This week

Friday lifespo: Vivienne Westwood on a damn tank. Sticking it to David Cameron over the environment. | Leon Neal via Getty

I’m writing this while watching Serena battle it out with Roberta Vinci in a match that’s WAY too much of a nail biter for my taste. Every point for Serena feels like a victory but Vinci is forcing us to pay attention. She is on those returns like nothing else with fast footwork and sharp serves. Seeing two women battle it out at this high level of competition is inspiring. As feminists we have a responsibility to help each other out but we also can’t shy away from healthy competition. Love watching badass women duke it out.

Vinci won. </3

READ

Seattle educators on strike! And five ways to support the strike. Fall book selections. Against comments. Hipster Barbie living #thatPNWlife.

WATCH

Serena slaying dumbo journalists asking dumbo questions. Who else is watching the US Open?

LISTEN

The Arcs – Yours, Dreamily, (a new side project from the lead signer of the Black Keys)

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2015 Goals: August

Sidewalk blooms, North Ballard

Prettiest lunch date

Downtime: August was just a lovely blur of sunshine, work, sunglasses, chores, weddings, homies, and summer.

Shilshole Marina, Seattle

Summer BBQs done right

Happy 21st birthday to Dan!

Exercise: I’ve been experimenting with exercising later in the evening. For years, I would work out immediately after work but with a 50 min commute I was just too hungry and tired and it wasn’t happening. Now I come home, make and eat dinner right away, chill for a bit, and then work out around 8pm. It’s not a perfect system but it’s yielded more consistent results than before. And my strength is improving! Yoga with Adriene has been fantastic for gaining strength and flexibility. Her jokes are corny but, hey, so are mine!

Bridesmaid-ing on the beach, Carkeek Park

Snack break

Travel: Just over a month to go….and I’m ready. London is all set and Spain is coming together as Siiri’s fall plans solidify a bit more.  Need to brainstorm a rough packing list so I don’t box up things I need in the move (plug adapters and my passport come to mind).

August bounty

Retirement: I managed to not freak out the day the stock market nose dived! And then I held off for two whole days before looking at my accounts. Working on taking deep breaths and forgetting they are there.

Currently receiving much fiscal inspiration from my buddy Megan who is blogging openly about her six month campaign to get her financial house in order on The Billfold.

The beat lives on

Arts: Blerg. This just hasn’t been on my radar. It’s like summer, man. So in true summer spirit I went to two outdoor concerts with my beloved Kat: Alabama Shakes at the gorgeous Marymoor Park concert space (new to me!) and The Coup at the Mural, part of KEXP’s awesome free summer concert series.

The Seattle Public Library summer reading challenge really pushed me to try new things. While I wasn’t successful in completing a “bingo” I did tackle some new or lesser explored genres. Plus, the bingo square prompts were so fun!

Published the year you were born [1986]: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Finished in a day: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Author under 30: The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht (didn’t finish this one, it just wouldn’t hold my attention)

And a fun beach read plug for The Royal We by Heather Cock and Jessica Morgan. A well researched and engaged meringue of a novel! Would probably be equally great for a rainy weekend under a fluffy blanket.

Under the needle

*Edited to include all the books I read and rudely forgot to post. I’ve been posting book recos on instagram under #LTTW2015readinglist.

This week

Feel those Labor Day ~~vibes~~

I started rewatching Mad Men a few weeks ago and have been feeling some very 60s vibes (also young Peggy!). There’s also something about rewatching a show at 29 that you first watched at 21 that is just a complete mind bender. Betty is 28 is the first season. I’m sure that felt at least half a lifetime away at the time and now I have a weekend off between the weddings of two of my closest childhood friends both of whom have fresh masters’ degrees. Life is a trip, man. The weather isn’t exactly going to cooperate this weekend but I’m hella pumped to have some friend time, start purging my objectionable amount of personal belongings in preparation to move at the end of the month, and maybe even veg the eff out this weekend. I’m thinking a day dedicated to each. What are you up to?

READ

Dirtbag Karl Marx. Security cameras with party hats. Go-to pop culture references. My beautiful friend Sarah on two years of struggling with infertility. This epic Go Fug Yourself thread on bad first dates.

Last week Ten thousand days ago, Boots Riley from The Coup was interviewed by my friend Jesse alongside local artists Gabriel Teodros and Geo. The conversation was incredible and enriching. Read Boots’ new book if you have the chance.

WATCH

Kat and I finished Sense8 and give it extremely enthusiastic thumbs up. Wilco live on KEXP. Kat introduced me to Kasey Musgraves and her Tiny Desk Concert is just delightful.

LISTEN

Wondaland Records – Hell You Talmbout (Listen immediately and let it really sink in.)

Tell Us Something – I Didn’t Sign Up For Idaho, or, Kim Kardashian’s Got Nothing On Me! (My girl Katie – who just got married! – tells the ultra hilarious story of her first time camping.)

NYPL Podcast – Chimamanda Adichie and Zadie Smith on Race, Writing, and Relationships (“I think it’s important for brilliant women to step out as hot babes.” This far reaching conversation is a dream world.)