Long Read

Ever wonder why you're a picky — or should I say, finicky — eater? I've been asking myself that for years. Turns out, it might literally start before birth. 🤔

I just read a fascinating article by a nutritional neuroscientist — and it turns out my finicky ways were set in motion long before my first meal!

Add in the genes that make certain people extra sensitive to bitter tastes (about 70% of us!), and suddenly my complicated relationship with certain foods makes a lot more sense.

I actually got the LEGO Plum Blossom set this past Christmas, but I finally pulled the trigger on the build two weeks ago. I was so excited to get into it, and it's been sitting on my shelf ever since, looking cheerful in all its plastic glory.

But as I was looking at those red petals, I realized I've been eyeing the new LEGO Icons Ford Model T set that launched earlier this week. It's a 1,060-piece tribute to the car that changed the world in 1913. It took me back to my teenage years when I used to collect antique Hot Wheels models. I still have them, and there's something about holding a miniature version of a 100-year-old machine that makes history feel tangible.

So here's something I haven't done in way too long: adult coloring.

I was really into it for a while back in DC. There's something about sitting down with a good coloring book and a fresh set of colored pencils that just... hits different. No screens. No notifications. Just you, some intricate little design, and the very important decision of whether this flower petal is going to be purple or teal. (The answer is always teal, by the way.)

Okay, I have to talk about Waymo.

I keep seeing these headlines and every time I do, it gets more real. Because "someday" just became Tuesday.

Here's the short version: self-driving cars are no longer a "someday" thing. They're here, rolling down real streets, in real cities, picking up real people. And they're spreading fast.

Look at this image below. Really look at it.

Théodore started an online campaign to poke fun at AI 'slop' on social media, including a fake image that received nearly one million likes

Image Description:Two emaciated South Asian children, sitting in the middle of a busy road in pouring rain. A birthday cake in front of them. Despite their young faces, both have thick beards. One has no hands and only one foot. The other is holding a sign asking for birthday likes.

You know those moments when you're scrolling through your reading list and something makes you stop mid-sip of coffee? I had a few of those this week.

Milk Without Cows (Yes, Really)

So apparently, we’re living in the future now. Scientists are making real dairy milk without cows. Not almond milk, not oat milk. Actual milk with the same proteins as cow’s milk, but made in labs using precision fermentation.

And this isn’t some far-off sci-fi anymore. Remilk and Gad Dairies just launched “The New Milk” in Israel. Like, it’s rolling out in cafes and restaurants right now, with retail launches happening in January 2026. This is real milk you can actually buy and drink.

Here's something that's been sitting uncomfortably in my brain lately: I don't really experience what I'd call "screen stress," but I've definitely found myself in those loops where I've been on screens for hours and hours, and I look up and feel... exhausted. Not stressed exactly, just drained. And somehow in all that scrolling time, I've been neglecting analog things I actually need to do. Errands that keep getting pushed to tomorrow, books sitting unread, walks not taken.

So I spent my Sunday doing what normal people probably don’t do—obsessing over blog spacing. You know how it is. You notice one little thing that’s bugging you, and next thing you know, three hours have disappeared, and you’re still messing around with CSS.

It started with my blockquotes. I’ve got this dropcap thing going on for the first letter of posts, which I think looks pretty cool. But when a blockquote showed up right after that fancy first letter? Huge, awkward gap of white space. Just looked weird.

Stumbled across this Domino article about stained green kitchen cabinets and it got me thinking.

Those kitchens with green hues look beautiful and simple. Clean lines, natural vibes, just really nice. And apparently it’s a trend for 2026? Maybe I’m onto something here.

I considered painting my cabinets green last year. Spent way too much time scrolling through inspiration photos, imagining how it’d look.

But here’s the thing: my cabinets are wood. Painting them means commitment. If I hate the color later, I’m stuck repainting over and over. So I went with stained wood instead—lets the grain show through, easier to live with long-term.

Just learned a new word tonight: phubbing. Yeah, it’s a portmanteau of “phone” and “snubbing” — when you’re sitting across from someone and instead of actually engaging with them, you’re scrolling through your phone.

I’ll be honest, I’ve been guilty of this more times than I’d like to admit. You’re in the middle of a conversation, someone’s telling you something, and that little buzz pulls your attention away. Before you know it, you’ve checked three apps and completely lost the thread of what the person was saying.