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 // 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)

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)

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.

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.

Monday Memos // 62

Listening:

"Funnel Of Love" by Wanda Jackson.

Take note of the songs that make you run faster.

"Let's Get Lost" by Chet Baker.

Perpetual "I need something to ease my mind" song.

"New Year" by Kyle Sammond.

Find a friend who will make a song and give you a supportive shout-out on it. 

New Year by Kyle Sammond, released 08 January 2018 I'm stepping out into the new year I'm not beheld to my old fear Like a light upon the lawn Like a cemetery dawn I'm rearranging all my space It's helps to forget about your face I'm stepping out into the new year I'm thinking like I never knew ya Time has a way to just confuse ya It fails when the arrow goes right through ya I've been thinking all night long Like an early morning fawn On some plain we haven't seen Was it real or just a dream?

Reading:

My latest library haul includes:

"Forest Dark" by Nicole Krauss. "One of America’s most important novelists" (New York Times), the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The History of Love, conjures an achingly beautiful and breathtakingly original novel about personal transformation that interweaves the stories of two disparate individuals—an older lawyer and a young novelist—whose transcendental search leads them to the same Israeli desert. I really loved "The History of Love," so fingers crossed.

Will Write for Food by Dianne Jacob. "Whenever someone emails me about how to pursue a career in food writing, I politely tell them they're in the wrong place, that I have no idea what I'm doing, and to buy this book instead." - Deb Perelman, author of The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook and smittenkitchen.com

My latest internet dive recommendations:

Katja Blichfeld Gets What She Wants. As a fan of the series "High Maintenance" I was interested, but it goes way beyond that. One of the other tattoos she got this year is of the words “Best Crab,” an inside joke with Gregory. According to him, it’s about how she wants “to nurture and grow people,” sometimes at her own expense — like the character in Joy Luck Club who takes the worst crab for herself, rather than reaching for the best one. 

"I Made the Pizza Cinnamon Rolls from Mario Batali’s Sexual Misconduct Apology Letter." The recipe calls for too much icing, and the result is that the rolls are drenched in it. We’ve reached the “ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME” portion of the recipe.

"Blichfeld treats everyone she interacts with pretty much exactly the same, which is to say, she treats everyone with patience, curiosity, openness, and honesty, and then at the end of the interaction she gets exactly what she wants." (Photograph By Lia Clay via nymag)

Craving:

I did a fair amount of driving, wandering and exploring last week. I went to D.C.—journal store, book store, post office, cafe, hot foamy drinks and a sense of contentment. I went to Princeton, New Jersey—Thai food, introductions, wonderment, brisk air, architecture, ginger turmeric tea, bustling shops and the best gooey chocolate chip blondie. I went to Baltimore—terrible drivers, brick streets, velvet clothes, fizzy pineapple water and the best air vents by way of H&S Bakery (it's like I could taste warm cinnamon raisin bread from the gusts of wind). 

The sunshine pairs well with everything.

Wearing:

In the spirit of "dress for the job you want," I got myself some glittery socks and a blue velvet top. I'm not sure exactly what this says, but I like it.

I love Isabella Rossellini. (image via David Lynch's "Blue Velvet")

Watching:

"The End of the F***ing World." One day last week I went to Netflix and this show was the first image on the page. I hovered over the title as the trailer played and found myself intrigued. Fit my British kick of late and seemed like a love story I could handle without crying. Then it proceeded to exceed my expectations. The music is superb. The characters and actors are heartbreaking and hilarious. I wish there were 20 more episodes to watch. For your own curiosity and the slightest of descriptions, it's "deceptively endearing for a story about a 17-year-old self-diagnosed psychopath and the teen girl that he’s determined to murder in cold blood."

Alyssa (Jessica Barden) and James (Alex Lawther). I did still cry, but it was worth it. (image via Netflix)

Treasuring:

The sky. The other day I noticed my photo feed was filled with pictures of the sky. I've been getting so excited about how beautiful it looks. To be so enamored with the sky, what a great feeling! Saturday I was driving on a highway ramp, getting on I-95 South, when I gasped, I hollered, THE SKY! It was one of the most incredible views I've ever seen—even in all the grime of the city and cement. The brightness, the vastness, the glow, the colors, the clouds, the shadows and shimmers in a billowing smokestack... I wanted to take a picture so badly, but—I'm responsible—and I just wanted to savor the moment with my eyes and my mind.

Throwback from the eclipse.

P.s. Happy Birthday to my sweet baby angel, Joshua. 

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)