Monday Memos // 31

Listening:

"Glassworks" by Philip Glass.

I could make a giant web connecting things I love with Philip Glass. Baltimore (his hometown and one of my favorite places), Chuck Close (I went through an obsessive Close phase in high school and have stared as his portrait of Glass a thousand times), Ira Glass (second cousins and I love public radio)... 

"Glassworks" is magical and soothing and invigorating. 

Reading:

"The Absolute Best ______ in New York" articles. 

As my May in New York is fast approaching, I am getting into some consumable research. Since I adore and trust all facets of New York Magazine, here are my favorite pieces of research for bookmarking:

"The Absolute Best Cake in New York" - duh. 

Vanilla salted-caramel cake at Ovenly. Photo: Liz Clayman (via nymag)

"The Absolute Best Salad Spot in New York" - because balance and I actually really love vegetables, too. 

Sweetgreen’s Harvest Bowl. Photo: Liz Clayman. (via nymag)

"The Absolute Best Lattes in New York" - water and coffee are my top beverage choices in life. 

Latte at Everyman Espresso. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz. (via nymag)

Craving:

Gorp (aka "good old raisins and peanuts" aka trail mix). 

I particularly enjoy Trader Joe's "Legendary Nut & Berry Mix" (almonds, cranberries, raisins, cashews, blueberries, walnuts, and raspberries) and I won a box of 88 Acres seed bars that are essentially trail mix in bar form (lots of seeds and dried fruits). 

Sometimes work feels like a hike and this sustenance helps. 

88 Acres sells three snack bars: Apple & Ginger, Chocolate & Sea Salt, and Triple Berry. (via 88acres)

Wearing:

This is an anticipated wear, but I just got (won, actually) this iron-on patch and cannot wait to adorn something with it. 

Very much my inner mantra. (image and patch via studiodiy)

Watching:

I haven't been binging any television lately, but in the past week I have enjoyed: the new Louis C.K. special, the latest Almodovar movie "Julieta," and the series finale of "Girls."

I am looking forward to "Fargo" season 3 (which starts this week) and includes Ewan McGregor and Jim Gaffigan!

Ewan is looking rough! (image via YouTube)

Wanting:

(This is always the hardest category to fill in, which actually makes me feel better about life fulfillment/satisfaction.)

Let's go fantasy-indulgence with this one:

A packing and organizing machine. (Currently trying to pare down all my belongings and it usually ends in semi-organized, barely rearranged piles. 

A personal masseuse. (My legs have been aching. I know my anxiety is buried deep in my shoulders. It would be nice to have a massage at any instant.)

My own beautiful apartment in New York. (My arrangements for travel are getting expensive and complex. Wouldn't it be sweet if I just had some magical place of my own?)

This is the first fantasy that came to mind---more so the chocolate factory than the Oompa Loompas. (image via alamay)

Monday Memos // 30

Listening:

"Work This Time" by King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard.

Australian psychedelic rock I cannot stop listening to. It reminds me of a more upbeat Sparklehorse. Plus, the name is superb!

Reading:

"Bark: Stories" by Lorrie Moore. 

This is the latest set of stories by Moore since "Birds of America" (which came out in 1998! I didn't realize it has been so long.). I think I've read 90 percent of her work, so I was thrilled to spot this on the shelf at the library last week.

This description is so great: "Gimlet-eyed social observation, the public and private absurdities of American life, dramatic irony, and enduring half-cracked love wend their way through each of these narratives in a heartrending mash-up of the tragic and the laugh-out-loud—the hallmark of life in Lorrie-Moore-land."

Makes me want to reread "Who Will Run the Frog Hospital." (image by Giselle Potter via NYTimes)

Craving:

Crunch.

I made a trip to Trader Joe's recently, which does not happen frequently, and filled my pantry with a variety of sweet, salty and sweet-salty snacks. Plantain chips (duh), brownie crisps (sweet tooth) and "Kettle Popped Sweet & Salty Popcorn Chips" (quite nice). Crunch on a delicious spectrum.  

I also enjoy a basic crunch and yesterday I saw someone reading a book called "The Pun Also Rises." (image via fuelforwellness)

Wearing:

Smiles.

Result: lots of laughing and heart-pumping songs and beautiful breezes and sitting outside. 

This is a chunky baby version of myself smiling. 

Watching:

"Chewing Gum" season 2. 

So happy to be reunited with this show, though I will probably watch all of it within a two day span, thus missing it instantly again. Michaela Coel (real name: Michaela-Moses Ewuraba O Boakye-Collinson! Whoa!) is a star and makes me cry with laughter. 

Plus, I saw Issa Rae--from HBO's "Insecure"--post a video on Instagram about her costar's love of Coel and I loved everything about all of these thing even more. 

In a pinch? Apply makeup with markers. (image via channel 4)

Wanting:

To go swimming. 

Disturbingly, I think the last time I went swimming was in July (and in the Northeast of all places!). I live in a climate with primarily summer weather, so I need to remedy this as soon as possible. Plus, I own enough swimwear for each day of the week. 

(image via covet.me)

(image via addictedtoconsumerism.tumblr)

(image via theglitterguide)

Monday Memos // 28

Listening:

"Slumber Party With Alie and Georgia" a podcast. 

I discovered this podcast a few weeks ago when I went through the six degrees of separation game with another favorite podcast, My Favorite Murder. (Georgia is the cohost of both; there is an episode where Alie and Georgia interview the other MFM cohost Karen. Have you lost me?)

Ghost stories, rants, tales of embarrassing midnight snack obsessions... I love it all! Though there haven't been any new episodes this year, I'm combing through the backlog with great enthusiasm. 

I want to be friends with Alie Ward and Georgia Hardstark. (image via alieandgeorgia)

Reading:

“Everything I Want to Eat: Sqirl and the New California Cooking" by Jessica Koslow (the chef of Sqirl in Los Angeles) and Maria Zizka.

Sorrel Pesto Rice Bowl: The definitive grain bowl at Sqirl. (via luckypeach)

This place is at the top of my list for when I visit LA. I've never seen such beautiful images of toast. For real, the Sqirl toast is so thick and in that perfectly iconic bread shape, I just drool thinking about it. 

That Burnt brioche toast...(via civilianglobal)

I've had the cookbook on my Amazon wishlist since it came out last year, but I went for an evening stroll at my library tonight and there it was, waiting for me. I love that the first page I opened to had a stunning photo of Busy Phillips looking back at me (I love her!). I cannot wait to dive in. I'm drooling again. 

The design and images are perfection. (image via amazon)

Craving:

Honey sunflower butter.

I bought this jar of Wild Friends nut butter months ago from a discount shelf at a local grocery store. One day recently I finally broke the seal and have had it every single day since. On rice cakes, on banana millet bread, on sweet potatoes, licked off a spoon or fork or knife. It is great. 

Other interesting sounding Wild Friends flavors I'd like to try: 

• VANILLA ESPRESSO ALMOND BUTTER
• HONEY PEANUT BUTTER WITH CRUNCHY PRETZEL BITS
• SESAME CRANBERRY PEANUT BUTTER
• ORGANIC MAPLE SUNFLOWER BUTTER

I want to try the chocolate sunflower seed almond butter, too. (via wildfriends)

Wearing:

All I can say is: same as it ever was. 

Watching:

"Wild Tales," a 2014 Argentine black comedy anthology film composed of six standalone shorts, all written and directed by Damián Szifron, united by a common theme of violence and vengeance.

“As high-spirited as its title suggests, “Wild Tales” opens on a savage note and ends, well, that’s for you to find out. In between its shocker start and equally startling windup, this Argentine anthology offers up a scabrous, often unsettlingly funny look at human behavior in extremis. ”

— Manohla Dargis (via NYTimes)

Some great waitress revenge. (image via nerdist)

Wanting:

This is outlandish and aspirational, but I have been lusting after some Rosie Assoulin pieces. Friend of Leandra Medine, she makes the most delightful, breathtaking and fun wearables. 

Wrap Ruffle Bra Top. (via modaoperandi)

Thank You, Have A Nice Day Cotton Tee & Artichoke Hearts High Waisted Pants. (via modaoperandi)

Cork Screw Top. (via modaoperandi)

Monday Memos // 27

Listening:

"Cold Little Heart" by Michael Kiwanuka. 

I love all the music in the show "Big Little Lies." This one, from the intro, is really great. 

“It’s really influenced by classic ’60s and ’70s British guitar bands like The Who and Pink Floyd, as well as by a lot of soul music, particularly songs like ‘Walk On By’ by Isaac Hayes.”

— Kiwanuka, via NME

Reading:

On my to-read list: "Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders.

I don't remember if it was a McSweeney's anthology or an art school humanities class, but the first time I read a Saunders short story I thought it was one of the best things I had ever experienced. His writing is incredible. His story ideas blow me away. And now he has his first full-length novel! 

“The long-awaited first novel from the author of Tenth of December: a moving and original father-son story featuring none other than Abraham Lincoln, as well as an unforgettable cast of supporting characters, living and dead, historical and invented”

Let's read this one and reread all the rest. (image via MPR news)

Craving:

Healthy snacks. 

That sounds really boring, but I like finding all sorts of delicious, nutritious things to munch on at work or during those in-between times. 

I got a package of goods from Samantha Attard, aka Happy Healthy Human, last week and have nearly eaten them all. She makes these snack packs with roasted chickpeas and nuts and delicious spices. The "Calm" pack, for example, has roasted chickpeas, dried coconut flakes, dried blueberries, coconut oil, fennel seed, and salt. The "Relief" pack has brazil nuts, almonds, banana chips, sesame oil, maca, salt, and cinnamon. They are all so good and make me feel good, too!

You can get them in the DC/Virginia area or online. (image via behappyhealthyhuman)

Wearing:

Jeans or Girlfriend Collective leggings. My new Birkenstocks or Danskos. Fun tops or lots of black. 

Watching:

"Love" season 2 on Netflix. 

"'Love' is an American romantic comedy web television series created by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, and Paul Rust, and starring Gillian Jacobs, Rust, and Claudia O'Doherty."

I appreciate the simplicity, the humor, the complications and again, the music. Netflix is really killing it with the original content these days. Often the characters are so obnoxious, but isn't that like real life?

Jacobs and Rust are spot on. (image via netflix)

Wanting:

Away luggage. 

“We don’t make “smart” luggage, we make thoughtful luggage—featuring unbreakable shells, interior compartments, and built-in USB chargers—using the best materials in the world. The result is luggage that is beautifully, functionally minimal. It’s luggage that helps you find your way by staying out of it.”

So sleek. (via awaytravel)

I'll take the Pop & Suki Pink please. (via awaytravel)