Issue #17 — we love you, LA
[FREE ISSUE] Whether you’re looking to donate to the wildfire devastation in Los Angeles, or take break from the heavy content, we’ve got you covered in this week’s issue!
🔎 Spotlight — this week by both of us
Ali and I really debated releasing the newsletter this week but we thought it might help to get some info out there and maybe provide a welcome distraction if you need it. I can’t think of a better way to help than featuring members of this community or people near and dear to our hearts - so if you have the resources, please consider giving to the gofundmes included here!
Help the Fagnani Family Rebuild - Rachel and her husband and two boys lost their house and community in the Palisades fire. They are now staying with family in Tennessee until they can get their footing back! I have DMs with Rachel going back to 2020 and she is always so kind! In these messages she is always reaching out to her reps and senators, sending in her Be the Match sample, or leaving the sweetest DMs. They are pretty close to their goal so I’m hoping we can get them over the finish line!
Help Jose and Maria’s Family Rebuild After Eaton Fire - I saw this one shared on @therogueessentials and the story absolutely gutted me. Jose and Maria immigrated to the US 30 years ago. They bought a house in Altadena and Jose, a construction worker, used his spare time to make repairs and updates to the house. It’s the house where they raised their two children Amy and Jose who are now adults. Jose and Maria helped Amy and Jose to purchase homes nearby and have helped with renovations. Amy’s house was close to a complete renovation in preparation for her newborn arriving next month. All three houses were completely lost in the fire. All donations will go directly toward providing immediate relief—such as clothing, food, and temporary housing—as well as helping the family as rebuild their homes and create a future where hope can flourish once again.
📎 Odds and Ends
Altadena is home to many traditionally Black and Latinx neighborhoods. About 58% of it’s residents are non-white. Please support these families who have lost homes that have been in their families for generations:
List of Black Families affected by the fire
List of Latinx Families affected by the fire
List of Teachers affected by the fire - We know teachers are already underserved and underfunded. Please donate to this list of teachers that lost their homes/schools due to the wildfires.
Pasadena Humane Society - They’ve taken in more than 400 animals since the fires started, and have been trying to find these animals homes/owners as well as fosters. Please support the thankless work they’re doing!
World Central Kitchen - Since 2010, Chef José Andrés has been feeding people in natural disaster and war zones. They are on the ground feeding countless people and first responders right now. You can donate or help volunteer at one of their sites!
Volunteer County of Los Angeles - This volunteer work is directly through LA County and engages in various community support activities, including disaster response and recovery efforts.
has a master list for GoFundMe’s in LA right now
📖 Between the Lines
Ashley’s Picks:
Dirty Diana - I read 10 pages of this book and I knew I was going to fly through it. Let me preface this by saying that this book is STEAMY and insane. You will say OMG multiple times while reading this. This book isn’t a thriller but holy shit did it have a ton of twists and turns. This was originally a podcast (with Demi Moore) and now it’s a book and the second part is coming out in February. Apologies in advance that you can’t read the second part immediately. Very short synopsis:
Diana is happy in her marriage to Oliver and she loves her life but she is bored with their sex after maybe getting the ick? She reminisces about her former life when she pursued an art career and had wild and crazy sex with Jasper, a famous artist. Unfortunately, when Diana starts to try and change her life - it has some VERY UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES!!!!!
Don’t say I didn’t warn you about this one.
The Last Love Note - I think I am known for my tearjerker picks and this one will require a whole box of tissues. I had so many people reach out to me after reading this one and they said that this book is one of the most accurate representations of what it feels like after losing a spouse.
Kate is a new widow after losing her husband to early dementia and she seems to be embarrassing herself left and right - whether it’s in front of her hot new neighbor or her boss with a heart of gold. Will she be able to find herself and love after the hardest years of her life?
I’m also sorry for how hard you will cry while reading this.
Any Trope but You - This is my current read and I’m absolutely loving it - it came highly recommended by and was sent to me with the subject line that this “is right up your alley.”
Margot is a famous romance writer with a loyal following and a sister who thinks she can do no wrong. When a secret document on her computer with Happily Never Afters aka alternate unhappy endings for all of her books, she is promptly cancelled and her sister sends her to a remote Alaskan resort to rethink her writing career. There she meets Dr. Forrest Wakefield who seems to be created from her own romance novels except for the part where they seem to hate each other.
This one is so spicy and so fun and a really good mind vacation for right now however, you’ll have to wait until April to read this one! Pre-order now!
The Favorites - This is my next read. If you haven’t seen everyone reading it yet - you’re about to. It’s been described as Daisy Jones and the Six meet ice skating and that was all it took to hook me. This comes out today! Order asap!
Reminder - all of my book recommendations can also be found on my bookshop.org storefront!
Alexa’s Picks:
My picks are all inspired by the obvious disconnect with have with our planet right now and the beautiful ecosystems it gifts us with:
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - This book comes highly recommended by our friend Tricia — it weaves together Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and personal reflections to explore the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world. Its emphasis on reciprocity, gratitude, and caring for the Earth offers a vital framework for fostering environmental stewardship and resilience in the face of climate change.
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler - This is a dystopian novel set in 2024 (scary right) in a climate-ravaged Los Angeles where wildfires, societal collapse, and resource scarcity drive a young Black woman to create a new belief system rooted in survival and change. The irony of this story resonates deeply with the recent wildfires in Pasadena and Altadena, where Butler herself once lived and drew inspiration for her work. In a striking parallel, Octavia’s Bookshelf, a women-of-color-owned Pasadena bookstore named in her honor, narrowly escaped the flames, underscoring the enduring relevance of Butler’s warnings about climate and community resilience.
Before it’s Gone by Jonathan Vigliotti - Jonathan reported from the ground during this week’s wildfires and is the author of this book where he shares his firsthand account of witnessing the devastating effects of global warming over nearly two decades. Drawing from his extensive reporting across the U.S. and around the world, Jonathan offers an urgent and deeply personal perspective on the unfolding climate crisis, highlighting the planet’s precarious position on the brink of irreversible change.
The Big Fix by Hal Harvey and Justin Gillis - These authors discuss the urgent changes that we can make immediately in your lives and communities to really make a difference for our climate.
🍴Crumbs - this week by Ashley
Coconut Curry Pork Meatballs - I made this recipe last week and it was truly so good! Howsweeteats never lets me down! Penny and Steve loved it!
Wanted to include all of the recipes I’m making this week:
Would y’all be interested in me doing this every week? If so - please let me know in the comments!
🧴 Beauty corner 💄
Ashley’s Picks:
Cocokind Barrier Restore Serum: I really destroyed my barrier a couple of weeks ago with retinol which I swear to god I am really never trying again (more on that later) and I have heard amazing things about this serum. WOWWWWWWWW this is something you should have on hand at all times - especially if you occasionally overdo it with the acids. Two weeks of this (+ Paula’s Choice Niacinamide) and Alpyn’s barrier moisturizer have my skin looking so moisturized and plump. You might be asking why I didn’t fix with The Rich Cream and I wasn’t about to use that on awful looking skin hahahah shit’s expensive. The price point for this is so affordable - $22 - and I will be repurchasing!
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Nose: Sorry for this very graphic picture of my nose gunk but holy shit are you seeing this? As I’ve gotten older I can tell when I’m about to start my period because my nose will start breaking out (wtf body) so I’m very excited to see if this will help with that. I used this and was amazed by the results - I couldn’t wait to show Ali hahaha. Putting them on takes a little finesse but I was able to sleep with it on no problem! Think of it as a zit patch but for your nose and all those annoying clogged pores!
Alexa’s Picks:
New Makeup Bag: I treated myself to this cute makeup bag for Christmas/the New Year. I love a good reset for the ways that I organize my things. This one is extra special because it has a makeup brush organizer built into the bag. I’ve been really loving it so far!
Musely: I’m still having issues with the melasma on my forehead and upper lip, and my sister told me she saw a friend recently whose melasma cleared up, and they said Musely was the trick for clearing theirs up! I signed up the other day and took a quiz — they really tailor your treatment to you. I even had to send in pictures of my face before they would prescribe me a treatment. I’ve been using it for a few days and I’ll keep y’all updated over the next few months about any differences I notice! Use my referral link to get $35 off your first order!
🎥 Now screening - by both of us
Ashley’s Picks:
The Agency - The first episode of this was so boring and you will be like “what the heck is going on” but stick with it. This is a remake of The Bureau and it has a fantastic cast. I feel like I’m missing half of what is going on but I google a lot and I love shows where it feels like I’m learning even if I will never know what it’s like to be a CIA spy. Richard Gere is also a major Zaddy in this.
Say Nothing - I never read the book (I know I know I don’t read non-fiction that much because my brain needs a break) but this show is so interesting and so good and so different from a lot of the shows we are currently watching. It feels very thriller - like and I’m sure it’s because nothing is more terrifying than reality.
Dexter: Original Sin - did y’all know that Dexter is Steve’s favorite show? I’m not sure that it would be in my top 10 or my top 20 but the Trinity Killer remains one of the most terrifying villains I’ve ever watched so it holds a special place in my heart. I really loved the Dexter sequel so I had high hopes for this but it’s more funny than anything. I kinda like how cheesy it is? It also stars Patrick Dempsey, Sarah Michelle Geller and Christian Slater so It has to be semi-good right? Although the Deb story lines are AWFUL.
A Complete Unknown - Steve and I watched this the other night and absolutely loved. I went in with low expectations because I thought Ali didn’t really love and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t know anything really about Bob Dylan but while watching the movie I did realize that I knew almost every song because my Dad listened to him throughout my life. (You can listen to me cry about this on the audio version.) I did think the love interest plot lines felt underwritten and I thought younger Dylan was overacted by Chalamet but overall this was a spectacular performance by Kylie’s boyfriend. (How dare you call him that - Alexa)
Alexa’s Picks:
Queer Eye - The new season of Queer Eye has literally been a life saver this week. 2025 is off to a rough start and the Fab Five single-handedly keep me optimistic about this world. The seasons have only gotten better and better and this season had some of the best interior design transformations and beauty transformations yet. Plus, Jeremiah is THE BEST addition to this show and I love him (sorry Bobby — you were special too)! If y’all binge watched, which was your favorite episode?
Seed of the Sacred Fig - This movie was one of the most profound pieces of art ever made. This movie was FILMED IN SECRET (mind blowing right?!) around the time Mahsa Amini was murdered and protests broke out throughout Iran. It was written, co-produced, and directed by Mohammad Rasoulof. He has been arrested and threatened multiple times in Iran for speaking out against the regime. After making this movie and it being announced that it would screen at Cannes Film Festival, Rasoulof, escaped an eight-year prison sentence and government persecution by fleeing Iran. After a 28-day journey on foot through border villages, he eventually reached a German consulate to secure temporary travel documents. Despite Iranian authorities banning his cast and pressuring him to withdraw his film, Rasoulof persevered and attended the Cannes Film Festival. At the event, he used his platform to spotlight the plight of two of the main cast members still trapped in Iran. This movie is one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen and everyone needs to watch it. It’s about the younger generation of women watching their country’s slow descent into tyranny and them subsequently fighting back against tradition. It truly made me realize how unbelievably privileged I am to be able to use my voice and this is why I will never make myself small as a woman. In honor of women like those in this film! I could talk about this movie all day. Please watch it.
A Real Pain - I felt like I had to be in a certain headspace before I watched this film — I thought this was going to mainly feature a Jewish family highlighting their grief surrounding the Holocaust. Which don’t get me wrong, films of that nature are poignant and important and necessary, but I got this film completely wrong, and to reduce this film to that cliche is to severely sell it short. Eisenberg’s screenplay was refreshing and happy and moving, all while respectfully and candidly approaching the depth of the Holocaust. Kieran Culkin was FANTASTIC in this. I watched this on the eve of the Golden Globes and when he was announced as the winner for supporting actor I completely agreed with that decision. This film tackled grief and depression in such a vulnerable and approachable way, and it was so successful mainly because of Culkin’s acting. It was one of my favorite watches the past year.
🔗 Codes
Follow the links to the websites or specific products below to utilize the discount codes! Disclaimer: we don’t make any money from 90% of these, we are just sharing the love because everyone loves a discount code and it helps cut down on common DMs. Use them, share them, ignore them - we don’t care! Happy Shopping!!
Captain Blankenship (Hair & Scalp Serum) - ASHLEYSPIVEY20
Furtuna Skin - SPIVEY15
Grown Alchemist - ASHLEY15
Versed Skincare - ASHLEYS10
RMS Beauty - ASHLEYSPIVEY20
Stylevana - SHOPASHLEYS
Bloomeffects - ASHLEYSPIVEY
Dr. Dana - ASHLEY15
Dermstore - SPIVEY
Coco & Eve (Value Sets Excluded) - SPIVEY15
Shielded Beauty - ASHLEYS15
Greatness Wins - ASHLEY25
Newton Baby (Original Crib Mattress, Play Yard, & Bassinet)- ASHLEYS
Rent the Runway - 30% off your first month of membership
Oura Ring - $40 USD off
Dolce Glow - SEESTER10
Maya Chia - SEESTER10
Bluestone Shield - ASHLEY15
Lily and Bean - ASHLEY15
Wildgrain - SPIVEY for $30 off
Wally Health - $25 off first month of membership
Nordace - SPIVEY20 for 20% off sitewide and free shipping
Seed - use code “SPIVEY25” for 25% off of Seed’s DS-01® Daily Synbiotic
Skout - follow the link or use code “SPIVEY” for 20% off sitewide
Hello Bello - follow the link and use code “SPIVEY” for 30% off your first diaper delivery
Consumer Reports - follow the link for $10 off Consumer Reports yearly membership (usually $39)
Caraway - follow the link or use code “ASHLEYSPIVEY10” for 10% off sitewide
SlumberPod - follow link for 10% SlumberPod/SlumberTot duo
Pehr - Spivey for 15% off
Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder - use code “ALEXAS10” for 10% off
Brooklinen - use code “VIPASHLEY” for 25% off sitewide
Aura Frames - use code “ASHLEY” for $35 off the Carver Mat frame, plus free shipping
📌 One last thing
Literally Alexa this whole week in LA
Until next time,
"Would y’all be interested in me doing this every week?" Yesssss please. I love the food content!
Alexa please don't apologize for your kitties ❤️❤️❤️
Been thinking alot about you guys & the cats. And now all over again 😥
And Ashley, I'd be interested to hear about Wellbutrin. Going on & off it. Side effects. Do you eventually taper off or can you do a hard stop?