use the time to reflect on whether it's a real yes, or whether you are just avoiding saying no. Second, it helps reduce the sense of social obligation, especially if you then follow up in an asynchronous way (e.g. text or email). The CTP uses this rule, and it turns out to have some cool consequences. For example, it gives people a way to express their enthusiasm about what you're doing and about their relationship with you, without committing themselves. "I wish I could say yes to this" is a phrase I hear a lot, which over time has reshaped our whole team's consent process. Admittedly I also do a lot of work to be someone it's safe to say no to, especially for the people I supervise. But the waiting period really helps!
more
6
6d
Living well
TravelCard Plus iPhone and USB-C charger
•••
These tiny chargers come in a range of cute colors and feel great in the hand. I can get two full phone charges out of mine. If you're giving it as a gift, get it in their favorite color and have it engraved with their name!
more
10
17d
That game design life
Smug Owls
•••
A delightful riddle-making game. Flip over cards to make a riddling question, then each player invents an answer. Best answer collects cards, but we mostly ignore the scoring and just play for riddling fun!
more
7
1
17d
Favorite media
The Passage (Justin Cronin)
•••
A hundred years after the vampire epidemic destroyed America, a small group of survivors hangs on in a community protected by UV floodlights ... but their batteries are slowly failing, and the community is rotting from within. This kicks off an epic quest for survival that unfolds across the three books of this trilogy. There are two things I especially liked about this series. First, the characters are more than just devices for delivering the next chapter of the story. Cronin is interested in the choices people make under existential pressure, and he lets his characters do some very unexpected things. Second, he's just so clearly having fun. Cronin started as a fancy MFA-circuit author, but he took up a challenge from his daughter to write a different kind of novel. This gave him the freedom to put in so many things that he clearly loves, which are (almost always) handled as homage rather than pastiche. While I was sometimes able to predict how a set-piece would turn out, the larger story continued to surprise me. My only complaint about this series is one short chapter at the end of the third book, where a character gets something they don't deserve. Reading it as what the character thinks is happening, rather than as truth from an omniscient narrator, fixed that problem for me - and it might not even bother you at all. Overall, it's rare to find a book that's both this heartbreaking and this fun. Highly recommended!
more
7
2
18d
That game design life
The Fuzzies
•••
An aesthetically pleasing variation on Jenga. (Though a Jenga tower can also be a thing of beauty!) I especially enjoy that knocking fuzzballs out of place doesn’t end the game, but instead adds a constraint to your next turn.
more
9
3
19d
Rec responses
Kienze Wallpaper by Harlequin
•••
We used this in a corner of our bedroom - cool, refreshing, calm, but still fun because of how it plays with scale.
more
1
19d
Rec responses
York Malta wallpaper
•••
We have this delightful paper in our upstairs hall. It’s easy to decorate with, since you can pick up so many colors from it. I also love that the gold accents are metallic and shiny!
more
4
1
19d
That game design life
The Hygge Game
•••
The questions in this game go beyond the generic, but are still very appropriate for people who are still getting to know each other. It’s especially nice that each card has questions at different levels of intensity. I used this at a lab party and it was a hit!
more
4
19d
Living well
Lovesac Sactional
•••
This modular couch system lets you customize to your space, including adding a recliner. Super soft and comfy, and easy to clean; a Chom Chom roller gets most of the daily pet hair, and the covers come off each piece individually for washing. You can also replace individual components if something really disastrous happens. We've had our set for nearly two years and all members of the household - human and pet - are very happy with it!
more
2
23d
Living well
Blacker's Bakeshop Cinnamon Horn
•••
Chewy, bouncy layers of dough with cinnamon sugar baked all melty in between, plus some kind of magical cinnamon sugar topping. These are my favorite pastry in the world, and if there's any other bakery that makes them I haven't found it yet. The good news is that if you call in a large enough order, they'll ship it to you.
more
2
1
23d
That game design life
Twentyroll Trivia Games
•••
One learning principle that will help you retain knowledge is spaced repetition, a research-backed technique that presents information multiple times at increasing intervals so that you move it from short-term to long-term memory. A little searching turned up this trivia game that seems to incorporate spaced repetition and recall techniques. If you try it, let me know what you think!
more
3
1
23d
That game design life
Person Do Thing
•••
This is a delightful guessing game with a very small footprint. One player gets a card with a word they must explain, and a list of words they may use to do so. (Think of it as reverse Taboo.) Everyone else can guess. All you need is the space to put out a stack of cards, you can play for as long or as short as you want, and it's easy for people to step in and out of the game as desired. The only caveat is that as people get excited about the game, it can get a bit noisy, but I think that just makes a party more fun!
more
13
1
27d
Rec responses
Sailing School - Atlantic Yachting
•••
My husband grew up sailing; I very much did not. These folks trained me up and got me ready for our bareboating honeymoon in the Caribbean. I believe that once you hold some of their early certifications you can also rent their boats for extra practice.
more
3
5w
Living well
Tempurpedic adjustable bed frame
•••
This genius thing sits between your bed frame and your mattress. Bring up the head for reading in bed, or go zero-g for fabulous relaxation. It’s so good it turned me into a back sleeper after literally decades of side sleep! You’ll want to get “deep pocket” sheets or invest in a Bed Scrunchie; otherwise, your sheets will ruck up when you adjust it. That is literally the only downside I’ve had in several years of use. Did I mention it also has massage mode?
more
1
5w
Living well
Umbra Hangit Wall Memo And Picture Frame
•••
Pair this with a bag of mini clothespins, and you've got a rotating art display! Our fridge isn't magnetic, so we have several of these on the wall for art pieces, photos of our kid, pretty invitations, and more. They work nicely hung either horizontally (as shown) or vertically. Personally I prefer vertical since it keeps the cords taut no matter what you hang on them.
more
3
3
5w
Rec responses
Patricka Locke necklace
•••
I saw this in a pile and immediately singled it out because it was so sparkly. I assumed it was a cheapo piece, but it had good weight in my hand and did I mention sparkly? Took it home, looked it up, turns out it's a Real Official Jewelry Designer piece of jewelry, and it's still a truly delightful amount of sparkly. (Picture does not fully convey the sparkly.)
more
5
1
6w
Living well
Glerups
•••
I have used these as house shoes for three years, and they are still in great shape. You can get hard or soft sole, an ankle version or a slip-on, etc. Mine are soft sole, slip-on, in a delightful shade of cranberry. I love them so much I got a second pair to wear in the office, though I did go for a more unobtrusive color. You may get occasional sweater-like pills forming on the inside. They won’t damage the shoe, so I just pull them off with my fingers.
more
10
3
7w
Favorite media
A Place Called Home, PJ Harvey
•••
One day I know we’ll find a place of hope just hold on to me, just hold on to me
more
4
1
7w
Pittsburgh is awesome
Local coffee shops
•••
There are lots of great coffee shops in Pittsburgh! Some of my favorites: Commonplace Coffee. The Squirrel Hill location is great for people-watching, assuming the weather cooperates. Biddle's Escape. Fun and funky. The food and drinks are solid, but you really go here for the ambiance. De Fer. They roast their own coffee, and serve pastry from La Gourmandine (best French bakery in town!). Tazza d'Oro. Might be the best espresso in Pittsburgh. Columbino. Fabulous coffee and Colombian food. Go to the Lawrenceville location and enjoy your treats while exploring the neighborhood.
more
2
7w
Rec responses
Andrew Vachss
•••
A core theme in his Burke series is fighting child trafficking and sexual abuse. The stories are rooted in his experiences as a lawyer, which gives them extra resonance. I often think of the series as “fix-it fic” for the horrors he dealt with regularly. Also just look at the guy.
more
1
8w
Rec responses
Rain Sisters
•••
I do not own one of these gorgeous, beautifully cut raincoats, but someday I will.
more
2
8w
Rec responses
Kate Spade Gemini Metallic Mini Bag
$69
•••
I love a gold bag as a neutral!
2
1
Follow Jess
Follow
By submitting, you agree to our
Terms
and
Privacy Policy
© 2026
Privacy
Terms
Support
Report
Cookies