Monday Memos // 70

Listening:

"Haunt You" by Bad Magic.

Perhaps hit by a pang of nostalgia and homesickness, this song by a Florida-made friend, Julie Karr, came to mind on Saturday night. I've listened to it repeatedly since. This video cracks me up, I love it. I'd recommend spending a few dollars for the album here, the sound from the album recording is a bit bigger than the video version. 

"Buddy Holly" by Weezer.

I went out dancing and between the Drake and Rihanna, for some reason this song was mixed in a set and finally something I know all the words too! It took me back. Myself and the other late-twenty/early-thirty-year-olds were feeling it. This video is just fun.

Reading:

All the remedies: The Healthyish Guide to Feeling Better Already

New York Magazine's How To Raise A Boy series has some touching, informative, interesting reads.

I learned a lot from The Epicurious Knife Guide. Most of these knives have been sitting around my desk for weeks, so I feel close to this. Plus, the photos are superb.

Mesmerized. (photo by Chelsea Kyle, prop styling by Beatrice Chastka, food styling by Anna Stockwell)

Craving:

I snack on thousands of new things lately, the wild, pant-tightening world of food publications. Dates dipped in sunflower butter. Rocky road cookies. French onion chicken. Partially popped and "probiotic activated" popcorn. Cookie crisps. BBQ sweet potato chips. Dark chocolate with coconut milk, vanilla sea salt, and nibs called "Kissed Mermaids." Maybe I should start turning down samples, but it really is deliciously exciting. 

If you come across this brand of chocolate (Xocolatl) buy it! (image via metaleap creative)

Wearing:

I brought out the beloved pink faux fur jacket this weekend. I also wore one of my prized possessions: a sweatshirt I embroidered for a project in art school — my modern interpretation of a Mexican huipil. 

I went to an awesome girlgaze event in my sweatshirt. This picture cracks me up. 

Watching:

I want to see: Flower (so many great actors) and Thoroughbreds (looks kind of creepy and enjoyable).

Treasuring:

New Friends: Getting to hang out with people, sitting on barstools talking about our lives and problems and making jokes, what a nice feeling! Having people to share cabs with and 5 a.m. waffle fries is more than I could've asked for. Having fun work friends to show you a new floor at work with free cereal and ginger ale is priceless. I definitely miss my longtime friends, but I'll take all these moments too.

By Ella Frances Sanders

Monday Memos // 69

Listening:

"Ojos Del Sol" by Y La Bamba.

This song got me. I heard it on High Maintenance (a thousand times over, it is SO AMAZING) and it reminded me of something else. It took me to another place. I want to listen to it on repeat. On Sunday I had this leap of happiness and I just wanted to walk around in the cold windy night with this song as the soundtrack. So I put on my warm layers and walked by the water and literally skipped through a tunnel and played this song again and again and again. 

Reading:

Your First Kiss: What Was It Like? - I think I spent at least half an hour reading every single comment. 

Bon Appetit's sandwich guide in the March issue is top notch. A particularly fun read: 7 Sandwich Secrets We’re Stealing from Chefs (Thanks, Chefs).

A Day In the Life of a Line Cook at One of NYC's Fanciest Restaurants. Great and eye-opening.

I love this picture and would frame it. "Wylie Dufresne’s Scrambled Egg Sandwich." (image by Alex Lau via Bon Appetit)

Craving:

To say there are a lot of delicious things in New York to eat is like saying there is a lot of water in the ocean. I am overwhelmed and delighted by it all. 

On Friday night I went to see The Shape of Water — I loved it — and in a fabulous twist, the random theater I chose just happened to be a few blocks away from Levain Bakery. HOW DID I FORGET TO GO HERE??? I had the cookies shipped to me for a birthday a couple of years ago because I heard so many rave reviews about them (thank you David!). I popped into the bakery around 6pm as the wind and snow were destroying umbrellas outside. The warmth and scent of cookies enveloped me. I could've fainted from the smell. I got a chocolate chip walnut and a double chocolate peanut butter cookie. They were both gone by the next morning. 

(Note: I wrote everything before I read about the Oscar winners. Turns out my pull to The Shape of Water this last weekend was a good feeling. Sitting there alone, in the middle of the theater, I felt very comforted by the colors and story and people sitting near me. I do wish there were always multiple winners. So many wonderful choices.)

Wearing:

Purple vans. All the jackets. Black loafers. My It's-It sweatshirt. Chapstick. I really should be stepping it up now that I work in the same building as Vogue, Teen Vogue, Glamour, etc. Lipstick? Wide leg culottes? Chic jumpsuits? Silk? 

Watching:

I watched the first episode of Here and Now. I'm intrigued, I have questions, and I'll give a few more episodes a try. I'm caught up with This Is Us finally and all cried out. I still miss my pretend Australian tv friends.

Yesterday I was reminded of the movie Delicatessen and it made me want to revisit all my Jean-Pierre Jeunet favorites (The City of Lost Children, A Very Long Engagement, Amélie).

The colors in The Shape of Water reminded me of Delicatessen. (image via Delicatessen)

Treasuring:

Wind: The wind last week was strong and made everything feel extra cold, but I loved it. The wildly dancing snowflakes. The whistling in the leaves. The rippling of the water. The hilarity when attempting to walk with an umbrella. 

A nor'easter y'all! (image via NYPL)

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE! I hope you win all the things.

Monday Memos // 68

Listening:

"All The Snow Is Gone" by Sniffle Party.

"Flatiron" by Suzanne Kraft.

"Suddenly" by Drugdealer feat. Weyes Blood.

Reading:

Thank you Joy for leading me to The A.V. Club's "11 Questions" series. I started with Karen Kilgariff (MFM fans!), then John Reynolds (Search Party fans!), and ended with Claudia O’Doherty (Love fans!).

For when you're endlessly scrolling: The 100 Best Movies on Netflix.

Worst Roommate Ever - This is one of the most terrifying stories. As someone who just spent the last month or so in a stressful hunt for housing in New York it feels close to home. However, I feel some relief in the fact that the psycho antagonist was in my own position and I promise dear roommates of present and future, I wouldn't even know how to be this kind of monster. 

A scene from “Jaws.” (image via Universal Studios)

Craving:

Last week I had the pleasure and discomfort of participating in a Talenti taste test. I sampled 36 different flavors of sorbetto and gelato. About six flavors in I realized this would not be the joy I anticipated. It was sticky. It was sweet. It gave me a bit of a sugary film on my teeth and a bit of a stomach ache. I wasn't surprised to discovered that all my favorites were on the chocolate and/or peanut butter spectrum. Don't choose vanilla-based flavors (anything with coconut is good though, especially coconut almond chocolate). Don't expect Ben and Jerry's levels of mix-ins. If you are into dairy-free options, the sorbettos are really creamy and generally delicious (roman raspberry and peanut butter fudge were in my top ratings).

Either way, I love my new job and these sorts of projects. I am inundated with snacks and homemade food and gourmet chocolates. 

My Wednesday looked like this. (image via Talenti)

Wearing:

Next week will be another story, but lately: black tee, black boots, black sack dress, black slacks, black leggings. This wardrobe is sometimes just the thing. I snazzed up the monotones with some old favorite gold necklaces, too.

Watching:

I know I've mentioned this multiple times, but High Maintenance is outstanding and I am continually enamored by it in every way. 

John Oliver continues to make current events entertaining, digestible, and informative. At least when I am depressed by the leaders of our world I can count on Oliver to give me some interesting perspectives. 

Treasuring:

New Routines: I'm learning how long it takes to get to work. I'm enjoying the meditative commute on the one train. I'm savoring the quiet moments when I get to work and no one else is there and I make my coffee and gaze out at Jersey City. I love shuffling down my new long hallway in my socks. I love looking out at all the new views – through the fog, the snowflakes, the rainy evenings, and the sunshine. I love wandering in and out of different markets and groceries and having a fridge, cabinet, and oven to use when I return "home."

Keith Haring lover forever. 

Monday Memos // 67

Listening:

Similar to last week, I was eating another beautiful breakfast alone and the music playing was getting me deep in my heart. My brain then unlocked a playlist from another life and these jams just kept coming to me.

"New Partner" by Palace Music.

"Wish You Were Here" by Sparklehorse and Radiohead.

Reading:

My Grandmother’s Very Specific Meat-Related Rule for Finding Love 

The 25 best icebreaker questions for team-building at work - #20: How do you like your eggs? Recently I went out for breakfast and when the server asked me how I wanted my eggs, I responded with "over medium." She then said, "is that over easy?" Me: "Uh, no." And then she walked off. It boggled my mind for days. 

Angelica Hicks's NYC Apartment Is as Cheeky and Chic as Her Art - These murals are so good.

Always into cake. (illustration by Grace Lee via bonappetit)

Craving:

I have a strong urge to walk into every "healthy market" I come upon. There is something comforting about a store with rows of bulk bins (dried fruits, raw nuts, nutritional yeast, carob covered things) and oaten treats and maybe even a corner with a wheatgrass juicing machine. Yesterday, in such a store, I stumbled upon these healthy sweet treats called Cookie Brittle. It's just the right amount of salty and sweet and textured (almonds, chocolate, cocoa, oat flour, etc). The Brooklyn-based company, "Baked By Bibis," makes all sort of breads, crisps, and loaves. I've got my eyes peeled for more BBB delights.

"A healthy treat." If you say so... (image via sephardic.org)

Wearing:

I cannot wait to recover more of my clothes as I begin to live again beyond my suitcase. I have a simple formula lately: black puffer coat (looks similar to a thin sleeping bag), sweater (solid colored turtleneck), pants (jeans or patterned black slacks), wool socks, boots (black Frye hikers), sometimes a hat or a scarf or a handkerchief. At least I'm warm. 

I went on a hunt for cheap sweatpants this weekend. I had the specific goal of finding a pair to wear for my wintery walk to the gym. As I was browsing the discount activewear section and all the not-totally-ugly sweatpants were too far in the double digits price range, I had my aha moment. The old standby: look in the kids section! I found decent pair, youth large, for $8. Perfect. When I paid, the cashier said, "I hope he enjoys them." Ha! My son, aka myself, will.

I didn't see enough wildness during Fashion Week. (image by Aisha Franz via nytimes)

Watching:

I can finally reenter the world as I fully, obsessively (now mournfully) finished my Australian show. Just a day later I miss my characters. 

I'm interested in seeing HBO's latest series, "Here and Now." Holly Hunter and Tim Robbins with creator Alan Ball. Seems promising, but I've glimpsed mixed reviews. I'm also curious about Netflix's new show, "Everything Sucks." "A coming-of-age story, set in the 1990s, that revolves around the A/V and drama clubs at a Boring, Ore., high school; the two crews of outsiders join forces to make a movie and endure the purgatory that is high school." Sounds like a mashup of a variety of popular tropes. 

Treasuring:

No Conclusions / Many Happy Endings. Cup of Jo is the land of wonderful stories and amazing comments. This comment was highlighted the other day and I found it to be more than I could articulate... Says Kate on an accidental wedding dress: “I was married in a rose-colored dress, am now divorced but count my ex-husband among my closest family members, and am in a monogamous (unmarried) long-term relationship and full-time parent to my partner’s two step-kids. On the day I got married in that beautiful rose dress, I never, ever would have predicted that a decade later I would find myself here, living a completely different life. And so I offer you this: There will be many milestones but no conclusions. The feeling of being settled is a transient one — regardless of whether we remain married to one person ’til death do us part or spend our lives single, stability comes and goes, and any belief to the contrary is an illusion. There is at once no answer and always an answer: It exists right here, in this essay, inside yourself, in the people you love and places you go and the work you do. You are the answer, the one constant in the cornucopia of happily-ever-afters that will most likely exist within the span of your lifetime. So, let’s let go of the idea that there is one happy ending and celebrate the many happy endings, the shapes of each other’s lives and the many shapes of our own. And let’s do it in whatever damn dress (or jeans or pajamas) makes us feel most like ourselves.”

(image by Gabrielle Assaf)