Things to Read, Watch, Wear and Love
February favorites including the two books I couldn't put down, a show I loved (yet made me sob), a new Philly cafe, and more.
To be honest, I started putting this newsletter together well over a week ago and I just never got around to finishing it…until now! So, despite the fact that we’re already one-third of the way through March (how!?), I thought I would still go ahead and share a few February Favorites. Better late than never, right?
Reading and Watching
Reading: Strega by Johanne Lykke Holm which started off slow but then picked up about halfway through the book. I couldn’t put it down by the end! The story of nine young women who are sent to work at a remote Alpine hotel and what happens when one of them goes missing.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin: A really odd book. Yet, I couldn’t put it down from the beginning to the end. It’s the story of a sex therapist’s transcriptionist, Greta, who becomes obsessed with a client while listening to her sessions. She nicknames the client Big Swiss and the two quickly become enmeshed when Greta recognizes Big Swiss’s voice in town. This book is hilarious and ridiculous and I highly recommend it.
“Yes, people age horribly. They suffer strokes. Their bodies and brains fall apart. But the male ego? Firmly intact until the bitter end.” - Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
Watching: One Day (2024), which I watched within two days. I’ve read the book years ago and watched the 2011 film shortly after it was released and the new series is definitely my favorite adaptation. This show is so beautifully shot and I just love how it gave us a deeper look into Dex and Emma’s lives and relationship. And yes, there were lots and lots of tears.
I’m currently multi-tasking and watching the Oscars, so it feels like the perfect time to bring up that I also watched Anatomy of a Fall (2023) which was such a great movie. I thought I was going to be at least slightly bored watching a 2+ hour courtroom drama but I ended up being quite the opposite. I’m still thinking about this film several weeks after watching it.
While I didn’t see all of this year’s Best Picture nominees, I did see half of them and enjoyed all 5! My ranking from favorite to least favorite out of the ones I watched:
1. Past Lives | 2. Poor Things | 3. Anatomy of a Fall | 4. Barbie | 5. The Holdovers
Listening To
New and old faves that I’ve had on repeat this past month in the playlist above and a few of my favorite podcast episodes below.
Identity Imprisonment on The Money Love Podcast: A break down of the concept of identity imprisonment. Paige Pritchard dives into what it is, why it matters, and why our brains are so attached to the identities that we hold. Plus, she explains how our current identities can hold us in a pattern of bad spending and how to break free from the cycle.
The Power of Child-Free Women on We Can Do Hard Things: A deep dive into how the deeply ingrained belief that womanhood is synonymous with motherhood can be a tool to suppress women's sexuality and autonomy. Plus, a conversation on the reasons women may choose to be child-free and the ways women can define their lives and identities outside of motherhood.
What Goes Into Grammy’s Fashion on NEWSFASH: A discussion with stylist and creative director, Aisha Rae, and makeup artist and beauty documentarian, Gabbi Pascua, both of which who have worked many Grammy’s over the years. They discuss what goes into preparing clients for music’s biggest night: from the politics to the protocols and avoiding fashion pitfalls.
Wearing
These silver heels and black boots, both gifted by Dolce Vita! A pair of silver shoes and black knee high boots have been on my wishlist for months so they couldn’t have reached out at a better time.
A few more favorites from Dolce Vita,
I’m also loving these silver ballet flats.
I can’t stop thinking about how these floral heels would be perfect for wedding festivities.
These raffia heels are perfect for summer!
And so are these woven sandals.
Wasn't sure how I would feel about this trend, but I’m kind of loving these mesh ballet flats.
Also, a TikTok on how I styled the black boots for a date night and a roundup of outfits I wore in February.
This Past Month on the Blog
A Pop of Red. Adding a pop of one of my favorite colors to three different outfits.
My Top 5 Favorite Italian Restaurants in Philadelphia. Honestly, it was hard to narrow it down to five.
Style Edit: Valentine’s Day. Cute pieces that are perfect for Valentine’s Day and beyond.
Two Ways to Style a Velvet Midi Skirt. One of my most worn pieces every winter.
Philly Spotlight
A new location of one of my favorite coffee shops, Menagerie, just opened in Northern Liberties! It’s right across the street from Liberty Lands Park and I already know that grabbing an iced latte from here and sitting in the park to read is going to be part of my regular summer routine this year.
As always, thanks for letting me take a bit of space in your inbox!
Love,
Chelsea
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