Taylor Swift’s Little Golden Book, Carrie’s workwear, and whatever happened to Alannah Hill?
The book giveaway is romance read ‘Not Meeting Mr Right’ by Anita Heiss.
Firstly this week, we need to spend some time delighting in the new trailer for And Just Like That season 2, which will be premiering 22 June on its usual streaming services (Foxtel Now and BINGE here in Aus).
Eee! Can’t WAIT. While the new show isn’t perfect, I’m so glad to be spending time again with Carrie and co, and really, the characters couldn’t stay in their happily-ever-afters. Life moves on. People die. Relationships break up. Friends grow apart. It’s reflecting (frilly-dressed, majorly glossed-up) real life. And I’m totally here for the return of one of the major loves of Carrie’s life, whose name I won’t mention in case you’re squinting at the screen trying to avoid spoilers while reading this.
Anyway, put the date in your diaries, folks.
This week, I’m head-down-butt-up concentrating on applying for an emerging writer prize and, inspired by last weekend’s Writers SA workshop, grants. I can’t win ’em all, but I can sure as heck put myself in the running.
That’s all for now. I hope you have a glowing week.
News
1. Art, whether visual or aural or crafted in words, tells stories and allows us to be political, to make others think and feel. It’s sad that protest is needed about how women are treated in Afghanistan, but I’m impressed by Samira Yama’s talent and ingenuity in making a statement in her own way. Her story is told in this ABC article: ‘From upcycled burqas to traditional embroidery, Afghan women are sewing new lives in Australia’. The exhibition looks well worth a visit.
1. Apparently filmmakers and podcasters are turning their attention on the Hillsong Church, with doco The Kingdom airing this weekend on SBS. It will also be available on demand. I’m not religious, but I’ve always been curious about Hillsong and am keen to peek behind the curtain. I’ve driven past one of their megachurches many a time. They sure seem to have some dosh to splash, but are they doing any good? Last time I watched a documentary like this was on the Fyre Festival and holy beans, what a trip that was. Extremely here for this, especially as Marc Fennell always seems to do an epic job of this type of reporting.
Reviews
1. Mostly I don’t miss working in an office, but I must admit this Vogue article on dressing like you’re on the Sex and the City set gave me a few pangs of regret. The winners for me? Carrie’s waistcoat and trousers and Samantha’s monochrome look. Both are classic with a twist, stylish while being doable for real, off-screen life.
2. We’ve just finished watching 12-episode Netflix series The Full-Time Wife Escapist, a gentle romantic comedy about Japanese woman Mikuri who fails to find a graduate job after finishing her psychology degree. She fills the gap by taking a housekeeping job for a determined bachelor – the quiet, quirky Tsuzaki. Finding the arrangement suits them both, they decide to secretly enter a ‘contract marriage’ where he gives her a salary to be his (purely platonic) live-in housekeeper. Of course, they end up falling for each other and hilarity, plus plenty of touching moments, ensue. The supporting cast are endearing as well – particularly Mikuri’s A-type aunt and Tsuzaki’s well-meaning but meddling co-workers. This show is a gentle, relaxing watch made more loveable by the cutesy dance to the theme tune (‘Koi’) at the end of each episode. I was ecstatic to find out after finishing The Full-Time Wife Escapist that the two leads married in real life in 2021. Gen Hoshino, who plays Tsuzaki, is also a well-known singer in Japan and is the artist who sings ‘Koi’.
3. Walk, don’t run: there’s a Little Golden Book on Taylor Swift by Wendy Loggia out mid-August and you can pre-order now from the likes of Dymocks, Amazon and Big W. It joins other titles in the series on Dolly Parton, Beyonce, Willie Nelson, and others. I honestly couldn’t be more pumped this release, as I was a total LGB fiend as a kid. Reckon I might need the Dolly one too.
4. I recently cracked open Mecca Cosmetica’s Lip De-Luscious Glide SPF15 lip protectant ($32 each) and was pleasantly surprised by it. It’s available in three shades – a pastel pink called ‘Natural’, plus a brownish pink and a plum. Only the barest kiss of colour is visible when I apply ‘Natural’, but it’s flattering. Containing shea butter and vitamin E, it has a mild lanolin scent and really does feel nourishing and light on the lips. The packaging is slick too – a pale pink magnetised tube – and it’s cruelty-free. Plenty of ticks all round.
5. Ooft, some of the labels mentioned in this Guardian article are still limping along, but become a pale shadow of themselves once their founders depart the business. Loved me an Alannah Hill cardie back in the day and drooled over Sass & Bide’s offerings, which were always the right touch of rock and roll woven into a spikey bejewelled shoulder pad. I get it – everyone’s trying to make a buck and wins for customers when it comes to pricing such as the availability of cheap online options might come at the expense of local designers. I sure wish there was an answer where everyone wins.
What I’m Feelin’ Right Now
Scandi style à la Pernille Teisbaek
A warm bowl of shakshouka with grilled bread on the side
Green apple scents
Pea coats
Shoulder stands
Alphabetti spaghetti on toast
‘Diamonds’ by Luluc
Seventies-style tulip print clothes
Giveaway
The winner of Tom Hanks’ new book The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece from last week’s giveaway is Karina Lee. Karina, I’ve emailed you. Congrats!
This week the giveaway is Not Meeting Mr Right by Anita Heiss. Pop your name and email address in here to enter.
Playlist of the Week
All-time best showtunes for belting out in your legwarmers on a rainy day: