Stuff I Like: No Theme November.

Hi! Now is the time when I talk about stuff I like. Sometimes a theme forms but usually it's just a bunch of crap I happen to be into right now. (This is one of those.) First, I have to tell you about a book I'm reading:

This Book I Waited Too Long To Read
I talked about this book nearly a year ago, having heard about it from The Penguin Podcast. The amazing Sue Perkins interviewed Dolly Alderton about Ghosts and I'm FINALLY reading it. It's wonderful - warmly funny and clever with an instantly like-able main character. It's about online dating and being ghosted (a subject I can certainly relate to) but it's also about the importance of female friendships and how they start to change over time. I'm only about a third of the way through and I'm trying to read it slowly to make it last. (The sign of an excellent book.) 

This Candle Which Is Not The Candle I Was Looking For.
Marianne told me about the Ginger and Black Tea Target candle she thought I'd like and I went searching for it, because I like a Target challenge. When I finally tracked it down it didn't smell like what I'd decided it should smell like so instead I bought the Wooded Sage candle from the same line. I got the small one for my office and it's just the right size for a small-ish room. I love the sleek packaging and it smells delightful - woody and a little mysterious. It's a good one for those of us who don't like sweet/overly floral candles. Also, do you have an arc lighter yet? They are life-changing. 

This Nail File I Haven't  Dropped Yet.

I've written before about my favorite glass file from Sephora but the last time I tried to buy a new one it was nowhere to be found - like it had never existed. How dare they! Anyway, I checked around and found this set on Amazon which looked promising and, thankfully, totally delivers. I don't wear nail polish so I need a really gentle, smoothing file to keep my nails looking nice and glass is the way to go for that. I keep the tiny one in my purse (thankfully it has a cover because I recently destroyed the lenses of a pair of sunglasses by way of a loose nail file) and the other one by my bedside. (Also: how creepy is that product image? I couldn't not use it.) 

This New Podcast I Just Discovered.

I heard Am I Normal? via another podcast and was immediately sold by the dentist episode, because that exact thing happened to me recently. This is a great short-form podcast hosted by Mona Chalabi, a data journalist and illustrator who tried to make sense of the world by looking at the numbers (and sometimes consulting her mother, who seems lovely.)  It's a quick listen and I basically binged all the episodes yesterday, so I think you should probably go get caught up.

Stuff We Like: Podcasts.

Hey, home-bound friends! We had a request for some podcast recs so here is a giant list of what we're listening to lately. Feel free to leave a rec for us in the comments! 

Adrien's Picks:

Some of my recs are new but most of these have been posted on Stuff I Like at some point. I just figured it would be nice to have them all in one place. (I left out a few that I previously recommended because I stopped listening for...reasons.) 

Were You Raised By Wolves?: This is an etiquette podcast and it's highly entertaining. The hosts discuss various etiquette topics and also answer listener questions. It's informative but also really fun.

Everything is Fine: I talked about this new podcast for women over 40 a few days ago but y'all, it's really good. This week's episode is about anger, which I think most of us can relate to, yes?

This Is Joy & Claire: I've been listening to this one for years! It was formerly called Girls Gone WOD but it's strayed so far from its Crossfit roots that they recently rebranded. It's two friends talking about all kinds of life topics - mental health, wellness, marriage, parenting, etc. A true girlfriend's conversation. I really like them both and tend to listen to this one immediately when it's released each week.

Love It or Leave It: I got real tired of the Pod Save The World bromance but Jon Lovett's spinoff is still a good time. He works hard to have a diverse panel each week and it's really funny.

Fat Mascara: Okay, this one has become a hate-listen for me. I loved it in the beginning but popularity and sponsorship has made it feel inauthentic. HOWEVER, they still have interesting guests so depending on who they're interviewing, I will tune in. I enjoyed the Caroline Hirons episode quite a bit and was joyfully enraged by the Barbara Sturm episode because SHE IS FULL OF SHIT. Okay, there. I said it. Serums should not cost hundreds of dollars and her "science" is suspect. As a counter-point, I started listening to the Beauty Brains but they're such incredible wonder-killers that I just gave up.

Up First: NPR's early morning news podcast. It covers "the biggest stories and ideas - from politics to pop culture - in 10 minutes." I usually listen to it while I'm getting ready for work because it's just enough information without being overwhelmed with commentary.

Shedunnit: This is a podcast by Caroline Crampton (of SRSLY, my favorite defunct pop culture podcast) and bills itself as, “the podcast that unravels the mysteries behind classic detective stories." I like class detective mysteries but it doesn't matter if you aren't! She tells great stories, often about real-life cases that inspired mystery writers and it's, as the title suggests, very women-centric. A well-researched and comforting listen that I highly recommend.

LeVar Burton Reads: This is literally a podcast in which LeVar Burton reads you short stories in his soothing LeVar Burton voice. It's good stuff and if you were a fan of Reading Rainbow you will definitely enjoy this podcast. My favorite story so far is Chivalry by Neil Gaiman (from his book Smoke and Mirrors), which I highly recommend. Feeling stressed? Let LeVar read to you. I promise you'll feel better.

Articles of Interest: The 99% Invisible podcast created Articles of Interest, a six part series about all the different aspects of clothing. My favorite episodes are Pockets (a feminist issue!) and Punk Style. Just a really good series about the history and meaning of clothing.

The Cut on Tuesdays: A podcast by women, about women. Unfortunately they stopped making new episodes but it's still relevant and I love their How ____ Gets It Done series. (I suggest the Amy Sherald episode!) Also, it never fails to crack me up when they close with, "See you next Tuesday!"

The Penguin Podcast: This one is so great, you guys. Really interesting interviews with writers and in the earlier ones the interviewer is Richard E. Grant who I adore. I highly recommend the Kate Atkinson episode and Neil Gaiman is always a good time. Oh! And definitely listen to the Emma Kennedy episode too. Hilarious.


Marianne's Picks: 

Thirst Aid Kit: At first glance this podcast is fairly silly, which is fine! Who doesn’t want to curl up with two hilariously smart women and talk about cute boys. But once you listen to a few, you realize that Bim Adewunmi and Nichole Perkins are giving a cutting commentary on the power of the female gaze.

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend: This is hardly a little-known pick, but damn I just love it. Sometimes I find Conan to be a bit much, but his guests and staff are usually right there with me and reel things back in. Listen to the latest quarantine episode! It seriously made me LOL.

Armchair Expert: I know this is polarizing, I feel like people either love or hate this one. Once I stopped trying to listen to ALL of them, I got back into it. If you aren’t into Dax, check out the Monica and Jess Love Boys spin-off. It seems like a fluffy podcast between friends but quickly dives deep into topics like intimacy, addiction, and fear.

Bon Appetit Foodcast: I dip in and out of this one depending on the host and topic. I like that they are short and some of the BA folks are just so charming. It supports their magazine and YouTube channel, so if you like those and want more, check it out.

Mobituaries: This only gets a brief mention because I haven’t really started listening to it yet! I’ve only started the Audrey Hepburn episode. But the premise is great—Mo Rocca doing celebrity and historical obituaries in all his Mo Rocca-ness.

The Thing About Pam: I used to be more into True Crime but now there are SO MANY great podcasts that I decided I didn’t really want all that murder in my ears for a while. Maybe I’ll go back? However, I really loved this short, excellently produced story. Keith Morrison is so cheesy and really keep the story moving at a lively pace.

The Dream: Pretty sure we’ve talked about this one before, but it’s still great!

Stuff I Like: It's Been Awhile! Watching, Listening, Wearing, Eating

It's tough to come up with "stuff I like" on a weekly basis so I had to give it a rest for a while. Now I'm back with some new stuff I like! 

This Show That Is Continuously The Best

Are you guys watching Better Things on FX? I know I've talked about it before but it's JUST SO GOOD. The episodes are funny and wry and dark and basically art. I just love Pamela Adlon and her beautiful disfunction and I very much relate to her relationship with her mother.  (The kids on the show are basically jerks, though. Except for Duke.) 

This Podcast That It's Good Lady Stuff

Do you ever get to a point where all your Podcasts are hate-listens? Me too. That's why I was relieved to find The Cut on Tuesdays, which is a podcast by women, about women. Not every episode is a winner but it's really well done and I love their How ____ Gets It Done series that comes out on Thursdays. (I suggest the Amy Sherald episode!) Also, it never fails to crack me up when they close with, "See you next Tuesday!" 

PS. If for some reason you're looking for a good hate-listen, try the the Sally Hershberger episode of Fat Mascara. She's so OOT obnoxious it made me sputter-laugh.

These Glasses That Are Saving Marianne's Eyes

My eyes have been really tired and I’ve been getting headaches, so I got my vision checked and it’s totally fine. However, my eye doctor  so he suggested I look into getting some blue light blocking glasses. I bought this pair and I actually think they are helping! Plus they are very cute, and I've gotten lots of compliments. 

These Trader Joe's Picks (and a sort of recipe) 

Once a month or so I brave Trader Joe's and buy a bunch of tried and true products but also try to pick up a few things I haven't tried. Sometimes they're good, sometimes not so much. On my most recent trip I bought two things I really love! The first is the Mini Brie Bites, which are tiny adorable single-serving rounds of delicious brie! It's too much packaging for what it is, but man, it is so nice for throwing into a lunch box. I also got some Sweet Potato Gnocchi and roasted it with some sliced up chicken sausage, similar to this recipe. (I did not add pesto.)  I dumped it all on a bed of baby spinach and ate it for dinner, then for lunch the next day. Not exactly low-cal but easy and tasty.

That's all I have today! Let me know if you have any new favorite podcasts or weird products or recipes, pls. 

Stuff I Like: Eating, Hibernating, Learning, Watching

I haven't done one of these in a while! Here are a few of the things that have been making my life better lately: 

This Salmon Salad I Eat For Lunch Every Week
It's that time of year when my weight is creeping up and austerity measures must be made. I pack my lunch every day and try really hard to pack food that's nutritious and also tasty. My latest obsession is this salmon salad recipe that I've been making every week. It really simple, makes two decent portions and tastes really good. You can put it in a collard wrap if you must but I prefer it on a toasted wheat pita with a handful of salad greens shoved in. Definitely get the good canned salmon with skin and bones included (I know, but they mix right in and you won't even notice and that's where the nutrition lives.) Because I'm bougie I like to use this fancy-ass mayo but Dukes is just fine too and I also add salt to the recipe because I'm not a monster.

This Comforter I Can't Live Without
I moved in with my boyfriend back in the summer and we have this great little 1960s ranch house that I adore. But y'all, I am freezing to death. This cute house of ours is drafty and I decided we needed a super cozy bed set-up so that I wasn't always a shivering poodle. On some dumb podcast I listen to (okay, it was Forever 35) a guest mentioned she had a silk-filled comforter that was great because it's weighty but also regulates body heat well.  I was like, THAT SOUNDS PERFECT. I scoured Amazon, bought the LilySilk All Season Luxury Silk Comforter and never looked back. I love it, my boyfriend loves it, the cats really love it. It's not super thick but it's deliciously heavy without being suffocating. It's not inexpensive but I've been so happy with it. Worth every penny.

This Audiobook That's Teaching Me French
Long story, but I never took a foreign language in high school. So, when we planned our trip last fall to Paris, I was pretty worried about the language thing and started listening to the Coffee Break French podcast. It's an excellent place to start and helped me to learn a few important words and phrases. Now, with our upcoming return trip to Paris (next week!) I wanted to go a little deeper. I researched the various programs and eventually bought Learn French With Paul Noble. This audiobook is an immersive method and within the first hour you're speaking full sentences, which feels like magic. It's not super helpful for just learning traveler's French (I think Coffee Break French does a better job of that) but it's still quite good, even if I tend to get snappy with Paul, who is smug. We get it Paul, you're a GD genius.

This Amazing Show You're Probably Already Watching
OMG are you watching Russian Doll? Marianne told me about it (she's watched it twice through) and I am currently obsessed. Also, Natasha Lyonne is just amazing and has the best hair. The basic premise is that the main character Nadia gets caught in a loop in which she repeatedly attends her birthday party and dies at the end of the night each time. It's dark and funny and kind of weird, just how I like it. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it, just watch it.

Stuff I Like: Reading, Listening, Playing, Travel

Yay! I like stuff! It's been a while so I have a bunch of stuff saved up to tell you about.

This New Novel From Kate Atkinson!
Okay, so I just downloaded this book on my Kindle and haven't actually read it, but Kate Atkinson is one of my very favorite authors and I am super excited to read Transcription. If you've never read any of her books, I'd make two suggestions. First, her Jackson Brodie series is amazing! Case Histories is the first in the series, so start with that one. (There's a BBC show based on these books that is excellent, but the books are better.) I also recommend Life After Life which is a sort-of reincarnation story set in WWII England.

(Related, but my other favorite writer, Tana French, has a new book coming out Oct 9th! I am beside myself. I'll talk more about her in the next Stuff I Like post.)

Serial Is Back And So Far It's Not Disappointing.
Like most people, I loved the first season of Serial and hated the second one. Season three is out now and I've listened to the first two episodes with interest. While I really like the premise this season I'll admit that I miss the "one story" suspense of season one. Really, nothing they do will ever be as gripping as season one. What do you think so far?

This Addictive Game Marianne Suggested
I spent a lot of time in airports recently and Marianne suggested I download the game Hole. io, which she and her daughter are both into. It's really fun and each game is only two minutes long, so it's not a huge commitment (though I do tend to play 5-6 rounds in a row.) The premise is that you're a black hole and you eat stuff to get bigger than the other holes so you can eat bigger stuff. I don't do a lot of games but this one has both me and my boyfriend pretty addicted.

A Few More Travel Recommendations

This Travel Pillow With a Hood
Marianne bought this inflatable travel pillow recently before a flight and said it was wonderful - the hood is super cozy! I am still on the fence about my Turtl and I accidentally left my eye mask on the plane so I'm very tempted by this one.

Dr. Bronner's Lavender Organic Hand Sanitizer
This was a travel recommendation from Fat Mascara and YOU GUYS. This stuff is so much nicer than your usual gel hand sanitizer! I love that it's all natural, not anti-bacterial and it smells really nice. It also doubles as bathroom freshener if you happen to be sharing an unventilated hotel bathroom. Ahem.

Stuff I Like: Reading, Wearing, Slapping, Carrying, Listening.

Stuff I like is back! Ideally I'd love to do this post once a week but sometimes I just don't have enough new stuff. It's been a little while so here's what I'm liking lately:

This book that is a great vacation read.

When I went to visit Marianne I brought Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes with me.  I enjoy Jojo Moyes books  in the same way I enjoy Rosamunde Pilcher. They're just comforting, nice reads about decent people. It not a book that'll blow your mind or anything (try Kate Atkinson or Tana French for that) but just dependable and fun. I don't generally go for short stories but the main story, Paris for One, is more of a novella and the rest are easy to dip in and out of. Basically, your perfect vacation read. Also! It's $1.99 right now for the Kindle version which is a great deal.

This underwear I won't shut up about.

We talked last week about my recent Aerie order and I just wanted to report that the seamless cutout boybrief is now my solid #1 favorite. They ain't sexy but they are SO comfortable and sporty-cute and stay put and I just bought five more pairs (5 for $25!) because Aerie seems to discontinue styles so fast. I currently have two pairs and I'm legit mad when both are in the laundry bin. 

This serum that is actually pretty damn good. 

Okay, listen. I got this Sunday Riley CEO Rapid Flash Serum in an Allure box* (full sized!) and started using it every single morning and...I think it's actually doing something. My skin just seems smoother and brighter lately. I can't swear to it but I really think it might be good and I'm definitely a fan of most of the Sunday Riley products I've tried. NOW, I know you're grumbling because it's stupid expensive but here's the thing - everyone else got it in their box too and now there are a million full-sized bottle for sale on eBay. Get it half off while you can! Go go go! 

This lunchbox Marianne is going to tell you about.

I mean, okay. A lunchbox is not the most exciting thing, but when I'm in the office I bring my lunch (and breakfast!) EVERY. DAY. I was rotating between two lunchboxes and neither was very good--one was falling apart at the seams and didn't close all the way at the top, but it was bigger. The other didn't insulate very well and was too small, but it was cute and zipped all the way closed. My new Jo & Jo Australia lunchbox has everything--it's sturdy, the print is adorable, it's big enough for all of my meals and snacks and La Croix, it's well insulated, and it zips totally closed. Sure, it's like bringing a small suitcase to work every day, but I don't really care.  (Note: We can't find it online which is breaking our brains. We both bought them at TJ Maxx, so go look there! -A) 

Oh and I also want to tell everyone that Thirst Aid Kit is back and it's so good! The happiest podcast in my subscriptions. 

*And one thing I don't like. 

Okay, fuck Allure and their beauty box. I recently cancelled in a blaze of glory when they double-charged me and refused to refund the second charge. I sent them proof! More than once! So I cancelled and even though their box was consistently good, I can no longer recommend it and I can't support such terrible customer service. Boo. 

Stuff I Like: Watching, Reading, Listening, Smelling.

YOU GUYS. I haven't done a "Stuff I Like" post for a while because I needed time to accumulate some new stuff to like. And I have! Here you go:

This Show Full of Ridiculous Beautiful People.
I know I'm probably the last person on earth who hasn't watched Big Little Lies but I don't have HBO! I finally got a pass so I could watch The Last Five Years and then I was like, what else can I watch? Marianne had recommended BLL to me and I binged it hard over a weekend. I haven't read the book so I was completely in the dark about it and enjoyed the intrigue a lot. Also, everyone in it is absurdly beautiful - like - is Zoe Kravitz a real person for reals? Anyway, totally great if you need something engrossing to binge-watch.

This Book That I'm Reading Because The Author Charmed Me.
I've talked about the Penguin Podcast a few times and recently listened to the episode with Jojo Moyes, who is delightful. So delightful, in fact, that I decided to read Me Before You, which I am enjoying more than I expected to. It's formulaic but I like the main characters and I'll probably read the rest of the series some point, assuming I still like this one when I've finished it. And listen, I know there was some backlash after the movie came out but I'm reading the book with an open mind. (I haven't seen the movie, this is just about the book.)

This Podcast That Makes Me Buy Stuff.
Okay, so I've delved into the world of beauty podcasts and am very much enjoying Forever35 which is quite new and very entertaining. Also, it's enabling af and makes me want to buy stuff, specifically the legendary Lotion P50 which I've purchased in a travel size. ( I'll report back.) I also want to buy a bunch of sheet masks and this weird travel bag. And this balm stuff. Ugh. Anyway, it's a fun podcast and I definitely recommend it, just hide your wallet first.

This Perfume That Makes Me Sniff My Arm Repeatedly.
The other beauty podcast I added to my list is Fat Mascara. I've only listened to one episode so far but the guest was the head of product development for Jo Malone, Celine Roux. I now have a crush on Celine Roux. This woman is amazing! She designed my favorite perfume by deciding what a windswept British coast smelled like. AND IT TOTALLY DOES. I WOULD IMAGINE. Anyway, I scampered home and dug up some Jo Malone samples I'd been hoarding and sprayed the Blackberry & Bay cologne on my arms and it's so freaking lovely and I can't stop sniffing myself. The point of Jo Malone fragrances is that they're pretty simple so that you can layer them. I already have Wood Sage & Sea Salt and Nutmeg & Ginger* which are both long-time favorites and now I'm obsessed with the idea of layering and oh my God I need to stop with the beauty podcasts.

*This appears to be discontinued. Please excuse me while I go weep in a corner.

Stuff I Like: Reading, Listening, Wearing, Visiting.

Disclosure: I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post. 

I'm back with a few recommendations and a request for some recs from you guys. Here we go:

This Book That's Super Creepy.
I FINALLY FINISHED 1Q84 and oh my god never again. I like a long book but, damn. Nope. So now I'm reading See What I Have Done, a weird re-imagining of the Lizzie Borden murders which were never solved. Creepy old timey true crime! It's a really weird story if you don't know much about it and this book, which is gorgeously written, is Sarah Schmidt's debut novel. Also, if you like this kind of thing I highly recommend Asta's Book by Barbara Vine.

This New Beck Album That's Refreshingly Cheerful.
On a whim I downloaded the new Beck album Colors and you guyyyyyys. He's happy again! I did enjoy some of his gloomy/dreamy music but the Beck I really enjoy is more of the Odelay and Midnite Vultures era. Colors is pure pop and exactly what I needed to clear my brain. I've mostly been listening to podcasts for the past few months and I suddenly hit a wall where I just wanted music. Has anyone heard the new St. Vincent? I want that too.

This Scarf I'm Obsessed With.
I got a beautiful Barbour scarf as a gift last year and it's still my favorite scarf, ever. Barbour is one of those brands that seems to deliver the kind of stiff upper lip classic English quality I enjoy. (Just go with it.) I am all about having good winter scarves to cheer up my bleakness and cheap-and-cheerful is fine, but there's something about a good-quality scarf! My Union Jack scarf is still available (but definitely wait for a sale.) In the meantime, there are some beautiful tartan men's Barbour scarves on Farfetch that are quite reasonably priced and they are also popping up at TJ Maxx pretty often. Because I'm suddenly obsessed with plaid, I bought this flannel shirt at LL Bean because who am I anymore? I don't even care - I'll be warm and draped in tartan.

This City I'm Visiting.
Hey! I'm going to be on vacation next week and I'll be in San Francisco for a few days. I've been there before but it's been a long time so if y'all have any good eating, shopping or site-seeing recommendations, please leave a comment!

Stuff I Like: Watching, Eating, Listening

I'm back with Stuff I Like. If you have any suggestions for a category, please let me know!

This Show Which Is The Best Thing On TV.

The second season of Better Things just started last week on FX and I am SO excited. I believe the first season is available on Hulu and probably OnDemand if you need to catch up. (Also, Lenny Kravitz was in season 1!) It's just such a smart/funny/honest/depressing take on middle age and motherhood and I love Pamela Adlon so much. Just watch watch it. It's totally worth your time. 

This Recipe Which is A Lot of Work But Worth It.
Okay, so Orecchiette with Broccoli and Pecorino is a Giada recipe but if you hate her please don't let that keep you from making this. It's fucking delicious, okay? On the show she makes it in, like, 10 minutes all easy-peasy. In real life it takes an hour because ten minutes is not enough time to roast broccoli, but it's really satisfying, good leftover and perfect for fall. It's vegetarian and perfectly fine the way it is but you can also add the protein of your choice. PS. Don't leave out the golden raisins! I'm not even a fan of raisins but they add just the right amount of sweetness.

This Podcast About People Who Are... Not Like Me.
How I Built This is a pretty interesting podcast. Each episode is about a founder/entrepreneur of a company that's now successful, often against the odds. I've listened to three or four episodes and found the Sara Blakely/Spanx episode to be the most delightful and made me feel good about buying Spanx products. (The tights are so good!) The episode about Rent The Runway did not give me feels but it's certainly interesting from the perspective of what it takes to turn an idea into a multi-million dollar company. I'm not a big risk-taker so it's pretty fascinating to read about the crazy things successful people do to make their dreams a reality.

Stuff I Like: Watching, Reading, Liking, Listening.

Another week of this-and-that! I suspect when the season starts to change I'll get back in the groove with having more in-depth things to write about but right now it feels like I've shared literally every single thing I've ever liked with you guys. So, a little of everything:

This Movie With Daniel Craig Which OMG
Remember this post? I am ridiculous. Anyway, I got over my horror and went to see Lucky Logan last weekend and it was SO good. Fun and clever and it had a lot of good cameo appearances. I love a heist movie and Steven Soderbergh is dependably good at them. And, while it was really amusing to see Daniel Craig in a humorous role, I thought Adam Driver's more subtle performance completely upstaged everyone. Anyway, it's not THE MOST AMAZING movie I've ever seen, but it was a really good time.

This Podcast That Makes Me Glad I'm Not Dating
I did the online dating thing for quite a while and (somewhat) regret that I didn't blog about it. Shit be crazy. I have a boyfriend now (hooray!) but I'm still really enjoying the Why Oh Why Podcast which is about dating (and also relationships.) It skews younger than ancient old me, but I still find the subject interesting and it's a good podcast for when you need a break from current events.

These Striped Capris That Are Mysteriously Flattering
During the last Athleta sale I blacked out and ordered a pair of super-on-sale striped capri pants. I was planning on returning them before they even arrived because why the hell would I put horizontal stripes on my thighs, but they're really good! Something about the way the pattern is cut is surprisingly flattering and I wear them a lot. I especially love that they don't have a back zip pocket so you don't hurt your spine when you roll around during yoga things. My pair is the black/grey colorway (very few sizes left) but they also have a blue/white and black/white version.

This Book WHICH I AM STILL READING
Update: I am still reading 1Q84. This is what happens when you download a book instead of getting a paper version because you don't realize that it's 1,300 freaking pages long. It's good but I feel like I've been reading it my entire adult life and I might need to take a short break and read something fluffy because my Kindle informs me that I'm 52% of the way through and I am about to cry.

PS. This Dumb Thing That Pleases Me
I follow National Geographic on Instagram and nearly every single time they post a photo Cypress Hill (yes, the hip hop band) leaves an emoji comment. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS SO CHARMING IT JUST IS.

Stuff I Like: The Food Edition + Watching, Listening.

Rough week, right? Since my Whole30 is now a distant memory I can get back to stress eating with gusto. Thus, a food-themed entry, mostly.

image: Pinch of Yum

This Spring Roll Bowl That Is Amazing. 
My friend Malissa recently recommended this Spring Roll Bowl recipe and it was a revelation. Super fresh and full of good ingredients! And yes, there is sugar in there! That's what makes it delicious! I made it with shrimp but I think it would be great with any protein of your choice or with zucchini noodles in place of the rice noodles if that's how you roll. And definitely don't smell the fish sauce, just add it in and trust. I pretty much followed the recipe and thought that 7oz of rice noodles wasn't enough for the amount of sauce, but I ended up using the extra sauce to marinate the shrimp so that all worked out.

This Knife, By The Way.
If you're an adult who cooks and you don't have a good knife it's time to fix that. Last year for my birthday I bought myself a Wusthof Classic Ikon 7-Inch Santoku and I am SO IN LOVE STILL. I use it more than any other knife in my kitchen and it's worth every single penny. This set of two Ikon knives on Amazon seems like a good deal if you want a paring knife as well. Also, you need these tongs if you don't have a set. You'll wonder how you ever cooked without them. And get this spatula while you're at it. I'll stop now.

This Old Highball Which I Love.
Remember when I was comfort-reading Rosamunde Pilcher books? People drink a lot in those books and they especially like to drink whisky and soda. I am a fan of bourbon on the rocks but it's a winter thing for me, so I thought maybe I would try a bourbon and soda as a summer thing. And you know what? It's delightful. So simple and refreshing but still bracing. Add a twist if you desire, but it's not necessary. You don't need a recipe but this is still useful.

This Season of Bake. 
Y'all know that Marianne and I are big fans of The Great British Baking Show and the most recent season was seriously delightful. Delightful! Marianne hasn't watched it yet but I told her in a non-spoilery way that I actually really liked all of the final four contestants and that never happens. I don't know WTF this is all about but I am pretty sure I'm just going to not watch that. I mean, just stupid Paul? No Mary, Mel or Sue? Yeah, no thank you. (Seriously, look at that photo. They don't like him either.)

Finally, I am going off-theme to recommend a really timely listen:

This Podcast Episode That You Shouldn't Avoid. 
I am a native Virginian and the past week has been beyond horrifying and infuriating. Is this the tipping point? It has to be, right? Anyway, I highly recommend this episode of Pod Save the People for some really insightful interviews regarding the events in Charlottesville.

Stuff I Like: Cooling Towels + Marianne's Pick, Listening, Watching.

This cooling towel that makes summer so much better.
I mentioned pretty recently that I'd developed rosacea this summer and the heat and sun was making my flare-ups so much worse. Yay! Things seem to be in remission right now, but I had to be really careful with sun exposure/overheating which is hard when I like to do things like mountain biking and hiking. I remembered that a friend told me about cooling towels so I went on Amazon and bought this one.

It seems like witchcraft but you just get it wet and flick it three times and it's magically COLD. Amazing! And it stays cold for a while! I put the towel in my gym bag or leave it in my car when I do bike rides and then basically wrap it around my head or neck on the way home. It definitely helps bring down my body temperature and I'll be sticking in my pack on the next hike.

This podcast that examines my deepest shame. 
Money is such an uncomfortable thing to talk about and when you're bad with money it feels pretty shameful. I never had a good money role model growing up so it's not really surprising that I'm bad with money, but it's still something that causes Deep Issues. That's why the Bad With Money With Gaby Dunn podcast was such a great find. Gaby Dunn is very upfront about being bad with money and examines this topic from every angle, starting with her lack of role model. It's also a great podcast for learning how to be less bad with money, which it's really the goal, right? Right.

This Netflix show full of terrible people that I really enjoyed. 
I recently watched Friends from College, the new series on Netflix about...a bunch of friends from Harvard who're now in their 40s and, as it turns out, are all kind of terrible people. But, I tend to like shows about terrible people and I legit laughed out loud at some of the stupid, awful things these terrible people said and did. They are AWFUL. But it's pretty damn funny and I was bummed that the first season is only eight episodes long.

From Marianne: 

This website that looks sketchy but it's legit.
Okay, so I notoriously HATE PERFUME SAMPLES. They are never something I want to try and I feel like they aren't the same quality of the actual perfume? I don't know.

ANYWAY, I also want to try ALL THE EXPENSIVE PERFUMES. Allllll of them. But hello, I'm not dropping $150 on a Serge Lutens perfume I've never even seen in real life because the description sounds so amazing. I mean:

 A fire fanned by the wind, a desert in flames.

As if bursting from the earth, Chergui, a desert wind, creates an effect that involves suction more than blowing, carrying plants, insects and twigs along in an inescapable ascent. Its full, persistent gusts crystallize shrubs, bushes and berries, which proceed to scorch, shrivel up and pay a final ransom in saps, resins and juices. Night falls on a still-smoldering memory, making way for the fragrant, ambery and candied aromas by the alchemist that is Chergui. 

YES PLEASE I WANT TO SMELL LIKE A DESERT IN FLAMES.

Enter The Perfumed Court. After doing some googling, I found this verrrry old school looking website that decants really expensive perfumes and lets you buy them in tiny amounts to try. I was suspicious but they are very highly reviewed by people that are intensely into perfumes (that's a weird corner of the internet, I'll tell you what). I ordered 3ml of Serge Lutens Chergui for $20 and it arrived very quickly. Of course now the problem is I love this damn $150 perfume, but that's a Future Marianne problem. Current Marianne has a tiny spray bottle of this very potent perfume that will last me for a little while, and I didn't have to spend a ton to try it. Recommend!

Stuff I Like: Bar Cart + Reading/Watching/Listening

Liking
Bar Cart! I finally set up my new bar cart last night (info here) and I'm ridiculously pleased with it, despite the dank corner in which it's currently housed. The location will change most likely but I feel like it needs...more...stuff.

I don't much wear the clothes at Anthropologie anymore but I love checking out the house stuff, particularly the barware.  I'm very into this little turquoise bar tools set that's on sale right now. And, do I need a bar spoon that looks like a twig? Probably not but isn't is cute? And mostly I'd like a set of really pretty glassware, something vintage-inspired like this or just beautifully sleek like these stemless glasses. And look, I'm not proud about how much I love this hobnail glass cocktail shaker. I don't even usually make cocktails that need shaking! But I might. I mean, every time I go to the liquor store I'm tempted by St-Germain simply because it's such a pretty bottle. I don't even know what you're supposed to do with it but that never stopped me before.

And I really want an ice bucket but Anthro insists I should pay a million dollars for this one which is made of fancy glass and whoooo boy, that is not going to happen. I'll probably buy this one from Target (and if we're being honest, anything new for the bar cart will probably also come from Target.) A girl can dream.

Reading
I am currently reading At The Water's Edge by Sara Gruen which I'd downloaded on my Kindle and totally forgot about. So far I'm intrigued, despite not liking a couple of the main characters, and I love her writing style. I remember really liking Water For Elephants though it's been ages since I actually read it.

Watching
I am SO overwhelmed with show options right now! This is confirming that I can cut cable and still have tons of good options. Last night I watched an episode of Catastrophe, Season 3 (eh), the latest episode of The Handmaid's Tale (stunning/terrifying) and then had to cleanse my palate with this thing of joy and beauty. Bruno Mars is a delightful little alien being, right? Not an actual human? There's no other explanation. I have it on good authority that this episode is also delightful but I haven't yet watched it.

Listening
On my drive to Knoxville I listened to Tina Fey's Bossypants which was really entertaining and kept me alert, focused and laughing stupidly alone in my car. I read it when it came out and liked it but it's SO much better as an audiobook. I tried The Nightingale on the way back but it didn't really work for me in audio form so I will probably try to read it. Instead, I listened to Neil Gaiman's Trigger Warning, a collection of "short fictions and disturbances," which is pretty good so far though a little uneven. I find some of the stories more interesting than others and I have a hard time understanding him because he has a deep, low voice. (A very nice voice, but harder to understand over driving noises.) I'm only about a third of the way through and there's a story about David Bowie(!) that I haven't heard yet, so I'll definitely finish this one.

That's it for this week. Thanks to all of you who gave me snack suggestions last week! I'm now only eating celery and air to make up for it.

Stuff I Like: Road Trip + Reading/Watching/Listening

This is going to be short because I am once again going out of town and have a million things to do! That said, I didn't manage to write this entry last week and I got stuff to talk about.

Liking: Road Trip! Tomorrow I am off to Knoxville to help Marianne celebrate her birthday. The drive is 6-7 hours and I really kind of love a solo road trip (as long as my car's a/c doesn't go out on me halfway through during the hottest July on record. Oh, yeah. That happened.) My key elements for a successful road trip are:

1. Good snacks. I usually do a combo of crunchy/salty and sweet/chewy. Now, a question for you guys: If I'm buying snacks at Trader Joe's, which I don't frequent because it's in an inconvenient part of town, what should I get?

2. AUDIO BOOKS. YAY. I am a big fan of audio books for road trips and I've downloaded the following from the library:

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (thanks for the rec!)
The James Thurber Audio Collection (love him, but it's been years)
Bossypants by Tina Fey (previously read but want to hear it in her voice)
Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman (because he's delightful)

Obviously I won't make it through all this but I like having options. Mostly I prefer an engrossing page-turner (Stephen King, Ruth Rendell) but I think I've got enough variety that I'll stay alert.

Reading: The Handmaid's Tale. I'm really into the Hulu series so I thought I should re-read the book. It's stunning and horrifying and means a lot more to me at age 45 than it did when I first read it in college. I also find it interesting how many women are refusing to watch the series or read the book because it's too disturbing. I personally feel like this is the kind of thing we need to watch (or at least read) so we can stay vigilant.

Watching: Victorian Slum House. Ah, only the British would sign up for a reality show in which they live in a Victorian slum and instead of whining about it they cry because it makes them realize how much their ancestors sacrificed so they could have a better life. Also, I would've killed for the chance to do something like this as a kid because I was completely obsessed with A Little Princess and Black Beauty and anything which dealt with the darker side of Victorian England. I'm only a few episodes (so their might yet be whining) in but I'm enjoying it immensely.

Listening: Audio Books! (See Above.) I'm also open to suggestions. I think successful audio books are all about the narrator which is why David Sedaris is 800 times funnier when heard rather than read. The last one I listened to was Jon Cryer's memoir which I found pretty amusing.

That's it for this week! Let me know about those snack, pls.