Merrily We Easter Egg Roll Along
Issue 132, featuring an interview with Grace Baker
Hello and welcome back to The Girl’s Guide! I’m glad you’re here! As always, if you missed the most recent newsletter, find it here.
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Interview with Grace Baker
Today’s interview is with Grace Baker, a Midwest-based media maven. Be sure to follow Grace on X by clicking here, and check out her Dalmatian Merlot’s Instagram here.
What does your life look like right now?
This year, I started working with Eden Gordon Media as a Public Relations Manager. My most exciting project right now is working on rebranding social media for "The All-American Book Club." In addition, I'm helping clients in various fields promote themselves and their branding. I'm also currently passionate about holistic health and wellness, as I've been struggling with several chronic health problems for years. I'm super strict about my diet, so that consumes a lot of my life right now as well. Lots of cooking and research. Besides that, I'm competing in agility with my Dalmatian named Merlot! It's become my favorite hobby.
What are your favorite topics to research and write about?
My most recent articles have been about fashion. I love observing and replicating beauty that I see in person and online. What I plan on writing about more this year includes health and wellness, as well as start writing a fiction novel this summer. I'm also working on a series of children's books starring Merlot, but it's just in the beginning draft stages right now. I feel like in my previous job as an executive producer for a radio show, I really let go of my passion for writing, so I'm excited to get back to that this year.
Who are your favorite contemporary authors?
One of my favorite authors of all time has to be Stephanie Meyer, the author of the “Twilight Saga.” Some people might cringe when they read that, but I really credit her with getting me into reading and inspiring some of my writing at an early age. I also will forever love Christopher Paolini, author of “The Inheritance Cycle,” as that really kickstarted my love for all things fantasy. Plus, he was a homeschooled kid that wrote a bestselling book series, and I was homeschooled as well, so I've always found that inspirational.
Do you have any favorite health or beauty products?
I really love the Saie Dew Blushes right now. They're easy to use and come in lots of fun colors. I also love their Saie Slip Tint, I wear it almost every day instead of heavy foundation! I'm trying to use more non-toxic makeup that benefits my skin. I'm also obsessed with lip products right now. My current favorite is the mint Summer Fridays lip balm (yes, I know it's not "non-toxic," but it's just SO good!). For hair products, I love the Kerastase Lotion Thermique Heat Protecting Spray. It smells heavenly and helps make my hair stronger and smoother.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned in your career?
You can't rely on the words of anyone to fulfill you in your career. Despite others around you, you have to just keep moving forward and doing your absolute best. Remember who truly fulfills, Jesus Christ, and look at your career from that perspective instead.
Ask Evie
Hi Evie,
Can I ask your advice on political differences? I have several longtime friends who I mostly keep in touch with via email. We all started out on the same political page, but over the years I have become a supporter of President Trump’s America First policies. They remained more traditional-style Republicans. Since Trump’s inauguration, they’ve been having hysterical meltdowns in our email chain. I’ve been staying quiet. But it’s hard. They all have very affluent lives and won’t notice an iota of difference due to the new policies. But they are pretending like they are about to be carried away to the gulags. The emails seem to be a lot crazier now than when Trump won in 2016.
On the one hand, I deeply value long-term friendships. On the other hand, my friends are behaving in ways I don’t respect at all and I’m kind of starting to hate them. Should I try to gently explain why I voted the way I did? Should I stay completely silent and hope that eventually they will realize this is not the end of the world? Do I check out from the friendships?
Thoughts appreciated! - Chained to the Emails
Dear Chained to the Emails,
It’s always difficult when we realize we’re drifting away from old friends. It can be hard to know whether we should just go with the flow and let the friendship peter out, or swim against the current to regain what was lost. It sounds like in your case, you’re afraid swimming against the current might be futile. You’re unsure how your friends will react to your political views, or, if they already know them, how they’ll react to you bringing up your views directly.
Reading your question, I’m struck by how far back your friendships with these women go. If I understand correctly, it’s been at least a decade of your group sharing your successes and your hardships with each other. And sadly, your friends have been affected by our culture’s growing obsession with politics, so much so that they feel like they can’t share about their lives without also sharing about their reactions to the latest political news. I hate that politics seems to be poisoning so many friendships recently – in my view, you can be friends with anyone of any political stripe as long as you place being a good friend above being a good member of a political party. Megyn Kelly recently discussed her experience with losing a friend “over politics” on her show. But politics may not be to blame. Rather, politics may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in a relationship that was already doomed (that seems to be Kelly’s view on the matter).
Let me caveat my advice by saying that I don’t believe in maintaining friendships just because they have lasted for a long time. I believe that there is an inordinate amount of good that comes from long-standing friendships, but friendships aren’t good merely because they have lasted a long time (can you tell I took logic in college?). Having friends who have seen you at multiple stages of your life is a blessing. They know your insecurities and mistakes, and they still love you. You don’t have to pretend with them. But not all years-long relationships are blessings. Some of them turn out to be stressful and draining and present you with a crossroads like this one.
There are two possibilities for you as I see it, and both will depend on you sticking it out in this email chain a little longer. In the first scenario, the ladies adjust to Trump being back in office and their updates no longer sound like you’re watching Sunny Hostin on The View. Maybe they make the occasional political joke, but as long as the ladies are aiming their ire at political figures and not at you, then you can probably let it slide. Give it a few more months, and maybe you’ll feel like you have your friends back.
If a few months go by and your blood pressure continues to go up every time you get an email, then you may be facing Scenario #2. In the second scenario, the ladies continue to focus on politics to the detriment of sharing life updates and supporting one another. This isn’t what you signed up for, and it’s not how you (personally) bond with people. It’s okay to let the ladies know that by expressing your message constructively rather than showing frustration or hurling accusations. You can say that you cherish each friendship and love hearing from everyone. It’s like an escape from our stressful, crazy world for you, so that’s why you’d rather everyone focus on their lives and what’s going right in the world, instead of politics and news and what’s going wrong in the world. A little goes a long way for this kind of message.
I can’t promise you the message will be well-received. But I can promise you it will give you more peace than ghosting your friends. Maybe the ladies will be very understanding and make a change. But if not, you can send a kind but firm goodbye message letting the ladies know you’d no longer like to be included in the chain and let them know how they can reach you individually. It will probably feel awkward, scary, and even wrong to send such a message. But I’m a firm believer that you can make new friends at any age, and you have to protect your time so that you can focus your energy on real friendships, not fake-friend drama. However this plays out, as long as you are able to pour yourself into relationships that fill your cup back up, you’ll be just fine.
Submit your questions to Ask Evie anonymously via this form.
Calling All Writers & Editors
Freelance writing is a topic I’ve covered from time to time in this newsletter (check out one of my helpful posts here), and I’ve loved the responses I’ve received from many of you. I’ve loved chatting with you ladies about pitching, working with editors, and more. That’s why I’m considering starting a freelance writing network (for now, probably just a group chat!). If you’re a writer looking for opportunities or an editor looking for qualified writers, send me a message and I’ll make sure to include you in the beta version of the Very Official Girl’s Guide Freelance Writing Network.
The Haps
Here are some links to what I’m reading and writing lately:
‘Farmer Wants a Wife’ Has Its Title Backward (The New York Times): What does a modern reality dating show have to do with a nearly 80-year-old film? A lot, writes Jane Ackermann.
The Congressman Targeted By AOC (The American Conservative): I interviewed my fellow Patrick Henry College graduate, Rep. Gabe Evans, about his first few months in office.
The Return of High Fashion (IM—1776): Isabella Redjai is on the ground for Paris Fashion Week Spring 2025.
Reporting Live from the WH Easter Egg Roll
The entire Solheim crew attended the White House Easter Egg Roll this past Monday, and it was a blast! I’m normally pretty hesitant to combine an early wakeup, crowds, and two kids under three, but this event was worth it. The security line moved quickly, there was plenty of water and free snacks, and there were tons of activities to keep the kids occupied (and perhaps overstimulated). Easter Egg Roll tickets are available to the public via lottery — check this site if you’re interested in attending in 2026. I also found this blog post had some helpful information on what to expect.
Readers’ Corner
Spring cleaning season is officially underway — so I'm sending out a call for your best organization hacks/tips to share in The Girl's Guide! They can be for physical organization, calendar organization, email organization — anything goes!
Share your tip by replying to this email!
Thank you for sharing about the Easter Egg Roll! I want to try to go next year!