april in review
Well, hello everybody. I have decided to start a new thing on the blog...I don't know what to call it...a series? Whatever. Monthly "in reviews"! Basically what I'm thinking is I just keep a running list of all the music I've been listening to, books I've been reading, movies and TV shows I've watched, etc. and I'll just review it for you all! I feel like this will help me keep track of all the things I do monthly because I tend to feel like a lazy piece of shit when a new month comes around because I'm like what the fuck did I even do this month????? So, like all things on this blog, it's really more for my personal gain than anything.
books
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: So this book is set in modern day New York and follows the character Monique Grant. She is a low-level journalist at a popular magazine and is randomly called upon by Evelyn Hugo, an old Hollywood star, to document her life story. I'm being vague about it on purpose because you honestly just have to read it. It is split up by her time with each of her seven husbands and it switches between being present day and flashbacks. It is a super quick read, perfect for if you're going on vacation during the summer. It's honestly really fucking sad. Like super sad. But it's so entertaining and well-written. Apparently it's loosely based on Elizabeth Taylor and a journalist that was hired to do something similar for her back in the day. (8.5/10)
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware: Something you'll soon find out by these lists of books is that I am not drawn to scary stories. I do not seek books that will make me have to sleep with the light on...that ain't me. However, I guess I was feeling kinda frisky when I visited Barnes and Noble while on spring break in Florida because I happened across this book and was immediately interested. The book takes place a little outside of London. The main character is named Nora and it follows her on a weekend away celebrating her old friend's bachelorette party. Again, trying not to reveal too much in case you decide to read it. The beginning was incredibly slow, so it took me about a week to read. I got to a point in the middle where I just wanted to find out what all this foreshadowing was referring to and then the ending wasn't nearly as twisted and horrifying as the summary made it seem. I would still recommend it as it was an easy read, but don't get your hopes too high in terms of the level of fucked-up-ness. Maybe I just need to speak to my therapist more often. Jury's still out.. (6.5/10)
Where the Crawdad's Sing by Delia Owens: I just wanted to throw this in here because I'm already loving it, but I haven't finished it yet. I'll probably put a full review on it in next month's post, but if you're interested in books that are more about life and people and relationships versus tons of action and plot, you'll love it. Think "Little Fires Everywhere" vibes. (N/A)
music
Crystalline by bülow: My sister and I found bülow last summer and were completely obsessed with her first two mixtapes Damaged Vol 1. & 2. She just put out her first full length album and god damn did she kill it. My personal favorite tracks are "Get Stüpid" and "Euphoria". (8.5/10)
Into the Rush by Aly & AJ: Yes, yes. I know what you're thinking. This album is anything but recent. I'm aware. However. I'm also aware that it is truly one of the greatest albums of our generation. I think I was brought back on the Aly & AJ train when I saw something about the fact that they're releasing new music and I was like uhhh why I have I been sleeping on old Aly & AJ for so long??? I owned the physical copy of this album and literally fell asleep to it almost every night for the months following its release. It. Is. So. Good. And I'm not one of those bandwagon fans who only respects "Potential Breakup Song" and "Like Woah", even though those are obviously masterpieces in their own right. I'm talking "On the Ride". I'm talking "Collapsed". I'm talking motherfucking "No One"!!!!!!!!!!!! Literally pillars of my adolescence! You may think I'm being facetious or like trying to be funny but let me assure you that I couldn't be more serious. If you're still skeptical...give it a listen yourself. You will deadass be blown away and you can thank me later. (11/10)
HOMECOMING: THE LIVE ALBUM by You Already Fucking Know: This really doesn't need to be included because it's that obvious, but here we are. Not picking favorite tracks because clearly the whole thing includes varying degrees of perfection. If you're not sure what I'm referring to then why are you even on this blog. (458092849027509285923/10)
“Rainman” by AP: This may seem like a biased thing to include, and it fully is because my dear friend Andreas is the rapper and producer of the track, but I'm just so proud of him and it fucking goes. Please listen to it because maybe then I can coax him to give a percentage of the profits he makes from streams :) (10/10)
podcast episodes
Little Gold Men “Predicting the Oscars”: The panel does an episode like this every year, and the funniest part about it is that they're typically incredibly wrong because how are you gonna get an accurate gauge on an awards show that's taking place literally 10 months from now, but it's fun to hear their thoughts regardless. (Not finding ratings necessary in this category sorry)
The Morning Toast “66. Wednesday, April 16th”: The ladies recap their Coachella experience and it's really the only people's Coachella experience I care about.
Pop Culture Happy Hour “Beyonce’s Homecoming”, “Our Summer Movie Preview”: I could really listen to just about anybody talk about the anomaly that is Homecoming, but it was especially gratifying to hear from some black female guests since that's really who Bey was catering to in that performance. The Summer Movie Preview is sort of in the same nature as the Little Gold Men episode. The panel members share the summer movie they are most excited to see and then share the movie they think will gross the most/least amount of money. Like I said in my previous post, these people are just smart, so I find it fun to hear them talk about literally anything.
products
Maelove “Glow Maker”, “Sun Protector”: An unnecessary story time...so my holy grail product used to be the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum, which is a Vitamin C serum that literally changed my skin. It smells wonderful, I love the consistency of it, it's genuinely a perfect product. The only problem is the fact that it's fucking expensive. It's like $50 and it lasts me a little over a month because I use it everyday. A little while back, like some point in the second half of 2018 I decided that I could no longer justify spending $50 every month on a skincare item, so I went on strike and decided not to buy it for a couple months. My skin went back to being dull and gross and I was like okay. Maybe I can justify this purchase now. But I just never pulled the trigger because it was too painful. So I'm in this beauty Facebook group (it sounds stupid but fuck off) and I posted to asked if anyone knew of a cheaper alternative to the Truth Serum. Someone recommended the Glow Maker to me and it's the best decision I've ever made. It's around $28 and the consistency is thinner than the Truth Serum, but it has totally re-transformed my skin. I've had it for a little while now and I'm never turning back. (9/10) So since I was obsessed with the Glow Maker I decided to try their sunscreen too because I ran out of my trusty Glossier one and the Maelove one is cheaper. It's SPF 30 and I use it everyday. I'm enjoying it so far, but I don't think I can really give it a rating until I find out later in life if I've developed melanoma. So you guys will have to stay tuned for that. (9/10)
Fenty Beauty “Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer”: I honestly think that Fenty Beauty could come out with a product made exclusively out of animal shit and I would slap it all over my face and declare it the best invention of our generation. Not to compare this bronzer to literal feces, but I said what I said. This shit is so good. It's so smooth and applies so evenly. I use the shade "BAJAN GYAL" and it somehow works for both my tanned skin and normal skin tone so I'm living for that. I use it as both an eyeshadow and a bronzer and it's really just perfect. Thank fucking god for Rihanna. (10/10)
Pickwick & Co. “Black Pepper” Candle: There's really not much to say except this is the best candle I've ever smelled. It's not at all overwhelming, it's the perfect scent to keep burning in your room and you won't get a headache!!!! (10/10)
Amika "3D" Volume and Thickening Shampoo & "the kure" Repair Conditioner: My hair has gone THROUGH IT. I have been straightening my hair damn near every day since 6th grade. The only reason my hair is not falling out and having split ends out the wazoo is because of products from Amika. I've been consistently using their products for over a year now and I recently bought this combination. My hair has become noticeably more voluminous and less frizzy. They're both around $25 and last a couple months easily. It's made in Brooklyn which makes me feel cool. It smells wonderful and produces RESULTS! (10/10)
Skeem Design "Fleur de Sel" Print Block perfume: I found this perfume at a small boutique in Cincinnati and it is truly the best thing I've ever smelled. It is a rollerball and somehow mixes in with my natural scent perfectly? Sorry if that sounds gross. It's just a generally nice perfume alright. (9/10)
tv episodes
Killing Eve “The Hungry Caterpillar”: This show is everything. I'm not gonna spoil anything but this is the first episode of the season in which we see Vilanelle's amazing style. That is all. (9/10)
Game of Thrones “The Rains of Castemere”: Yes. I am that one annoying bitch who is still on season four of GoT. I know. Fuck off. Red Wedding. I cried. That's all I'm gonna say. (12/10)
movies
Someone Great - Netflix: This is one of those perfect feel-good movies that really isn't that good but it's also sooooo good. It's about a group of girl friends in New York City. They do Molly. They smoke a fuck ton of weed. It's just necessary. (7/10)
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Netflix: I've been weirdly into early 2000s movies because they really make me feel great. The fashion is everything. I just need it, ya know? So this movie features a young Sandra Bullock, but let's face it, she hasn't aged in like 30 years. I don't really know how to describe it but it just made me happy. (7/10)
Five Feet Apart - In Theaters: One of those "the kids are sick in the hospital and fall in love" movies. It really wasn't that good but I genuinely enjoyed it. My mom cried harder than I've ever seen and the sounds of her sobbing really added to the sensory experience. (6/10)
So that's that. I will really try and stick to the monthly thing. Also sorry this is coming halfway through May, but what can ya do.
For now, that's all OG wrote.
