7. A whole mood.

Feeling introspective.

Listen, should I ditch these numbers in the headlines? It could be confusing to someone newly subscribed. And I suppose they don’t serve an actual purpose. OK, perhaps I’ll nix them next week.

ANYWAY!

I don’t know what’s going on with me, but I’ve been in a very introspective place lately. Charles was out of town for a bit and I didn’t make a ton of plans so it was a lot of just me, my dog, books and tea and wine and movies and sleep.

It feels like big changes are going to start happening soon so I’m bracing myself for them. I typically thrive on change, but there’s this little buzz of energy in my body that’s probably low-grade anxiety. I seriously have to work out every day or I feel insane, but more on that later.

All this to say, my recommendations this week are moody and emotional choices. Enjoy!

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READ

Fans of thrillers will enjoy Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka, but it’s decidedly not a thriller. It’s about a serial killer on death row and the women that have been in his orbit. The format is very propulsive, encompassing vignettes of the past and present, but also tracking the last hours leading up to his appointment on death row. Lots to chew on in this one and if you happen to read, I’d love to talk about it with someone so don’t be a stranger.

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WATCH

The Worst Person in the World is a Norwegian film that is getting a TON of buzz and received some Oscar noms and I really don’t want to share too much because going into this one blind was such a marvel. I believe it’s going to be in wider release soon so make sure to check it out. Charles and I were lucky enough to see it at the Aero in Santa Monica with American Cinematheque and Paul Thomas Anderson did the intro as well as a live Zoom Q&A with director Joachim Trier and star Renate Reinsve. What a conversation! Ugh, I just love it. Go see it and read nothing else about it.

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BUY

I know it’s going to sound like I’ve gone full GOOP, but wow, I love doing the Tracy Anderson Method via her online studio. It is so fun and engaging, but also really challenging. I hover in the intermediate lane and sometimes pop down to beginner if it’s really kicking my ass. They do handstands in advanced so, yeah, not quite there yet! But no rush. The workouts shift every week and I just feel like a million bucks. I’ve been doing it consistently since November so I feel comfortable sharing the recommendation at this point as a true convert.

I would say it’s closest to Pilates, but more extreme? It’s got major “dancer” vibes, which I’m always drawn to and honestly it’s just a very glamorous workout. She does a two-week trial which is a good amount of time to see if you vibe with it. It’s pretty specific, she doesn’t talk during the class and a lot is on your hands & knees, so I can see why some may not spark to it, but it’s certainly worth a try if you’re into strength training. There’s cardio classes, too, but it’s not the focus (and I’d rather be outside for cardio personally). The price point is higher than some other digital studios, but I think the value is there with the seemingly never-ending new content. Necessary equipment is minimal: a solid mat, 3 and 5 lb weights, and ankles weights.

Not to sound like a total psycho, but I think it’s changed my life?

OK, that’s all she wrote! Hope your weekend is emotional and moody in the best way.

xx RKC