Monday Memos // 99

Listening:

"Quarry Hymns" by Land of Talk.

“Look At What the Light Did Now” by Little Wings.

Reading:

Good story - 23andMe Informed Me My Husband and I Are Related

Kids these days! - Teen Seals Are Snorting Eels in Worrying Viral Challenge

Sweet thoughts - 21 Completely Subjective Rules for Raising Teenage Boys

Essential for life - The Calm Place

I’ve had this image stuck in my head all week. I’m sorry. “A teenage Hawaiian Monk seal executes the Eel Challenge.” (Photo: NOAA Fisheries/Brittany Dolan via nymag)

Craving:

Saturday night I went to a latke party. From the lovely people to the dogs to the coziness, it was wonderful. But then, the fried foods—WOW. Fresh batches of latkes dipped in homemade applesauce and spicy mustard sauce. Little cornichons and dried figs and apricots. Fresh, piping hot arancini (stuffed rice balls coated with bread crumbs and filled with gooey, cheesy centers) with homemade chili dipping sauce. AND homemade doughnuts! They were little pillows of heaven and powdered sugar, which we dipped in cookie butter and jam. I had to stop myself at the savory doughnuts with mushroom and creme fraiche topping—too full. Happy Hanukkah!

There was even a box of goods from NY’s Dough Doughnuts. I had a bite of a lemon poppyseed one. Amazing. (image via doughdoughnuts.com)

Wearing:

It’s COLD. But also, this week was full of work events, so last Monday I stepped it up with a touch of glamour by way of a nice, new black denim wrap top and my old red boots with gold details. Also, there was a launch party for the Cook90 cookbook (go buy it! it’s amazing! I’m even in the dedication page!), where my Epicurious coworkers and I all wore matching shirts that said: “Do you even nextover?” You’ll have to read the book to get it.

Watching:

Last week I just needed to cry a lot and I found a show to match my sentiments. It’s like an alternate to This Is US and it is called A Million Little Things. It’s so cheesy, full of over the top drama and complications. There are affairs, secrets, cancer, suicide. There’s an important plot vehicle by way of yin yang necklace. There’s that “Riptide” song by Vance Joy that seems to be in a lot of shows at emotional moments. Still, I’m going to keep watching it. Berger is in it! (Ron Livingston. He’s a lot of amazing people from movies and tv, but my first thought is always Jack Berger.)

I don’t really know much about any other actors in this except for the guy next to Ron, who was in Psych, and the guy on the end, right, who was in Weeds.

Treasuring:

Good stories and kind people: I met Ted Allen and talked to him about his favorite All-Clad whisk. I saw a taping of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me at Carnegie Hall. A jewelry designer told me my grandma’s ring looked beautiful on me and gave me an orange. The day I was reminded of my cinnamon bread story, I saw this truck with a giant image of cinnamon raisin bread. Someone told me to enjoy the wandering and vast loneliness I feel now, because I’ll miss it one day when everything is familiar and comfortable.

Monday Memos // 77

Listening:

"Burnin' Up" by Sonny Smith featuring Angel Olsen.

"L.A." by Amen Dunes.

Reading:

How Mathilde Freund, Vintage Dealer, Spends Her Sundays — "I use a cane now when I go outside. Five years ago I slipped in the apartment and broke my femur. It was on my birthday. I call him my boyfriend. I put him in the corner and he never answers me."

Ideal Travel Tricks — Our Highly Subjective But Very Smart Guide to Traveling

Watching ‘Wild, Wild Country’? Then You Need to See The Rajneesh Cookbook — it's called Zorba the Buddha, my friend's grandpa used to all me Zorba the Greek.

The Grub Street Diet — Author Jonathan Ames Adds Chocolate to His Vitamins When He’s Feeling Decadent — My favorite part: I should shop more frequently, but my problem is that I put it off, even if I’m starving. I once had a character in one of my TV shows say something like: “I don’t procrastinate! I just like to do things later.”

“As for what I eat, I would describe it as a ‘carb-free, somewhat tormented Paleo, bourgeois bachelor, Grey Gardens’ diet.” (photo by Yuri Hasegawa via nymag)

Craving:

In the name of health, I've been craving and consuming a number of smoothies and juices. I'm also newly enamored with Tangerine La Croix and cashew butter. Dates, rice cakes, spirulina powder, sweet potato hummus... my inner bohemian is showing.

I refrained from too much work grazing this week, but there also weren't many feasts up for grabs. I am jealous I didn't get to try this carrot cake that was raved about. I'll have to make it soon.

It's beautiful! (PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS MOROCCO, PROP STYLING BY EMILY EISEN

Wearing:

Weekend with my parents means a "shopping trip" to my storage unit. I've almost acquired all of my clothes and about two-thirds of my shoes. Exciting! Inspired by the few days in the 90s, I gathered a watermelon jumpsuit, various summery sundresses, sandals, trusty Keds, linen shirts, and eyelet-covered tops. I'm not really ready for the full-on heat wave, but I my wardrobe is. 

Wearing these loafers a lot.

Watching:

I watched the entirety of the comedy tv series Alone Together. I wouldn't say it's brilliant, but it's an easy viewing experience with lots of actors and comedians I enjoy (Kate Berlant, Amy Landecker, Nikki Glaser, Chelsea Peretti) and subjects I relate to. Two millennials from differing backgrounds strike up a platonic male-female friendship as they seek to navigate the streets of L.A. These two best friends, Esther and Benji, try to navigate the vanity of the city while watching each other's backs but also calling each other out for nonsense. I like Ester's podcast too.

Want to see: Duck Butter (Alia Shawkat, Laia Costa, Mae Whitman. "Two women, who are dissatisfied with the dishonesty they see in dating and relationships, decide to make a pact to spend 24 hours together hoping to find a new way to create intimacy.") Madeline's Madeline (Helena Howard, Molly Parker, Miranda July. "A theater director's latest project takes on a life of its own when her young star takes her performance too seriously.")

"a low-budget improv vérité psychodrama" (PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL)

Treasuring:

Snuggles: Weekend visits to my parents also mean squeezing in the most snuggles with my cat. As much as possible, I'd wedge my body up against his and rub his velvety little snout. 

Stranger conversations: I chatted up a friendly older woman in line for the bus. I told her my seating strategy (bottom level, aisle seat, left side). She appreciated my tips so we sat together. She told me a place to eat the best dumplings in Flushing, Queens and about her father's time at war. My favorite moment was when she was on the phone with her brother, who was picking her up in D.C. "I see a sign. I see a car. I see trees. Mile marker 92. Does any of this mean anything to you? I don't know where I am? Do you?"

BFF

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