For Frodo
Good morning you ‘It’s Still Kinda Hot but We’re GOING to be Autumnal dammit’ lovelies.
I went through a whole Lord of the Rings rewatch at some point during the last 18 months - I’ve given up on my ability to distinguish when something chronologically happened at this point. And there’s that moment in Return of the King at the very end - after all the trekking, after all the battles - when they’re standing in front of the Black Gate exhausted and bloodied when Aragorn gives his famous speech.
It’s a truly great speech - and then from there we go into Sam’s gut wrenching carrying of Frodo up the mountain that if you don’t cry through you’re a frickin monster - but, there’s a moment a little later that seemed to hit different this time around. And it wasn’t the words, it was the look on Aragorn’s face.
You can see it. It’s a different kind of courage than when he’s giving his speech. A courage that is just as powerful, yet peaceful….resolved.
It’s surrender.
We’re all so fucking tired at this point - we’ve trekked, we’ve battled - but I think what I got in this moment was that our goodness - our inner Frodo - is worth fighting for again and again and again and again...
In such uncertain times, it’s hard to be soft. It’s hard to be vulnerable. It’s hard to have hope. It’s hard to have imagination.
But, I’m going to try.
For Frodo.
Each month, I’ll gather:
❤️funny tweets
🤩stuff to watch, read and listen to
🤝great follows on social media
🌈 music to soothe
🕯calming things
*****
❤️
🤩
This podcast with Brené Brown and Esther Perel is INCREDIBLE. The first 30 minutes is some of the most impactful conversation around global uncertainty and the power of story, but then at around the 35-40 minute mark they start talking about relationships, patterns and the paradox of how the past 18 months seemed to bring us all closer together while somehow also pushing and testing every corner of our deepest connections… needless to say everyone EVERYONE needs to listen to this. I… it’s just so powerful and moving. (DRINK if you bet I’d mention Brené Brown)
Jason Isbell has a cover album coming out celebrating Georgia. The first track is R.E.M’s Driver 8 and it’s incredible. And yes, this did make me go listen to the ORIGINAL and…I’m now down a very deep R.E.M. rabbit-hole. My favorite track of theirs is still Fall on Me.
I’ve been on a pretty hardcore Hayao Miyazaki binge these past months - I was talking about Spirited Away with a friend and it set me down a very single minded path. On top of his films, I really loved the two documentaries made about him (they’re SO good - especially for all the creatives out there) - if you start with Kingdom of Dreams and Madness and then go into Never-Ending Man - you get to see the lead up to his retirement and then the aftermath. It’s RIVETING.
I really love everything Wesley Taylor does, so when he linked to his Feels like Fall playlist on Spotify? I KNEWWWW it was gonna be good.
I am NOT a gardener - in fact, I’m currently slowly killing an orchid one over-watering session at a time - but, dear god watching Monty Don’s Gardener’s World is the most calming thing in the entire world? In fact, it’s SO calming I tend to doze off half-way through an episode and then have a baby startle reflex hours later wondering why I was dreaming about lawns.
Yes, fine - then I watched the entirety of the BBC’s programming about this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show - and it was SO interesting. I loved that they really focused on how so many people (not me, of course) turned to gardening during the pandemic and even started new categories - like balcony and container gardens, and house plant categories - to meet that need.
I absolutely devoured Frederick Smith and Chaz Lamar Cruz's newest book, Busy Ain’t the Half of It. It’s so hard to get LA right and this book - it just sweeps you away from the first page and doesn’t let go.
I’ve been loving this series about the different art movements - especially this one about the Baroque movement. There’s also a Rococo one. (I swear it’s not as annoying as the trailers lead you to believe.)
🤝
Follow Sir Candle Man to just step into becoming the Candlehead that you KNOW you are deep down. His reviews? Are incredible and I now need a wick trimmer for sure.
Follow the Renovation Husbands for some incredible renovations and interior design. (thank you to Ben for this one)
Follow Kelis’ Bounty and Full to realllllllly come to terms with that fantasy you have for living on a farm and spending your days growing and making cool shit.
🌈
🕯
I literally want everything off Kelis’ Bounty and Full website - but I’m going to start with THIS.
When we first went into lockdown, I worked with my pilates instructor to replicate her studio as much as we could at home so we could continue virtually trying to undo years of Writer Back. I’ve had this brand of mat and this bolster for YEARS - and they’re still in great condition. Lying back on this exercise ball opens up and combats hunching over one’s computer all day. This balance pad works great on all things balance and agility. I have these yoga blocks and this foam roller. I also have a resistance band, but can’t find any kind of tag on it - but I’ve seen a few people I trust recommend THIS yoga strap.
It’s time for seasonal candles and One North Candle will be my first stop.
I was so curious about Jonathan Van Ness’ new line of products, so when my Bumble and Bumble main stay ran out (and my friend gave me a Sephora gift certificate) - I decided to try it. dear lord. The smell alone is what I imagine that secret garden Howl took Sophie to smells like. I’ve only used it once, so I’ll report back, but right now? I’m a fan.
🥰 I am here. Together, we will endeavor to just do the next right thing. 🥰
See you on the last Monday of every month.