March-April-May Edit: Spicy Water, TTPD, and a Book That Changed My Life
This was supposed to be a monthly series where I share the best things I've read, eaten, cooked, bought, etc. But true to the name Shannon Sometimes, here I am with three months' worth of things. I have a good feeling that my writing capacity is about to increase, and my posting frequency is about to get more consistent, but I can't tell you why just yet.
Let's recap what I've been into the past few months, which you might be into, too. Just don't ask me about March, OK? What was March? I don't remember it.
I'll start with the mango chili salt electrolyte packets that make my water taste like a spicy margarita with a TajÃn rim.
Having my tea/coffee/whatever right beside me while I read in bed or on the couch is no longer just a luxurious dream, thanks to this cup holder pillow thing I got for my birthday (it's seriously the best).
My hair stylist put me on to the Unbrush, and now detangling my thick, unruly hair is so much easier. (Of course, I got the pink glitter one!)
I haven't worn it yet, but this Tabasco t-shirt is definitely one of my recent purchases that sparks the most joy.
Huge shout out to the book light I've been depending on to read physical books these days—it even has various brightness settings!
I've been deep in my poetry era the past few months, so getting the Poetry Foundation Newsletter in my inbox has been good for the soul.
In April, I went to New Mexico and became obsessed with blue corn piñon pancakes. My friend and I even brought back this pancake mix so we could make them at home.
I finally tried the new-ish restaurant Marcus Bar & Grille in Atlanta (owned by Chef Marcus Samuelsson). Everything was good, but the cornbread was truly impressive. I have it in my #2 spot for the best cornbread I've had in Atlanta (#1 is Ms. Iceys).
My friend got me sugar-free chamoy and I put it on the rim of many non-margarita drinks these days just to feel something. Catch me around my house with a chamoy and tajÃn rim on a glass of sparkling water.
Let's hear it for the best dish I've cooked in the last few months: Yasmin Fahr's baked fish with olives and ginger. Next time, I'm doubling the ginger, but this fish came out beautifully.
Since the last monthly edit post, I've finished 20 books, so I won't mention them all here. But if you want all of my book recommendations and reviews in real time, you can see everything I'm reading on The StoryGraph or Goodreads. I just recently started updating Goodreads again—I didn't post there for a couple of years after I switched to StoryGraph, but I'm resuming use of it because reviews on that popular, Amazon-owned site are helpful for authors.
I read How to Keep House While Drowning and it changed my life. I'm being gentler with myself and trying to change my approach to life's tasks and demands. My full review details why this book meant so much to me.
If you're into satire reads, as I've recently discovered I am—especially books of the race-based variety (think Yellowface, Such a Fun Age, The Sellout, etc.)—you might also enjoy the wild ride that is Victim by Andrew Boryga.
It was a lot of information to take in, but I listened to The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 on audio. It was a very deep dive that I'll need to revisit in bits and pieces.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I read Verity by Colleen Hoover as part of a buddy read with family, and it was so much better than I expected. The writing quality isn't there, IMO, but the entertainment factor definitely is. I had a great time.
I also can't believe I'm saying this, but watching The Ramsey Show highlights on YouTube has become an obsession. Yes, that Ramsey—Dave Ramsey! If I'm being honest, they make me feel like I'm a frugal queen. Sure, I like to shop, but did I rack up $300,000 in credit card debt like one caller? No!
The ALDI All the Time TikTok account has influenced me in all the best ways.
I've been using this short, funny video to semi-seriously explain my philosophy on friendship. I love it so much. (Adult language warning—not necessarily for the adults themselves, but for the adults who may have children around right now and don't want them repeating certain words at preschool.)
I listened to Taylor Swift's very long new album, The Tortured Poets Department, a lot. I love seeing what people's favorite songs on new albums are, so for the Swifties among us, my current top 5 songs are:
But Daddy I Love Him
The Black Dog
loml
Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?
Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)
I've discovered some great instrumental playlists for working (faves include Sunny Beats, Lofi Beats, and House Focus). I'm excluding these from my taste profile now, though—my music recommendations and On Repeat songs keep being mostly Lofi :/
The only thing I remember about March is Beyonce's latest album, Cowboy Carter. Excellence!!!
I rediscovered how much I love Kehlani's music, and now I can't stop playing Nights Like This on repeat and the entire blue water road album.
On the podcast front, I've listened to a ton of The New Evangelicals, Confronting Christianity, and You Have Permission when I want to hear Christian folk talk about serious stuff (that I may or may not agree with them on) and Faith Adjacent when I want to hear Christian folk talk about serious stuff in an unserious (read: goofy) way.
Church history, denominations, theological differences, and such are some of my favorite rabbit holes to nerd out about. This podcast episode about the United Methodist Church split in May was a random listen but it was full of helpful insight.
I don't remember enough to thoughtfully comment on the most interesting articles I read over the past three months, so here are a few with short descriptions or takeaways straight from the author's mouth.
Apathy Loses: You Really Do Need to Pay Attention to Politics: "If reasonable people disengage from politics, the zealots win."
Ann Handley's 10 Ways to Be More Creative: "Creating anything in 2024 is akin to being a stand-up comic, in the sense that hecklers and haters are part of the package."
The Damage the ‘Black Tax’ Inflicted on Generations of African Americans: "Property is generally worth less if it’s owned by a Black American. That sobering fact, cemented by 150 years of assessment data, underpins inequality today."
I Always Bring Books To Baby Showers: "Not only have children’s books become cool (they look like art pieces!), but they’re also practical and a great way to show off your bookish taste. I'm going to take us through a little library I made last year and one I'm currently planning."
The Fight for No-Fault Divorce (Comic Essay): "This is a feminist issue because making divorces more difficult to obtain harms women more than it harms men."
Alison Roman on Anchovy Butter Chicken: "I’ve tried a bird every way possible...but I always come back to this version: smeared inside and out with a salty, garlicky anchovy butter; roasted at a high temperature for brown skin, then low for juicy breasts; stuffed only with more garlic and maybe some herbs..."
The Great Cousin Decline: "Families are shrinking. But the weirdest family role is a vital one. ... The average number of cousins is declining in the U.S. and much of Europe, and the same trend is predicted to hit other parts of the world in the coming decades."
Mona Patel's dress for the 2024 Met Gala (3D kinetic butterflies?!). Whether or not I want/need an Oura Ring. What kind of book event can I throw at my house—a book swap or reading party, perhaps? All the different types of butter I can make—herb butter, tahini butter, etc. The daily urge to earnestly ask someone to explain Christian Zionism to me like I'm five. This adorable octopus magnetic bookmark that I keep looking for at every bookstore I go to as if I can't just order it online.
Thanks for reading, friends!
