The Happy for Now List #5
Hi! It’s time for this week’s edition of the Happy for Now list! If you’re new here, this is just a weekly list of the little things that are making me happy for now. I hope they can maybe bring you a little happiness too!
When I originally named this newsletter, I chose the title because it relates to one of the possible endings of romance novels. But as the years go on, I realize that it fits in so many other ways for me. I think more than ever, I’m having to remind myself to look at the now, focus on what’s in front of me, find the pocket of joy in each day. I’m not naturally a now person. I’m a look-to-the-future person, but sometimes, thinking about the future is just anxiety-inducing. So, right now, I’m leaning hard into what is making me happy moment to moment. Here’s what brought me a little joy this week…
Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (on Max)Look, I love a music documentary, but I can’t say that I was looking for one about Yacht Rock. I mean, if you’re of a certain age, you know the music (“Sailing” by Christopher Cross, anyone?), but what I didn’t know was that it got the name Yacht Rock decades after the music itself (from a web series that satirized it.) But the moniker really does capture a certain type of easy-listening adult contemporary music that became huge in the late 70s/early 80s.
I decided to watch this with my husband one night when we were tired because I figured it would be low-key and wouldn’t take a lot of focus. However, I ended up being pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable (and educational this was.)
I think the beauty of a music documentary, especially one that doesn’t just focus on the personality of a particular artist and they’re exploits (what you usually get in rock docs), is that you get insight into the nuances of the music that you may have not thought too deeply about. In this instance, it was how musically layered these songs are. Also, that it was kind of a new thing for dudes to be singing sensitive songs about their feelings.
What was also fascinating was hearing Questlove (one of the interviewees) talk about how the Yacht Rock artists were appreciated in the Black community and how it blended with R&B. This is why a number of yacht rock songs have been sampled in hip hop songs. So interesting!
I ended up enjoying this way more than I expected and, yeah, it totally made me look for a yacht rock playlist on Spotify. (Questlove has a public one he made for the late Anthony Bourdain called Defense of Yacht Rock and Dentist Office Pop.) Plus, who couldn’t use some soothing right now, and what better way to do it than listening to the smooth sounds of Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Toto, and Kenny Loggins?
Mindy-Kaling-Created Shows (The Sex Life of College Girls on Max)You know how we have auto-buy authors? Well, I’m on an auto-watch plan for anything Mindy Kaling creates. I loved her teen comedy Never Have I Ever, so when I saw she was launching The Sex Lives of College Girls, I was already sold.
This friendship comedy follows a group of college roommates at the fictional Essex College and all their trials and tribulations. Season 3 just finished this week, and I have to say that even with one of my favorite characters leaving early in the season, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole season. (I’m already ready for another!)
This show is modern and fun and feminist and not afraid to go there with, well, the sex lives of college girls, in a way that I think is so refreshing. It doesn’t feel exploitative and it isn’t filmed for “sexiness”. Relationships, especially in college, can be awkward and confusing and I feel like this show isn’t afraid to tackle that. But also, it’s about much more than sex. It’s about women supporting women and those friendships that feel so intense at that time in our lives.
So, if you’re looking for a fun, sassy show to watch, check this one out.
A snack that makes me feel old but is delicious
Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOVFor years, my mother has been extolling the virtues of dried fruits. There was always a variety in the pantry—prunes, figs, raisins, and dates. But beyond the occasional dried apricot, I wasn’t a fan.
So when I started seeing dates show up regularly in recipes in the cookbooks I bought, I just skipped past them. Until recently.
After dinner, I always want a little something sweet. Usually, this means a mini chocolate bar of some type—a Milky Way, a Heath bar, etc. And there’s nothing wrong with a little chocolate (don’t take my chocolate!), but I started to wonder if there was something else I could substitute sometimes that was a bit healthier. I decided to get some Medjool dates to try with peanut butter.
Readers, I guess I’m officially in my Golden Girl stage because damn if those ugly ass things aren’t delicious, lol. When stuffed with a little crunchy peanut butter (or pistachio butter if I’m feeling fancy), they have a caramel taste that totally satisfies my craving for something sweet after my meal.
Even more of a surprise, my family saw this new habit of mine and both my husband and teen were like, well, can I try? They are now on the date train and I have to prepare three each night so we each get one.
I spent 15 dollars on a box of dates yesterday at Whole Foods and caught myself eyeing the figs. I don’t even know who I am anymore!
So, as weird of a list item as this may be, it is actually something that makes me happy in the moment and that I look forward to each night.
Also, I didn’t put a photo of a date above because, bless their wrinkly hearts, they are not beauty contestants. They’re sweet and have good personalities though. ;)
Alright, that’s all I have for you this week! What little things are keeping you going? I’d love to hear!
*quietly wonders how many unsubscribes I’m going to get because I talked about dates*
