Hello friends. Welcome back to our weekly roundup of ten things we are loving. May is off to a weird start as currently our kitchen is being renovated. We’re living that air fryer lifestyle for the foreseeable future. It definitely makes me thankful for modern conveniences I typically take for granted.
10 Things I Love
1. For reading this week I’m finishing up By Any Other Name and absolutely loving it. Next up on my list is The Talented Mr. Ripley. I always love hearing your book suggestions so tell me what’s the best thing you’ve read recently? Emma told me The Wedding People is incredible.
2. For surviving our kitchen renovation I am loving my Wonder Oven. I’ve heard it referred to as an “adult easy-bake oven” and I couldn’t agree more.
3. We’re planning our first overseas trip with the girls later this month and I’m so excited for them to see their first concert Sleeping At Last. What a special memory, right? I’d love to hear your kid-friendly London recommedations.
4. I’ve been spending a ton of time creating recently including taking art lessons and lots of writing courses. If you are on a similar journey I highly recommend The Artist’s Way. I’ve read it in the past but I’ve never followed the program week by week and it’s life changing.
5. It’s funny how when renovating a home I end up spending so much time trying to find the prettiest toilet paper storage. I can’t wait to show you our daughter’s new mermaid bathroom- it has a pink toilet.
6. I just found my new summer perfume. It’s light, warm and smells so good.
7. My husband and I are rewatching The Sopranos and I’m blown away how well it holds up and also how much the world has changed in the past twenty years. I’d love to hear what television and movies you’re enjoying lately.
8. I think I need this t-shirt (Etsy forever!).
9. I just replaced my Canon large format printer. I’m a loyalist. I use it for printing both everyday documents and photos. For large format photos I use the luster photo paper. The quality is a 10/10.
10. If you don’t subscribe to Sharon McMahon’s substack, The Preamble, I highly recommend it. This article brought so many feelings to the surface (ouch- my heart!). I also love being a part of her book club.
Recent Blog Posts
- Learn to make Butter Chicken.
- Try Emma’s Chow Mein recipe.
- The secret to Ombre Nails.
- Homemade Chimichangas
I’m so happy these posts are back! 🙂
Ha! We have a lot ofmatching favorites this week! My husband and I are also rewatching the Sopranos and I’m just starting to read the Ripley series. I’ve been collecting the books when I see them 2nd hand and have 4 of the 5 now! I love Patricia Highsmith! Also Wonder Oven and Preamble!
Elsie, your creativity and artistic expression seems to have exploded tenfold over the past few years. Do you attribute that to something in particular? Also, do you think your kids getting older helps with the freedom for it?
Hi! I definitely have a little more capacity now that my children aren’t toddlers anymore. I’m trying to take baby steps toward my ten year goals (but it definitely feels slow and gradual to me). Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate you Katie!
London local here. I recommend Kew Gardens for the family and the Mad Hatter’s kids’ afternoon tea at Sanderson Hotel with the girls (v. pricey, though!). The Victoria & Albert has areas set up for kids (and is amazing) and they also have a special kids’ museum now as well. I highly recommend the Sir John Soane Museum (not for the kids, though) for design inspiration, but most of the major museums (e.g., Natural History, Science Museum), which are all free, have areas set up for kids. The Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour is supposed to be great for fans.
I love The Artist’s Way and I come back to it most summers to review and restart the practice during slower days. Highly Recommend!!
I just have to say I love these posts. For books I’ve really been loving all of Emily Henry’s books as of lately.
Yay Artist’s Way! Can’t wait to hear more about your experience and reflections in a podcast.
My book club is reading The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story by Olga Tokarczuk and it seems RIGHT up your alley.
I just finished co-hosting a group doing the Artists Way and we absolutely felt it was life-changing. We referred to ABM often throughout our weekly meetings (especially the screen time) and am so pleased to see you mention it. We would *love* to hear it be a podcast topic in the future.
Currently reading Good Material by Dolly Alderton and loving so far!
I love the Artist’s Way! I didn’t do the exercises, but I really enjoyed reading it.
I just finished my second Artist’s Way group, and our group talked about the episode with Elise about screen time. We’d love to hear an episode about your experience!
Thank you! Love these posts. “Wedding People” really is a special book. Looking forward to seeing your mermaid bathroom. We have a very subtle nod to mermaids in our bathroom & I’ve been considering adding more merpeople elements.
I’m almost done with The Residence on Netflix. I think you both would really enjoy it! It’s a murder mystery quirky comedy. 10/10 for me.
I am watching Empathie on Crave and im obsessed! On another note, I just finished my lipstick Buffy from Oui fresh I was so sad!
I love The Preamble! 10/10 recommend.
I haven’t finished it, but currently reading Testimony by Jon Ward. Really relatable to my upbringing so far, and feels heavy to process. Currently unpacking the past and deciding what I believe. Difficult, but exciting.
I’m so excited for your renovation! Fingers crossed for future pics, but no pressure.xoxo