This weekend, I crawled out of my cozy cocoon to catch my friends in a play (a two-hander, which they crushed), which was a far better experience than my trip to see Alien: Romulus. I mean, sure, the movie was visually stunning, I’ll give it that. By Sunday, I had fully embraced my inner hermit again, but does being in a group chat and replying to messages really count as hermit life? That feels pretty social to me. When I wasn’t busy texting, I was either reading, listening to an audiobook, or indulging in some guilty pleasure with Emily in Paris (yes, I have a soft spot for bad TV, OKAY?).
High of the week: Waking at 6:20am! I’m a new person!
Low of the week: The construction next-door that’s been starting before 8am
Thoughts & Things:
are you brat or are you demure?
i’ve been real into revisiting Jiminy Glick interviews
also really into this channel’s music sets and Marcello Hernandez’s set, being half Cuban this REALLY hit
i still haven’t tried out that Jenga that my therapist suggested
Baked In A Buttery Flaky Crust throwback. do you think she filed for divorce after this shoot?
maybe it’s because i’m really getting into the romance (and slightly smuttier) book genre, i very much enjoyed this article: Embrace Your Love for Romance Novels. It’s Good for You
When we read romance novels that speak directly to who we are, or who we want to be, it allows us to become the characters and live through their stories. It also helps us know ourselves more by highlighting aspects of love that are particularly important to us.
-Embrace Your Love for Romance Novels. It’s Good for You by Myisha Battle
The places I keep going back to: There’s something about 85+ degree days that causes my motivation to pack its bags and leave. Getting dressed in something other than workout clothes feels like a Herculean task. I mean, why put on actual clothes when the second that I step outside I will transform into a sweaty ogre? All that makeup and clean clothes will have been donned in vain. For this reason, my motivation to explore is on vacation. It’s been a while since I've checked out a new coffee shop, bar, or restaurant—all I want are the familiar haunts, places where I don't have to think too hard about what to expect. Places where the people most definitely know me and that have added to my sense of community in LA. While I will be checking out a new spot this week, I want to give a shoutout to the places that just can't get rid of me:
Alamo Drafthouse
Coffee & Plants
Bulan Thai
Baby Batista
Bar Bandini
Obet & Del’s
Silverlake Vegan
What’s interesting me lately: For reasons that I can't explain, I've lately been fascinated with the history of lipstick and blush. Forever and an age ago, I heard a theory that the use of lipstick and blush was meant to mimic the natural post-coital flush; a sign of vitality and sexual allure. Since I couldn't remember where or from whom I'd heard that, I ended up going down a tiny historical rabbit hole. So! Lipstick and blush can be traced back as far as ancient Egyptians who used red ochre mixed with resin to add color to their lips. Meanwhile, in ancient Greece, they would mix berries and insects to achieve that ruddy complexion. The coloring of lips and cheeks has at times distinguished the wealthy from the poor, and at other times sex workers from "proper ladies." Oh, and at some point in English history, it was believed that red lipstick had the power to repel malevolent spirits.
The symbolism and perception of lipstick and blush have shifted over the years. During the Victorian era, for example, makeup was often frowned upon, associated with actresses (GASP) and women of ill repute (double GASP!). Yet, by the 20th century, lipstick had become a symbol of female empowerment and independence, popularized by Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Blush, too, transformed from a subtle indicator of health and youth to a bold statement of fashion and identity. I've always seen makeup as a blend of art and science, but considering its history and everything that it has represented and has come to represent—I find it to be really fascinating. Last fact that I'll leave you with, "By 1770, a law was passed stating that any woman deemed to be using makeup as a means of tricking men into marriage could be tried as a witch."
Update on fairy smut: I never thought I'd say this, but I am officially hooked on fairy smut. Last week, I poked fun at myself and this journey that I was embarking on, but after starting Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series, I'm now all in. I'd heard how after the first book it becomes an all-consuming obsession, but the first book was rough at times. Feyre, the lead, isn't particularly likable (SO WHINY), and it's a lot of build-up before the more exciting parts come to pass. So I went from being a passive listener to an I-just-can't-stop-listening listener without really clocking the change. So, much to my dismay, I am now fully enthralled by the intricate landscapes of Pythian and the complex, morally ambiguous characters that populate it. The fantasy, the romance, the tantalizing elements of danger and desire...ugh. Immediately after I was done listening to the first book, I downloaded the second one from Libby (highly recommend the more dramatic Graphic Audio version). And, I'm not proud to admit that I've only got 3.5 hours left of the second book. I will definitely be starting the third before the week is over.
I signed up for silly smut, but instead, I'm getting a richly woven tapestry of political intrigue, deep-seated loyalties, and journeys of personal growth. Though make no mistake, the sexy fairies abound! Despite Feyre continuing to be annoying and the supporting characters far more interesting, I know that I'm going to continue to binge this series. And if Feyre hurts any of the characters in the second book, I will really, really not like her. But also, it won't stop me from listening because I need to know about the other hot fairies we haven't met yet.
Myspace Throwback: In honor of the NoPlace app, which channels that nostalgic MySpace vibe into today's social media scene, I'm filling out the sort of questionnaire that I would have on the platform. You know, that "check out this quirky personality-revealing questionnaire!" sort of thing. Back in the day of Top 8 Friends, learning HTML to jazz up your profile, and bulletin surveys. NoPlace is basically serving up millennial nostalgia. So, like, add me to your Top 8 if you have similar responses.
What’s your current mood: sleeeeeepy. i woke up at 6:20am. guys, this is a HUGE deal for me
Last text you got (no context): 🫠🫠🫠
What’s your favorite song rn: honestly, i have no idea. there’s just been a lot of audiobooks as of late
What are your 3 favorite colors: mustard yellow, terracotta red, & rustic pink
What did you do for your last birthday: had a Wes Anderson themed dinner party
What’s the last movie you watched: Alien: Romulus ugh
Zodiac sign: Capricorn sun, Aquarius rising, and Cancer moon. gotta five you the full picture here
Your height: 5’1
Tattoos: yep, six…for now
Twirl or cut your spaghetti: people cut their spaghetti??
What’s the last thing you ate: naan with bitchin sauce (chipotle flavor)
What’s one thing you can’t live without: my cat babies
Whats a weird fact about you: i CANNOT stand the way pencils or cardboard boxes feel. when my nails touch either of those…i’m cringing just right this
Creating space to support my creative process: In the whirlwind of our daily lives, it's easy to forget that creativity doesn't require grand, uninterrupted stretches of time to flourish. Instead, I've found that creating small pockets of space—even if it's just two minutes—can make all the difference in supporting my creative process. By allowing myself these brief moments without the pressure to spend hours or produce a masterpiece, I've been learning to let my ideas come and go more freely. Sure, I wrote for two hours yesterday, that doesn't mean that I'll be in a place to do that again today. Embracing this approach has been particularly helpful for me lately, with a schedule that's a tornado of to-do lists. In learning to cut myself some slack, I'm doing my best to embrace the sporadic nature of my current creativity; learning to nurture my passion amid the chaos.
These brief trips into my creative brain have hit at times when I really need it, though certainly not when I wanted it (cue the Rolling Stones). Right now, work seems to suck up most of my time and grief drains most of my energy, which makes these moments a breath of fresh air. The temporary respite t allows me, if only for a few seconds, to reconnect with my inner self; brief moments to recharge my mental batteries. Small moments that remind me that there's more to life than my daily to-do list. Honoring brief moments of creativity isn't what I ever believed would qualify as creating space for creativity, but I think that's only because quantifying our output is how we've been taught to measure success. For so long, I've vilified brief moments of creativity as not wanting something badly enough, being lazy, or not trying hard enough. I'm discovering that when things are tough, replenishing that metaphorical well consists of getting through it, not fuel for our creativity.
As another scorching week rolls in, I'm looking forward to checking out a new bar with a friend. We have book business to discuss (aka A Court of Thorns and Roses). I will also be making plans to head to Atlanta at the start of September. Feel free to share any recommendations; it'll be my first time visiting!
In case you missed it:
August Essay: What do I do with my hands?
June Essay: On Grieving