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Hey there,
In the immortal lyrics of Britney Spears…”oops… I did it again.”
Yet another month where I didn’t write a blog post, which is sad because I have some great reads to share but have not had the time to write about them. I think you’ll enjoy them so hopefully I make it back to my regularly scheduled posting soon.
However, I had some great collaborations with others this last month or two and am so excited to share them with you below.
I am also really excited to share that Bookshop.org gave me a 15% off discount code to share with you on some of my book recommendations. From now until April 1, 2026 the curated list “Alchemist’s Workbench & Home Collection” is eligible for a 15% discount when you use the code BSO15 (sorry to my Ebook readers - this is for physical books only).
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🧪Alchemy Notes
My February reading stats are below for anyone curious, but I am more excited to share a couple of the fun things I’ve done lately.
🎙️First, I recorded a podcast with my friend Samantha Nelson of Powermomma Podcast! You can give it a listen here.
We had a great time talking about how parenthood doesn’t ever really get easier, the challenges just evolve. We talk about this evolution, creativity, books, and more. I hope you enjoy it - it is a real, unfiltered conversation about these messy middle years of parenting.
Second, I had the opportunity to write an article for an online publication made by the same amazing woman who hosted the Pay Yourself Summit where I was a guest speaker.
She just released her March edition of Pay Yourself Magazine with my article “You can’t pay yourself from a business you don’t understand” where I argue why your small business should have a budget, what it can do for you, and why you don’t have to be a “numbers” person for it to be accessible.
*Note that the “erotica” were romance books. But, judge me all you want.
⚒️The Alchemist’s Workbench
This Workbench is what’s literally on my table, not just on a list.
This was recommended to me by a friend who knows that I love memoirs and knows that, while my struggles were different, my journey to motherhood and parenting has had it’s own difficulties.
I found this one while browsing through the Seattle Library’s “on order” catalog. While Wall Street has never held an appeal to me the history of women on Wall Street does. Really looking forward to giving this one a read.
The only fiction book currently in my queue! I read Throne of the Fallen last year and it was enjoyable enough that I decided to read the 2nd book in the series (this one). Plus, a third was just released (Throne of Nightmares)! One of the best parts? Each book is it’s own story, just set in the same world as each other, so no cliffhanger endings (I hope)!
📗Allow me to Interrupt: A Psychologist Reveals the Emotional Truth Behind Women’s ADHD by Gilly Kahn, Ph.D.
If you listen to the podcast I did recently (here) you’ll get why this one is in my queue😉.
The Home Collection
Alongside the Alchemist’s Workbench, I also have what I call The Home Collection…books I own and plan to savor slowly, revisit often, or keep for reference. There will only be books here if I have purchased or been gifted a new book, so it won’t have content every month (or at least that’s what my family hopes).
✨There are no new additions this month, much to the relief of my family.✨
However, I have slowed down my library holds to work through my existing Home Collection and I need your help!
Please vote on what I should read first!
Which book should I read first?
📚 P.S. I read a lot… across strategy, memoir, psychology, and the occasional fantasy/romance/thriller/witchy novel. The book recs in this newsletter aren’t filler. They’re part of how I think, lead, and help clients navigate complexity. Want to see what else is on my shelf? Take a peek at my bookstore (affiliate link, updated regularly).
🧽I’m not a fan of doing dishes, but I hate them slightly less now that I have this so I don’t have to pick up dirty sponges left on the bottom of the sink🤢.
🥗I’ve been solo parenting a lot, which means that I don’t really cook for myself. This service saves me and helps keep me nourished. Click the link to get $120 off your first 5 weeks.
👋🏻Let’s Not Make It Weird
Hi, I’m Tara, Founder and Chief Alchemist of Alchemy Advising. I help growing businesses untangle their finances, rethink pricing, and build smarter systems so they can scale without burning out.
With nearly 20 years in operations and finance, including FP&A leadership at brands like HOKA and UGG, I now work with founders and execs who need clarity, not just spreadsheets.
Think: budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and big-picture planning that actually connects to how your business runs day-to-day.
If this newsletter made you nod, pause, or breathe a little easier - here’s what’s next:
📬 Forward this to a founder or leader who’s buried in numbers but hungry for insight.
💬 Hit reply if something sparked (or you just want to say “Hi!”).
📅 Want to talk shop? Visit www.alchemyadvising.co and learn about working together or book a chat.
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”