5-Year Journals, Katherine Heigl, and Beach Days
This week's edition of Simon Says.
This is Simon Says, Rachel Simon’s weekly newsletter that’s part life updates, part pop culture recs, and part whatever else is going on in her brain at the moment. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for more, and subscribe here to get this in your inbox every Sunday night.
What I’m writing
You know how I mentioned the other week that my two Raleigh Magazine stories were available to read? Turns out I was a bit ahead of myself, and the February issue actually just dropped this weekend. Oops. Read my stories on the city’s best hot chocolate and omakase here and here!
Also, for HelloGiggles, I wrote about the 365-day, 5-year journal I’ve had since 2017 and am *obsessed* with. If you like answering fun questions and judging your younger selves, this book is for you. Trust me.
What I’m reading
Yesterday, I finished Michael Crummey’s The Innocents, which was dark and weird and really, really interesting. Now, I’m starting Torrey Peters’ Detransition, Baby, a novel I’ve heard great things about and am very excited to get into. Will report back with thoughts next week!
On the article side of things, I devoured this profile of Katherine Heigl in TheWashington Post, which makes a lot of very good points about the treatment she got back in ‘09 for being called “difficult” and daring to call out Knocked Up.
What I’m watching
I watched two movies this week: The Assistant, a 2020 drama that is excellent and deeply depressing, and Sound of Metal, a 2020 drama that is also excellent and deeply depressing! Highly recommend both.
Also, we finally finished The Sopranos (uh, anyone want to talk about that ending?) as well as the newest season of Search Party, which didn’t feel as strong as previous seasons but was still really damn good.
And I watched all of Season 1 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. No shame.
What I’m listening to
Miley Cyrus’ Tiny Desk (Home) concert for NPR! Her cover of “Fade Into You” is perfection.
Closing thoughts
The first episode of the new Hot Ones season, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas, is super fun.
I’m still obsessed with this photo of Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana.
On the wedding front, we’re starting our florist search! If anyone has suggestions, hit me up. When it comes to flowers, I know… zero.
Lastly, we went to the beach on Saturday, and it was perfect.
Stay well, friends. Talk next week!
-Rachel