Monday Memos // 71

Listening:

"Only With You" by Angel Olsen.

"You and I" by Wilco featuring Feist.

This song was in the latest season of Love on Netflix — bringing me back to my family Wilco days.

"Mystery of Love" by Sufjan Stevens.

I waited forever and a half to see Call Me By Your Name. I think I needed some emotional stability so I wouldn't sob the entire movie. This song paired with the scene, it gave me an enormous swell of feelings. I love Sufjan.

"I Was Born A Unicorn" by The Unicorns.

This song was also in the latest season of Love and instantly transported me to 15 years old. (Roz, remember when we went with them to prom?)

Reading:

I Hid Who I Was for So Long. Until I Became a Cook. By Andy Baraghani. This is a wonderful piece. I feel very inspired by my coworkers.

If you're curious how the Talenti Taste Test I participated in went down, this is Joe's full report. I'm still more of a chocolate and peanut butter varietal fan.  

That's my arm on the left. (image by Caleb Adams)

Craving:

This week is brought to you by almonds. I'm in love with this almond-based dip/spread called Bitchin' Sauce — all the flavors are delicious.

I participated in an almond butter taste test (grocery store brands are top ranking: TJs. Whole Foods 365, Costco, etc.).

I devoured a variety of "cocoa-dusted" almonds that were sitting next to my desk (in espresso, maple, and mayan) — I didn't adore them, but they were there.

I also cannot stop eating dates. 

I got to try these Salted Chocolate–Tahini Bliss Balls and I want to make more for myself. (photo by Alex Lau)

I got to try these Salted Chocolate–Tahini Bliss Balls and I want to make more for myself. (photo by Alex Lau)

Wearing:

Last Monday I was walking to work and thought, I should revive my fashion game now that I go to a big fancy building for work. A couple hours later, I was pushing a cart full of toasters down an empty hallway, wearing jeans, my It's-It sweatshirt, and my decade-old purple vans, and guess who walks right by me? Anna Wintour! In the flesh, full-on sparkling tweed skirt suit. She definitely didn't look me in the eye. At least I do really love that sweatshirt.

Just Anna and the Queen. (image via hello magazine)

Just Anna and the Queen. (image via hello magazine)

Watching:

Live: I went to this show last Friday: LAS CULTURISTAS LIVE: I DON'T THINK SO, HONEY! Wow! Dozens upon dozens of comedians and performers take one minute each to go off on culture. My face hurt from laughing so much. My hands hurt from clapping so much. Now I am in a deep dive of the Las Culturistas podcast and thoroughly in love with the hosts and concept. 

On Netflix: I consumed season three of Love in a couple of days. I think I enjoyed it more toward the end of the season, and maybe not as much as the first, but still a fan.

Shorts: If you want short segments of brilliance, watch 555 on Vimeo. "A motley cast of characters, played entirely by comedians Kate Berlant and John Early. Director Andrew DeYoung rounds out the trio of creators who put their minds together to birth this hilariously cutting new miniseries (and freshest Vimeo Original). In five short films, they show us the struggle of trying to achieve big tinseltown dreams, in a town built on power." — Vimeo Blog

HBO: Week after week, High Maintenance is my favorite in television. The latest episode was bursting with weirdness and beauty and more than I could put into words.

Poster and logo for 555 produced by Abso Lutely.

Poster and logo for 555 produced by Abso Lutely.

Treasuring:

Dogs: I saw an excitable husky in a window the other night and I keep passing the same apartment on a daily basis hoping to see it again. There are always so many great dogs in the city from Dalmatian puppies to scrappy mutts in sweaters to the sweetest looking Corgi in a backpack. I am a fan of them all. It is year of the dog after all. 

Scene from Maira Kalman's Max series — I've got a tattoo of Max, in the brown hat and coat. Her dog depictions are superb.

Scene from Maira Kalman's Max series — I've got a tattoo of Max, in the brown hat and coat. Her dog depictions are superb.

Monday Memos // 28

Listening:

"Slumber Party With Alie and Georgia" a podcast. 

I discovered this podcast a few weeks ago when I went through the six degrees of separation game with another favorite podcast, My Favorite Murder. (Georgia is the cohost of both; there is an episode where Alie and Georgia interview the other MFM cohost Karen. Have you lost me?)

Ghost stories, rants, tales of embarrassing midnight snack obsessions... I love it all! Though there haven't been any new episodes this year, I'm combing through the backlog with great enthusiasm. 

I want to be friends with Alie Ward and Georgia Hardstark. (image via alieandgeorgia)

I want to be friends with Alie Ward and Georgia Hardstark. (image via alieandgeorgia)

Reading:

Everything I Want to Eat: Sqirl and the New California Cooking" by Jessica Koslow (the chef of Sqirl in Los Angeles) and Maria Zizka.

Sorrel Pesto Rice Bowl: The definitive grain bowl at Sqirl. (via luckypeach)

Sorrel Pesto Rice Bowl: The definitive grain bowl at Sqirl. (via luckypeach)

This place is at the top of my list for when I visit LA. I've never seen such beautiful images of toast. For real, the Sqirl toast is so thick and in that perfectly iconic bread shape, I just drool thinking about it. 

That Burnt brioche toast...(via civilianglobal)

That Burnt brioche toast...(via civilianglobal)

I've had the cookbook on my Amazon wishlist since it came out last year, but I went for an evening stroll at my library tonight and there it was, waiting for me. I love that the first page I opened to had a stunning photo of Busy Phillips looking back at me (I love her!). I cannot wait to dive in. I'm drooling again. 

The design and images are perfection. (image via amazon)

The design and images are perfection. (image via amazon)

Craving:

Honey sunflower butter.

I bought this jar of Wild Friends nut butter months ago from a discount shelf at a local grocery store. One day recently I finally broke the seal and have had it every single day since. On rice cakes, on banana millet bread, on sweet potatoes, licked off a spoon or fork or knife. It is great. 

Other interesting sounding Wild Friends flavors I'd like to try: 

I want to try the chocolate sunflower seed almond butter, too. (via wildfriends)

I want to try the chocolate sunflower seed almond butter, too. (via wildfriends)

Wearing:

All I can say is: same as it ever was. 

Watching:

"Wild Tales," a 2014 Argentine black comedy anthology film composed of six standalone shorts, all written and directed by Damián Szifron, united by a common theme of violence and vengeance.

As high-spirited as its title suggests, “Wild Tales” opens on a savage note and ends, well, that’s for you to find out. In between its shocker start and equally startling windup, this Argentine anthology offers up a scabrous, often unsettlingly funny look at human behavior in extremis.
— Manohla Dargis (via NYTimes)
Some great waitress revenge. (image via nerdist)

Some great waitress revenge. (image via nerdist)

Wanting:

This is outlandish and aspirational, but I have been lusting after some Rosie Assoulin pieces. Friend of Leandra Medine, she makes the most delightful, breathtaking and fun wearables. 

Wrap Ruffle Bra Top. (via modaoperandi)

Wrap Ruffle Bra Top. (via modaoperandi)

Thank You, Have A Nice Day Cotton Tee & Artichoke Hearts High Waisted Pants. (via modaoperandi)

Thank You, Have A Nice Day Cotton Tee & Artichoke Hearts High Waisted Pants. (via modaoperandi)

Cork Screw Top. (via modaoperandi)

Cork Screw Top. (via modaoperandi)