Youngna Park shares 5 things she's loving right now
Rediscovering tennis, a favourite tee, the best one-person lunch, a recipe for summer fruits, and a funny, poignant novel...
Youngna Park is a Brooklyn-based mum of two kids, ages 9 and 7. She is a writer, researcher and technology advisor who thinks a lot about how kids play, children’s media, different policies affecting kids and families, how technology exists in schools and all types of things adjacent to this. She’s made educational apps for kids at places like Tinybop + Sago Mini, led the team at the New York Times that created NYT Parenting, and also writes thoughtful musings about family life on her Substack, Making it Work.
I love her colourful style, her smart and insightful writing, and her snippets of modern family life in the big city with those adorable kids. She also has an Instagram feed where she recommends favourite picture books, and her choices are so good — so many cute ones that we don’t already know.
I was so happy she agreed to share five things she’s loving right now. I agree with her 100% about the tee! It’s the best. And also - why haven’t I thought to add rice to our omelettes?!!
Here are Youngna’s five things…
Rediscovering tennis in my forties: I played in high school, then got off a waitlist for a small local, clay court club here in Brooklyn last summer. Now I play several times a week, have joined a 40+ women’s team, and play in several leagues around the city. I never thought I’d compete again as an athlete, but I love being on a team of wise, multigenerational women, really enjoy being coached at working at something outside my career/kids, and being on the court takes my mind off everything else. (For specific gear, I love the Lululemon Court-Rival Shorts and the Bombas vintage socks)
Jungmaven Lorel Tee: I know everyone has their own favourite tee, but mine is the Jungmaven Lorel Tee. Right cut / width / weight / durability / length. I have it in four colors!
This crispy rice gochujang omelette is the best, fastest one-person lunch. I put any leftover veggies we have in the middle, like sautéed mushrooms, kale, corn along with scallions. It’s a great use of old rice and comes together in <5 minutes.
Messy stone fruit galettes: I loosely followed this recipe for a peach/nectarine galette on Saturday and it was incredible. Could easily substitute in any combination of peaches, plums, cherries, and apricots. I love that it’s loose, a little messy, and so delicious.
I’m a big reader and lean towards weighty literary fiction, but like so many people, the barrage of despair-inducing news and the political environment has me leaning towards breezier reads that are good for a laugh this summer. I’m in the middle of The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett, about an esoteric man in his sixties who, to his surprise, comes to parent two orphaned children and takes them on a cross-country road trip. It’s poignant, funny, and very heartfelt.
I loved reading these five things — thank you, Youngna! How good does the book sound? And I’m definitely going to try both recipes!
To read what other friends have shared as five things they’re currently loving, click here. (I love this series.)
Courtney xx