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I talk about films, TV shows, writing and productivity. Mostly, I talk about what I love.
Hola! Hi! I kind of owe you an explanation about why I haven’t posted in a while. So let me catch you up on what I’ve been up to. I’ve recently become a mother (yay! / surprise!) and I honestly spent my pregnancy feeling exhausted. I didn’t have the energy levels to balance my work life as well as my personal life and my blog. I haven’t even had the energy to listen, watch, read or be creative these days so there wasn’t much for me to write about anyway. I spent all my free time sleeping and I doubt my naps are of interest to anyone (despite my vivid pregnancy dreams!)
I had a relatively easy pregnancy until I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, other than the tiredness, I am thankful I had a healthy pregnancy throughout. However, in the third trimester, all the aches and pains hit me. I dealt with all sorts of back pain (sciatica, lumbago, neck/shoulder pain, hip pain…) you name it, I had it. This meant I was never comfortable in one position for too long. It also meant my sleep was awful so I had to take several naps a day. My best friend told me that the last trimester pains are your body’s way of trying to get you ready for when the baby comes. “By the last weeks of pregnancy, no matter how scared you are of giving birth, you are so ready for that baby to come out of your body”, she told me. Let me tell you she is not wrong. By the time my baby came, I was partially trained to be sleep-deprived. The thing is, I can’t take as many naps any more to make up for it so it makes it harder to function in my day to day.
In any case, what does this mean for this blog? I’m still figuring that one out myself. What I do know this won’t become a mommy blog. I don’t plan to even reveal my baby’s face. However, surely some motherhood content will seep through, as being a mom is part of my life now.
Admittedly, I probably won’t be posting as consistently as I would like to for a while. Considering I’ve been on a year-long hiatus that doesn’t mean much I, know. However, I promise I don’t want to let a long stretch go on like that without writing.
I guess my intention is to keep sharing what I love. I also want to keep learning to live a simpler life and sharing that experience with you. Especially now that I have just made my life a little less simple by adding a new member to my family. Last but not least, I want to keep talking about making room for what matters and what that looks like for me now.
They say when you become a mother, you kind of need to find yourself again. It’s not that you no longer are who you used to be. It’s just that you now have this little human that takes up so much of your mental space, attention, energy and love that it makes it hard to be 100% who you used to be in the past. You need to readjust a little. Not only is there a little bit of a mourning going on for the person you used to be, there’s also an excitement of this new person you are becoming. This results in a kind of internal battle that’s sad, exciting and, at times, frustrating.
In short, I’m sure part of this battle will show throughout my content from now on. I hope it’s as useful for you to read about as it is for me to write.
Hi there! Long time no write. I know, I’ve had a lot of stuff going on. Unfortunately, I will actually have quite a few things on my plate until… at least August. This is why I haven’t been on here much. I’ll try to do better, I promise. I missed writing these!
So surprisingly, winter has come and gone. I’m writing this on the day I lost an hour of sleep due to daylight savings. I hate it when that happens. It makes me really cranky. So I’m writing this post in order to cheer myself up. These are all things that have made me happy this past winter. Without any further ado, pleas find MY WINTER 2021/2022 FAVORITES.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
Rosalías “MOTOMAMI” came out just a few weeks ago, almost in time for spring, but I needed to include it in this list. To be completely honest, at first I wasn’t really sure about this album with the singles she released. After the beautiful conceptual album “El mal querer”, I expected something equally as deep and meaningful with her new work.
Needless to say, SAOKO and CHICKEN TERIYAKI where neither of these things. Truthfully, they seemed too silly for me. However after listening to the whole album, understanding it and getting into the MOTOMAMI mood… I really love it. It’s so playful, and at times silly, yes! But it’s also experimental, fun and so empowering! SAOKO ended up growing on me. I walk down the street while listening to it and feel like a badass. And does CHICKEN TERIYAKI sound like she’s randomly naming Japanese food? Yes. Still, I have to admit I don’t EVER skip it and I can’t help but bop to it every time it comes on. My favorite song in the album is BIZCOCHITO, though. Other top songs include LA FAMA, CANDY, BULERÍAS, SAKURA and LA COMBI VERSACE.
Florence + The Machine is also back. Goddess I missed her! It’s funny because both Florence + the Machine and Rosalía were probably my last concerts before the pandemic started. It feels great to hear these women come up with new work just as things slowly seem to be getting better and we’re going back to normal. Her two new singles King and My Love are just what I needed from her and make me excited for her new album, “Dance Fever” on May 13th. It’ll definitely be a belated birthday present for me!
WHAT I’M WATCHING
I haven’t discovered any new shows lately. I’ve been simply catching up on “Servant” (Tony Basgallop, 2019-?) and “Euphoria” (Sam Levinson, 2019-?). I also just finished watching “Friends” (David Crane & Martha Kaufman, 1994-2004) from start to finish for the 4th time. I have to admit that I tried watching “The Witcher” (2019-?) and honestly, it was not for me. I thought I would like it because I needed my fantasy fix. Turns out I didn’t. I’m now on the lookout for new fantasy shows while I wait for “Shadow and Bone” Season 2 (Eric Heisserer, 2021 -?). Any recommendations?
But you want to know what was for me? “Turning Red” (Domee Shi, 2022)! This was such a beautiful film. I loved it so much! Actually, I found it deals with many of the themes that were dealt in in “Encanto” (Jared Bush, Byron Howard & Charise Castro Smith, 2021) but I liked it much better. I find it’s better rounded up, it’s sweet, it’s feminine, it has so much love in it. And can we talk about the music? 4 Town is my kind of band and I love that Billie and Finneas created all the songs! No hate to the “Encanto” music though. I was also bopping to “We don’t talk about Bruno”. But please listen to this and tell me this doesn’t make you flashback to early 2000’s.
Last but not least: “Petite Maman” (Céline Sciamma, 2021) is such a delicate and enchanting film. It’s a film that could only be told by a female writer/director. I loved this jewel of a film so much and I want to recommend it to everybody.
Recently, I haven’t been reading much, I must admit. Well, maybe that’s not technically true. I’ve been reading for a personal project I’m working on. More on that soon. But nothing I would recommend as of now. Do the Vogue magazines I end up using for collages count?
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
There is a personal project I don’t feel comfortable sharing yet. Mostly, though, I’m currently working on moving! Haha! Yep, that’s one of the reasons I haven’t been on here much. Finding a new flat and moving is no joke! I found the flat and I’m now in the process of moving which is incredibly stressful, exciting and scary at the same time.
I’ve also been working on collages. We did a couple of collages during Creative Fuel (hosted by Anna Brones) and I had so much fun doing them, I now collect all kinds of magazines for my new projects. It’s so much fun!
My collage. Images from Spanish Vogue (October 2021 Issue)
Fall has come and almost gone, so it’s time for my fall 2021 favorites. These past months have been a bit weird for me emotionally, to be honest. I haven’t been reading as much as I want. I also haven’t been watching anything that particularly blew my mind, either. Still, there have been some things I’ve been catching up on that have made my life easier. Without any further ado, here are my fall 2021 favorites. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
It’s “Red”, season, “Babe”. You know it “All Too Well” (see what I did there?). Taylor’s rerecording of this iconic album is something I’ve been waiting for a long time. “Red” is one of my favorite Taylor Swift albums and I couldn’t wait to find out how the re-record would sound. Of course, it didn’t disappoint. How could it? It included “All Too Well” (10 minute version) and it’s a masterpiece. Her performance on SNL of this song is one in my top 10 Taylor performances as well.
I’ve also been listening to Maisie Peters’ album “You Signed Up For This”, and I love it so much. It’s very eighties at times but it also reminds me of early Lily Allen and Chvrches. I think “Psycho” is my favorite song. It’s such a bop.
Finally, Halsey’s “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” is an incredible record. It’s so emotionally complex and incredibly powerful. She wrote while being pregnant with her first child and during the pandemic. I highly suggest you also watch her interview with Zane Lowe where she talks about the making of this album. At one point she says that to her, this album was a means to get everything off her chest that she wouldn’t be able to say once she became somebody’s mom and I really think this idea completely encapsulates the intricacy of this album.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Like I said, I haven’t been watching much these past months. I think one of the only highlights is the second season of “Ted Lasso” (Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly and Bill Lawrence, 2020). This sophomore season felt very different from the first, though. Every episode in season 1 lasted about 30 minutes and was mostly comedy. Even though “Ted Lasso” wasn’t a sitcom, we could say it felt mostly “sitcom-y”.
Season 2, however, showed more creative leeway. Episodes were sometimes almost an hour long and this longer format allowed for deeper character analysis and more drama. Every episode no longer felt like the warm hug it used to feel like. They were more complex. This doesn’t mean “Ted Lasso” isn’t a feel-good show anymore. It still is. It’s just that some darker themes were explored this season that could sometimes make you feel slightly uncomfortable… before you got to that warm hug.
I personally think Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly and Bill Lawrence (the creators of the show) took a necessary and brave step when writing season 2. Seeing the issues they wanted to tackle in the show, it was clear that the season 1 format wouldn’t cut it. Thirty minute episodes didn’t allow as much room for in-depth character exploration which could end up making the show feel plain, superficial and even parody-esque. A longer format was the correct answer to this problem and I’m sure it will offer us an incredible season 3 as well.
Additionally, I’ve also been re-watching “Dawson’s Creek” (Kevin Williamson, 1998-2003). Don’t ask me why, but rewatching 90’s shows is very comforting to me. I guess they remind me of easier times. “Midnight Mass” (2021), Mike Flanagan’s most recent series is also a fall highlight. Although I didn’t enjoy it as much as “The Haunting of Hill House” (2018) and “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (2020), it still had some incredible scenes and episodes. Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched. You’ve been warned… STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED IT YET. One of my favorite things about the show was how it was a vampire show yet it didn’t utter the word vampire. Not even once. Also that death scene. And that ending. That freaking amazing ending was incredible.
WHAT I’M READING
“Simply Living Well” by Julia Watkins book cover.
“Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport book cover.
I’m reading “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport. It’s an interesting read. The tricky thing, however, is finding a way of putting it into practice. The same goes for the second book I’m reading, “Simply Living Well” by Julia Watkins. As you know, I’ve been trying to slowly get into slow living. This book has many tips, tricks and recipes to lead a low-waste household. It’s a lovely book with great ideas and lovely pictures. I love jumping through it and getting inspired but, to be honest, it can be hard to find the time to get to some of the recipes. It can be frustrating at times but I have to keep telling myself: slow-living is not all or nothing. Do what works for you. Maybe you’re not the kind of person who can bake her bread every day but maybe you can do it on the weekends. These tiny steps help me live a gentler, simpler life.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
My wonderful friend and incredibly talented artist Roshni (@roshnirobert on Instagram), invited me to “Creative Fuel” Workshop and I can honestly say it’s been one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had in a long time. A few of us meet over zoom just to chat and create whatever the prompt of the day is. It is organized by Jam Collective (@jamcollective on Instagram) and led by the magical Anna Brones (@annabrones on Instagram). I’m so glad I get to meet these talented women for an hour a week. It’s a moment for socializing, creating and laughing. I can honestly say it has helped me through some hard times these past month.
Creativity is an essential part of our lives, but sometimes, we find ourselves lacking. Why is that? Well, it might have something to do with our bad habits. I don’t know about you, but I often found myself in the same rut. I woke up and got on my phone. Then I worked 9 hours. Then, after my work day, I would jump on my phone again and scroll through social media. After that, it’s dinner time while watching a show. Then I went to bed and wake up next morning only to do the same thing all over again. Nothing very stimulating about that routine, right? Actually, sometimes it can feel kind of draining, huh? That’s why I’m slowly transitioning into a different life-style. In any case, it’s no wonder we often find ourselves uninspired and unmotivated. But guys, there is hope. I’ve been trying different things this summer and I’ve found different ways to help you press your reset button. In this post, I’ll be sharing 5 activities to help spark your creativity. These are ways to help you disconnect from your bad habits and reconnect with yourself. Who knows? You may even discover a hobby. Without any further ado, here are 5 activities to help spark your creativity.
1.- WORK WITH YOUR HANDS
You heard me: get down and dirty while cooking, baking, gardening or creating pottery. You can also dedicate yourself to cleaner activities, such as knitting, sowing, painting or drawing. Take up any activity that gets you working with your hands and you end up creating something. It doesn’t have to be something good. The idea is to start and finish something you made with your own hands. There’s something very grounding and enriching about creating something from scratch. To me, it can be a form of meditation. Enjoy the process, be proud of yourself, no matter the result.
If you can, I highly suggest for you to dedicate yourself 100% to the activity you chose. No music or podcast. No background TV show. Feel what you’re doing. Concentrate on it. Smell whatever you’re cooking. Feel the texture of whatever you’re knitting. Smell the earth you are moving around. Whatever it is, be present. Feel it. Feel it all.
2.- GO FOR A WALK IN NATURE
Escape wherever you can. Maybe it’s a park, maybe it’s a short trail along a small forest. Maybe it’s a three-day-long hiking trail up on a mountain. Whatever you chose, use this chance to reconnect with nature. Again, I suggest you don’t multitask here. No music, no podcasts. Listen to nature. Hear the wind rustling through the trees. Listen to the birds. Smell the fresh air. Listen to the insects. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat.
3.- WRITE YOUR MORNING PAGES
What are morning pages, you may ask? They are three handwritten pages which, as their name clearly indicates, you write in the morning, not long after waking up, before starting your day. On these pages, you write down your thoughts, worries and ideas. Whatever comes to mind, you write it down. It doesn’t matter if it’s a trascendental epiphany or if it’s your shopping list. If it’s currently taking up space in your mind, you need to write it down. These pages don’t have to be pretty. Don’t fuss over your penmanship. Don’t worry about grammar, don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense. Sometimes you might read over your old morning pages and they won’t make sense to you. They don’t have to. The idea is to get rid of all the “noise” in your head so that you can face your day fresh and ready for your creative process. Once you “dump” all of your thoughts and worries into your morning pages, the idea is that you are ready for your creative process to begin and you can dedicate yourself more fully to whatever you set your mind to. This idea comes from Julia Cameron’s book, “The Artist’s Way”, which I highly recommend.
4.- BOARD GAME NIGHT
How long has it been since you last played board games? Do you even have a deck of cards at home? No? You should! Play chess with your partner. Play Catan with your family or Monopoly with your flat mates. Live alone and need to social distance? How about game nigh over zoom with your friends? Board games are fun, tactile and they stimulate our minds in different ways. Plus, I feel the human interaction while playing these games is good for the soul. It’s nice to communicate without likes and GIFs for a change, right?
Nothing against video games but board games just hit differently and I feel like they’re not as beloved anymore. I feel like board games need to make a comeback, so here’s my small contribution for them to become more popular once again.
5.- DECLUTTER, CLEAN AND ORGANIZE YOUR PERSONAL SPACE
I know, I know. This one doesn’t sound as fun, does it? But it’s an incredibly useful activity to stimulate your creativity. I’m not kidding. Take a look at all your possessions. Is there anything that is no longer serving you? Donate it, sell it, throw it away. Clean your space. Maybe open a window while you do it. Reorganize anything that needs reorganizing. Make it so that all your belongings have a place where they belong in your home, as Marie Kondo says in “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”.
Clutter in your space means clutter in your mind. So make sure you set dates to reevaluate everything you have. As we grow, we change. Some things that brought us joy a few years ago may no longer do so. They might even be the reason you feel stuck. Get rid of it and feel the weight from your unwanted possessions be lifted from your shoulders.
These are 5 activities that have worked for me when I feel stuck in a negative rut. They help me clear my head and get in a better mood. I hope these activities can help you too. Practice these activities to spark your creativity. They’re tools to reboot your body and mind. i hope they are as helpful to you as they are to me. If you have any other activity you do to hit your own reset button, feel free to share on my Instagram or Twitter.
I’ve been gone for a while, I know. Last few months have been hard, but I am back with “My Summer 2021 Favorites”. I’m also currently working on more content so I promise more posts will be coming soon! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this post!
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
I can’t stop listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR. The whole album is perfection. From “brutal”, to “drivers license” (d’uh!), “deja vu”, “traitor”… you name any song from that album, they are all iconic. But there’s no better feeling than cranking up the volume when “good 4 u” starts playing, and really rocking out.
Queen Billie Eilish has released her new album “Happier Than Ever”. I love this album. You can appreciate Billie’s growth as a person and a song writer. Everything about it is beautiful. My top three songs are “Lost Cause”, “NDA” and “Happier Than Ever”. I’m also simply in awe of the title song’s music video.
The king of New Jersey has also finally released his new album. I am referring to Jack Antonoff, obviously. Bleacher’s new album is “Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night”. We’ll of course be supporting him through and through.
Finally, I watched “Vivo” (Kirk DeMicco & Brandon Jeffords, 2021) and now I can’t stop listening to the soundtrack. All the songs are basically bops, but “My Own Drum” just makes me happy.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
“Antidisturbios” (A.K.A “Riot Police”, Isabel Peña & Rodrigo Sorogoyen, 2020) is a Spanish miniseries that follows 6 riot police members during a tragic incident during one of their outings and follows them as they navigate the consequences of their actions. It deals with corruption in Spanish institutions as well as the police brutality in Spain. The series is amazing and I highly recommend it.
I am currently watching the newest season of “In Treatment” (2008 – 2010; 2021) with Uzo Aduba. I really loved the first 3 seasons but still not loving this new one. I don’t know, I think most of the characters don’t feel as relatable to me as the original ones did. It feel like it’s mostly dealing with “rich people problems”. There’s still the occasional brilliant moment but, in general, not loving it as much. Anyway, still have some episodes to go so this might change.
“Anne with an E” (Moira Walley- Beckett, 2017-2019). This is me coming really late to the party, because I am aware this show has been cancelled and hasn’t had the chance to end properly. I have to say, though, I’m really loving it. It’s so lovely, sweet… it’s simply, a classic. They don’t make shows like these any more, but at least I get to rewatch as many times as possible on Netflix.
WHAT I’M READING
So I finished reading the Grishaverse books. Well that’s actually a lie. I haven’t actually read the short stories books, but you know, I read the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy, “Six of Crows” duology and “King of Scars” duology. “Which one was you favourite?” (you are probably not asking). Funny should (not) ask. Definitely “Six of Crows”. Those teenage delinquents with complicated love lives have my full heart.
I decided now to switch to something in my native language, Catalan (both Spanish and Catalan are my native languages, btw). So I’m reading Irene Solà’s “Canto jo i la muntanya balla” (which translates to “I Sing and the Mountain Dances”. Alternating this book with “Anne with an E” feels like I’m getting immersed in pure nature despite me living in the middle of a big city.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
I’m trying to catch up on my blog posts. Also working on disconnecting and reconnecting. Disconnecting from unimportant things (such as mindlessly scrolling through social media) and reconnecting with myself. Working on meditation, journaling and exercise. I’m basically trying to relax and make the most out of my summer vacation.
Spring is almost over, so it’s time for me to share what I’ve been loving this season. Without any further ado, here are my spring 2021 favorites in no particular order.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
Girl in red’s “if i could make it go quiet” is giving me life. Don’t ask me why, because it’s completely different… but it kind of reminds me of CHVRCHES and Veronica Falls.
Next up, Lana del Rey announced a new album coming out on July 8th. Mind you, I’m still processing “Chemtrails Over the Country Club”, but there’s no stopping the artistic goddess that is Lana del Rey, I guess. So she already released the title song, “Blue Banisters”, which of course I had on a loop for days.
I’ve also been catching up on Bleachers in order to prepare for their new album (coming out July 30th). Their new single (“Stop Making This Hurt”) is out now. Here’s the feel good music video.
Finally, Antònia Font has just announced they’ll be getting back together for Primavera Sound 2022. This Majorcan band had disbanded a few years ago, to my dismay. So glad to hear they’re back. Highly recommend their music. My personal favorite album of theirs is “Lamparetes” (2011), but honestly, just listen to anything they do. It’s worth it.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
I discovered “Shadow and Bone” (Eric Heisserer, 2021-?) on Netflix and became completely obsessed. So obsessed, in fact, that this section slightly overlaps with the “What I’m Reading” section.
So yeah, loved the show. There’s action, there’s romance, there’s magic and there’s an incredible cast of characters. Honestly, I started more invested in the whole Darkling and Alina story, but I ended up loving The Crows more (Kaz and Inej are just perfection. And Jesper… Jesper is freaking wonderful).
After reading the books, I really appreciate how they’re adapting the show. You can really tell Leigh Bardugo, the author of the books, is also helping with the show. I honestly think it’s one of the best adaptations ever done. Netflix, you better renew this for season 2 soon.
Along with this wonderful show, I also wanted to use this chance to recommend “The Mitchells VS the Machines” (Mike Rianda & Jeff Rowe, 2021) on Netflix. It’s such a fun and sweet movie. It’s clear that the creators of the film really put their heart and soul into it. Without a doubt, it’s the best animation feature of the year.
WHAT I’M READING
So yeah here comes the overlap. It’s possible I read Leigh Bardugo’s “Shadow and Bone” trilogy in less than three weeks (only a few days after watching the show). It’s also possible I’m halfway through “Six of Crows” and that I already ordered the “King of Scars” duology. “Why am I like this?”, you may ask. I honestly don’t know. But I like it. 🙂
I’m also reading Jen Sincero’s “You are a Badass at Making Money”. Loving it so far. Same tough love energy she shared in “You are a Badass”, which is just what I was looking for.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
I’m not working on anything new at the moment. I’m still keeping up with my journaling and meditating habit. Actually… well, I wouldn’t say it’s something I’m working on, but I am cooking more. It’s quite relaxing for me. I’ve even been baking. I’m not a person who loves sweets that much but I like to have them once in a while. I found this book with healthy recipes and I am trying them out. It’s making me happy.
Anyway, I hope you guys are doing well. Take care and don’t forget to work on yourself as well as your personal projects.
What time is it? Winter time! Any “High School Musical” fans around? Yeah? High five! Anywho, it’s finally time for my winter 2020/2021 favorite post. As always, I share what I’ve been listening to, watching, reading and working on these past months. I hope you enjoy these recommendations. If you do, let me know!
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
Hey, I know what you’re going to say. “Not Taylor Swift AGAIN!”. Well, first off: How dare you?! Taylor Swift will ALWAYS be an important part of my life and this blog. Secondly, it’s not my fault that Taylor Swift put out 3 albums in the span of 15 months, coinciding with my -insert season here- favorites post. So yeah, of course I have been listening to “evermore” ever since it came out on December. “No body, no crime”, “champagne problems”, “long story short”, “marjorie” and “evermore” are my top 5 songs in the album. I also love the two bonus tracks in the album. “it’s time to go” in particular really speaks to me. Additionally, Miss Swift released “Love Story” (Taylor’s Version). Make sure you listen to her version if you want to revisit this BEAUTY OF A SONG.
But I have been listening to other music, I promise. I love Lana del Rey’s “Chemtrails Over The Country Club”. It’s so comforting to me. I’m also obsessed with the crazy music video that goes with it:
Additionally, I loved listening to “Lo vas a olvidar”, Rosalía and Billie Eilish’s collaboration. It’s so beautifully haunting, I immediately fell in love. Finally, I’ve also been revisiting Halsey’s album “Manic” and been loving the hell of it. It has been keeping me company during the long work hours for sure.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
The “Euphoria” (Sam Levinson, 2019-?) special episodes. Oh my God, the writing, ladies and gentlemen. I really think these have to be the best episodes of the show. Is it just me? I mean, I do have a soft spot for scripts that have two people alone in a room just talking, so I might be slightly biased.
I also decided to watch “Freaks and Geeks” (1999), an oldie but a goodie. I’m still half-way through but I’m really loving it so far.
“Servant” (Tony Basgallop, 2019-?) is back and I love this really creepy show. Quite simply, it’s like a horror story about maternity, as it plays to all the fears and anxieties new mothers might have about welcoming a child.
Finally, I was also looking forward to the premiere of “WandaVision” (Jac Shaeffer, 2021) and let me tell you it didn’t disappoint. Love the aesthetic, love the concept, and really looking forward to seeing where it takes us. Episode 5?! Oh. My. God. Episode 5.
WHAT I’M READING
In December I started reading “A Discovery of Witches” (Deborah Harkness), because honestly, I hadn’t read a fiction book in a long time. Actually, I think the last piece of fiction I read was “Little Women” (Louisa May Alcott), back in August. So I picked this book because I wanted a fun, easy read. Also, it includes vampires, witches and demons and I love anything that includes those creatures.
So flash-forward to early February when I’m almost done with the second book in the saga “Shadow of Night”. These books are so much fun! They’re greatly entertaining and I love the attention to detail. Highly recommend this saga if you are looking for a romantic yet gripping, witchy/vampiry read. There’s also a TV Series adaptation if you are interested. I’ll get to it when I’m done with the books.
Anyway, I’m alternating this with Jen Sincero’s “You Are a Badass” and honestly, I’m loving it. I know this book has been out for a while. I’ve had it home for years. I actually remember purchasing it at the Newark airport a few years back. I was supposed to start reading it on the plane, but I fell asleep and never did. So I arrived home, put it on a shelf and forgot about it. Anyway, I’d heard so many great things about it, I wanted to read it. So here I am. Let me tell you, I’m not disappointed. I’m loving Jen Sincero’s almost “tough-love” approach to self-love.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
Honestly, still working on my journaling, finding what best works for me. Using Lavendaire’s “Artist of Life” workbook, I have decided that my word for the year will be “Discovery”. My goal this year will be to sit down, listen to my gut and find my intuition. This year for me is all about self-discovery, so the Lavendaire “Artist of Life” workbook will be helping me with just that. If you want to know more about this workbook, here’s a flip-through video!
Fall is almost over and you know what that means… time to share my fall 2020 favourites. So here’s a list of books, music and shows that I have been enjoying this past months. I also share what I’m currently working on personally in case it can help motivate you to do the same.
Anywho, grab anything pumpkin spice and join me, will you?
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
A few years ago, Sufjan Stevens’ “Carrie and Lowell” was all I listened to while writing. I love that album. I kind of hadn’t been listening to him for a long time, so a couple of weeks ago I decided to catch up on his work. Let me just say I am on the Sufjan Stevens train again. “The Ascension” is just what I need to get my creative juices flowing. Then I jump to “The Decalogue”, his collaboration with Timo Andres. Finally, I top it off with “Aporia”, his collaboration with Lowell Brams. Chef’s kiss!
Ok, yes. I also have Taylor Swift’s fall album (aka “Red”) playing every single weekend. Ok, ok, and I also still have “folklore” on repeat every other day. Can you blame me? I’m still waiting for my cardigan and “folklore” vinyls I ordered in July to arrive. Apparently I won’t receive them until December. I have no idea why it’s taking so long, but honestly, I feel like it won’t be cardigan-weather where I live by the time I actually receive it.
This image belongs to Asthmatic Kitty.
This image belongs to Big Machine Records. Sadly, it doesn’t belong to Taylor Swift.
This image belongs to Asthmatic Kitty.
WHAT I’M READING
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear
I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while and I finally did. James Clear doesn’t disappoint. The book is full of great information on how to start and maintain good habits as well as stuff you can do to stop bad ones. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read on the subject. If you’re struggling with your habits, I highly recommend it.
“Marketing to Moviegoers a Handbook of Strategies and Tactics” by Robert Marich
Ok, this one isn’t for fun as you can probably imagine. But I’ve been wanting to freshen up and expand on my knowledge on film marketing for a while, so this book has helped me to do just that. Again, this is quite a dense book, but if you’re looking to read up on the subject, it’s a great one.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
“The Haunting of Bly Manor” (Spoilers ahead of course!)
This image belongs to Netflix.
Although I didn’t find “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (Mike Flanagan, 2020) as perfectly splendid as I found “The Haunting of Hill House” (Mike Flanagan, 2018), I did quite enjoy it. Mind you, I consider “Hill House” to be a horror masterpiece, so it would be hard for “Bly” to reach that status. Nonetheless, I loved the characters, specially Owen’s “dad jokes”, Hannah’s amazing looks (give me all her earrings, please!) and all the romance.
“The Haunting of Bly Manor” is being sold as an adaptation of Henry James’ “The Turn of the screw”. I think the reason I didn’t enjoy it as much as “Hill House” is that I found the storytelling of this second series not as clean-cut as the first. Some aspects of it felt like filler at first. Specifically, I’m talking about the whole ghosts jumping through memories bit. I loved this amazing concept (that kind of reminded me of David Lowery’s “A Ghost Story” ending). However, it felt a bit repetitive after a bit. This idea is introduced to us with Hannah’s episode, then we see Peter going through his version of this in the next episode and, finally, we also see it from Flora’s point of view when she gets “tucked in”.
Anyway, when I finished the show, I had mixed feelings. Some things I really loved, and others I was a bit more “meh” about. My opinion changed, however, when I read some articles that explained that the show was not only an adaptation of Henry James’ “Turn of the Screw”, it also included homages to other Henry James’ stories which I am not familiar with. Ah! Now everything made more sense. I really think the show becomes a lot more enjoyable if you read it as an homage to Henry James’s “world”. For example, the whole Viola episode is based on Henry James’ “The Romance of Certain Old Clothes”. On the other hand, the idea of Henry’s doppelgänger could be inspired by “The Jolly Corner”; while Dani’s ending draws from “The Beast in the Jungle”. This article talks about all the references if you’re interested. Mind you, it’s in Spanish, but you know, Google Translate is your friend.
Knowing all of this makes certain aspects of the show feel less like filler. I definitely appreciate it more seeing how hard it has to be to interlace all these stories and themes. I’ll have to catch up on my reading and revisit the show at some time for sure.
Down to Earth With Zac Efron
After finishing “The Home Edit” and “rainbowfying” (is that how you spell it?) my house, I needed another feel good show to watch. Don’t ask me why I decided to go with “Down to Earth with Zac Efron”, but I’ll tell you I’m glad I did. I enjoyed this show a lot more than I expected to. It’s informative and fun but mostly, it’s important.
Zac’s a great presenter. He’s up for adventure, open to learn and most importantly, open to change. Darin offers a great counterpart with the same eagerness for adventure and his great amount of knowledge (I even bought his book!). This show has reminded me how small changes can make the world better place. Definitely, a must watch!
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
We all know that journaling is good for you. It’s a journey to self-discovery, it’s a way to put your thoughts in order… it’s a life style. The thing is, I’m not very consistent with it, which doesn’t help. For a while now, I’ve been meaning to upgrade my journaling game.
This image belongs to Michelle Barnes aka muchelleb.
So recently I’ve been following muchelleb on YouTube. If you’re looking on tips on how to improve your life by being a better version of you, please check her out. Her idea of having “admin days” has literally changed my life.
So what does muchelleb (her real name is Michelle Barnes) have to do with journaling? Well, I was feeling pretty down and unmotivated when I found out she had her own planner called The Life Map Daily*, so I decided to buy it and get my life in order. During 13 weeks, this journal helps you focus on your goals and dream life. I’m currently loving it. It helps me keep track of my goals and what I’m doing to achieve them. It’s a planner more than a journal, but it does have gratitude prompts and asks you every day what you can do to improve. This really helps me jot down a few things that prompt me to journal on them and thus, improve my journaling habit. If you’re interested, you can find it here.
*I’m using the 13 week planner at this time but there’s a full year planner if you prefer.
It’s been almost a year since I did my first and only “favourites” posts. The truth is, I wanted to do one of these monthly. But as time went by I realised that, with a full time job, this blog and writing my own scripts, there was no way I would be consuming enough content to post monthly about it. It can sometimes take me over a month to read a book, watch a show or move on to a new album (I love listening to the same album over and over again until I’m ready to move on, what can I say?). I still love this type of blog post, though. So I decided to share my favourites seasonally, and if need be, I’ll add a part 2 to that season.
So here I am, sharing my summer 2020 favourites.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
Beth Garrabrant
“FOLKLORE”, “FOLKLORE”, “FOLKLORE”. You guys knew this, right? I mean… Duh.
Taylor Swift’s new album feels summery and autumny at the same time. (Autocorrect here, telling me “autumny” is not a word. If summery is a word, then autumny is too. OK?)
It’s an album you can listen to while on a road trip through the most amazing green fields, but it’s also an album I can sit down and listen to while wrapped up in a blanket and drinking a glass of red wine.
It’s lyrically one of the most complex Taylor Swift albums. Sonically, it partly feels closer to her first albums… yet… it doesn’t. There’s a twist. I guess the twist is The National’s Aaron Dessner. Jack Antonoff, Taylor’s long time creative partner, has also worked on a few songs and he is, of course, always welcome. The album is magical, enchanting and powerful. “reputation” was my favourite Taylor Swift album but maybe “folklore” has moved it to number 2. Not sure. Still deciding.
This woman’s mind never ceases to amaze me. The fact that she wrote and put together this whole album during isolation is incredible. I was sad because I was supposed to see her in July at Madcool Festival, which was of course cancelled. Taylor surprising us by releasing “folklore” cured my coronavirus sadness for sure.
OK, OK. I know some of you might be interested in other stuff I’ve been listening to. So HAIM’S “Women in Music Pt. III” which feels old-timey and new at the same time. All the songs are so different and I’m loving it.
I also just watched Beyoncé’s “Black is King” which maybe I should mention in the “What I’m Watching” category but I use that more for shows. In any case, “Black is King” is incredible. The Visuals, the Power… the Glory. This visual album has brought me to discover “The Lion King: The Gift”, which I will be listening to again and again, for sure. My favourites so far are “BROWN SKIN GIRL” and “MY POWER”.
WHAT I AM READING
“The Bullet Journal Method” by Ryder Carroll. As I shared on my Instagram, bullet journaling really helped me years ago to get a clearer head and focus on my goal to work in the film industry. However, since getting there, I kind of let it go.
I’ve got to be honest, this pandemic has been hard on my mental health and anxiety. So I’ve decided to take up bullet journalling again, to see if I can center myself once more. I decided to read Carroll’s book to get new ideas for my journal. The book is amazing, and I love its emphasis on the importance of intention for the journal. This is why, as I’m easing back into my practice, I’m trying to focus on what’s important to me, like my personal projects that keep my creative juices flowing and keep me sane.
“Little Women” by L.M. Alcott. I needed a little fiction in the mix and what’s better than catching up on my classics during my summer break? I’ve never read “Little Women” (Insert “BOOS” here). I know, I know. Better late than never, I guess. Anyway, after loving Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation, I decided to read the book before rewatching.
I’m half-way through “The Bullet Journal Method” and I’d like to use my annual summer break to also read: “Marketing to Moviegoers A Handbook of Strategies and Tactics” by Robert Marich, because you’ve got to keep learning, ya know.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
I’ve been wanting to watch “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, 2005-2008) for the longest time, but never got to it. Seeing how it popped on Netflix, I had no further excuses. So I’ve started watching. Six episodes in, it’s ok, so far. I know it gets better and better with time so, definitely, I will keep watching. I know “The Legend of Korra” (Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, 2012-2014) is supposed to reach Netflix soon too. I’ll probably have to get to that too.
“Dear White People”(Justin Simien, 2017 – ?). I’m starting my second season of this show. I like it. I don’t love it, but I like it. The trouble I have with this show is that I feel like sometimes the episodes themes overpower the dramatic arc of the characters. Which means the characters don’t feel as well constructed as they could be. Except for Reggie and Coco (my personal faves), the rest of characters don’t feel as rich. During the series, each characters gets their own episode where they are the protagonist. Those episodes help bring more depth to the characters. However, once they move on to the next one, those characters go back to feeling more like plain background characters. Like they’re there only to serve the episodes theme. Am I the only one who feels like this? Don’t get me wrong though, I find the show thought-provoking and incredibly entertaining which is a difficult balance to maintain, so my biggest kudos on that. Personally, this show, together with some reading I’ve been doing, has helped me understand my white privilege and what it means. So I’m going to keep watching and, if anything else, I’m going to keep learning.
I’m also rewatching “The Sopranos”. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. Me and my boyfriend are revisiting the show and taking our time. We’re using this rewatch to read “The Sopranos Sessions” (by Matt Zoller Seitz and Alan Sepinwall). Every night we watch an episode, we’ll read the episode analysis that is in the book. So far, a great experience. Highly recommend. PS: I forgot how much life this show’s theme song brings me.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
This Blog. I’m writing on a few stock articles in order to be able to publish more often.
Rewrites on my script. It’s time to meet my feature film script again and work on my rewrites. I’ve been putting it off but… no more. I’m starting next week. Wish me luck.
Self-care for mental health. Bullet journalling is part of it.
Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved writing. Also, I’ve always loved films. For way too long, I didn’t know you could actually study filmmaking. But when I learned you could, I automatically knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: a scriptwriter. Throughout my life I’ve written many short films, a TV show (that hasn’t been produced) and even helped many friends with their projects. It was only a couple of weeks ago, however, that I finished writing my first feature film script. I’ve been writing this script on and off for about three years, so yeah… it was definitely about time.
So… what have I learned while writing my first feature film?
What has this experience been like? What have I learned about myself and “the process” while writing my first feature film? Writing is hard, especially for those of us who do it as a side project (which I’m guessing is most of us). It’s quite a lonely process that requires a lot of discipline. It also really makes you sit down with all your insecurities. Here’s a small sample of things I kept telling myself while writing: “No-one will want to read this”, “There is no way a producer will be interested in this”, “This planting is too gratuitous”, “This pay-off is not satisfying enough”, “Is this actually boring? Or have I just read it too many times?”, “What you’re saying is unimportant” and of course the concise, yet effective: “This is bullshit”. Lucky for me, I was able to move this not-so-kind voice in my head and finish the first draft of my script.
I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about writing and about myself throughout this journey, just in case it can help you in any way. Please note, I’ve only just finished the first draft of my script. There’s still work to be done on it, so the journey is far from over. This is my own personal project and, as of yet, it has no producers attached to it or anything. It’s just something I’ve been working on for a long time. If you’re struggling through your own personal project, I hope this post helps you see that you’re not alone. Those voices in your head telling you you or your work is not good enough are something we all live with. Basically, I hope this post helps you keep doing what you love. Keep doing the work!
1. Make writing part of your routine
Writing is indeed a muscle (“No shit, Sherlock.”). But seriously, writing used to come easy to me in school. Now… call it age, call it being an adult with a full full time job… it’s hard. I’m sure it didn’t help that I took a break from writing either.
For this same reason, you shouldn’t wait for inspiration to strike in order to write. Make sure you schedule time to do it. Have your own routine. For me, I schedule Saturday and Sunday afternoons to write. My routine includes lighting a candle and making some tea. Some days I would only do rewrites because I couldn’t seem able to write anything new. Other days I just managed to get 2-3 pages that I would delete the next week. Some rare times, however, I would write up to 20 pages a day. It might not be much to some of you, but it is to me. So yeah, I’m sure those “twenty-page” days wouldn’t come to me unless I had sat down every single weekend to do the work. So I suggest you do the same. If you seem blocked, try a writing exercise. Just tell yourself you’ll write something (anything) only for five minutes. Sometimes, starting is the hardest part, so that will help you get going. I’m sure after those five minutes are over, you’ll probably be ready to keep writing.
Personally, my next goal is to get into the habit of writing every day. Even if it’s just for ten minutes. Even if it’s something stupid. I’ll write something every day. Anything. You never know when it might come in handy.
2. “Between thought to page lies a lifetime” (The Velvet Underground)
My dad loves this quote. Let me tell you: I thought of this quote every single day of writing this script. Writing is funny because sometimes I’d have a scene I was less excited about come to me easily and become one of my favourite parts to write. Other times, that scene I was idealising in my mind I discovered didn’t quite work for the story. Or it was just bad. Maybe it’s my inner perfectionist talking, but I’m sure many of you writers out there understand.
My advice? Get through it. Write those scenes (the good and the bad). You’ll get back to them at some point and rewrite them as needed, but for now, get them over and done with. Don’t get stuck. Write them, move on and confront them again once you’re done. I have made a note myself of a few scenes I believe are not working in the script. However, I’m not telling anyone about my thoughts, because maybe it’s just me. I’ll wait until I can share the script with someone I trust. If they see the same issues, I’ll rewrite. Who knows? Maybe a fresh pair of eyes will allow me to see that the issue is somewhere else in the script entirely.
Maybe it’s that scene I really love that is actually the one that is not working. You know the one I’m talking about. That first scene you saw in your head? The one that sparked that idea for the whole story? What then? Ah, my friend. Kill your darlings, they say. I haven’t faced this situation just yet as no-one has reviewed my script. However, I’ll let you know when I do. I bet that’s a whole new post entirely.
3. You will probably hate (most of) what you write
I’m not happy with my script. I just see every single mistake and all the tools I used to write it. I imagine it being like a coder who’s able to see the messy backend of a website. Or like a graphic designer noticing that double space. But you know what? These feelings are normal. That’s why Anne Lamott talks about the “shitty first draft”. Martin Scorsese said about film making: “If you don’t get physically ill seeing your first rough cut, something is wrong.” And I guess it’s the same with your first draft.
Hey, I’m learning to deal with it. The thing is, the day I finished writing my script I watched Jonah Hill’s “Mid90’s” (2018) and I started crying. That film was so good… so perfect… I was honestly kind of embarrassed by what I wrote. That imposter syndrome kicked in. “What was I thinking by writing this shitty script? Why did I have this need to write it? It’s not a story worth telling…” all these thoughts (AND MANY MORE) started racing through my head.
You know what? I’m pretty sure my script is not as great as “Mid90’s”. But it’s there. It’s mine. And I’ll make sure it becomes the best version of itself it can be. Also, remember: hating is not cool. Not even with your own work.
4. Be very clear about your structure when you start writing
I think this is especially important for anyone, but especially for beginners. I am not talking about having a small sheet of paper where you know where each of your film acts end. Seriously, this is not even the skeleton of your script. Knowing your plot points is more like the “cartilages” of your script. You still need the bones, muscles and all that. So my recommendation, I don’t care how boring or redundant it feels like, start by writing your synopsis. Then expand it into a treatment. Make it as long as possible and as elaborate as possible. Make sure you see your characters’ story arcs. Nofilmschool.com also has a great blog post titled “How do Professional Screenwriters Outline Their Projects?“. It’s a great guide for anyone if you’re not quite sure where to start.
5. All ideas have been done. But they have not been done by you
If we wanted to very briefly talk about “Brokeback Mountain” (2005, Ang Lee) we could say it’s a story about “forbidden love”. Correct? Can you imagine how sad it would have been if Annie Proulx, who wrote the original short story for “Brokeback Mountain” had decided not to write it because “forbidden love” was already explored by Shakespeare in “Romeo and Juliet”? We wouldn’t have been able to read that beautiful story and the movie would have not been made. That would have been a cultural loss for everyone because, despite both titles dealing with forbidden love, I believe “Brokeback Mountain”’s character depth, social relevancy and impact were (ARE!) incredibly important. Maybe even more so that Shakespeare’s play.
All this to say, almost everything has been done before. So don’t be too preoccupied with being “original”. Instead start by asking yourself: what can you say about that? What else can you add to that conversation? Find your answer and run with it.
6. Don’t dwell on your mistakes
I’m not expecting my first script to be a work of art. Hey, maybe it turns out my script actually is bad. Ok, so? I can imagine very few filmmakers are happy with their first script. As I see it, I got this one out of my system and I am already working on ideas for my next one. Don’t overthink it. Learn from your mistakes and just keep swimming. We got this. Lucky for us writers, we have it easy. All we need is pen and paper. Go, write!
These are the six lessons I have learned about myself and about writing while writing my first feature film. I hope this post helps you in some way. I’m sure putting these feelings into writing will help me with my next film script. Or maybe not. Maybe a new set of issues will arise. In that case… I’ll face them head on and write a new post for your guys. In the meantime, keep writing, keep creating. Talk to you soon.
