Divas down BAD!
Leap Day calls for some links!
Hello from the interior of my big fluffy robe, the armor I’ve been braving my waking hours with for the past few days. I think the worst of it is over at least, but it’s officially over this weekend because I am not breaking my Solidcore streak. Hopefully my immune system can understand the seriousness of the matter.
It’s Leap Day, which is fun! I searched February 29 in my camera roll, and it seems that the only documentation I have of any previous leap days is from a poem I wrote in 2020, a little before the world fully shut down. It’s funny how close and how far I feel from the person who wrote this. Obviously I knew something shifted!
It’s cute that every four years we get an extra day. We’re still devising what we want to do (aside from watching the new episodes of Love Is Blind S6) to celebrate considering we’re still coughing up a lung over here, but I think it’ll be a sweet day. I hope yours is a good one! — MF
If you’ve fallen off the horse with your New Year’s resolutions, now’s the time to get back on. That’s right, I’ve actually been following my goal of writing more for the first time ever. So, between devoting at least 3 hours to writing on Sundays, consuming every morsel of content I can around this season of Love Is Blind, and getting over a flu that took me out for two weeks, it’s been a busy month! But we have a lot of great content teed up, including our first ever month-long series, so don’t you worry. Keep your eyes peeled! — LM
P.S. I tried to search February 29 in my camera roll, but literally nothing came up. In a power ranking of months I did a little while ago, February fell in second to last place, so I guess there’s nothing going on worth documenting there!
Hunter-gatherer corner
What we’ve read and DMed each other about lately — our internet bounty is below!
“Why all the internet’s boyfriends are Irish” by Kyndall Cunningham - Vox — As a devoted wife to Paul Mescal and ex child bride to Niall Horan, when Kyndall pitched this story to me I knew it was going to be a banger. — MF
“The ‘Disney Adult’ Industrial Complex” by Amelia Tait - The New Statesman — I find Disney adults as cringe as the next person, but I did find this piece on how the company has succeeded at weaving them into the fabric of their business model super fascinating. Plus, as Tait writes: “Most everyone is now technically a Disney adult – or at least, it seems hard to find an adult who has never given any money at all to the corporation.” — MF
“Meet the Family” by Chloe Joe - Bustle — I cannot remember the last time I read something in Bustle, was not entirely sure they were still publishing. Now I’m remembering a college field trip Lilly and I took where we were bussed to NYC from Boston to visit their office, which I remember was brand new at the time and seemed so cool. I was wearing a hideous pink blazer and I think if I remember correctly they offered our class summer freelance work that barely paid? (They also famously told us their internship was really hard to get, so if any of us were interested, we probably wouldn’t have much of a chance anyway. Media!!! <3 — LM) Anyway, this was a delightful, well-written exploration of the archetypes that are dominating stan culture right now! — MF
“Ask Ugly: I’m addicted to lip balm” by Jessica DeFino - The Guardian — Figured I should link
’s great column on account of all the lip products I’ve been recommending in recent TIW! issues LOL. — MF“Beauty Felt Like A Second Job — One I Couldn't Afford To Keep” by Jessica DeFino -
(Originally Vice) — Not to piggyback off of what Melinda said… but this essay by Jessica DeFino on what it was like to work on the content side of the Kardashian apps in their heyday was one of my favorite things that I read in the last two weeks. Obviously, the Kardashians don’t make all that money by being good bosses, but this behind-the-scenes look at the toxic work environment that had content editors like DeFino working nearly all day for less than minimum wage was equal parts scandalous and horrifying. Kind of like a lot of Vice content that may be in danger. Glad DeFino republished it on her own Substack! — LM“How Much Does It Cost to Save a Relationship?” by Angelina Chapin - The Cut — I’m such a sucker for financial essays. I love finding out what people spend on breakfast smoothies or Ubers in Refinery29’s “Money Diaries” and in this case, I loved seeing what Chapin and her partner spent on couple’s therapy, a bigger apartment, and other splurges to revive their relationship. Worth the read if you’re nosy like me (plus, in general, this is just a very honest piece about how love isn’t always enough… especially if you are two people trying to work from home in a 600-square foot apartment). — LM
Why Not?
Why Not? is our biweekly list of recommendations. Think recipes, gift guides, podcasts, clothes, and anything we consider to be generally chic. Have a suggestion? Let us know!
Portuguese egg tarts — I don’t know how these evaded me for so long. On a walk, Paul and I tried them at a local bakery and wow, it’s amazing how there are always new pastries to discover in this city. I just got a kitchen torch, so I’ll keep you updated if I ever attempt this feat. Now I’ve been wanting don tot ice cream too. This whole thing has put me into custard mode like my name is Noo Noo. — MF
Network TV nights — My friends who live nearby have a YouTube TV subscription and it’s the gift that keeps on giving. About a month ago, they stumbled onto a kind of ridiculous game show on Fox called The Floor, in which contestants duke it out in incredibly basic trivia. Going to their place every week to watch was very fun — and if you know anyone with access to network TV, I suggest you start a similar weekly tradition!! — LM
Dieux at Sephora — I’ve previously gone on and on in this newsletter and in real life about how good these products are, so I feel obliged to tell you that they are now even MORE accessible, available at Sephora now #notspons. You should probably wait til the big April sale though. (Should I do a product roundup in advance of the VIB Rouge sale? Hm….pocket watchers and coin counters, stay tuned.) — MF
Rewatching Mad Men — Honestly, it still holds up! Plus, Paul forgot to cancel our free trial, so we’re locked in for the next month anyway, but I don’t mind being held hostage by Jon Hamm in the evenings. — MF
Leap Year (2010) (dir. Anand Tucker) — For a few months leading up to our wedding, I convinced my husband to watch a wedding-related rom com with me every weekend. This one, centered around an adorable Amy Adams going to Ireland to participate in the Irish tradition of proposing to her boyfriend on Leap Day, was one of his favorites. (Oh they need to remake this with Paul Mescal and Ayo Edibiri immediately. — MF) Watch it tonight if you’re feeling festive! — LM
Black Elderberry Syrup - Gaia Herbs — Listen, I’m not a supplement person so I am not easily swayed in that direction. But my actual PCP recommended this one to me for immune support when I was dealing with my recent and seemingly endless flu, and I quite literally trust him with my life. Grab it if you feel like you need a boost! — LM
If you liked this issue, write a Leap Day poem! Tell us your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram (@lilly_milman | @melindafakuade), and share it with the person you’d like to propose to in Ireland!