Love & Death
The HBO true-crime drama is about a suburban Dallas love-affair that ended with a brutal axe murder. The show doesn’t reveal the victim or killer until a few episodes in. As a viewer unfamiliar with the story in the 70’s, my suspicions oscillated from scene to scene. The last show that bubbled over with this much tension was another HBO gem, Mare of Eastown.
Elizabeth Olsen’s captivating performance stole every scene. She’s somehow likable even when her character, Candy isn’t meant to be and tows the line between subtle humor and drama effortlessly.
The other star of the series is the set and costume design, plopped into a dreamy seventies Pinterest board. Candy’s house is basically a character in the show. I regularly hit pause to relish in the yummy details of the floral wallpapers, wood paneling, mid-century furniture, and statement curtains. A red front door with three panel windows add to the charming curb appeal. I didn’t expect a true crime drama to offer me home inspiration but here we are.
If you’re a fan of aesthetically pleasing interiors, well-paced storytelling and the talented work of an Olson sibling, Love & Death should be your next binge-watch.
Antique glasses
The 60’s & 70’s were a golden time for music, fashion and one of my current obsessions: kitchenware. They have a sensibility opposite of fancy china collecting dust in a cupboard. Earthy colors, playful patterns, and sturdiness make them as practical as they are a piece of artwork meant for display. All the beautiful pyrex floating around in Estate sales and eBay prove they were built to last.
Finding a fun vessel to drink from helps tremendously in my mission to stay hydrated. I acquired a vintage set of four checkered glasses adorned with a row of sweet tulips around the rim. I’ll be reaching for them every Summer.
Compared to my mason jars and mix matched mug collection, the glass set fits in with my groovy floral plates- not overly matched but definitely from the same party.
Antiquing everyday functional items feels like the most responsible form of shopping. Sipping from the checkered glass makes water taste more fresh. Dish-washing less cumbersome. They’re worth breaking my 24 hour or less drying rack rule. I’m no longer in a rush to put them away.
A summery PJ Set
Most of my matching pjs are fall and winter specific. The long sleeves and pants stamped with a fun holiday theme mark my favorite time of year.
In the warmer months, I default to sleeping in baggy t-shirts and boy shorts long past their prime. A Target set consisting of a cropped tank and matching shorts with flirty frills has been a seasonably appropriate to my dresser. The buttery light-weight cotton feels surprisingly more luxurious than to what the $15 price-tag alludes to. For the time being, it’s the closest I’ll get to cashmere sleepwear. As a professional homebody, it’s nice to throw on a pj set and feel instantly put together. I’ll slowly piece together a few more flowy pieces to my wardrobe once the temps start to climb. Until then, I’m wearing the grey number on repeat.
Butter Candle
Another candle made it onto my happy-list, but it’s not one I have the heart to burn. Its sole purpose is to look adorable on my fireplace mantle for as long as humanly possible. Why a butter candle? For the last handful of years, I’ve adopted an obsession with sourdough bread. While everyone was obsessed with baking with their homemade starter during the pandemic, I was simply enjoying eating it nearly everyday with salted butter for breakfast. Kerrygold salted butter is my drug of choice. The hyper-fixation of toast and butter replaced the once reigning avocado toast breakfast. Sometimes simpler is better.
The social media algorithms somehow caught wind of my habit after an ad appeared on my explore page. Urban Outfitters target ads got me good. It’s true to size and even felt about the 5 ounce weight of a stick of butter. A perfect replica. I think everyone should have things in their house that are a little silly and random. It’s the details that differentiate a Crate & Barrel catalogue from a lived-in space. We all want our house to feel like a home. I aspire to find a version of the butter candle in every room of mine.
BobaX Ice Cream
About a decade ago, I tried Boba tea for the first time. I was in Orlando, interning at Disney World with two buddies. It obviously made a lasting impression to remember where I was and who I was with. At the time, it wasn’t common to come across boba shops the way you can now. In Central California specifically you can find them as commonly as smoothie and juice joints. With all the shops popping all over town, I’ve come to realize, not all boba is created equally.
BobaX’s texture is bouncy and creamy. It’s similar to the consistency of gelato but with more chewiness thanks to the tapioca. Nutty rich Double Espresso pairs perfectly with the high quality boba texture and crushed coffee beans. Jordan’s pick of Gooey Fried Banana was basically a decadent pint of banana bread. I really love their thoughtfully diverse flavor selection. Mango Chamoy and Salted Ube Smore offer a breath of fresh air in the frozen food aisle. I’m excited to try both of those next.
Dare I say BobaX ice cream rises to the level of some of the best boba I’ve ever had. It’s a good thing I’ve only seen the brand carried at Sprouts. An hour drive is a big enough barrier to prevent me from regularly clearing out their weekly supply.
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