As you recover from your Thanksgiving feast, here are my weekly recommendations! Just in case you’re looking for a relaxing playlist or a lovely new coming-of-age movie or perhaps could I interest you in a cause to fight for?
My Weekly Recommendations
A Gilmore Fall Playlist
Nothing screams fall more than Gilmore Girls, the epitome of the season.
Lately, as I get ready in the morning or whenever I’m cooking or doing some reading, I’ve started putting on a Gilmore Fall Playlist to help me relax. There are countless different playlists all over youtube and Spotify to suit every mood imaginable.
When I need to focus or feel inspired, I listen to this one. When I’m going for a “having a cup of coffee on a cold October afternoon in Stars Hollow ” vibe, I listen to this one.
Or maybe you want to channel your inner Rory Gilmore and spend an entire afternoon reading or studying. In that case, there’s this one.
This one never fails to lift up my spirits. I’m a big Sam Phillips fan and I adore the way her music shaped the show. Whenever I hear that famous la la la, I am instantly transported to Star Hollows, having a cup of coffee at Lukes, watching chaos ensue in the most enchanting way.
My Old Ass
It’s the holidays and it’s the time for feel-good movies! My favorite feel-good, coming-of-age movies are movies that are at least twenty years old.
In my humble opinion, as much as Hollywood tries, they could never replicate the magic of the 90’s/early 2000’s when it comes to those types of movies. So I rarely watch any modern movies these days, I just basically revisit old favorites.
Every once in a while, a new will stand out and My Old Ass feels like a precious little gem of a modern movie! The sweet story about an 18 year old girl who meets her 39-year-old-self during a mushroom trip is full of lessons about family, love and growing up.
Exactly what you would expect from a coming-of-age movie. Visually, it’s stunning: shot in gorgeous Muskoka in Canada.
The Menendez Case
I remember in different points throughout my life hearing references about the Menendez case, but nothing of substance. I had a gut feeling that I wouldn’t like the details: I could sense that there was some miscarry of justice and cases like that break my heart and I can’t handle it.
I was right. When Monsters came out on Netflix, I refused to watch it because I don’t like participating in true crime entertainment and I’m not a Ryan Murphy fan, anyway. But regardless of my personal feelings, I couldn’t escape the media frenzy – no one could, it was everywhere.
So after watching so many snippets of the trial on my tiktok page, I decided to read about the real and watch the real trial.
I was not prepared for the full reality of it. Watching the brothers testimony and their entire family was heart wrenching.
What they went through as young children up until their parents’ death are horrifying and unspeakable. No human being should go through that. I encourage you to read about the case and learn what really happened, not just Ryan Murphy’s version. The truth is complex and full of nuance. This case was never as black and white as media wanted the public to believe.
After nearly 35 years, the brothers finally may have the chance to get out of prison and for the first time in their lives, have real agency over their own decisions and bodies.
You can find more information and ways to help here.
The Menendez Murders – Robert Rand
There are hundreds of hours of the first trial available on Court TV and they’re a lesson on criminal law and child psychology.
But if you want a compact version of the trials, Robert Rand, a journalist who has been covering the case from the beginning, interviewed the boys two months after the murders and sat in court almost everyday during the trial, tells everything in his book The Menendez Trial.
It’s an excellent book and Rand is such a loyal advocate for the brothers that he was the one that helped uncover important new evidence about the case. Evidence that proves the sexual abuse really happened and that the brothers weren’t the only victims of their father.
15-minute dinner
I have to somehow include food in my weekly recommendations, of course!
I have been having different variations of the same dinner lately. When I don’t have the time or energy to make a whole meal, here’s what I do:
I make a good amount of rice that I keep in the fridge for a couple days. When it’s time for dinner, I reheat the rice in the microwave and in the meantime I either boil a couple eggs or saute a few shrimp in a skillet- it only takes a few minutes: 6 for the eggs, about 4 for the shrimp.
By the time the rice is ready, so is the protein. Then, to make things more interesting I add a few toppings: a quick vegetable, usually sliced cucumber or radish or tomatoes, a bunch of fresh herbs, freshly ground pepper, flaky salt and hot sauce.
It’s incredibly simple but delicious!
Equally as easy, but certainly not as healthy, is my addiction to instant ramen.
It’s so dangerously good and for that reason, I don’t make it as often. You cook the ramen normally, but add a little bit of milk or cream before turning the heat off.
Then saute a little bit of corn in butter, add a little bit of cream and shredded mozzarella. Top the ramen with soft boiled eggs, the cheesy corn, more shredded cheese and fresh herbs. It’s so good.
I hope you like my weekly recommendations! I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading/watching/cooking lately!
