SNACK TIME: October Morsels

What I’m Reading (to My Kid!) + The Countdown to Thanksgiving Begins

Nov 04, 2025

Welcome to Snack Time! A monthly series that takes a break from the regularly scheduled munch meal planning to share some of the best things I’ve consumed this past month (edible and otherwise).

I feel like I’ve lived 5 lives in October and been sick for half of them.

The highs included a mid-week trip to visit one of my best friends from college in San Francisco.

Since I was one of my last friends to join the motherhood ranks, I saw first-hand how hard it is to juggle all the pieces of the pie—health, friendship, family, work. The slice I saw so many people drop (out of necessity) was friendship.

As an only child, my female friends have always been a core ingredient for my emotional health, and more so now that I’m a mother. I drop the ball just like anyone, but in the important moments, I try to rise to the occasion, if only for the selfish reason that my friends help me feel seen and grounded in ways that my spouse never will (not for lack of trying, but because no one can be your everything!).

It was a quick jaunt, but enough time to laugh, cry, hike and catch up in a more meaningful dose than a phone call. Mostly, we just plopped down in the middle of her life, tagged along for pick up, and offered a hand here and there.

My munch wasn’t thrilled with two west coast trips in two months, so I’ve also done my best to pack in the activities on weekends even when my body has told me it was time to refuel.

Aquarium; Baby's first peaceful protest; Bronx zoo with my oldest friend and her daughter - the first time the girls met!; the umbrella I purchased as a bribe when I was in SF; celebrating my hub's birthday at Le Bernadin for lunch

That eventually caught up to us in the form of a never-ending cold. Which brings me to this month’s low.

The piece of the pie that I’ve forsaken the most lately is my health and that was confirmed by a few of my usual body folks when I went in for an emergency tune up. I’ve been trying to recommit to self-care since then, despite not feeling like I have time to do so.

Oh, and I’m turning 40 on Sunday!

My husband is carting these old bones off to Amsterdam for a weekend trip, culminating in seeing Lady Gaga Mayhem on my birthday. The city is one of our favorites. We lived there for a few months the summer before my munch was born. I have plenty of recs here, and look forward to adding to the list this week!

Stay tuned for a special birthday surprise for paid subscribers coming Friday, and in honor of my birthday, I’m offering 60% off annual subscriptions. It’s the lowest cost Substack will allow me to make them -- $32!

I won’t be that cringe stranger on the internet asking you for a birthday present, so just know that it fills me with immense joy to have more of you around here for the long haul.

Happy munching!

Phoebe

WHAT YOU MISSED

ME TIME

(Everything I’m watching and reading)

The Diplomat (TV): This season of the Diplomat was even more twisty and thrilling than the previous two—which I enjoyed immensely! As a Felicity super fan I also devoured this profile on Keri. There’s an anecdote about how the director on the Americans realized her and Matthew Rhys were fucking that made me lol.

Manhattan Murder Mystery (Film): Like many of you, I’ve been on an unofficial Diane Keaton rampage. Somehow this Woody Allen satire escaped me in my youth, and it was fun to see how well it stood up, especially in the era of Only Murders in the Building.

Heart the Lover (Book): I remember enjoying Lily King’s novel Writers & Lovers. And in many ways that did not prepare me at all for how much I LOVED Heart the Lover. I can’t tell you if it’s a better book or her work just found me at a more apt moment in my life (which happens, and also why I love re-reading books from a decade ago). Either way, it’s quick, smart, deeply absorbing, and left me sobbing in bed at the finish line.

MUNCHKIN ESSENTIALS OF THE MONTH

My Favorite Children’s Books (Right Now!)

After Emma Straub stopped by to share her favorite picture books, I couldn’t help but add a few of mine below as the essentials of the month!

Buffalo Fluffalo and Puffalo: The sequel to Bess Kalb’s hilarious children’s book debut, which teaches kids you don’t have to act tough in order to be loved. This time, she introduces a new tiny puffalo to the fluffalo family. It’s a perfect gift for kids expecting a sibling, but also delightful for any munch (like mine who is NOT!).

Dim Sum Palace: This has been our favorite food book to date and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read it to my munch, who is now fluent in dumplings, shumai and buns, despite not being interested in trying any of them. One day!

Here We Are: We are big Oliver Jeffers fans over here. I love his expansive illustrations and the way he introduces kids to the world (and their place in it). Everything Everywhere is another favorite.

Beatrix Potter Box Set: We recently uncovered a box set from my childhood of Beatrix Potter’s classics. I forgot how utterly quirky and bizarre some of the stories are, but my munch has become obsessed with certain characters (Timmy Tiptoes, Hunca Munca, Chippy Hackee—what names!). They are small and portable—our go-to books for travel since you only need one or two stories for the night.