Tár, Problemista, Magdalene Odundo, Al Kassir, Falcon Leather, Rita's Dining, Spiraglow EGF Serum

I’ve not been to the gym since February. I couldn’t justify a 35 min drive to the big gym in Wolverhampton so I just gave up. I finally found a good gym, 10 min drive away and a wonderful trainer, Lisa.

I don’t particularly like the gym, but it’s the only way to keep my lower back issues at bay. It’s also important for women, post 40, to build muscle. Our bone density and muscle mass start to wither away with age and women are more susceptible to osteoporosis.

The risk for osteoporosis and osteopenia—low bone density that’s not yet in the osteoporosis range—is higher in women because female bones typically are smaller and less dense than male bones. The risk increases at menopause, when levels of bone-bolstering estrogen fall.

And I remember in Miranda July’s book All Fours, (AKA the menopause novel) her doctor kept telling her to lift weights. So I’ve begun training again and I’m writing this on a sunny Monday, post gym…

My Monday Muse is the Kenyan-British artist Dame Magdalene Anyango Namakhiya Odundo DBE who creates the most beautiful vessels that are an exploration of her diasporic identity and the charged role that objects play in intercultural relationships. The catalogue for her show The Journey of Things has been very inspiring for me.

Feeling... Conflict between sleepy and wanting to rest and productive and wanting to plan my whole 2025.

Watching...  Tár (2022) is finally on Netflix. I didn't want to pay for ANOTHER streaming service so I kept seeing it on Now TV and ignoring it. Tar was stylish and brilliant and highbrow and confusing and this analysis is my fave and I also loved reading about the indigenous people the movie is dedicated to.

I also watched Problemista (2023), a VERY surreal and funny take on the immigration process as an El Salvadorian toy designer dreams of working at Hasbro in NYC. He gets in a weird relationship with his boss Tilda Swinton and it was beautifully done.

Eating... I ate so much good food in London last week that it warrants a separate post but I went to Silva’s, Bebe Bob, Ritas, Rosas, Linas and Electric Diner (for the Matzo Ball soup). I was giddy with excitement to eat at Rita's. I just love love love the food they do and that I never know what will be on the menu. I normally hate Okra, but this dish was divine.

Drinking... Missy Flynn, the cofounder of Rita’s studied Food Anthropology and has a soft spot for Mexico. So when I saw this bottle on the shelf, I wanted to know what she had procured. Nixta is a sweet corn liqueur that was delicious neat! I’m going to get a bottle for Christmas cocktails.

Applying... Well well well. I've gone overboard on the beauty atm. I've been using Spiraglow EGF Serum and its incredible.

Smelling... Okay guys, I've been testing out fragrances and buying them up like crazy and I've been wearing this insane combo. Al Kassir smells of sandalwood, cardamom and patchouli. Sexy and heavenly. And the aim of Falcon Leather was to “create a leathery scent inspired by falconers’ gloves”. I've been layering them together.

Wearing... I bought this blue fluffy jumper from Other Stories and I can't stop wearing it and I'm getting a bunch of compliments.

Reading... I bought every issues of the vintage EROS Magazine which lasted just one year in 1962 because the founder was jailed for obscenities. It's a highbrow erotica journal. I've been reading the articles in great details such as “Love Making Can Be Fatal: In France they call it ‘The Sweet Death’” by John Erno Russell (Autumn, 1962)

Looking... v ungroomed. Not coming back to London for 2025 so no make up or hair straighteners for me.

Podcasts… 

• I listened to a four part series on life of Cleopatra.
• I listened to a downtown NYC make up artist talk about creativity and culture.
• I listened to the founders of DS & Durga talk perfume.
• I listened to the United Health suspect epic.
• I listened to an interview with the writer of Problemista (2023) on surrealism in film.

Listening... I've always been a top Beyonce listener on Spotify. I've no shame in saying that. And the lyrics to Amen - I feel it in my soul.

After watching Tár (2022) I also woke up and listened to one of my fave Beethoven pieces: Symphony No 7

Business 2.0…  The brand formerly known as Haeckels has removed its logo from all packaging and website after the founder realised that the namesake was a Nazi sympathiser. Very bold move and probably unprecedented from a beauty brand. Imagine a brand with NO LOGO. They're also using 100% compostable packaging from Shellworks. Business 2.0 means doing good for the people and planet while also figuring out how to be profitable. I think the team in Margate have nailed it. Read the mission here.

Thinking... About my Christmas menu. I'm hosting 25ish people at mine this year. What to cook!

Have a great week!

Love Shar X