Monday Memos // 97

Listening:

"Everything Apart" by Foxwarren.

“No No No” by Beirut.

“The Modern Things” by Björk.

Reading:

Destined to Marry the Cute Bartender - Sometimes you’re not meant to be with the guy who is always on time and has already bought the tickets.

Dear Friends, I think I figured out what I want to do for my birthday: Holiday Party Idea: Make Everyone Dress Like Cake

Dessert as fashion inspiration. (image by CYRUS MCCRIMMON/Denver Post via Getty Images)

Craving:

Delicious things I’ve consumed recently: pumpkin pie, apple pie, and chocolate pecan pie (slices, slivers, and crumbs). Broccoli rabe pesto pasta. A laminated baguette (that’s a baguette wrapped in croissant dough) from Arcade Bakery that I cannot stop thinking about (so flakey! so buttery!). Scarr’s Pizza grandma slice and vegan Caesar salad. Roasted scallops, fennel, and turnips. A flourless chocolate cake with butterscotch ice cream… Tis the seasoning for stuffing yourself with comfort.

Arcade Bakery, a magical place in the lobby of a Tribeca office building (image via thenewpotato)

Wearing:

Sweaters and sweatshirts. Coats and jackets. Hiker boots and thick socks. A red wool hat. Plus, my grandmother noted that I’ve worn the same thing three consecutive visits in a row—a billowy black dress. Hey, it’s classic and comfortable.

The winter look.

Watching:

I haven’t been on my solo movie dates like usual or really having too much time for television, but the Netflix series version of Get Shorty has been very entertaining to watch. GBBO is delightful and soothing as always. I can’t wait for the upcoming new seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and High Maintenance.

Treasuring:

Family, family, and more family: To get to see my family so much this year has been a true treat. It’s nice when you don’t have to catch up on a thousand broad stories of “this is what I’ve been up to,” but rather fill in the fun details of recent adventures. I’m learning more. I’m laughing about whacky things. I’m relishing in the comfort when I just need someone I can be quiet around, and fully myself.

This sums it up. Myself in the middle.

Monday Memos // 94

Listening:

“Audience No. 2” by Autolux.

“Dog” by Widowspeak.

“Il Ballo Del Mattone” by Rita Pavone.

Reading:

From most important to least important…

I'm a Chef With Terminal Cancer. This Is What I'm Doing with the Time I Have Left — “When we think we have all the time in the world to live, we forget to indulge in the experiences of living. When that choice is yanked away from us, that’s when we scramble to feel.”

APPROPRIATE MOMENTS TO RESPOND WITH LADY GAGA’S GUTTURAL HOWL FROM THE SONG “SHALLOW”

The long, long history of long, long CVS receipts

Nostalgia for the Present by Brooke Shanesy.

Craving:

This weekend I celebrated one year since I moved up north. Sunday I had a lovely breakfast feast at Champs Diner, which included lots of coffee, a giant tofu scramble—the “hungover hippie”— and a gigantic, classic pancake. It was hard not to get the giant stack of fancy pancakes, but the one was ample.

I want to go back for a sundae or a shake. (image via nooklyn)

Wearing:

Sweaters! Pants! Jackets! Socks! The weekend skipped ahead and really felt like winter. I loved it.

I had to buy this Katie Kimmel sweatshirt.

Watching:

I saw A Star Is Born alone on Saturday morning (do not recommend the alone or in the morning part). I honestly thought it would be cheesy at best, but wow, it was actually well done and really good. However, I was not thoroughly warned that I would feel deeply depressed when it was over. (Side note: did you know Lady Gaga had a small cameo in Sopranos? She was “girl at the pool number 2.”)

I also watched Scream for the first time on Saturday night. As much as I have seen thousands and thousands of movies, I haven’t seen a lot of classics or standard fare. It filled me with suspense, it cracked me up, I yelled at the characters on the screen. A good balance for the day.

Treasuring:

Goofing: Skipping down the hall. Making weird faces and making weird sounds. Risking, and forgetting, embarrassment.

Monday Memos // 66

Listening:

On Friday I took myself out for an overpriced, delicious breakfast. The playlist was lovely and I noted a few of the songs as I ate my eggs and toast. 

"Seven Seas" by Echo and the Bunnymen.

"The Light" by Mirah.

"One More Night" by Michael Kiwanuka.

Reading:

NEW EROTICA FOR FEMINISTS - "He calls me into his office and closes the door… to promote me. He promotes me again and again. I am wild with ecstasy."

How Pastry Chefs Hide Engagement Rings in Desserts - A bit fascinating, a bit strange—the things people do (and why would you want to propose on Valentine's Day?)! I was once part of an engagement set-up at a restaurant I worked at. I was very excited to participate (who doesn't want to be intwined in a wonderful act of love?!), but also kind of nervous that this very important last-minute choreography on my part had lifelong consequences. She said yes, it was cute. 

Engagement cake. (image by Andrew Janik via bonappetit)

Craving:

I ate some outstanding pizza Saturday evening (and then on Sunday afternoon). The "B’More Clubhouse Pizza" at Joe Squared: pink sauce, roasted chicken thighs, diced shallots, sautéed mushrooms, sweet potatoes, mozzarella, boursin, parsley and sea salt. 

I felt a calling for Coconut-Chocolate Mousse this week. Molten chocolate cake, too. Nothing out of the ordinary, really. Last week, on the same day as my gourmet breakfast, I also got a fat slice of chocolate chip banana bread at By Chloe. It was outstanding and helped me enjoy a woozy highway bus ride. 

This mousse via Healthyish looks divine. (image by Alex Lau via bonappetit)

Wearing:

I realized at the end of the week I had worn a great selection of cozy hand-me-downs (thanks Mom! thanks Grandma!). Yellow, eggplant, and maroon sweaters. A thick and bright flannel. No wonder I stayed so warm. 

Also, on a totally goofy note, I would definitely wear these Bill Murray designed floral bell-bottoms. 

Bill bottoms. (image via betabrand)

Watching:

In the early 2000s I was a big fan of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." I actually started rewatching episodes of it in my early 20s, too—I loved that Fab Five. Netflix just made a reboot and I am interested. The new version is set in Georgia (yeehaw) with an entirely new cast. The trailer gave me feelings. I promise I'll get to it when I finally come out of my "Offspring" fog/obsession. 

This picture is a bit embarrassing, but I'm still in. (image via netflix)

Treasuring:

Lightheartedness. I found myself dancing around my parent's kitchen. Skipping down a hallway. Laughing at immature jokes. It's a nice feeling to crack yourself up. It's the best to be overcome with silliness. 

cards via maddy nye

Monday Memos // 61

Listening:

"Blue Cigar" by Midnight Sister. 

"Let Me Be The One" by Kevin Krauter.

"Where Is The Love" by The Monzas.

"Superboy & Supergirl" by Tullycraft

Reading:

I finished reading a book this weekend, finally, after months of starting novels and feeling uninspired to finish them. I won't share the book though, because it was cheesy and I would not recommend it (the authors seem nice! They tried something!). Now I'm reading "Theft By Finding" by David Sedaris. I'm in the late 70s now and man is his like bleak! 

Here is a wonderful love story that started from loss. I first read the Washington Post version.

Totes magotes. Tote-Bag-Culture Etiquette.

For a breath of fresh air from toxic masculinity: Examples of Toxic Femininity in the Workplace. Lisa comes in for an interview. All the interviewers judge her objectively, based on her qualifications and the candor of her responses. This leaves her so confused that, on the way out of the office, she accidentally walks into traffic and dies.

A mountain of New Yorkers later, I too have their tote. (image by Ellis Rosen

Craving:

All the toast and all the tea. Warmth and carbs. My body is evident of winter.

Wearing:

Rediscovered an old favorite: the hoodie dress. It's like any old over-the-head hoodie but better. You can envelope yourself and don't even need to wear pants. In black, it can be considered chic or like a disguise. Plus, worn on Sunday, I did my quiet part to support the #timesup movement.

Also, if I dare go outside, I am exclusively wearing my favorite knit hat. It's red with an assortment of colorful patterns. I think I borrowed it years ago and accidentally will keep it forever (thanks, Kyle!).

A little over a year ago, on my 27th birthday, in D.C. I look and dress exactly the same. I wanted a rare picture where I'm not making an absurd face.

Watching:

I fell into a movie research wormhole that started with seeing a trailer for the short fashion film called "Baton." I can't exactly tell what it all it. The costumes are by Dries Van Noten. There was something eerie and dreamy about it, which led me to discover it was written by Efthymis Filippou, who is known for "Dogtooth" and "The Lobster." Aha! They all have that washed out, beautiful, and bizarre feeling. All mesmerizing, brilliant, and disturbing too.

From "The Lobster." These colors are my aesthetic. (image via asff)

I should round out the viewing with "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" (looks creepy!) cowritten by Yorgos Lanthimos (he cowrote and directed the movies above, as well). 

These visuals! That is why I'll definitely watch "The Killing of a Sacred Deer." (image via eastsidefm)

This also led to reading about a project (tv series? it'll be on AMC) directed by Lanthimos called "On Becoming a God in Central Florida," starring Kristen Dunst. A recently widowed, impoverished Orlando water park employee schemes and cons her way up the ranks of the multi-billion dollar pyramid scheme which ruined her financially in the first place. Sounds amazing—I can picture the scenery perfectly. 

Are you confused yet? I could keep going... IMDb is a close friend.

I'd like Kirsten Dunst to play me in a movie. (image via theplaylist)

This is what started it. The bananas! 

Treasuring:

Settling(ish). I'm sleeping on a new bed. I bought 50 hangers. I unpacked my suitcase. I'm trying to make myself feel "at home." My cat is sensing some comforting normalcy; he comes to bed to burrow under the covers with me at night. By the time I know where everything is I'm sure it'll be time to move again, but I'll savor the little familiarities for now.

A beautiful home and awesome painting display! (image via theglitterguide)