Recent Obsessions #20: incense holders & Netflix's new snowman romcom
Plus The Substance, furry handbags and an Emily Henry interview
Coveting
Since I was recently gifted incense for the first time in my life, I am now in the market for a kitsch, silly incense holder. I really like this one from Urban Outfitters, but I’m open to other suggestions and would prefer to buy one from a smaller brand or Etsy shop.
I’m in love with the work of Lisbon-based artist Antonia Figueiredo, and although I’d be happy with any of her prints, my favorites are The Sleep and Juni. They’ll be perfect for the gallery wall we’re finally putting together next year.
I wish I could pull off an oversized sweater without looking like a sad potato, because I would absolutely get my hands on this one from Desigual; I can’t, but I’m sharing it anyway because I know it’ll make the perfect gift for someone somewhere.
Loving
I’m smitten with this faux fur Benetton handbag my friend Cate got me for my birthday! It’s the perfect size, shape and shade.
There’s a new indie in town and I was there the second those doors opened. Good Company Books is an English bookshop and cafe in Lisbon with an incredible curation and lovely staff. The place itself is beautiful, too.
Nikki La Rose’s Youtube channel is my new go-to when it comes to makeup tutorials and product recommendations. Not only does she know her stuff, she’s also chill. High energy content creators can be exhausting to watch, so I’m always happy to find someone who doesn’t scream at me every five seconds. If you’re looking for more Youtubers like this, I also really like Robert Welsh and my OG fave—I wish she posted more often—Claire Marshall.
Reading
I’m currently reading Wednesday’s Child by Yiyun Li, a short story collection about loss, alienation, aging, and the strangeness of contemporary life. I’m about 40% in and thoroughly enjoying it so far. For some reason, I was under the impression that the stories would lean more toward the speculative/absurd, but they’ve been a reminder that “real” life is absurd enough as it is. I’m loving Li’s writing style.
Recently, I’ve also read Venus in Pisces, a collection of poems and letters by Kiara Blanchette, Coco Mellors’ Blue Sisters, and I finally finished Our Share of Night. I’ll review all of these soon.
Substack pieces I loved recently: How to feel good (again) by
/ Man vs. Machine by / So, You Want to Make Your Gifts by / My Year of Books and De-Netflix-ication by might just get me to cancel a couple of my streaming subscriptions
Watching
I finally watched The Substance in theaters and I loved it. My expectations were already high given all the hype around it, so I was bracing myself to be disappointed. But no! It was exactly what I hoped for and more. Truly an immaculate movie experience, no notes. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but it’s one of my favorites of the year.
Vincent Must Die is more of a dystopian thriller, and quite a stressful watch at that. It follows a main character who suddenly finds himself being attacked by anyone who looks him in the eye. Unable to survive this on his own as things escalate, he’s forced to run away and leave his life behind.
I wonder why I still have a Netflix subscription sometimes, but then it’s holiday season again and they come out with yet another Hallmark-flavored delicacy. Hot Frosty, a movie about a small town (of course) attractive (duh) small business owning girlboss (evidently) with a heart of gold (you know it) who falls in love with a literal snowman (he melts and everything!), is as absurd as it sounds. This one was so farfetched, I couldn’t even find it heartwarming in that simple, straightforward way these movies usually are, but it was definitely fun to watch. I’m sure my friend Jane has read some similarly themed smut by now.
I also watched A Perfect Murder for the first time recently (I’m always in the mood for a 90s thriller! Especially when Gwyneth Paltrow looks this good), X (decent, but I preferred Pearl) and Crank: High Voltage (which was perfect. I love the Crank movies, they’re stupid masterpieces).
Listening to
Chappell Roan’s California and RAYE’s Oscar Winning Tears have both been on my playlists for months now, but I’ve been listening to them both on repeat these days.
I really enjoyed this Emily Henry interview with Books, Beach, & Beyond. They discuss her writing process, getting published and how she became an incredibly successful author.
Posting
Media I loved as a kid with very little parental supervision
My fabulous (and very specific) literary gift guide
My personal holiday wishlist
Behind the paywall, things get a little more personal as I talk about the books I’m reading next, projects I’m working on, my favorite moments this month and things that I’m looking forward to in the upcoming weeks.
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