The Noteworthy Edit #2
Sharing is caring, so here is everything I’ve been loving this week!
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Welp! This newsletter was absolutely meant to be sent out last week and to be rilly real with you, I was in bed suffering from the most immense hangover. My friend hosted an anti-coronation party (complete with an “Eat the Rich” grazing table) and being 35 means just a drop of alcohol renders me utterly immobile. It means that I will be bed bound, unable to do anything but drink Coke and promise to whomever is listening that I will never drink again. I can only apologise, must do better!
It’s still my birth month but I haven’t really been spending money on myself the way that I would in the past! Is this growth? Am I finally coming to my senses? Will I stop using “being a Taurus” as an excuse for indulging in my every whim and pleasure? Find out next time on Dragon Ball Z!
But let’s get to this week’s recommendations, shall we?
📖 READING (books/articles):
I have been a fan of Annie Lord’s writing for a while now and as someone who is dating (More like, attempting to date? Matching with men on apps and then never hearing them, is probably more what it’s like…) her latest Vogue column, Should I Just Accept That I Only Fancy Emotionally Unavailable Men?, came at just the right time for me. I ended things things with someone who I really liked but who I knew wasn’t really interested in me. I could see myself quickly and easily falling into old patterns. I was feeling like I had to work for their attention, then blaming myself for not being “good enough” when I couldn’t get it, thus proving in my silly little brain that I’m not worth love and respect. Logical me knows that isn’t true, but it’s all too easy to spiral out with that kind of thinking when I am faced with rejection, when my needs aren’t being met.
Well, no more! It’s a habit that I am actively working on breaking and it’s taken about two years of therapy for me to even get to this point. It’s good to know that money is good for something!
I’ve made this sound much bleaker than it actually is, it is a lovely read and is a wonderful reminder to try.
🎧 LISTENING (music/podcasts):
I was in Dublin a few weeks ago now for my birthday and on a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway we had the loveliest tour guide who played different Irish artists on the bus, so all credit to Sean for introducing me to the band Moxie! Their album, Flow of Color came out in 2020 but it’s giving me all of the summer vibes. Start with “Honey”!
🎥 WATCHING (TV/film):
Can I be honest with you? Is this a safe space? My usual favourite shows have really not been bringing me joy lately…I don’t know what it is but my feel-good programs are just naht hitting like they used to! Ted Lasso, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel…I’m looking at you. And I can’t just sit here and talk about Succession for the umpteenth time (Although it’s also ending soon! Woe!)
BUT! Like everyone else I was totally engrossed in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix the moment it dropped and I watched all six episodes in one sitting. A mere 6 hours? Light work!
Give me romance, give me period drama any day. I’ve not actually read the Bridgerton series but Shonda Rhimes has me in an absolute chokehold with the TV adaptations.
If like me you are also Queen Charlotte-obsessed and have finished the series, you have to watch Gena-mour Barrett interview the leads, India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest, for Still Watching. Gena is the most hilarious and fantastic interviewer and it’s so sweet how close India and Corey are! You just can’t help but laugh along with them.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t seen the orchestral performance of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” for Queen Charlotte then stop what you are doing right now and watch it. A 70-piece orchestra of people of colour performing such an iconic song in period costume is just immensely moving.
👗 WEARING:
I am firmly in my Vinted era, so much so that I really need to put myself on a ban from that app but there is just so much on there that I’ve been so thrilled to find. Things that I have been searching for for years have popped up for me so many times now and I’m feeling very pleased with myself. I follow Charissa Rae on TikTok and Instagram and she is an absolute Vinted queen, I love seeing what other people have been able to find secondhand as well! It really does go to show that there is nothing new under the sun, it’s now the first place I go when I want to look for something specific or try a new trend because chances are it’s out there. I still also check out places like eBay and Depop as well to cover my bases, but there is just something about Vinted.
I was kindly sent the Winnie dress in rainbow gingham from Beyond Nine, which is primarily known as a maternity brand, and while I am not a mama I really love the ethos of their clothes being made for changing bodies - something we will all go through! I love the subtle rainbow running through this dress which makes it such a great spring/summer piece. It’s made from linen as well which will see you through season after season!
Another thing about me is that I’m a matching set girl through and through, and their Hugh and Jenny sweat sets are THE most comfortable I have ever worn. I’ve worn mine to death and despite it’s bleach stains (*facepalm*) I still wear it all year-round to work from home because it is the comfiest. I’ll be treating myself to a new colourway soon enough!
As an oily, acne-prone skin girl I there is a product that I return to time and time again, and constantly repurchase to help me combat breakouts, and that is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrate Serum.
I’ve never got on with the original La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, I never felt like that formula worked for me. There is just something about this serum that works for my skin type. It has salicylic, glycolic and lipo-hydroxy acids. It sinks in quickly, if you’re sensitive there might be the tiniest bit of sting but I don’t feel anything really. It’s best to use at night, and any under the skin breakouts I may have never really show up! I am off to go and repurchase.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you have a gorgeous Sunday. I hope you’ll join me next Sunday for a little essay I’m writing in honour of the anniversary of my aunt’s passing.
About me: I'm Nicole, the writer of The Noteworthy. I’m also a content creator and the co-host of the award-winning Mixed Up podcast. Having been chronically online since the age of 13, you can also find me on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Pinterest. I’m working on my first book, The Half Of It, which you can pre-order here.