Now that I live in the Northern Hemisphere, there is something about winter in December which feels absolutely correct. Whilst I love going to the beach on Christmas in Australia — a family tradition — I’m starting to romanticize this time of year in the States. The veil feels thin and it seems right the air feels thin too. I’m blessed to live in a town where the seasonal changes are real, but not enough to get depressed (Santa Fe has on average 300 days of sunshine a year). The cosiness, the darkness, the twinkling lights, feels like everything has been dusted with a layer of magic.
Because the climate is so cold and dry, I’ve been breaking out again. I bought this oil a few weeks ago and been slathering my face in it which seems to be helping. A friend also recently recommended to me Circles and Cycles, a natural skin care line which I’m incredibly excited to try.
Don’t ever read about yourself on a miscellaneous Reddit thread unless you want to trip the fuck out. Trust me, you don’t need to know.
Books I’ve read over the last few months:
Here on Earth — the first Alice Hoffman book I read, which I found for a dollar at the thrift store; I fell in love with her prose. A toxic love story (very undefined spleen vibes) set in New England. Dark but written so aesthetically you’ll overlook it.
Banal Nightmare — the most aptly named title. One of the most painful reading experiences I don’t ever wish to repeat. Another story about nothing (usually I like this genre but this one pushed me over the edge). Would not recommend unless you are a true masochist.
Eileen — apparently the seeds of My Rest and Year of Relaxation were planted in this story. An unlikable character stuck in a shitty job and living situation, tracing the days leading up to her abandoning town. I didn’t love it, but didn’t hate it either.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein — for the booktok girlies who read books based on it’s cover. But actually, I did enjoy this story. A love affair between a young artist in her 20s and a failed writer (who owns a successful advertising agency) nearly twenty years her senior.
Writers & Lovers — read it for the title, because c’mon. About an early thirty something who works as a waitress whilst she tries to finish her first novel. She starts seeing two different guys who are wildly different from each other. She also goes through a terrible bout of insomnia which drives her near the point of insanity. Are we living parallel lives?
Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk — admittedly, I’ve never listened to Bikini Kill but I knew of them because Kurt Cobain dated one of the band members (I had a grunge obsession back in 2022 lol). I loved this memoir; it follows Kathleen’s journey to becoming the figurehead of the Riotgrrrl movement, how the band came together, and her musical and personal evolution through the years.
Practical Magic — okay, okay, you got me. I’ve only seen the movie once. This feels like the perfect book to read during the fall or winter. It was an easy read and I loved it — it’s a love story, after all. Mixed with magic and witches and the mystical bond between sisters, it’s hard not to like. (I’m surprised the reviews on Goodreads were so low, perhaps my experience of this book was higher because I was never attached to the movie.)
Intermezzo — DNF. I was so excited to pick this up from the library after having it on hold for several months. I read the first chapter and…. I was having severe PTSD flashbacks to reading Banal Nightmare. I don’t know if I can persevere. Sorry, Sally Rooney fans.
I set the intention a few months back I wanted a rich and diverse social life. If I have realized anything over the last year(s), it’s that I need a variety of people in my circle to feel like a healthy and sane person. I didn’t necessarily take any action towards this and yet — it seems to be manifesting before my very eyes.
I’m finally barista trained. Unfortunately, my failed latte art ends up looking like misshapen dicks.
My dad said this to me once and I hate that it’s true: it’s easier to get a job when you already have a job. I walked into a coffee shop close by the library the other day, one I’ve wanted to try for ages. I was casually chatting with the owner and staff and was immediately offered a job. It’s funny — the less I think about invitations, or care about initiating as a “projector,” they seem to flow effortlessly.
I’ve been practicing Sat Kriya over the last month and been realizing all the ways I still try to people please, where I give my power away and ignore my own boundaries, because I want to be “liked.” Intending to be more of a bitch come 2025.
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserCurrently fascinated by the world of TCM. I recently had an acupuncture consultation — to work on my sleep, which has been improving slowly over the last months — and was told I have a Spleen-Qi deficiency. If you’re knowledgable in Chinese Medicine, I would love some recommended study resources!
I was wandering around downtown one day when I stumbled across this store called Todas Chicas. I immediately fell in love — it’s family run, the two daughters who are about my age create the designs, the mom regularly is at the front-of-store. I ended up talking to her for over an hour about life in Santa Fe, moving abroad, and the differences between living in a big city versus a small town. My plan is to buy one of everything because I’m absolutely obsessed.
‘Allsups’ is the name of a famous gas station franchise in New Mexico, btw. Been practicing a ton of yin yoga in the Daily Rest Studio. Plus, this lymph practice which feels so good I could almost cry.
These days I’m either listening to my ambient instrumental music or blasting 2000s/2010s nostalgia at maximum volume. Have you ever walked home with your headphones on screaming “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” at the top of your lungs? A spiritual experience, guaranteed. I’m embarrassed to admit one day I even found myself listening to “Fireflies” unironically. Good lord. Who have I become.
my plans are to primarily stay in burrito mode for the rest of 2024. I hope you’re taking care of yourself and resting in whatever ways you can during the holiday season <3
also can we have a 2000s playlist too!?!
loved this whole thing (you know I love a list and im about to send my next one) and then saw TDR and gasped !!!! ty ty ty ty ty