Lately I feel … ok? Shockingly ok? Especially considering that the pandemic is worse than ever? It only took me nine months to come up with a whole new set of coping mechanisms and now they’re finally working I guess. The weather has been pretty amazing in LA and I have been spending as much time outdoors as possible, which is one of the factors I credit with my current rosier outlook. That’s right friends I’ve been hiking. By hiking I basically mean taking outdoor walks that aren’t on pavement and might include hills. I’m not, like, summiting peaks. However, I noticed that my “regular” cross trainers were not cutting it on rocky or loose soil and I was having some slip slide issues. And despite hating everything I’d prefer not to slip slide right off into the abyss (or would I??). So I picked up these Hoka One One trail runners in black iris/hot coral. To be clear, I am definitely not running on any of these trails. Gross. But the traction on these babies is *chef’s kiss* so it is less likely that I will die. This additional time in the great outdoors means I need to protect myself from the sun’s harmful rays, so I also snagged this excellent dad hat from a recent trip to pick up a to go order from Clark Street Bakery. It’s a vibe.
I wore these new shoes on a truly excellent, all outdoor, single day yoga treat that basically gave me my entire life and is another source of my current emotional stability. I’m become a dedicated Zoom yogi over these past nine months, even completing a 30 day challenge with my local studio One Down Dog in August, and have become more cognizant of supporting the independent offerings of my favorite instructors. One of my favorites, Natalie Burtney, recently hosted a retreat about an hour outside of LA in Agua Dulce that included a 75 minute yoga practice, a vegan lunch that she made herself for all ten participants, GOATS, a hike WITH THE GOATS, and a meditation and journaling exercise. I’m restored I’m renewed I’m alive. I try to join Natalie’s classes, both her longer classes through ODD and her shorter classes she offers on her private Zoom, whenever I can. I also adore teacher Adam Gericke, who I met through ODD but has since created his own online studio. I aim to always join his Sunday morning slow flow class. Friends, this is the shit that’s really keeping me going. The beautiful thing about Zoom yoga (which I perform on the tiny strip of floor between my rug and TV console, laptop delicately perched on the coffee table) is that you can join any studio from any city, so long as you can handle whatever time zone math you might be working with. If you want to join me for any classes with Natalie or Adam, reply to this email and we’ll set it up.
I’m also vibing on taking educational classes over Zoom. They make me feel like less of a slug. Like I might be a smart person who can learn things and find things interesting. I just completed a five week tarot course with Annabel Gat and it was great not just in terms of substance but also structure. Having something to look forward to, when every day can so easily be the same, is key. Some of the attendees have formed an IG group chat and now there’s also a Discord, and I’m so grateful for the technology that allows us to still find community even as Covid keeps us apart. Speaking of tarot, I also won an Instagram giveaway for the first time. Indie Deck Review is basically what it sounds like, a project that reviews independently produced and crowdsourced tarot decks. They hosted a holiday giveaway and I was fortunate enough to win a limited edition version of The Cosmic Slumber Tarot. This is a beautiful, dreamy deck full of vibrant colors and I’m digging it. For the record, I don’t think you can use tarot cards to see the future or talk to spirits or whatever. I like to use them when I’m trying to get clarity on my own thoughts about something and as a journaling prompt. I also like the aesthetics (I live for an aesthetic). I’m finally starting to feel confident enough that I might be able to read for other people, so if you want a reading just reply to this email.
I’m also looking forward. Into the future. I was on my way home from curbside wine pickup last week when I drove past a French language school called Coucou (which charmingly means hello). I immediately looked it up and signed up for a free trial class, and have now enrolled in Level 1 starting January 12. Why have I done this? More like why not do this. Before you know it I’ll be speaking fluent French. You know, because I interact with so many people on a regular basis and would need to speak French to someone. When this (gestures around vaguely) is over I’m going to France and maybe I won’t come back. We’ll see. Oh and that wine I was picking up? I got a bottle a few weeks ago and then went back for two more. If you can find this Chilean red blend you should get it. Ask your local wine seller. Life is too short for that two buck chuck. Just put it down.
In my most ambitious forward looking purchase, I’ve acquired the 2021 Many Moons Lunar Planner from Modern Women. One of my pandemic coping mechanisms is a daily journaling practice, and for 2021 I’m hoping to kick it up a notch and incorporate my one true love, the moon. I’m taking extra time off work later this month and hope to sit down with the opening pages of this beautiful planner and do some forward-looking work about the year to come. Seriously, can’t believe I just typed that. What a stupid terrible draining nightmare of a year it’s been. But I’m cautiously optimistic for the next.
Other new goodies: a festive Norfolk Island Pine in a holiday red planter (now sold out) from The Sill, an adorable magnet, these fun and functional foldable letter writing papers from Papier Tigre (if you don’t want to pay international shipping like I did Poketo has a similar set), and the big kahuna Black Friday purchase: a deeply discounted 55 inch OLED TV. I decided since I didn’t take any vacations this year and also have the TV as pretty much my only source of stimulation that it was time for a serious upgrade. Reruns of old sitcoms now in perfect clarity with true blacks.
I’ve christened the new TV by finally starting The Crown, and also finished The Mandalorian last night. I’m listening to this Spotify-created Cozy Christmas Jazz playlist but also offer you up my own Ultimate Christmas playlist which covers everything from classics to pop hits to deep cuts. To read I’ve been enjoying David Lebovitz’s Drinking French and I just picked up HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style and Lunar Planner creator Sarah Faith Gottesdiener’s The Moon Book. Are you sensing a theme? I am. And the theme is that we are into royalty and France and booze and the moon. Sums it up nicely I think.
Yours in materialism,
liz
This is me, looking forward <3