I wondered what anyone could do on the ice for so long. Wouldn’t it get boring skating in circles? Alas, I soon discovered that we were all too busy fighting for survival to get bored. Everyone was either struggling or with someone who was struggling. Which one was I? The one struggling ꒰๑•̥﹏•̥๑꒱
Sundays are days to wake up slowly. I bask in the warmth under the covers and lie still, careful not to open up pockets to the morning chill. I don’t need more sleep, but I doze off as I try to recall last night’s dream. When the last bits of the lost dream finally escape, it’s time to get out of bed. It’s closer to lunch than breakfast, but I have breakfast anyway. The rest of the day passes by in a haze as I drift around in pyjamas, not doing much, simply closing the previous week. And when I find myself back in bed at the end of the day, in a fresh change of pyjamas, the next week comes along.
I’ve been reading in the park, but it’s getting cold and I can’t concentrate anymore. I dip into the French bistro + cafe overlooking the park from across the sidewalk for some warmth, and when the feeling comes back to my body again, I remember that I haven’t yet eaten lunch. I opt for the onion soup gratinee — it’s French onion soup gratinee, but the French is implied — and of course I go for a cappuccino as well.
ONE // Tahini & pomegranate almond cookies
I’ve been making apple crumble and microwave chocolate mug cakes pretty regularly, but for something a little fancier, try these tahini & pomegranate almond cookies… which reminds me that I’ve been wanting to make raspberry almond thumbprint cookies (I have yet to look for a recipe but I’m sure that there are tons of them out there). Thumbprint cookies are so lowkey, and I’d love to have a tin of them around throughout the holidays for those late nights I stay up cramming posts for Blogmas. I’ve also been wanting to break out apricot rosemary currant scones again, which were quite a hit last year! Some more recipes I’ve been eyeing are lace cookies, matcha/red bean/almond rainbow cookies, and for those looking for something savoury, herbed cheddar latkes.
TWO // Home decor Black Friday sales
If you caught up with my new apartment tour, you’ll know that I’m not actively decorating anymore, plus, Black Friday sales are long over, but Crystalin x Crystalin Marie has such a beautiful home and I’ve kinda just appreciated her blog post as a home tour, so give that a peep if you’re a snoop like me. If you’re looking to organise your home, one place you could start is with your wardrobe. Jessica x Little Henry Lee has some great tips about curating your wardrobe, and I especially love the one about getting your proportions right.
THREE // Why you should consider a hobby you’re bad at
In a recent interview, I was asked what my hobbies were besides blogging and what I blogged about, i.e. cafe crawling and travel. I probably should have had an answer for this up my sleeve, but I had done so many interviews and nobody had asked me this, so I was stumped for a second. I meekly said that I enjoyed reading, which was lame, and also… I blog about books so I cheated with that answer. Afterward I remembered that I enjoyed swimming, singing, and playing guitar. However, I have always done those activities with goals in mind: I swam on varsity, I auditioned for honour choirs and solos, and, well I guess I don’t have a goal with the guitar, so there’s one for me. Anywho, so I think that the concept of considering a hobby you’re bad at is interesting. I shared this concept in an earlier Friday Favourites, but here it is again in different words. The idea is that a hobby done for the pure joy of it without any goal in mind will leave you more fulfilled. Some people may debate about the “more fulfilled” part, but at the very least, having a hobby without a goal in mind relieves pressure and makes room for enjoyment. Hmm, I think I’d like to take up knitting again. Maybe it’s just the winter season speaking to me.
FOUR // How to fall in love with Instagram and craft your own community
I’m sure that most people have a love-hate relationship with Instagram. Rebecca x From Roses has some great tips to nudge it over to the love side. Something I’m working on doing myself is pushing myself to make conversation on Instagram. For more Instagram insights, who better to hear from than Instagram’s director of fashion partnerships Eva Chen? Amber x By Amber Burns had the amazing opportunity to meet Eva Chen at a book signing in Philly and shared some words of wisdom from Eva Chen. For more about Eva Chen’s career journey, check out her guest appearance in the Second Life Podcast, which I found recommended by Jessica x By Jessica Yang. And whilst we’re talking about biz, I enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at Elle & Company from Lauren’s assistant Marisa’s perspective.
FIVE // What to do in Paris when it rains
For some, the holidays mean staying at home with loved ones, and for others, it means traveling with loved ones. My family has always traveled over the holidays, and we don’t even put up a tree anymore since we aren’t home! For a bit of wanderlust, check out Carin x Paris in Four Month’s tips on what to do in Paris when it rains. You can also repurpose those tips for your own city and think about what museums, theatres, or coffee shops you might want to stow away in. Some more travel guides I’ve been loving are this one on the best Christmas markets in Europe and this one on what to do in NYC over the holidays. If I find myself back in NYC over the holidays, I definitely want to pop by City Bakery for a cuppa hot chocolate topped with a humongous homemade marshmallow. I’ve also wanted to have frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity for the longest time, but I’ve heard that it’s always packed. For those of you planning to enjoy the holidays at home, warm your heart with this adorable video of Naomi x Love Taza’s family decorating their Christmas tree, and if you’re looking for another activity for your family, why not try a Harry Potter movie night? (Halloween or Christmas, Harry Potter is always festive!)
What’s a hobby you’re bad at?
PPS: I’m giving Blogmas a go! Let me know in the comments if there’s anything you’d like to see on the blog (ू•ᴗ•ू❁)
Let me tell you the story of how I ended up in this apartment. The lease for my previous apartment ended mid August. At that time, I thought I was going to be moving to NYC, so I was looking for apartments in NYC, but I needed some place to stay in the meantime. It just so happened that my good friend Georgina had just moved into her new two-bedroom apartment in Philly and was still looking for a long-term roomie (she had an unfortunate situation in which her initial roomie backed out the night before they were supposed to sign the lease together). Until Georgina found someone, she offered her place for me to crash. It was supposed to be a short-term solution, but one month turned into another, I still hadn’t found an apartment, and she still hadn’t found a roomie. Then I decided I would stay in Philly for the next chapter of my life, and everything fell into place. I officially signed the lease at the very end of October and couldn’t wait to move in properly. It took us a long time to get here, but it was all worth it in the end, because we couldn’t have a more ideal housing situation. I feel so lucky that during this transitional period in my life, I get to live with one of my best friends from college.
– I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. –
To be published by St. Martin’s Press on 08 Jan 2019
Goodreads | Amazon
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.