Monday Memos // 77

Listening:

"Burnin' Up" by Sonny Smith featuring Angel Olsen.

"L.A." by Amen Dunes.

Reading:

How Mathilde Freund, Vintage Dealer, Spends Her Sundays — "I use a cane now when I go outside. Five years ago I slipped in the apartment and broke my femur. It was on my birthday. I call him my boyfriend. I put him in the corner and he never answers me."

Ideal Travel Tricks — Our Highly Subjective But Very Smart Guide to Traveling

Watching ‘Wild, Wild Country’? Then You Need to See The Rajneesh Cookbook — it's called Zorba the Buddha, my friend's grandpa used to all me Zorba the Greek.

The Grub Street Diet — Author Jonathan Ames Adds Chocolate to His Vitamins When He’s Feeling Decadent — My favorite part: I should shop more frequently, but my problem is that I put it off, even if I’m starving. I once had a character in one of my TV shows say something like: “I don’t procrastinate! I just like to do things later.”

“As for what I eat, I would describe it as a ‘carb-free, somewhat tormented Paleo, bourgeois bachelor, Grey Gardens’ diet.” (photo by Yuri Hasegawa via nymag)

“As for what I eat, I would describe it as a ‘carb-free, somewhat tormented Paleo, bourgeois bachelor, Grey Gardens’ diet.” (photo by Yuri Hasegawa via nymag)

Craving:

In the name of health, I've been craving and consuming a number of smoothies and juices. I'm also newly enamored with Tangerine La Croix and cashew butter. Dates, rice cakes, spirulina powder, sweet potato hummus... my inner bohemian is showing.

I refrained from too much work grazing this week, but there also weren't many feasts up for grabs. I am jealous I didn't get to try this carrot cake that was raved about. I'll have to make it soon.

It's beautiful! (PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS MOROCCO, PROP STYLING BY EMILY EISEN

It's beautiful! (PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS MOROCCO, PROP STYLING BY EMILY EISEN

Wearing:

Weekend with my parents means a "shopping trip" to my storage unit. I've almost acquired all of my clothes and about two-thirds of my shoes. Exciting! Inspired by the few days in the 90s, I gathered a watermelon jumpsuit, various summery sundresses, sandals, trusty Keds, linen shirts, and eyelet-covered tops. I'm not really ready for the full-on heat wave, but I my wardrobe is. 

Wearing these loafers a lot.

Wearing these loafers a lot.

Watching:

I watched the entirety of the comedy tv series Alone Together. I wouldn't say it's brilliant, but it's an easy viewing experience with lots of actors and comedians I enjoy (Kate Berlant, Amy Landecker, Nikki Glaser, Chelsea Peretti) and subjects I relate to. Two millennials from differing backgrounds strike up a platonic male-female friendship as they seek to navigate the streets of L.A. These two best friends, Esther and Benji, try to navigate the vanity of the city while watching each other's backs but also calling each other out for nonsense. I like Ester's podcast too.

Want to see: Duck Butter (Alia Shawkat, Laia Costa, Mae Whitman. "Two women, who are dissatisfied with the dishonesty they see in dating and relationships, decide to make a pact to spend 24 hours together hoping to find a new way to create intimacy.") Madeline's Madeline (Helena Howard, Molly Parker, Miranda July. "A theater director's latest project takes on a life of its own when her young star takes her performance too seriously.")

"a low-budget improv vérité psychodrama" (PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL)

"a low-budget improv vérité psychodrama" (PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL)

Treasuring:

Snuggles: Weekend visits to my parents also mean squeezing in the most snuggles with my cat. As much as possible, I'd wedge my body up against his and rub his velvety little snout. 

Stranger conversations: I chatted up a friendly older woman in line for the bus. I told her my seating strategy (bottom level, aisle seat, left side). She appreciated my tips so we sat together. She told me a place to eat the best dumplings in Flushing, Queens and about her father's time at war. My favorite moment was when she was on the phone with her brother, who was picking her up in D.C. "I see a sign. I see a car. I see trees. Mile marker 92. Does any of this mean anything to you? I don't know where I am? Do you?"

BFF

BFF

Monday Memos // 36

Listening:

"The Socialites" by Dirty Projectors. 

For some reason, I feel like I never heard this song until now—even though it came out five years ago. I'm in my Coffman phase, so maybe that's why I happened upon it. The whole album, Swing Lo Magellan, is lovely.

"Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick. 

I heard this during the closing credits of an episode of "I'm Dying Up Here" (see below) and I can't stop listening. I wouldn't be surprised if next week I'm on a Burt Bacharach

Reading:

"Swing Time" by Zadie Smith. 

I'm only a couple dozen pages in, but I think this is going to make me feel some major feelings.

This opening paragraph from a NY Times book review should draw you in: "There’s something beautiful about the way young girls choose their best friends. A swooning, love-at-first-sight experience, it rarely takes into account social hierarchies, societal expectations or even basic commonalities. And it can be surprisingly decisive, cementing a relationship that persists for decades without any logical basis. It is in this way that the unnamed narrator of Zadie Smith’s latest novel, “Swing Time,” meets her best friend, Tracey."

Dance, fame and friendship. (image via Amazon)

Dance, fame and friendship. (image via Amazon)

Craving:

Delicious routine meals.

I've been eating a lot of the same things each day: quinoa pilaf with a fried egg and greens; bananas or blueberries; oatmeal cookies; chicken sausages. Health, convenience and tastiness is a food rut I'm happy to be in. 

I still dream of one day trying this Sorrel Rice Bowl with Poached Eggs from Sqirl. It's like a better version of my everyday eats. (image via bonappetit)

I still dream of one day trying this Sorrel Rice Bowl with Poached Eggs from Sqirl. It's like a better version of my everyday eats. (image via bonappetit)

Wearing:

Sunscreen, sleeveless dresses and shirts, shorts, sweat.

Jordan Sondler is so great and so are her illustrations. She drew a slice of pizza with flower toppings for me at Create & Cultivate as we talked fondly of Baltimore. (via jordansondler.com)

Jordan Sondler is so great and so are her illustrations. She drew a slice of pizza with flower toppings for me at Create & Cultivate as we talked fondly of Baltimore. (via jordansondler.com)

Watching:

"I'm Dying Up Here."

An American comedy-drama television series created by David Flebotte, the series is set in Los Angeles in 1973, where it follows the up and coming stand up comics performing at goldie's, a comedy club on the Sunset Strip.

A lot of interesting people are in it, writing episodes and producing—plus, I really like the bellbottoms, music and interior design. 

RJ Cyler as Adam, Michael Angarano as Eddie, and Clark Duke as Ron (photo by Lacey Terrell via Showtime)

RJ Cyler as Adam, Michael Angarano as Eddie, and Clark Duke as Ron (photo by Lacey Terrell via Showtime)

Wanting:

To go to a disco. 

All these visual reminders of the 70s and all these sequins and platform shoes in my closet need to get out and boogie.

Donna Summer in 1978, yes. (image via thebostonglobe)

Donna Summer in 1978, yes. (image via thebostonglobe)

Monday Memos // 26

Listening:

"Atomic Bomb" by William Onyeabor. 

I heard this music blasting from the kitchen at my work last week and I needed to know all about it. William Onyeabor. A perfect combination of funk and Africa and fun. I cannot stop listening.

Onyeabor was something like Nigeria’s answer to Parliament-Funkadelic, churning out space-age disco-funk in the 1970s and ‘80s with synths and drum machines. But nobody knew who William Onyeabor was, or at least nobody knew his real story. After a conversion to Christianity in the mid-1980s, he turned his back on music and then history gets murky — some say he went to film school in Soviet Russia, others say he studied law in London.
— Lars Gotrich (NPR)

Reading:

 Bon Appétit's Healthyish

I saw this pink cover and was instantly amused. So I got a subscription (6 issues and an apron for $6 seemed quite reasonably). The food, images and stories are perfect. I love the companion site and Instagram scroll. 

I want to eat all the things. 

Mmmmm poke. (image via amazon)

Mmmmm poke. (image via amazon)

Craving:

Kombucha. 

This craving comes in waves. I remember getting hooked on kombucha years ago (6? 7?) when I first tried some GT's in Baltimore. It was an expensive, often explosively messy habit.

The past few weeks I have been craving the stuff again. GT's is always the most satisfying (Trilogy, Third-Eye Chai, Gingerberry) and perfectly effervescent. 

Maybe one day I'll make my own? (image via synergydrinks.com)

Maybe one day I'll make my own? (image via synergydrinks.com)

Wearing:

Pink Birkenstocks.

I got these today and I can already tell I will wear them all the time. I can always get down with an orthopedic shoe, no shame. Plus, it already feels like summer in Florida so it is not inappropriate to wear/buy sandals right now. 

Style: Madrid EVA. (image via Nordstrom)

Style: Madrid EVA. (image via Nordstrom)

I could go for the navy, white, red and black pairs, too. (image via zoesessums)

I could go for the navy, white, red and black pairs, too. (image via zoesessums)

Watching:

"Felicity."

I might be nearly 20 years late, but I don't think I would have fully appreciated this show as an 8- to 12-year-old. I would have really related when I first went to college and lived in student housing and was confused about many things, but nonetheless, I am fully hooked and enthralled with "Felicity" now. 

It's funny to watch a show far beyond the time it aired. I find myself looking up actor facts and hoping to avoid spoilers. I feel like I am in my own little time-warped world when I am watching. I am constantly cracking up and cringing. The 90s are really speaking to me right now, I suppose. 

Scott and Scott are dreamy. (image via pinterest)

Scott and Scott are dreamy. (image via pinterest)

Wanting:

Humongous things. Dream things. Life-changing things. 

Can this space be like "The Secret" or a mood board wherein I tell you what I want and then I get it? Positive thoughts attracting positive changes? I really want to get a job in the editorial field. I want to win the HGTV dream house. I want to move to a new city and state. I want to have so much fun. 

I think I can do all of these things. I can! I will! Let's send out good vibes, thank you!

This is how I would feel if I could work for Ban.do! That office! (image via stylebyemilyhenderson)

This is how I would feel if I could work for Ban.do! That office! (image via stylebyemilyhenderson)

Uh, yes please! (image via designlovefest)

Uh, yes please! (image via designlovefest)

I could live somewhere like this again. (image via sfgirlbybay)

I could live somewhere like this again. (image via sfgirlbybay)