Sunday, 30 November 2025

The Friendship Edit: November Finds

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The Friendship Edit: November Finds

Essays, episodes, and ideas related to celebrating friends and yourself!

Nina Badzin

Nov 30

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Articles and Other Friendship Links

I’m constantly seeing friendship-related essays. Sometimes they come from YOU, the readers and listeners. Keep them coming!

I just put this one in my Facebook group for us to discuss there. I want to hear your thoughts! “Marriages, Kids, Careers: For 44 Years, They’ve Been Talking It Out” (gift link to NYT article)

“Just Host Your Friends Already: The Reward is Worth the Risk” by Cate Stern

“On Gown, Girlfriends, and Gratitude” by Merri Ukraincik

“Why We Need Friends Like Air” by Jenna Bush Hager

“The Pure Delight of Joining a Tennis Team in Midlife” by Liz Krieger in Gloria Magazine. I relate to these sentiments 100%.

Emma Nadler’s essay, “Go to the Party, Even When Life Doesn’t Feel Like One” was read on Kelly Corrigan’s podcast!

Books, Shows, & Recipes I’m Into These Days

READING: I’m still reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans and enjoying it.
Here is my updated 2025 reading list.
TV: I finished The Morning Show season three and was stunned by how much of the story happened in the very last episode. I liked it but would have enjoyed that drama spread out a bit more. I’m watching Loot (fun and silly), Pluribus (strange and thought-provoking), and Palm Royale (getting tedious but love the costumes). I tend to stick to one streaming service at a time. So, I’m having an AppleTV moment.
COOKING: I was lucky to be a guest over Thanksgiving. People tend to put me in charge of the roasted vegetables platter and once again I did that. I always include some green things and some colorful things. I did Brussels sprouts, carrots, yellow and red peppers, and broccoli. I roast each type on its own since they take different amounts of time then arrange it by color on a platter. People always appreciate an assortment of vegetables.

My Friends/Family Convinced Me to Try This

A monthly segment with a few products that my friends convinced me to buy, and I’m glad I listened.

Victoria Beckham’s eyeliners are 20% off right now. (Recommended by Taryn K and Nancy F—two friends from different parts of my life. They were right!)
This personalized toiletry bag is on sale (recommended by my daughter Rebecca)
Now that it’s suddenly freezing in Minneapolis, I’m using this Avene lotion (also on sale!!) at night. A friend recommended it at some point, but I don’t remember who it was. I’ve read that it has ingredients similar to La Mer, but I have no idea if that’s true.

🎧 The November Episodes

#171 - “Brighten a Friend’s Day with One Simple Gesture: November Friendship Challenge” Apple, Spotify, YouTube

#172 - “What “Beaches” Gets Right About Friendship” (with Professors Paul Eastwick & Eli Finkel) Apple, Spotify, YouTube

#173 - “What Makes a Friendship Last: Lessons from 40 Years” (with Sunny & Jenn) Apple, Spotify, YouTube

#174 - “The Neuroscience of Feeling Seen, Ignored, or Left Out in Friendships” (with Dr. Ben Rein) Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Podcasts Where I Was a Guest in November

“Friendship: What Gets in the Way and How Do We Make it Last” on Emily Paulsen’s podcast, Curious Life of a Childfree Woman Apple. Spotify.

“Deepening Friendships in a Busy World” on Trisha Addicks’ podcast, Mad Rush Apple, Spotify.

The anonymous friendship advice question of the month

The Friend Who Can't Commit to Plans

Nina Badzin

Nov 19

This month’s anonymous letter is from a reader/listener who truly dislikes having a full, or even semi-full, calendar, but her friends are tired of her canceling or saying no. She doesn’t want her friends to feel hurt! I have some ideas.

Read full story

Thanks for being here in November! Feel free to send links for me to consider in December. ~ Nina

Let’s connect outside of this newsletter: You can find me most often in the Facebook group, Dear Nina: The Group. All the social media links are below. I know I need to get rid of some them!

Links to Amazon, Bookshop.org, or other affiliates might earn me a tiny commission, which helps operations of Dear Nina.

You’re a free subscriber to Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. Frustrated with some of your friends? You’re not alone! The anonymous letters are a perk for paying subscribers. You probably have a similar question. Upgrade any time for the full archive.

Comment

Restack

Your Huatulco Checklist is Here! 🏖️

͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Hi friend,

You're planning a trip to Huatulco — excellent life choice! You also requested our Huatulco trip checklist and email series, so let's begin.

Instead of losing hours down TripAdvisor rabbit holes and Facebook group debates, start with this printable, toss-in-your-bag cheat sheet.

👉 Download your Huatulco Quickstart Checklist

There's much more to Huatulco than any single PDF can cover, but this one is a handy starting point if you'd like to land with a game plan.

Why trust this mini-guide? It's shaped by 20+ years on Oaxaca's coast, writing the Fodor's Guide to Oaxaca and Lonely Planet cookbook on Mexico's Pacific, and road-tripping with my husband Javier to talk with the cooks, market vendors and mezcal makers who know it best.

Over the upcoming week, you'll also get three short, skimmable emails that go a bit deeper:

Tours that are actually worth it: including a $20 deal you won't see splashed in the glossy brochures.
Our fave places to eat: restaurants we happily return to year after year.
Where to stay: plus how to snag a free airport transfer and avoid condo rental pitfalls.

After that, you'll just hear from us bi-monthly with travel and food tips. Of course, you can unsubscribe anytime if your inbox is feeling as full as a Christmas flight to Huatulco.

For now, grab your checklist and start picturing that first dip in the Pacific. 🌊

Michele

Founder and Publisher, A Taste for Travel

Huatulco Travel Guides

Don't forget to follow A Taste for Travel on social media for the latest news!

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
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Friday, 28 November 2025

THESE are the Black Friday travel deals to grab, 🏖️ (Winter Escapes + Banana Bread)

Hola friends,

We've just returned from Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, where our days were spent browsing markets for handmade pottery and learning new recipes (check out our trip here).

So, now that Thanksgiving is wrapped and the holiday season is peeking around the corner, this issue is packed with Guatemalan-inspired ways to eat well and escape a little:
🍌 Pan de Banano – a Guatemalan banana bread perfect for breakfast, snacks or gifting.
🍗 Salpicón de Pollo – a shredded chicken snack ideal for using up leftover Thanksgiving turkey or rotisserie chicken.
🥥 Tapado – a coconut seafood soup that's like a tropical getaway in a bowl.

You might notice things look a bit different on A Taste for Travel. We've just done a full revamp of the website to help you find our most popular recipes and travel inspiration more easily – we'd love your feedback!

In this issue, you'll also find our hand-picked Black Friday deals and a roundup of the latest culinary news.

Let's dive in!

Michele of A Taste for Travel

Travel Tips and Planning

Our Picks for Black Friday

Get ready to snag some 2025 Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. We've sifted through the duds so you don't have to!

From discounts on hotel stays in Aruba to culinary experiences in Europe, these savings are the real deal.

Check out the article

Timely Travel

Craving Curaçao

Good news if you're craving blue water, Caribbean cuisine and sunshine with these new seasonal nonstop flights to Curaçao from Chicago (American Airlines) and Toronto ( WestJet + Air Canada).

Plus, Curaçao has just become the smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, so there's plenty to celebrate!

Check Out Our Curaçao Guides

Sun, street art and Curaçao's colourful coast.

Tropical Table

Pan de Banano (Banana Bread with Pecans)

If you've got a bounty of overripe bananas, this Pan de Banano is the perfect fix.

It's inspired by the stone-oven loaves baked in the village of San Jorge, Guatemala.

Easy enough for a weekday treat, it's perfect with hot spiced Christmas tea, works for holiday brunch, and makes an effortless homemade gift.

Get the Recipe

Moist and flavourful banana pecan bread.

Beach & Foodie Buzz

Notable news, updates, and happenings

Planning a winter escape to Mexico's Pacific coast? Our new Huatulco Checklist and Insider Travel Tip Series will help you skip hours of Googling with a printable checklist, where-to-stay advice and our favourite tours, beaches and bites.
Bonaire – an island best known for its world-class diving – swept the 2025 Taste of the Caribbean awards, taking home Caribbean National Team of the Year plus top honours for Caribbean Chef of the Year and Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year as awards in specialty categories.
Save on roaming costs in 200 countries and get an eSIM that switches on as soon as you land with Saily a new data service from Nord Security. Use code MICHEL54041 during checkout to get US5$ off your first Saily data plan now!