Monthly Roundup
Is it just me or was January a million days long?
We’re a month into 2025 and things are feeling…not so great. I’m doing what I can to stay afloat. Pop your Vitamin D and check out what is getting me through. Let me know what is getting YOU through in the comments!
Watching:
Heretic—This horror/thriller movie treads into some deep rhetorical and philosophical waters I enjoy. It centers around the concept of religion and the tolerance of those who are different from us. There is a lot of back-and-forth dialogue, which sounds like it would be boring, but somehow keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. It left me feeling some type of way—the best movie I have seen in a while! (A24 rarely misses, IMO)
Old Dads - This Netflix movie had me HOWLING with laughter. I can’t remember the last time a movie made me laugh so much. It came out in 2023 and I’m sad it took me so long to watch it.
A.P. Bio - Sometimes in the middle of life’s craziness and the doomsday feel of news media, you just need a silly show with it’s not that deep vibes. If you like Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Glenn Howerton (Dennis) is just as hilarious as a disgraced Harvard professor teaching (or not teaching, actually) high school biology.
Goosebumps: The Vanishing—Okay, hear me out. We like to watch a show as a family at the end of a busy day. Since my stepdaughter is only 12, we pick an appropriate show that we, as adults, can tolerate. The Goosebumps TV series is super nostalgic for us and entertaining, but it is also appropriate for her. It's a win-win.
Reading:
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - I have never considered myself a fantasy girl, but when the majority of my friends began talking excitedly about the release of Onyx Storm I started to wonder what the fuss was about. Someone lent me Fourth Wing, the first book in the series, and I devoured it in days. I couldn't put it down. I am officially hooked.
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah - Much more my usual area. I love historical fiction and Kristin Hannah is the queen. Set in World War II Russia, this is a historical account with modern complexities and a fairy tale mixed in. I cried…a lot.
On Rhetoric by Aristotle - I am in grad school, and my course this semester is Rhetorical Theory (the last course of my graduate career, may I add). This may be required reading but rhetoric is fascinating and Aristotle is by far the most normal rhetorician out there. For those interested in learning more about discourse and how to persuade or recognize you are being persuaded, I urge you to do some digging on the history of rhetoric and rhetorical devices in general.
Listening:
Balloonerism by Mac Miller - I have seen a lot of people saying this is Mac Miller’s darkest album yet. As a writer, I guess I don’t get that. There are some dark references, for sure, but Miller’s vulnerability is what makes him such a great musician. I just love his unique mixture of jazz and rap. SZA being on this album is a bonus. I do get sad listening to this album, just knowing that this amazing talent was gone too soon.
Down Bad by Taylor Swift - This song is an absolute banger and I listen to it almost daily. I do not care who knows it.
Audiobooks - I am in graduate school, I participate in a book club, and I like to read at least one personal book a month. Naturally, one of these becomes an audiobook so my eyes can take a breather. I have been opening my Audible instead of my Spotify on my lunchtime walks. Does this mean I am getting old?
Wearing:
Barrel Jeans - I didn’t think I could get on this trend, but alas, here I am. I like that they are more structured than wide-leg. My partner tells me I look like I’m about to do a Russian jig and perhaps I am.
Black Riding Boots: I splurged on a pair of black riding boots from I.N.C. International last year and I’m still obsessed with them. They are perfect for dressing up an outfit comfortably in the fall/winter.
Oversized cable knits: I refuse to be restricted this winter. I want to be swimming in comfort but also look put together. Loving comfy sweaters that come close to my knees.
Et Cetera
Hygge: Did you know that in some Scandinavian countries, people sleep for 14 hours during the winter? During my limited downtime, I am embracing this lifestyle. I want to be cozy. I want to be comfy. I want to be warm. We’re talking snuggled on the couch in front of the fireplace watching movies, or covered up to my chin with my nose in a book. This is my dream.
New York Times cooking app: Life. Changing. You can locate recipes that align with your cooking style and time commitments, and you can add the ingredients directly to an in-app grocery list. I have been lacking inspiration in the kitchen lately, so this is a lifesaver.
Boxing: I started a boxing class a few months ago. Mondays and Wednesdays are my devoted boxing days and I’m really enjoying it. It’s obviously a great workout but it’s also just very empowering. I am always pushed to my limits mentally and physically. I love that feeling.
Any recommendations for me?! Leave them in the comments below.
love this roundup and especially love that you are becoming a dragon rider !!
I've been wanting to try boxing and this just might give me the motivation to do it - thinking about following in your footsteps!