Things on a Monday: A Fun Psychological Thriller, Breonna Taylor, Coffee + A Road Trip!

Monday is here again. I'm back from a quick trip to Vermont for the weekend and I am feeling refreshed and very cold. The temperature in New England has dropped at least 30 degrees in the last week, and I AM HERE FOR IT. 

Changing this to "THINGS" rather than "THINGS TO LOVE" because well, sometimes things are terrible. #2020

PODCAST: Even The Rich podcast. I love this podcast!!! The two hosts (Aricia Skidmore-Williams and Brooke Siffrinn) are hilarious and have the best chemistry. It’s produced by Wondery, which is basically the best of the best so the quality is topnotch. And it covers scandals and crimes of the rich! Think like The Kennedy’s (murderer), the Versace family (murdered), and even Beyonce and Jay-Z (elevatored). Each story has four episodes and a Q+A episode so it’s super binge-worthy and fun. It’s also relatively new so it’s easy to catch up!

BOOK: One by One by Ruth Ware. A super fun, twisty thriller from Ruth Ware. It’s actually my favorite of hers! I basically read every psychological thriller released in a year, and dislike most of them because the main women are always “crazy” or alcoholics or addicts. (I mean, I still enjoy them for what they are… and will continue to read every single one.) This didn’t have any of that and felt like a nice, classic mystery.

ARTICLE: The Life Breonna Taylor Lived, In The Words of Her Mother (Vanity Fair) 

This story is devastating all around, but hearing it from her mother was the hardest hit yet. It makes me sick to my stomach. I saw a meme that said, “Breonna Taylor has gotten a law, a magazine cover, a tv special, a family wrongful death settlement… everything but the arrests and charges she deserves.” 

I understand the police lawfully applied for a warrant and were shooting back in self defense… and I’m glad no-knock warrants are now banned in Louisville and that ONE (of SEVERAL) police officers was fired. However, for me, it all comes back to the words that my leader recently shared with the larger team at work: In times like this, don’t be dismissive. 

Listen. Take accountability. Don’t dismiss the feelings of others. Don’t get defensive. Try to understand where people are coming from. Put yourself in the shoes of others. That is an easy way to create trust, where right now it does not exist. 

In Breonna’s case, we’re all asking for justice. But it’d also be nice to hear a little bit of accountability. To be told, “You’re not crazy. This was wrong.” Especially when the police are funded by taxpayers... 

To quote Mugatu, “I FEEL LIKE I’M TAKING CRAZY PILLS!” 

ROAD TRIP: Stowe, Vermont! I took a last-minute road trip to Vermont this past weekend because I was craving mountains and autumn. It was GORGEOUS and lovely and autumnal and EUROPEAN! I might write a full post on it because I don’t know… I have nothing else to do? And I loved it that much.

SUBSCRIBE: I subscribed to this coffee club called Grounds & Hounds and it was a really great way to enhance my coffee game. The coffee is great, but 20% of the proceeds go to no-kill shelters and foster care!!!! Both of my pets are adopted and sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky with them?!?!?!?! Billie is actually the best dog in the world, and Ruthie is the best cat in the world. How did I end up with the best pets from shelters and foster care?!?! Anyways, coffee is good, and supporting dogs is even better!

DONATE: 2020 is a ridiculous year and there’s devastation everywhere we turn. Aside from the pandemic, anti-racism work, climate change, getting Mitch… a few of my friends are also dealing with personal tragedies.  

It can feel weird to ask for help during these times, especially when funds aren’t easily accessible these days. But we can only do so much on our own. When there’s nothing else I can do to help, the least I can do is share.

My friend Scotty’s sister was in a near-death car accident and is recovering from her injuries (thankfully) but they’re severe. See below from the GoFundMe:

     For those of you who know and love Keira, she was involved in a near death situation near     Tabiona Utah.  She was a passenger in Jeep that ran off the road. She was found alone in     the bottom of a revine by EMS, who was notified by a nearby cabin owner that could see a     disturbance in the area. She was transported by lifeflight to a trauma center in SLC.

    She has suffered a C2 neck fracture that is known as a high quad. She is paralyzed from         the neck down. If you remember the actor in Superman, Christopher Reeve, her injury is         just like his after being thrown from a horse.

If you can spare anything, it’d be appreciated. If you could share it, it’d be appreciated. Even some well wishes, good thoughts and prayers (if that’s your thing) would be appreciated!

If you can donate, you can do so here. 

Thank you for being you! 

Things to Love on a Monday: A Murder Podcast, Fall Movie Bucket List + Cinnamon Brooms

It’s Monday! My favorite day of the week. No, that’s a dumb lie. It’s not.

My favorite day of the week is actually EVERY DAY... between 6am and 8am when I am up, drinking coffee and watching Dateline with zero expectations. It all goes downhill from there. 

This past week was rough in terms of world news. The fires are roaring and creeping their way up the west coast. My poor friends from L.A. to Portland can barely go outside because the air quality is so bad. The pandemic is still very much a thing. The president is a liar, and not even facts can prove his followers otherwise. I feel like I’m living in an alternate universe and I don’t know what to do. 

So… here’s what I am offering up to the gods (aka you three readers) this week: 

BUY: Cinnamon brooms. Trader Joe’s has amazing marketing in the sense that they don’t need to do any marketing at all (which they don’t, aside from their own in-store flyer) because word of mouth and new product launches do all the work for them. But, here I am, marketing them anyway. 

Anyways, these CINNAMON BROOMS they sell are like two bucks. I put them on the door to Ruthie’s bathroom (it’s a pantry that I don’t use as a pantry) and it perfectly covers the scent of cat litter, and y’know, the stuff that litter is used for. Additionally, it makes the apartment smell delightful. I plan on purchasing a few more and crying into them every night until it’s time to switch to whatever the Christmas version of cinnamon brooms are. Sleighs? That would be appropriate, right? If they’re going with seasonally themed transportation???

Also, buy these paper bats and floating LED candles for a perfect Halloween window display that will transition well to Christmas (just remove the bats) (OR put Santa hats on them!!!) Santa Bats!!!! 

READ: If You’re Already Dreading Winter, Here Are Small Ways to Prepare Now 

I’m a dreader. I fucking love September thru December because it’s the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR. Then January hits and there’s no more MERRIMENT or JOY and it’s COLD and it SUCKS. So I’m preparing in advance. I'm anticipating a lot of forced hygge.

And one book recommendation of the week: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. 10/10. Brilliant. Heartbreaking. HARD TO READ, but you should read it anyway. The book follows eight generations of descendants of two half-sisters from 18th century Ghana. They have incredibly different experiences. It’s so, so difficult to read… but eye-opening (for white people) and amazing storytelling. 

LISTEN: The Piketown Massacre. 

WHAT THE FUCK? How had I never heard of this story before?! The Piketown Massacre is a true-crime podcast about the worst mass murder in Ohio’s history. It only just happened within the last few years. A whole family was hunted down and murdered… in one day… in various locations. There are still episodes coming out, so if you like to wait and binge, then do that. I tried to but ultimately gave in.

WATCH: Fall movies. I don't like super scary movies, so I'm not adding them to my personal list. But here is my list of autumnal movies:

1. When Harry Met Sally

2. Sleepy Hollow

3. Heathers

4. You've Got Mail

5. Little Women

6. Nightmare Before Christmas

7. Beetlejuice

8. Death Becomes Her

9. Addam's Family Values

10. What We Do In The Shadows

I'm going to take a nap now. On a Monday morning. It seems right.

Things to Love on a Monday: A Popular Book You Shouldn't Read, Disney + Fluff

Happy Monday! Happy Labor Day! Is that something people say?

Right now, I’m sitting in my bed with a heating pad on my neck because of a weekend WELL LIVED. Just kidding, I stretched weird when I woke up.

Here’s what I’ve got for today:

DON’T READ: I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. Some of the reviews I read said that it was an incredible page-turner, which sounded exciting. I will admit I turned the pages quite swiftly since I read the book in less than 24 hours. BUT… part of that is because I was so confused. I thought the next page would have more clarifying information, but nope. Each page was more confusing than the last.

It was a bit TOO thriller-y for me (aka scary), and the ending was confusing AF. Afterward, I read more reviews and people were VERY split. Basically, I liked it… until the end where it got weird and scary and confusing. I even had to Google an explanation of the book. Mmm, maybe I’m just too stupid.

Apparently, it came out on Netflix this weekend, and I will not be watching. But take my review with a grain of salt because my favorite book I read this year was a poorly written memoir by a former FLDS cult member.

WATCH: The Imagineering Story on Disney+.

Embarrassing fact: Before social media was big, I was a frequent commenter on Walt Disney World forums. I’d log into AOL and surf the web for the latest Disney news, comment on my favorite movies, share reviews for rides. I was probably way too old to be doing that, but then again I was a pre-teen and most of the people on those message boards were grandparents. Disney has such a weird following.

This 6-part series was really interesting and covered a lot of history of the company, but also provided a huge insight into what goes into the rides/parks/etc. Imagineers are amazing. The amount of thought and strategy that goes into every little detail is unreal. It’s super inspiring.

DO: Gratitude journaling.

I’m taking a class at Yale because I am a very smart person… who stumbled upon a free class on Coursera called The Science of Well-Being. If you’re interested in happiness, I suggest you take it! As a lifelong depressed person, I’d give it 5 out of 5 stars!

The assignments each week are called “rewirements”, which are activities to help you rewire your brain. One of them is gratitude journaling. So, for about two months now I have been starting my day by writing three things I’m grateful for. I’ve noticed that I hardly ever write only three, and I think of new things all throughout the day. When I’m having a tough time, I remind myself of the things I wrote down that morning and look around for something to be grateful for in that moment.

So yeah, it’s cheesy. But it has been an incredible tool for me during this insane year.

EAT: My fool-proof recipe for a nutritious, nostalgic snack is one Granny Smith apple, 1 tbsp of peanut butter (bonus points if it’s Teddie) and 1 tbsp of Fluff.

Fluff sends me straight back to elementary school. Also, it’s made locally in Somerville. There is even a virtual Fluff festival this year!

SIGN UP FOR: The Newsette + Girls Night In. The first is a daily newsletter, the former is a weekly one (on Fridays). They’re both joys to read and I learn a lot from them every single day. There is a good mix of reality with doses of fun, which frankly is how I prefer my news.

My mantra: Tell me what I need to know, then show me a puppy doing something cute.

Hey… have a good day. Enjoy your day off.

Things to Love on a Monday: Conan, calluses + zucchini fritters.... ?

I'm not going to lie, friends. This week's offering is all over the place. Last week was a strange week. It feels like the month of August was a real downer for everyone. There are a lot of sad vibes going around, ESPECIALLY in the country. It's a total mess.

Even my pets were feeling weird, which I'm assuming is why they clearly banded together to try and kill me. (See above.)

So... yeah. I have nothing to give you this week, except an extremely random list of things I liked and learned last week.

LISTEN: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend with Michael Che 

Monday is my favorite day because it’s Conan podcast episode day. I generally enjoy every guest, but even if I didn’t I would still listen because the rapport between Conan, Sona, and Matt is such fun. But this was a particularly good episode. 

I really liked Michael Che, but I’m suggesting this for the very end of the episode. 

Conan reads excerpts from Fifty Shades of Grey to prove that his voice is “an immediate boner killer”. I just about died. Listen now!!!

READ: Settle in for this one. It’s a wild ride. 

Did you know inmates are on the frontlines of fighting California’s wildfires? Well, they were! But due to the early release of some criminals due to COVID-19, there is a significant staffing shortage. So the wildfires are harder to put out than ever… which isn’t good. 

BUT ALSO, while I think it’s great that the program was created to help the prisoners learn a new trade and do something good, it’s also terrible that they get paid VERY little and they’re unable to use that trade after their release due to their criminal backgrounds. That whole article had me like WTF???? 

Also, how you can help Jacob Blake and his family. I keep coming back to this Tupac interview, where he explains how it feels to still be asking for equality/equity/justice. “If I know in this hotel room they have food every day... They open the door and let me see the party, but they’re telling me there’s no food here… we asked yeaars ago… those people that were asking are all dead or in jail… so now what do you think we’re gonna do?” And that was over twenty years ago. 

It is beyond the point of peaceful compliance because nothing else has worked for hundreds of years. How dare we deny that systemic injustice exists in this country? Beyond that, how dare we deny how human beings feel just because we have never shared their experience? 

My heart and my stomach are in a constant knot.

EAT: IN OTHER NEWS, I made these zucchini fritters this week, except without bacon because I didn’t have any. They were/are delicious, and easy, and healthy! I also made them in my air fryer because the air fryer is God’s gift to us. I also topped them with chipotle mayo and Everything But The Elote seasoning from Trader Joe’s. All in all, it was the highlight of my week. Which is pretty sad. 

BUY: This callus remover. I’ve given up getting pedicures (because my nails cost $60 now…) and this is a MIRACLE WORKER. It says to wear gloves while putting it on, which scares me a little because IF it shouldn’t touch your skin… then why are we putting it on our skin? But hey, it worked, so I’d rather have good-looking feet than alive ones.

And on that note, I say goodbye. And may the beginning of September bring us good cheer.

Things to Love on a Monday: Jessica Simpson, Hygge and Poopy Bathrobes

Hi! Hello! It's Monday!

This week's post is dedicated to Jessica Vaughan, who always reads my blog posts without me asking her to.

Watch: Real Housewives of New York 

Honestly. I’m not over Bunheads and I’m angry that it only had one season. So, I haven’t watched much television this past week because my heart is still sore. 

Regardless, my year is divided into housewives seasons -- and this year, New York is my FAVORITE. It started out weird with Dorinda fighting with Tinsley for seemingly no reason. But, once Tinsley was out of the picture (and boy, was I ready for that) things really picked up. Sonja is hilarious, LuAnn is having the season of her life, Dorinda is a mess but I can’t help but love her… but LEAH. Leah has come from the heavens to breathe life into this show in a post-Bethanny and Carole world. 

I also love it because it’s such a fun way to stay in touch with two of my friends (Kelly and Scotty). We all live in different states, but every week we blow up our group chat with our thoughts on that week’s episode and a serious concern for Ramona’s poop issues. She POOPED HER BATHROBE! Come on. 

Read: Open Book by Jessica Simpson 

I’m surprised by how much I loved this book. I cried twice before reaching chapter five. There’s a story about a baby that she and her mother had saved, and her cousin dying in a horrific car accident. (She was CRUSHED by a HORSE.) She is really honest and seems totally sweet. Plus, it helps that there is some good gossip in there. But she handles everything really well and doesn’t paint any negative pictures of anyone (except John Mayer, but he did that to himself) and she takes accountability for the roles she played. It’s a super fun, easy read… which I really needed. 

Afterwards, I watched all of her music videos on YouTube and they’re all terrible but it was fun. It took me right back to 2001 when I wore matching sweatsuits from Gap and cried into bags of Doritos, not understanding why I didn’t look like Jessica Simpson. 

Listen: The Officer’s Wife 

Spoiler alert: She lives! But can’t remember anything :( 

Do: Mellow Vinyasa right before bed 

Now that I’m not full of alcohol by the time I go to sleep, I’ve been working on switching up my bed-time routine. Most nights, I take the dog out while listening to a murder podcast. That way, I can really increase my anxiety before bed. Then I do my skincare routine (while still listening to the murder podcast.) I brush my teeth and turn off the podcast only to climb into bed to read a few chapters of a murder-y book.  

Last week, I switched things up by cutting out the murder and doing a virtual mellow vinyasa class right before bed and it put me in the perfect headspace to fall asleep. I put a candle on and did the class almost entirely in the dark and it was so lovely. I had the best night of sleep I’ve had in a long time. 

I take virtual classes at Barre & Soul (my studio is in Melrose, but they also have studios in Harvard Square, Wayland Square, RI and Portsmouth, NH… PLUS VIRTUALLY). I also highly recommend Yoga with Adriene.

Buy: All the cozy things. 

I am also reading a book on hygge, which is the Danish/Scandanavian way of living a happy life. It is an action and a lifestyle. It’s all about creating a cozy and convivial life, which is perfect as we go into fall… even though the New England weather WILL NOT COMPLY. 

I’ve bought this pajama set from Target. I actually have it in two colors because it’s so soft. This fireside candle. 

This Opalhouse throw. 

And these slippers.

YES, I BOUGHT JESSICA SIMPSON SLIPPERS. SHE IS A SMART BUSINESS WOMAN.

I HAVE A PROBLEM.

Things to Love on a Monday: A Reboot

Back in my blogging days, I'd write a post every Monday called, "Things to Love on a Monday" that contained a weekly list of things I found on the internet through other people's more successful blogs and included pictures that were definitely stolen. In fact, I can't even go back and read most of those posts because the links are all broken and the pictures don't show up. Oh, how the internet has changed.

I'd like to reboot the series... for myself because I'm bored. I figure it's a fun, sexy way to keep a pandemic diary of all the things I've loved and watched. I spend 90% of my time at home - because I'm still doing that - and I have lost my usual creative outlet to Covid-19... SO DEAL WITH IT.

Thanks for following along! (This message is to Casey, my only friend who has ever read this blog. Hi Casey. Cool red hair.)

Watch: Bunheads on Hulu

How did I sleep on this show for so long?  I’m a fan of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s work (Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and I also love Younger (which also stars Sutton Foster), so HOW DID I DISREGARD THIS ONE? It’s somehow better than Gilmore Girls (I know, I’m crazy) and less of a commitment than Mrs. Maisel. I wish it had way more than one season. It deserved more than one season. If you’re looking for something to watch when you run out of television like I have, DON’T SKIP THIS ONE. Unless you hate joy!

Read: The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

It’s got all the things one needs in a book: murder, May/December romance, white-collar crime and ghosts. Oh! Also it’s less than 300 pages. That is my favorite trait in a book. That, and pictures.

The plot centers around the aftermath of disturbing graffiti on the window of a Canadian hotel. Spoiler alert: The hotel is made of glass! It follows the people there that night and takes the reader on a journey through personal identity struggles and the fall of a large Ponzi scheme (based on Bernie Madoff.)

Read the New Yorker review here. It is far more eloquent than I am.

Listen: Believed 

This came out in 2018, so I’m late to this. It’s an NPR podcast about the Larry Nassar scandal. I watched two documentaries on it (Athlete A and At The Heart of Gold) and followed it while it was happening, but for some reason - the podcast hit even harder. It was emotional and terrible and FUCK USA Gymnastics. 

Do: Wine Class at Rebel Rebel Wine Bar 

I’m taking a break from drinking for a little while, but I took a couple of virtual wine classes with my sister during the quarantine. They were so much fun! We went to the bar in Somerville to purchase the wines and then learned about them (and drank them) from afar. Yes, it does mean that we split two bottles of wine between the two of us and we sufficiently got way too drunk for a Sunday. But, man, was it an educational drunk! 

If you're not local, you can still take the class! The bar will give you recommendations similar to the wines they're sampling so you can find something closer to you. The class is only $10 (or $15 with a donation) and the sommelier is super passionate and knowledgeable without being pretentious.

Buy: Taper candles and rosehip oil

I got a really bad sunburn while I was vacationing down the Cape, and I immediately started applying rosehip oil when I got home. It still ended up peeling, but I avoided the usual intense scarring that follows my horrible sunburns. (Disclaimer: I haven't got burnt like this in YEARS because I am very serious about SPF! But I somehow missed my chest!!!) I’ve been using it daily as a face oil for years and my skin has never been better. 

Oh, and taper candles. They’re such a mess! I even bought “dripless” candles, but nope - that’s not a thing. However, despite the fact my coffee table is covered in melted wax, it made my living room super cozy during fall-like weather this past weekend and I felt like I was living in the Victorian dramedy THAT I DESERVE TO LIVE IN.

OK. That's it! Have a good life.

Tried and True Tips for Sheltering-in-Place

Since the beginning of this shelter-in-place ordinance, there have been so many people sharing their tips for staying sane during this time of isolation. There are the exercise fiends, the Zoom Happy Hour attendees, the bakers, the makers, the cookers, the cleaners, the hoarders, the conspiracy theorists… and the list goes on. 

Today I’d like to add to this list and hopefully provide you with a fresh point of view on surviving quarantine life… particularly if you live alone, or just want some alone time, because I am both. I can never get enough alone time away from myself. 

I have personally tested each of these activities and strongly recommend them all. Times are tough, so go ahead and turn lemons into lemonade (then add vodka, triple sec and a slice of cucumber for a delicious cocktail called The Dorchester.) 

Bake banana bread. Decide it’s only okay, but still eat the whole thing in two days. 

Clean your pantry. I had two jars of cumin and I use cumin once a year when I make chili. Then I remember after one serving that I don’t really like chili that much and then let it sit in the tupperware in my fridge until mold appears at the top so I just end up throwing out the whole container.

Train your dog. I taught Billie how to give me a paw in just three days! I think I’ll teach her how to give me a pedicure next.

Fitness challenges. For every class you take, you earn one pot roast. 

Wash everything you own, over and over again. The coronavirus aka Voldemort in an Invisibility Cloak means you’re washing everything you touch right after you touch it. Clothes, sheets, towels, throw blankets, the pets… never turn that machine off! 

Reconnect with an old enemy. Do a nice deep Google search to see where they are today! Do they look happily married? Did they ever get arrested? What’s the state of their teeth? 

Test your alcohol tolerance. How many margaritas does it take to black out on a Sunday? (For me, it was seven margaritas consumed between 1pm and 7pm.) 

Go on a movie journey. If there’s a movie series that you’ve never watched but you’ve considered it, now’s the time. It could be Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars, or Back to the Future. It’s none of those for me. But I do recommend the following: 

• Best Movies Ever Made: Now and Then, Sister Act 2, A Very Brady Sequel, The 12 Dates of Christmas, To Wong Foo, Thanks for everything! Julie Newmar, Clue, Clueless and Labyrinth. 

Read books you’ve been putting off. I have been baptized, received communion and been confirmed as a member of the Catholic church, but still haven’t read the Bible. No time like the present! (Just kidding, I'm reading a bunch of YA novels.) But! My church did give me a personal Bible in 2002 that has helpful anecdotes addressing modern life like what to do if your friend is gay, or worse, Episcopalian. 

Choose a topic you feel passionate about. Then find the Reddit subthread discussing it and hate the topic and yourself and the internet and people. (Do NOT research the Food Network show, The Kitchen, if you want Reddit to ruin something you love!!!!!!) 

Conquer the nap. Then take as many as possible to get through this nightmare.