ART/INSTAGRAM:
I've been researching how to make DIY food/product photography backdrops as of late and so have therefore, been following more food photography Instagram accounts, as listed here...
Renee is a self-taught photographer, food stylist and recipe developer. Check out her stunning reels on Instagram! I spent quite a long time (I don't want to admit how much time) going through her reels - so mesmerizing.
Francesco Pruneddu is a digital creator specifically showcasing food. Again, please check out his reels - especially those showing him making pasta!
Joanie Simon (who is located in my home state, Arizona!) is a food photographer and teacher. I found her on Youtube when I was searching for DIY food photography backdrops and she has a video that I'm following to make textured backgrounds.
BOOK:
Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson
My mother bought this book when I was younger as one day when she was shopping she came across this title with our last name on it. I recently decided to reread it as I couldn't remember what took place. It was delightful. This book was originally written in Finnish and was translated into English. It was released in 1948. The book has illustrations and I think it's written wonderfully. And who says adults can't read children's books? Technically, this is the third book in the series but you can definitely read this book without reading the first two. We also have two other books in the series that I will pick up to read soon.
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The Summary: It is spring in the valley and the Moomins are ready for adventure! Moomintroll and his friends Snufkin and Sniff find the Hobgoblin's top hat, all shiny and new and just waiting to be taken home. They soon realize that his is no ordinary hat; it can turn anything―or anyone―into something else!
ARTICLES:
I Recommend Eating Chips by Sam Anderson by The New York Times
"For me, a bag of chips is a way to defeat time. It brings temporary infinity: a feeling that it will never end. A chip. A chip. A chip. Another chip. The chips come like ocean waves, like human breaths, serial but unique, each part of a huge eternal rhythm but also its own precious discovery."
Late-Stage Pandemic Is Messing With Your Brain by Ellen Cushing by The Atlantic
"Everywhere I turn, the fog of forgetting has crept in. A friend of mine recently confessed that the morning routine he’d comfortably maintained for a decade—wake up before 7, shower, dress, get on the subway—now feels unimaginable on a literal level: He cannot put himself back there. Another has forgotten how to tie a tie. A co-worker isn’t sure her toddler remembers what it’s like to go shopping in a store. The comedian Kylie Brakeman made a joke video of herself attempting to recall pre-pandemic life, the mania flashing across her face: “You know what I miss, is, like, those night restaurants that served alcohol. What were those called?” she asks. “And there were those, like, big men outside who would check your credit card to make sure you were 41?”"
how to do nothing by Jenny Odell by Medium
"...what a relief to have nothing to say, the right to say nothing, because only then is there a chance of framing the rare, and ever rarer, thing that might be worth saying."
LIST:
99 Random Acts of Kindness to Spread Some Joy by Emily Torres by The Good Trade
In these times of uncertainty, receiving a random act of kindness can be all the difference in how you feel that day, so why not act kindly yourself? Here are some of my favorites from this list:
Be extra patient and helpful with someone who is a beginner at something you’re a pro at. This could be baking, building with wooden blocks, or developing a website.
Baking cookies for yourself? Make a double batch and drop the extras off to friends, family, and neighbors. (I've been bringing cookies over to my grandparent's house as of late).
Send your friend a gift card via email to their favorite coffee shop or lunch go-to. (This is one of my favorites to do - I have sent over treats to my friend's place in another state after we talked about how they had never had them before and have sent money over to a friend so they could treat themselves to a bottle of wine).
If means allow, slip some cash under a parking ticket. You never know how much of an impact a single unexpected ticket can have on a budget, so offer a stranger a little wiggle room.
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Photos I've taken as of late:
xx