What I’m reading, seeing and going down a rabbit hole with lately.
January is never my favorite month, as much as I like the New Year and idea of new beginnings, it’s cold, it gets dark early, there isn’t a lot to do….add living yet once again in the epicenter of our whatever number wave this is of COVID and the only real bright spot is that you don’t feel like you’re missing out on much by hunkering down at home. Here, some very random things that I’m implementing this month or thinking about.
- I can’t wait to watch Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut with The Lost Daughter now out on Netflix. It looks so good. It’s loosely based on the Elena Ferrante novel of the same name, which seems like something I ought to read post watching.
- I am in the first week of trying a Dry(ish) January, which means no drinking, though I’m giving in to one drink each Saturday. I may even cut that one out. I just ordered a bottle of Ghia, which is a non-alcholic aperitif you mix with various things for what I am hoping will be some sophisticated mocktails. The site has lots of recipes which I’m going to test.
- Speaking of watching….I am finally getting through the French series Call My Agent which so many of you praised when I posted a bit on the actress Camille Cottin. I am thoroughly enjoying it. Plus, being me, I’m somewhat obsessed with just how chic and sexy the actresses are. Such good skin, such simple clothes–jeans, blazers, button-downs and heels….but even women who I believe to be close to my age in the show are just as sexy as their younger counterparts. The tousled hair, the barely-there makeup. I do not adhere to the idea that French women are more chic than their American counterparts, but this show makes me think sometimes we are a bit too glossy and polished. All of this led me to revisit the funny book How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are by Caroline de Maigret, Anne Berest and Audrey Diwan. If you haven’t read it, it’s very tongue-in-cheek and thoroughly entertaining (top right image is from the book).
- Next up on my reading list is Open Water a first novel by Caleb Azumah Nelson about two young artists living in London. I still have to finish Jonathan Franzen’s Crossroads, but my pace is finally picking up because frankly the story is getting better. It is my second 600+ page book in a row, I need more cadence to my reading.
- If you have a lot of time on your hands, you know, sitting around waiting for this wave to be over, I highly recommend watching The Beatles documentary, Get Back on Disney Plus. My daughter and I watched it over a week–it’s epically long, eight hours, but we both found it pretty engrossing. And the clothes–so, so, so good. And no Yoko didn’t break up them up. In fact, they all look like they were having a pretty great time (not at the beginning but once they got in their groove). Their songs will get stuck in your head.
- Cold weather means a switch up in my beauty routine and adding Vintner’s Daughter Botanical Serum and Active Treatment Essence back in. I swear by Vintner’s products, but since my skin is somewhat oily, I don’t find I need them as much in the summer. In the winter and spring I use them daily. If you haven’t read my interviews with the founder April Gargiulo, you can here and here (plus a podcast). The other addition I promise to try to incorporate is some post-workout pre-shower dry brushing followed by some serious moisturizing. Cayli Cavaco Reck of Knockout Beauty has an easy-to-follow How To I posted before. I need to reread it, get a new brush like this Dr. Babara Sturm one and start brushing!
These are all so good! As you know, Iโve been taking a social media break, and perhaps will now use the extra time to finish Crossroads. Happy to see you are finding that the story is getting better! Another one on my list, that Iโm about to start and have heard is amazing, is The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Will watch The Lost Daughter tonight. Thank you for the reminder! Stay warm! xoxo
Thanks for the book rec. I do think staying with Crossroads is worth it. It gets crazy!
Since the pandemic, Iโve given myself permission to not finish books – and Crossroads was one of those. Loved Intimacies by Katie Kitamura. Itโs a gem. I think Iโll watch The Lost Daughter todayโฆwhile organizing my Bindle bag to go nowhere. And Heidi, The Plot is on deck.
Thanks for the book rec! I would pick up Crossroads again when you’re up for it….gets much better.
Just finished Season 2 of Love Life on HBOMax with William Jackson Harper in the lead — it’s better than the decent, but inconsistent Season 1 with Anna Kendrick in the lead. Highly recommend it — both Harper and Jessica Williams have terrific chemistry. It’s a great portrait of 30-something black love in New York City.
I’m slowly watching Get Back as well. I’m really loving this insight into Paul McCartney and frankly his facilitation of the creative process with the team. You might like this article on the creativity and productivity captured in the documentary: https://medium.com/fluxx-studio-notes/10-lessons-in-productivity-and-brainstorming-from-the-beatles-ea14385e27a4
Thanks for the show rec! Will be next on my list. Also it is fascinating to watch Paul’s creativity, how he is melody first and words later and John seems the opposite….it’s kind of mind-blowing…and how they all come in with songs they’ve written the night before–most of them now classics.
Thanks also for the article….need creative stimulus for another project launching this Spring!
Coming back to this post, because I am, also finally now, watching Call My Agent after friends and bloggers recommended it. Not sure, why it took me so long (my partner in crime doesn’t like to read subtitles because of vision issues, not because he doesn’t like to read, haha), as I love many French movies and actors (esp the women). The love of Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu’s Sylvie in the super fluffy Emily in Paris finally got me to watch CMA and now loving it. I love Leroy-Beaulieu’s confident style so much — thinks she fits into The Flair Index aesthetic really well too. Love her quote here too:
http://www.gladstonedispatch.com/entertainment/philippine-wont-dress-like-a-christmas-tree/article_0e80e51a-a974-535f-8405-a138b12707b7.html
Thanks for sharing that. I am finishing up season two of Call My Agent and thoroughly enjoy it. I might have to watch Emily in Paris just for Philippine….her quote is great. I see a post here….