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 // 100

This week is brought to you by ONE HUNDREDTH MEMO! That corresponding with my birthday week and the colossal wave of happiness I am feeling is such serendipity—it’s spectacular.

Listening:

My first Monday Memo (April 26, 2016), I was listening to Beyoncé’s newly released Lemonade. (It came out April 23).

“After Laughter (Comes Tears)” by Wendy Rene.

"What If Birds Aren’t Singing They're Screaming" by Aldous Harding.

“Playita” by Land of Talk.

“Suspended in Gaffa” by Kate Bush.

Reading:

My second Monday Memo (May 2, 2016), I had just started Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch, which remains to be my favorite book. Life-changing. I’d love to read it again one day.

Bon App’s advice column. Hilarity ensues: “Is It Ever Okay... To Take Home the Wine You Brought to a Party?”

Passion, Romance and Yearning: Photos of People Kissing: From simple pecks to full-on makeout sessions, a new compilation of photographs reveals how couples have kissed in front of the camera since the late-Victorian era.

The look on that cat’s face! (photo from fine art images/heritage images/getty images via bonappetit.com)

Craving:

My first Monday Memo, I was craving Brownie Brittle. “Can't stop thinking about and replenishing my stash. I eat it plain, I crush it up and put it on ice cream, I smear almond butter on it. The Peanut Butter flavor is hard to find but it is perfect. The Mint has the best chips. The Salted Caramel is that perfect salty/sweet combo. Even the gluten-free Trader Joe's version is great. I could go on. Yes, I have a problem.” I keep seeing new flavors in the stores and it still calls to me, though I try to resist the siren song. The Trader Joe’s version gets me sometimes though.

This week I ate a lot of oranges, drank a lot of ginger ale, and a lot of Conde Nast cafeteria meals. Plus, taste tested white English muffins. I’m not sure what my favorite brand was, but Stone & Skillet makes a nice, buttery dense version—very different from the Thomas standard.

I might just need to seek out the special holiday flavors. They look good. (image via sheila g’s)

Wearing:

My first Monday Memo I was was wearing “black tees and a black skirt or cut-off shorts. Plus a lot of light blue.” Seems about right. The beginnings of summer.

This week was a lot of black Chelsea boots, black leggings, black down jacket, black beanie. The winter version of black and simple.

Below is documentation of self—wow does my hair look dark!—attempting to let self portraits free, out into the world. That was in the same span of time, just playing with makeup and bang positions.

Watching:

My first Monday Memo, I was watching Friday Night Lights. Wow, I forgot about Tim Riggins. Good times.

I finally saw The Favourite last weekend and it was one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. It was strange and beautiful and WILD.

I really want to see the short animated film called Bao, where an older Chinese woman feels lonely at home and one morning, while eating breakfast with her husband, one of her pork dumplings springs to life as a giggly dumpling boy. There’s a dark twist.

Dumpling baby! (image via pixar)

Treasuring:

Life: This has been one of the hardest, most exhausting, most intense years of my life. It’s also been one of the most exciting, most fulfilling, and most enriching years of my life. Year of the dog, you have been something else. Something else! I’ve gathered a lifetime of stories. I made amazing friends and connections. I’ve cried a thousand years. I’ve walked miles upon miles. I’ve taken so many buses and trains. Life is life is life and I feel so fortunate for this one.

Year of the Bee, personally, I’ve truly been buzzing. (BEE / earnest, hardworking, democratic / sensitive creatures / they're artists at heart) (image via @dailyanimalspirits)

Do you have a favorite Monday Memo moment? Tell me please!

Monday Memos // 98

This week is brought to you by lethargy. It’s been dreary, I’ve had a lot of deadlines, and I might have an underlying cold. Energy is at a low, but behind it all I am very excited for December. Pardon the brevity.

Listening:

"The Magician" by Andy Shauf. Last Monday I went to see Andy play at National Sawdust in Brooklyn. The space wasn’t very big and I stood as front and center as you could get. Just him and his guitar. It was better than I could’ve imagined.

“Car Park” by Fenne Lily. This band opened for Andy and was very enjoyable.

“Hasta La Piel” by Carla Morrison. This song was playing in a restaurant scene on The Romanoffs and I had to figure out what it was.

Reading:

I just bought Abbi Jacobson’s new book I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff. I cannot wait to read it (currently in the middle of Jeffrey Eugenides’ latest collection of short stories).

“From the co-creator and co-star of the hit series Broad City, a "poignant, funny, and beautifully unabashed" (Cheryl Strayed) bestselling essay collection about love, loss, work, comedy, and figuring out who you really are when you thought you already knew.”

Craving:

Lots of OHi Superfood Bars—very nutty, crunchy, seedy things. Lots of tortilla chips and saltine crackers—on a salty kick. Theme: busy, tired, craving crunch.

Wearing:

Black and yellow. Black and maroon. Black and stripes. It was a rainy week with lots of layers and umbrellas. Lots of attempting to dress in clothes as close to pajamas as possible. Of course I saw Anna Wintour in the hallway wearing a beautiful gold and black brocade dress.

Watching:

As someone who devoured the podcast of the same name and subject, I’m curious to see the television adaptation of Dirty John. Such a terrifying story of manipulation. I’ll watch anything with Connie Britton.

Maybe one day when I need something terrible to watch, I came across the description for the movie Slice. “When a pizza delivery driver is murdered on the job, the city searches for someone to blame: ghosts? drug dealers? a disgraced werewolf?” Chance the Rapper and Zazie Beetz are the stars—I do love her.

Treasuring:

December: I’m ready for all the Christmas tree smells and lights and holiday music. I’m ready for getting dressed up and snowy days and roaring fires. I’m ready for tinsel and sequins and a little vacation. I’m ready for birthday cake and squeezing more friends.

Monday Memos // 96

Listening:

“The Trip” by Still Corners.

“Oom Sha La La” by Haley Heynderickx.

Reading:

Tiny Love Stories: Dog Parades, Rowing-Machine Romance and a Hurricane

The Correct Way to Go See a Movie Is by Yourself

Everyone Loves the Hot Duck

Who is he? (image via James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images

Craving:

I had a friend feast at Sala Thai. It was a delicious peanutty party. We had Thai crepe dumplings (Minced Chicken, Peanuts, and Sweet Turnips), Pla Muk Tod (Fried Turmeric Coconut Calamari with Roasted Bell Pepper-Peanut Vinaigrette Sauce), Praram (Sautéed batter fried chicken with Peanut Sauce, steamed Baby Bok Choy), and Kao Nar Ped (Crispy Quarter Duck Breast, Chinese Broccoli and Pickled Ginger). And then we were full beyond belief.

I was also given a vegan feast for two (more like feast for 12) from Whole Foods. To celebrate “World Vegan Day,” Whole Foods Market and Chef Jeremy Fox co-created a plant-centered meal, which included: Romanesco Cauliflower Roast with Miso Bagna Cauda, Cremini Mushroom Stuffing with Kimchi, Charred Escarole with Tomatoes and Chickpeas, and Roasted Acorn Squash with Maple and Hazelnut Dukkah. I ate it for days. The squash and the stuffing were the best.

Wearing:

Pink boots and pink bandana. Sweatshirts and Chelsea boots. My favorite jean jacket.

Watching:

Loved and Loving: Wanderlust was superb. The Romanoffs is proving to be highly entertaining.

Want to See: Dogs on Netflix looks great and potentially heart-wrenching. Holmes & Watson looks like a typical Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly comedy treat for lots of laughs.

Treasuring:

November: My calendar is filling up with exciting events. Music and storytelling and dinners and visits. So much family time and friends to see. Plus, the cool air and the changing leaves, I’m feeling great anticipation.

My block is very yellow.