New year, same us
Your Weekly Breakdown
📺 Watch
Role Play is fun movie. I am loving Kaley Cuoco’s continued work after her rise to fame on Big Bang Theory. She was adorable in the TV show Flight Attendant, and quirky and psychotic in the movie Meet Cute (with Pete Davidson). Based on a True Story was also great TV, IMO!
Everyone is hyping The Brothers Sun as the latest and greatest TV, and they aren’t wrong. Funny, fast, a total thrill, and obviously next level because Michelle Yeoh is a boss.
For those looking for a big more cinematic drama, enjoy Maestro, now on Netflix. It hasn’t been winning a ton of the awards so far this season, but who cares? I mean, Bradley Cooper cares but he’ll get over it. It’s a gorgeous film.
Honourable mention for my Jon Batiste fans out there: American Symphony is a great documentary.
Also, I have no idea if it will be good but for you crime lovers, True Detective S4 kicks off on HBO this Sunday!! In this house, we bow down to Jodi Foster.
🎧 Listen
Spent a lot of time on the novel this week, which mean the music vibe was very *instrumental or very chill with minimal lyrics*, all in a laidback folk and country genre.
Dorothy Carter, Waillee Waillee: a country, folk-leaning album that the now deceased artist self-released in 1978, now re-released for us to enjoy. In listening to it, you’ll be transported to a comforting trance-like state. Absolutely meant to be enjoyed in one sitting, preferably in the background to whatever creative pursuits you might dabble in today.
After collaborating with some of rock’s greatest, James Elkington has dabbled in his own solo work. Guitars of all kinds will flood your ears with true musical talent in his album Me Neither.
South Korean artist Minwhi Lee’s album Hometown to Come is, to use a term appreciatively used by an ex, “musical music”. Her compositions are masterful and the arrangements complex, resulting in a quietly impressionistic album we can all enjoy.
📚 Read
Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah: exciting, dark, great twists, shocking. Had to pace myself.
Opinions by Roxane Gay: a collection of the famed writer and professor’s greatest non-fiction pieces. Great for those of us that may not have large blocks of time to sit and read, but crave beautiful, deep, culturally meaningful writing.
The Whispers by Ashely Audain: the Canadian author’s second novel, a neighbourhood tragedy makes way for a biting portrayal of the realities of friendship and motherhood. Couldn’t put it down.
✨ Indulge
I haven’t purchased a new piece in quite some time, but I found this Malene Birger oversized cardigan dress thingy on sale at SSENSE. It’s sold out there but is on sale directly on her website. I like how they’ve styled it on the model and this will look absolutely fresh with my old pair of Birkenstocks clogs.
Okay I know I said leggings were out for 2024 but a) that is *aspirational and b) personal! I still wear leggings for working out. Anyway, I miss the thicker fabric of the old school Lululemon leggings and the Align pant is the closest thing to the 2012 era Lulu. Got 2 pairs in different inseams. Love love love.
J.Crew keeps serving up the hits with their new denim. I have *a lot* of denim and it’s part of my daily uniform, and I’m sorry to all the fancy denim brands out there, but J.Crew is my fav. I have a big ass, thick thighs, and long legs, and that’s just what works for me especially because they have a tall fit option. I see they have a more curvy offering but I haven’t dabbled in that. If you have, let me know how it’s gone for you! PS: for denim, get a less stretchy fabric and just go up a size! It looks so much better, I promise.
It’s cold af in a lot of place right now, so just a reminder that if you get a high quality face oil like Venn (my fav) or even something hearty like Burt’s Bees, add 2-3 drops to your moisturizer and lock in hydration for the day.
Finally, have had many messages and DMs about organization and goal setting and planning, so here’s the link again for the Hobonichi day planner. I’m thinking the next newsletter will be around how I organize my day / life and the tools I use…hoping that will be helpful.