Alexa K. Apallas

A crackling fire in a home fireplace fronted with white marble.

It’s a few minutes to midnight on December 31, and I’m not sad to say farewell to 2024. While 2025 may not be promising on a political leadership level, I do hope for peace, joy, love, and laughter. Some financial security wouldn’t go amiss, either!

One of my favorite museums!

Blue sky, green grass, flourishing trees, and a walking path

I’m working to strengthen my practice of gratitude, partly as an antidote to ever-present anxiety. I keep a list of good things that happen. This weekend, it was 73 and sunny in San Diego, and I got take some lovely walks. #goodthings

Oh, that ONE movie? Me, too!

Here is our festive tree. My husband thinks we have too many ornaments. I say we have barely enough, and we should get more. Whose side are you on?

Posts is very clear. Not the most exciting term, but not everything needs a special brand name. However, I’m personally advocating for skytes (rhymes with kites) over skeets.

Me: Not everything needs a branded term. The simplest word is often the best (and most accessible).

Also me: But what if we DID call them skytes?

Thank you for this! Was once asked what my Spotify Wrapped was, and the entire group was shocked—SHOCKED!—that I didn’t use Spotify.

What if, instead of #skeets, we called them skytes (rhymes with kites)? That way, it’s got the word sky in there. And I think it sounds nicer.

What do you think, #contentdesigners and #brand experts? Who’s with me?

Also, Parasite.

Weather like this is why I took the first job I could find back in California after completing my master’s in journalism at Medill. Brrrr!

A view of the Chase Center court, Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma Thunder.

With my 10-year-old nephew at his first Warriors game. It’s his BIG birthday present. Steph is out with an injury, but we’re still having a good time!

I have not! Thanks for the rec. I’m bulking up my reading list for the cozy holidays!

No, me either. I do like witches, though. The All Souls series by Deborah Harkness is probably my favorite on the subject, although vampires are deeply involved.

Ann Rice’s Mayfair Witches trilogy. I read them just before the TV series launched, because I always like to read the book first. But then I was like, nope, done with this. Never watched the show.

Crystal vase filled with pink and deep red peonies sits on a wood table.

A vase full of gorgeous peonies (from #TraderJoes) is making me smile today.

Hey! Please don’t take my name in vain. 😂

Seriously, though, make sure you’re checking your sources for the best possible experience.

Try the Mr. Mercedes series. Not horror, but there’s a definite creepiness to it. I’m not a big fan of horror, either, but Stephen King does know how to tell a tale! If you like fantasy, you might also like “The Eyes of the Dragon.”

Got to see Jordan perform at Gold Over America, and it was such a joyous event!

Preface: I have never been a jogger. My exercise is mostly brisk walking, strength training, and a smattering of yoga and Pilates.

And yet. Over the past few weeks, I’ve felt compelled to go faster on my walks. Today, I mixed in many jogging intervals and got my average pace down to 13’40 per mile!

@torreybird.bsky.social, I hope my pair will prove lucky, too! I have an initial interview for a new job this afternoon.

A woman’s legs encased in rainbow-striped socks

Rocking some rainbow #Confab socks today, just because.

a small black amazon device is sitting on a blue surface Alt: a small black amazon device is sitting on a blue surface

Not shocking at all…

What GIF pops up when you type your name?

Are you guys getting SUCCESS PERMS? (Reference sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, season 1, episode 4.) In retrospect, my middle school/high school perms were not cute, so I’m out. Excited to see how it turns out for you, though!

Alexa Apallas on LinkedIn: To write great content, you need to understand your audience and their… To write great content, you need to understand your audience and their needs. Context matters. Here's an example: Farmer's Fridge stocks vending machines…

I wrote more about it on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/alexak...

Empty Farmer’s Fridge vending machine with repeated message that says “Try again tomorrow!”

What’s wrong with this message? Well, it’s in a vending machine at an airport. Unless my travel plans go very wrong, I won’t be around to try again tomorrow. Context matters!

Have you read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride? For a funny, uplifting read, try The Wedding People, by Alison Espach. The Sequel, by Jean Hanff Korelitz, was also great. Definitely read The Plot first, though, I love all of Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie books, too.

I was recently thinking along similar lines. For me, it’s Pulp Fiction. I couldn’t watch it all. The needle to the heart scene, on top of everything else, was too much.

Hey Daryll, sure! I’m not always out at the ocean, but I do find it very calming when I’m there.

Green sea grass and shallow tide pools with waves in the background.

Small brown crab scuttling on the sand near brown seaweed.

Beautiful day for tide pools! Getting out in nature always helps when I’m feeling crabby.