From Matcha to Queer Eye: June Favorites!
Maya's June Favorites, 2019
One of my tea-loving, mason-jar-using pals, Clarise the Poet, has had a Monthly Musings publication for some time now. Each month, I eagerly await the day her words will appear in my inbox. They are always so beautiful, profound, and insightful. But the June 2019 Monthly Musing impressed me more than any I've received so far. Clary's writing is insanely expressive of who she is as a person. Drawing inspiration from her homes, both in the United States and in Ireland, from the power of conversation and our shared humanity, and from her fantastically fleshed-out vocabulary, Clary's musings always make me feel something. This is, in my humble opinion, what art ought to be -- feelings simultaenously trapped and released from brush strokes, words, quarter notes... the list goes on. She's a masterful wordsmith. If you are interested in indulging in her heartfelt pieces, don't hesitate to sign up for Monthly Musings on her website.
Remember that time I posted a spill page I wrote while sitting in a library cafe? On that same day, I checked out two books... as one does at the library. The first was Devotions by Mary Oliver -- stunning, stunning, stunning. The second? Dr. Renee Engeln's Beauty Sick, a novel exploring our cultural obsession with looks and appearances, and analyzing this infatuation's profound effects. Guys. This. Freaking. Book. It was so touching, composed of anecdotes from several women along with science, studies, and a dash of psychology. Beauty Sick questions the way our society functions when it comes to things like dress codes, weight loss, and money spent on make-up. This isn't why I loved the book, though. Pretty much anyone can point out the ways in which our society's restrictive expectations for women are harmful, because many of us have, in fact, been the victims of said harm. No, no, no. The reason Engeln's masterpiece resonated so deeply with me is because she provides solutions to the problems we've created. They apply to the individual, and if applied by many individuals on a grand scale, could help to change the world. Engeln's humor and wit throughout the book were welcome additions -- we love an author who is brilliant, challenges the conventional ways of the world, and inspires us, all while making us laugh. Personally, reading is one of my very favorite things to do, but I know it's not for everyone. If you aren't really in the mood to devote lots of time to Beauty Sick, but are still entranced by its message, feel free to check out Dr. Engeln's TEDTalk here.
1/2 tsp matcha powder, 8 oz. water, 8 oz. almond milk, 1 Tbsp monk fruit. Mix it all together, and whatdaya get? A yummy yum yum matcha latte! Since I made the decision to use more loose-leaf teas (gotta save the planet, ladies, we don't have time for single-use tea bags), I've been drinking a lot of matcha. To make a latte, simply add a cup of water and 1/2 tsp. matcha powder to a pot. Whisk to combine, bring to a boil, and pour over some almond milk and ice. For a bit of added sweetness, stir in some monk fruit or your sweetener of choice. It's simple, it's refreshing, it's healthy! What's not to love? (Unless you're my mother and think green tea tastes like dirt, then stay far away from this one.)
Lewis Howes, a former pro-athlete turned lifestyle entrepreneur, is a pretty great podcast host, if I do say so myself. He asks all the right questions, has fabulous guests, and always leaves me feeling inspired to the highest degree. Jameela Jamil is an actress on The Good Place (which I have yet to see!), an activist, and a self-proclaimed "feminist in progress." She has also launched the Instagram platform I Weigh, an account designed to promote the weighing of people based on the things that truly matter. I'm not talking pounds or stones. No, Jamil preaches weighing people by their kindness, by the things they love, by their successes and the failures they've overcome. By who they actually are. And I freaking love that. Though I no longer have any social media apart from Blogger, I Weigh would be the first account I'd follow. Jamil's story is incredibly riveting, and parts of it are quite relatable for me. Combine her passion with his questions galore, and BAM. Awesome podcast, coming right through!
Can I just start off by saying that Antoni really pulls off a plastic fire-fighter hat? After recommendations a-plenty from my friends, I decided summer would be a good time to give Queer Eye a go. So I made a matcha latte (see above, lovelies), put on my fuzziest pajama pants, and snuggled up on the couch to watch an episode. 'An episode' turned into two. And then four. And then - woah! - I was on the third season. I'm kinda obsessed with this show. It highlights the beauty in self-care, helps people to show up for themselves, and is hilarious. When I turn on my TV and go to Netflix, I make sure I have a little notepad next to me to jot down any tips Karamo, Tan, Bobby, Jonathan, and/or Antoni may have for me. So far, I've learned I need to get my hair trimmed more often and that grilled peaches with heirloom tomatoes look absolutely delish. Who wants to come over and eat peaches with tomatoes and binge season four with me in a few weeks? Let's make it happen. At its core, however, Queer Eye emphasizes that love is love is love, and people are people are people. Everyone should watch this show. I mean, everyone.
Musical theatre is truly magical, especially when you are putting on a full-blown show in two-and-a-half weeks. For the majority of June, I was immersed in the world of Elle Woods and all of the pink, bending and snapping, and law books that come with it. Check out the soundtrack, my friends. It's terribly catchy, lots of fun, and I can almost guarantee you'll be belting the "Legally Blonde Remix" as you do your dishes. A shout out to Ryan and Chloe for coming to see me and my seven quick changes, to the incredible cast and crew, and to Clay, who showed up to the cast closing night ice cream party in a full grey suit. I love you all - thank you for the memories.
7) Rock Climbing
Last but not least, this month, I had a splendid amount of fun indoor rock climbing with my little sister, Abby. She was in a summer camp earlier in the month for this activity, and is really invested in it - it's kind of adorable. She's even belay certified! I'm really proud of her for trying something outside of her comfort zone and discovering she loves it. After her camp, she dragged me to a local gym, Rockin' and Jammin'. I say dragged, only because this particular climbing session was on the one day I had off from Legally Blonde rehearsal, and I was exhausted. But it turned out to be a really spectacular experience! It was challenging, provided me with a good workout, and engaged some muscles I don't usually use (sore forearms are a new sensation for me). I also got to spend time with Abby. Here's my advice to you - while eating well, getting sleep, and exercise are important for well-being, so are relationships. Maybe try strengthening your relationships with the ones you love by doing a fun activity together! I'd recommend rock climbing, 100%.
- Paddle Boarding! Another great experience I had with my family recently, all while spending time in the great outdoors and enjoying the beautiful world around me. Also -- this is an EPIC core workout.
- Denver Pop Culture Con! I was lucky enough to attend Denver Pop Culture Con with my dear friends Lorelei and Liv at the beginning of this month. This means that I was in the same room as Katherine Tate (Donna Noble), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and so many other artists I admire! It was a chaotic, wonderful day, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
- Rocketman. It's rated R, so I couldn't go solo with mis amigas, but I still had a lovely time with my dad. It was a gorgeous film, bursting with color, music, and vulnerability. A must-see, my friends. Make sure you're in a stable state of mind before viewing, because Rocketman really knows how to toy with your emotions.
- Sadie Radinsky's re-branded site, Whole Girl. Delish Paleo recipes, empowering opinion pieces, marvelous photography, and feminism, all in one? All presented by a teenage superstar, preaching the power of self-love? Count me in! I've been following Sadie and Whole Girl (previously called Goodies Against the Grain) for quite some time -- she is truly a brilliant soul.
- Driving practice. In theory, I'm the best driver on the road. In reality, I'm actually not bad, but I'm terrified of getting behind the wheel. I don't like having control over a super heavy, quickly moving vehicle. I don't like it one bit. But hey, we all have to overcome our fears, right? Even if the overcoming is as simple as driving to Target for some acrylic red paint without hitting anything or being honked at.
Happy July! May yours be filled with the best summer memories - I hope it's as good as I know Beyoncé is going to be in The Lion King.
- MayaPhoto by Aaron Burden on Unsplash, Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash,
Photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash, Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash,
Photo by Peter Ivey-Hansen on Unsplash, Photo by Ryk Porras on Unsplash,
Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash, Photo by Alex Perez on Unsplash,
Photo by Steinar Engeland on Unsplash
Comments
Post a Comment