It’s a throwback, but not only does it come from one of my idols, it’s also a message that I’ve taken to heart. Both in my writing and in real life.
“I prefer women who kick ass and don’t get their ass kicked!” — Jackie Collins, on 50 Shades’ female lead character Ana Steele
One thing you should know about the stories I aspire to write is that my female protagonists will NEVER be docile doormats to men. I don’t do clichés.
From left to right: supermodel Claudia Schiffer for Guess Jeans, 1989, pop icon Kylie Minogue for i-D magazine, July 1994, and the master herself for UK Vogue, 2010s.
The imagery of former fashion model turned fashion/celebrity photographer Ellen Von Unwerth never fails to delight me. There’s something to her work that exudes vivacity, insouciance, and pure joy, and it’s something I’d like to see more of in today’s fashion photography, which I feel has gotten quite dreary for my tastes. (I want some fun again, darlin’.)
Some of my favorite captures from her (and there were many to choose from) after the cut!
To my true friends and family
For having this day off from work
To my day job that, despite it being a physical job, pays me well and my co-workers & management are all supportive
To all who voted for democracy during this year’s Midterm elections
To all who continue to fight for abortion/LGBTQ+/voting rights, gender equality, and abuse victims
To the scientists and medical professionals who helped create the Covid vaccines and boosters (happy to be 4X full of 5G microchipped goodness!)
To all the face masks I’ve worn that spared me from getting Covid (I still wear them in indoor public spaces and in large outdoor crowds and I’m not ashamed to do so…but I await the day when Covid becomes an endemic)
To anyone who asks me for an ID as I get another day older (I used to find it so odd when I was in my 20s, but as I near my 40s, I find it flattering)
For being a teen in the late 90s/early 2000s (my Xennial ass is showing here, but what a time to be young)
To all the low-carb websites for giving me all the recipes and carb substitutes when I went low-carb almost a year ago
To Yogi Tea (their teas are 🔥)
To Jackie Collins, Maya Angelou, Dorothy Parker, Sue Grafton, and Sharon Olds, for creating many of my all-time literary faves. My idols, all of them!
To The Simpsons (Seasons 1-10, to be exact), for all the LOLs
To jazz music and its artists, past to present
To thrift stores, where over half of my wardrobe and bedding came from
To the sport of hockey
To Lelo (I’m single; do I have to explain why?)
To Target for selling Lelo products 😀
To the fact that I live in a safe (and affordable) space, all to myself
For living in California
In knowing I had some things to be thankful for in this mixed bag of a year.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Who isn’t craving pumpkin this time of year? It may sound easy to fulfill my pumpkin cravings by snatching up one of those large pumpkin pies Costco sells, devour them, and call it a day. But as a low-carb eater (have been for a while), I got a few extra hurdles to jump over. And I’m aware that pumpkin isn’t low-carb, but some of it for a day (OK, probably this whole holiday weekend) won’t totally wreck me. Plus, it’s the holidays and there’s nothing wrong with a little indulgence!
You can thank Bath & Body Works’ Pumpkin Pecan Waffles body spray (which is what I’m currently wearing, don’t judge) for influencing my breakfast: Pumpkin Pecan Chaffles. (For extra oomph, invest in some pumpkin spice extract and add a teaspoon of it to the recipe.) I also wanted to get a head start on my Thanksgiving cooking, so I whipped up some pumpkin pie sans sugar and excess carbs. The crust is also low-carb, and shoutout to Wholesome Yum for being a gold mine for my low-carb needs. I’m holding out till Thanksgiving morning to have some pie (I’m not making any promises, though, and I still got dinner to eat), but the chaffles–paired with some sugar-free maple syrup and whipped cream–were *chef’s kiss* delectable.
A spectacular view of the LA skyline from the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook on Mulholland Drive.
Wasn’t I in LA just three weeks ago? And I know I came back from my So-Cal vacation a little over a week ago, and–not surprising–I wish my vacay didn’t end. It was my first vacation in three years, and I made the most of it, including staying an extra day in So-Cal. I needed it!
Here’s part one of my road trip pics, and the rest of part two is after the cut.
Music to rouse the rebel girl in you! Courtesy of two of my music idols, Peaches (who celebrated her birthday yesterday, and whom I’ve had the pleasure of seeing perform live–twice), and Kathleen Hanna (of Bikini Kill, who celebrates her birthday today!). LOVE them both.
The Bauer Fountains at the LA Arboretum in Pasadena, CA.
I’m still on vacation, and before I pack up and head out to my next stop (I feel like I’m bouncing from one Airbnb to another), here are some cool sights (after the cut) from my first road trip/vacation since 2019!
Lex Writes On 