Monday Memos // 86

Listening:

"Nobody" by Mitski. I've listened to this about 600 times already. Very relatable. 

"Don't Call Me" by IAN SWEET. 

"Lockjaw" by Mothers. 

Reading:

The headline makes this seem like clickbait, but it's hilarious and worth a read if you love Gilmore Girls: 13 Things to Say to Get Her Totally Soaked

Maybe the Secret to Embracing Your Flaws Is Renaming Them

A Small Needful Fact by Ross Gay

Craving:

Last week was Family Time! in NYC so I went on many great food expeditions. Plus, I've been really spreading my social wings, which has included various restaurant outings. 

Memorable things I ate (as someone who doesn't eat out too much this is going to appear slightly EXTENSIVE):

• a lot of Giuseppina's pizza (mushroom and shallot pie, arugula and prosciutto pie, artichoke and ricotta pie)
• a superb Caribbean feast at The Islands (curry goat, jerk chicken, coconut shrimp, plantains, cabbage, rice and beans)
• delightful bar nuts at Tørst (red skin peanuts seasoned with togarashi, Szechuan and kaffir lime) 
• a veggie feast from Sea Wolf (grilled cauliflower steak, great veggie burger)
• another veg-forward meal at Peacefood Cafe (mushroom, kale, horseradish cauliflower puree, roasted chickpeas, fried lotus root, chickpea fries)
• a lovely dinner at Community Food and Juice (Crispy Wild Organic Salmon pan-seared with spring ragout of shiitakes, sugar snap peas, leeks & asparagus, with horseradish miso glaze)
• another outstanding dinner at Cafe Mogador (hummus, yogurt-marinated chicken, tabouli, naan)
• a fun lunch at Dimes Deli (kale polenta, chickpeas, roasted tomatoes, fried egg)
• many pastries from Ovenly (Brooklyn Blackout cake, chocolate chip sea salt cookie, lemon poppy seed loaf with raspberry glaze)

Dimes (in all iterations) is the cutest. (image via dimesnyc)

Wearing:

I like wearing this Outdoor Voices sports bra as a sort of neckline enhancer. It makes me feel comfortable in strapless things and various dresses. 

I pulled out various old things I haven't worn in awhile like a Dolce and Gabbana lemon print tee I thrifted years ago and a polo shirt with the name "Astre" stitched on.

I went to the Cloisters where half of the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination exhibit is up. I was blown away by how beautiful all the garments were. One of each please. 

Watching:

I finally saw Eighth Grade. It was very well done, but also gave me SO MUCH ANXIETY. Middle school, and honestly most of high school, was the worst time of life. 

I've been watching Sharp Objects. Wow, another anxiety inducing form of entertainment. It's disturbing on many levels. I think Chris Messina is helping me get through each episode.  

It makes me want to go roller-skating too. (image via HBO)

Treasuring:

Mom and Brother Hangs: To adventure around the city with my mom and my older brother was fantastic. Photobooths, museums, laughing a lot, eating all the things, seeing friends from years ago, sharing happiness... 

Monday Memos // 82

Listening:

This week is brought to you by brevity.

"Gladly" by Tirzah.

"Velvet Ring" by Big Thief.

I discovered NPR's Field Recordings and it's a worthy rabbit hole to fall into. 

"Take A Sunset Cruise With Mac DeMarco"

Reading:

IN PRAISE OF AN AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES

WHOLE30 CHANGED MY ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD BECAUSE I’M DEAD NOW

If you ever need a laugh and love snacks, these Trader Joe's write-ups are gold: Trader Joe’s New Not-Flamin’-Hot-Cheetos Are the Devil’s Work

I love a food pattern. Coffee Toffee Shortbread Cookies (photo via bonappetit)

Craving:

More granola. Mixed nut butter. Mushrooms. And all the fruit. 

Also, how about these high carbohydrate lamps. 

Summer always reminds me of this William Carlos Williams poem. 

Wearing:

I'm leaning back into one of my old standards: dressing very Florida retiree. Big button-up short sleeved shirts with some sort of flora. Shorts. Comfortable sandals or old Keds. When I'm not going out in public it's a lot of tank tops and elastic waist pants. Summer comfort. 

ADAMJK provides a worthy reminder. 

Watching:

Tears running down my face by way of new episodes of Queer Eye.

Next weekend The Great British Bake Off is back and I am delighted for more bakes, sweetness, and accents.

Treasuring:

Rest: This past weekend included delightful lounging. Long bus rides. Afternoon naps. Lying on the floor with cats. Stopping to admire flowers. Floating around in a pool. Taking strolls with family and sharing bites of a single caramel. Eating wedges of cookies and handfuls of berries. Lazing in bed to read and write and edit and write. Just the thing to recharge for more adventures.

Plus a mom-made berry galette.

Monday Memos // 72

Listening:

"Windows" by Angel Olsen. (The change at 2:28 is my favorite part)

"No Face" by Haley Heynderickx.

Reading:

The Last Conversation You’ll Ever Need to Have About Eating Right - A great read and reminder that all we need to do is eat real food and not too much, which is somehow easier said than done.

'Geriatric Starlet' Iris Apfel Isn't Telling Anyone How to Live - Simply: I love Iris. 

"Many protein bars are as nutritious as candy bars." I think that's why I love eating them. (photo by Bobby Doherty via nymag)

Craving:

I have a lot of restaurants starred on my map app. This weekend I got to cross one off the list: Cafe Mogador. I think I remember learning about it when I interned for The New Potato—jewelry designer Pamela Love had it on her list, and as I was starring all the vintage/thrift shops she loves, I added the Moroccan-inspired place too.

It lived up to the hype. I could've eaten seven more dishes and several more orders of the homemade naan. I even went as far as pouring the curry broth that the mussels came in into a little vessel and drinking every last drop. The music was perfect. I want to go back. I want to try their breakfast too.

Founder Rivka behind the counter at the original East Village Location. (image via cafemogador)

Yes please. (photo via BelleSavransky/DIA-NEW-YORK)

Wearing:

I think my spring wardrobe palette will be turquoise, black, and purple-pink. I found some of the best poppy collared shirts at Urban Jungle Vintage and Thrift this weekend. I'm finally feeling ready for warmer weather and skirts and dresses. More sunshine and less bulky outerwear. 

I love Angela Deane's Flora series. "Cactus Garden on Alert"

Watching:

Netflix: I quickly consumed much of Everything Sucks! "The kids in Everything Sucks! brood to music by Tori Amos and Oasis. They play with slap bracelets and use VCRs plugged into non-flat-screen televisions. They dress like No Doubt–era Gwen Stefani and paste magazine pictures of Scott Wolf from Party of Five into collages. When they’re trying to seem really “cool,” they show up to drama club gatherings with a six-pack of Zima. There are times when the show plays like a moving-picture version of one of those BuzzFeed listicles about 25 Things That Only ’90s Kids Understand." It's sincere and sweet and very enjoyable.

Peyton Kennedy and Jahi Di’Allo Winston. (photo via Scott Patrick Green/Netflix)

Movie: I went to see Isle of Dogs when it opened on Friday. I've been waiting to see this for at least a year (I regularly troll Wes Anderson's IMDb page). It was incredible! It made my heart swell! I want to nuzzle every dog I see—more than usual. It was also a nice reminder than evil can be conquered by genuine compassion (it had some strong parallels to our current political climate). 

The phrase "Isle of Dogs" appropriately sounds like "I love dogs." (image via Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Treasuring:

Everything: Blue skies and snowstorms. Sleeping and walking for miles. Laughter and uncontainable tears. Hunger and the fullest satisfaction. Eating on the floor and on the subway and nestled in a lovely restaurant corner. Writing a thousand words and sitting quietly.

Monday Memos // 56

Listening:

"Sound and Color" by Alabama Shakes.

"That's Why (I Love You So)" by Jackie Wilson. Those dance moves!

Reading:

A must-read in this time that I'm calling an earthquake of garbage and monsters: Men Don’t Get to Decide What Counts As ‘Sex’ By Liz Meriwether.

A satirical read for this stuff-yourself-silly holiday: Thanksgiving Nutrition Tips: Eat Whatever You Want, but Not That. Make food your singular focus while eating. Of course, there will be conversations at the Thanksgiving table. And that’s completely O.K. — as long as you stay out of them. Don’t speak and try not to listen. Earplugs are a good idea or, if you can, simply avoid all noise. Light is also hugely distracting. Think about a blindfold.

I've never experienced any overwhelmingly uncomfortable Thanksgiving meals (cheers to supportive family members!), but Philip is the man to ask: Thanksgiving, Solved! How to Deal With This Dreadful Holiday.

Stop. Wait. Don't. (image by Paul Windle via NYTimes)

Craving:

Celebrated my mom's birthday at Proof restaurant in DC. So much deliciousness.

I had a Butternut Squash and Apple Soup, which was garnished with cumin yogurt, truffle piccadillo, and sourdough croutons. Then I ate the Ora King Salmon with pickled mustard greens, a sticky rice cake, shiitake mushrooms, and shoyu sauce. Perfection. Everyone's dish had us oooh-ing and yummmm-ing. 

For dessert we tried the Warm Chocolate Hazelnut Cake—topped with gianduja gelato (chocolate hazelnut) and espresso sauce—and the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake—topped with almond streusel and vanilla ice cream. I almost licked the plates clean.

I couldn't find a good picture from Proof, but the photography on Coming Soon's website is amazing. You'll want to buy everything, too. (image of Mosser Glass Pink Milk Glass Cake Stand via comingsoonnewyork)

Wearing:

Nothing new to talk about regarding my own clothing adventure, so here are some fabulous things for adornment:

Patches by Amber Ibarreche.

Bingo! Sweatshirt by Tuesday Bassen.

Smiley metallic crew socks by Hansel from Basel.

The Laurel Twist Mule by Loeffler Randall.

Watching:

Recently Viewed: The pilot episode of "Sea Oak." A genre-bending comedy from renowned author and creator George Saunders featuring Glenn Close as a working-class woman who dies in a home invasion and comes back from the dead full of rage, determined to get the life she never had.

Interested In: "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." A darkly comedic drama with—Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell. "The Florida Project." Willem Dafoe, my messed up home State, strong emotions... sold. "The Square." A Swedish satirical drama directed by Ruben Östlund and starring Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, and Terry Notary. The film is about publicity surrounding an art installation, and was partly inspired by an installation Östlund and producer Kalle Boman had made.

Treasuring:

Dreaming. I've been having some wild dreams, which have been leaning on the side of entertaining and humorous. Quite enjoyable, really. I've also been doing a lot of daydreaming. It's nice sometimes to stare off in a car window or walk around the fall foliage and think fondly about people, places and things.

Gifting. 'Tis the season and I love gathering presents. Making them, wrapping them, compiling them, looking at gift guides, researching best things... 

(Illustration by Alessandra Olanow for Cup of Jo.)