#SoloStories: “Broad City”
SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
“Broad City” is a show that’s painfully funny.
The comedy, which ran from 2014 to 2019, is one of our favorite TV shows about living life on your own.
“Broad City” follows two best friends in their early 20s residing in New York City. Abbi Abrams (played by Abbi Jacobsen) is an aspiring artist who tries to play by the rules, although that doesn’t always work. Ilana Wexler (played by Ilana Glazer) is … well, let’s just call her quirky. She frequently switches up jobs and romances, but she’s never daunted by what people think of her. (She’s also the character who gave us the line, “In da clerb, we’re all fam.”)
There’s not a situation that they don’t go through – bad dates, annoying “roommates,” perplexing work dilemmas. Ilana makes the best of any situation, and in “Hurricane Wanda,” the show’s best episode, she helps rescue Abbi from an explosive diarrhea attack while her crush is in the next room. (“I’m a doo doo ninja,” Ilana tells Abbi.) They often have to be resourceful, such as finding money when they need it or carrying large objects (like furniture) through the streets of New York. So often, life shoves itself in its face. Even going to the subway is an adventure.
But they have each other. This show is a great example of single women who can handle life on their own, but they also know when to turn to a friend.
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GET READY FOR DECEMBER
It’s the most stressful time of the year! This month is packed with holidays. If you need help with a gift, check out our suggestions that apply for any time of year. (If you know someone who is graduating this month, we recommend out New Life Starter Kit.) If you’re going away for the holidays, grab our Travel Kit. And be sure to winterize your home, car and bookshelf for the cold days ahead. Just remember the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is also one of laziest weeks of the year, so you have that to look forward to. (If you have to work that week, we hope it runs as smoothly as possible.)
Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Giving Tuesday. Support your favorite charity.
Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 25-Thursday, Jan. 2 - Hanukkah
Thursday, Dec. 26-Wednesday, Jan. 1 – Kwanzaa
Thursday, Dec. 26 – Stock up on holiday sales. (Bath and Body Works always has great deals this time of year.)
Tuesday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve
Start thinking about …
Wednesday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day. Our favorite holiday. No obligations whatsoever. Just sit around the house and be lazy.
Wednesday, Jan. 15 – Quarterly taxes are due for those who are self-employed or have side hustles.
Monday, Jan. 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Presidential Inauguration
Wednesday, Jan. 29 – Lunar New Year
Friday, Jan. 31 – Employers must turn in W2 forms by this date, so you can start filing your yearly income taxes.
Thursday, Feb. 13; Wednesday, Feb. 14 and Thursday; Feb. 15 – Celebrate your favorite people and yourself with Galentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Singles Awareness Day.
Monday, Feb. 17 – President’s Day
Friday, Feb. 28 – Ramadan begins
Tuesday, March 4 - Mardi Gras
Wednesday, March 5 – Lent begins
create the holiday you want
Illustration by Natalia Lavrinenko.
This week is Thanksgiving week and TV and film – and society – make it feel that you have to spend the holidays with family, and it is going to be fun and festive.
But if you can’t be with family for financial or personal reasons, it’s OK. You now have the power to create the holiday you want.
You don’t have to go anywhere or do any chores. You can sleep in. Eat pizza for breakfast. Read in bed. Binge-watch a favorite TV show. Make a craft. Solve a puzzle. Play music. Relish the freedom to choose what you want to do.
You can go out for a walk. Host a Friendsgiving. Volunteer to serve dinner at a homeless shelter. Go to the movies with a pal. Seize the opportunity to do your favorite things.
If you do have a traditional Thanksgiving, we hope it runs as smoothly as possible. If you work in retail, health care or other industry in which you are busy during the holiday, we send you all the good vibes.
Enjoy.
Our new health kit is here
Our new bundle is out! And the focus is on your health. Preparing for a medical appointment can be nerve-wracking. It’s not just getting examined and tested, it’s all those forms and the bills. Our Health Kit can prepare you. The kit includes worksheets for you to keep in a binder and take it with you for each appointment, so you and your health care provider have access to your medical history.
This kit includes:
Yearly Medical Appointments List
Medical Appointment List
Prescriptions List
Doctors List
Personal Medical History — Vitals
Personal Medical History — Allergies/Adverse Reactions
Personal Medical History — Conditions
Personal Medical History — Surgeries
Family Medical History
Surgery/Medical Procedure Lists
Medical Sick Kit
Resources
Grab it here.
Prepare yourself for the winter days ahead
Illustration by Natalia Lavrinenko.
Winter is coming. It’s already arrived in a few places.
Since it’s a high-maintenance season, you’ll need to winterize several different aspects of your life. We’ve got you covered.
Winterize your car. AAA provides some great tips, as does the Mechanic Shop Femme from Chaya M. Milchtein.
Winterize your home. This Vox article guides you through the process.
Winterize your body. Schedule your flu and COVID vaccines. And being sick is no fun when you’re living on your own, so keep some supplies handy, such as Bayer Aspirin, Advil Pain Reliever, Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil Cold and Flu Medicine and Afrin No Drip Severe Congestion Maximum Strength Nasal Spray. And make sure you have Kleenex Trusted Care Facial Tissues and Campbell's Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup.
Winterize your wardrobe. If you don’t already, have a good coat, gloves and boots on hand.
Winterize your bookshelf. In case there’s a snow day, stock up on some great titles. We loved “Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner” by Meghan Keane; "The Paris Novel" by Ruth Reichel; “I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman’s Pursuit of Pleasure of Paris" by Glynnis MacNicol; and “The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies” by Alison Goodman. Need a fun binge-watch? “Somebody Somewhere” is excellent.
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It’s time for a “Me Party.” It’s Singles Day!
Today is Nov. 11, Singles’ Day in China, and it’s exploded into one of the biggest shopping weeks of the year in the world.
The day was established in 1983 by college students to celebrate their singlehood. Now the Chinese give singles presents and young people get together for parties. A similar holiday, Singles Awareness Day, was established in the U.S. and takes place Feb. 15.
But neither of these holidays have gained much attention in the U.S., even though the proliferation of the internet has created a plethora of seemingly random celebratory days, such as Siblings Day and National Dog Day.
And singles deserve their own party — like Amy Adams and Miss Piggy in “The Muppets.”
Single people, especially those who have just graduated from college, need items to help establish their home. We’d love it for it to be acceptable if we can create a singles registry, such as brides do for their wedding.
Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City did such that in the episode “A Woman’s Right to Shoes.” As she points out, we contribute to bridal and baby showers, weddings, Mother’s and Father’s Day, and other assorted holidays.
And it’s expensive to be single. This 2023 Forbes article notes singletons can’t share the costs of household expenses and food, and it cites a Wells Fargo report that says, “Single women often remain in a more financially fragile position than other segments of the population.”
So, it would be nice for others to give us some gift cards or some fancy bath and body products.
But … this could end up like a Hallmark holiday, where people are socially obligated to buy stuff without any heart behind it.
So we can make it into what we want. Ask a friend if they need help with a chore. Meet up with your single friends and just talk. Or host your own me party.
We do so much by ourselves and for others. We deserve a day just for us.
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Book review: “Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner”
So, are you dating anyone?
Being single is rife with rude questions.
What is wrong with me?
Welp, some of those obnoxious questions come from ourselves.
Writer Meghan Keane, who is the founder and supervising editor of NPR’s Life Kit, tackles the joys and challenges of being single in “Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner.” Society can make being single feel like you’re an oddball, and some of that gets in our head. Keane guides the way through these complicated emotions.
Each chapter explores a different aspect of singledom – from the myth of romantic love to managing emotions – with Keane talking to experts and offering an activity and practice to help you untangle your thoughts and feelings.
The book is comforting, giving wise advice: “You can love your freedom but also want companionship. … No one is grading you on perfect consistency.”
And this: “Sometimes hanging out with people is a drag! You have to make compromises about how much money to spend or what kind of food to eat or how long you’re going to be out. But when you carve our delicious moments just for you … you get to the sole architect of your experience.”
It’s also full of beautiful illustrations from LA Johnson. It’s one of those books that you’ll keep because it’s so nice to look at and the advice is something you’ll want to turn to over and over again.
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Let’s get ready for November
It’s November. This month is going to get busy, then things are really going to speed up. This time of year tends to gobble up energy and finances, so be sure to save some space and money for yourself — especially if you work in the retail or health care sectors. If you’re going away for the holidays, be sure to grab our Travel Kit.
Friday, Nov. 1 – Diwali
Friday, Nov. 1 - Halloween candy goes on sale. Come on, you know you want it.
Friday, Nov. 1-Saturday, Nov. 2 – Dias de los Muertos
Tuesday, Nov. 5 – Elections. Learn more about candidates and issues at vote411.org.
Monday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
Monday, Nov. 11 – Singles Awareness Day. People need to start giving us presents.
Thursday, Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving
Friday, Nov. 29 – Holiday sales blast off with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. If there’s any big items you’ve been thinking about buying, make a list and start saving money.
Start thinking about:
Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Giving Tuesday. Support your favorite charity.
Wednesday, Dec. 4 – Bankrupt Wednesday. Just kidding. This isn’t a thing. But it feels like it after all the money you’ve spent.
Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 25-Thursday, Jan. 2 - Hanukkah
Thursday, Dec. 26-Wednesday, Jan. 1 – Kwanzaa
Tuesday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve
Wednesday, Jan. 1 – Our favorite holiday. No obligations whatsoever. Just sit around the house and be lazy.
Monday, Jan. 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, Jan. 20 – Presidential Inauguration
SoloStories: “Spy”
SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
In the 2015 movie Spy, 40-year-old Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) unexpectedly becomes a field agent in this spoof of James Bond movies. She wears a variety of demeaning disguises that stereotype single, loveless women – such as a woman who has 10 cats. For one outfit, she declares, “I look like someone's homophobic aunt!”
But Susan is wicked smart, able to detect enemies in pursuit of a nuclear bomb. “I do not condone these sexy but reckless actions!” her coworker Nancy declares.
With her wits, Susan shows she has great power – going from an invisible middle-aged woman to one who saves the world.
It’s a fun movie to watch when you need to feel empowered and feel good about yourself. This movie has loads of laughs and a great cast, including a cameo from 50 Cent. We wish this had been a franchise.
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It’s time for the tire pressure sign to come on your car dashboard
It’s that time of the year. You start your engine in the morning and one of your dashboard lights pops up. It’s the exclamation point – or, technically, it’s the tire pressure sign – and it often lights up with the change in weather. It’s one of those annoying items you must keep up in life, along with dental appointments and paying your bills.
Get to know your car better:
AAA offers this handy guide about checking tire pressure, along with other information about your car. We also recommend joining a roadside assistance program, and AAA is one of the best.
The Mechanic Shop Femme website and the book, “Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership: Uncomplicating Cars for All of Us,” run by Chaya M. Milchtein, has valuable tips, from buying to maintaining your vehicle.
Keep up with your auto with our car care list in our New Life Starter Kit: https://www.solo-list.com/shop.
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SoloStories: “The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies”
SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
“The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies” by Alison Goodman, is a Regency novel with a unique perspective. Instead of focusing on romance in the ton, it’s about the realities of the time. Two 42-year-old single women in 1800s England rescue women in dire situations, relying on their wits and determination. Lady Augusta Coleman, also known as “Gus,” is outspoken, but her heart still yearns for a love she lost 20 years ago. Julia, recently widowed, is quieter and hiding a secret.
The book manages a light touch despite their harrowing adventures that take them into the worst parts of humanity. It can get tense, so you may need some biscuits to soothe you and a handkerchief to wipe your brows. This is a rare Regency that is inclusive, with main characters who are older in age and BIPOC and LBGTQIA characters in supporting roles.
The novel excels with some great dialogue, when Gus brings up a frequently used term while plotting their venture:
“I doubt anyone would ever believe two old maids could even take on such a venture.”
“Old maids. I really do hate that expression,” Julia said.
“Then let us be something else.”
“Useful,” Julia said. “I would like to have some purpose …”
“Then it is settled. We shall be useful. But just as importantly we shall be defiant, occasionally ill-mannered, and completely indomitable.”
The novel proves that despite the society’s degradation of the women’s status, they provide invaluable skills. Fans of Evie Dunsmore and Elizabeth Everett will enjoy this novel. Gus and Julia and great characters, and we can’t wait to read more about them in their second book, “The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin,” which comes out in 2025.
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how to buy presents for others without stressing out
One day you are minding your own business and then the calendar reminds you that your mom’s birthday is coming up or an email pops up in your inbox with a baby shower invitation, and you’re like, “Whut!?” Who has time to pick up a present? And what are you going to get them?
Don’t worry, there’s an easy way to prepare for such occasions:
Buy a bundle of cards: Instead of spending time looking for cards, grab one of these Hallmark All Occasion Boxed Set of Assorted Blank Greeting Cards. It provides cards for every occasion (pictured here), including birthdays, graduations, housewarmings and showers.
Here are some ideas for gifts:
Everybody has to shower (or at least we hope so), so bath and body products are always nice. And everybody must eat, so restaurant gift cards make a good choice.
Other thoughtful gifts: plants; books; theater, concert or sports tickets; memberships to a local museum; and gift cards to a movie theater or streaming service.
If your recipients are hard to buy for, your recipient can buy almost anything with an Amazon gift card.
For someone who has everything, a gift to a nonprofit organization, such as Doctors Without Borders, Heifer International or World Central Kitchen is a thoughtful gesture.
For baby and wedding showers and housewarming parties, check their registry.
Grab a bundle of bags. And buy some craft paper bags (like these from Bag Dream) to keep handy, so you don’t have to run around searching for gift wrap.
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SOLOSONGS: THE BEAUTY OF “WIDE OPEN SPACES”
SoloSongs is our feature in which we highlight songs that show the joys and struggles of being independent.
There are only a few songs that perfectly describe the need to be on your own. “Wide Open Spaces” is one of them.
The song, written by Susan Gibson and recorded by The Chicks (then called Dixie Chicks), depicts a young woman leaving home for the first time, backed by beautiful country instrumentation and perfect harmonies.
It captures that naïve hope young people feel when they’re undaunted by the fact that life will be hard. In fact, they are excited about it.
The chorus hits it perfectly: “She needs, wide open spaces/Room to make her big mistakes.”
Other details in the song give it its authenticity: “As her folks drive away her dad yells, ‘Check the oil.’”
The song, which appears on the album of the same name, became a huge hit for The Chicks, reaching number one on Billboard’s country charts and launching the band’s legacy as one of the most successful female music groups of all time.
Now it’s the theme song for every teenager who’s waiting to graduate from high school, ready to get out of the house and create their own life.
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Get ready for the elections
The elections are about a month away. The nation will elect a new President, plus other officials from the federal to local level. Here are some ways to prepare:
Make sure you are registered to vote. Deadlines are quickly approaching in some states. Learn more here: vote.gov or vote.org. Make a voting plan with help from the League of Women Voters’ Vote 411 website.
Research the candidates. Find out about candidates’ positions at the Vote411 website and the Vote Smart website.
Get active. If you want to get involved in the political process, the book “Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives” by Sami Sage and Emily Amick, is a great place to start. Using astrology as an analogy, the book provides tips on participating in challenging conversations, profiles political activists, offers a civic personality quiz, delivers a primer on basic functions of the government and lets you create your own civic action plan.
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It’s October. Here’s what to think about this month and for fall.
October is one of the most popular months of the year because the weather isn’t insane. Holidays like Halloween give it some fun. Other major events, including the Jewish High Holy Days and Diwali, take place this month. If you’re going away for any upcoming holidays, use our Travel Kit.
Here are a few dates to keep in mind:
Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 2-4 and Thursday-Friday, Oct. 11-12 - Jewish High Holy Days
Monday, Oct. 14 – Columbus Day
Monday, Oct. 14 – Indigenous Peoples' Day
Thursday, Oct. 31 - Halloween
Thursday, Oct. 31-Friday, Nov. 1 - Diwali
Start thinking about …
Friday, Nov. 1 – Halloween candy goes on sale. We can’t resist a good bargain.
Friday, Nov. 1-Saturday, Nov. 2 – Dias de los Muertos
Tuesday, Nov. 5 – Elections. Register to vote at vote.gov.
Monday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
Thursday, Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving
Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 25-Thursday, Jan. 2 - Hanukkah
Who’s your emergency contact?
In the TV show, “Kim’s Convenience," the character Kimchee is hit by an Ultimate Frisbee disc and shows signs of a concussion. Since his mom lives in another city, he uses his best friend’s mother, Umma, as an emergency contact – which gets a bit awkward when Umma races toward the ambulance and sees Kimchee, and not her actual son.
When you’re single, it can be awkward finding an emergency contact if your family is out of town or you’ve moved to a new city. But it is essential, since an emergency contact is required in everything from medical forms to 5K races. Choose a friend, a trusted co-worker or a neighbor.
Finding an emergency contact is one of our items listed in our safety section of our New Life Starter Kit. Grab your copy and get info on finding a job, apartment and more.
(If you need a fun, easy binge, “Kim’s Convenience,” about a Korean-Canadian family running a convenience store in Toronto, is streaming on Netflix. The episode we’re referring to is “Army Spoon,” season 3, episode 5.)
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SOLOSTORIES: “THE PARIS NOVEL”
SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
"The Paris Novel" by Ruth Reichel is like a great meal – you savor every morsel, and you feel a little sad when you’ve taken the last bite.
Stella St. Vincent is given an inheritance by her deceased mother that she must use to travel to Paris. Reluctantly, she goes and does the touristy things, but she doesn’t appreciate the city.
Then a series of events transforms her. She wanders into a dress shop, where she finds a dress that’s seemingly made for her. She meets Jules, an art collector who takes her around Paris sites. When she visits the Jeu de Parme museum, she sees a Manet painting called "Olympia" and becomes intrigued by the subject, Victorine-Louise Meurent. She wants to know more about Meurent, a woman who may have been an artist in her own right. (Along the way, Stella also learns about Rose Valland, the art museum curator who preserved French Art that the Nazis wanted to destroy during World War II.)
While Stella is pursuing the mystery of Meurent, she becomes closer to solving a personal mystery – the identity of her father. She also makes friends at the Shakespeare and Company bookstore and indulges in numerous meals. Reichel’s writing is truly beautiful when it comes to describing the food. In one passage, she writes, “The flavors almost dizzied her, like a roller coaster rocketing her up and plunging her back down.” It’s almost like you’re eating the meal along with Stella.
There’s never a hint of romance in the novel, which would have been the main plotline in most other novels. Stella falls in love with the city, its art, its food, its people and herself. It makes a nice fictional companion to “I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman’s Pursuit of Pleasure of Paris," the memoir by Glynnis MacNicol.
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It’s 100 days until Christmas
Fall is starting to make its presence known, but it’s 100 days away from Christmas and the holiday and New Year’s Eve will be here faster than you think. Here’s a few tips to plan your winter activities.
· Make travel plans. Use our Travel Kit for your visit back home or fun getaway.
· Save money. There’s so much to think about – presents, traveling, parties – plus all those sales will tempt you. And there are random expenses, such as Christmas cards, stamps, food and donations. If you save $25 a week every Monday by Dec. 2, you’ll have $300.
· Write up your lists. If you love giving out presents, add your family and friends, but think about others, such as work colleagues and Secret Santa and white elephant giveaways.
· Mark your calendar for parties and events. If you plan to throw a party, choose a date and tell friends. If you want to attend a holiday-themed concert or show, start buying tickets.
Whether you’re gathering with friends and family or having a quiet time alone, we hope you have a joyful time. We send good vibes to those who work in retail, health care and the hospitality industry during this season. For those who don’t celebrate, may you have peace in however you spend the day.
What’s a great way to save money while traveling?
We know the feeling. You’re planning a trip, imagining all the fun you’ll have … until you see the costs of hotels or Airbnbs. Suddenly, all your excitement has vanished. But we do have a tip that can help save money on lodging.
Hostelling International is a network of hostels with locations in major cities around the world. The costs are low because travelers often share rooms, although you can get private spaces. The hostels also boast dining facilities, laundry rooms and other amenities, as well as activities for visitors to get to know each other. Some hostels ask lodgers to do small chores, such as washing their dishes.
Many of the hostels are in fantastic locations in the middle of the city. One of the YHA hostels in Sydney, Australia is within walking distance of the Sydney Harbour, plus it boasts this cheeky sign.
Grab our Travel Kit for checklists and other resources to plan your trip.
A meal that you can put together while watching TV
Do you need a quick, easy meal that can also last for days? We love this recipe for freezer meal chicken meatballs from the Pinch of Yum website. In the time of about two to three songs, you can dump the ingredients into a bowl and roll the meat into balls onto a sheet pan. Then put it into the oven for the length of a half-hour TV episode, such as “Abbott Elementary.” When the show is finished, you can munch on the meatballs while watching the next episode and then you’ll have plenty left over to eat during the week.
Cooking can be challenging when you’re single. Besides Pinch of Yum, the Damn Delicious
website offers excellent recipes. And Cooking Solo: The Fun of Cooking for Yourself by Klancy E. Miller and Solo: The Joy Of Cooking For One by Signe Johansen are made for singletons.
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