The June Journal
Summer plans, a new playlist, and some Love Island discourse. Let's get into it.
Hi friends!
We are officially in triple digit weather territory and I am… not having a terrible time. The weather is still cool enough at sunrise for walks outside, the summer movie releases are looking promising, and our friend group has come up with a long bucket list of ideas to get out of the house despite the heat (and don’t worry, I’ll be sharing all of them in a separate Substack for you soon!).
Summer is tough out here in the desert — business is slower, it’s impossible to be outside, and we’re all seething in jealousy as we scroll through social media to find our friends in other states out at the beach or enjoying days at the park.
But rotting inside, wishing we were elsewhere feels like a miserable way to spend four months of your life. So instead, we’re getting creative: themed dinner parties, reading dates at our favorite restaurants, indoor sports, watching movies with the mattress in the living room, craft nights, day trips up north. And if we really get desperate, maybe a nostalgic trip back to our beloved state waterpark (that I’m certain has not been updated since we were in high school).
The grass is greener where you water it. And until I can find my way back to the turquoise waters of the European coast, I will be having as much fun as I can with my favorite people right here in the desert.
Things I’ve Been Loving This Month:
My Local Run Club — I’ve been looking for a run club for as long as I’ve been running, but I’ve always been too nervous to join without a friend. When this new one popped up in our neighborhood, I decided to *be brave* and went alone, and felt so welcomed from the jump. I’m feeling really inspired by the community they’ve already built here and can’t wait to keep going.
A Love Island Summer — there is nothing that brings America together the way this show does. I love everything that comes with a Love Island summer: watch parties with friends, frantic texting in Love Island Discourse group chat, thirst edits of our favorite couples on TikTok (Nicolandria 4ever). This season has been a rollercoaster, and I’ve been having the best time talking about it with friends and strangers alike.
Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks — we have been eyeing this place since our first visit to Santa Fe, and after five long years of waiting for them to reopen their trails, we finally got to go. It’s a short and sweet hike that includes a little bit of everything: slot canyons, hoodos, and a sweeping view of the mountain at the top. It was well worth the wait and we can’t recommend it enough.
Sunrise on the Reaping — I knew this book would break my heart and I read it anyway (Suzanne Collins what the hell is wrong with you!!!). Haymitch is my favorite character in the Hunger Games, and when I learned that this book was centered on his story, I knew I wouldn’t be able to wait for the movie to find out more. And y’all… I had to take full days in between chapters to grieve some of the deaths in this story. It’s the kind of book that leaves you in a catatonic state, lying in a fetal position just to process what the hell happened. Still, I am eagerly waiting for the movie to come out, especially seeing what an incredible job they’ve done with casting (Kieran Culkan as Flickerman holy shit!!!).
Amelia Island — I recently got to take a work trip to Jacksonville, Florida and spent a free morning up on Amelia Island and loved it up there. I got to kayak through the marsh and walked on the white sands of Little Talbot Beach, and had so much fun, I almost considered Jeffrey’s years-long request to retire in Florida (still not quite convinced, but did add a few more things to the pro list).
Tyler the Creator’s Instagram Interview — in case I haven’t reiterated this enough, I love this man. This interview was a breath of fresh air, and a must-watch for my fellow creatives. Ten minutes in, I ended up starting the video over so I could take notes. I loved listening to him talk about his multi-genre journey in the creative world, how he learned to have fierce confidence in his work and himself, and his favorite mantra: create like a kid and edit like a scientist. Will be bookmarking this one for a rainy day.
On My Watchlist:
Overcompensating — continuing on my streak of watching shows with what I would consider to be a ‘scary’ number of TikTokers, this one also caught me by surprise. Based on the real life experiences of comedian (and main actor) Benito Skinner, this show follows Benny, who’s learning how to navigate his first year of college while being in the closet. Loved the writing, loved the entire cast, and am excitedly waiting for season two.
The Toughest Footrace on Earth — we’ve been following Average Rob and his brother, Arno, for just over a year and love watching them try out different physical challenges (i.e. — death diving, olympic kayaking, or our personal favorite, hobby horsing). They recently took on the Marathon des Sables, a seven day, 155-mile trek across the Sahara desert. They made a documentary about their entire experience and I may or may not be adding this race to my own personal bucket list (I’m certain my ego is what will kill me one day).
Materialists — ugh, no one does a love triangle quite like Celine Song. It’s not the movie I was expecting, but I still really enjoyed it (with a cast like that, how could you not?). With a pair like Celine and A24, I expected something a little… deeper, maybe? If anything, it reminded me of the romance movies from high school: simple and straightforward, with a classic “love is all you need” trope, cheesy writing (that yes, did make me cry), and enough Chris Evans content to last me through the year.
Happy Gillmore — no, this isn’t a bit. Jeffrey suggested we watch this since I had never seen it before, and unlike the other dumb-boy-humor movies he’s made me watch in the past… I actually liked this one. A guy with anger issues with a soft spot for grandma, a nursing home manager running an underground quilt business, and one liners like: “I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast!” “You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?”. What’s not to like?
F1 the Movie — as a long time Brad Pitt hater, I didn’t have many expectations for this movie but damn, I had a great ol’ time. Between getting to see it in IMAX (my first time!), perfectly delivered cheeseball acting from Javier Bardem, and a cameo from my beloved Toto Wolff, this was the perfect summer movie and I am earnestly recommending that you watch it for yourself.
On My Inspiration Board: Perla Valtierra
In doing research for an upcoming trip to Mexico City, I came across her ceramics and have been drooling over her collection ever since. Can’t wait to pick up a few pieces when I visit. (If you happen to be going next month, please take her glazing class for me! It looks so fun and I’m hoping she brings this back while I’m there).
New to the Blog: Madison and Zack’s Intimate Wedding at Los Poblanos
A look into Madison and Zack’s wedding at a lavender farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They kept things simple: A quick ceremony officiated by her godfather. Craft cocktails on the lawn. One long table filled with their favorite people. A really good meal. Loving is easy. Their wedding was a reflection of that.
On This Month’s Editing Playlist:
Geezer by Kevin Abstract and Dominic Fike — I was hoping this was a sign for a collaborative album, but it seems like it’s just one of two collaborative songs on Kevin’s new record, Blush (I’ll take it). This song is a hit of dopamine every time it comes on, and easily one of my favorites of the year.
I quit by HAIM — continuing on their hot streak of making music I feel nostalgic for after just one listen, I quit feels like the CDs we used to collect from our favorite girl bands of the late 90s and early aughts. In another time, I’d be sitting in low rise jeans and seven layers of colored camis, debating whether Lucky stars or Million years would win the coveted spot for my Myspace profile song.
a modern day amanda bynes movie — inspired by the new HAIM album, I put together a handful of my favorite songs from the last five years that transport me back to the days of Atomic Kitten and Michelle Branch. Or, better put: this is how I would score an Amanda Bynes movie if it were to be released today. (I also have to give credit to Jeffrey, who introduced me to half of these artists and apparently can get hotter than I previously thought.)
Your Monthly Photo of Boba:
There are few things I love more on this earth than Boba’s crooked teeth.
Thanks for reading! Catch you next month!