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WATCHING: The Substance

obviously has its potential flaws e.g. hazy representation of aging but overall really enjoyed The Substance. i love a film that really uses horror as a means to the storytelling and communication. cinematography was epic and creativity behind it was beautiful. overall, totally worth a watch and even a rewatch.

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TRYING: nail art

did some nail art inspired by fantastic mr fox :)

not perfect but cute and i’m trying to do more fun makeup and nails etc.

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WATCHING:

loved some parts of this film when it came out like the acting performances, comedy etc. but felt off about the messaging, general impact of the film so it was good to see those thoughts laid out so well.

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READING: New Yorker articles

I’ve not been able to read as many books as I’d like because of how busy I’ve been so I’m encouraging myself to read more short form ‘literature’. The New Yorker often publish pieces that I find intriguing and this week I read one about the history of the site AllRecipes!

Loving an article or two as a way to keep reading🙂

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TRYING: Raspberry (Strawberry in this case) Coconut Loaf Cake

from: The Lovecats Inc

tried a British recipe this time to make things easier on myself and it definitely helped. i also had to substitute raspberry for strawberry, raspberry definitely makes for a better pairing with coconut but i still enjoyed this.

also my loaf tin was a spot too small so i made a batch of mini muffins with the spare batter, which was a great bonus :)

issues: strawberries didn't bake well, was a tad dry (probably let it cool too long)

on the up side though: topping was delicious, enjoyed the coconut way more than i thought, my lining of the tin was perfect if i do say so myself

tips for a retry: use raspberries or cut strawberries much smaller, line fully as before

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LISTENING: The Rest is Politics

I have a couple of friends who listen to this show so decided to give it a proper go. The insights are interesting and, while not necessarily aligned with my own politics, I appreciate the relatively centrist approach in this format.

I chose the episode about the US presidential debate because I need all the insight I can get into that situation and found it was a good choice.

Makes for an interesting listen but could get a bit much as a British socialist.

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WATCHING: The Lego Movie

the nostalgia drew me in but the film had a genuine funniness and poignancy that is lost on a child or even an adult on first watch.

it feels almost like a precursor to Barbie in its messaging layered with fun and humanity (as ironic as it sounds)

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WATCHING: Quiz Lady

Decided to watch this film when I saw Sandra Oh won her first Emmy for it and, while I don't think it beats Killing Eve, it's a good bit of a fun and has a cute message that I appreciated.

I haven't been a huge fan of Awkwafina's usual comedic style but I enjoyed this different side to her- more subtle and sentimental. I love Sandra Oh in all her roles and Quiz Lady adds a new facet to her for me.

Light, cute and most importantly fun

4/5

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LISTENING: So True w/ Caleb Hearon

Literally laugh-out-loud funny, no matter the guest.

Listened to this episode and loved it (Brittany Broski episode was also hilarious). Will definitely be a regular listen.

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WATCHING: Black Swan

Beautiful visually, tactfully ambiguous yet meaningful

A resonant story, full of emotion.

Portman’s performance is flawless

4.5/5

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LISTENING: Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay

Obsessed with Magdalena Bay, their sound is so unique, i love that their music is genuinely art and their releases are so well thought out and cohesive.

It's hard to pick favourite tracks on Imaginal Disk because it feels like a true album rather than a collection of individual tracks but I've chosen tracks that stood out as moments on the album to me.

Top tracks: Death and Romance, Killing Time and Tunnel Vision

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TRYING: Soft Chocolate Sugar Cookies

from: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

as a brit, i usually struggle with American recipes for whatever inescapable reason... no change today.

had a couple issues: cookies expanded to twice their size, ended up a little too greasy and were really difficult to remove from the tray (none of which i blame on the recipe ofc)

on the up side though: chocolate flavour was delicious and enjoyed the final chewy but soft texture

tips for a retry: chill for as long as possible, exact proportions key, a tad less salt, small balls are ideal dough shape