Things I'm Loving (v.6)
Things I'm Loving (v.6)
After a short hiatus, I'm back!
Hello again. Welcome to all our new readers! And a wave to Alice, who’ll be helping me get these out to you regularly.
Some quick updates: It was a busy spring (I went to Norway!) a full summer (I turned 40 + hosted my nieces for a week) and a hopping fall (I had articles published in Guideposts (print-only), Insider, and Business Insider).
OH! And for those of you who remember my blow up bathtub, I now have a real bathtub. I decided to gift myself a bathtub for my 40th birthday and it was a labor of love. I hired out the install of the tub, and then got help to put up the tiles. When I take a bath in this tub, I feel rich. It’s deep. I soak. I fall asleep. I cannot believe I lived 7 years in this home and resented the shower for that long.
Okay, back to the regularly scheduled Things I’m Loving. 😊
Something for play
These incredibly fun kits are something I’ve waited months for (and mine is en route, as I type). Tzaddi’s a Canadian artist that I’ve known online for about ten years. She’s kind and talented and helps me think about things in new ways.
I’m not sure when Tzaddi first started creating blackout poetry from old book pages, but it’s been a while now. I was lucky enough to win several prints of hers in a contest.
I love that her Blackout Poetry Kits come with a delightful guide and curated vintage pages for you to subvert or play with.
Her website really captures it well —
Blackout Poetry Techniques
Create captivating blackout poetry that reflects your unique voice! Start with any markers or pens, or explore the rich possibilities inspired by the Blackout Poetry Techniques booklet.
Let your imagination run wild as you uncover hidden stories within vintage book pages. Express your emotions, tell your stories, or simply enjoy the meditative process
Doesn’t that sound perfectly captivating and fun? And I don’t know about you, but I could use a little extra play during the holiday season.
Something to listen to
Even though reels aren’t generally something I love, I found this one to be really thought-provoking.
The speaker talks about how our attention’s being colonized because the lands all been taken already. This feels really relevant— especially with everything that’s happening across the world.
The nuance and chaos of the Palestine/Isreal situation. The commercial noise of Christmas consumerism. What’s happening in the Congo.
It really made me stop and think about where my attention is going and what I’m doing to hold space for where I want my attention to go, rather than letting it be pulled by others.
Something to watch
Dr. Who The Giggle (Special #3)
Whether you’re a David Tennant fan, a Dr. Who fan, or a Ncuti Gatwa fan, this 3rd 60th anniversary special is a treat. In fact, it’s such a treat that I’ve watched it twice.
I won’t say too much (because, spoilers), but I will share that Neil Patrick Harris is in it, and that I cried at the end.
If you do watch it, there’s a moment when Tennant is outside with Donna and Gatwa and they have an exchange. That interaction and the final scene with Tennant are the parts that made me teary. I think they capture something that will resonate with many people.
Something to help you slow down
Anybody else remember that Ellen episode where Kristen Bell talked about how her husband surprised her with a sloth visit on a birthday and she started sobbing?
Who doesn’t need a sloth cam in their lives? Now, I have to admit, I am not a sloth person. BUT, this is so much fun. If you need something to help you slow down, just look at that face:
I don’t know why sloths are so cute— maybe there’s a scientific reason? But I do know that we could all use some extra animal love these days.
Something to make
Okay. Here’s a bonus bonus, even though it’s coming before the wildcard.
I made it for dinner one night recently, and a friend said I should share. It’s a quick and dirty dinner that manages to still have vegetables and meat, plus I did pretty much no cooking other than putting on a pot of water to boil.
Gather:
ravioli, gnocchi, stuffed pasta of choice. Mine tonight was spinach and ricotta ravioli, of the dried variety.
jarred pesto. I like the tiny ones from Aldi. They can be used for a whole meal and I don’t even have to heat them.
jars of other vegetables: I picked olives and roasted peppers to go with this one, but I’ve used artichoke hearts, canned corn, and other similar foods in the past.
roasted pine nuts. I have a giant bag from Costco that lives in my freezer. I’ve also used walnuts or pecans. The key here is to quick roast (I use my toaster oven!)
canned meat. I went with canned mussels, although I could’ve just as easily picked canned chicken or a frozen seafood mix. I heated up the mussels in the microwave so they’d be warm.
Mix it all together. Top with feta (or preferred cheese). Enjoy easy, low-prep meal.
Cat-licking good (as endorsed by Freya, who cleaned my bowl after I finished eating).
Wildcard: Something to spread joy
This week’s pick for spreading joy is focused on spreading joy to others.
I learned about this website from my friend Elizabeth, who picks someone from here every year.
Whether or not Santa is your jam, I love that these are actual letters to Santa and that there’s variety to choose from.
So there you have it, this week’s issue of Things I’m Loving.
I’m always on the lookout for new gems— if you know of something, please send it my way! I’m at: monica@monicaherald.com.
And as I heard from an editor recently, may your holiday season be the merriest and brightest.