On my way back from Brazil I had a long layover in New York. I strategically booked my flight to maximise my time in the city, and then proceeded to pray to the weather gods that I’d actually be able to leave the airport. I kicked off my solo day in Manhattan with brunch at Sarabeth’s. The last time I was in there was on a father-daughter birthday trip, and even though their Central Park South location is under renovation, I was feeling nostalgic. One of the best parts of dining alone, especially in a big city, is the people watching (and ocasional eavesdropping). I was bested by a pile of ricotta pancakes and drank my weight in coffee. I love waiters dressed like penguins at 10am and starched white tablecloths. Like every other basic bitch in the city, I headed south on my pilgrimage and walked down to the West Village. I made a stop at C.O. Bigelow and was overwhelmed by a sea of perfect blonde blowouts, tortoise headbands and oval sunnies. I steered clear of the hair accessories but did pick up a lip balm and a coin pouch. The beauty of travelling alone means you can do whatever you want, and even though I had no space in my bag I still spent ages browsing The Strand and the McNally Jackson in Soho. I was also very tempted by this wallet, pigeon hair clip and coffee cup at the MoMA design store, but I stayed strong.

Because I’m incapable of seeing an empty spot of my google calendar, I reached out to my friend Victoria who lives in the city and we met up for breakfast burritos and walked around Central Park whilst gushing about Heated Rivalry and her hot friends who all spend the summer in REDACTED Island. I promised not to blow up her spot but I believe she has found the spawning ground for JFK Jr. lookalikes. If any publications want some boots on the ground coverage, I volunteer as tribute.

The Girls Are Back - London Edition

I have brought the party spirit back with me from Brazil, and March was a month of hitting the town. I love watching the city slowly come back to life as the sun comes out, and have prematurely dragged my friends out for al-fresco drinks.

My best friends from High School also came to visit for a weekend (I love it when the trip makes it out of our aptly named group chat). We try to get the girls together a few times a year and keeping up with them is the reason I started this newsletter in the first place. Pauline and Jet said they wanted to see my version of the city, so I took them to the land of the mysteriously funded creatives for an early morning Yoga class in Hackney followed by coffee and pastries at Pophams. They marveled at all the people drinking in the sun in the middle of the work day as we walked over to The Dreamery for dessert. Once the entire group was in the city, we fully played tourists with a long walk around the Heath, a trip to the theatre to watch Wicked and a brunch debrief at Sunday in Brooklyn.

Julia’s March Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - Jean by

• I’ve been on a quest to find more contemporary authors I adore (it sucks when everyone you read is dead) and spotted this taking over an entire display at Daunt Books. A couple of days later, I scrolled past a post from Soho Reading Series promoting an event for the same book and took it as a sign from the universe. Madeleine’s prose is beautiful. I devoured Jean and am excited to keep up with her writing. She also wrote this essay On Becoming German, which I adored as someone going through a similar naturalisation process.

To Watch - Summerfolk at the National Theatre

• Most of my friends don’t want to watch Russian plays on a Tuesday night (lame!!!!), but I really wanted to go to this, and even though I will continue to defend doing things alone, I managed to convince to join me. She ended up being ill (which I would normally find a little suspicious, but she also has niche old people interests (a compliment)) so I ended up bringing my friend Bea, who’s a literature student. I loved the staging especially on the second act and was audibly laughing throughout. It’s on until the 29th of April.

To Eat - Anchovy-Stuffed Olives

• I love olives. I love anchovies. Anything salty and briny has my name on it. We have gotten to the point in the year where I’m living off random bits in the fridge (including but not limited to; manchego cheese, caramalised onion hummus, carrot sticks and pita bread). I also love buying fun food things (Panzer’s is my happy place) and these have become my new hyperfixation.

Honourable Mentions and Other Things Bringing Me Joy

• Hot Yoga - I’m still going strong, and have become a regular at my local studio’s Monday evening class - feels like equal amounts pennance and self-care after hedonistic weekends.

• I also read Vladimir this month and it was the first time in a long time where I was truly surprised by a book. Will report back with my thoughts on the show.

• Watching bad films in the theatre - I love going to the cinema regardless of the screening. Popcorn for dinner at one of the last places where you’ll be publicly shunned for taking out your phone is my idea of a good time. I saw Reminders of Him with Giorgia this month, and it was every bit as ridiculous as you’d expect from Colleen Hoover. Will I be rewatching? Absolutely not, but I did have a good time! I foresee some good films in the theatre in April, and am excited to see The Drama and Project Hail Mary.

• Women in SCAM - This women’s history month I reminisced on my favourite women’s wrongs: including but not limited to Anna Delvey, Elizabeth Holmes and my favourite Covid hyperfixation, Caroline Calloway. I brought the topic up to 1 as a side tangent whilst talking about how I thought I was going to be discovered as a child and revisited the infamous essay on The Cut on the way home (a NY Magazine subscription might be the best $8 I’ve spent this month).

• Family meals - I love feeding the people I love, and I have the scars to prove it. I celebrated being back in London and having a kitchen by cooking for friends, and few things bring me as much joy as burning through an entire candlestick over pasta and wine and sharing dessert.

• £8 dirty gin martinis at ellie’s (and the friends we make whilst sipping said martinis)

• making seasonal playlists (current faves below)

What I wrote this month:

A Slow Start

I started the month at a slower pace, making my way over to my grandmother’s house as soon as I arrived in the country. I was told my background was serving “Latin grandmacore” in a Zoom meeting and took it as a compliment. My days consisted of breakfast with my mom and grandma, flipping through photo albums, the occasional doctor’s appointments and several naps on the hammock. I once again caught myself thinking about ageing as I compared my ninety-year-old grandmother to the woman I once knew.

CarnaRio is my new religion

I reached my final form during Carnaval in Rio this year. I’ve always loved the city. I spent every summer growing up on those beaches; it’s synonymous with family, with home. For the past few years, though, I’ve been rediscovering Rio as a place that is also fun, young, exciting. It stopped being my past, and I considered a move in the future, largely thanks to one of my childhood best friends1 moving there for university, and showing me what my life could be like in the sunshine. Carnaval brought me back to life; it was everything I loved and didn’t know I needed. I also wrote all about it here, and have told all my friends they know where to find me forty days before Easter from now until the end of time (if anyone wants to join next year, let me know!)

Fairy Godmothers and Puerto Rican Princes

I have the best godmother, and I can prove it. I spent a good deal of the month catching up with mine. Val and my parents met at university, she once said I’d be a best selling authour when I was a child, and my mom has never let me forget it. If I ever publish a book, she’ll be at the top of the acknowledgements. She’s a journalist, and now more than ever, I look to her for guidance. Whenever we came back to Rio as a family, I’d always tag along when my mother would catch up with her friends. This time, she was busy, and I went on my own, realising I had developed my own relationships with these women who watched me grow up, grateful for the people who have become my chosen family. Before leaving to spend a weekend in São Paulo with one of my mom’s oldest friends, I gushed with my godmother and her sister about Bad Bunny. He was playing a concert on Friday, and Irene was going, I joked about being jealous. Val defied all odds and managed to snag a last-minute ticket, letting me know just hours before the concert. I arrived in the city an hour and a half before Benito went on stage. With no time (or space) to change, I popped my contacts in at the back of my Uber and coated my lashes with several layers of mascara (which would end up streaming down my cheeks a few hours later). I was reminded of my middle school, wattpad-reading days as I worried about my greasy hair and travel clothes, how was Bad Bunny meant to fall in love with me after spotting me from the stage when I was dressed like that?! Nonetheless, I had the best time, and will be recruiting Irene for more nights out, as she has more stamina than a lot of my twenty-something friends.

What I bought (or wish I bought) in Brazil

• Sushi → I love going out for dinner whenever I’m in Rio, and a stop at Gurumê is a must. Canoa Sushi was a new and welcome discovery.

• Carbs → My favourite food group, I went to Il Leone and ordered from Cucco multiple times. The starters and drinks at Sult were incredible, and the lasagna was big enough to share (I didn’t). In São Paulo, I love Almanara for Lebanese food that tastes like home and Bachir for ice cream as you’ve never had before.

• Chopp - preferably Brahma, in a chilled glass. Jobi and Belmonte are the holy grounds. Drinking around Rua Arnaldo Quintela also never disappoints.

• Outfits from Carioca brands that will have you showering in compliments → though I barely had enough room in my suitcase, I always make new additions to my summer wardrobe when I’m in Rio. Everyone already knows about FarmRio, and I love shopping there (especially in Brazil where it’s so much cheaper), but I also reccommend checking out Oh Boy and Cantão for the best printed dresses, Richards for timeless pieces to pass down to your daughter (everything I have from there was poached from my mom’s closet) and Salinas for the perfect Brazilian bikinis.

• Body Care and Beauty → Real Brazilians don’t shop from Sol de Janeiro. Instead, we love Granado (their perfumes are my favourite souvenir to gift), Natura and spending an hour at the pharmacy.

  • My Brazilian Pharmacy Shopping List:

    • Nail polish: Rebu, Gabriela and Licor from Risqué, Jabuticaba from Colorama (you’ll never go back to Chanel’s Rouge Noir)

    • Granado’s Cuticle Balm

    • Azelan → an over-the-counter azelaic acid, you can get it in Europe (under the name Skinoren), but you’ll need a prescription

    • Paixão Body Oil (I can’t do moisturiser in hot or humid climates, this gives the perfect sheen, and the Bridgerton collaboration smells incredible)

    • Creamy Vitamin C serum → I’m trying this out, will report on results in a few months

Julia’s February Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - An Apprenticeship or The Book of Pleasures by Clarice Lispector

• Full disclosure, I’ve never read anything by Clarice Lispector. Yes, I know it’s not very patriotic of me, but I’m trying to do better. This is my aeroplane read, and by the time this newsletter goes out, I’ll most likely have finished it. I also have The Hour of the Star for my next flight, and I’ll share my thoughts once I’m back in London. This year, I’m making an effort to read more in Portuguese (or just less in English, so any French or Spanish book recommendations are very welcome) and was waiting to come home to buy it as I refuse to read Latin authors in translation.

To Watch - The Secret Agent

• I also haven’t seen this. I’m terrible. It’s our Oscar contender this year, and I have been in love with Wagner Moura since forever. This scene in the telenovela Paraíso Tropical was my sexual awakening, and Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad) gets a yearly rewatch.

To Eat - A Brazilian Feast

• I consumed my weight in all my favourite foods this month. I left some restaurant recommendations above, but I’d never get sick of Pão de Queijo, Biscoito Globo, Mate com Limão and Agua de Coco.

Honourable Mentions and Other Things Bringing Me Joy

Watching

• Love Story on Disney+. If you see me wearing a headband, mind your business. If I consider going blonde, talk me out of it.

• Cazuza Além da Música on Globo Play. I’m feeling patriotic, and this made me cry. A touching docuseries about one of Brazil’s most important musicians and the impact of the AIDS epidemic.

• The Super Bowl Halftime Show on Repeat. I love being Latina. I love Bad Bunny.

Loving

• Punch the monkey; he has taken over my Instagram feed, and I would die for him.

• ’s Tale Tellers Writing Club, the time zone gods were working in my favour this month, and I love how Caroline has managed to bring a community feel to Substack!

• Alysa Liu. That’s it.

I’m considering the past month as a trial period for 2026. In Brazil, we have a saying that the year doesn’t start until after Carnaval, and as it lines up with the Chinese New Year, I intend to celebrate in full swing on the 17th. I am yet to meet anyone who wasn’t glad to see 2025 go. As someone who is super superstitious, I’m blaming the Year of the Snake, and as an ‘02 baby, I’m very excited for the Year of the Horse. Catch me wearing red all year long.

I’m a Nostalgic Freak

I spent a lot of my time back in Brussels reminiscing. It was mostly triggered by seeing the people I went to school with, but being back also means visiting places that feel frozen in time. Being home has a specific taste, moules-frites washed down with a Chouffe, and a Gaufre de Liège bought on impulse thanks to the smell of caramelised sugar taking over the street. The second I land in Brazil, I also crave the flavours of my childhood, Pão de Queijo at the airport, Bicoito Globo, Mate and a Chicabon at the beach.

168 busy hours in London — I’m loving the taste of the socialite life

I was back in London for exactly a week, and I really made the most of it. I am an Olympic medalist in calendar tetris, and I put my skills to good use, reminding myself that I could always catch up on sleep on the plane. I showcased my range with wholesome brunches and Sunday roasts, work calls, interviews, nights out, drinks and dinner with friends old and new, and the unique trauma bond that comes from being held hostage by a man with a tote bag and an inflated ego1.

Things are about to get hot and sweaty

Literally, I’m writing this from Rio, where I’ll be spending the next month. Expect dispatches straight from the Carnaval front lines: minimal clothing, glitter everywhere, kissing all the time. I haven’t been back in Brazil for over a year, so I was more than due for a homecoming, and I couldn’t have picked a better time. 2026 is the year of fun, the year of the Hot Girl, and as I’m planning to party for four days straight in 40-degree heat, I’m sure to tick all the boxes.

Julia’s January Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

• I loved this book and featured it as one of my top 2026 recommendations. I got an early copy, but it officially came out on January 20th, and I am so happy my friends are finally getting to read it (I love a lit debrief). It’s provocative and funny and makes the age-old story of an age-inappropriate relationship feel fresh. If anyone caught ’s interview with Jennette on pub day at Town Hall, I am so jealous, and if I were home, I’d be going to her London tour stop hosted by .

To Watch - Rulers of Fortune (original title: Os Donos Do Jogo) on Netflix

• I binged this with my family over the break. Sensitive viewers, be warned, there is some pretty graphic violence. The fictional show follows the dynamics of the Jogo do Bicho, a lottery that’s over a century old, managed by the ruling families of Rio.

To Eat - Sunday Roast at the Holly Bush

• My friends and I have made it our personal mission to find our favourite roast in the city, and whilst I think the Sticky Toffee Pudding at The Spaniard’s Inn is the best in town, the roast at the Holly Bush is the best I’ve had so far (I always get Lamb in case you’re wondering). The only downside is having to book months in advance, so if you want to go whilst it’s still cold, I recommend getting a date in the diary ASAP.

Honourable Mentions and Other Things Bringing Me Joy

My therapist was on vacation this month, which meant I was doubling down on self-care. I re-read the original Hunger Games trilogy (anyone who knows me knows I am a MASSIVE fan of the films, I will do unspeakable things to get invited to the Sunrise on the Reaping premiere in November), and it was the best way to start the year. I also am perpetually wired and have always said I can never stay still enough for yoga, but in the spirit of the new year (and also because I’m going to be spending a lot of time wearing very little clothing in February), I decided to give it another go. I signed up for a yoga membership and made the most of it during the week I was back in London. I have become a vinyasa rat and a hot yoga regular. I expect my third eye will be opening soon, and I’ll be reaching Nirvana by Q2.

What I Wrote This Month

I reached out to some of my favourite literary voices in Hot Girl Books 2.0 — ALL STARS EDITION for book recommendations to kick off the new year. After spending a lot of time with people I hadn’t seen in ages (and also having someone ask if I was on the spectrum), I dissected my [near]perfect memory in I Remember Everything. Continuing on a massive theme of 2025, I also wrote about how I’m In Everyone’s DMs (but not in a sexy way, though I promise to date for the plot in 2026).

A Very Merry Family Holiday

As an early Christmas gift (thank you mom) I went on a trip with my mom and brother to Morocco. I loved the Majorelle Garden in Marrakesh and lunch at Pétanque Social Club, and put my bargaining skills to the test at the Souk. We got lost in the Medina and held mint leaves to our noses whilst visiting the leather tannery in Fez. I strategically packed light and came home with lots of trinkets.

Holiday Parties Galore and My Favourite New Year’s Traditions

This was a month full of drinking festive festivities. I kicked off the celebrations with my annual White Elephant Christmas Party. Gifts were stolen, I made an obscene amount of mulled wine and sent everyone home with a ziplock bag full of cookies2. I spent Christmas Eve with family friends, and we hosted on Christmas Day at my brother’s new apartment for the first time. For the third year in a row, I made my way over to the Belgian coast to ring in the new year with my High School friends. We ate Raclette and presented our years via PowerPoint.

Julia’s December Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

• Hilarious and witty with hints of cozy English countryside, I picked this up after and recommended it. Did not disappoint, would highly recommend for lovers of Eve Babitz and Marlowe Granados, and hot, funny-girl-writing. A slim read perfect for kicking off New Year’s reading resolutions.

To Watch - When Harry Met Sally

• The perfect New Year’s film, and maybe one of my Nora Ephron favourites. I’ll be staying at my brother’s for most of January as well, and he has the best home theatre setup, so I predict a lot of guilty pleasures in my near future (think binge watching Lord of the Rings, Twilight, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games.

To Eat - Cheese, in all it’s forms

• This has made up 80% of my diet at the end of the year. Cheese boards, burrata salads that were mostly burrata, and lots of Raclette. My body doesn’t always really agree with it but considering I’m barely moving from the couch, I’m picking my battles and making the most of the most dairy-filled time of year.

What I Wrote This Month

Continuing with my Sexy Job streak, I spoke to my friend about her work as a Chef and Small Business Owner. After chatting with my fellow creative freelancers, I wrote about the highs and lows of having a fun, creative job. Finally, I put my tallying and book recommending skills to good use and wrapped up everything I read in 2025, and suggested some titles I think you should pick up for 2026. For Wonderland I also hopped on the Gift Guide bandwagon and came up with a Literary Gift Guide with some big and little treats on the side (maybe make the most of the sales and pick something up for yourself? You’ve earned it!)

This month was full of wholesome family moments, ranging from my immediate family coming to London to make the most of the festive season, my chosen London family getting together before more little ones join the group, or me crashing other people’s family gatherings (thank you Giorgia & Co. for the very warm welcome) to make my Thanksgiving dreams come true. In true Grinch fashion, my heart grew three sizes by the end of the month.

Highlights of the month (which are for the most part, London based, soz to my international readers) included watching Starlight Express (an early birthday gift from my brother) which was a fever dream on roller blades in the best possible way, walks around the Heath followed by a Sunday Roast at the Spaniard’s Inn, a very wholesome (and very Brazilian) Christmas brunch, seeing the lights on Bond Street and Regent’s Street and visiting the Ralph Lauren Christmas Pop-Up in Sloane Square with my mom, discovering a newfound love for stuffing, getting compliments on my Italian and making the most of other people’s musical siblings.

Julia’s November Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - Exit Lane by

• As a devoted follower of a Nora Ephron Autumn, I binge all of her films as soon as the temperatures start to drop. I also had the most diabolical hangover of my life (or at least of recent memory) this month and I’m convinced that Meg Ryan with some Nancy Myers sprinkled in were the key to my recovery. Veurink’s debut was inspired by When Harry Met Sally and that was all I needed to know. This book got me out of a massive reading slump. The final third was very dramatic but in a way that is fun for anyone who enjoys hallmark cheesiness. I’m officially hooked and can’t wait to make my way through the rest of the 831 Stories titles.

To Watch - Wicked for Good

• I am an unapologetic musical theatre fiend, this will come as no surprise. I caught a double feature and was changed for good. Considering each film individually, I think I’m a bigger fan of the first act, but I suspect this will be a LOTR situation where I only ever watch the two together. Anyone who knows me will know I’m forever a fan of a several-hour-long cinematic experience.

To Eat - These Alison Roman Cookies

• AKA the cookies. I made five different cookie recipies last Christmas and these became known as the best cookies. This has basically become an Alison Roman fan account at this point, and I’m not mad about it. The shortbread dough is rolled in demerara sugar for crunchy edges and sprinkled with flaky sea salt as soon as they’re out of the oven. I brought these for Thanksgiving and they were a hit, would highly recommend if you’re looking for an edible gift in a pinch.

Honourable Mentions and Other Things Bringing Me Joy

• Karaoke sessions - impromptu or pre-planned. I discovered the joys of Karaoke with a live band last month and have been brave and relentless in my attempts to drag everyone I know out on a Wednesday night. I am also forever grateful for my best friend’s brother for indulging my showchoir fantasies and letting us sing along (I’m not totally tone deaf but I doubt I’d get very far with a singing career). Let this be your reminder that you shouldn’t let a lack of talent (or ability to carry a tune) keep you from having fun.

• Going to the movies (shout to to ’s maybe you just need to see a movie) For the London based readers: I have long professed my love for the Prince Charles Cinema and their overnight LOTR marathon this year was one of the most wholesome and joyful experiences I’ve had in the city. For a first date to impress, Everyman is a safe bet, and if you want to put your Soho House membership discount to good use, the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill never disappoints. For East Londoners who want to support indie cinemas, I was a regular at Genesis when my brother lived in Bethnal Green. Nowadays, you can find me at the Finchely Road O2 Vue on a weekly basis. It has a certain smell that has me nostalgic for rainy summer days in middle school, but I can’t beat the dirt cheap tickets, usually empty screening rooms and the fact that it’s a ten minute walk from my house. As an expert snack smuggler, my favourites are the salted popcorn from M&S (I’ve tried them all and this tastes exactly like movie theatre popcorn, just don’t check the label for the fat content), Maltesers, a crisp Diet Coke and fizzy strawberry straws.

What I Wrote This Month

Diving headfirst into sexy jobs, I asked my friends how to go about getting a job as either an Urban Farmer or an F1 Engineer. I added to the Is Having a Boyfriend Embarassing Now? discourse and put together a Modern Dating Dictionary for anyone who is braving the modern dating scene. Finally, in my most unflatering piece to date (though a lot of people seemed to have related), I bared it all and admitted that I Miss Being The Youngest Person In The Room, triggered by a downwards spiral after being jealous of the twenty-one-year-olds at the function (not a good look).

I’m nothing if not consistent[ly leaving the country with a minute’s notice]

I kicked the month off with yet another last-minute trip (I do love a side quest). I was once again joining my mother on a work trip, and because I’m very versatile, this time, instead of a vacation in the Caribbean, I spent a week holed up in a hotel room in Moldova, hiding from the rain. With that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the quality time with my mom and left with a newfound appreciation for Moldovan wines and cuisine.

The Best of London in the Fall

October is my favourite month. I love the way the city transforms as the leaves start to change. My cousin was visiting from Brazil, so I got to play tour guide and had the perfect excuse to be a tourist in my own city. In an attempt to maintain my Local Legend status, I also continued to run circles around Regent’s Park, which is extra beautiful this time of year, and had the bonus of all the sculptures out for Frieze.

Did You Guys Hear I Ran a Marathon?! Okay, I’m done talking about it now

Whilst running didn’t fully take over my life for the past four months, it has become a staple in my routine. I wrote all about it in Sane People Don’t Run Marathons in case you missed it. I spent 36 hours in Amsterdam and didn’t get to properly enjoy the city,1 as everyone tells you to never do anything new on race day. A special thanks to my brother and my friends Jet and Popo, who were cheering me on. I’ve put my name down for the Berlin Marathon ballot and am keeping my fingers crossed, but considering my slim chances, I’m also taking other autumn marathon recommendations.

Julia’s October Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

• One of my favourite works by Bradbury, I re-read this every other year on the lead-up to Halloween. A perfect book to pick up now that there’s a chill in the air, or honestly, any of the titles on Wonderland’s Guide to Autumn Reading2

To Watch - House of Guiness on Netflix

• I started watching this with my old flatmate Claire3 the night before I left for Moldova. She had already seen it but said she didn’t mind the rewatch, and proceeded to drool every time Mr Rafferty appeared onscreen (a natural reaction to James Norton). I also rewatched the first episode the following night with my mom, and we binged the entire thing in three days. We both agreed that Mr Rafferty is the blueprint, and my mom told me I needed a man like that (because dating isn’t already hard enough as is). For fans of Peaky Blinders who listen to a lot of Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap or have a thing for an Irish accent (guilty!)

To Eat - ’s Dilly Bean Stew

• This is basically an Alison Roman fan account at this point, and I’m not mad about it. What I am mad about is snoozing and losing and missing out on her London event to promote her new cookbook (next time). As soon as it gets cold, I’m a big fan of making a huge pot of soup or stew and having that sustain me for an entire week. This was a favourite and feels like the winter version of my favourite bean salad (butter beans, vinegar, lots of herbs) that kept me fed all Summer long

Honourable Mentions and Other Things Bringing Me Joy

• I’m witnessing a huge breakup wave sweeping through multiple friend groups, and with my girlfriends having varying levels of receptivity to singledom, I’ve sent them both Is Having a Boyfriend Embarassing Now? by and Only uncool losers fall in love by (the bar for hard launches has been raised)

• Fun Halloween Costumes

  

• I also watched The Devil Wears Prada on the West End this month and had so much fun. Would highly recommend for a perfect mid-week girls’ night out.

• The pictures of the Sumo wrestlers having the best time all over London have been all over my feed and make me grateful to live in the age of the internet. The picture of them on Lime bikes is maybe one of the best things I’ve seen all year.

  

• Similarly, I am living for the lore of the Louvre heist4. The aesthetic TikToks? I’m liking every single one. The themed Spotify playlists? Artistic genius. Telling myself it only took 7 minutes to rob the Louvre in the morning? My new favourite words of affirmation. I know this newsletter is going out on November 1st, but since it’s still technically Halloweekend, I urge my readers to use this as inspiration for a last-minute costume (and please send me pictures!)

• Making a collage of all my cold-weather essentials. I miss reading Seventeen and Cosmo until my copies disintegrated! ( any chance you’re looking for an intern?)

• Substack Princess and coolest person in media called me a star, and it was one of the highlights of my month, see proof below.

  

What I Wrote This Month

I kicked off the spooky season by reaching out to my friends for their best Dating Horror Stories (one of my favourite pieces to date). Unserious hobbies might be the secret to long-term happiness in The Art of the Sidequest. I made sure to brag about my running in Sane People Don’t Run Marathons and put all my coffee chat and job interview skills to good use in How to Get a Sexy Job (tldr: I’m launching a new series where I ask people with sexy jobs for career [and life] advice, for everyone who hates reading but loves my voice, you’re welcome, there’s a podcast coming soon). Finally, for the people who are taking my book recommendations in earnest (I see you have impeccable taste), I rounded up the best eight titles to read this season for Wonderland’s Guide to Autumn Reading.

I kicked the month off with a quick weekend in Monza for the Italian GP with my friend Claire1. Though my F1 knowledge is rusty, I am nothing if not committed to a theme, and made sure to include pops of red in every outfit of the weekend to blend in with the Tifosi. I was left with random bruises, questionable tan lines and fond memories of befriending a [literal] busload of happy drunks. We were in General Admission, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience (so much fun, but I have no desire to go back; hospitality invites are welcome). We strategically flew back to London on Monday night so we managed to squeeze in a day of eating our way through Milan.

I have also realised that I’m surprisingly more vibes-oriented than I might have originally thought. In an attempt to make the most of my extensive free time (and also as a pawn in my mother’s attempt to pressure my brother into getting his own licence), I have started learning how to drive (better late than never?). I always thought I would be a disaster on wheels (I’ve had more than one panic attack over cycling in traffic), but to my absolute surprise, I appear to be a natural. My driving instructor suspects I’m lying about my lack of experience, and I have taken to joking that this is the universe’s way of making up for the absolute shit show challenging year I’ve had so far. I’d rather have a job than impeccable clutch control and a supernatural knack for parallel parking, but a win is a win. A fun (and maybe slightly unsafe?) fact that has entertained and confused my friends living abroad is the fact that you can start driving lessons in the UK before passing your theory test. I have mine booked for the end of October (it was the earliest available date), and have realised that my approach to driving is very similar to how I deal with French grammar: I’m sure I learned the rules at some point, but I’m usually going with gut instinct and whatever seems right (but if anyone from the DVSA is reading this, I pinky promise I will be a highway code savant in a month).

The 100 Hour Day

This month also featured the longest day of my life. I bought tickets to a day rave at Drumsheds2 ages ago, and made sure to strategically plan my long run for the week so I’d be feeling fresh and ready to spend eight hours on my feet. Raves are not my usual scene, but I figured if I was doing this, I wanted to fully commit. A friend’s birthday dinner ended up clashing with the event, but I figured I could make it to both. It was a formal affair, so I left my house at 11 AM to drop off my dress and her gift at my friend’s house before heading to a boozy brunch for pres. I chugged my lukewarm coffee, vanilla vodka and Kahlua concoction whilst covering my heels in Band-Aids,3 and we were off. IKEA is a maze on a normal day, and the added the strobbing lights and the Oontz Oontz did not help. Time flies when you’re having fun, and the next thing I knew, my alarm was going off, and I made my way across the city for dinner, giving myself time to recharge as I read on the bus (yes, I brought my Kindle; it was a long commute). I arrived dishevelled and unfashionably late, and thankfully, everyone was already a little buzzed and I could sneak away to change into formal attire. We continued the night dancing away at The Bar, before going back to my friend’s for afters. As I stumbled into my bed at 4 AM, I could rest easy knowing that if I had made it through that day, my upcoming marathon was in the bag.

More networking coffee chats than dates — how I’m making the most of my LinkedIn premium free trial

September has always felt like a time for new beginnings. Even now that I’m out of school (ouch), the new academic year still feels like more of a fresh start than January 1st. Whilst my dating life has been slowing to a halt with the end of Summer, my calendar is absolutely packed with coffee chats and calls as I ask everyone and their mothers for professional advice. I have previously written about the similarities between job hunting and dating and my expertise on both, but I’m starting to think that I’ve tipped the scales. I no longer have as many juicy stories as I did when I made every Thursday a date night (my friend May,4 who is an expert on the topic and an inspiration to single girls everywhere, considers it the optimal calendar slot for a first date), but I’m willing to take the hit if it helps me secure a job.

Julia’s September Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

• This has been a month devoid of big brain reading, and instead I’ve been prioritising fun. With all the downtime we had over the GP weekend, I spent a lot of time going through the old titles in my Kindle and fell right back into my high school obsession with her Shades of Magic series. After I finished the re-read, I figured I’d see what had come out since, and Addie LaRue was the perfect blend of romance and mystery to accompany me into the spooky season.

To Watch - The Girlfriend on Prime Video

• I visited my brother this month, and we watched this over the weekend. Along with Saltburn and The Summer I Turned Pretty, it had me thinking about the things I’d do for real estate. Was it the best thing I’ve ever watched? Probably not. Was it extremely bingleable and improved on by my commentary? Definitely.

To Eat - ’s Pumpkin Maple Muffins

• I’ve recommended these in the past, but they really shine once the temperature starts to dip. The perfect amount of spiced and super moist, thanks to the pumpkin, I predict that these will become their very own food group for me in the coming months. I recommend dusting with demerara sugar before baking for added crunch.

Honourable Mentions and Other Things Bringing Me Joy

• Celebrity Substitute - The internet and celebrities being used for good, a rare occurrence. Kids having no filter is worth burning my retinas for. I am listening to the re-record of Leave Me Alone from the Renée Rapp episode unironically

• Making vlogs for yourself (aka bringing back the home video) - I was too young to be an OG YouTuber and too ashamed to dance on TikTok in 2020 (one of my many regrets, along with not publishing fanfiction on Wattpad as a teenager, I could have an Amazon Prime contract and be retired by now) but as I get acquainted with my insomnia, I’m finding new things to do in the wee hours of the night (morning?) and that includes going through the videos on my phone. Everything from videos interviewing my family and making jam in the early days of the pandemic to shaky cam footage after a night out, drunkenly telling my friends I love them. I can spend hours watching these back.

• These fugly Bloch booties - former dancers, I’m about to unlock a memory. I pull these fugly boots out the second it starts getting cold, and they are the best thing to wear around the house, a duvet for your feet. I think Repetto also makes nice ones, but Bloch was the OG (back in my days, the cool girls wore booties and trash-bag shorts). There are some less offensive colours, but mine are hi-vis orange. A conversation starter for sure (my postman has started staring).

• A list of things you like about yourself - therapy homework that I told all of my friends to do. Can be deep (I’m a good friend, I can be vulnerable), or dumb (I buy the best pens), just fill the page and feel a little bit better about yourself in the process.

• Ice Cream. Specifically at The Dreamery. The Blueberry and Salted Ricotta flavour is everything to me, and the last time I went, they had Malted Milk, which was also incredible.

• My favourite reads on Substack this month: this Colleen Hoover deep dive by had me cackling in public, ’s piece on The Art of Kissing was absolutely beautiful and Liberation via Bob by has me itching to chop all of my hair off.

• Running a million laps around Regent’s Park and taking a thousand pictures of the autumn foliage.

What I Wrote This Month

As applications for most grad schemes have opened this month, I have spent more time than I would like writing Cover Letters. I did, however, come up with a list of tough but essential life lessons I learned from Claire (you can always count on the French to humble you), and questioned my extrovert identity after dissociating at one too many nights out.

This is the highlight reel from the last (full) month of Summer. I started the month off with my dad and brother visiting me in London. I took them to all my favourite spots around the city (and also to a restaurant that had me enraged). I spent a weekend in The Hague celebrating my friend’s graduation, with an outdoor lunch that looked like a Pinterest board brought to life. This month, I also got my first byline, which was an exciting milestone, especially since I got back into writing this year as an unexpected but fulfilling way to fill my (extensive) free time. I’ve also been making the most of the nice weather (and especially the lack of torrential downpours) to explore Hampstead Heath before it turns into a muddy mess. My friends are bringing back the casual hang, and I’m loving going for walks or coffee or just sitting around in the park. I wrapped up the month with a perfect weekend full of coffees with friends, walks and runs around the Heath and a Coldplay concert that made me extremely nostalgic for my UCL days.

Running Around and Running Away

I also need to talk about marathon training. Sorry, I don’t make the rules! Running has officially taken over my life. I ran 172km this month (which is a lot for me) and my concept of what makes a run long has been completely distorted (who do I think I am calling a 10k casual?). With that being said, this is my open invite for anyone who wants to join me on my runs, as I have gotten to the point where music and podcasts are no longer cutting it (I did 30k with no headphones, which I think is certifiably insane behaviour), and I could use the motivation of someone running next to me.

Note: if you’re in need of a pick-me-up, I suggest looking at the Google reviews of this Hollow Tree

Julia’s August Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

• This is Hemingway’s memoir about his time in Paris as a young writer. It’s my first point of contact with his writing (I know, I should be ashamed it took me this long, especially with a literature degree). Still, it’s very approachable, and as someone who knows Paris pretty well, it’s interesting to see how much has and hasn’t changed in a hundred years. As someone who loved the celebrity cameos in ’s Just Kids, I was equally excited to read about Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, James Joyce and Ezra Pound living their lives as normal(ish) people.

To Watch - Overcompensating on Amazon Prime

• I’m truly obsessed with this show. There’s only one season out, and I’ve binged it in its entirety three times so far (the first time alone, the second time with my best friend, and the third with my brother). I love watching people watch things I love, so who knows how many more times I’ll watch this. The episodes are pretty short, and there are surprisingly emotional moments for a comedy series. If you’re a fan of Ride (Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Berone’s podcast), you’ll definitely pick up a lot of self-referential moments. This is one of the funniest shows I’ve watched in a long time.

To Eat - This Blueberry Polenta Upside-Down Cake

• I am a corn lover, and this feels like the perfect end-of-summer recipe. I also love cakes that are ready to serve, no icing and decorating required. I feel like this is the summer version of my favourite brown butter cake (recipe included at the end of this post). I’d be curious to try it out with blackberries instead. Serve with ice cream, trust me.

Honourable Mentions

On the reading front, I’ve been enjoying best-selling mysteries, and burned through The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Thursday Murder Club this month. I’ve also been making the most of having a cinema close by, and watched the new Superman (loved it, and solidified my take that hot nerd is the best kind of man) and Materialists (visually stunning and I love all of Dakota’s outfits, but I’m afraid that it did not deliver on the promise of bringing back the romcom). I’m still watching the third season of The Summer I Turned Pretty and feel like I’m honouring my Brazilian roots with the closest thing I can get to gossiping about telenovelas. I also made this Spiced Seared Eggplant with Pearl Couscous (I added chickpeas for extra protein and fibre, and topped with tzatziki) and did not get sick of having it for lunch for a whole week.

What I Wrote This Month

If you’re looking for more reading recommendations and want to make the most of the last bits of summer, check out the Summer Reading List I put together for Wonderland Magazine (!!!). Ahead of the new album and engagement announcement, I made a hyper-specific list of Taylor Swift songs for every situation. A Father’s Day lunch turned into a comedy of errors, and I declared that Hell is a Small Plates Restaurant — And the Devil orders Orange Wine, and finally, I talked about how the job market is so dire that I considered joining a convent this year.

My best friend from middle school came to visit me at the start of the month (and subsequently learned how to work the Substack app, you might notice her spamming the comments section) and requested a personalised tour of the city. This wasn’t her first time in London, so we skipped Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, and I took her on a tour of all my old apartments, favourite coffee shops and places I’ve cried in public. We kicked off her local experience with my favourite pub quiz, where we came dead last. I’m blaming it on the fact that we hadn’t seen each other in two years and were busy catching up, and not on our lack of British pop culture knowledge. Over the years, I’ve loaded her up with London Merch, including a Daunt Books tote and kilos of Fortnum and Mason tea and shortbread (in exchange, I own more merch from the University of Florida than I do from either of the universities I have attended), so she wanted to see these places for herself and stock up. My biggest flex for three years was living on the same street as Virginia Woolf, so we made a mandatory photo-op stop before heading to my old flat. Clara also got a photo in front of Jeremy Bentham’s auto-icon and was pointing out the BT tower from various areas of the city by the end of the week, so I think that makes her an honorary UCL alumna. I wanted to give her the full British Summer experience, so queueing for Wimbledon was ticked off her list. Clara wasn’t too fussed about the tennis, but she did enjoy getting lots of pictures and making some damage at the gift shop (though I have to admit Wimbledon merch is always impeccable), and I was equally excited about having Pimms (I’m usually a Campari or Aperol girl all summer long, but will make an exception for tennis traditions). Finally, we headed to a 4th of July party (on the 5th) wearing matching Budlight Cowboy hats, which got us some interesting looks on the overground.

So many July Babies and my hot girl gift guide

I had several birthday parties to attend this month, which highlighted how predictable I am when it comes to gift-giving. My general go-to for every twenty-something woman in my life is Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts About Being a Woman. For the ones who have already read it and are looking for something in the same vein, I recommend Vivian Gornick’s The Odd Woman and The City. For my friend who’s great in the kitchen and not easily offended, I bought French Cooking for One. Finally, for the hostess with the mostest, I recommend any of these Ichendorf tumblers (I have one with a little goldfish, and it brings me joy every morning when I drink from it) or a set of silver coupes (I have been influenced and now am convinced I need these in my life). I’ve also become obssessed with making watercolor birthday cards (they might look a little rustic but it’s the thought that counts), which tells you how much time I have on my hands.

A lot of small things have been bringing me joy

I know the listicle has become a plight on Substack, but as I have been texting my friends about all the ridiculous things I have been obsessed with lately, I figured I’d also share here (this is what happens when I’m in the same place for thirty days in a row). On the kitchen front, I have rediscovered my love for Maldon Smoked Salt as the temperatures rise and my blood pressure drops. I also recently bought a Scrub Daddy, and dishwashing will never be the same (I hate being an adult). I have also become obsessed with cosplaying as a woman in STEM by conducting “research” via Instagram polls.

Julia’s July Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan

• The perfect summer beachside read (or the perfect escape if you’re stuck in the stifling heat of the city). A coming of age story with a side sex and scandal (it is French after all). A slim read that packs a punch, if you want to feel bad about your writing I'll remind you that Sagan herself was only eighteen when she wrote it.

To Watch - Frances Ha by Noah Baumbach

• I will forever defend being late to the party for the sake of reading/watching/trying things at the right time. I’ve been a fan of Greta Gerwig for ages so I’m not sure what took me so long. It was the perfect watch for feeling a little less alone about not knowing what to do with my life.

To Eat - A feast to share at Carmel

• I had dinner with a friend and ordered the Mixed Mezze, Sabich and Buratta flatbread (the flatbread was a standout), and the Coconut & Lime malabi for dessert. I’ve made it my mission to make my way down their flatbread offerings and had my eyes on the sea bream on the table next to us (in case you’re not ready to exchange your firstborn for a dinner reservation at BRAT but still want to share a whole fish as a bonding experience).

Honourable Mentions

I also read The Bell Jar this month, which may not have been the best choice considering my mental state, but it enhanced the experience. Shorter reads I enjoyed include My Mom Has No Friends on the Cut, The Death of Partying in the U.S.A.—and Why It Matters by , and So everyone's a smoker now? by . On the TV front, I am back on the Summer I Turned Pretty train and thoroughly enjoying my group chats blowing up every Wednesday. I said it last month, but the San Rocco pizza from Santa Maria is still one of the best things you can eat in this city, and I had it three times this month. I know I’m late to the party, but I finally hit up The Dreamery for ice cream this month and have already become a repeat offender (and the cheese toasties next door at Goodbye Horses are also worth a shout out). So far, I’ve tried their Chocolate Olive Oil, Cherry Ricotta and Blueberry Salted Ricotta flavours, and will forever rave about anything Ricotta flavoured. I have been inspired by ’s Ode to the Ice Cream and now consider a weekly Ice Cream outing an act of self-care.

What I Wrote This Month

I left my family and friends slighly concerned I might be going through something by writing In Defense of Messiness and A Spiralling Girl’s Guide to Low Effort Self-Care. In an effort to keep things lighthearted I called for Bringing Back Public Shaming — and other fun ideas for Girls’ Night. And finally, I pulled together the responses to my various Instagram polls and discussed the current dating landscape in “My friend thinks you’re cute” and were our middle school selves onto something?

This was one of the most wholesome things I did this month, would highly recommend if anyone needs a serotonin boost. As much as I love a casual hang, and especially in the summer, I’m a big advocate for seeing where the night takes you (‘tis the season for serendipity!!), there’s something to be said about planning a full day out (I am aware that’s basically a date). My friend Zee had the day off, and whilst we usually meet to work from a café, she had mentioned the previous weekend that she never goes East, so I suggested a field trip. After sending off our emails and job applications for the day, we followed the itinerary I had sent her the night before, starting off with coffee and pastries at Pophams before heading over to London Fields. Dinner was Dough Hands Pizza at the Spurstowe Arms (I had eyed the pizza the week before but didn’t get a chance to try it, so this was also an elaborate scheme to go back for the food). Because we still had loads to talk about, we headed back to Alice House in West Hampstead (immaculate fries, heartburn be damned!) for a nightcap before going our separate ways.

What I Ate and What I Saw - Italy Edition

With my mom spending a couple of weeks in Bologna to study Italian, I figured I could also brush up on my skills and join her and my brother for a week (with some day trips sprinkled in).

In Bologna I fully embraced the dolce far niente, waking up late, [loosely] planning my days around meals and replenishing all the fluids I lost in the heat via Cappuccinos in the mornings and Negronis in the afternoons. On the culinary front, I became obsessed with the Crescentine (basically a fried dough with your filling of choice, I’m a fan of the classic stracciatella and mortadella combo) and fried tortellini from Indegno. The best thing I ate that week was the fried Calamaretti from Osteria Bartolini (where we went for my brother’s birthday dinner — he turned 26 on the 26th), with the Gran Fritto di Pesce being a close second. For a casual (but no less delicious) affair, we hit up Trattoria Bolognese for lunch multiple times (the Frittura di Gamberi i Calamari was a highlight, I ate enough fried food for my arteries to colapse as we speak but I have no regrets), and managed to snag a table at Osteria dell’Orsa on our last night.

We ended up in Venice on the first day of the Bezos-Sanchéz wedding festivities. We were expecting chaos, but the city was surprisingly quiet (barring all the protesters). I was happy to tick this destination off my bucket list (the Venetian room at the Wallace Collection is my favourite) as I was genuinely worried the city would sink before I managed to see it.

In Modena, I reenacted a scene from David and Goliath as I attempted to tackle a pizza the size of a small child, and in Parma, we escaped the heat by visiting the National Gallery in the gargantuan Pilotta Palace.

Julia’s June Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

• I’ve been feeling nostalgic this summer and have been revisiting some old favourites (see exhibit B in my film recommendation for the month). As I wrote about the wildest things we’ve all done when we had a crush (blasting party 4 u in the background), I was called to revisit one of the formative texts of my romantic identity. I still have the same beat-up copy from my High School Literature class, so an added bonus was reading the margin notes left behind by my 16-year-old self.

To Watch - Annie Hall by Woody Allen

• Whilst filling out my ballot for the NYT list of Best Films of the 21st Century, I realised almost all of my favourites came out before I was born. Something’s Gotta Give (2003) made the cut, and as a lifelong defender of the Diane Keaton supremacy, I had to give an old favourite a re-watch (don’t be surprised if you catch me wearing lots of tailored vests or dating slightly neurotic comedians in the coming weeks).

To Eat - All the Pizza

• Pizza has become its very own food group for me this month. With the heat wave, I rarely cooked (my kitchen gets direct sunlight in the morning and becomes an oven all on its own), so I’ve been living off strawberries, cubes of cheese, an obscene amount of baba ghanoush and pizza whenever I leave the house. I’ll leave you with my top (London-based) recommendations here:

  • My brother’s favourite is ICCO (the one on Charlotte Street, great for a very casual bite), and my personal favourite is Santa Maria (I always get the San Rocco) — both good options for impromptu picnics in Regent’s Park. If you’re in Hampstead, L’Antica Pizzeria is worth a visit, and if you’re feeding a crowd, I recommend the 18” pizzas from Yard Sale. Finally, a recent discovery which was worth the 50-minute trek for me was Dough Hands (anything with hot honey is an immediate yes from me). I also went to Pizzeria da Michele (made famous by a feature on Eat, Pray, Love) whilst on holiday and recently learned they have a location in London (but I haven’t gone yet, so take this rec with a grain of salt).

Honourable mentions this month: on the literary front, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams (I’m slowly making my way through this series, its was an excellent palate cleanser in between heavy reads), On Writing by Stephen King (recommended by on this post, I have since passed it on to who’s loving it so far) and Outline by Rachel Cusk (devoured over a single afternoon in a crammed lounge at Heathrow after my flight was delayed). On the culinary front, my chef friend is finally back in the UK, and her cooking is unmatched (this puts a damper on my plans for a hot summer bod, but it's worth it). Hit her up for your catering needs!!

What I Wrote This Month

I considered the similarities between dating and job hunting (I’m becoming a bit of an expert on both). As a wholesome break during a hectic week, I professed my love to all my friends. In an attempt to write less about my personal life, I considered the general repercussions of writing about your personal life, and finally, I took to the masses and asked the age-old question: what’s the most unhinged thing you’ve done for a crush?

I spent exactly 14 days in London this month, but I made it my mission to make the most of the nice weather and (mostly) free time. Al fresco drinks and dining, entire afternoons soaking up the sun in the park, seeing my corporately employed friends on the weekend. A friend’s birthday made me extra jealous of people who were born on warmer months, as we played rounders and volleyball in the park until closing time. My mom also came to visit for a few days, which had me back in my favourite role, playing tour guide. A couple of nights out at The Bar were also in the diary, as well as seeing my favourite Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, at the Royal Ballet and Opera, and Andrea Bocelli in concert at the O2 (this month was all about showing my range).

I took the Eurostar and travelled five years back in time

My High School five-year reunion featured all the usual suspects (read: the people I’ve stayed in touch with and see on a semi-regular basis) as well as the people I hadn’t seen since the night of graduation. In a surprisingly wholesome afternoon, I realised I’m a bigger extrovert than I thought, and the high of catching up with everyone bled into the entire weekend (hi to Agathe and Calypso if you’re reading). Time flew as I tried to get up to speed with what everyone was doing, feeling comforted by most of us not having things fully figured out. I re-discovered forgotten parts of myself as I walked through the campus I called home for six years. Outing myself as a former theatre kid here, I was thrown back to my middle school days and simultaneously reminded of how much time has passed as my old drama teacher showed us pictures of his baby son whilst we leafed through old programmes (we were babies!!!).

I’m Michelangelo if he painted walls and not the Sistine Chapel, Yves Klein if he had a penchant for white over blue

As part of my mother’s moving saga, I extended my time in Brussels and spent a week painting the walls of my old apartment. I discovered a new skill, but the novelty quickly wore off, and I felt like I was reenacting my own version of Groundhog Day. This was, however, the perfect opportunity to sit in silence with my thoughts (scary), the poor man’s multitasking version of a silent retreat. I’m not sure if I reached Nirvana, but I’ve included a few journal entries for your voyeuristic enjoyment below (I’m afraid another week of this and it would have taken a turn to something more akin to The Shining).

Julia’s May Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

• I covered The Catcher in the Rye in tenth-grade English, and that was as far as I ever got with Salinger. I didn’t particularly relate to Holden Caulfield’s boyish angst, and it took me reading My Salinger Year last month to revisit the author. I was quickly captivated by the Glass family, and enjoyed having company as I also navigated a bit of an existential crisis. This easily takes a spot as one of my favourite reads this year (so far). At just 160 pages, it’s the perfect book to read over a quiet weekend holed up at home, or to bring to the park and soak up the sun.

To Watch - The Sirens on Netflix

• I love shows about rich people doing rich people things, and have been a fan of Meghann Fahy since The Bold Type. I binged this in one day, very similar vibes to [the also very bingeable] The Perfect Couple, which came out last year. Would highly recommend it for anyone looking for some escapism via TV. I know I should probably get around to watching The White Lotus, but I don’t have an HBO subscription and am already navigating the pop ups on sketchy streaming website to watch Girls (I know I’m the last person on the planet to watch it, but I was pre-teen in the golden era of the First Person Industrial Complex and am still playing catch-up)

To Eat - My hyperfixation butterbean, olive and artichoke salad

• This is my take on the internet’s favourite food trend atm, the dense bean salad. A lazy girl’s dream (I’m not sure this constitutes cooking), I made a huge batch of this at the beginning of the week and lunch was sorted. You can have it by itself, or if you’re feeling fancy, toss it with some arugula, throw in some grilled chicken for extra protein and top it with parmesan:

  Ingredients:

  • 1 can butter beans rinsed (you can also do canellini or chickpeas but I like a large bean for this)

  • 1 can artichoke hearts in water, drained

  • 1 can pitted olives of your choice

  • 1 bunch fresh herbs (I always have parsley in the fridge but dill also works)

  • Generous glug of nice olive oil (the stuff you use to dress salads or dip bread)

  • A pinch of Maldon Smoked Salt (you can totally use regular salt but this stuff is life changing, I put it on everything)

  • A squeeze of lemon juice (you can also use some apple cider vinegar instead if you’re in a pinch)

  Quarter the artichoke hearts and roughly chop the olives and herbs. Mix everything in a large bowl and transfer to a container (this will fit perfectly into a quart-sized deli container). Let it ~marinate~ overnight and enjoy.

Honourable mentions…

go to Stoner by John Williams, it had been a while since anything I read evoked so many thoughts and feelings, and to the browned butter almond cake cake (I shouted out at the end of my November newsletter, I’ve subbed in every fruit in existence), which is still maybe one of the best things I’ve ever made and I keep feeding it to all my friends (I split the recipe into two tiny cakes, would highly recommend).

What I wrote this month

Besides this very newsletter, I professed my love for London and how you know you’re becoming a local once the city starts to feel small, reflected on my year of financial responsibility so far and how I’ve cut back on expensive shampoo, I wrote my way through ending a situationship and pondered the ethics of writing about your relationships, and finally added to the chatter on how AI is making us all stupid (whilst under paint-fume influence).

New faces and introductions

If this is the first Novis Newsletter you’re receiving in your inbox, welcome! To all of my regular readers (hi mom), I will explain soon enough, but there are lots of new faces here. So if we haven’t yet been introduced, I’m Julia, a 22-year-old living in London (for the most part). I’ve recently graduated from a Master’s in Marketing and am going through a bit of a quarter-life crisis. If you want the whole first-date intro, you can check it out here.

What you can expect from me

I started this newsletter after a summer trip with some of my best friends from school to keep them updated on my life, but it quickly became one the best parts of my months. In the name of fueling this parasocial relationship, you’ll be receiving these monthly updates in your inbox, along with essays on life and love in your twenties, book recommendations, travel guides, and anything else on my mind that week.

Losing the plot, new hobbies and oversharing to the max

A month that was meant to have me hunkered down in my London flat saw way more action, including giving this whole substack thing a proper go and making my profile public (hence the new subs). My month started with a major win (spoiler alert: not a job offer). Those who have been following for a while will know I’ve become a regular at my local pub quiz, bringing new friends every week (unofficial A/B testing to see which group pulls through with the best score). As a bunch of my school friends have gotten into new relationships, I pitched a pub quiz night as a low-stakes way of getting to know everyone. Whilst we did not win (and I’m officially haemorrhaging money at this rate), we did come out with our best score yet, which puts this group in my personal hall of fame.

I also hosted a book club this month (in what was probably the final edition, we’re losing members at an alarming rate), and whilst we didn’t talk about the book at all (a common occurrence at book clubs I’m learning) my friend did convince me to open my Substack to the public. In an attempt to keep myself sane whilst unemployed and spend my free time in a meaningful way, I figured I’d dedicate more time to new hobbies as the city comes back to life in the spring.

What I’ve been doing (besides sending out cover letters)

Writing! I have gone back to my middle school blogging roots and fully committed to the Substack bit. Writing for strangers isn’t that scary, but posting the links to my pieces on my Instagram stories for people who know me irl feels extremely vulnerable. However, I’ve gotten lovely supportive messages from my friends and have caught up with people I hadn’t spoken to in ages because something I wrote resonated with them, which has been very validating (my favourite writer on Substack ( is who I want to be when I grow up) has also subscribed to this newsletter and I am having a hard time playing it cool). Besides the writing bits, I also went to a driving range for the first time this month and had to eat my words — those words precisely being golfing is an old man sport. I actually had fun (gasp!) and also sore arms for a couple of days. Also, in a turn of events that will surprise no one except me, I left the country again! This time, instead of hopping on the Eurostar to deal with bureaucracy in Brussels (plenty of that in the diary for May), I headed off to Turks and Caicos (how is this my life?!) to accompany my mother (#tagyoursponsor) on a very last-minute work trip. Turns out spending two weeks soaking up the sun in the Caribbean does wonders for stress management. The island was beautiful, the ocean looked like Gatorade, and I ate conch in every possible form. Most of the people there were families with small kids, which made the occasional lost spring breakers all the more hilarious.

We need to find the singles! Everyone in this island is married!

Overheard in line for drinks

I made sure to be back in London in time to support some of my incredible friends who were running the marathon this past Sunday. I’m always away this time of year so this was also my first time watching the London Marathon, and I did not expect to get so emotional! The support from the crowd was insane and I was overwhelmed with pride for all of these random strangers who were tackling something so challenging to support so many causes. So from now on, to paraphrase from the opening mologue in Love Actually, whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I’ll think about the Marathon.

Julia’s April Recs — To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read — My Salinger Year by

• This was a big reading month for me, so I had a bit of a hard time choosing just one book to recommend, but Rakoff’s memoir recounting the year she spent working at the literary agency that represented J.D. Salinger kept me up and entertained in an eight-hour layover so it takes the top spot. An honourable mention goes out to ’s Great Big Beautiful Life that came out this month, I think fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones and the Six will eat this up. My (other) book club pick for this month was Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar was something I wouldn’t normally pick up on my own, but it was unlike anyting I’ve read before and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

To Watch — Conclave by Edward Berger

• This film was nominated for best picture in the Academy Awards but I didn’t get around to it. Then I saw the memes calling in Mean Girls in the Vatican and I was intrigued. After Pope Francis passed away I finally caved and caught it on the way back to London (unrelated but Virgin Atlantic’s in flight entertainment is unmatched). Though I rarely enjoy watching films by myself (I have a compulsive need to pause and comment, its the only way I can pay attention), this had me hooked, and served the double duty of clearing up how the next Pope will be elected.

To Eat — ’s Pumpkin Maple Muffins

• If you’re going to say this is an autumnal recipe, you’re not wrong, but hear me out. This is the best thing I made all month, and I tried loads of recipes before leaving for my trip; nothing held a candle to these muffins. I made two batches in the same week, and all my friends who tried them gave rave reviews. I feel the need to defend my stance and point out that canned pumpkin is available year-round. If you’re not convinced: these are perfectly moist and lightly spiced (think subtle and fragrant and not taking a bite out of a Bath and Body Works candle). I like to add a sprinkle of demerara sugar to the top for some added crunch.

What I wrote this month:

Besides this very newsletter, I also employed my hot girl expertise to break down the hot girl literary canon, I told strangers on the internet they really should be crying in public more often, and ranted about how everyone wants community, nobody wants to put in the work (getting ghosted on my high school group chat did a number on me) and the boy that traumatised my whole friend group.

I started the month off being back in Brussels to help my mom with her move (and now I’m back in London for good, I mean it this time). This did yield a few treasured wins, such as finding my old digital camera from 2008 (which took almost every photo I have of this month. I love the idea of being able to forget about my phone and still have pictures to look back on but as the undeveloped rolls of film from four summers ago sitting on my bedside table will tell you, the Gen Z in me is used to instant gratification). I expected to feel a bit unsettled boxing up the remnants of my high-school self and seeing the empty apartment, but it brought a surprising sense of calm, maybe because I knew this was a long time coming. I’m trying (with varying degrees of success) to embrace the uncertainty that comes along with post-grad and being in your 20s, and a lot of that comes down to trying to feel excited about all the ways the future can look like in an attempt to drown out the anxiety that comes along with not having things figured out.

St. Paddys in Dublin, ticking off a bucket list item and feeling extra grateful for friends who fill your cup

There’s no better remedy to an existential crisis than spending quality time with the people you love, and a long weekend in Dublin with my best friends from school was just what the doctor ordered. This weekend served both girls gone wild and girls gone mild, with a combination, of Pubs, Clubs, several (failed) attempts to split the G, as well as wholesome hungover breakfasts, hikes and city-council-organised scavenger hunts around the city. We fully committed to the bit with matching green scarves, face paint and headbands. Though spending a St.Patrick’s Day in Dublin had been on my bucket list for a while, I know that with these girls I can have fun just about anywhere, and seeing them feels like coming home. I think sometimes we stay friends with people we’ve known for a long time out of habit, or stay stuck in the people you were when you first met, but this weekend made me realise that there’s something extra special about friends who have seen (and loved and supported) so many versions of you, who don’t need context or filtering, and with whom you can have a friendship that matures and deepens over time. Even then, I know without a doubt that even if we met today and had none of the history, I would still be dying to befriend these girls, and feel very lucky to bear witness to every version of them.

The other 10% of my tears and other highlights of the month

Job hunting is going… for anyone wondering, and I did cry out of frustration for the first time (this happened on a semi-empty overground train, which as far as crying in public goes I think is infinitely more embarrassing than crying on a packed tube, which weirdly feels more private). I know almost everyone goes through this and that the post-grad job-hunting phase is categorically awful, but I’m trying to stay positive and since there are only so many applications you can send out in a day, I’m filling the rest of my time with things that will lift my spirits, or at least make me feel a bit more productive. There’s been a lot of reading this month, and also some exciting books in my TBR pile (I’m a huge Hunger Games fan, and whilst Sunrise on the Reaping did come out earlier this month I still haven’t gotten around to reading it, but expect to finish it in a single sitting this weekend. I’m also very excited about Notes to John by Joan Didion coming out in late April and am actively looking for other people to share in my excitement). I’ve also (once again) gone back to learning Python, and hopefully this time it will stick. I’m still running, and with the nice weather here have re-discovered the joy of planning your route around trying new food spots around the city. On another bright note, I’ve joined a second book club (making new friends outside of uni is serious work) and closed off the month with a Carnaval-themed house party which slightly eased the FOMO from seeing all my friends back home half-naked and day-drunk.

Julia’s March Recs - To Read, To Watch and to Eat

To Read - The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

• I read this in anticipation of Notes to John coming out in April, and it only made me more excited for the new release. I’ve been in a Memoir phase recently, and this one chronicles the year after the death of Didion’s husband. I love reading about different relationship dynamics (cue a rave review for Just Kids by Patti Smith) and was captivated by the creative intimacy shared by Dunne and Didion. Honourable mentions for this month are heavy on the dystopian or speculative fiction genre, including Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman and Liberation Day by George Saunders, as well as some feel-good comfort in the way of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (and yes, I am a little embarrassed that it took me this long to read it).

To Watch - The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Marathon at The Prince Charles Cinema

• I have wanted to go to one of the movie marathons at the PCC from the second I found out you could spend the night at the cinema, and this was one of the coolest and most wholesome experiences I’ve had in London. To my non-London-based friends, a lotr marathon will never disappoint, but to the ones in the city I beg of you to give this a go, few things will give you a bigger sense of community than spending 12 hours in a packed room binge-watching the best trilogy in cinema history (sorry Francis Ford Coppola). We were armed with lots of snacks, the bar stays open until midnight and the concession stand is open overnight. I’ll admit I did doze off a few times but was brought back to life by coffee, candy and watching Legolas take down an elephant (I was running on minimal sleep and felt like my body was shutting down towards the end). People brought out blankets and cheered at the start of each film and by the end we were all exhausted and laughing at everything, it was very wholesome and the survivors who stuck it out got a group picture at the end. They’re doing a few more screenings in the next couple of months and I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to feel like a kid again.

To Eat - this easy One-Pan Orzo With Spinach and Feta from NYT cooking

• I’ve been making this for ages and it’s one of my favourite spring dishes. I love it as a side with some salmon but also works great on its own and is still great reheated for lunch the next day. I would recommend adding way more spinach than the recipe calls for (I usually just dump in a whole bag) and I tend to switch out the feta for goat cheese and add a squeeze of lemon at the end.

If we’ve spoken about postgrad plans at all in the past few months you’ve probably heard me coin the term FUNemployment to describe my current situation. If you think it was a bit insufferable, don’t worry, I agree, but I was trying to keep it together and ward off a quarter-life crisis. Whilst I’m still sending out applications and sliding into LinkedIn DMs as my full-time job, I have also embraced what will probably be the last extended period of doing nothing until my retirement and decided to make the most of my party era (I also read Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados this month and have come to the conclusion that partying in my 20s is actually research for future writing endeavours), after all these are my prime messy years.

Wholesome and Healthy Moments — Because Balance is Everything

This month also had lots of wholesome moments. We had the occasional sunny days, and all my free time means I’ve actually been able to make the most of these. This meant lots of walks around Hampstead Heath, a stroll around Primrose Hill on the 14th with a cupcake for breakfast (if you’re not treating yourself on Valentine’s Day you’re doing single life all wrong), as well as booking out every Tuesday night on my calendar from now until the end of time for Pub Quiz at the Garden Gate (the barwoman recognised me last week and that’s a win for me). For those not keeping up with me on Strava (shameless plug, I need all the Kudos I can get), I’ve been training for a 10K since November which happened on the 23rd of February. I was aiming to finish in under an hour and got a new PB with an official time of 58:22! It was a very painful hour but I’m feeling really proud and happy to see my hard work paying off, I’m also excited to have some chill running months before starting marathon training in June. In a last-minute change of plans, I ended up leaving London (will I ever make it a whole month at home?) and heading to Brussels to help my mom with her move, which has me feeling extra nostalgic going through old boxes (If anyone is wondering what I was listening to at age 7, I found my old iPod and it’s a whole lot of Green Day, Nickelback and Katy Perry).

Julia’s February Recs - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

• To Read - The Odd Woman and the City by Vivian Gornick

  • I’ve decided that 2025 is the year of reading hot girl books (a good litmus test for hot girl books is if you can picture a hot girl reading it on the tube), and this definitely ticks the box (Happy Hour is a VERY honourable mention here though). Chronic memoir consumption and doing things “for the plot” pretty much sums up where my head is at atm (in the words of Nora Ephron, “everything is copy”), so I need to keep up the memoir reading for the excuse to work (sort of how I’m back at the gym because being a hot mess only works as long as you’re actually hot). As she walks around Manhattan, Vivian Gornick reflects on previous relationships, friendships and life in the city. If this doesn’t convince you to read it maybe the fact that it had me snort-laughing in public will. Her first book, also a memoir, Fierce Attachments, has been named by the NYT as the best memoir of the last 50 years, and has also made its way onto my TBR.

• To Watch - The Swimmers on Netflix

  • This was a recommendation from my mom and it didn’t disappoint. I’m not usually a big TV person (there’s no way of saying that without sounding pretentious) but this story about two Syrian sisters’ journey to Germany, and then to the Rio 2016 Olympic games had me shedding a tear or two.

• To Eat - Farmer J’s Miso Aubergine

  • My Farmer J obsession and never-changing order has been going on for a long time (London friends I beg of you to try their tahini chicken), and in an attempt to be more financially responsible this year (and also I was sick of rationing the two bites of aubergine they give you) I wondered if I could recreate my favourite side from them. You can’t imagine my joy finding out the recipe is actually on their website, so anyone, anywhere in the world can join me in the pure pleasure of eating cold cabbage and miso aubergine straight out of a Tupperware container in the middle of the night (or you know, as a healthy meal-prepped side).

I welcomed the new year on the Belgian coast with some high school friends. There was lots of Raclette and long walks at the beach, a stark contrast from previous years where I spent the first day of the year nursing a hangover in bed, but the change was very welcome. We also did PowerPoint night again, and I think this might be one of my new favourite traditions and the most entertaining way to catch up with long-distance friends.

Back on the Slopes after Eight Years

After returning to Brussels, I quickly packed and headed to the French Alps with my dad and brother. It was my dad’s first time skiing (spoiler alert, I think it will also be the last) and I hadn’t been in eight years, so it’s safe to say it was a lesson in humility. I joined a class with other intermediate skiers after tumbling down the mountain on my first day (my bruises have finally faded after three weeks), and though I had a couple of meltdowns, I was pretty proud of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, and even doing my first-ever black run. I was also very entertained by my instructor, who would tell us of tragic or freak accidents every day, keeping us on our toes (think everything from avalanches to getting run over by a snowcat to high-speed collisions where there are never any survivors).

Graduation, the End of an Era and Family Time in London

Getting back to London, I got to reconnect with all my friends from my masters and celebrate all of our hard work. With all my family in town, we also hit up some of my favourite spots in London (brunch at Drury, lunch at Lima and dinner at Beijing Dumpling never disappoint). We also went to a couple of shows in the West End, and after they all left at the end of the month, my job-hunting mode came back in full swing.

Looking Forward and 2025 Goals

My year is properly starting in February, and I’m excited to get back into a routine. I also figured I would share some of my practical 2025 goals and resolutions in case anyone needs some inspo (I’ll leave the boring bits involving jobs and financial responsibility out of it though):

• Cook one new recipe a month (I’m paying for that NYT all-access subscription, might as well make good use of it)

• Join new clubs - now that I’m out of uni, making friends is a little trickier, and I figured I could use some of my newfound free time (hopefully not for long and I’ll be employed soon) to join a run club or book club and meet some new people

• Read 40 books - I love a numbers game and this feels pretty achievable. I also want to limit my time doom-scrolling so hopefully it will also help with that. If anyone has any book recommendations feel free to send them my way!

Julia’s January Recs - To Read, To Watch and to Eat

• To Read - My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

  • I know I’m late to the party, with my mom declaring it the best thing she’s read in the past ten years, and the New York Times putting it as the #1 best book of the century so far I finally joined in. I’ll admit it took me a while to get locked in, and at first, I was overwhelmed by the amount of characters and last names, but I’m officially hooked. A story about a friendship spanning decades (if you’ve been living under a rock, there are four books in the series), it has all the drama, violence, and complex characters to pull you in.

• To Watch - MJ The Musical at the West End

  • Sorry non-London friends, but this is the best thing I saw this month and I haven’t seen anyone talking about it, so if you have the chance to snag some tickets, feel free to invite me because I’m definitely in for a rewatch. Featuring Michael Jackson’s best hits, shiny costumes, dynamic choreography and an eerily close portrayal by the main actor, this is everything you want for a night out and more.

• To Eat - Cuscuz de Frigideira

  • I haven’t done that much home cooking this month, but this has quickly become my new favourite hyperfixation meal. It comes together in under 15 minutes and takes me back to leisurely breakfasts on the Brazilian Northeast coast. To the gringo friends, I recommend finding a Brazilian market near you and giving it a go, and feel free to dress it up however you want.

I started the month off by heading to Egypt for a week-long trip with my family. We spent a couple of days in Cairo before flying to Luxor and boarding a four-night Nile cruise heading south to Aswan. On our first full day, we visited the Pyramids, and the Sphinx and rode camels, which excuse the frat-boy expression, was pretty epic. The Nile cruise brought a change of pace, with temple visits in the mornings and afternoons spent sailing and watching the changing scenery. I also decided to read Death on the Nile on the cruise, which was the best reading experience I’ve ever had, and I did cry a little when we got to visit the hotel where Agatha Christie stayed when she was in Egypt, which is also where the book starts off.

A Taylor Swift Birthday and Christmas

“Happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time” pretty much describes how I feel about turning 22. We got back from Egypt two days before my birthday, and after lots of early mornings, I was happy to have a low-key celebration and went out to dinner with my mom and my brother. We did Christmas Eve at a family friend’s place this year, and it was nice to have kids running around for the holidays and hosted on Christmas Day. I spent the leadup to the holidays baking lots of Christmas cookies (needed to make my New York Times subscription worth it) and eating all the leftovers the days following the celebrations.

New Year, Same Gang

To finish off the year, I’m heading over to the Belgian coast to catch up with High School friends and celebrate the New Year. Though I’m of the opinion that any day can be a fresh start, I’m also taking this time of year to reflect on 2024 and set intentions for 2025.

Best of 2024, December Recs and a Reading Wrapped

As part of our New Year’s celebration, I’ve prepared a power point to cover the past year, so I figured I’d give you some of the highlights. If anyone is interested in every book I read this year (up until the start of December) and how they stack up in a tier list you can check out my reading wrapped here.

As per usual, here are my December recs as well:

• To Read - A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

  • This book has a miles-long trigger warning list, so proceed at your own risk. It was because of this that I took so long to pick this up, but I totally understand the hype, and along with Just Kids it’s one of the best books I read this year, and might make it to favourite book tier. I did physically flinch at some times and had to take multiple breaks to digest what I’d just read, but the writing is beautiful. I’m not usually a fan of extremely long books, but I was glad to spend so much time with the characters. If you do end up picking this up, feel free to live text me updates and reactions as I was also blowing up my friend’s phones to work through this with someone else.

• To Watch - Raiders of the Lost Ark

  • I mean… Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, need I say more? I came back from Egypt feeling both nostalgic and inspired and partly convinced I could have had a successful career as an archaeologist. I also played the theme from Indiana Jones almost every day on the trip, so the subliminal messaging worked with my family and they were all down to have a movie night when we got back.

• To Eat (and Bake) - Alison Roman’s Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies

  • A fairly easy recipe and my family’s favourite of everything I baked this holiday season. The texture is perfect, it’s not too sweet and the flaky salt is essential, do not skimp on it

Thanks to a last-minute flight change and realising that I am very easily swayed by warm weather and gorgeous men at the beach, I spent the first week of the month soaking up the last bit of warm weather in Rio before heading back to London town. Five weeks in Brazil were lovely but also meant lots of beer, fried food and very little exercise with the exception of my (mediocre-in-skill but highly enthusiastic) surfing sessions.

Back in London with a packed social calendar and lovely autumn leaves

Autumn in London is my favourite thing about living here, so I was pretty happy to get back before all the fall foliage was gone. I was only back for three weeks, so I wanted to make the most of my time. Job applications took a bit of a back seat this month, and I (attempted) to have some guilt-free fun. Some highlights of this month were birthday brunches, long walks along Hampstead (cannot wait for you girls to visit, it really is the NICEST and QUAINTEST neighbourhood), soaking up the Christmas lights around central London and the last supermoon of the year (see below, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many likes on an Instagram story) a last minute text from a friend to see Jason Derulo perform at a club on a random Wednesday night (oh the perks of funemployment), a new haircut (with a new fringe comes a new personality), an ISB reunion and my annual Christmas party (feat. Laura).

Julia’s November Recs - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

• To Read - Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

  • I don’t usually read much non-fiction and steer clear from anything resembling self-help, so I’m very thankful my book club suggested this as November’s pick. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself making meaningful reflections throughout. Not self-help but a book about therapy and human relationships (I was crying over the UPS man, safe to say I was in my feelings)

• To Watch - Before trilogy by Richard Linklater

  • So there is a caveat to this suggestion, and it’s that I still haven’t seen the third film. I binged the first two on my flight back from Brazil but Lufthansa did not have the last one. Alas, I was hooked. I’ve known about these films for a while now and love the ten-year time jump in both the story and production and release of the films, the first one felt very relevant now when I’m trying to figure out what to do with my life and where to go from here.

• To Eat - Torn Plum (or cherry) Brown Butter Cake by Alison Roman

  • Funemployment also has me in my housewife era, so I’ve been having friends for dinner all the time and have started to make a dent in all the marked recipes in my cookbooks. This is by far the best thing I made all month, and I am planning to make it again for my birthday, the brown butter and almond flour make for the best nutty combo, and the plums can be swapped out for any other fruit. Also love that this requires no special equipment and everything comes together in a single bowl.

    

Hey girls, missed you loads and can’t wait to hear all about your October. The change of seasons always feels like a new beginning to me so I hope you’re all making the most of your fresh starts. I spent the first week of October back in London, trying to catch up with everyone before leaving for Brazil (the jet-setting lifestyle is fully underway), with Laura and Donato making special appearances this month. On a fun note, found out that a guy I’ve had the longest crush on (who was my old neighbour’s friend) just moved to my street, hopefully, that will thicken the plot because my end of year PowerPoint is still weak atm.

Touchdown in Brazil

Back in the motherland and it feels so good. Spent the first week here in Rio catching up with friends, family and some of my mom’s school friends. Lots of tanning, long walks on the beach and trying new restaurants. This past month has definitely made me want to move to Rio for a year or two in the future. My whole family is from here but I never lived in Rio and want to experience it as an adult, so that’s in the medium-term plans for now. After a week in the hustle and bustle, I hit the road and headed to the countryside to spend some time with my grandma. I spent a weekend in São Paulo and made the executive decision to extend my trip for another week, so I’ll be heading back to London Town on the 10th of November.

Practical Matters and Exciting News

This month has also seen lots of Job applications (and the rejections are also rolling in but its all part of the process). On a positive note, I’ve received my final Dissertation result and will be GRADUATING with merit in January! I’ve also signed up for my first marathon next year (pray for me pls) and expect you all in Amsterdam next October.

Julia’s October Recs - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

As this month has brought on a lot more free time, here’s some of my favourite things from this month:

• To Read - Just Kids by Patti Smith

  • The most moving and real love story, had me sobbing on the plane, don’t know why I didn’t pick it up sooner, 100% worth the hype, might just be one of my top 3 favourite books ever

• To Watch - Nobody Wants This

  • Making the most of rotting on the couch watching Netflix, binged it with my mom and wanna date a Rabbi now

• To Eat/Cook - Tres Leches Cake

  • I’ve made this for every household I’ve stayed in this month, hands down the best cake ever, perfectly moist and never disappoints, will make for New Years its my new specialty