My Very Own Desk Tour
It's actually a lot cooler than I realized?
has a series in which she highlights a fellow writers’ desk to see where they work and how they work. A few weeks ago during an AMA segment on Instagram, a follower suggested I follow suit and give my own desk tour. At first I was like “??? But my desk is so boring? Who cares?” But then I thought about it for a second and was like, “Well, actually… Maybe it’s not?” So today, we’re going on a desk tour of EMMASTHING HQ. How exciting.
*There are too many pictures in this letter for your email to handle, so be sure to click on the link that prompts you to see the full message so you don’t miss anything!*
The first takeaway about my desk area in general is that it was the very first room we set up when I moved in with Zac back in April 2021. There was an endless list of things to do and boxes everywhere, but I moved in a few days before my 34th birthday and, knowing my environment is super important to me and as an early birthday present, Zac took it upon himself to make my “office” first priority.
Yeah, he’s the best. Blah blah blah.
Over the years, we’ve added more plants, moved some pictures and lamps around, switched out rugs, I got a new desk, upgraded my chair, amongst other tweaks. So let’s get on with the tour!
Let’s talk first about the area we like to call the Snake Pit. There are three snake plants in the corner and one of them is from before I met Zac in 2019 (!!!), and the other two, Zac has had for as long. Snake plants are the best plant for those who tend to kill everything they touch. They need next to nothing. Maybe some water every once in a while, but that’s about it. Incredible. We love a low maintenance diva.
The two pieces of art are from an artist named Chad Wys. I got both of them on Society6 yeeeeears ago and still love them so much. Here’s the head and here’s the lady.
The two black cameras are both Zac’s; I don’t know the story behind either, but they look cool? The Instax is mine and was fun for, like, a year.
The ceramic clawfoot tub ashtray is from 1954(!!!) and was either my mom’s growing up OR one of her grandma's. It says “Cool your hot butt in my old tub.” Need I say more?
The white cat is actually a drinking glass one of my best friends got for me to commemorate a wild trip we took to Austin many moons ago. We ate at a Japanese restaurant and drank from these glasses, so she found one online and gifted it to me because she’s the best.
The collection of books are a sort of shrine to some of my favorite comedy writers and also just favorite books. I’ve read Why Girls Are Weird at least four times in my life and even have a signed copy. Some of my favorite passages of writing are from that book.
Lastly and maybe most importantly, my fucking bookends. One of my longest friends found these during one of her many sourcing trips (she sells unique antique/vintage finds on her page, House of Woodville), and I immediately demanded them. They are so crass and therefore perfect.
Okay let’s slide on over a bit to the main event, THE DESK.
So the desk itself was a big investment purchase from Anthropologie. It’s since discontinued so I don’t have a link to share, but I love it. I went from a standing desk to this because a) I rarely stood at said standing desk, b) I wanted drawers and storage, c) I wanted more surface area in general, and d) it has a very cool built-in outlet so I can charge my phone, headphones, and whatever else while I work.
The vintage Tiffany lamp is ANOTHER find from my friend, House of Woodville, and she actually went out special to source this for me. My middle name is Rose, so this was an insane find and I cherish it SO much.
I record voiceovers for one of my clients, so my microphone is always out and at-the-ready. The pop filter helps kill my blasts of air while I’m speaking for clean audio.
I have a dual-screen setup because I’m not a psycho, of course. The pink keyboard and mouse are brand new and, yes, juvenile but I don’t care. My “magic” Apple keyboard kept failing me, so I called an audible and replaced it with something wild. The keyboard is so fucking loud — I love it.
My mousepad is perfect, as you can see. “And I never got caught neither.” It’s very old and dirty (you aren’t imagining the yellow and brown tints) and I probably need to replace it, but I’ll probably just get a new Prison Mike pad. He keeps me in line, ya know?
Every time I wear my non-prescription computer glasses, I’m met with a barrage of DMs asking what they are. They are the Sonia from Warby Parker in the Aventurine Tortoise Fade, FYI!
One thing about me: You’ll know I was there by my trail of hair accessories. Ask Zac. There isn’t one surface in our house that doesn’t have at least one rouge bobby pin hanging around, so keeping my random hair clips in this shot felt authentic.
I also like to keep the fidget spinner out in case I need a minute. Ziggy also likes to put it in his mouth when he’s sitting at the computer with mommy, so that’s cool, too.
Keeping my empty iced coffee cup in the shot also felt right because it’s there almost every morning. 85% of the week, Ziggy and I take an early morning stroll to start the day and the destination is always for iced coffee.
The pill coasters are something I obsessed over a few years ago when the matching tray was super popular (and super expensive). They’re still cool, I think?
The green book is my Moleskin planner. I used to write every.single.thing down in my planner for YEARS. Every workout, every task or plan, every meal and grocery list — everything. Then one day I woke up and started using my Notes app for all that. It makes me sad, actually — I hardly ever write with pen and paper anymore, so I’m making a concerted effort to get back into it.
The HP printer can die a thousand deaths. I used to love it so much; it’s simple, can scan as well as print, and works on WiFi. Alas, the two times we’ve changed our internet service in the house, the printer has wigged out on me. I fixed it the first time, but this most recent time has been a lost cause. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. And I need a printer. I make A LOT of returns and print A LOT of prepaid labels. Sigh.
The last stop on our tour is this fucking adorable comic strip my mom once saw somewhere and remade for me. I think she gave it to me when I was pregnant, which hit even harder. It fully incapsulates my flair for the dramatic and inevitable realization that everything does work out, somehow. Thanks, Mocha.
That concludes today’s desk tour! I hope you enjoyed. Please leave your headphones in the bin upfront and tip your tour guides.
xox,
EGM
Here to give a MASSIVE recommendation for a Brother laser printer if you want a printer of your dreams that rarely requires refills and always works. I've had the same one for five years, use it REGULARLY and have had to exchange the cartridge twice. In five years. Mine is just the basic black and white one, but I've heard good things about the color version as well!
Loved this little tour!