Sydney's Sunday Reads: #18

Happy Sunday, friends!!

Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.

• What’s in YOUR toolbox? - 2020 has been one of the most collectively stressful years of all time, there’s just no denying it. We’ve had a contentious battle for the White House, a global pandemic, racial and social unrest, and the loss of so many people. And with COVID numbers steadily rising, another crucial upcoming election here in the US, and the frigid winter season fast approaching, practicing self-care, no matter how you define it, is of the utmost importance. In this article, artist Martine Thompson talks about the things in her “joy toolbox” - her list of go-to items and activities that are guaranteed to bring her happiness when she needs it the most. What’s in yours? Mine includes several of my favorite sitcoms, a spicy chai mix, a playlist of upbeat jams, and books that always make me smile. (Healthyish)

• A snack for the ages. - Archeologists in Pompeii, Italy this week announced the unearthing of a 2,000-year-old snack stall, known as a termopolium, that still has traces of food in it! This is the first of its kind to be discovered fully intact, and displays frescoes on the exterior panels of ducks hung upside down and chickens; an indication to passerby in ancient times of key ingredients in the food being sold. Also found on-site were ceramic cooking bowls, wine flasks, a bronze drinking bowl, and amphora (tall Roman jars with handles on each side and narrow necks). How cool is that!? (CNN)

• A timeless ballet. - For me, it isn’t the holiday season without The Nutcracker. I love listening to the soundtrack and pretending to be the Sugar Plum Fairy as I dance through the house in full decorating-mode. On really good years, I’ve been able to see the production live, always dazzled by the costumes and athletic endurance and grace of the dancers. Of course, this year, the lights have been dim in theatres all across the country, making 2020 a year that this magical tradition was missed. But there’s always next year, and, if I’m able and we can all be together again, I’ll be first in line to get tickets to see it up-close and in-person. In the meantime, here’s a historical look at photos ofThe Nutcracker, a 128-year-old ballet, through the years. (Buzzfeed News)

• Olive + Mabel. - One thing that has gotten me through quarantine is watching the many adventures of Olive and Mabel, two labradors in Scotland whose father, sports commentator Andrew Cotter, started filming and narrating their lives and uploading the videos to Twitter earlier this year. The first video was Olive and Mabel at dinner time, racing to be the first to finish their food. Cotter treated it as he would any televised sporting event, adding backstories for each dog’s “career” and noting the sportsmanship and sheer professionalism of each, much to the amusement of viewers. From there the two cute pups have gone on epic runs on the beach and in the woods, attended “performance reviews” via Zoom, and even moved house. It’s been quite the journey so far, and luckily, there’s more to come. Meet the sweet trio of Cotter, Olive, and Mabel in the video below! (The Times and The Sunday Times via Youtube)

• Judy the Elf’s hot cocoa recipe! - It’s also not the holiday season for me if I don’t sit down for my annual viewing of The Santa Clause which to me just gets funnier and funnier every year. One of the best scenes in the film is Scott Calvin’s (played by Tim Allen) first time to the North Pole where he meets Judy, an elf and executive assistant to Santa Claus who has been alive for at least 1200 years. As Calvin tries to wrap his mind around all that he’s seeing (and his new job as Santa), Judy offers him a cup of her famous hot cocoa, a recipe for which she’s been tinkering with for a long, long time. As a huge fan of this movie, I’ve always wondered just what this amazing hot cocoa would taste like, and apparently, I’m not alone. In this episode of Binging with Babish, filmmaker and YouTuber Andrew Douglas Rea (aka Oliver Babish), breaks down just what he thinks Judy meant when she described her cocoa as “not too hot, extra chocolate, shaken, not stirred”! (Binging with Babish on Youtube)

What are YOU reading, watching, and listening to today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Sydney's Sunday Reads: #14

Happy Sunday, friends!!

Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.

• Our favorite “chart throb” is back! - If you are a fan of MSNBC and found yourself glued to the television screen on Election Night (week, really), then you’re probably familiar with election statistics expert, Steve Kornacki. He and his smart board worked tirelessly the whole week to bring viewers constant election coverage, barely sleeping (or going home to shower!) in the process. With so much on-air screen time logged, it didn’t take long for Kornacki to become the Internet’s next boyfriend (he was even named one of People’s “Sexiest Men Alive” this year!). The election is over and the world is moving forward, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other key races to project! This week, Kornacki returned to his smart board on The Kelly Clarkson Show to project Thanksgiving 2020’s biggest dessert trends - and he took it VERY seriously. Watch the funny clip here! (Delish)

• Get reading. - Whether you’re someone who likes the idea of reading for fun but can’t seem to find the time to do so, or a lifelong reader stuck in a bit of a rut, Book Riot has put together a helpful guide on how to strengthen your reading habits! There’s no better feeling than getting totally and completely lost in a phenomenal story. (Book Riot)

• Gotta kick it up! - Congratulations to Vanderbilt University’s Sarah Fuller, who this week became the first woman to play in both an SEC and Power 5 football game! The 21-year-old kicker, who is also a Vanderbilt soccer star, made her debut during yesterday’s (November 29) game against the University of Missouri. Though Vandy ultimately went on to lose the game 41-0, the real winners, in my opinion, were women everywhere who’ve ever been told that football was just for boys! (Sports Illustrated)

• Mr. Robot writes romantic fiction. - Machine learning is coming a long way. So far, robots can help compose emails, tailor product ads based on browsing history, and now…write romantic short essays? That’s what the New York Times discovered recently when it challenged an artificial-intelligence language system named GPT-3 to write a submission for its long-running “Modern Love” column. GPT-3’s essay is, in a word, “unexpected,” but all you romance novelists out there shouldn’t feel threatened - I think it’ll be quite a while before robots come for your job. (The Cut)

• Two turkeys and a Frisbee! - If you’re a regular viewer of Late Night with Seth Meyers, then you’ll know that every year Seth and his wife Alexi dress their sons Axel and Ashe and dog Frisbee up in adorable Thanksgiving costumes, and this year was no different! Watch their super cute Thanksgiving greeting in the clip below! (Late Night with Seth Meyers via Youtube)

What are YOU reading, watching, and listening to today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Sydney's Sunday Reads: #12

Happy Sunday, friends!!

Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.

• Living tiny, big problems. - The tiny house movement, a recent phenomenon in which people ditch their large dwellings in favor of living in a custom structure, often mobile, that clocks in at 400 square feet or less, has really gained steam in the last couple of years. This is thanks, in part, to popular television shows like Tiny House Nation and Tiny House Hunters. In every episode, you meet a single person or family who wants to “simplify” their life, de-clutter, extricate themselves from debt, and live in a space that they can pick up and move any time they please. The homes, often tailored to the client’s specific needs, are always parked on a vast piece of land, and in the final shots of the episode, the audience is painted a rosy picture of a more minimal life, surrounded by nature. I admit that I too am intrigued by the tiny house life, and follow MANY accounts on Youtube and Instagram. I’m envious of all the people who own these absolutely GORGEOUS tiny homes and still get to live conventional, 9-5 lives. But if you think living tiny is all sunshine and happy days, this article explains that things may not always be what they seem. Bureaucratic red tape, minimal space and growing pains, and short-term solutions to long-term problems befall many tiny house owners, and that just scratches the surface. If you want to be a part of the tiny house community, make sure you’ve got all the information. (Dwell)

• A modern take on Austen. - We’ve seen countless remakes and modern-day approaches to the classic works of author Jane Austen, but a new anthology series in development at the CW (home of Riverdale), is proving itself different from the rest. The six-season project, titled Modern Austen, will pluck characters like Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy out of the Regency era and into ours - Tinder dates, smartphones, and all. As a huge Austen fan who is open to out-there interpretations of her works (I loved Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), I’m pretty excited to tune in. But for Austen purists? Well, we’ll see if this latest retelling will be a hit or a total miss. (AV Club)

• A (veggie) cut above the rest. - On November 1st, a brand new butcher shop opened its doors to the citizens of London. Sure, the opening of a butcher shop in a big city might not seem all that exciting to you, but this new establishment has one major distinction: its meats are 100% vegan! While at first glance Rudy’s Vegan Butcher’s glass cases and clean, white-tile interior might look like your standard shop, but upon closer inspection, customers will find plant-based meats - made from soya and wheat protein seitan - that are shaped and designed to look and taste just like the real thing. An extension of owners Matthew J. Foster and Ruth (Rudy) Mumma’s Camden eatery Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner, Rudy’s Vegan Butcher sold out of its inventory in ONE. DAY. with 100 online orders in ten minutes, plus a line down the block! (EcoWatch)

• Let the Thanksgiving content commence! - For many this year, Thanksgiving is going to look a bit different. If you’re still planning on celebrating with your immediate family and need some ideas for a scaled-down feast, Food52’s got you covered! (Food52)

• Budget Eats: Thanksgiving edition! - Delish’s June Xie is back with another video in which she takes $25 and stretches it as far as it can go in NYC. This week, she’s really upped the ante by using that $25 food budget to prepare a full Thanksgiving dinner for four people! (Delish on Youtube)

What are YOU reading, watching, and listening to today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Sydney's Sunday Reads: #10

Happy Sunday, friends!!

Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.

• #Shelfie! - What can be learned from snooping through the bookshelves of friends, family, romantic flames, and strangers? Perhaps they have a few dozen of their favorite novels, some cherished childhood picture books, a couple of cookbooks, or old textbooks from classes taken a decade ago. Maybe they’ve got a room with multiple stacks of yellowing books in every corner, or a neat desk with only a few curated titles on it. Much like a music library, Netflix queue, or online grocery order, a book collection can be a great way to get to know a person better. But is what you find in someone’s personal library always an accurate representation of who they are? In this article, Alex Luppens-Dale ponders why we’re all so obsessed with other people’s bookshelves. (Book Riot)

• When the human race wants a cookie… - If you’ve ever worried that one day your favorite chocolate and cream sandwich cookies would disappear from this Earth, worry no more! Oreo recently announced that the Global Oreo Vault, conveniently located right down the way from the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, is fully built and ready to take on any global catastrophe that may befall humankind. Though perhaps not even one-tenth as useful as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault - a secure structure containing one million seed samples meant to be planted in the event that all other attempts at growing crops fail - the Global Oreo Vault does contain the official recipe for Oreos and a giant stockpile of cookies to ensure no disruptions in the snack food chain. So if the world is somehow all on fire one day and you’ve still got a sweet tooth, you can rest easy knowing you’re totally covered. Yay? (Food & Wine)

• Oh, for the love of dogs! - The domestication of dogs may have begun far longer than previously thought - several thousand years longer to be exact! In a recent study published by the journal Science, by the end of the Ice Age, at least five types of dogs with distinct genetic ancestries were already in existence. Most interesting of all, even after 11,000 years, some of the same lineages can be traced to the dog breeds we know and love today like Chihuahuas and some types of spaniels! (CNN)

• Inside Ina’s pantry. - On every episode of Barefoot Contessa hosted by Ina Garten, you’ll find a parade of her fabulously wealthy Hamptons friends, a glimpse at her massive stockpile of fine dining sets, and even a brief appearance by her sweet husband Jeffery. Die-hard fans of the show and occasional viewers alike will be familiar with her regular suggestion while breaking down a recipe to use the “good” version of a pantry staple without ever actually making any specific recommendations. It’s become somewhat of a running joke and a bit of a head-scratcher at the same time (what does “good” even mean??). Well, if you’ve ever wanted a peek inside Ina’s pantry to settle the matter once and for all, here's your chance! (Bon Appetit)

• A delicious moment of zen. - This week in the US is going to be big, and it’s probably going to be stressful, so here’s a calming, ASMR-tastic video of Youtuber 꿀키honeykki cooking up the ultimate Julia Child classic, Boeuf Bourguignon:

What are YOU reading and watching today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Sydney's Sunday Reads: #5

Happy Sunday, friends! Have you ever held on to something for way too long? A grudge, a bad experience, a terrible feeling? There’s one that I hadn’t been able to really shake until this week when a bit of news knocked me off my feet. At first, I felt validated because I was no longer alone in how I felt, but as the days passed I started to realize: I had actually moved on more than I thought and it was no longer healthy to put myself back in that headspace. They say that time heals all, and I agree, but there is no one-size-cures-all temporal salve is there? The best medicine I’ve found is just moving on with your life. Show them that you’re thriving by focusing on what makes you happy. You’ve got too much to offer not to share it with the masses.

Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.

Hold on tight because here…we…go!

• Why the face? - In many countries, but America especially, the more “A-List” you are, the more your face is plastered on the cover of every single magazine known to man. So what happens when you decide to alter that face? Well, millions notice, and because expressing an opinion is free (and they figure they’ll never actually meet the celebrity they’re trashing in real life), they comment on it…a lot. It might seem like a celebrity going under the knife and later making multiple headlines for it is unique to the social media era, but the phenomenon of mega-star celebrities suddenly getting "a new face” and everyone making it their business to talk about it has been a thing for nearly a century. Admit it, you’ve stared way too hard at the pictures in those “Before and After” articles just like the rest of us. (Jezebel)

• Myth busting a superfood. - Avocados have become my ultimate go-to snack during the pandemic. I put them in grain bowls, on toast, in eggs, and even, occasionally, I eat one half raw with a spoon. But if you’ve ever bought an avocado you know what an incredibly slim window of time you have between under-ripe and ripe: if you wait too long, you’ll open yourself up to more brown spots than green. But as popular as avocados have always been, I bet there are a few things you didn’t know about them. For example, did you know you could freeze them? Real Simple has compiled a list of busted myths we’ve all grown up hearing about our favorite oval-shaped eggs of green goodness. (Real Simple)

• If I could turn back time… - Fans of time travel fiction should be excited about this one! University of Queensland student Germain Tobar has mathematically proven that time travel is actually possible. His peer-reviewed findings were recently published in Classical and Quantum Gravity. The math is understandably complex but here’s one super interesting takeaway: traveling to the past would more than likely not alter the present as long as at least two major aspects of a scenario remain the same. For instance, you could go back in time to the Titanic, interact with passengers, and even experience the ship hitting an iceberg, but you couldn’t warn the crew of the imminent threat or try to save someone who was meant to perish, as that would drastically change the present. Here’s another example outlined in a statement released by the university: you could go back in time to find Patient Zero before they spread the coronavirus, but by doing so, you would alter your entire motivation for traveling in time to stop Patient Zero at all. A fascinating paradox indeed! (Yahoo Finance)

• Life’s a picnic! - To me there is nothing more soul uplifting or romantic than dining outdoors. There’s just something about packing a basket to the brim with goodies for yourself or to share and taking in the nature around you that totally puts me at ease. Ever wondered how our friends around the world celebrate dining al fresco? Wonder no more! (Smithsonian Magazine)

• The New Spice Girls. - We all know how vital spices are for elevating literally any food, but how often do we take the time to learn exactly where the jarred spices on our rack come from or who’s growing them? In this article on MarthaStewart.com, you’ll meet a group of female entrepreneurs who are disrupting the spice trade by bringing small batch, high-quality spices directly to consumers, while also empowering growers and harvest teams around the world! (Martha Stewart)

• I always cry at weddings. - Just when I thought I had gotten every Zoom-hosted television and movie reunion I could ever want or ask for this year, romantic comedy queen and superfan of the sun-soaked coastal kitchen aesthetic Nancy Meyers goes and makes Father of the Bride 3 (ish). Not only were we blessed with an update on the beloved Banks family during quarantine, we were also treated to a super sweet surprise event! Best of all? This was done to raise awareness for a nonprofit I love, World Central Kitchen, which provides meals to those in need in the wake of natural and man-made disasters. Get your tissues ready for all the happy-crying you’re about to do!

What are YOU reading and watching today? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Let’s connect! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Sydney's Sunday Reads: #4

Happy Sunday, friends! What’s new? This morning I woke up with a pep in my step because the sun was shining brightly through the windows and I could feel a little nip in the air. Autumn in New England is my absolute favorite season of them all, and I plan to do as much as I can to celebrate it. If you’re looking for some fun things to do you could: find an orchard open to pick apples for ciders, caramels, and pies, go for a hike in a forest full of brilliantly-hued leaves, make the best, most spectacular-looking fall porch display, or even fix yourself a cuppa, open the windows, and let the smells of nature carry you away for a moment. Life might seem a little dreary right now, so find what makes you happy. There will always be beauty around you, even if you have to make it yourself.

Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.

Here we go!

• What the Peep? - Say what you will about our little marshmallow friends who taste like raw sugar, chemicals, and all the dyes your mother ever worried about: Peeps are a holiday staple every year. And as if 2020 couldn’t get any worse (who are we kidding, it seems like it tops itself every week), Just Born Quality Confections, the company that owns and makes Peeps, recently announced that their Halloween, Christmas, and even Valentine’s Day ‘21 collections won’t be released! They have a good reason though: production was halted n in March at the start of the pandemic shutdown to put safety first for their staff. While I’ll miss seeing miniature fluorescent fowl on my local supermarket shelves this year, you just can’t argue with the reason why. Still, I know there’s an old graduate professor of mine, a true fan of Peeps despite all the gourmet food he’s exposed to, who is somewhere deeply lamenting this loss. (Real Simple)

• Cuisines that connect us. - When Durkhanai Ayubi and her sisters traveled back to their native Afghanistan in 2012 after being away for 27 years, the first thing they noticed was its beauty - the beauty of nature, and the beauty of its people. The second thing they noticed was the cuisine, richly-steeped in history, and a true celebration of foodstuffs both native and imported. The sisters were touched by the enthusiastic and generous hospitality of relatives they had not seen in decades, and in those decades, their relatives had seen more than their fair share of hardships. Yet the need to give their guests the best that they could offer signified a lasting sense of pride. Inspired both by the magnitude of generosity bestowed upon them, and the food that had instantly resonated with them, the Ayubi sisters returned to their home in Australia ready to share their culture with the world by opening a restaurant, then opening another. In doing this, they found a way to stay deeply connected to two homes at once. (Travel + Leisure)

• Don’t rain on my (virtual) parade! - In 2020 it seems that almost every fun in-person event has gone virtual and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be no exception. According to a rep from Macy’s, this television-only special event will not feature the traditional 2.5-mile parade route, but will feature many of the parade’s signature character balloons, as well as street performers and other attractions. While we might miss seeing the crowds cheering with joy (and also looking like they’re about to freeze their fingers off. Seriously, doesn’t it always look SUPER COLD there?), Mayor Bill de Blasio promises that this reinvented take on a holiday tradition will still “really give us that warmth and that great feeling we have on Thanksgiving day”. (Rolling Stone)

• How COVID-19 has made us better cooks. - All this extra time at home has given seasoned and novice home chefs alike the opportunity to get creative in the kitchen, whether we wanted to or not! In this fun article, Dakota Kim talks about her quarantine cooking journey to discover new ingredients and strengthen her connection with other food lovers! (Food and Wine)

• Dear Diary… - Dwell magazine wants to know: is it time to start journaling again? Like many writers and stationery lovers, I am guilty of buying many, MANY pretty journals in which I planned to pen all of my deepest thoughts. What ends up happening instead is my chicken scratch gets scribbled into the same tattered notebook on my desk again and again and my pile of beautifully-bound journals grows, but the pages remain untouched. Perhaps if I had one of these beautiful babies I’d be inspired to switch over! (Dwell)

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