Category: Feelin’ It Fridays

*All news that’s “fit” to print!  I love Instagram.  Maybe finding this indicates that I’ve spent too much time scrolling this week?  Hmmm….

* I was happy that I wrote the NYC/Brooklyn recap in a timely manner!  #newyearnewme?

* I finished a non-fiction book in January so I’m pretty happy that I’m trying to mix up my reading.  But, in all honesty, I should aim more for informational non-fiction rather than memoir/productivity if I want to really expand my horizons.

* I’m running a race this Sunday and, although I have been working out, I really only started running training….this.week.  I feel pretty good though.  After a Fall of minor leg tweaks (left knee, left big toe- weird I know), I feel pretty intact.  I think all of the credit goes to my month of yoga in January.

 

Feelin’ it Friday, furnishing edition!  I decided that my apartment was missing a few pieces of wall flare, so I went to Ikea to buy a few frames.  While I was there, I saw a mirror I really liked and thought it would look great over the couch.  It looks awesome.  My only pause is that I now have a lot of mismatched wood in the living room but I really like the light wood look so maybe over time I’ll transition to that.  Besides, with all of the pieces having different colors, it actually looks better than if only one piece was out of place.  Or so I tell myself.

So, here’s the Stockholm mirror.   I really like it!  I just read some reviews and just learned that some people consider the wider base as a shelf.  Eh, I like it for its visual interest- for now, I’m going to leave it clear of objects.  The picture on the left shows how it hangs on the room.  The picture on the right is more visually interesting and courtesy of the talented SMS.

I had started a gallery wall a few months back, but there was a big gap while I waited to get SMS’ Coronado print from Menlo Park to this apartment.  The wall looks fantastic and that print is the highlight.  There was a small gap where I place a painting of Solana Beach.  I didn’t really plan this wall out too well and I think it turned out better than I deserved.  For an incredible article on how to plan out a gallery wall, check out Nothing But Bonfire’s.

I call this the ocean wall with two Clark Little prints and one panorama of Railay West, Krabi, Thailand by SMS.  My new Rhapis palm is in the corner- thanks Rip!

This picture highlights that truly putrid color the kitchen is painted in.  Yuck.  I also hung a Brent Estabrook print up, a whimsical teddy bear.  What I really want is a skull painting but SMS thinks it’s too morbid.

Finally, I bought an Ivan Roque print to go with my flamingo-themed bathroom, which was a necessary embrace of the pink tile with maroon trimming in the bath.

Ok, so that’s a wrap of Feelin’ It Friday, furnishings edition!

Ok, ok, I need to work on getting this actually out on Fridays but I’ll get there.

* Michelle Wolf’s Joke Show on Netflix.  I liked her on her short-lived show The Break and her White House Correspondent’s dinner hosting gig although, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the nicest or most-suited for the occasion.  But as Wolf says in her Joke Show, didn’t anyone do their research?  She’s coming to San Diego in May, which is awesome since I feel San Diego often gets skipped over in favor of LA.

* Puccini’s Tosca.  Do this follow logically?  Maybe not but I have been loving the opera as background music while working on my grant, research write-up, and clinical notes where I need to focus but not too much.  If there were English lyrics, I would probably be distracted but the Italian just sort of washes over me with the absolutely beautiful score.

* Milk Street Magazine.  ‘Zine in length with beautiful pictures and delicious sounding recipes, this is next up in my magazine subscription queue.  I read it at Linda’s house and it looks like such a treat!

* Guest Rec from SMS: This profile on “MBZ,” Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE.  I still need to read through but I’m looking forward to it.

 

MEGXIT!  I am here for it!  My New Year’s resolution to not read gossip sites stuck for 1 week until Harry and Meghan decided to establish new roles for themselves within the royal family.  #NewYearNewYou  The problem?  Sounds like all involved parties like, I don’t know, the rest of the Royal Family, were told of this plan before us loser plebes and muckraking media were let loose to endlessly think of the idea.  To think!  It even buried the lede on the real Brexit!  TBH, I’m in the anti-Sussex camp in this Royal battle since they live a life of incredible wealth and privilege that they seem to have very little appreciation for.  And if the goldfish bowl is such a problem, just quit completely!

As my brother once said about Hollywood film stars who complain about losing weight, “Give me $1 million dollars.  I’ll lose all the weight they want.”  Note this was in the mid-2000s so please adjust for inflation if any Hollywood producers 1. Read this blog and 2. Want to take my brother up on the offer.

Instagram Finds: Nothing bought this week but I did start to follow a few women entrepreneurs and authors.  It’s cool to gain insight into different professions and broaden my perspective.   For awhile, I only followed people I know but for now, I’m choosing to broaden my follows to get broader subjects on my feed.

New Year’s Resolutions: Going strong on the yoga channel with yogi Tim.  I’m also doing well on the Whole 30.  Had some oatmilk without thinking (clasp pearls) but really, I’m not insane so I’m just going to move on.  And, let’s be real, I’m still avoiding the red wine and that’s the real weight gain culprit.  So, if you’re looking for me, I’m just the very thirsty woman with gleaming white teeth behind the keyboard, typing a blog update.  Sobbing.  Hahaha, I kid.  (Send help.)

 

Hey, it’s Feelin’ It Friday!  In an attempt to post more regularly, I’m going to try out regularly scheduled posts so here’s FIF!  What do you think of the name?  Yes?  No?

Books: I have so many books on my to-read list.  And I keep checking out more from the library, putting e-book holds, and buying a few at the bookstore.  Two current releases I would like to read are Timothy Egan’s A Pilgrimage to Eternity and Chanel Miller’s Know My Name.  Two upcoming new releases I’m looking forward to are Suzanne Collins The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a Hunger Games prequel and Kimmery Martin’s The Antidote to Everything.  Martin is an ER doctor turned author and I’m excited to see how to successfully navigate medical fiction.  It gives me ideas!!!  And, in an attempt to sound highbrow, after reading Lara Prescott’s The Secrets We Kept, which was a book, in part, about Boris Pasternak’s writing and publication saga of Doctor Zhivago, I now want to actually read DZ.

Music: Shout out to the former President!  His end of the year round-ups for music, books and movies are quite good.  I did like an Instagram meme that parodied him as having a transition to Instagram Influencer: “Hi everyone!  My Hawaii vacation was great.  I know you’re asking about my skincare and music recs!!”

Influencers: Speaking of Instagram, I’ve also started using my Instagram account to follow more commercial/inspo/influencer type content, mostly in the realm of home decorating and some fashion.  For the longest time, I was just following people I know but it really is a good source for hearing about and learning new things!  I haven’t quite figured out how to use it successfully for trip planning but I will try!