Random Things: January

Well this has certainly been quite the start to the year hasn’t it? With LA fires still raging and a new terrifying presidency beginning, I’m feeling lots of anxiety but trying to find peace in everyday moments. In hugging my kids and taking walks with the dog and trying not to consume every piece of media available to me. It is a weird time and protecting our peace is so important right now. This is your reminder to do that without guilt.

WHAT I’M READING & WATCHING

Reading/Read –

I’ve read a bunch of books since my last post but I’m only posting the ones I really loved so I don’t waste your time with the “filler” books as I call them.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: I finished listening to this one over the weekend and feel depressed that it’s over. I felt so connected to the main character, Margo, and was rooting for her the entire time even though she was a 19 year old single mom on OnlyFans lol. If you need a new listening book, this is a great one because Elle Fanning reads it and does a fantastic job. The story starts when Margo, a young college student, gets pregnant with her professor’s baby and has to figure out a way to support her new life until she ends up on OnlyFans with the help of her father, an ex pro wrestler. Sounds like this book might not be for you? I thought the same but my sister told me I had to read it and I got in deep. It made me laugh and cry and was a great listen that I couldn’t wait to turn on whenever I got into the car or started folding laundry.

The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr: This was one of my favorite books I’ve read in a very long time and I will for sure be adding it to my list of WWII novels, a genre that I can’t stop with. It starts in present day where we meet a famous Hollywood actress who is at the end of her life and finally wants to tell her story. It turns out what the media knows is all a lie. She is not only a survivor of the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw but she fought for the resistance, becoming a spy, and made a huge impact. It is always hard to read about the Nazis but this book shows the strength and resilience of a young woman determined to save the world as she knows it. LOVED this book so so much.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio: I am only about a quarter of the way into this strange strange book that I can’t seem to put down. Lauren comes home from a bachelorette party one night to find her husband in her London flat, but she isn’t married and has no idea who he is. She quickly learns that when he goes into the attic he comes down as another husband and a whole new life begins around her. I have no idea where they’re going with this but I can’t wait to find out.

Watching –

Shrinking Season 2 (Apple+): It is rare that a second season is better than the first when the first is a huge success but Shrinking upped the ante for season two! I am just so madly in love with every single character from Jason Segal as a widower and dad, Liz, the cooky next door neighbor who tumbles rocks and hits everyone with tough love to her husband, Derek, one of my fave TV characters of all time. It’s such a funny, heartwarming show that makes me laugh out loud and cry regularly.

A Real Pain (Hulu): I am a giant fan of Kieran Culkin and as soon as I heard about this movie, I knew I had to watch it. It’s written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg (he also stars in it) and is both incredibly moving and hilarious. Culkin and Eisenberg’s characters, Dave and Benji, go on a Holocaust tour of Poland after the death of their grandmother, a concentration camp surviver. They explore relationship to each other and their past and make you both laugh and cry along the way. I really enjoyed this one.

Nightbitch (Hulu): Ok woah. I watched this after seeing all the buzz around it and woof, pun intended. It’s a lot but it’s also a really amazing metaphor for motherhood. If you missed the memo, Amy Adams plays a stay at home mom to a little boy and begins to really lose herself and her way in motherhood. She starts believing that she’s turning into a dog (I know) and it gets super weird, blurring reality and fantasy, and I weirdly absolutely loved it. Although it’s surrealist in every sense, there was so much truth to it that I appreciated as a mom.

THINGS I’M LOVING

1. Quilted Mini Crossbody Bag: Sarah from My Sister Made Me Buy it influenced me on this tiny little bag that is only $64 and just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. It fits my phone wallet, lip closs, perfume roller, headphones, keys, and gum with room to spare! I’m thrilled to be carrying it in my Flagship shop where it has quickly become my best seller.

2. Staub 2-Piece Baking Dish Set: I got this cute pastel baking dish set for Christmas and they bring me so much joy, I can’t really explain it. I use them for lasagnas and fish and chicken and brownies and everything. They’re currently 44% off, making the set under $50.

3. Varley Sweatshirt: I’m embarrassed to admit that I now have this in 3 colors and wear it pretty much every single day. But I’ve also influenced all of my friends to buy it too so it must be doing something right. The fabric is insanely soft and it makes me feel like I actually tried to get dressed even when I’m just in sweats. Double points for matching pants.

4. Raffia Shoe Rack: We’ve been living in our house for over 5 years now and because or mudroom is in the garage/basement, we almost never use it and shoes pile up in our front hall. Finally a few weeks ago I bought a shoe rack to hide the mess and I can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner. It looks like a nice rattan cabinet but hides our shoes perfectly.

5. Tiny Diamond Huggies: A friend of mine wears these and finally I asked her about them thinking they would be a million dollars. When I learned that they weren’t I bought hem on the spot and haven’t taken them off since. They look great on their own or in a dainty little stack.

6. Kroma: The 5 Day Reset: I’ve tried lots of cleanses and resets and have always been interested in this stuff but (aside from Sakara which I am the biggest ever fan of but very different), Kroma is my favorite by far. It is unlike any detox or cleanse that I’ve ever seen. Each day consists of 60-70g of protein and 10 daily nutrient-rich meals, snacks and beverages so you never get hungry which is always my concern with these things. I’m not a good person when I’m hungry lol.

I liked that it wasn’t just juices and smoothies but everything from soups to oatmeal to smoothies and then a clean meat protein with dinner (that is optional but I knew that would work best for my body).

I ended up doing only 4 days because my entire house came down with a cold and fever and I had zero appetite so couldn’t eat anything at all on day 5. But before that I felt like a million bucks. My goal is do do this quarterly if I can!