Comments on: Five Pick-Me-Ups https://cupofjo.com/2025/06/12/amy-sherald-keith-mcnally-mud-cake/ Fashion, Beauty, Design, Culture, Food, Relationships, Motherhood Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:44:53 +0000 hourly 1 By: PNW GRATEFUL https://cupofjo.com/2025/06/12/amy-sherald-keith-mcnally-mud-cake/#comment-3490303 Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:44:53 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=340082#comment-3490303 In reply to Shena.

Yeah I don’t understand what’s wrong with the phrase ” reaching out ” !

]]> By: Julia K. https://cupofjo.com/2025/06/12/amy-sherald-keith-mcnally-mud-cake/#comment-3490229 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:42:24 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=340082#comment-3490229 In reply to Shena.

I grew so tired of “touching base” in every work email, ever! So I retired. Hahaha! Highly recommend!

]]> By: Jay https://cupofjo.com/2025/06/12/amy-sherald-keith-mcnally-mud-cake/#comment-3490182 Tue, 24 Jun 2025 07:32:02 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=340082#comment-3490182 For memoirs, highly recommend I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell (and all her fiction as well)

]]> By: Taylor https://cupofjo.com/2025/06/12/amy-sherald-keith-mcnally-mud-cake/#comment-3490174 Tue, 24 Jun 2025 02:27:51 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=340082#comment-3490174 In reply to Daniela.

Check out The Loopy Whisk if you haven’t already. She has a PhD in Chemistry (aka, really knows her stuff!) and has incredible recipes for different dietary requirements. Her GF ones are the best I’ve ever tried (especially the cinnamon buns!!), but she also has egg-free, dairy-free, etc.

]]> By: Shena https://cupofjo.com/2025/06/12/amy-sherald-keith-mcnally-mud-cake/#comment-3490170 Tue, 24 Jun 2025 01:02:21 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=340082#comment-3490170 Keith McNally is the second author I have heard grump about the phrase, “reaching out”. I find this to be disappointing as it is such a nice phrase, it even has kind imagery and non-committal, non-confrontational vibes. I am sad that such a gentle phrase has been criticized so deeply by literary dudes that I feel like I can’t use it again in my emails. I asked ChatGPT for some alternatives and here they are:
Friendly and Warm
“Getting in touch”

“Checking in”

“Following up”

“Touching base”

“Sending a quick note”

Thoughtful and Kind
“Just wanted to connect”

“Hoping to hear from you”

“Extending a quick hello”

“Dropping a line”

“I wanted to say hello and…”

Professional but Soft
“Contacting you regarding…”

“Writing to share…”

“Connecting with you about…”

“I wanted to follow up on…”

None of these are as good as, “reaching out”. So here is mine:

Hi! I wanted to…….nope, got nothing.

]]> By: Daniela https://cupofjo.com/2025/06/12/amy-sherald-keith-mcnally-mud-cake/#comment-3490079 Sat, 21 Jun 2025 17:02:28 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=340082#comment-3490079 I can no longer eat eggs (womp womp), anyone have some amazing egg free cake recipes? Bonus points for dairy and gluten free for my whole household!

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