Something Fun: Elle's Song Association

The other night, just after getting into bed, I stumbled upon (and proceeded to get hooked by) Elle Magazine's Song Association web series -- effectively delaying bedtime for another thirty minutes while we watched famous people play a sing-song word game. The videos are really cute and catchy. Could be fun to play your own version with friends!

Next time you need a diversion, I highly suggest giving the playlist a scroll. Or just start with Lizzo's episode (she's the reigning champ) and go from there :)

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Something Fun: Amy Sedaris' Home Tour

Hello, friend! How was your weekend? Mine whipped itself up into quite a whirlwind. As a result, I've fallen well behind on a ton of errands. (Sleep, too.) Cut to me, today, feverishly trying to make up for lost time.

In short, I lack the mental wherewithal to prepare a proper blog post. Instead, I'm going to share a fun video I recently, randomly unearthed that left me completely charmed over.

A few years ago, Amy Sedaris gave New York Magazine a tour of her quirky, super unique NYC apartment. I'm such a fan of hers -- she's so clever, bubbly, and delightfully weird. Turns out, those same qualities can also be attributed to her home! Watching this clip feels like falling into a bright, unpredictable rabbit hole (wherein you will find an *actual* rabbit).

I've now seen the video three times and, decisively, like Amy Sedaris more than ever before :)

Image credit: The Cut

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More Illustrators I Really, Really Like

Happy Friday! I'd like to welcome the forthcoming weekend by sharing five illustrators I'm incredibly fond of following on social media.

Their work is sweet, funny, and (more recently) beautifully captures the vexing mood of living through a pandemic. I'll often seek out their work when I need cheering up... Or, on the flip side, when I'm less inclined to shake off a shitty vibe. Turning to their accounts feels good -- like commiserating with very clever friends. 

Here is a handful of my favorite pieces. I challenge you to visit the rest of their work and not start following their accounts ;)

Nina Cosford (@ninacosford):

  

  

Kristen Barnhart (@kb.illustration):

  

Giselle Dekel (@giselle_dekel):

  

  

Felicia Chiao (@feliciachiao):

  

Gemma Correll (@gemmacorrell):

  

Do you follow any illustrators on social media? I'd love to hear about them!

Image credit (top): Fold Magazine

Artwork credit: Each illustration is linked back to its source.

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What I'm Watching (Jan 1st to Feb 2nd)

A great side effect of seemingly endless sub-zero weather? Catching up on loads of television, guilt-free. (Baking cookies and drinking spiked coffee are also happy offshoots of being stuck indoors, but we can talk about those things another day.)

Here's what I've watched since the start of the new year. If you're stumped for something to stream, feel free to browse the list for inspiration :)

30 Rock (the final season). Hard to believe I never saw the last episodes of my beloved 30 Rock until now! (Liz Lemon was my roommate when I lived in NDG.) Wouldn't call this one the funniest season, but the show makes up for it by offering plenty of feel-good closure.

Dheepan. I gave Josh the biggest eye-roll when he suggested watching Dheepan on a Sunday afternoon. Seemed like one of those movies you're never really in the mood to watch because it's so sad and serious. Turns out, Dheepan is definitely both those things, but also really moving and immersive once the story gets going.

The Dissident. Documentary about the notorious assassination of a political journalist in 2018. I knew embarrassingly little about Jamal Khashoggi and was therefore gripped by the film. However, I hear it doesn't offer much more new information to viewers who already know his story.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Re-watching F&L for the first time in over a decade left me feeling oddly disconnected from the younger version of myself who loooved the movie. Don't get me wrong -- it's still wild AF and chaotically entertaining. This time around, though, I couldn't get on-board with its darker, more disturbing elements (which comprises about 95% of the screen time).

I Hate Suzie. A fun show! (Unless you're Suzie, I guess.) Sooo many cringe-y moments.

Klute. Why isn't the movie named after Jane Fonda's character? Anyway. I surprisingly liked how creepy it was.

The Matrix. 20+ years later, it was finally time to watch The Matrix. I was prepared for cheesy lines, bad special effects, and an abundance of sci-fi nonsense. Somehow, even now, it still works! Consider me a fan.

The Matrix Reloaded. To be clear, I'm only a fan of the first installment lol the sequel kind of sucked.

The Nest. Fun to watch for the late-eighties outfits and interior decor.

Nomadland. Fair to say Nomadland is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching in equal measure.

Promising Young Woman. Truly cannot remember the last time I was this unreasonably excited for a new movie. Sadly, it pains me to admit the trailer for Promising Young Woman might be better than the movie itself, which was less "revenge thriller" and more "deep dive into decades of trauma." I'm glad I watched it, just unsure I'd recommend it to everyone.

The Royal Tenenbaums. Very pleased to report I liked it just as much as always. (So, A LOT.)

Serenity. You know when you hear something is *so bad* it's actually a lot of fun? Serenity isn't that.

Sex and the City (seasons one to four). Re-watching Sex and the City eleven months into a pandemic made me realize one big thing: HOW MUCH I MISS SPENDING TIME WITH MY DAMN FRIENDS. Actually, another thing: HOW MUCH I ALSO MISS WEARING NICE CLOTHES AND IMPRACTICAL SHOES. (Okay, I'm done with typing in all caps.)

Sharp Objects. Extremely late to the game. Sharp Objects was interesting enough but, frankly, I'm sick of mystery-of-the-murdered-young-woman content.

South Side. Very funny! An easy, low-commitment show to watch. 

The Trip To Greece. The fourth chapter of a series where two wealthy middle-aged white men basically tour around Europe, eating and drinking and doing funny celebrity impressions along the way. (It's better than it sounds. Maybe.)

What have you watched recently?

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Recently On Repeat

Long time no see!

Evidently, I haven't felt particularly inspired or motivated to update the blog. Blame the miserably frigid weather, paired with pandemic-related quasi house arrest. Anyway. It's not all bad news! Here is handful of fun things I've really enjoyed recently :)

Eating

Pio Pio's Peruvian chicken sandwiches with seasoned fries. 

Tofu poke bowls from OKOK. Don't forget to mix-and-match sauces!

A corner slice of Pizza Toni's square pepperoni (with spicy hot drizzle) is my new favorite one-handed lunch. Ordered with a can of...

Drinking

...Coconut La Croix! I might be hate-hooked on its strange taste. (Are you sweet or savory??)

Lupi Reali Montepulciano d'Abruzzo a.k.a. the very easy, very tasty red wine that will only set you back $12.

Zab ground espresso -- especially this blend -- with oat milk.

Doing

Playing Redecor day and night.  Please send help!

Technically, this one isn't a game, but I've been having fun with Warby Parker's interactive app while I shop around for new frames.

Indulging

Using Transforming Walnut Scrub from Ole Henriksen weekly. It's an oldie/goodie I reacquainted myself with last month. Easily the best (and best-smelling) facial scrub I've ever used.

Reading:

We're only one month into the new year, but Nothing Good Can Come From This, by Kristi Coulter, already set the bar ridiculously high for favorite book of 2021.

Wearing 

Apologies to all my other cold weather footwear, but I reach for black faux-shearling-lined Timberland boots every single day. Sturdy, warm, understated. Looks like they're on sale at The Bay, too.

What small things are keeping you sane during weary winter days?

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New Year, Same Me: Having No-Pressure Goals

Hi guys! Welcome to my first blog post of 2021 :)

I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions. From my experience, they normally prompt a frenzy of new self care behavior (rigorous exercise, "cleaner" eating, compulsory gratitude journaling, you get the drift) that ultimately falls by the wayside come March. The cycle is a well-known cliché, and yet, we still beat ourselves up for not sticking to half-hearted goals we were quasi-pressured into setting on January 1st.

Which isn't to say we should give up on self-improvement. Hardly! Instead of making resolutions, I like to keep a notes tab open in my phone year-round, to which I add random skills, hobbies, classes, challenges that catch my attention. Some are ignored and, eventually, deleted. Others gradually become ingrained habits over time.

The best part: Without a fixed start-date, you can launch new personal projects at your own pace. (Or end them, for that matter, without feeling like you've failed the entire new year lol.)

Here are the four latest ideas on my list:

~ Learn some basic sign language. I just registered here!

~ Drink more water. 

~ Try making pottery (once, y'know, the world reopens).

~ Raise funds for a local charity -- I'm thinking about a $5 book sale from my own collection.

What goals have you recently been working toward? Doesn't have to be a 2021 thing -- I'm all ears to past accomplishments, too! 

Image credit: PENN Live

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I Watched 2 *Actual* Scary Movies

I recently watched two (TWO!) certifiably scary movies, which is extremely unlike me.

Even more shocking: I really enjoyed them! 

We streamed Silence of the Lambs back on Halloween. A month later (baby steps), we scrounged up Josh's DVD of The Shining. Surely, everybody is familiar with these suuuper iconic movies, so there's no need for me to talk about their plots, characters, etc. Right? Right.

I was surprised by how current and relevant they both felt (for the most part), despite being older classics. Also, there is plenty of gruesome content in both, but nothing so terrifying or gratuitously vile that someone with zero tolerance for horror would be compelled to shut off the television.

Silence of the Lambs is excellent for all you true crime junkies. If you loved Mindhunter, Making a Murderer, or True Detective, then you will easily enjoy this movie -- it fits right in with them.

Since paranormal scariness will forever irk me, I found The Shining was A LOT more frightening. Aside from the low-grade fear humming through my body the entire time, I only had to turn away from the screen, like, twice max. 

Anyway. From now on, just call me The Bravest Person Ever. Nbd ;)

Artwork credit: unDraw Halloween 2018 (this website is so cool)

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Gift Wrapping Ideas (Featuring Plain Paper)

Happy first night of Hannukah! 

Holiday Season 2020 is upon us. I adore giving gifts for any occasion -- nailing the perfect present for someone else is such an awesome feeling! HOWEVER, I loathe spending money on expensive wrapping. I think a plain paper shopping bag (or brown packing paper!) + fun tissue paper + ribbon makes a sweetly personal and more impactful statement than any expensive offering from Hallmark. Plus, you can have fun getting crafty (if that's your jam).

So, in that spirit, I went through my bookmarks to distill the cutest, most simple gift wrap ideas I've loved from around the web.

My preferred DIY situation doesn't necessarily require tremendous effort or a huge time investment. You might already have useful trims and trinkets hanging around the house. If not, then a fast trip to almost any convenience store is all you really need to get started. 

On the other hand, should you wish to unleash your inner Martha Stewart, feel free to take all the time and energy you need ;)

1. Accessorizing with a cookie cutter? Adorable! (It can even be incorporated as a bonus gift.) Pulling off the idea should be inexpensive -- I've seen holiday-shaped cutters at the dollar store, or you might have some on-hand from past celebrations that are still in excellent shape.

2. Create allover polka dots with pom poms! I really like the effect of only using white ones, but it would look so fun multicolored, or in shades of the same pop color. Another idea: Experiment with poms of different sizes.

3. Dangle one or two little ornaments from the bag/box. Small bells work, too!

4. "Tie" your parcel with a hand-sketched bow :)

5. Bust out the colorful twine, decorative ribbon, etc, and go for a traditional cross-wrap.

6. Adorn your present with old-school paper snowflake cut-outs. (I'm such a fan of this idea!) In case you don't remember making these in elementary school, here's a tutorial.

7. Draw/paint your own pattern all over the wrapping. I'm partial to easy stars (two pics above) and little dashes (just above). Glittery or metallic colors lend a sprinkle of extra festivity :)

8. One big, bright statement pom pom!

9. Basically snatching this idea as-is: Paint some large, colorful blobs all over your packaging. Once dry, use a sharpie to sketch holiday details on top. (My inspo pic has trees, but you can do stars or snowflakes or whatever else instead.) It's probably important to finish decorating your paper before wrapping the gift lol.

10. Splatter paint! Load up a brush and test out your best Jackson Pollock. Again, I'm drawn to the effect of using a single color, but there's no wrong answer in terms of color or how sparse the splatters.

11. Tone-on-tone wrapping with a single bow. Minimalism! Surprisingly elegant, right?

12. Have a blast with washi tape! For simplicity, I linked to Omers DeSerres; search further and you'll find PLENTY of adorable indie options on Etsy or in stationary stores across the city.

13. Get natural :) almost makes perfect has a tutorial about decorating with dried fruit and cinnamon sticks (check her story highlights). Otherwise, you could always play around sprigs of leafy herbs (rosemary is so pretty), evergreens, pine cones, eucalyptus -- endless organic ideas ;)

What gift-wrapping tricks do you have up your sleeve?

Image credit (top): Maine Sport Outfitters
Image credit (gifting): I will circle back to add the links. Sorry for the mess-up.

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DOGUE: Clothes For Pups

Does your pet wear clothes? 

(Here at Box Cake, we like to ask hard-hitting questions that really make you think lol.)

Unsurprisingly, Intern Reggie owns a staggering collection of tees, coats, scarves, boots (though he is loathe to wear them), bow ties, and basically any other stupidity I can coerce him into wearing. In my quest to have the most well dressed pup on the block, I've gone through a fair amount of merch and sussed out major winners among them. 

  

TAMTAM outerwear -- these are the best, best coats I've found for our pup. Creative design, cute details, and really impressive quality overall. Unfortunately, their items run quite small (Reggie wears a size XL), so not a suitable brand for bigger fur babies. 

Adidog hoodies -- TBH, it pains me to recommend anything from this particularly online retailer, but I have yet to track these hoodies down elsewhere, and they are JUST SO GOOD. And practical! (They're made in real fleece -- perfect for cooler months.) Again, the sizing is bizarre. Reggie wears an XXL through this link, but if you search around, it seems like other vendors sell the same hoody for larger breeds. 

Pawz waterproof boots -- the only footwear that will stay on Reggie's feet for longer than ten seconds. These are basically "paw balloons" made of soft, stretchy, and decently thick natural rubber. Once you get the hang of putting them on your pup, they are a fantastic solution for winter walks on salted city sidewalks. Granted, these boots don't have the longest lifespan. We typically get five to ten outings before they tear, but considering the reasonable price point and just how well they keep Reggie's feet dry, I am happy to repeatedly reinvest in them.

What are some of your fail-safe brands for pet accessories?

Image credit (top): Make Them Roar

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6 Simple Things To Do Instead Of Doom-Scrolling

To anyone who would like a few moments of levity this evening, I fully endorse these low-key ideas.

1. Follow Elsa Majimbo and Jordan Firstman on Instagram. Proceed to binge-watch all their videos. 

2. Eat a ton of Coaticook ice cream -- I'm partial to caramel swirl and double blueberry, but they have at least a dozen other flavors, so you do you.

3. The weather is so warm tonight! Take a Spotify-soundtracked walk around your neighborhood. (I've had this Billie Eilish playlist on repeat for days, and these recent Obama picks are obviously solid.)

4. Do the laundry, wash the dishes. Seriously! Waking up to a tidy home on Saturday morning is a freakin' delightful feeling. Similarly: Double-check you have enough coffee on-hand for tomorrow's first cup.

5. Make your favorite recipe. I'm sooo close to baking these trusty sugar cookies.

6. Call (or video chat with) someone you love. Bonus points for having drinks together :)

And, if nothing else, just put the phone down for a minute, conjure a favorite memory, and remind yourself to breathe. 

Have an excellent Friday night!

Image credit: Glamour

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Kid Snacks That You Still Love Today

I've been told I eat like an unsupervised kindergartener... Multiple times... By different people...

My response: Guilty as charged.

Those questionable nutrition choices most notably extend to snack food. I get unreasonably excited when restaurants do *fancy* takes on classic children's junk food. Crémy bakes versions of Ah Caramel and Joe Louis, McKiernan has their Deep N' Delicious chocolate cake, Epicerie Conserva made Whippets last weekend. Don't even get me started on Claire Saffitz's famous Gourmet Makes series for Bon Appétit!

However, as much as I love elevated junk food, nothing quite replaces the real deal. So, after too much consideration, I somehow narrowed down my top five favorite kid snacks that I still eat today :)

  

5. Teddy Grahams

TBH, I can go years without even thinking about Teddy Grahams, but as soon as they enter my periphery, I will go through a whole box with ease. (Especially if they're chocolate chip.) Graham crackers are kind of underrated -- they're juuust sweet enough that you can't get sick of them.

Side note: I still feel bad when I grab a dismembered and/or beheaded teddy from the batch lol.

4. Twinkie's 

When I was a kid, Twinkie's weren't available in Quebec, thus making them my personal Holy Grail of snack cakes. Look, I know they are basically poison... But THEY TASTE SO GOOD in the most cloying, greasy, delicious way. Original flavor only -- none of this limited edition garbage like pumpkin spice or strawberry cream. 

There's also a really good Gourmet Makes featuring Twinkie's! If you have eleven minutes to spare, check it out. Warning: You might spend your day watching the rest of Claire's videos. (The Cheetos episode is a lot of fun.)

3. Goldfish

My one-year old nephew and I share a passion for these crunchy, tangy treats. I actually contend that Goldfish are a relatively mature cracker. Prove me wrong! Have you ever sprinkled a handful of fishies on top of tomato soup? It's a very classy move.

 

2. Pop Tarts

Only frosted Pop Tarts, though. (Strawberry with sprinkles, specifically.)

1. May West 

The ultimate lunchbox dessert! It's crucial to always go for a large May West -- the cream-to-chocolate ratio is all wrong with the small ones.

*

Obviously, I need to know: Which are your favorite? Were you Gushers and Fruit Roll-Up kinda kid, or did your taste swing closer to Swiss Rolls and Fudgee-Os?

Image credit (top): Food & Wine Magazine

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