happy valentine’s day! here’s your whitman’s sampler — no chocolate-covered cherries. 😘
books:
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I am not a person who likes to play the “what-if” game. What if I had attended a different university? What if I had majored in biology? What if what if what if? They’re all questions you can never truly get an answer to (and you sure as hell can’t do anything about them now) so initially the premise of this book gave me pause. It ended up giving me a deep appreciation for life and the intricate ways that our lives impact others’. I INHALED it over the course of a weekend and by the time I turned the last page, I was already making plans to re-read it. 10/10 recommend.
The Husbands by Chandler Baker
This book will be going in the Little Free Library down the street next time I go for a walk. The thriller/mystery component of this reverse-Stepford universe kept me enraptured till the end, but boy was the beginning a slog. (This is more an issue of me not being the correct audience for this book.) It hinges on the premise that labor is often divided unequally between men and women, with women thanklessly bearing the brunt of the load. Baker communicates this unfortunate truth well, leaving even me (childfree, in an equitable marriage) hot-faced at the notion of Nora’s husband not knowing how to do…anything, apparently. It’s a strong indictment of the state of parenthood, and the lengths people will go to in pursuit of an idyllic life. 6/10 because the end is truly a wild ride…
fashion:
Sigh. This winter wasn’t devoid of fashion as much as it was devoid of opportunities for fashion. It’s mid-February and I’ve only needed like…three good outfits since December? This winter has become a bit of a “building season” as I continue to pursue the ever-elusive concept of ✨personal style✨. Stay tuned for more.
music:
Waxahatchee w/ Madi Diaz in concert
Women singer-songwriters are my favorite genre of music. I hadn’t heard any of Madi Diaz’s work prior to the show, and throughout the course of her set I fell in love. Her songs are emotions laid bare in the most beautiful way. The Man In Me had me blinking back tears, Crying In Public was all too real, and when the chorus of Think of Me hit, I hollered. By the time Waxahatchee hit the stage, I was primed. The way Katie writes and sings about the South cuts straight to the soul, not to mention her clear-as-a-bell voice. Channeling sixties country & folk music, she effortlessly tossed around both her hair and a ribbon-strapped guitar. My favorites include Can’t Do Much, The Eye, and Witches, but you really should just go listen to the whole album.
beauty:
Vaseline. Again.
Last winter we talked about slugging. Well, I’m back to extoll the virtues of yet another Vaseline product. I have been a faithful purchaser of Laneige Lip Mask for years now, even arguing with a friend that her claim, “it’s basically just vaseline,” was categorically untrue. Well Morgan, I’m here to eat my words because Vaseline Lip Therapy blew Laneige out of the water when it came to saving my (unexplainably, horrifically) chapped lips this winter. The rosy version has officially kicked Laneige off my roster. Can’t wait to spend that money on something else, like…
The Cream by Augustinus Bader
Before you think it - I am not that rich. I hadn’t even given a second thought to the hype around The Cream, but I was placing a restock order @ Sephora and spent some of my silly little points on a sample size…Y’ALL. In my opinion, this is way more “worth it” than La Mer. (La Mer smells like a grandma and is indistinguishable from my daily moisturizer. I said what I said.) The texture is beautiful, a little goes a long way, and the finish is dewy perfection. Duly noted for someday in the future when I’m rich.
entertainment:
jackass forever
I spent the whole 96 minutes belly laughing. Johnny Knoxville is zaddy. I didn’t miss Bam. The new girl has no energy. I think I need some high-top chucks.
What We Do In the Shadows
This is by far one of the funniest shows I have ever watched. Written by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi and based on a movie of the same name, WWDITS follows 4 vampires who live together on Staten Island in present-day. It is filmed in mockumentary style like the Office, and is a non-stop ride of hilarious absurdity. Just trust me - 3 episodes in and you’ll be hooked.
🧡
jess