BULLET JOURNAL

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.

 

“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”.

 

 

“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.

 

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.