Astrology said this month was supposed to be chaotic. And perhaps it was—politically—from war plans and emojis over Signal chats, confusing (at best) trips to Greenland, and Tesla infomercials at the White House. March has felt bleak. I’ve been particularly disgusted with what’s happening regarding immigration, notably the cases of Rumeysa Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil, along with countless others who have been unjustly targeted and prosecuted for their legal right to speak their beliefs. People who are here legally are being abducted and trafficked. I have no other feelings but disgust, and nothing I say will make the situation right or better, except to emphasize that we can’t allow this. We have to continue to fight.
I’ve donated to Mahmoud Khalil’s legal fund, which can be found [here]. I’ve also taken the time to discuss with other peers of mine who work in social media what we can do, as people in the field, to condemn the work the White House social media pages have been doing. I’ve felt particularly disgusted by recent posts from them, especially their ASMR deportation video. I’m heartbroken to see something I love so much—social media—spun and used so disgustingly by my peers in the field. Anyone making those videos should be ashamed.
I realize that this is my monthly favorites list, but right now, I really felt like I needed to say something. It’s just been a fucking lot lately, and not talking about it doesn’t feel right to me at this moment.
That being said, I see value in escapist content, which is exactly what a fucking monthly favorites list is…escapist fluff, all in homage to the monthly favorites of the YouTube beauty creators of the 2010s. So all that to say, shit’s hard. I feel it. Make change where you can, be nice to each other, know your limits and energy, and rock out with your cock out, or whatever. Here are my March favs.
Beauty
I’ve been really into my Guerlain lipstick lately. They’re one of my favorite little luxuries. The formulas are lovely, but what makes them truly special are the cases. They have several varieties, each with a built-in mirror that can also be engraved. I was lucky enough to be gifted the limited-edition Pucci collab from a friend. But if I were to purchase again, which I probably will because I am HIGHLY susceptible to beauty scams—I’d go for the tortoiseshell or leopard one.
For this lipstick, though, I went with 772 Bourbon Rose—a velvety pink that pulls a little mauvey on me. I quite like it. I do layer it sometimes with a lighter pink shade from Milani as well.
This month, I’ve also been pushing myself to use up some of my perfume samples… because I have hordes of them. I was most pleased with Unknown Pleasures from Kerosene. It’s a sweet, caramelly citrus. I’ll be honest—I don’t care for the initial spritz. The first five minutes feel like an eternity, but the dry down is much nicer. It’s got notes of lemon, vanilla, caramel, Earl Grey, tonka bean, honey, and bergamot. I get quite a bit of caramel initially, but it finishes with a lovely Earl Grey scent. I really enjoyed wearing it this month. I find it’s one of the brand’s more wearable scents, but I don’t think it’s full-bottle worthy for me.
And of course, another month of Gigi killing my nails. This month, I was really inspired by watercolors.
Experiences
The best of my month came at the tail end of it. I had the thrill of seeing Kraftwerk at the Auditorium Theatre, and I was completely blown away by their visuals. I went into the show not really knowing what to expect, and I was genuinely amazed. They had all these different coordinated visuals for each song and matching gridline light-up suits. I particularly love Computer Love—it scratches my freak tech brain—so I was really excited to see it live.
If you’re not familiar with Kraftwerk, they’re a German electronic band and true pioneers of the genre. They’ve influenced artists like Donna Summer and have been sampled by countless others, including Ciara, LCD Soundsystem, Frank Ocean, Daft Punk, David Bowie, Busta Rhymes, and many more. If you ever get the chance to see them live, do it. If not, dive into their influence—you won’t regret it. Also, the sound at the Auditorium Theatre is phenomenal, truly some of the best. The theatre is located inside the Auditorium Building, which happens to be home to one of my alma maters, Roosevelt University. So going there is always a beautiful and nostalgic experience.
This month, I also went to Creative Mornings—my first time post-COVID—and honestly, it’s the only event that could get me out of my house and in the Loop, wearing a full strip lash by 8:30 AM. If you’re any type of creative, you should go. They host events globally for anyone who values creativity or considers themselves a creative. Everyone from opera singers to corporate marketers, poets, designers, dancers, and everyone in between shows up. It’s an inspiring space that always leaves me feeling energized.
Fashion / Style
I spent a lot of this month cooped up in my house, but when I did get out, it was in my Duke + Dexter x Playboy loafers—a limited-edition collab featuring iconic Playboy imagery. I love these loafers. The quality is incredible. They’re leather and feel so soft and buttery. They take about 3–5 wears to fully break in, so keep that in mind, but I think they offer great arch support.
I’ve got my eyes on the kiss pair and an all-black pair—both very on-brand for me, so to speak. I’m a major fangirl of the brand, and I own a few of their other shoes as well. I truly can’t hype up the quality enough. With proper care, these will last in your wardrobe for years. And they’re so versatile. I love styling them with a slip dress, scrunched socks, a cashmere sweater, and a moto jacket—perfect for errands or a quick lunch date.
Food & Drinks
I guess this is food… it’s like a lozenge—does that count? Well, I’m counting it. I’ve been obsessed with Spritz Pastilles from Pastiglie Leone. Like, obsessed. They perfectly capture the taste of a spritz—just the right balance of bitter and sweet. I love an Aperol spritz, but honestly, I don’t always want the liquor on a random Tuesday afternoon. These do the trick. You can now permanently find them in my purse, cluttered with perfume samples, a baby Mason Pearson brush, and crumpled deli counter tickets from the market.
In keeping with little luxuries, I went to L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in Chicago (they also have locations in New York, DC, and Boston) and was completely blown away. The service was wonderful—I really appreciated the insight from the staff, and the presentation and packaging were lovely. The quality is exceptional—everything tastes incredibly fresh. Their raspberry truffles, in particular, were my favorite.
Home & Lifestyle
I’ve been deeply buried in my wool blanket this month. It’s one of those vintage ones with the silk trim. They were a staple in my childhood, and I brought this one out of retirement last year. I love how they’re just the right kind of scratchy—absolutely massive, and warm but still lightweight. I found a used one in a bright cherry red, and I’m obsessed with it.
And while I’ll likely be storing it away for the season soon, it’s served me well these last few months. I’m also desperately trying to influence you to get one—or bring your childhood one back into rotation.
Media & Entertainment
This month, I was really into all of Santigold’s discography. And listen, I’ve never stopped loving her or thinking she’s the epitome of cool. L.E.S. Artistes—especially the music video—was so impactful on me and is still one of my favorite music videos ever. I love all of her work. I’ve also been listening a lot to this mix of I’m a Lady with Amanda Blank and Diplo. Honestly, we should all listen to Santigold more.
This month, I also read Careless People by Sarah Williams Whynn, who worked in policy at Meta. It’s an autobiography of her time there, highlighting the ways Meta knowingly destabilizes governments and elections while engaging in predatory marketing toward young girls. There’s been a lot of criticism, notably from Kara Swisher, calling it a bit sensationalized—which I’d argue is the entire point of an autobiography about someone working at Meta. Also, I’d venture to say it’s nearly impossible to talk about Meta without being sensational. It’s woven into the DNA of the company at this point.
I think sometimes when you work in tech, you also have a very different perspective on it compared to covering it. Neither is wrong or bad—it’s just very different when you’re in it day in and day out. Anyway, I’m still formulating my own thoughts and writing about it, so for now… read it. I need more people to talk to about it.
I finally watched Conclave, and now I’m left wondering… should I convert to Catholicism? I’ve always appreciated the aesthetics of Catholicism—dramatic capes, the warm glow of candles, giant cold crosses. That’s my shit. Anyway, Conclave was great. Very beautifully framed and shot. I loved the coloring in particular. A nice watch. And as always, Stanley Tucci acted his little ass off.
Here are some things I read that I liked:
Angelina Jolie Was Right About Computers
Far-Right Influencers Are Hosting a $10K-per-Person Matchmaking Weekend to Repopulate the Earth
Where Lifestyle Creep Really Starts
The Paradox of Hard Work
His Daughter Was America’s First Measles Death in a Decade
Things I Wrote/Created
Paparazzi, parties, and platinum records: Revisiting Lindsay Lohan’s 00s music career
The Everyday Guide to Digital Privacy
Queer Tech History / Christopher Strachey
An Evening with The New Savant Founders | Indie Candles at Merz Apothecary
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