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 // 80

Listening:

"You're Out Wasting" by Andy Shauf.

"Free Translator" by The Books.

"Blue" by The Jayhawks. 

Reading:

I finally starting bringing a book to read on my subway commutes. It was a revelation and a joy—until I realized I can only last about 20 minutes before I feel that carsick sensation. Dang it! Can you mentally psych yourself out of that?

Guilty pleasure reading: advice columns, horoscopes, and wedding announcements. These are along those lines: One Door Closes, and an Uber Door Opens. Love Follows. More of Your 13-Word Love Stories.

Craving:

The siren song of granola is strong. I can finish a bag too quickly. I usually try not to stock it in my home, but I've been pulled to various bags in the last month. Purely Elizabeth Granola is always delicious, and one of their new flavors Chocolate Sea Salt + Peanut Butter, was devoured in no time. Yesterday I happened upon a cocoa cranberry coconut granola by Bread Alone, an organic bread bakery based in the Catskills, and it was delightful. Hopefully I can make it last a week. 

I also went to new Sichuanese restaurant over the weekend, General Deb's, where our party of three ate until stuffed. Smashed cucumber salad, saucy Chinese broccoli, sesame-drenched chilled potato sticks, marinated slices of fish in deep red chili oil sauce, and hot sesame noodles with snow peas and scallions... yes. The air conditioner was broken and the day was quite hot, but it was such a great time.

Old storefront, new food. (Photos by Robert Sietsema via NY Eater)

Wearing:

Some serious blisters from a wandering adventure last weekend led to a consequent week full of tennis shoes and orthopedic clogs and sandals. Keds, Danskos, and Crocs. I could be embarrassed by the last choice, but they were free and very un-Croc-like and comfortable. 

These Crocs are Balenciaga. I think I hate them so much that I love them. (image via vanityfair)

Watching:

Last week I went to my now-regular solo movie date. I saw Tully. I found it more heartbreaking, wonderful, and riveting than I was expecting. Plus, the music was the same. I walked home feeling emotional, listening to The Jayhawks on repeat. 

Though it's not rated highly, the previews made me want to see Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town (I must have a new infatuation with Mackenzie Davis too).

I saw the first episode of Killing Eve and I cannot wait to watch the rest. Eve's life as a spy is not adding up to what she had hoped it would be when she started. She is a bored, very smart, MI5 security officer who is very desk-bound. Villanelle is a very talented killer, mercurial in mood, who clings to the luxuries of her job. Eve and Villanelle go head to head in a fierce game of cat and mouse, each woman equally obsessed with the other as Eve is tasked with hunting down the psychopathic assassin. I am here for all things Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who created the show and the favorite Fleabag. Also, Sandra Oh is a delight. 

I don't know much about Jodie Comer, here in Killing Eve, but she's great. (image via rollingstone)

Treasuring:

Good feelings: Work exhaustion and a full moon and a weird schedule had me feeling a little slow and low last week. Still, the weekend revived me with good feelings for the future and what I am doing and where I am. Lounging on the couch in the sunshine. Creative projects simmering in my head. Short trips and visits from friends in the coming weeks. Groovy June-y, baby.

May we all feel this way. Amen.

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)

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.)