The 📖📺🎧🔪🛍️ List

+ the value of slowing down

Typically, I move fast. When there are chores to be accomplished, errands to be run, and a general checklist to tackle, I’m moving as fast as I can both figuratively and literally. My mind goes a mile a minute while I mentally map out my errand route (I always try to plan my stops in the most efficient, logical way), and I move just as fast in and out of the car and around stores when said errands are in action.

The same goes for how I am around the house. While I tend to let mail and clothes and hair accessories pile up, when I decide to deal with them, it’s in one fell swoop as quickly as I can. It’s almost like I enjoy wearing myself out by exerting all my energy into this menial tasks; I save it all up in order to challenge myself or something. It’s all self-imposed, too. No one is demanding I move as quickly as I do — I’m doing it to myself.

“Hurry!” I scream inwardly. “Faster! You’ve gotta get all this done NOW. Not later, not slower. Right now, as fast as you can.”

It’s exhausting and, more often than not, totally unnecessary.

Sure, there are occasions in life where the rush is necessary like if you’re running late for an appointment or a parent or in-law just announced they’re stopping by uninvited. But the way I stress myself out about my own, silly tasks that have absolutely no deadline on them is just ridiculous, so I’ve slowed down. A lot. And it feels so good?

Instead of having an all-or-nothing mindset, I’ve shifted into a “I have time” mindset. I don’t have to do every single errand today - I have the whole week. I don’t have to clean the house top to bottom this morning - I can do a little each day until it’s done. The world isn’t going to end and my life isn’t going to fall apart if I don’t finish my seasonal closet reorg in one day (this example is pulled directly from this week, FYI. I started on Monday? Tuesday? And haven’t finished. There are clothes and bins everywhere). I’ve been forced to slow down lately, and I’m starting to lean into it. It hasn’t been easy, trust me. I’m on the high end of the anal retentive spectrum when it comes to feeling like everything is in its right place and that I’ve accomplished a lot that day. Alas, I’m taking pleasure in the value of slowing down, and I have to admit - it feels better.

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READING

I am all in with House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. IDK why I waited so long to read this novel, but it is literally incredible and I’m not even 100 pages in yet. Her writing is so fantastic and engaging and descriptive, that I don’t even mind how much of it is lengthy paragraphs of narrative. So far, there’s hardly any dialogue but it’s not needed with how expertly she describes the characters, the surroundings, and everything else.

I also recently subscribed to

Caroline Chambers

Substack,

What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking

and really enjoying it. She’s who I got the Mob Wife Salad recipe from! I recommend subscribing if it’s in your budget. Totally worth it.

WATCHING

When we were in Chicago, the hotel had Netflix capabilities as long as you signed into your account (one reason I love technology. Remember just a few years ago when all you had to choose from were the few cable channels that worked in a hotel room? WILD) so we decided to start The Gentlemen, a new dark comedy by Guy Ritchie. It stars Theo James (The White Lotus season two) and Daniel Ings (lesser known British actor who starred in this UK series I loved years ago called Lovesick) as two vastly different brothers who have, ahem, a lot to deal with their father, the Duke of Halstead, dies. It also stars a new-to-me actress, Kaya Scodelario, who is phenom. It’s violent, it’s sexy, it’s hilarious — it’s what great British TV is made of. We are loving it! Watch it on Netflix.

Last night, I insisted we watch Ricky Stanicky, a new comedy on Prime Video featuring John Cena and my newfound boyfriend, Andrew Santino. It was, as one might expect, pretty terrible. The plot was silly and the writing was pretty weak, but I have to give it to John Cena — he’s fucking hilarious and actually a very good actor. Would I recommend it, though? Absolutely not. Zac Efron is not, in my opinion, a leading man and ever since his “jaw surgery,” he’s really hard to look at. Anyway, if you’re interested for some reason… Watch it on Prime.

LISTENING TO

I mentioned this on IG stories last week, but Not Skinny But Not Fat’s podcast episode with Kristen Stewart has made me a K.Stew convert. It just goes to show that you don’t really know someone if you only know them via how the media presents them to you. I thought she was a brooding, moody, kinda bitchy, can’t-be-bothered type, and she isn’t that at all. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, has a great sense of humor, and yeah, I’ll say it - her voice is fucking sexy as hell. It’s a great listen. Listen to the episode.

MAKING

I’m relying heavily on staples on lately, but I did make these Melt In Your Mouth Meatballs last week and Zac and I were both like “DAMN.” They were SO good, and I think it’s because you let the breadcrumbs and milk sit with each other for a minute or so. That’s what does it.

Some tried and trues I made this week:

Brocc Your Body’s One Pot Egg Roll Bowl

Skinny Taste’s Unstuffed Cabbage Soup

Turkey Taco Meat (so easy, so good) (note: I use my own Taco Seasoning recipe for tacos and it’s bomb)

SHOPPING

• We have our only wedding of the year next weekend, and I wanted something springy and feminine. Ellen found this dress on Anthro, I promptly ordered it (in the orange motif), and it’s perfect. I especially love it because it’s a not a true “wedding guest dress,” meaning I can wear it again this spring/summer season for a simple date night, too!

• I spotted these Jenny Bird earrings at Nordstrom, asked for them for my birthday, and my kind sister gifted them to me! They are so stellar and look even better on. I’ve been wanting a pair of silver somethings, and these fit the bill. I love the double hoop.

• Y’all know the limit does not exist for me when it comes to hair accessories. I have an entire bathroom drawer dedicated to my collection of ties, clips, claws, pins, etc. I saw this pearl flower claw at Target yesterday and had to have it. It’s just so fun for the coming months!

• I also picked up four extra storage bins (on sale!) while I was at Target because of my aforementioned chaotic seasonal closet switch. Sigh. I hate storing my clothes in plastic bins but when you live in a 100 year old Craftsman, storage is just not a thing so you have to make do.

• Lastly, I went in person to Sephora this week to get my goods and, no surprise, ended up getting a few new things that weren’t on my list. Oops.

  • Givenchy Rose Perfecto Lip Balm 24HR Hydration: My sister actually texted me about this while I was there, so I immediately tried it on and wow. This stuff smells good, feels amazing, and looks fantastic. I’m such a sucker for designer lip balm, and this stuff is stunning. I got the 303 color (a sheer coral red, pictured below).

  • Tatcha Skincare: I’ve always seen Tatcha at Sephora but never paid much attention to it. However, this wonderful woman talked me into trying their primer and moisturizer, and then was kind enough to give me samples of their night cream and eye cream. It’s a Japanese skincare line that’s crazy expensive (not La Mer expensive, but up there), but possibly worth it. So far, I love it. My skin feels like silk and I’ve had no adverse reactions to any of the product. I’ll keep y’all abreast!

  • Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation: I actually wrote about this on Monday because I’ve been using it for months and love it, but had an inkling the color I was matched to was too light and I was right. I had the woman who helped me this week rematch me, and I feel so much better about it. It literally blends in with my skin, which is what I want. FWIW, my color is 3WO (Warm Olive).

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Thank you for being subscribed to my Substack. It means the world, and I get so much joy from it. Have a great weekend, and I’ll meet you back here next week.

xox,

EGM