What This Week: January 2
Omg, y’all! It’s 2023! It feels like yesterday it was 2000, and now it’s decades later. Yes, I just dated myself, but I’ve never been shy about sharing my age. I’m an 80’s baby, a 90’s teen, and a Gen Xer/geriatric millennial at heart. But enough about me! Let’s dive into this edition of What This Week (January 2).
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What This Week: Reading
I’m starting this year off right with an eclectic mix of advanced reader copies of upcoming book releases. Up first is The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre, a WWII novel about a former espionage agent turned press agent for the brand new couture house. I’m almost finished reading it, and I already know this book will likely be a favorite. Set in Paris and full of fashion & glamour, this book has something for everyone. Romance = check. Intrigue = check. It’s going to be a hit, so be sure to add it to your 2023 TBR.
Next up is Grady Hendrix’s brand new novel, How to Sell a Haunted House. I’ll be honest: I loathed the last Hendrix book I read, The Southern Woman’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. It was so bad I promised myself I’d never read another of his novels. Alas, one of my Booksta besties recently read How to Sell a Haunted House, and her praise of the book gave me FOMO. I’m listening to this one and enjoying it more than I expected. Horror isn’t my thing typically, but in support of my 2023 reading goals, I’m diversifying.
Lastly, I just started The Mitford Affair, another glitzy novel set in pre-WWII London. It’s early yet, so I can’t say much. I will share that to be 10% of the way into the book I should not be this confused. There are A LOT of characters and each has a name plus a nickname. That’s a lot for my little peabrain to keep track of. I’ll stick with it for now, but my hopes aren’t high.
What This Week: Watching
Star Wars fans likely already know this, but just in case you’re not aware yet: Andor is TERRIFIC! Of all the recent Star Wars spin-off shows, Andor might be the best. My heart may still belong to Baby Yoda in The Mandolorian, but Andor is a better show. Full of drama, backstory, and well-developed characters, Andor is probably one of the best shows of 2022. If you or someone you love enjoys Star Wars, then be sure to check out this terrific series. We are already stoked for season 2!
We’ve been trying to watch more contemporary movies of late, and this next film shines brighter than any other 2022 film. On New Year’s Eve, we sat down to enjoy The Banshees of Inisherin. Little did we know we’d be watching our favorite film of the year on the last night of the year. How fitting! This movie is absolutely wonderful. Full of dark humor and Irish charm, Banshees is storytelling at its best. The acting is marvelous with both Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson bringing their A-game. I’d never really noticed how emotive Farrell’s facial expressions are before watching Banshees, but now that I’ve noticed, it’s hard to unsee. He has so much talent, and this film is the perfect vehicle for him. He really stole the show in my opinion! The meta aspects of the film made it even more special, particularly for history lovers. Do me a favor and watch this movie!
What This Week: Hair Care
I’ve recently been investing in hair care products and tools in an effort to motivate me to style my hair. My hair is naturally wavy, so I don’t have to do much to style it when it’s shorter. But the longer my hair gets, the heavier it gets, so the waves become less defined. I want to grow my hair out this year, so I figured new styling tools might help me keep it styled and looking chic. I’ve written already about the fun new blow-out wand that I’ve fallen hard for, but I’ve not shared my thoughts on the other products and tools that I’ve been testing. Here are my must-have products and tools that I’ll be relying on to make 2023 a good hair year.
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