Friday Night Lights - it’s still a great show, just maybe not as incredible as I remembered it from the first viewing. Best two lines of all time though? “You might be the luckiest man and not even know it.” As well as, “Success is not a goal, it’s a byproduct.”
The Way, Way Back - UGH! It was not good. Other than Sam Rockwell being his usual great self, the whole movie just falls flat. As if someone watched Adventureland and loved it so much that they wanted to make their own terrible version.
PEN15 - An insanely good show. The best episode might be the bottle one about Maya’s mother. Can’t say enough good things about this perfect show.
Stealing Beauty - forever a favourite. A young girl goes to the Italy countryside to find herself? Nothing more poetic.
How do I feel about the trailer for Hocus Pocus 2? I just wish it had more of the classic cast in it. I’m hoping there will be surprise appearances by more of the original characters, so I’ll try to get onboard. I just hate new main characters being introduced in a beloved movie.
Forever in awe of how good the limited edition Kit Kat flavours always are.
I don’t even know the song but I love the line, “You don’t need Givenchy you need Jesus” and that’s just a very cool line. I should be embarrassed to say that aloud, but here we are.
I tried the chocolate cream cold brew at Starbucks and whoa. Fully understand the big deal now.
My dear friends Katie & Greg got me a gift certificate for Paintbucket in Brooklyn, so I went for a pedicure and loved it. Choosing a colour from a swatch on the wall is such a great idea. There’s definitely something The Wing-inspired about the design motif of the place itself, but I’m still into it. They offer wine and the service was great - of course it’s overpriced for what it is, but it’s nice to have a decadent little experience every once in awhile.
Some things I’m looking forward to doing this month: I’m going to write full posts on each city I visited on my trip from last month, I’d like to see something on Broadway, I want to eat all of the summer corn and tomatoes I can get my hands on, and I really want to watch the new season of Only Murders In The Building.
Summer is almost officially over, so obviously the autumn planning has commenced! This will soon be me.
God, I can’t wait. Here’s what went down in August.
You can find my favourite tweets of the month over here and here.
I got artificial (not acrylic) nails again and I’m in loooooove. Powder dip is all I’m going to do from now on. If you’re in Mississauga, the absolutely best place to get them done is at Nails For You in Square One. SUCH a beautiful job.
Have you ever even heard of the Michael Keaton movie Pacific Heights? I hadn’t and it is sogood. Love that man. Love that movie.
I made this corn dish (with mozzarella instead of halloumi) with tomatoes and basil as a side dish and it’s so summery and perfect.
I kind of love the idea of this fist-fighting festival. “Small rural communities high in the Andes, many of which do not have regular access to law enforcement to resolve disputes, settle their scores once a year in a public arena, with their fists. The ultimate aim is to begin the new year in peace. For this reason, every fight — whether it involves men, women or children — begins and ends with a hug.“
I tried Bellucci Pizza in Astoria (the Sicilian pepperoni, to be exact) and it was stellar. The texture of the bottom of the slice was unreal. Is it annoying to have another great pizza place? Never.
Bellucci Pizza in Astoria
And while bad pizza is hard to find, I did try Champion Pizza and let’s just say that New York has waaaay better to offer. Steer clear.
Nathan and I saw the movie Old with some friends and it was such a party. You can only see this movie with people who won’t take it very seriously because it’s obviously terrible, but in such a fun way. Movie of the summer, as far as I’m concerned.
I know zero about wine (other than the fact that I loathe South African red wines), but I’ve discovered lately that I’m especially fond of Australian Chardonnays. Look at me!
A friend and I tried Society Cafe for Restaurant Week and it was wonderful, I’d definitely return.
I have been using this eyebrow serum Nulastin for a few months now and it’s working miracles on my face. I’m gonna do a full post on it this week so that you can see the before and after for yourself.
I returned to the bakery Mel and got the ham & cheese croissant and some cookies. I know it’s hard to come across a bakery that isn’t doing God’s work but this place is at the very top of my favourites list.
Ham & cheese croissant from Mel Bakery, NYC
You know how when you’re making croutons and the recipe always tells you to use sourdough? MAN, is that bad advice. Or maybe not bad, but sub-par for sure. FOCACCIA! FOCACCIA CROUTONS! I promise you. So crispy on the outside, but little fucking pillows on the inside. Never going back to sourdough croutons. Pass it on.
I watched Desperate Housewives in its entirety for some reason?? Terrible show?? I always watch things I hate in August for some reason.
Speaking of bad television, I started watching the new Riverdale episodes and… oh no… it might actually, finally just be bad. Was it always? Have I grown? I don’t want answers to these questions?
I also tried the Swiss Chalet chicken sandwich and it was very all right. I felt like it was missing one element and I’m too dense to know what that could be.
There’s been a warning sign on my rooftop door since we moved in and it suddenly disappeared (why? I don’t ask questions), so I finally got to see our own rooftop view and it’s wild that it took me this long to go look.
The view from our rooftop in Astoria, Queens
I went to Carmenta’s in Brooklyn and had a great chicken parm & caesar salad. Love when boring food can be done well.
I’m using this Drunk Elephant set I just bought and yes they’re good products, but their packaging is complete shit. I can’t stand it when a decent company falls flat on its packaging. Too much or too little product comes out in these types of bottles and it’s infuriating every single time.
They were showing the French film La Piscine at the Film Forum, so I went to see it with Irene and god DAMN I love an old theatre. Such a nice summer night idea. Can’t stop listening to this song now.
We also had dinner that same night at Vic’s and it was only okay. Don’t think I’ll return, even if their garlic bread was pretty unique and good.
Tried the Double Double Coffee Crisp and for the life of me could not taste the difference between it and a regular Coffee Crisp, so that means? Both are perfect.
I made a Hazel McCallion (Hazel McCallion is a Canadian politician who was the mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, from 1978 until 2014) crop top because I’ll always love her and this shirt needed to exist.
I also somehow forgot about my love for bruschetta, which is just wrong. Love it when dozens of little pieces of tomatoes go flying in every direction just so I can get one measly bite. It’s mayhem and pleasure all at once.
I made this cold vegetable noodle salad and cold noodles always comfort me in ways I never expect. Love this recipe. Even if you omit all the vegetables.
Some things I’m looking forward to this month: I will try to finish off the final things from my summer list, I’m trying to decide if I want to go apple picking or if I just feel like I should, I’m also prepping everything I want to do for autumn, and I might go try this PSL dipped cone (below) because why the hell wouldn’t I?
If you have any interest in reading what went on in July, come on over here.
