Sydney's Sunday Reads: #12
Happy Sunday, friends!!
Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.
Living tiny, big problems. - The tiny house movement, a recent phenomenon in which people ditch their large dwellings in favor of living in a custom structure, often mobile, that clocks in at 400 square feet or less, has really gained steam in the last couple of years. This is thanks, in part, to popular television shows like Tiny House Nation and Tiny House Hunters. In every episode, you meet a single person or family who wants to “simplify” their life, de-clutter, extricate themselves from debt, and live in a space that they can pick up and move any time they please. The homes, often tailored to the client’s specific needs, are always parked on a vast piece of land, and in the final shots of the episode, the audience is painted a rosy picture of a more minimal life, surrounded by nature. I admit that I too am intrigued by the tiny house life, and follow MANY accounts on Youtube and Instagram. I’m envious of all the people who own these absolutely GORGEOUS tiny homes and still get to live conventional, 9-5 lives. But if you think living tiny is all sunshine and happy days, this article explains that things may not always be what they seem. Bureaucratic red tape, minimal space and growing pains, and short-term solutions to long-term problems befall many tiny house owners, and that just scratches the surface. If you want to be a part of the tiny house community, make sure you’ve got all the information. (Dwell)
A modern take on Austen. - We’ve seen countless remakes and modern-day approaches to the classic works of author Jane Austen, but a new anthology series in development at the CW (home of Riverdale), is proving itself different from the rest. The six-season project, titled Modern Austen, will pluck characters like Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy out of the Regency era and into ours - Tinder dates, smartphones, and all. As a huge Austen fan who is open to out-there interpretations of her works (I loved Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), I’m pretty excited to tune in. But for Austen purists? Well, we’ll see if this latest retelling will be a hit or a total miss. (AV Club)
A (veggie) cut above the rest. - On November 1st, a brand new butcher shop opened its doors to the citizens of London. Sure, the opening of a butcher shop in a big city might not seem all that exciting to you, but this new establishment has one major distinction: its meats are 100% vegan! While at first glance Rudy’s Vegan Butcher’s glass cases and clean, white-tile interior might look like your standard shop, but upon closer inspection, customers will find plant-based meats - made from soya and wheat protein seitan - that are shaped and designed to look and taste just like the real thing. An extension of owners Matthew J. Foster and Ruth (Rudy) Mumma’s Camden eatery Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner, Rudy’s Vegan Butcher sold out of its inventory in ONE. DAY. with 100 online orders in ten minutes, plus a line down the block! (EcoWatch)
Let the Thanksgiving content commence! - For many this year, Thanksgiving is going to look a bit different. If you’re still planning on celebrating with your immediate family and need some ideas for a scaled-down feast, Food52’s got you covered! (Food52)
Budget Eats: Thanksgiving edition! - Delish’s June Xie is back with another video in which she takes $25 and stretches it as far as it can go in NYC. This week, she’s really upped the ante by using that $25 food budget to prepare a full Thanksgiving dinner for four people! (Delish on Youtube)