Four Favorite Things

A few of the things increasing my summer enjoyment and distracting me from things I need to be distracted from:

White Lotus
Are you watching HBO’s White Lotus yet? It is everything I have been wanting in a TV show and I am – and I never use this word, I hate when people use this word, but here I go – obsessed. It is dark and disturbing and hilarious and creepy and I love it. Shot in beautiful Hawaii, accompanied with a terrific musical score that literally hits all the right notes, White Lotus presents deeply flawed characters misbehaving in delicious and often salacious ways. This is a thriller, a suspense. We know, in the first episode, that someone has died, and each episode brings us a little closer to finding out who, how, and why. HBO has done a terrible thing and not released the whole season at once, making viewers wait a whole week between episodes, and while this isn’t the worst thing in the world, it’s kind of up there with climate change, anti-vaxxers, and mosquitos.

Nordic Sweet Salty Licorice Fish
I picked these up on a whim at a store in Chicago when I was visiting last month and immediately was like, “OMG, where have these been all my life?!” I insisted everyone I interacted with over the course of the next few days try one, and reviews were very mixed. You either love these or hate them. If you are a fan of salt, anise, and black licorice, you will fall in the former category. I ordered two other brands of this kind of candy and neither was nearly as delicious as the Nordic Sweet ones, which have become an instant favorite sweet (and I consider myself a sugar connoisseur).

Fierce Little Thing
My friend, Miranda Beverly-whittemore, a NYTimes bestselling novelist, wrote this book during quarantine (with no childcare and her kids doing school 100% remotely for over a year!). That would be impressive enough, but this also happens to be a really good book that is getting rave reviews from all over the place. I’m about halfway through it and finding it hard to put down. Fans of Donna Tartt (The Secret History) and Gone Girl, take note: Fierce Little Thing is being compared to these cult thrillers, and rightfully so. It’s deeply suspenseful, beautifully written, and a page-turner in the best sense.

What books have you loved recently?

Mr. B’s Organic Golden Jojoba Face Serum
I have a monthly candle subscription that always includes a non-candle product from various small business partners. Usually, the stuff is kind of meh, nothing special: a loofah sponge, organic chocolate, a foldable reusable straw, stuff like that. But one time a sample of this lip balm was included that was actually really good. I liked it so much that I ordered some face oil from the company to sample. OMG. It’s the best face oil I’ve ever tried, hands down. I love it. I apply it maybe three or four nights a week and wake up with the softest skin, my face feeling so hydrated and smooth (but not oily). It’s been a solid work horse in my skin care regimen, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.