Taking the edge off
In times like these, we need a little frivolity
I think we can all agree it’s been a sad week. The shooting at Uvalde elementary school was horrific and heart-wrenching — and a sad reminder of the damage guns can do.
Tragedies are illustrative of how short life can be (and how the decisions we make now can impact the lives of people for decades to come). And in times like these, it’s so important to reflect (and donate! and Vote!).
But it’s also important to take the edge off when you can, and right now, frivolity feels much-needed. Lately, when I haven’t been ranting/crying/reading (and writing) way too much news, I’ve been all about escapism — throwing myself into creative pursuits, thinking outside-the-box when it comes to marketing my book, and cooking meals that make me feel full and happy.
Life is absurd. Sometimes, being a little bit frivolous is what we need to get grounded.
Now on to the stuff I’m into this week:
The ultimate guide to vintage you never knew you needed: I officially announced my book, Big Thrift Energy, last week and the response has been phenomenal. I am so pleased and so excited to introduce it to the world. Yes, it’s a coffee table book, but it’s so much more — around 200 pages covering everything from how to navigate a thrift store to what parts of the country have the best stuff. (Plus: so many gorgeous photos and lessons I’ve gleaned on styling and selling vintage, too.) Buy it! Buy one for a friend! Buy one for your crush! Buy one for your mother-in-law!
A convertible sweater that’s kind of perfect for any weather: I am a big fan of Tibi, the line designed by St. Simons native Amy Smilovic, and I personally think she is a some sort of style genius (her Instagram is full of amazing styling tricks and she even hosts videos where she shares outfit ideas and explains why some things work and some things…don’t). This sweater is basically the coolest. Worn traditionally, it looks just like a great sweater. But it also has secret holes near the elbows that you can slip your wrists through, and turn it into a t-shirt, tying the arms at your chest (so it looks like a sweater is looped over your shoulders). This is the perfect piece if you live somewhere that’s rarely chilly (i.e. Florida).
A smoothie to power you through the day: I love smoothies. LOVE them. But I like smoothies that are basically desserts (you know, the ones that are glorified milkshakes). I’ve been making this one — chock full of banana, oats, dates and even coffee — a lot lately.
The coziest socks: As I’ve gotten older, I tend to spend more on individual items, but buy fewer things. So, for instance, I buy much nicer sheets and towels than I did ten years ago, because I know they’ll last for years. Same goes for socks, which tend to get threadbare fast. Not these. These are the coziest, comfiest, (and dare I say chicest) socks. They even look great worn with a pair of Birkenstocks — or just on bare feet, whilst Netflixing on the couch.
The ultimate summer blockbuster: We bought tickets to Top Gun: Maverick over a week before it came out. The first was such a classic and this just felt like the kind of thing you have to see (at least, if you’re over 35 and familiar with the first movie). The pandemic upended trips to the movies for everyone but this is one you’ll want to see in theaters. Thin plot? Sure. Frivolous? Absolutely. Fun? The most fun. You’ll completely forget about the outside world for two hours. The flight sequences are incredible (Tom Cruise is known for doing his own stunts, and the actors actually trained and flew — as passengers — in fighter jets for the movie.) It’s the ultimate popcorn-and-a-cherry-coke type flick. The kind where you might even do that embarrassing thing where you clap at the end? Regardless, you’ll definitely blast the theme song for the rest of your day.
Recommended reading:
• The story behind Old Bay — the spice that makes pretty much everything ten million times better — is fascinating, and starts with a Jewish immigrant who fled Nazi Germany for Baltimore, with his spice grinder in tow.
• How the Mayor of Flavortown, Mr. Guy Fieri, earned his due respect.
• The Atlantic’s Elizabeth Bruenig offered a really compelling and heart-wrenching look at the Uvalde school shooting: “Misfortune is awful, but this was something worse. This was torture. This was cruel. This was intentional. The distinction matters.”
And I’ll leave you with this…