Monday Memos // 54

Listening:

"Fool" by Perfume Genius.

"Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell.

"Superstar" by The Carpenters.

Reading:

A rabbit hole of research led me to revisit a favorite magazine article about my maternal grandparents. It's adorable: Mary and Lloyd—the second couple. I could reread it a thousand times.

I like reading about perspectives I know nothing about. This is a great example: Dating as a Single Mom.

I also love when a link in a story leads me to another wonderful story and so on and so forth and then I am just filled with new ideas and information: "Artist David Hockney Says The Drive To Create Pictures 'Is Deep Within Us.'"

"In a recent series of photographic drawings, David Hockney, shown above in his studio, plays with the relationship between painting and photography." (image via Richard Schmidt/David Hockney/Abrams Books)

Craving:

Cold weather carbs (hot pizza, hot pesto pasta, toasted bread with butter and jam), carrot cake and chocolate cake balls (my Whole Foods in the vicinity weakness), and coffee coffee and more coffee. 

Not my preferred slice, but it's beautiful nonetheless.

Wearing:

My (paternal) grandmother gave me a jacket that had been a gift to my great grandmother from a friend's trip to China. It's a thick silk with floral embroidery. Reversible! One side is black and one side is bright red. The red side makes me feel like Michael Jackson. I put it on for a try and kept it on for hours. I think I might just wear it all the time.

I put on my (maternal) grandma's wedding ring last week, as I often do when I need some extra strength. I haven't taken it off since and I think it's helping.

Watching:

Cannot wait to see: "Ladybird" (absolutely everything about this makes my heart sing; Greta Gerwig is my newest hero) and "I Love You, Daddy" (Louis C.K. and John Malkovich and total weirdness, yesss!).

Recently viewed: "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story" (so strange and fascinating and sad) and "Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold" (incredibly inspiring and quite heartbreaking).

Treasuring:

Family hangouts—it's really nice when you think your family is the best (because they are) and get to be with them and laugh with them and take goofy photos of yourself with them.

Flexibility—as stressful as the limbo phase of life is, it's kind of cool to be able to move around and explore and work from a computer and try on different environments.

What Would Peggy Do? (Unknown photographer, Peggy Guggenheim in her bedroom, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Venice)

Monday Memos // 53

Listening:

"I Want To Be Evil" by Eartha Kitt.

"Time of the Season" by The Zombies.

"Morning Dew" by Kelsey Lu.

Reading:

"Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes" by Alison Roman.

Last week I went to an interview/Q&A with Alison Roman at Books Are Magic. She was hilarious and inspiring and made me want to eat boiled potatoes dipped in butter and sea salt. I've been following her on the internet for years and I'm excited to see her success. Plus, her food just always makes my mouth water. I am looking forward to reading this and making some delectable things.

“This is not a cookbook. It's a treasure map. Open Dining In and you'll find Alison Roman joyously leading you to the promised land of extraordinary home cooking. Into every one of her stunningly beautiful recipes she's tucked the clues that will invariably lead you to deliciousness: keep it simple, have fun with your food, pack in the flavor, and, most importantly, share it with the people you love.” — Samin Nosrat, author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat 

The images and styling are beautiful—she served the cheesy persimmon pear thing at the book event. Plus, Pocky, she loves Pocky. (Photos by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott, via Clarkson Potter.)

Craving:

It's so exciting to feel chilly air and want a hot beverage. I've been on an almond milk latte kick—a few shakes of cinnamon on top. And soup! I have never been much of a soup person, but I've been eating it several times a week. Boxed, canned, freshly made, I have dipped my spoon in it all.

Also, my sweet tooth won't quit. I made a repeat trip to Ample Hills for their incredible ice cream. I've had to make many trips to cafes for internet access and can't help myself to a simple chocolate chip cookie or appley, oat-y something. I could go for some pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving can't come soon enough.

Look at this stunner: butterscotch pumpkin pie. (via acozykitchen)

Wearing:

Broke out my favorite denim jacket this weekend—it feels like a hug with it's faux fur collar tight around my neck. (Floridian in the north enjoying real seasonal weather)

Yesterday I was walking in the rain and instantly realized slip-on Vans were a terrible choice in footwear. But wooden, Mary Jane-style clogs or cheap loafers didn't seem great either. I need some weatherproof boots. It's a fun project to be on the hunt for footwear (and to actually need it). The secondhand shopping in a big city is thrilling.

Tis the season. (illustration via Jordan Sondler)

Watching:

I'm excited to dig into the second season of "Stranger Things." I think it's surprising I haven't heard any spoilers yet.

Mostly I have only seen a few episodes of things this week (don't ask me about my internet problems): "Better Things" and "Broad City." I'm constantly blown away by how both of those shows cover difficult topics and make them both hilarious and tender and new. Ilana tackled seasonal affective disorder with a lamp and RuPaul and it was nothing short of genius. 

I'm ready for all the November/December movie releases. Particularly, Paul Thomas Anderson's latest, "Phantom Thread." Christmas Day! Daniel Day! 

"Set in the glamour of 1950's post-war London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the center of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutants and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock's life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover. Once controlled and planned, he finds his carefully tailored life disrupted by love."

Daniel Day-Lewis's final film! (image via thetelegraph)

Treasuring:

Extravagant costumes. Colorful fallen leaves. Supportive friends. Strong brainwaves. Funny podcasts. Lively environments. Feelings that make my eyes water and my heart swell.

By Hart Crane

Monday Memos // 31

Listening:

"Glassworks" by Philip Glass.

I could make a giant web connecting things I love with Philip Glass. Baltimore (his hometown and one of my favorite places), Chuck Close (I went through an obsessive Close phase in high school and have stared as his portrait of Glass a thousand times), Ira Glass (second cousins and I love public radio)... 

"Glassworks" is magical and soothing and invigorating. 

Reading:

"The Absolute Best ______ in New York" articles. 

As my May in New York is fast approaching, I am getting into some consumable research. Since I adore and trust all facets of New York Magazine, here are my favorite pieces of research for bookmarking:

"The Absolute Best Cake in New York" - duh. 

Vanilla salted-caramel cake at Ovenly. Photo: Liz Clayman (via nymag)

"The Absolute Best Salad Spot in New York" - because balance and I actually really love vegetables, too. 

Sweetgreen’s Harvest Bowl. Photo: Liz Clayman. (via nymag)

"The Absolute Best Lattes in New York" - water and coffee are my top beverage choices in life. 

Latte at Everyman Espresso. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz. (via nymag)

Craving:

Gorp (aka "good old raisins and peanuts" aka trail mix). 

I particularly enjoy Trader Joe's "Legendary Nut & Berry Mix" (almonds, cranberries, raisins, cashews, blueberries, walnuts, and raspberries) and I won a box of 88 Acres seed bars that are essentially trail mix in bar form (lots of seeds and dried fruits). 

Sometimes work feels like a hike and this sustenance helps. 

88 Acres sells three snack bars: Apple & Ginger, Chocolate & Sea Salt, and Triple Berry. (via 88acres)

Wearing:

This is an anticipated wear, but I just got (won, actually) this iron-on patch and cannot wait to adorn something with it. 

Very much my inner mantra. (image and patch via studiodiy)

Watching:

I haven't been binging any television lately, but in the past week I have enjoyed: the new Louis C.K. special, the latest Almodovar movie "Julieta," and the series finale of "Girls."

I am looking forward to "Fargo" season 3 (which starts this week) and includes Ewan McGregor and Jim Gaffigan!

Ewan is looking rough! (image via YouTube)

Wanting:

(This is always the hardest category to fill in, which actually makes me feel better about life fulfillment/satisfaction.)

Let's go fantasy-indulgence with this one:

A packing and organizing machine. (Currently trying to pare down all my belongings and it usually ends in semi-organized, barely rearranged piles. 

A personal masseuse. (My legs have been aching. I know my anxiety is buried deep in my shoulders. It would be nice to have a massage at any instant.)

My own beautiful apartment in New York. (My arrangements for travel are getting expensive and complex. Wouldn't it be sweet if I just had some magical place of my own?)

This is the first fantasy that came to mind---more so the chocolate factory than the Oompa Loompas. (image via alamay)