Happy first week in May!
April was..interesting, to say the least. I stayed home more than I ever have before, cooked (and did more dishes) than I ever thought possible, learned to stay connected via zoom, and mastered the quickest morning routine ever.
Overall, the past couple of months have been a study in contrasts for me. I’m heartbroken for all of the illness and suffering in the world right now. But still. There has been a steady thrum of joy in my life at home, an inner whispering that the less-frenzied pace I’ve always wanted has fallen into my lap. I feel grounded and content after this time at home, away from the pressure I have felt for years from both myself and others to go out and pack my schedule full. In quarantine I have had plenty of time for walks, learning Italian (again), gardening, reading/ listening to things that inform and challenge me intellectually, and so much cooking.
And now that I’ve had a taste of this slower, more soulful life, I don’t want to give it up. Of course, I know that’s not realistic, and the truth is, I would probably go crazy if told I had to stay home forever. But in the meantime, I am enjoying my time recharging at home, immersing myself in new projects, and learning new things.
Scroll on for some of the reads and podcast episodes I’ve been loving lately.
READ
Eat What You Want, Gaby Dalkin– Gaby’s recipes never let me down. Her recipes are always beautiful, approachable, and most importantly flavor-packed. I was anxiously awaiting the release of her newest cookbook, and it has not disappointed. So far I’ve made the cauliflower shwarma and beef and broccoli, and I can’t wait to make every recipe in the book.
Goop Clean Beauty, Editors of Goop- Gwenyth Paltrow and her lifestyle brand, Goop, are controversial. She has introduced some ridiculous beauty products in the past, but she and her team seem genuinely passionate about changing the cosmetics industry for the better. Entire chapters are devoted to deciphering cosmetics labels and shedding light on little-known consumer traps: products labeled as preservative-free are not healthier; some hard-to-pronounce ingredients are actually harmless. The book sheds a definitive light on the importance of diet, sleep, exercise, and clean beauty products while offering tactical advice for healthy, glowing skin and hair that starts from the inside out.
LISTEN
My Restaurant Was My Life For 20 Years. Does The World Need It Anymore?, New York Times- Chef Gabrielle Hamilton of the East Village restaurant Prune, walks us through the labor-intensive process of temporarily shutting a business and the quagmire of government resources that are supposed to help. And she dwells on a gut-wrenching question so many are asking these days; whether the world that emerges from this crisis will still need the skills and talents once offered. In the end, it’s a portrait of resilience and of an entrepreneur “dreaming again.”
How Dangerous is Our Drinking Water?, Goop– This podcast opened my eyes to how much wrong there was with the water we’re drinking right now: We still use the same water technologies that were put in place a century ago. And parallel solutions like bottled plastic water tend to cause more harm. According to Siegel, we have both the capital and the technology to save our water for good—we just need to demand change.
WATCH
Chasing Coral, Netflix- Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. Divers, photographers, and scientists set out on an ocean adventure to discover why the reefs are disappearing and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world. Extraordinary photography, a suspenseful story, and a wake-up call to save a crucial creature in our earth’s complex ecosystem.
Icarus, Netflix-When filmmaker Bryan Fogel sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller. Dirty urine, unexplained death and Olympic gold are all part of the exposure of one of the biggest scandals in sports history.
The Great Hack, Netflix- This documentary offers an alarming glimpse of the way data is being weaponized for political gain — and what it might mean for future elections.
life after five 