5-4-3-2-1: Bake Squad, Balm Dotcom, and a friend recession (?)
#7 in my culture-roundup-meets-personal-diary series
Hi friends,
We’ve made it through the worst month of the year! I can’t say that I’ve been at my best the last few weeks, either. I’ve been plagued with more health issues that haven’t been resolved, and I ate a dodgy burrito the other day (I’ll spare you the details), which meant I had to cancel plans I’d been looking forward to with a friend. I’m ready for February! At least there will be discounted chocolate and F1 preseason, even if it’s still miserable and cold and grey.
Here’s the latest 5-4-3-2-1! In the last few weeks..
5 things I’ve done to cheer myself up while feeling unwell:
(1) Watched Season 2 of Bake Squad on Netflix. This show is pure sugar, literally and figuratively. Four bakers make a showstopping dessert each episode that a client will choose to have at their special event. It’s low stakes, low drama, and not even reallllly a competition show. The show is hosted by Christina Tosi of Milk Bar, which means the confections are fun and imaginative. The only problem is you really need to have some cake nearby otherwise you’re going to get hangry.
(2) Watched more seasons of Longmire than I’ll admit. Listen, it’s the soapy Western show about a sheriff in Wyoming that I mentioned in my most recent essay. The characters do increasingly stupid things as the show goes on, which means you’re also more likely to shout at the tv as you get into later seasons. But I also love the characters, so I forgive them and the writers. It also stars Katee Sackhoff, who I know from Battlestar Galactica! (My family named our cat after her character, Starbuck.)
(3) Went down a beauty and makeup content rabbit hole on Youtube. This has since led me to buy makeup for the first time in a year and is proof that the internet makes you buy stuff. I’ve picked up a few things from Rare Beauty (will share my thoughts later), and I’ve learnt that we now have Sephora in the UK. Oh, has anyone tried Tower 28? Those glosses look so juicyyyy.
(4) Browsed chronic illness accounts on Instagram, like The Chronically Honest and The Chronic Notebook. I’ve been feeling really down about my health lately but these accounts resonate with me so much and make me feel less alone.
(5) Rewatched lighthearted films and shows, including the Devil Wears Prada, Friends, and Bridgerton. I’m a serial comfort rewatcher. Anyone else?
4 letdowns:
(1) On the makeup theme, Glossier is reformulating their Balm Dotcom (and changing to fugly packaging)! Listen, this is not an earthshattering letdown, but it *is* my fave lip balm, and Reddit users confirm that the new (probably cheaper to produce) formula sucks. (I told you I went down a makeup rabbit hole.) The good news is that I tried Lanolips 101, which is meant to be a dupe, AND IT IS INCREDIBLE! Now I want to try it in all the flavors (I got the original unscented), which is bad because I’m trying not to consume consume consume. Help.
(2) Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and The Christmas Wish, two books I thought would be fun and quick reads. Eleanor Oliphant was at least quick and easy to get through, but I felt like the book was trying to force some catharsis in both the reader and main character, and it fell SO flat for me. The plot was predictable and without nuance, and it also felt like the author had no real understanding of reckoning with childhood trauma. Honestly, 1.5/5 stars for me—I don’t get how that book is so popular. I thought The Christmas Wish would be a bubblegum romcom read, but I was bored.out.of.my.mind. It’s officially the first book I’ve quit in 2023.
(3) The Last of Us, the new HBO zombie show that’s getting all the buzz. I’ve only watched the first episode, but it failed to establish (i) the stakes and (ii) why I should care about the characters. I thought the opening sequence was really strong, and I also like the idea of exploring what happens decades after the zombie apocalypse begins, but there wasn’t enough to keep me invested. My mom watched the second episode and told me not to bother, and I trust her.
(4) The sequel to My Favorite Thing is Monsters, a graphic novel I love, may never be published. The release date keeps getting pushed back and disappearing, and rumor has it that it may never come. This news comes on the back of me continuously googling “Patrick Rothfuss Book 3”—if you’ve read The Name of the Wind, you’ll know what I’m on about. Maybe I shouldn’t read series unless the whole thing has been published!
3 essays I’ve read on friendship and the ‘social recession’:
(1) ‘How do I make friends?’: I’m wondering if there’s a better question, by Mari Andrew. Making friends as an adult is something I’ve been asked to write about before, and I think Mari has a really genuine and helpful take on this issue. Would recommend!
(2) This thread on the supposed ‘friend recession,’ which touches upon the idea of a ‘social recession,’ written about in the Atlantic and the Guardian (amongst other places). I kind of want to write my own essay on this topic, because I think one of the main contributing factors to this problem is (— drumroll please —) capitalism. We’re short on time, and we’re exhausted, which means hanging out with friends can be the first thing we cut out of our lives. Should I write about it? Do you feel like there’s a social recession? Or are we back in a social boom?
(3) This NYT article about the secret power 8-minute phonecall, which basically suggests you should schedule 8-minute calls with friends. I actually think this is a good idea because it removes some of the pressure of the neverending call, and it allows you to get on with your day. It also reinforces my idea that we’re all burnt out and short on time, so it’s more of a coping mechanism than a way of fixing the root cause of the problem. Still, it inspired me to have quick catchups, and they do make me feel good! I haven’t actually proposed an 8-minute call yet, but I think I might try it out. Any takers?
2 Susan Alexandra goodies I’ve been lusting after:
Okay, if you don’t know Susan Alexandra, prepare to be introduced to the most fun, colorful, and nostalgic jelwery, bags, and cute tchotchkes EVER. (…that you probably can’t afford at full price so you’ll just save them to your inspo album… or is that just me?)
(1) This Delicatessen necklace, featuring a pickle (!), black and white cookie (!!), matzoh ball soup (!!!), and a bagel with lox (!!!!). ARE YOU KIDDING ME.
(2) This Heartthrob necklace, which gives me Bridgerton meets Pretty Pretty Princess meets Titanic vibes. YES YES YES.
1 new Miley song to dance to on repeat:
It’s kind of basic, but I also kind of love it. Does anyone else love a good breakup song, even if it’s not reflective your life? Gimme a dramatic breakup song any day, tbh.
I can buy myself flowerssss.
(But you can buy them for me, too!). Next essay will be from a new city with a new kitty… stay tuned and stay warm!
x Rach
Love this one! Why, oh why, do brands reformulate/redesign something that people love ... just to make it worse? That has happened to me so many times.
I like the Miley song, too. Basic can also be great sometimes.
And Bake Squad is my favorite cooking/baking show because of the whole "we're all artists, so let's cheer each other on" vibe. We could use more of that attitude in this world.
As for "social recession," I'd enjoy reading your thoughts about it, for sure. Just don't try the 8-minute phone call thing with me, haha! XO Mom