A Slow Winter Week
Hello everyone!
Just want y’all to know that the movie Aquamarine is playing in the background while I write this letter and that I’m still incredible at multitasking. I've never seen it before and BOY was I missing out on a cultural touchstone.
I feel bad for the one girl who they keep dressing in gauchos and layered tees.
Anyway, I feel like I don’t have very much news this week, which is sometimes how it goes- so instead I’m going to leave a list of things I have done recently for your consumption.
Watched the Means Girls musical movie.
Renee Rapp ATE but all the tracks *sucked*. Sounded like literal kids bop music tracks compared to the original arrangements. Overall funny tho so worth a watch I think to celebrate the moment in history.
Drank a nice Gin and Tonic with lots of lime.
Yum.
Hosted an Escape Room party at my apartment with some friends. It was themed around a graffiti street art museum that we were locked in?? Odd, but there was lots of champagne involved so it worked.
We escaped the room with 8 seconds to spare.
Read the Cruel Prince series.
I love an enemies-to-lovers arc.
Pretty sure I’ve come to terms with never growing out of my fantasy era and that’s just! my! business!
Claire and I got all dressed up to go to a bar last Friday in Bushwick trying to scout places to host my 24th birthday party but I forgot it was Drag Race night and there were a million people there and that was not the vibe so we didn't even go in.
I should mention I also noticed a lot of people inside were wearing leather puppy masks, and I am not one to yuck anyone’s yum at all, but that energy was too much for me that evening so I unfortunately could not bring myself to walk in.
My outfit was cute I think and was wasted :(
I FTed Sydney for a bit before her work trip to Ethiopia
Was very nice to catch up and also her skin looked radiant on camera whereas I looked like a sickly Victorian vampire child.
I was in my going-out look before going to and then leaving the puppy mask bar.
The look was: bare face, save for dark eyes and red lips. Not sure if I pulled it off but I’ll leave a photo for you.
Got a walking pad/standing desk combo for my work-from-home setup!
It’s AMAZING. My work day has been so elevated and I feel so much more productive on my feet and moving.
I also practice my catwalk so I can serve while serving my company.
Pretty uneventful, but very fun overall, and also side note- it just started snowing here in NYC! First snow that has stuck all year. Miss you all very much and can't wait to hear about y’all’s weeks :)
Very Truly Yours,
Avery
Dear Avery,
It sounds like you had a fun week! I’m honored to get a glowy skin shout out and sorry to hear about the puppy masks ruining your pre-birthday plans :(
For anyone wondering, the glow was thanks to the Sunday Riley sleeping oil which I acquired about a year ago and use as a little treat when I want to feel rich. It has a v luxe smell and it provided a bit of extra comfort and self care on my business trip! Going on a pretty demanding trip has me thinking a lot about self care and how small creature comforts really add up to make me happier and less anxious. Since it’s top of mind right now, here are my must have travel essentials for when you need to do some hard core globe trotting but you’re a comfy cozy gal:
Long haul flight half time refresher kit
I packed some soothing face wipes, heavy moisturizer, eye cream, balm.com, and listerine spray in my carryon. Having a pick me up to look forward to at the part of the flight where I started to feel -icky- gave me strength.
Would also recommend some travel compression socks. Seems like an old person thing but arriving without swollen feet rules.
Power bank, duh
Self explanatory, I use the one that fits in my July carry on. Having extra power means you don’t have to rely on finding an outlet or having working seat back power on your flight. You can use your Bluetooth noise canceling headphones and play whatever music puts you in your perfect flight mood without worrying about battery budgeting.
If you’re in the market for a small roller carry on I recommend the July essential carry on wholeheartedly! It’s super smooth and the bumpers will make it last forever. The hard shell compact nature of it also makes it good for international travel since carry-on restrictions can be more intense overseas and hard shell suitcases are more resistant to bed bugs.
(Perhaps niche? But speaking of the little critters,) an insect repellent treated sleeping liner.
I love the Sea to Summit CoolMax Adaptor Travel Liner with Insect Shield (it’s on sale rn!). If you’re traveling a bit more on the budget or adventure side or you’re just not sure what conditions are going to be like where you’re traveling, slipping into this bad boy provides an extra level of security and it helped me log some worry free nights. If you’ve ever had a bed bug scare, you’ll know this $50 is well spent.
Comfort snacks
In addition to emergency meal replacement protein bars, I love bringing some fun comforting snacks. This trip I enjoyed a nightly treat of flavor blasted goldfish and a Ghirardelli dark chocolate salted caramel square. Bring whatever you like but if you’ll be working more than playing, it can be nice to have something that’s extra special and a little frivolous to help you wind down at the end of the day.
(Similar vein) shower supplies you’re excited to use and the best skincare you can pack
When you’re exhausted from travel days and heavy work schedules, a shower (especially a cold one if the hot water is less than reliable) can be the last thing you want to do at the end of the day or first thing in the morning. Make the experience a bit more enticing with some delightful bath products. To me, this means great smelling. The heavy hitter on my most recent trip was a travel sized Saltair body wash in the scent “Santal bloom” from target.
I also brought my Sunday Riley sleeping oil which kept my skin plump and lively despite my level of dehydration and general exhaustion. (#notsponsored)
Overall, I had an amazing trip! Catch me trying to make injera, shiro, and fool at home since there’s no Ethiopian food available near me. If you want to learn a little something I encourage you to read the BBC article “Ethiopia’s tigray war, the short medium and long story” Or if you want just the fun bits of some new culture exposure, see if there’s an Ethiopian restaurant near you and ask for some shirowat!
PS - in the fantasy reading lane I am 80% through ACOSF and 🤭🤭🤭. Might have to start cruel prince next. Thanks for the rec, Avery.
Much love,
Sydney
Dear Avery et al,
How have you never seen Aquamarine before? I think I’ve watched it twice a summer since 2006. It is the perfect teenybopper movie.
I loved reading about all the fun things you got up to this past week. I have been chained to the desk for the past 14 days and living vicariously through you.
I am, however, intrigued by this fantasy book rec. I am also refusing to outgrow the obsession (rebirthed thanks to Sarah J Maas). I think I read all of the Throne of Glass series in 10 days.
When I haven't had my nose to the grindstone, I’ve fallen DEEP into a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills hole. It’s kind of like an adult cocomelon. I want to be Lisa Rinna when I grow up. My Pinterest is currently covered in inspo pics of intense eye makeup and short choppy hair. If you see me with a new look next month, mind your business!
It also snowed in TX! .5” but we still shut down the roads.
My goal this week is to really glamourize my trips to the office. If I have to be there a million hours a week I might as well enjoy it. I’ll update you next week.
Very truly yours,
Julianne
P.S. Don’t feel bad for Jojo -- she pioneered the layered tee look
Greetings from Julianne
Red Light Therapy
Dear Everyone,
I feel I had a very different experience from you all this week as it snowed 4 inches this week in Fayetteville and stayed below 25 degrees all week. And given the hilly topography and 2 wheel drive car I possess, I only ventured out on very chill walks to the local neighborhood market
Walmart. (it is literal crime punishable by death to go to any other grocery store here).
During this time inside I spent a lot of it watching KDramas and talking to my roommate about existing as an artist and the responsibility of our spiritual connection to the universe. Really a great time.
Also started the week by being extremely stressed as I has to restart an extremely important art piece as the community space I was using is not temperature regulated and the piece dried out to fast. I then decided to extend my lease in Fayetteville, joined a new studio, and began the project again :)
Oh and I need venture to Bloggie’s apartment to create my heart, knee-patch jeans for Valentines Day. It was an easy craft. I thrifted a baggy pair of jeans and a red patterned shirt. I then used the thrifted shirt material to cut out hearts, which I then hand stitched onto the knees of my jeans. I can’t wait to wear them around :)
So my recommendations for being stuck inside the house:
MacBook Pro 13” - great for accomplishing computer work and watching KDramas on Viki.com
Viki.com Subscription- so you can have access to more KDramas
Heated Electric Blanket- Great for when it’s -5 degrees outside and you have floor to ceiling windows
Pacas Socks- Socks your mom buys you made from Alpaca fur to keep your feet warm
Rich Boyfriend- This is good to have so he can pay for you Hinterland Ticket.
Let me know if you guys end up trying any of my recommendations!!!
Very truly yours,
Grace McCraw
