“Never start to make a garment on Friday unless you can finish it the same day.”
Friend Reminders
I like to tell you how to organize your life, I realize, and I'll probably never stop.
That being said, are you constantly forgetting things? I'm not talking about important things, those are easy to remember. But the lesser-important things like:
- A restaurant you want to try with a specific friend
- An episode of some show that you need to force someone to watch
- An anecdote that only your mom will find funny
- An idea of a birthday gift for your boyfriend
- ETC.
How are you supposed to remember these tiny, somewhat-insignificant thoughts? Why, in list form, of course! I use the Note Pad app on my phone for things like this and it's entitled "Friend Reminders" and in it I list my friends (and some family members) names and I bullet point things underneath each name that I have to remember to do or say to them the next time I see them. Does that seem like too much effort? No. And it shouldn't. Doing this lets my brain relax and focus on other things. And I highly encourage you start one if you've ever had trouble remembering nonsense.
“Like George W. Bush, some people are born on third base and think they’ve hit a triple.”
Site Of The Day
Hemingway Editor is a site (or more of a writing tool) that lets you paste in your text and suggests edits for you. It highlights sentences that are hard to read, alerts you of phrases that are written passive voice, keeps count of your adverbs and tells you the grade reasoning level of your writing.
Amazing!
Julie & Julia
This is the best Nora Ephron movie that was ever made and I will fight you if you disagree.
I will admit that Amy Adams is so far past unbearable (as an actress and as a character) in this movie, but if you can get past that, you’ll have a great time. The Meryl Streep/Stanley Tucci storyline is the main reason I love it so much. Well, that and all of the cooking scenes. I watch it at least once every three months, don’t tell anyone.
Journelle
Journelle is a lingerie brand (with three stores in New York and one in Chicago) featuring luxury designer lingerie, bras, underwear and loungewear and it is EONS BETTER THAN VICTORIA'S SECRET.
At this point, you should be fully aware of the many things that make me mad. But something else that I could add to that ever-growing list? The annoyance of finding decent, affordable bras. There have been so many instances where I'll walk into a Victoria's Secret, find nothing that fits me the way I want it to, and just settle for whatever hurts me the least. Does that make any sense? Why am I willingly spending my money on crap that's never satisfied me?
Anyway, I had these thoughts the other day in a Victoria's Secret changing room. And maybe I was getting more worked up than usual, because I could take it no longer. So I Googled other bra places in the area and found a Journelle store a mere two blocks from me. I figured that it would be too expensive a place since it was in Soho, but I was desperate and thought, "I just want to see what else is out there."
Before I even get into how superior their bras were, here are just a few facts about the brand:
- They serve champagne on Fridays
- You get 20% off anything during your birthday month
- They have a program where you can return your old, used bras (purchased from anywhere) and get a discount on whatever you buy there
- They offer bottles of water and chocolates, even just for browsing the store
- They have signs like this in their dressing room:
And the bras themselves? Fucking heaven. There's every size in the world and they look (and feel) gorgeous. Even when I was trying them on, I finally figured it out: you're supposed to find a bra that fits you and not the other way around. Doe that make sense? Every Victoria's Secret experience I've ever had has been difficult because that store bases itself around the bras themselves, not the women trying them on. Even their campaigns aren't aimed at their immediate customer base - none of the VS models resemble anyone I've ever even seen in a VS store and yet we're all so quick to think it's the only place to get a bra? I don't get it! And the fact that they insist on having "specialty bra fitters" who tell you your size really doesn't make a difference since the bras themselves lack variety and quality.
In any case, I don't love Journelle specifically because of how much I'm beginning to loathe Victoria's Secret. For the longest time, I just felt that I didn't really have any choice in the matter since it's the largest bra retailer in North America, maybe the world? But there are definitely options out there if you look. Better options. Even if you don't live in New York or Chicago, I really just want people to be aware that VS may be the easiest option, but it's definitely not the best.
And if you DO live in New York or Chicago? Get your ass to this store. They're not even expensive! If anything, they're in the same ballpark of VS prices and the experience is a thousands times more pleasant. Love, love, love this store.
Love
“Snack Idea: baby carrots dipped in jalapeno hummus. I swear to God it’ll change you.”
I Took A Pill In Ibiza
Almost every single time I get a song recommendation from my brother Robbie I hear the song at first and go, “Oh Robbie, what the hell is this?” and then it takes me two weeks to start playing it on repeat. This is one of those songs. I’m sorry.
Moving Art on Netflix
This series on Netflix is basically my favourite thing to have on in the background when I'm working or lounging or generally just being. The episodes are centered around deserts, flowers, oceans, waterfalls and forests, accompanied by a soundtrack by Ludovico Einaudi, Johann Johannsson and Gary Malkin.
The main reason I can't stop watching? They're soothing as hell. If you're thinking this is anything like that damn fireplace channel, it isn't. I watched the waterfall one first and that's the one that got me hooked into wanting to watch the other ones (and if you aren't into the sight of seeing waterfalls while it's snowing, then we can't be friends). It's also kind of nice to watch right before you go to sleep at night - there's something comforting about seeing these images before you go to bed.
If the above video link isn't working, you can see a trailer for the short series over here.