Present Joys: Extra effort, Chuseok tablescapes, puzzles and somatics
Week of September 24, 2024
A Little Extra Effort
I’m finally starting to feel like a human again after recovering from a freak illness in which my body broke out in a sudden fever and hives. The trigger is still frustratingly unknown, but I’m relieved to be on the other side. Last week, I had little energy to expend beyond rotating around my bed like a rotisserie. This week, I’m glad to spend the extra effort that self-care can require. Effort that looks like: processing a heap of vegetables for a hearty stew, buffing and polishing my nails for an at-home pedicure, and ironing a wrinkled button-up to feel put together. All of these things take time, but when the reward is a respect for oneself, it feels well worth it.
Chuseok Tablescapes
I loved seeing this T Magazine feature which showcased how various creatives were celebrating Chuseok, a Korean holiday to give thanks for the mid-autumn harvest. I had high hopes of assembling my own spread of traditional Chuseok foods, including japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), songpyeon (rice cakes shaped like half moons), and yakgwa (traditional honey cookie), but last week had other plans. Saving the above tablescape from Toronto based brand, Binu Binu, as inspiration for next fall.
The Secret Life of Plants
I attended a screening last weekend of The Secret Life of Plants, hosted by MOCA and Nonhuman Teachers. Inspired by the book of the same name, the film encourages us to view plants differently—not just as passive elements in the landscape, but as intelligent beings with complex inner lives. The film is wonderful, weird, and brilliantly accompanied by an original soundtrack by Stevie Wonder. I left feeling so glad that people came together to make such a strangely specific film.
Makeup Rotation
It’s a nice feeling to dig inside your makeup drawer and feel affirmed by past purchases. A couple favorites that I forgot I’d loved: Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia (the best color!) and Fenty Beauty Shadowstix in Amber. Both products are so easy to swipe on and give the prettiest hints of hue.
Name of Things You Probably Didn’t Know
Wambles before dinner and dreams of overmorrow. The English language, and language in general, can be so funny sometimes!
Nora Puzzles
Nate Harris is a brilliant multidisciplinary artist based in NYC. He creates reliefs, woodcut prints, sculptures (these are incredible!), and many wonderful projects, including his wood puzzle business, Nora. Nora is such a wonderful tactile gift reminiscent of Montessori. I can’t think of a kiddo, or their parent, who wouldn’t love this as a gift.
“I did it!”
I got to spend some time with my bestie, Nina, and her incredible daughter, Winslow, recently and any time Winslow did something new, something she was practicing, or simply something she thought was a-m-a-z-i-n-g, she would proudly announce, “I did it!” (see: walking the dog and passing the leash from one tiny arm to another). It filled my heart to hear her acknowledge her own achievements. It was a sweet reminder to try and do the same.
Somatic Movement
I feel like I’m late to the game here, but I just came upon this term “somatic movement” which is a practice (it can literally be just breathing or a walk) where you “focus on how you feel [when you are doing it] and connect your emotions to your physical body.” For someone who struggles with mind-body connection, this discovery feels like a huge unlock. I’m excited to keep exploring here.
Ombra, 2024
How fun and totally wild is this welded bronze candlestick? Can I call it a candlestick? This magical work is part of the group show on now at Marta LA, “Objects for a Heavenly Cave.” There are so many curiosities and contradictions in this show. It’s up until October 12! Go see it : )
Currently Reading
From the Untethered Soul to Untamed, if it’s self-help or self-help adjacent, it’s likely I’ve read it or it’s on my list. My latest stroll down the ever-lengthening halls of self-improvement brought me to Worthy by Jamie Kern Lima. Like its title suggests, the book is about worth, namely self-worth and how lacking it diminishes your own potential. Kern Lima’s believes we are all inherently worthy and that it’s our responsibility to remind ourselves of that fact so we can live full and fulfilling lives. It’s a “take what you like and leave the rest” kind of book—my favorite kind for this genre. One bit that’s really stuck with me: “Everything in life is simply the meaning we attach to it, the story we tell ourselves about it, and often the label we give it…We become what we believe.” —Michelle