From the Couch: Broadway Bangers and the Best Thing I Ever Bought

Or: 5 things I loved and did in the last few months.

Hi, friends.

Those of you who’ve been around since before I moved to Substack might remember my “From the Couch” series. It’s back!

For newer folks, the main thing you need to know is that I have a big, comfy couch. Kind of like the ‘90s PBS show, but with less jumping (unfortunately) or random stuff in the cushions (fortunately). This couch is my favorite place. It’s where I spend the majority of my nights and weekends. It’s where I’m writing from now.

(Alas, this picture is not of me right now — I’m in Target maternity jeans these days, not Everlane — but I wanted you to see the couch. Isn’t it glorious?)

The other thing you need to know about me is that I love trying things. I’m what the tech industry calls an “early adopter.” I’m a sucker for anything on a subscription. And the Enneagram 2 in me can’t help but tell other people about my exciting discoveries in case they make your life better too.

So that’s where this “From the Couch” newsletter series comes in. If you were to come over to my house, we’d sit on my beloved couch together and chat. During that chat, I’d tell you about a whole bunch of things I’d loved and done lately. And you would probably smile and nod at me but maybe also (I hope) ask me for a link or two. This newsletter is that chat, just internet-ified.

I used to write these monthly, but lately, quarterly is feeling more doable. Still, I hope you find something below that tickles your fancy. Nothing here is sponsored; this is just stuff I love!

The popcorn maker my sister got me for my birthday

Hat tip to Downtime with

Alisha Ramos

for originally putting this cute and inexpensive popcorn maker from Target on my radar. Popcorn is my favorite snack, no contest (did you know it’s a whole grain? it’s true!), and this gadget is a game changer. Highly recommend.

The best Instagram account I’ve followed in a long time

If you’re not already acquainted, may I introduce you to Arthur and his sister Sybie over at @thegrizzlyforager? Even if nature, mushrooms, and foraging isn’t your thing, I can guarantee that you’ll fall in love with this kid. I know your feed needs more bright spots like him (mine does).

[Large purchase!] An adjustable bed frame

Ever since graduating from college, I’ve wanted a grown-up set of matching bedroom furniture — dressers, bed frame, nightstands, the whole thing. Now that my husband and I live in an entire house, we finally have the space, so we upgraded as a Christmas gift to each other. (We ended up going with GrainWood Furniture, btw, which is surprisingly affordable for gorgeous solid wood!)

Anyway, while we were discussing the idea, I managed to convince him that if we were going to upgrade our bed frame anyway, we might as well also get an adjustable base — you know, one where the head and feet go up and down. I may or may not have used my pregnancy as an excuse (a good one! pregnant women can’t lay on their backs! 3 AM breastfeeding sessions are coming!), but the honest truth is that I wanted it regardless. And he agreed! Our mattress is a Casper, so we got the Casper base.

Friends, let me tell you, THIS THING WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY. Jeff is also obsessed with it. Our only regret is that we didn’t do this sooner. Best thing I ever bought, maybe. Next time you upgrade your bed situation, please go for it.

Alllll the Broadway

Just because I live upstate now doesn’t mean I’m giving up Broadway! Between one trip to NYC in December and one in February, I saw three shows:

• Merrily We Roll Along, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff (Lindsay Mendez was out that day, alas). This was a dazzler. Daniel Radcliffe is a gift to us all. Go see it!

• Hadestown…for the fourth time, lol. But Jordan Fisher is Orpheus now! And last time I went, Lillias White was out that day! Y’ALL. This cast was everything. Solea Pfeiffer (who has since left) was amazing, Lillias (who is leaving soon!) was a LEGEND of course, and Jordan was SUCH A FANTASTIC ORPHEUS. My friends and I can’t stop talking about how we wish we had a cast recording with them, much as we love the original. Please, if you are in NYC, go see this before Lillias White leaves if you can. If not, still go see Jordan!

• Spamalot, which sadly just announced that it’s closing in early April. Don’t let its short run deceive you…this show was a hoot. I especially recommend it if you’re a Broadway lover like me, because the inside baseball jokes were ELITE. (That said, my Broadway-clueless husband had a grand time, too!)

My favorite ice cream, rediscovered

My darkhorse favorite ice cream flavor is creamsicle. No lie, I lost my first baby tooth in a creamsicle ice cream bar during lunchtime in kindergarten, and we had a creamsicle-flavored cake at our wedding.

When some friends were here for New Year’s Eve, we all decided to buy ourselves some ice cream as a treat, and the original Perry’s Orange Twist lept off the shelf and into my cart. I’d somehow forgotten you could buy quarts of this stuff! I haven’t let my freezer run out since.

Consider this your nudge to treat yourself to a favorite thing from your childhood (especially if it’s ice cream).

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As always, thanks for sharing your corner of the internet with me! It would mean a lot if you were to take a second to like this post. I’d love to hear about something you’ve loved or done lately in the comments, too.

Finally, if you like this newsletter, please send a few friends my way.

See you on Instagram!

— Deedi (she/her)