Something to: 7 things I loved this week
Introducing "Something to", a weekly roundup of random things I'm enjoying.
When I started Nobody is reading this, I knew I wanted to write about everything and nothing — from my most personal feelings and reflections to pop culture moments that I can’t stop thinking about (like, where the hell is Kate Middleton?).
On a lighter note, I’m happy to introduce Something to, a weekly roundup of random things I’m enjoying right now. Every Saturday morning, I’ll bring you a handful of something to’s, from books to podcasts, style inspiration and interesting people to follow on social media.
Something to read
“Primeiro eu tive de morrer” by Lorena Portela
Although I write this newsletter in English, I never want to shy away from sharing beautiful stories that are written in my mother tongue. This book was recommended to me by a friend who enthusiastically said, “You HAVE to read it. If you don’t find it, just borrow my copy. It might be a bit triggering, but I think you’re going to love it and see so much of yourself in this.” She was absolutely right. Even though I haven’t finished it yet, this book is a familiar tale of professional nightmare, stress, trauma, and burnout. It also begs the question: “Quantas mortes uma mulher já enfrentou para continuar viva?” (In a loose translation, "How many deaths has a woman faced to stay alive?) The cover is illustrated by Carolina Burgo, painting a raw, yet delicate picture for what you’re about to read.
The book is now available in Portugal in your standard stores, but it’s much more special if you buy it from Greta Livraria, a feminist Lisbon-based bookstore.
Something to listen to
RuPaul’s Call Her Daddy episode
If you’re a fan of a good talk, you’ll probably love this interaction between Alex Cooper and RuPaul. The conversation is raw, vulnerable and funny, touching on everything from childhood trauma to substance abuse, romantic relationships and cheating.
Here’s something that RuPaul said during the podcast that stuck with me:
For a person to become present in this moment, and this is true of every human on this planet, to be present in this moment would invite you to recognize how much pain you're in right now. So we distract ourselves with whatever we can get our hands on to not experience the depth of pain that we are in. But to move forward in this life, you have to walk through that fire. You have to walk through that pain to get to the other side. There's no other way.
Something to watch
Why I don’t post anymore, from Damon Dominique
Truth be told, I watched this video a few weeks ago, but I really wanted to share it on Something to. Whether you deal with social media and content on a daily basis or not, Damon makes some really interesting points about these two topics, bringing a refreshing take to a space that often feels saturated and “done”. I could just listen to him for hours and hours.
Something to shop
Mesh flats
Will I get bored of mesh flats once the year is over? Maybe. Will that stop me from buying yet another pair? Absolutely not. Although they’re a controversial shoe, I can absolutely vouch for how comfortable they are. I also think they look pretty great with pretty much everything, and I must admit I did not blink while adding these one’s to my cart. The open heel feels quite fresh for Spring and Summer, and if you’re not into the whole ballet flat thing, they’re a great alternative. And yes, I might just go back for the white version.
Something to recreate when you don’t know what to wear
The other day I texted a friend with a very big problem (please take this not with a pinch of irony, but with the whole bag): I’m having a style crisis. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I work from home everyday or that I look at my clothes and feel like I have nothing to wear, but getting dressed in the morning has become a grueling challenge.
But praise be for the Internet, right? SO. MUCH. INSPIRATION. Like this look from Chloe Pinchasick, which has been on my mind 24/7. It’s everything my Spring dreams are made of: a chunky sweater with an interesting neckline, a *chef’s kiss* pair of jeans, mesh flats (of course), and that! bag from The Row.
Something to follow
Katie Casper’s Instagram and TikTok accounts
Katie is one of my favorite creators to follow when it comes to style inspiration and combining simples pieces in a way that feels exciting and new. I’m obsessed with her secondhand picks, her outfits, and her styling tips. Case in point: this easy hack to turn your shirt into a more fitted top. Genius.
Something to save for later
This post from WeTheUrban
I often save these mental health reminders and I read them to myself when I’m feeling down or a bit more anxious than usual. I found this thread to be particularly helpful for those moments when you need to remind yourself that not everyone will like you or understand you, and that’s fine — as long as you know yourself and invest in yourself, even when others don’t, you’ll be ok.
Thank you so much for reading Nobody is reading this! Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed the first edition of Something to and what you would like to see next.
Monica, It's always a pleasure to read your texts, but above all to know that you're still active in writing