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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Uh, yes please! (image via designlovefest)

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

Monday Memos // 25

Listening:

"Bastards of Young" by The Replacements. 

Last night I saw the 1992 movie "Singles." A perfect 90s/Seattle grunge/rom com trifecta. The music made me want to jam on The Replacements and REM. 

Reading:

After reading this article and about Cat Marnell and this excerpt from her new book, I want to read "How To Murder Your Life." It will probably be incredibly bleak, but I always like to add a memoir to my reading rotation. 

This image says a lot. (image via nymag)

Craving:

Momofuku Milk Bar treats. 

As mentioned below, I won a big box of fun stuff. Included: 24 milk bar cookies (flavors: corn, cornflake chocolate chip marshmallow, compost, blueberry and cream, and chocolate chocolate). The thing is, I am avoiding sugar and dairy and gluten for a little bit, so these are all just for looking. Aka cruel and unusual punishment. 

I gifted 19 of the cookies to friends and family and put one of each in the freezer for a later date. I am salivating just thinking about them and cannot wait to eventually get to my buttery, sugary, beautiful stash. 

I went to the physical store years ago and it has never left my mind. (image via milkbarstore)

Look at all those cookies! (image via zoesessums)

Wearing:

Pretty much always on a black kick. 

Favorites: 

My Creepoid band tee, a black Old Navy dress and black Old Navy loafers. 

Watching:

"Big Little Lies" on HBO. 

I've been counting down the months, weeks and days until this show's premiere. I loved the trailer and cast, plus, I entered a giveaway on Instagram and won a big "girls night in" box of supplies to accompany my viewing experience. 

It was everything I hoped for. Reese Witherspoon is so good (really scratching my Elle Woods itch). The music is A+. The scenery is jealousy inducing. 

The show, premiering Sunday night, follows the stories of a group of mothers raising first-graders in Monterey, California, who confront all manner of domestic difficulties — including murder — in their community. (via the vulture)

Makes me want to read the book, too. (The book versions are almost always better.)

Shailene Woodley, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman (image via HBO)

My winning box of swag. (via zoesessums)

Wanting:

Nice and refined personal care products. 

I've been actively attempting to have more "clean" products in my life--both through nutrition, skincare and grooming. I recently bought some toothpaste with minimal ingredients, I've been taking a green powder with my breakfast and I could always use more friendly personal care products. 

Here are some beautiful ones to lust after (all culled from Of A Kind).

Daughter of the Land Sage And Grass Moisturizing Oil (via ofakind)

Golda Hiba Wood Atmosphere Mist (via ofakind)

TenOverTen polish in Carmine (via ofakind)