I'm Alex, an artist who writes.
I'm also:
a mom of four
a film photographer
a fourth-generation newsletter writer
a recovering know-it-all
Come for the links, stay for the abundant opinions. Subscribe here.
This newsletter started on April 14, 2021 and was known as Alex Emails from March 6, 2019 to April 7, 2021.
09/27/23 - Women helping women09/21/23 - Deep Dive ~ How to Ace Family Photos09/20/23 - Mini sessions are here! 09/13/23 - Picking up the pieces09/06/23 - The unexpected thing I did last week 08/24/23 - Deep Dive ~ Why I quit Instagram08/23/23 - The hurricane was the least of my worries 08/16/23 - One of my beige flags...08/09/23 - How to find a wise old sage08/02/23 - What cleaning the house feels like07/27/23 - My birth story: The night Mick was born07/19/23 - An amazing birthday gift from my sons07/12/23 - Introducing: Handpicked Print Shop!07/05/23 - Cherishing nectarines, curves, and July06/28/23 - An exciting update from Nate!06/21/23 - Teeny tiny newsletter today06/14/23 - The definition of "sister"06/07/23 - Introducing: Matthew McConaughey05/31/23 - Birthday parties05/24/23 - Tell me about your hobbies05/17/23 - What do you do?05/03/23 - Change is not a bolt of lightning04/26/23 - Big announcement: Handpicked is moving.04/19/23 - The quiet joy of feeling normal04/12/23 - What I'd wear to Eras04/05/23 - Two fun spring break ideas and two fun facts03/22/23 - The Handpicked Easter Basket Gift Guide03/08/23 - What to wear on a first date03/01/23 - A look back at my first newsletter02/22/23 - My new favorite photos of Mick02/15/23 - Last night's pavlova & a hidden mom joke
02/01/23 - Art projects: do you love them or hate them?
01/25/23 - All my favorite photos from 2022
02/08/23 - The best things I listened to this week
02/01/23 - Art projects: do you love them or hate them?
01/25/23 - All my favorite photos from 2022
01/18/23 - The book that made me cry unexpectedly
01/11/23 - My word for the year
01/04/23 - Baby Mick is here!
11/16/22 - Ridiculously excited about soft ice
11/09/22 - Some fuschia-colored joy in an unexpected place
11/02/22 - The haunting thought I had at my kids' school
10/26/22 - The best things I listened to this week
10/19/22 - So many people sent me this pumpkin decorating video
10/12/22 - Hey, a giveaway! And my 10 takeaways from Alt Summit
10/05/22 - Alex goes to New York
09/28/22 - Glucose test + a bad mood = short newsletter
09/21/22 - Psst, you should start a newsletter
09/14/22 - Don't fence me in
09/07/22 - Trying to keep cool
08/31/22 - Gulp, I think I'm starting a side hustle!
08/24/22 - Summer is over, but I'm okay
08/17/22 - Wisdom from two friends on body image
08/10/22 - What's your strong opinion on baby names?
08/03/22 - Flower tasting, the fair, and a 20-year sweater
07/27/22 - Something I never do: recommend a TV show
07/20/22 - A mini Handpicked from the road!
07/13/22 - The cosmos, birthdays, and anonymous Q&A's
07/06/22 - Nectarines don't fix everything, but almost.
06/29/22 - Here's what you should bring to the beach
06/22/22 - New baby on the way!
06/15/22 - Help me with my ice cream schedule
06/08/22 - An intro! Including some useless facts and my initials
06/01/22 - A Father's Day Gift Guide // 2022
05/25/22 - No newsletter today
05/18/22 - This one's mostly dresses and food
05/11/22 - Really good earrings, rice pudding, and recipe hacks
05/04/22 - Grasses as art, and 22 more fun links
04/27/22 - A few picks from my sisters
04/20/22 - Dream more, care more, do more, be more
04/13/22 - A Mother's Day Gift Guide // 2022
04/06/22 - My first Nikes and wedding planning
03/30/22 - Eleanor was not expecting this :'(
03/23/22 - Spring today, Disneyland tomorrow
03/16/22 - Didn't plan to talk about marshmallows this much
03/09/22 - Slightly Choppy and the perfect Easter dress
03/02/22 - Five horse portraits + world peace cookies
02/23/22 - Goodnight, moon
02/16/22 - My rule for road trips
02/09/22 - How to kiss correctly
02/02/22 - Giving advice, eating plant-based, and hopefully a baby
01/26/22 - Light fixtures, a TJ's fail, and the Divine Feminine
01/19/22 - Aunt Kathryn's Chocolate Cake
01/12/22 - Y'all means all
01/05/22 - I want the credit
12/29/21 - Stars are not immortal
12/15/21 - What did you think of Get Back?
12/08/21 - You can call me Al
12/01/21 - Our tree traditions and how I "made" my wreath
11/24/21 - A song, a conversation, and a big thank you
11/17/21 - Why I love being assigned the turkey
11/03/21 - Handpicked Gift Guides are coming! Preview inside :)
10/27/21 - The two women I can't stop talking about
10/20/21 - The two things I'm purchasing before the holidays
10/13/21 - Mom jeans and tattoos
10/06/21 - Small great idea #2
09/29/21 - I am apparently not good at fall
09/22/21 - It's almost here!
09/15/21 - Small great idea #1
09/08/21 - Hatch chiles for days
09/01/21 - A road trip, a big loss, and the Mirror Blossom Project
08/25/21 - The regular person's guide to Disneyland
08/18/21 - Super real supermodels + big feelings on laundry
08/04/21 - On my way to meet my sister's baby
08/04/21 - The potato chips we've all been waiting for
07/28/21 - Don't worry, I didn't forget
07/21/21 - Women making sports history ⚾️+ a snack for SAHMs
07/14/21 - Short, sweet, and not sponsored
07/07/21 - Trying to be more like Jane. (And Oprah. And Maya.)
06/30/21 - O'er the land of the #freeBritney
06/23/21 - Birthday List has earned its own section
06/16/21 - The start of summer (and 5 things is back!)
06/09/21 - Aloha, it's a short one
06/02/21 - Eleanor's birthday butterflies
05/26/21 - Friendly feminism and two Trader Joe's fails
05/19/21 - Mother, mountain faces, and uncut Target gems
05/12/21 - Thanking oneself
05/05/21 - Let me ask you something.
04/28/21 - "People at birth are inherently good."
04/21/21 - Happy Earth Day! And a gift guide.
04/14/21 - It's here! Welcome to Handpicked.
02/01/23 - Art projects: do you love them or hate them?
01/25/23 - All my favorite photos from 2022
02/08/23 - The best things I listened to this week
02/01/23 - Art projects: do you love them or hate them?
01/25/23 - All my favorite photos from 2022
01/18/23 - The book that made me cry unexpectedly
01/11/23 - My word for the year
01/04/23 - Baby Mick is here!
11/16/22 - Ridiculously excited about soft ice
11/09/22 - Some fuschia-colored joy in an unexpected place
11/02/22 - The haunting thought I had at my kids' school
10/26/22 - The best things I listened to this week
10/19/22 - So many people sent me this pumpkin decorating video
10/12/22 - Hey, a giveaway! And my 10 takeaways from Alt Summit
10/05/22 - Alex goes to New York
09/28/22 - Glucose test + a bad mood = short newsletter
09/21/22 - Psst, you should start a newsletter
09/14/22 - Don't fence me in
09/07/22 - Trying to keep cool
08/31/22 - Gulp, I think I'm starting a side hustle!
08/24/22 - Summer is over, but I'm okay
08/17/22 - Wisdom from two friends on body image
08/10/22 - What's your strong opinion on baby names?
08/03/22 - Flower tasting, the fair, and a 20-year sweater
07/27/22 - Something I never do: recommend a TV show
07/20/22 - A mini Handpicked from the road!
07/13/22 - The cosmos, birthdays, and anonymous Q&A's
07/06/22 - Nectarines don't fix everything, but almost.
06/29/22 - Here's what you should bring to the beach
06/22/22 - New baby on the way!
06/15/22 - Help me with my ice cream schedule
06/08/22 - An intro! Including some useless facts and my initials
06/01/22 - A Father's Day Gift Guide // 2022
05/25/22 - No newsletter today
05/18/22 - This one's mostly dresses and food
05/11/22 - Really good earrings, rice pudding, and recipe hacks
05/04/22 - Grasses as art, and 22 more fun links
04/27/22 - A few picks from my sisters
04/20/22 - Dream more, care more, do more, be more
04/13/22 - A Mother's Day Gift Guide // 2022
04/06/22 - My first Nikes and wedding planning
03/30/22 - Eleanor was not expecting this :'(
03/23/22 - Spring today, Disneyland tomorrow
03/16/22 - Didn't plan to talk about marshmallows this much
03/09/22 - Slightly Choppy and the perfect Easter dress
03/02/22 - Five horse portraits + world peace cookies
02/23/22 - Goodnight, moon
02/16/22 - My rule for road trips
02/09/22 - How to kiss correctly
02/02/22 - Giving advice, eating plant-based, and hopefully a baby
01/26/22 - Light fixtures, a TJ's fail, and the Divine Feminine
01/19/22 - Aunt Kathryn's Chocolate Cake
01/12/22 - Y'all means all
01/05/22 - I want the credit
12/29/21 - Stars are not immortal
12/15/21 - What did you think of Get Back?
12/08/21 - You can call me Al
12/01/21 - Our tree traditions and how I "made" my wreath
11/24/21 - A song, a conversation, and a big thank you
11/17/21 - Why I love being assigned the turkey
11/03/21 - Handpicked Gift Guides are coming! Preview inside :)
10/27/21 - The two women I can't stop talking about
10/20/21 - The two things I'm purchasing before the holidays
10/13/21 - Mom jeans and tattoos
10/06/21 - Small great idea #2
09/29/21 - I am apparently not good at fall
09/22/21 - It's almost here!
09/15/21 - Small great idea #1
09/08/21 - Hatch chiles for days
09/01/21 - A road trip, a big loss, and the Mirror Blossom Project
08/25/21 - The regular person's guide to Disneyland
08/18/21 - Super real supermodels + big feelings on laundry
08/04/21 - On my way to meet my sister's baby
08/04/21 - The potato chips we've all been waiting for
07/28/21 - Don't worry, I didn't forget
07/21/21 - Women making sports history ⚾️+ a snack for SAHMs
07/14/21 - Short, sweet, and not sponsored
07/07/21 - Trying to be more like Jane. (And Oprah. And Maya.)
06/30/21 - O'er the land of the #freeBritney
06/23/21 - Birthday List has earned its own section
06/16/21 - The start of summer (and 5 things is back!)
06/09/21 - Aloha, it's a short one
06/02/21 - Eleanor's birthday butterflies
05/26/21 - Friendly feminism and two Trader Joe's fails
05/19/21 - Mother, mountain faces, and uncut Target gems
05/12/21 - Thanking oneself
05/05/21 - Let me ask you something.
04/28/21 - "People at birth are inherently good."
04/21/21 - Happy Earth Day! And a gift guide.
04/14/21 - It's here! Welcome to Handpicked.