Welcome welcome to what I'm hoping will be a weekly newsletter-esque type thing (day job/childcare/general mood and state of mind permitting). It’s going to be pretty loosey-goosey in terms of a format or structure; the idea being that it’s flexible to be whatever I think it should be at that particular moment. I’m hoping that doesn’t just mean an embarrassing and alarming word vomit but we will see, won’t we dear reader(s)!
Each week, I’ll be delving into a topic which has been on my overstimulated and overwrought mind, as well as sharing a few recommendations of things I’ve loved or things which I’m currently lusting over, but which my meagre pittance of a paycheck won’t allow me to treat myself to.
If this self-indulgent nonsense sounds like your cup of tea, read on! If not, there’s always another season of Below Deck to watch I suppose…
Feeling good is making me feel bad
Is anyone else totally overwhelmed by the simple act of trying to keep oneself alive? OK, slight exaggeration perhaps, but I’ve come to a point where I feel like being a moderately healthy, put together human is not only a full-time job, it’s once which we’re expected to pay through the blackhead-free nose for.
Each time I think I’ve got a handle on my skincare/haircare/exercise (paha - what exercise!) routine, it’s like the Universe is laughing at me via targeted Instagram ads which are telling me I really, really need this Gua Sha made from the crystalized tears of baby possums. It’s never-ending.
Now, I’m not naive. I get that the “wellness” industry is driven by capitalism, rather than a desire to help people feel and look better. But it’s really bloody hard to ignore. And even with my bullshit-detector glasses on, and the fact I consider myself to be a feminist who doesn’t need to adhere to beauty standards or lean into fad trends, I find myself getting sucked into the latest must-have wellness tool or brand and adding to basket.
I just wanna feel good. But in trying to do so, I just feel bad. Bad about the unnecessary money I’m spending. Bad about helping to reinforce the narrative that we can’t just feel or look good as we are, we need to buy stuff to do that. Bad about helping to maintain a consumerist society. Bad about the fact that my routine is so bloody convoluted that I rarely get the time to do it in full. Surely that’s not the aim right? Or am I destined to end up miserable, slick with an abundance of serums which thankfully help to disguise the tears of frustration and confusion.
Watch this space I guess…
Good shit
TV show - I’m late to the Slow Horses game but OMG it’s so good. Equal parts hilariously witty and thrilling. A particular shout-out to the hair, make-up and costume team who somehow allow me to smell the mixture of grease, tobacco smoke and BO radiating from Gary Oldman’s character simply through the way he is styled. It’s a gross kind of magic.
Podcast - I binged Carrie Jade Does Not Exist last week, a fascinating and shocking six-episode series about fraudulent disability activist Carrie Jade Williams. It’s hard to believe the extent of deception she got away with, and especially hard to swallow when you consider the fact she took attention and opportunities away from people actually living with disability or chronic illness.
Book - I’m a big Daisy Buchanan fan, and I just finished Careering, a timely look at the toxic relationship women can have with work. The notion of being singly identified by your job and have your career define you is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately, so this really resonated with me. And it was even more pertinent that the industry it focuses on is magazine publishing - which is where I started out many moons ago.
An ode to Winkleman’s wardrobe
Unless you reside under a rock, you’ve probably been watching the second season of the hit British reality show The Traitors. I’ve been tuning in religiously, but not just to admire Diane’s big mum energy. I am OBSESSED with Claudia’s clothes this season. From camp funeral director, to an awe-inspiration collection of chunky knits, I want it all. Now, please.
But alas, one does not have £400 to spend on a chunky red jumper, no matter how glorious. So here’s my round-ups of some affordable alternatives.
Warehouse do a pretty great alterative of this rouge beauty, which is a steal at just £41.
This long wool duster coat in khaki is men’s, but it’s got 75% off at the moment and is such a close match to Claudia’s.
When is it NOT suitable to wear a velvet blazer? It’s the overcoat for all occasions. From birthdays to baby showers, job interviews to jury duty, I am now of the firm belief that every woman needs one in her wardrobe. I’ve got my eye on this beauty from Next.