Q2: On Repeat

some favorites!

This On Repeat is much shorter than the last, mostly because I’ve been indulging in a lot of bad habits that I can’t recommend - to myself or anyone else! But here’s what I’ve got for you this quarter.

Below Deck

I will always be binge watching something, I was a TV-on-DVD girlie long before I had a Netflix account. Lately it’s been Below Deck. This is a perfect I-just-need-to-throw-something-on show with juuuuust enough plot and visual intrigue. I love the upstairs-downstairs drama, and the intersection of stories about class, privilege, and tourism is extremely my bag.

I’ve just finished the Mediterranean season where a chef is fired in part because she served guests on a luxury super yacht Old El Paso hard taco shells from the box, absolutely stunning reality television.

Blueberry Muffins

said muffins!

I adore baking, I find it really calming to follow recipes and create something you can share. I have been living in a series of truly terrible shared housing for the last few years, which has made baking somewhat difficult to indulge in. But when

Alison Roman

published her blueberry muffin recipe, I needed to try it.

I’ve made blueberry muffins before, this is nothing groundbreaking or new. They are quick to make, the texture of these is perfect, and refreshing to have around, especially on work-from-home days when I’ve taken to snacking a bit too much. I’ve made them a few times over the last few months, including this weekend. It’s a great recipe, as is standard for Alison Roman.

Oil Painting Classes (or, Creating)

I took an oil painting class for the last few months, which has been so calming as someone who loves being creative but has a job that primarily takes place in Excel sheets (boo). Having a tangible thing that I’ve created, a couple of hours every week in a classroom without any screens, and making bad art.

I think adults need to embrace learning new things more often, and I don’t just mean from books or YouTube videos, actual classes in your community can be such a fun way to get out of your own head and out of routines you might be stuck in.

Primavera Sound Barcelona

Primavera shuttle bus, thank u for ur service.

I wrote a whole essay about this already, but Primavera was the BIG trip of the year for me. I was propelled through the first half of the year by imagining myself spending a week eating patatas bravas and standing in the sun seeing live music on the Med. It was a profoundly transformational trip for me, the festival is going to hold a very special place in my heart even if it turns out to be the only time I attend. I’m waiting to see the lineup for next year, but my plan is to try and return (or possibly try the Porto edition) next year.

Pixel Flesh by Ellen Atlanta

I have been seeing this book in shops and passing since it came out, but I was in Foyles and happened to open a signed copy that hooked me. The author had written “Nurture yourself in every dimension! Love, Ellen ❤️.” I couldn’t bring myself to pick up another copy to see if this is just something she’d written in all of them, because it felt so kind, and now understanding the context of her book, even more so.

This was an incredibly hard read, but a rewarding one. Atlanta treats the subject with so much care, beautifully weaving together essays on the conflagration of technology, capitalism, and beauty standards.

Reframing failure

I’ve been having a Not Great year, personally - I planned to write an essay here every week, and for three months I did before completely derailing. I was so proud to have kept up with writing, and writing a lot of essays I am proud of. I’ve had to reset my own expectations and try to not be that mean to myself about failing. I failed at writing as consistently as I set out to, but writing anything here is a win. I am trying so hard to put thoughts down on (metaphorical) paper to share. Appreciate those of you who have stuck around!