Sydney's Sunday Reads: #26

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.

• Our dog Skipper. - Doctors call her a miracle. In this article, meet Skipper, the adorable border collie and Australian shepherd mix born on February 16th with some special additions: two extra legs, and an extra tail, to be exact. She was delivered naturally at home during a big snowstorm in Oklahoma along with her eight brothers and sister, and, once the weather was clear, taken straight to the vets by her owners for a check-up. With the help of some pretty extensive imaging, it was discovered that not only does Skipper have some extra appendages, she also has two pelvic regions, two urinary tracts, and two reproductive regions. This could be the result of a twin that did not fully split while the puppies were in utero. Though Skipper will likely have some challenges as she grows, it’s been over a week and the little gal is doing nothing but thriving. (CNN)

• Just torch it. - If you’ve ever wondered how the maintenance team keeps Paris’s Eiffel Tower in tip-top shape during the winter months (haven’t we all??), wonder no more! Instead of using salt on the sheets of ice that form on every level, which would be extremely corrosive to the massive metal structure, workers use blowtorches! Listen, I’m not saying that I’m about to run to Home Depot and grab a couple of torches for the next big snowstorm here, but I am saying that snow removal would be a lot more fun (and probably way faster!) with a blowtorch involved. (Travel and Leisure)

• Well, it’s happening. - In case you missed it, three weeks ago it was announced that the folks over at Paramount were in talks to revive the hit ‘90s show Frasier with Kelsey Grammer reprising his role as the lovable but pretentious Dr. Frasier Crane, a talk radio show host based in Seattle, WA. And now, it’s official: a brand new season of Frasier is headed to Paramount’s new streaming platform Paramount+, with an as-yet-to-be-determined release date. It’s still early days, so we don’t yet know what new adventures Dr. Crane will get into, or if any other living member of the original cast will return. As a giant fan of this show, I’m not at all excited about this reboot, but will keep an open mind. If writers can figure out a way to successfully update a sitcom that’s been off the air since 2004 while maintaining the original formula, then I’m all for it. Judging by all the reboots that have gone before it in the last couple of years, I don’t have high hopes. (Vanity Fair)

• A steak and a wax? - Have you ever wished you could break bread with your favorite celebrity? Well, now you can (sort of.) You may have heard that indoor dining in New York has returned, albeit at 35% capacity. Though I haven’t ventured inside a restaurant to eat in almost a year, I’d imagine it can feel pretty empty with so many open seats. Fortunately, for Brooklyn, New York’s famous steakhouse, Peter Luger, a quick call to Madame Tussauds, the global wax museum chain, solved that problem. Through March 1st, diners will get the opportunity to sit face-to-face with some pretty big icons like Audrey Hepburn dressed as her character in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Jon Hamm as Don Draper from Mad Men, and others. For me, I think the novelty of the wax figure would wear off pretty fast, and sitting so close to something with dead eyes staring back at me while I ate would be pretty unnerving, but hey, whatever brings in the customers! (Grub Street)

• A charming prince. - This week, CBS late-night talk show host James Corden became the envy of all his peers when he scored the interview of a lifetime with new California resident and sixth-in-line to the British throne, Prince Harry! In the video (down below!) the pair do a bit of sightseeing on a double-decker bus, have high tea on the highway, complete a pretty intense obstacle course, and more. This is one of the most authentic-seeming interviews with a British royal (though he and his wife Meghan Markle have officially stepped down from their active royal duties) that I’ve ever seen. Harry comes off as warm, funny, and very, very honest. This is definitely worth a watch. (The Late Late Show with James Corden via Youtube)

What are YOU reading, watching, and listening to today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Sydney's Sunday Reads: #25

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.

• Lara Jean, the new classic American teen.- Like Cher Horowitz from Clueless, Samantha Baker from Sixteen Candles, and countless other teenage heroines before her, Lara Jean Covey from the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise will go down in cinematic history as a beloved teen queen of her era. If you’re at all a fan of romantic comedies wrapped up in coming-of-age stories, I’m sure you’ve at least heard of the first film, which follows shy and creative Lara Jean Covey and high school jock Peter Kavinsky as they agree to carry on a fake romance after secret love letters - which no one was ever supposed to read! - were sent to all of her past crushes, including Josh, her sister’s ex-boyfriend, and Peter himself. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement: by being publicly linked to Peter, Lara Jean can avoid an uncomfortable confrontation with Josh, and for Peter, having a new girlfriend is the ultimate way to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Of course, as all die-hard rom-com fans know, it’s nearly impossible for two characters faking a relationship to keep pretending for long before sparks start to fly, and Lara Jean and Peter are no exception. Throughout the series, fans are treated to a slow-burning relationship between the two that’s filled with some pretty interesting ups and downs as time goes on. The TATBILB trilogy officially wrapped on February 12 with the final film, Always and Forever, which follows Lara Jean and Peter K as they step over the threshold from being mere high school flames worried about school dances and lacrosse games, to blossoming young adults trying to navigate a future outside of their hometown. In this article, Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, whose formative years were spent learning life lessons from characters like Lizzie McGuire and Cady Heron, ponders, as well as celebrates, Lara Jean’s legacy. (The Cut)

• Here comes Cruella! - I know I always question why classics need to be reimagined or turned into sequels or prequels, but this time, I’m making an exception. In 2018 it was announced that Emma Stone was set to star as a young Cruella de Vill, the fabulous villainess and hater of sweet dalmatian puppies (originally played by Glenn Close in the 90s live-action films), as she lived through 1970s London. Directed by I, Tonya’s Craig Gillespie, Cruella "follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly Haute...but their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella." A still image of Stone in full costume was released all the way back in August of 2019, but this week, the film’s first official trailer dropped, and I’m just going to say it: this movie’s going to be epic! Check out the trailer here! (Nylon)

• Not the first, but definitely the last. - In this powerful personal essay, actor Anna Deavere Smith reflects on her time as one of a handful of “nice” Black girls who were recruited to attend a tiny, predominately white women’s college in a suburb outside of Philadelphia in the late 60s. While Deavere Smith began her journey there trying hard to blend in, straightening her hair and actively avoiding associating with the other Black students, over time, and after significant social and cultural movements too big to be ignored, she and her fellow women of color found their voices, embraced their natural hair with gusto, and demanded to not only be seen, but fully represented on campus. One of the best essays I’ve ever read. (The Atlantic)

• When bad lip-reading is actually good. - Football season might be over, but there’s still plenty to enjoy. One of my favorite channels on Youtube is Bad Lip Reading, which regularly uploads videos of everything from classic movies to key historical moments like presidential debates with a twist: the dubbing is intentionally wrong! This channel has gotten bigger and bigger over the years, and the dubbing funnier and funnier. Check out what some of your favorite NFL stars were “saying” on and off the field this season in the video below! (Bad Lip Reading via Youtube)

• A Scotsman makes wee food. - Outlander fans, where you at?! In this video, Sam Heughan, who also stars in the new series Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham, takes on a Tiny Kitchen challenge by making traditional Scottish Cranachan, similar to strawberry shortcake. There’s something about a handsome man with a British accent making tiny food (which makes him look like a giant in comparison) that just thrills me. Watch for lots of laughs! (Tiny Kitchen via Youtube)

What are YOU reading, watching, and listening to today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Sydney's Sunday Reads: #20

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.

• A brief history of royalty’s animal best friends. - When you think of animal companions to some of the world’s most powerful monarchs, past and present, you’re probably thinking of dogs and cats, right? Well, what if I told you that Caligula, Roman Emperor from 37-41 AD, had a treasured horse named Incitatus who lived in a marble stall and had his own palace for receiving guests? Or that Empress Josephine, wife to Napoleon, had a sweet female Orangutan who wore dresses, curtsied, and even ate at the dinner table with a knife and fork? While this article names plenty of precious canine and kitty companions, the stories of angora cats hiding in toilets at Versailles and a chameleon at Buckingham Palace who received a white coffin and proper royal send-off upon its death are far wilder - literally! (Vanity Fair)

• A true nugget of knowledge. - Could the future of sustainably-sourced meat really come from a lab? In this video meet Ian, a chicken whose cells have been used by San Francisco, CA-based startup Eat Just Inc to create cultured meat in a process that scientists say is biologically similar to brewing beer. Already approved for sale in Singapore with plans to expand the offering to fish and beef, if this new innovation catches on worldwide, it could eliminate the need to kill any animal for their meat as well as significantly reduce the meat and dairy industry’s massive carbon footprint by up to 99%. So, does this chicken really taste like…chicken? I, for one, am super excited to find out! (CNN)

• A slender home in Seoul. - One of my favorite things to do, especially during the pandemic, is take virtual tours of homes in faraway places - the quirkier the space, the more I like it. Recently, I came across this skinny 570-square-foot abode in Seoul, South Korea, designed by Architect TaeByoung Yim, that only has one room on each of its four floors! Check it out! (Dwell)

• A BTS look at Bridgerton! - As I mentioned this week, I REALLY liked Bridgerton and already can’t wait for season two! I started watching it for the scandalous storylines, but I quickly became drawn to all the fabulous costumes - the bright colors, lush textures, and bold patterns are nothing short of spectacular. Did you know that Daphne Bridgerton (played by Phoebe Dynevor) wears 104 dresses throughout the first season!? And that’s just one character’s wardrobe! So, how did the costume department create such a strong visual identity for the show through clothing? Check it out in the video below! (Netflix via Youtube)

• Dwight enters The Matrix. - It’s no secret that the American version of The Office is considered to be one of the greatest sitcoms of modern television history. As a person who has watched the series from start to finish many, many times, I thought there wasn’t anything else to learn, but luckily, I was wrong! This week, to celebrate the show’s move to the streaming platform Peacock, NBC released a never-before-seen cold open in which Jim and Pam pull the ultimate prank on Dwight - convince him that he’s been in the real-life version of The Matrix his whole life. Which pill will he choose, the red or blue? Watch the clip below to find out! (The Office via Youtube)

What are YOU reading, watching, and listening to today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Sydney's Sunday Reads: #6

Happy Sunday, friends! What a WEEK it’s been, huh? We’re living in some pretty unprecedented times and it can be hard to see what’s real and what’s not amid the chaos. You may want to laugh at the absurdity of it all, or cry because some things seem a little hopeless, but the most important thing you can do is just allow yourself to feel.

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.

Ready? Set? Off we go!

• High dining. - Before air-filled packages with a few peanuts inside, and meals that resemble the Styrofoam packaging they come in, in-flight dining was actually kind of glamorous. Picture this: airplanes, much like trains, had actual dining rooms at one point, and airlines even made it a priority to partner with popular fine dining restaurants of the time to provide the highest-quality food possible. Boy, the history of in-flight dining is a unique one! (Reader’s Digest)

• Fold and go. - What if there was a way to continue to get your morning coffee (or two) from your local coffee shop, but also cut down on plastic waste? Meet the Unocup, a “100% plastic-free, compostable unit that replaces the traditional lid with paper folds that seal the drink tightly.” I love innovative design. (Fast Company)

• Make that bread. - What happens when a famed photographer puts down the camera and starts kneading dough to help his community? You get Breadfolks, a new bakery in Hudson, New York, co-founded by Norman Jean Roy. Used to being behind the lens watching other people do their part to enact change, Roy decided to take matters into his own hands (literally) by doing what loves the most: feeding his fellow human beings. Read more about his bread-making journey HERE. (Saveur)

• How postage stamps get the, well, stamp of approval. -We’ve all been at the post office or grocery store in a rush and in need of a new book of stamps. You look at the selection in the display case and quickly choose stamps that make you smile or catch your eye. Then you pay, mail whatever you’ve got, and barely think about it again. But while you might stick on a new stamp without giving its design much thought, you actually wouldn’t believe just how much thought goes into getting the stamp in your hand in the first place! You’ll never look at postage the same way again (for good reason!). (Book Riot)

• Making “Wonderland” a (virtual) reality. - Before the Victoria and Albert Museum debuts their March 2021 exhibition “Alice: Curiouser and Curioser,” charting the cultural impact author Lewis Carroll’s century-old novel has had worldwide, audiences can experience some of the magic themselves via a VR (virtual reality) exhibition this month! Named “Curious Alice” and designed by tech company, HTC Vive Arts, virtual visitors will be treated to a 45-minute session in which they are guided around a color-rich environment inspired by the V&A’s ornate, 19th century building. And what would an Alice in Wonderland-esque adventure be without a few twists and turns along the way, including a “pool of tears,” “hallway of doors,” and much more. The best part is, this digital experience, debuting October 22nd, is totally free! (Smithsonian Magazine)

What are YOU reading and watching today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

WEEKEND READS

What am I looking forward to this week? Brooklyn  will be on my doorstep in TWO DAYS. I told you last week that the book changed my life, and when I heard that they were making a movie....well, I could barely contain myself. Unfortunately, going to see it in theaters proved to be much more difficult than say, if I wanted to see Zoolander 2, so I resigned to wait until it came out on DVD. AND THAT DAY IS FAST APPROACHING. I've been re-reading the book in anticipation of comparisons, and literally crossing out the days in my calendar. So stoked.

Here's what else I've been reading this week:

Using food to fight the power? I’m all about it! How Suffragists Used Cookbooks as a Recipe for Subversion. 

Do you dye Easter eggs? I haven’t done it in agessss, but I might start this year now that I’ve seen these awesome minimalist designs! So rad.

Learning to arrange flowers is on my eternal to-do list. Here’s a fun article about supermarket flower hacks!

Donut + Macaroon= The Macaronut is upon us. Silly? Yes. Delicious? I’m thinking also yes, yes, and yes.

I'm  definitely teetering on the line between ‘too much’ and ‘just enough’ clutter every single day of my life; Strike the Right Balance: Having Just Enough 'Good Clutter' .

Have you pre-ordered Sweeter Off the Vine yet?? Yossy Arefi is one of my favorite food photographers/bloggers ever! You HAVE to buy this book. March 22nd, get here faster!!

How's your Sunday going? Mine's rainy, and I'm feeling very sleepy/content.

WEEKEND READS

An Ode to Downton Abbey

O DA

Why is it that you have to go away?

Indefinitely, I'd love for you to stay

But at least I still get to press "play..."

ONE LAST TIME

Guys, I'm totally not ready for Downton Abbey to be over! It's been my staple January show for FOUR YEARS (I got in on the fun two years into the game), and I'm just not ready to part with it. Sure, I know shows can't last forever, but six seasons just doesn't feel like enough. And what I don't want is for the finale to end and everyone just goes about living their lives, leaving me to use my own imagination as to how each person gets on. I'd rather the finale last four hours tonight and just show me how every single person lives a super long, happy life, then passes away. Or at LEAST to show what happens to Downton during World War Two. Perhaps they take in some children from London? I feel like there's good material there. At any rate, I'm not ready to say goodbye. Are you?

Let's procrastinate the inevitable adieu of one of the greatest shows on television together.

Here are some of my favorite reads of the week:

-Brooklyn the movie may not have won last week at the Oscars, but it won every award in my book. Here's a nice comparison of Brooklyn then vs. Brooklyn now. P.S. Have you read the book? Get on it. Brooklyn: A Novel changed everything for me.

-Prepare yourselves: Marimekko is coming to Target NEXT MONTH. TOO AMPED.

-I’m in the market for some new specs, and was looking for companies that are different from the usual suspects. Thanks, Brit + Co!

-This beats 4 pretzels in a foil package any day: Air France + Daniel Boulud = Best In-Flight Meals Ever.

-I always love a good food photography app, and this new one by the LINE Corporation, "Foodie," looks promising! Have you guys tried it yet?

Happy Sunday/ Happy Last Time That We'll Ever See A New Episode of Downton Abbey...Day!

WEEKEND READS

Life is beautiful because life currently includes 54 degree weather. I freed my light jacket from its prison (my closet) and willingly ventured outdoors; can you believe it? I saw so many bikers and joggers, and kids riding tricycles, and dogs pulling on their leashes, and neighbors that I haven't seen in months emerging from their cocoons. It's been a magical sight t0 behold. But this glorious Spring-like weather is fleeting, so if you've missed the teeny-tiny window of non-freezing weather, now's a great time to catch up on some reading.

Here's what I've been diggin' this week:

Old Hollywood Glamour + Food = Love. Here’s what they served at the very first Oscar’s.

I’m all about nice-smellin homes. The Kitchn’s got some nice tips!

As Saveur Magazine perfectly put it: “We don’t talk about Midwestern food enough.” I wholeheartedly agree. Sugar Cream Pie anyone?

I’m on a The Office kick as of late, so seeing BJ Novak tweet out his list of never-ending ideas for Michael Scott via The List App, was all kinds of awesome.

Have you heard of the Swedish equivalent to tea time, Fika? This should totally catch on.

Speaking of Tea Time...When Britain Fought Against the Tyranny of Tea Breaks.

We should all be out buying the latest issue of Bon Appetit. Why, you ask? Because it was shot ENTIRELY on iPhones! I can get behind that.

Real talk: all I’ve ever really wanted is Meryl Streep’s kitchen in It’s Complicated; Memorable Kitchens in Cinematic History. 

If you need me, I'll be becoming one with nature for the next 5 hours.

Happy Sunday!