Monday Memos // 101

Pardon the unintentionally long break. I took a much needed vacation and felt true rest and relaxation. Then I got back to work where Mondays are no longer my constant day off. Adjustments, new year, new brain reorganization coming soon.

Listening:

“Diamond Day” by Vashti Bunyan.

“Poly Blue” by Jessica Pratt.

“Edge of Town” by Middle Kids.

Reading:

MATERIALS I’D RATHER BE THAN “WIFE MATERIAL”

Neither of my parents was exactly who I thought they were

What Is This Exercise Tool and How Do I Get One?

Craving:

I was in LA for Christmas and ate sooooo many delicious things. At Wax Paper, an amazing sandwich shop, I had the Ira Glass with turkey: avocado, cheddar, sprouts, pickled and raw red onions, cucumber, and garlic aioli on seeded wheat. Sitting in the sunshine with my brother, sipping a pamplemousse La Croix and eating amazing chili-lime tortilla chips (Rusty’s Chips—some of the best I’ve ever had) was wonderful.

Trois Familia was another gem. French-Mexican-California cuisine. I didn’t know what that meant but when we feasted it was all incredible. Beet tartare tostada—yum. A double decker potato taco with lime, crème fraiche, carrot pico, and cheese—this was wildly good. Parisian gnocchi with mushrooms—wow. Chicken milanesa, with raw and pickled cucumbers, and maggi ranch—wowowow.

Plus I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream and waited in line to eat at Sqirl. So excited that it was WORTH IT. My sister-in-law and I got the ricotta toast. It was like a dream. Brioche heaven, fluffy ricotta, and a rainbow spread of fresh jams—quince, blueberry and blackberry, and pluot. I got the sorrel pesto rice bowl too.

Bonus: My sis-in-law also made me the most perfect birthday cake and I, no joke, ate it every single day for an entire week. My pants are too tight but my heart is very full.

Wearing:

I was fulfilling dreams left and right in California (they do say something about dreamin’ there…). I bought myself the jumpsuit I’ve been pining over for a year, maybe two at this point. Big Bud Press: they really know fit, detail, and COLOR. It was hard to choose just one. The winner was mustang red. I also bought their pants in royal blue. Both have gotten lots of wear and lots of compliments. I will love them forever. I can’t wait for some wild color block outfit combinations.

Watching:

TV: Too quickly I watched the entirety of Friends From College and rewatched the last 3 seasons of Sex and the City. I’m ready to get back into the deeper stuff like new True Detective and High Maintenance.

Movies: On Christmas Eve I watched Love Actually (on an airplane) and Die Hard (when at my final destination while eating Chinese food and birthday cake). I’ve also recently seen Little Odessa (love Tim Roth) and In the Realm of the Senses (disturbing and… more disturbing).

“In the fact-based 1930s drama, streetwalker-turned-maid Eiko Matsuda hooks up with innkeeper Tatsuya Fuji; he leaves his wife and family for her, yet this only further inflames her obsession with him. The intense depictions of copulation and the couple’s fate will disturb even those familiar with the story.” (image via quad cinema)

Treasuring:

Connections: The last few weeks have been full of ups and downs. New, fabulous humans. Old, supportive folks. Friends and family, companions and strangers. Death and birth. Sadness and joy. Exhaustion and exhilaration. Stress and hope. But in the end, I’ve been squeezing my friends tighter and glad for everything around me. Definitely always say yes to friends and squeeze them as tight as you can.

I can’t remember where I found this, but I love it.

Monday Memos // 78

Listening:

"This Is America" by Childish Gambino.

"The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire (Father John Misty cover). 

"Break-Thru" by Dirty Projectors. 

Reading:

The Double-Layer Chocolate Cake I Make for My Son’s Birthday — I hope to one day have a column or book chapter called "on dessert."

My parents followed this rule and clearly it shaped me: Why I Let My Kids Eat Dessert Every Night

I might have to take on Dorie's tradition for myself or someone in my family. Chocolate-chocolate birthday cake. (image by Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times. Food stylist: Michelle Gatton. Prop stylist: Amy Wilson.)

Craving:

I participated in a taste test of store-bought kosher dill pickle spears this week. It was one of the first taste tests that didn't make me too full or too lethargic. Maybe a little extra salty. My favorites were Claussen and Boar's Head.

When I went to pick up the few remaining jars of pickles I saw Alec Baldwin. I'm always tempted to tell these celebrities in my sightings that I love them in _____. I usually just end up playing it cool and letting them be on their way. I saw another woman do a double-take and wait outside the Whole Foods (she then ended up at another little market down the street too). I went on my way, lugging four or five jars of pickles back to Tribeca — in great fear I might drop the bag and have to start the pickle pilgrimage all over again. 

I remember one summer my cousin went through a massive jar a day. (image via the splendid table)

Wearing:

I've been dreaming of a specific pair of coveralls. A boilersuit. A jumpsuit. Whatever you call it, I have been searching everywhere I go for one. I wanted it to be somewhat fitted. I wanted it to be zippered or a button-up situation. I wanted it to be a color I enjoy and/or could easily wear (no white, no orange, etc.). I wanted sleeves — long or short but not sleeveless. For months and months I have been plagued with this desire to find one. So many online shopping carts filled and abandoned. If I had my sewing machine around I might've crafted one by now. 

Saturday I found it. It's a rich cornflower blue. It's cordouroy. (I almost got one in a Bill Cunningham blue, but I put it on hold at the vintage shop, walked down the street to their other shop where I found the winner, which fit even better.) I cannot wait to wear it all the time. 

I miss Bill. (Photo by Patrick Demarchelier for Harper’s Bazaar)

Watching:

Saw: Disobedience. Powerful moments, beautiful moments, intriguing moments, and slightly cheesy moments. David Edelstein says it best: [it] isn’t packed with surprises, but that’s not why you go to a movie like this. You go to watch humans with wayward emotions labor to make peace with (or opt to war against) a formal, ritualized way of life. You go to see them argue over such words as “freedom” and “choice.”

You've Got Mail. I started watching this movie sometime in 1998 or 1999 and didn't get to finish it. Instead I witnessed some horrible animal behavior and was a bit scarred. Anyways, I finally watched the entire movie last weekend and really enjoyed it. Plus, it's set in and around my new running route and neighborhood. Even the smaller roles are great: Parker Posey! Greg Kinnear! Heather Burns! Steve Zahn! Now I've got "Dreams" by The Cranberries stuck in my head. 

I still need to got to Barney Greengrass, I do love some good smoked fish.

Treasuring:

Mornings: I tried out a new routine last week. I woke up at 6am every morning and ran outside. The early light, the blooming flowers, the podcasts, the flush on my cheeks, it felt so nice. I was exhausted by 5pm each day, but it was fun. I like trying out these new routes and ways of life. The morning is a grand time.

Truth. (via emily mcdowell)

Monday Memos // 46

Listening:

"I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingos.

"Needy Bees" by Nick Hakim.

"Baby" by Donnie & Joe Emerson.

Reading:

Crushes and lust. "When we thirst, all we are saying is that, like every living thing, we need water."

I really enjoy The Cut's weekly horoscopes. They are short and sweet, but well-written and often inspire a sense of wonder and self-reflection. This week, I couldn't stop rereading a couple of lines from my own: This change on the horizon isn’t about outgrowing your own skin, and it isn’t about becoming somebody new. You’re already holding the magic you need, and all you need to do is learn how to keep holding it.

THINGS I’VE SAID TO MY NEW PUPPY OR TO A REPUBLICAN SENATOR? by Sally Miller “Leave it.” "You are destroying the fabric of everything I hold dear.”

Craving:

The week's greatest hits: Cold bananas dipped in peanut butter. The first slice of carrot cake. Roasted sweet potatoes dipped in kale pesto. Blueberry lemonade seltzer water. Vanilla/Thin Mint cookie soft-serve ice cream swirl. Peaches and cream pie.

Various flavors and toppings at Soft Swerve. (photo by Bobby Doherty via nymag)

Wearing:

Shorts and tees and tees and shorts. White toenail polish. A constant summery "sheen."

I can't stop wanting a coverall-style jumpsuit. I have a short-sleeved chambray jumpsuit but everyone thinks I'm wearing scrubs when I sport it, so this time maybe navy or red?

This article caused the desire: The Best Outfit for Uniform Dressing Is This $40 Jumpsuit. (image via nymag)

Watching:

Currently most excited about: "Insecure" (the soundtrack has been calling to me and the realness has been moving me), "Project Runway" (Tim Gunn is one of my heroes), "I'm Dying Up Here" (I'm entranced by the 60s/70s and comedy), and "Game of Thrones" (I can't believe it's already over again).

Recently saw and loved: "The Little Hours."

"The movie is not camp. It’s deliciously deadpan sex farce played by some of the deftest clowns in the English-speaking world. The more matter-of-fact it is, the more screamingly funny." —Vulture

Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, and Kate Micucci. (image via concourse film trade)

Want to see: "Lemon." All I really need to do is list the cast: Michael Cera, Gillian Jacobs, Judy Greer, Megan Mullally, Martin Starr, Rhea Perlman, Marla Gibbs, and Shiri Appleby—among others!

"This offbeat comedy, based somewhat on the experiences of real-life couple Gelman and director Janicza Bravo, is as deadpan, absurd, and surreal as a movie can get." —Jeffrey M. Anderson

"'Lemon' follows cowriter/star Brett Gelman's loser-creep around L.A. in a "comedy" that lives up to its name."  (image via Magnolia Pictures/Rolling Stone

Treasuring:

I really love those moments when a ton of people all come together for something at the same moment; I appreciate the sort of leveling of everyone—it's like a collective being. (Is my hippie showing?) That is, the solar eclipse on the 21st. I love that so many people were all outside at these particular moments wearing silly glasses, sharing silly glasses or staring into cardboard boxes and celebrating the sky.

"Cloud coverage starts to clear as the eclipse approaches totality." (image via Andrea Morales for The New York Times)

Saturday afternoon I saw a man pushing his kid in a stroller. They crossed the street and the dad stopped in front of a crepe myrtle tree to pick a long flowering branch. He handed it to the tiny child and they continued on their way. I felt a sense of reassurance (humanity!) and happiness (heart melt!).