Whiskey in a Teacup

If you’re a fan of Reese Witherspoon, you probably know by now that her first book Whiskey in a Teacup just came out. I just got my copy and I can’t wait to dig into it. (I think it’s going to be my plan for the weekend!) I’ve flipped through it and already like what I see– it’s a little bit party planning, a little bit recipe book, and a little bit memoir.

The title was a southern phrase that I wasn’t familiar with, but now that I know it, I absolutely love it! “Whiskey in a Teacup” is used to describe a woman who’s delicate on the outside but strong on the inside. I think it embodies a lot of women I know and respect and it certainly is aligned with Reese Witherspoon (the person and the brand).

She’s been on an intense press tour right now (it’s incredible the number of things she’s been up to) and spent some time in NYC promoting her book. I had the chance to hear her speak twice this week. The first was a small panel at Crate and Barrel and the second was her official book tour. The panel was filmed and as soon as I see that it’s been posted, I’ll be sure to let you know.

On Monday night, I was invited to attend the book tour with Draper James (Reese’s clothing line) and I wore one of the new dresses. The whole thing felt like a private conversation with Reese and (moderator) Cleo Wade… except the theater was packed. The whole thing was so fun and perfect for the book; beverages were even served in teacups!

During the event, Reese shared stories from her childhood (like churning ice cream by hand) and lessons from her mom (“pretty is as pretty does”). She was also proudly female and talked about her production company and how she created it to have better representation of and better roles for women, both on the screen and behind the scenes. I think what got me the most was how emotional she was describing how she was living a life her grandmother would have been so, so proud of.

The best part? I even got to meet REESE. (I feel like now we’re on a first name basis 😂). I always get a little excited about seeing celebrities and when you’re in NYC frequently, it happens. But there was something about meeting Reese that really got to me. Maybe it’s that she’s so personable on social media so you feel like she’s a friend without actually knowing her… or maybe it’s just that she seems familiar from being in so many of my favorite movies (each of which I’ve watched countless times). Whatever it is, it felt like meeting a friend.

I was so nervous walking up there… for no reason. She literally said, “Carly! Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you came, I wanted to meet you!” So basically I have been replaying the conversation in my head every thirty seconds. She knew I was friends with Julia, too, and I told her both us have been dying to meet her and that we were supposed to go to the Charleston event together.

Loved every second!

PS Just for fun… my favorite movies of hers: Legally Blonde (my best friend and I watched this during EVERY sleepover), Cruel Intentions, Sweet Home Alabama, Walk the Line, and although it’s not a movie Big Little Lies!

Let me know what yours are!