Everything else I enjoyed this month other than scary movies about creatures running amok.
READING
Zero Days by Ruth Ware
I love Ruth Ware. Her books were introduced to me by my mother and I have since become obsessed. Zero Days is her latest and its unlike her previous bestsellers which read more like traditional mystery stories. Zero Days is an incredible thriller that follows Jack, a penetration tester, as she tries to clear her name for the murder of her “hacktivist” husband. It’s been said that Ware is the new Agatha Christie, but is she also the new John Grisham? Apparently so. This book is everywhere, but I checked it out from local library. A reminder to support your libraries!
WATCHING
The Fall of the House of Usher
Mike Flanagan is back at it again and he is better than ever. After last year’s disappointing The Midnight Club (which was subsequently canceled leaving a lot of story left to be told) it is a thrill to see our man back on top of his craft. Which is— genius use of shadow, social commentary wrapped in humor, beautiful monologues, and scaring the ever living shit out of us all. The Fall of the House of Usher is an incredible pick if you can handle some gore (or at least forgive it for the sake of the story) and if you love retellings of American classics. He’s made Poe sexy (again?)
DRINKNG
Sloane’s Heavenly Cream Tea
I know you were expecting some fun cocktail here but I have got to talk about tea today. I tried this tea while in Toronto and I became so obsessed I had to order it to be literally imported into the states so I could have it every day. That sounds excessive, I mean, they ship to the US, but you know what I mean. The Heavenly Cream blend tastes like a sweeter, softer Earl Grey and is so amazing iced. If you feel like being really bougie and shipping in tea, do it.
DOING
Journaling
I’ve traveled somewhere to do something every week for the past 6 weeks. I’m exhausted so the idea of “doing” seems totally out of the question. All that said, I’ve started journaling again as a way to de-stress after the day, sort out how I am feeling, and pick through my thoughts. I can definitely get deeper, some of the entries are basically like, “Hi, I’m tired.” But building it back into my schedule feels like such a big win for me. I used to journal everyday when I was younger. I didn’t know it then, of course, but it’s an excellent coping mechanism and so good for an overactive mind. If you’ve always wanted to try journaling or are kicking yourself for not journaling enough, the simple way to start is to just start. But here are some steps that helped me make it a reality:
1) Buy a nice ass journal. I was using these flimsy books because I’m cheap, but I realized having really nice pages and a really nice pen made me want to write more often. It works.
2) Keep the journal by your bed. Or your desk. I am visual. Which is why my apartment is always so messy looking. If I put something away, I totally forget it exists! So, unfortunately for the vibe of my place, I have to leave things out I don’t want to forget. Come on over and you’ll see journals, books, vitamins, and more out in the open for my poor brain.
3) Start small. Challenge yourself to two sentences a day. Then three. Then four. Chances are, you’ll write more than that anyway.
Listening
Spotify’s Daylist
I am so obsessed with the new AI features on Spotify. The most fun is the “Daylist” feature that auto-populates a new playlist three times a day based on your listening habits. The titles of these lists have become just as fun as checking my horoscope and say just as much.