February/March 2024
Hi friends! Wow I missed a month! It was not my intention but things went really off the rails in my life for a few weeks. In all honesty, things are not yet back on track! I’ve been clawing my way out of a deep hole caused mainly by work stress. Have not been joie de vivre-ing nearly as much as my new year intentions desired. I’m hanging in there but I appreciate the lack of pressure for missing February’s newsletter.
I have had a few things that have brought joie to my vie over the last month and a half (like finally finding the froggy chair after 3 + years of playing ACNH) and I’m going to share them with you here in March and will be back on track by the time April comes around.
Reading
Pig Sam Sax
This book of poems is all on themes of pigs. It was a really great read; I’ve picked up a different poetry of theirs that I haven’t had a chance to crack yet. If you’re looking for something outside your comfort zone, this is the one. Linked poem is called Lisp and a great one to read out loud.
February Real Simple Magazine- I was quoted in Real Simple which feels like a giant W for Lizzie 10 years ago. I’m so impressed. Shout out to my coworker Eric for making it happen. I can’t find the article on their site but here’s a snap of it.
Product suggestions
Let’s talk body washes. I’ve been a body wash person for a few years now and I have three to recommend this month. The scents have all gender appeal much like myself:
Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil - in January I visited Las Vegas with my friend Brigid; we found ourselves at a loss of what to do after having a nice dinner at Nacho Daddy. Turns out the best activity for two sober people on the strip is to spend >$60 in Walgreens after 8pm. When we came upon this absolute unit of a body wash I had recognized it from my friend Rachel who has great taste. We both purchased a bottle and I was happy to have driven to Vegas because adding this to a checked bag would be an accident waiting to happen. It’s silky and non-drying. It doesn’t suds up so much and has a really nice scent that is pleasant and lingering.
Bathing Culture- My best friend from summer camp, Caitlin texted me that she has been using a body wash that reminds her of me and revealed that it’s Bathing Culture. I was using this for a while a few years ago and was obsessed with it. It has a luxurious hippy smell to it which is perhaps spot on assessment from Miss Cate.
Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap- This is my OG pick. It smells fresh, the packaging is old school and iconic. Martha Stewart turned me onto Mario and I have been using their since the early 2000s. I love this body soap to help with skin issues. Great for anyone who suffers folliculitus, body acne or keratosis pilaris.
Eating
Speaking of luxurious hippy shit, I’ve been using my Vita-mix to make my own “milk” from seeds.
Most recipes are 1 cup of seeds to 3-4 cups of water. Blend for around 3 minutes until it resembles milk.
Seeds blend up nicely and most don’t effectively strain in a Nut Milk Bag so you can skip straining it and just drink the particulate. If you’re making milk with nuts it’s a little more involved. You have to soak them and strain them, it’s a lot of waste unless you’re fully committing to the bit and creating something with the nut meal.(When was the last time you said Nut Milk Bag, nut meal and even particulate? Didn’t expect to read that today did ya? I always keep ‘em guessing. particulate.)
Hemp is funky but good texture. I do strain this one.
Pumpkin seed is both thick and rich. The green color is nice but it takes a lot of seeds to get not a lot of milk.
Sunflower is thick and I didn’t find it to have many merits. It separates and gives me the heeby jeebies. I have a bunch of these seeds left and I’m not sure they will be put to use.
Looking forward to trying sesame seeds which as you may remember is a favorite flavor of mine this year.
Moral of the story is- if you, like myself, need milk for your morning oatmeal or protein shake, this is absolutely a quality fix. When I don’t have time to pick up a gallon of almond milk at the store, (and that has been the case for most of last month) blending the shit out of some seeds has been clutch. Just don’t fully enter your trad wife era.
(Not including a photo because milk is gross even if it’s seed water)
Listening
An Album recommendation:
Squirrel Flower - Tomorrow’s Fire - received this LP from my Album Club secret Satan, Evan, and really enjoyed it. Mellow, a little depressing, queer.
An Artist recommendation:
Roger Miller - is there anything better than King of the Road? I assert not much. Listen to his greatest hits on your preferred platform. There are so many good ditties, some of which are kid friendly. He did Oo-de-Lally from Robin Hood if you did not know! You Can’t Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd is a banger. Dang Me, Chug-a-lug; so many hits (not kid friendly though) If you are in need of some toe tapping, turn some Roger Miller on. (His merch is fire?)
This Amused Me
The most recent series of Taskmaster was great. If you haven’t watched this show yet start here. Premise is- it’s a panel game show where the host gives the panel tasks to complete. It’s like an Odyssey of the Mind competition starring comedians. It’s all on YouTube.
Thanks for sticking with me! I’ll be back in April for sure and hope to never miss a month again. Take care of yourselves - Bart.