Hello again/welcome back/happy women’s history month etc! Thank you so much to everyone who has already subscribed, and if you have not yet — in the words of Logan Roy — “I love you, but you are not serious people.”
Pop Culture Lately
Let’s get right into it. This was a big week for me. The newest Succession season 4 trailer dropped AND the one and only King of Genovia, Nicholas Devereaux aka Chris Pine, was all over my internet giggling at memes of himself, posting little photo shoots, and FINALLY weighing in on the infamous Don’t Worry Darling spit-gate. An embarrassment of riches frankly.
Watching Lately
I have — against my will mind you — watched so many videos on TikTok explaining the mess that is Justin/Selena/Hailey and still I could not explain it if asked and that’s OKAY! Things I can explain and will do so HAPPILY…
The Yellowjackets Season 2 Entertainment Weekly Cover
If you didn’t watch season 1, please do ahead of season 2 coming out March 26th (same day as the Succession, so really no one try to contact me Sunday nights this spring). But I am stoked to to see the additional adult castings of characters about whom we previously weren’t sure if they made it back alive. The casting choices continue to be so spot on
Love Island UK
This past week for US viewers stuck watching on a Huly delay, we finally got to experience the magic and chaos that is Casa Amor. Next to no one was faithful and having to watch Jessie console Will over him feeling badly he kissed another girl damn near broke me. But not as much as watching Olivia walk back into the villa recouped and then having the AUDACITY to get made at Kai (her former partner) for doing the same thing! Her time is up, she’s gotta go
Succession Season 4 trailer
I know I mentioned it above but THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME OKAY!?
I mean, look at the material? How could I not be giddy over this? March needs to move so quickly, I’m so serious.
I do feel compelled to mention the damning Rolling Stone article that dropped this week which talks about HBO’s upcoming show, The Idol, created by nepo-baby in chief, Sam Levinson, starring The Weeknd + Lily-Rose Depp, and how its just gone disgustedly off the rails. A very cool way to start off women’s history month is reading about how The Weeknd insist they drop the “feminist lens” for the show so it could be more about him. Nice!
I am actually behind on The Last of Us, Shrinking, AND Daisy Jones & The Six AND we have Ted Lasso’s final season dropping in 10 days + YOU season 4 part two in 4 days; it is so hard to keep up with my shows when Love Island drops a new episode every night. Alexa, play Champagne Problems by Taylor Swift.
Reading Lately
I am still reading None Of This is True by Lisa Jewell, but this week I also read Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez. My spoiler free review…
Part of Your World, a romance, tells the story of 38 year old city girl, Alexis Montgomery, a doctor from a prestigious family of doctors who has had her world turned upside down when she meets Daniel Grant, a 28 year old “ridiculously hot carpenter.” Their lives could not be more different. But their chemistry is off the charts and so they find themselves repeatedly drawn to each other. Classic.
Mostly, this book felt like a hug. For some reason (the reason: a woman wrote this book) after only knowing each other a short time, Daniel’s life purpose seems to be making Alexis feel loved and safe. And as an anxious girlie who just wants to feel those things herself, this did it for me. The absolute epitome of romance is fantasy because Daniel seemed to have nothing else going on in his life besides making Alexis grilled cheese and IRL, I can’t think of many things that would have given me the ick faster. But in the context of this novel? We love to see it.
However, I just could not get past the 10 year age gap. Alexis is getting out of an emotionally abusive relationship so with that in mind we can extend her some grace, but for me, it’s a no. Happy for them though.
Looking forward to reading Abby Jimenez’s Yours Truly which comes out April 11th, though I have an advanced reader copy on my kindle, which I’ll probably start soon (thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley!)
Eating Lately
I am telling on myself with this because it has become abundantly clear I do not cook anything for myself besides pasta; otherwise every meal this week was dining out or leftovers. Going to mediate on that later but in the meantime, here are a few places I ate and drank that I enjoyed this week…
Crimson (Santa Monica) — fast casual Mediterranean food in Ocean Park, the ste
Bodega Wine Bar (Santa Monica) — highly recommend the Chili Bear Pizza
The Chestnut Club (Santa Monica)— they have exposed brick and for that reason alone I loved it
Cafe Gratitude (Larchmont) — full disclosure, they comped my meal in exchange for a post, but the food was delicious and my only gripe is the ridiculous way they insist on naming their food. You cannot help but feel foolish as you order a pizza by saying “I am giving”
Bravo Toast (West Hollywood) — already planning my visit back, their Sunny Toast + Doheny Latte were delicious, and I’m eyeing the Bagel Toast + Ricotta toast for next time
California Roll Factory (Sawtelle)— their menu is enormous and everything we tried was great. I especially recommend the Love Roll
DK’s Donuts (Santa Monica) — a west side staple, open 24/7. a perfect place for a dessert fix. I got their Nutella Cronut. no notes
Products Lately
The way that the below tweet unlocked something so specific in my brain…like I can smell it. I can hear it. This is art.
Things I’m loving lately and not in the year 2008…
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask — consider me influenced. I’ve tried this product from my friends’ before and decided on an impromptu sephora run yesterday that I needed it for myself. chapped lips aren’t a cute look
Ilia Bright Start Retinol Alternative Brightening Eye Cream - thank you Ilia for sending me this eye cream to try; I had to film several auditions this week that had me crying, so this came in major handy
Image Skincare Sunscreen — the sun finally came back out in LA so time to lather up. This has been my go to face sunscreen for the last year. It doesn’t make my skin feel oily and it doesn’t give me breakouts. what a win
Listening Lately
The Daisy Jones & The Six soundtrack, including the Fleetwood Mac inspired fictional band’s “iconic” album Aurora, dropped this week. And I’m a fan. Fave songs include Two Against Three, Look At Us Now (Honeycomb), The River, and By Myself. I especially love the lyrics of By Myself “And I don’t need anyone’s help / I can do this with nobody else / I can ruin this night by myself” oof. And on that note…
I think that’s it for now. There’s some exciting stuff on the horizon over the next week, including the Shadow And Bone Season 2 premiere (wish me luck finding an outfit!) and THE Oscars! If you made it this far, know that appreciate you. Feel free to leave a comment if you agree or disagree with anything above or if there are things you want to hear more about. And if you feel inclined to share The Lately with other pop culture obsessed friends, love that, too. As always you can find me on Instagram and TikTok. Come say hi and thanks for reading!
you know i will support any and all chris pine stanning