Tag: sufjan stevens

Week Links [25 October]

Chelsea HarperLeave a comment
honestly? a vibe.

Good morning! It’s been a minute! I have to admit that it’s hard to come up with ten+ things a week to talk about that aren’t repeats, given that we’re all still stuck inside, going through the motions. I’m going to try to do a spending freeze for a week, starting tomorrow…it should be easy, but ever since I entered the workforce on my 16th birthday, shopping has honestly been my main source of serotonin.

Another amazing source of serotonin that I didn’t truly appreciate until my mid-twenties is…Christmas! So, full disclosure, I am the most annoying and staunch atheist you’ll ever meet (though I try to be very respectful of other people’s views and have friends from several different religious backgrounds!), but Christmas is my jam. I’ve already made my (all secular) Christmas playlists and plan on decorating on November 1st (I think you have to at least wait until Halloween is over). I have two Christmas trees…I do not mess around. I think this will probably be the year I finally upgrade my hand-me-down pre-lit green tree with colored bulbs to a chic white one (the other is rose gold, nbd). Last year I didn’t decorate at all because I was severely depressed and grieving the loss of a family member, so this year I plan to go ALL OUT to make up for lost time. Call me sappy, but I feel very inspired by the Christmas season. During (literally) the darkest time of year, everywhere you look is bright and festive. One incredible thing about getting older is that I’ve become so much less cynical and have learned to actually find joy in things that are meant to be joyful.

Anyway, fair warning: there will probably be a lot of Christmas content from me this year. Also, if you don’t think “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey is at least a Top 5 Christmas song, please unsubscribe.

Well, what follows has nothing to do with anything I’ve written here, so…[insert segue]

  1. Honestly can’t believe I haven’t shouted out the new Sufjan. Get into The Ascension.
  2. I’ve officially reached a new quarantine delusion level. I’m buying handbags and accoutrements as though I’ll ever leave my house again. Where could I even wear platform purple sandals in real life, much less during the plague? Same question, but about these.
  3. Dresses like this are my entire vibe now.
  4. Gonna try this out on my new blonde locks (see below).
  5. Mariah writes about this VH1 Divas performance in her book and that chapter is must-read entertainment. Apparently the drama has been much discussed!
  6. I am hanging on by a THREAD not buying these. Perhaps even by the time you read this post, I will have caved. As someone with (self-diagnosed, to be fair) Reynaud’s who has a complex about never having been able to follow trends as a youth (cut to me purchasing a Longchamp bag in 2016), I am extremely susceptible to capitalistic peer pressure, especially when it involves warmth!
  7. I am too poor to buy everything from this amazing queer, trans-owned jewelry company, but that doesn’t make me want to any less! Plz give me all of the anklets!
  8. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was actually a delight.
  9. I’ll definitely be making these tempeh lettuce wraps soon.
  10. Be honest—should I get this poster? I love this Etsy shop; I think I’m going to do a Tarantino wall in our media room.
  11. Got these adorable earrings from Flower Dangles. My handmade earring collection is one of my greatest treasures!
*extremely kate-mckinnon-as-keith-urban voice* who did your highlights?

Enjoy what’s left of your weekend, and if you observe the Spooky Season, I wish you a Happy Halloween! -chels

Shout Out Sunday 2.9.20

Chelsea HarperLeave a comment

Good day, sunshines! I truly think I’d post these more regularly if it weren’t for the pressure of choosing a photo. This week—I don’t even care. Let’s get to it, shall we?

sanders_32
nothing but respect for my president

  1. I absolutely need this poster. And if you want to get me the accompanying t-shirt, I won’t be mad. And, I cannot tell a lie, I bought the tote.
  2. My skin, especially my hands, have been dry af this winter, so I’ve been using this nonstop.
  3. I know it’s only February, but this has to be the best album of the year, right?
  4. Michael and I started watching Curb Your Enthusiasm again and, it’s truly the greatest show ever made.
  5. We also just watched the newest season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and it’s an absolute fever dream. I think I’ll watch it again before I form a solid critical opinion. I’m also listening to the Maisel Goys, of course.
  6. Can’t wait to watch Alison Brie’s new movie, Horse Girl.
  7. I also really want to watch the Taylor Swift documentary.
  8. I joined DSA on New Year’s Day. Link up!
  9. This song slaps, and was used quite beautifully in Sex Education, a show I cannot help but stan in all of these lists every week.
  10. This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

Peace to all freaks! Until next week,

c

Music Medicine

Chelsea HarperLeave a comment

So, the mild throat pain I experienced after disembarking from the plane home has turned into the full-blown flu. Or, possibly the flu. I rarely-to-never get sick, so this feels apocalyptic to me.

My sweet fiancé has been wonderfully catering to my needs. I have been too germ-infested to cook, so he brought me soup from Panera last night and he ran to Dunks to get me an iced coffee this afternoon.

I finally mustered up the courage to take (2-years-expired) NyQuil last night. The taste of cough medicine has always triggered my gag reflex. It’s added insult to injury; I already feel like death, and the only cure is vile chemical liquid that tastes like dead hopes and dreams? Unfair. It did the trick, though. I slept from 11 pm to 8 am, woke briefly to call out of work, and then went back to bed until 1:30. Apart from the runny nose and the sinus headache, I actually do feel slightly better. Hopefully I’ll be well enough to work tomorrow. Know what’s super great when you have a college education to fund and a wedding coming up? Going on an unpaid vacation and then being too sick to go back to work and get dat money.

One of the perks of being home alone and immobile all day is it’s a great opportunity to listen to the 15 or so CDs I purchased from Amoeba & Rasputin. Right now I’m listening to this Mutemath record:

Mutemath, MUTEMATH (2006) image via Amazon

I think I’ll need to give the album another listen to truly evaluate it. I’ve been meaning to check them out for ages, mostly because their drummer, Darren King, is married to Stacy (Sucré) from my favorite band, Eisley. My obsession with the DuPree clan will become apparent as this blog grows.

The other albums I bought while in California:

*all above images via Amazon

I had owned many of these albums before, in mp3 form, but I’m really committed to buying all of my music in the best digital quality possible, and right now, that remains CDs (unless that Neil Young PONO situation gets off the ground).

Anyway, thanks as always for reading. Anyone have any thoughts on my new acquisitions?

Tunesday

Chelsea HarperLeave a comment

World's tiniest herb garden.
World’s tiniest herb garden.

Despite my literal green thumb (courtesy of Essie Mojito Madness), I am notorious for killing every plant I come into contact with. That’s why the fact that these little buddies are still kicking is an immense personal triumph. Thankfully, my boyfriend is more thoughtful and attentive than I am–he’s their main source of water.

The weather was super gloomy in the Boston area today, so comfort food and comfort music are absolute essentials. For dinner, I’m preparing a braised lentil dish, adapted from an incredible recipe that can be found here: Braised Lentils & Vegetables.

It’s simmering away on the stovetop right now, and the whole house smells like soup, which is basically happiness manifest. I also picked up a bottle of vinho verde at Trader Joe’s, and, as an aspiring Portuguese person, I’m in bubbly heaven right now.

Lentils, carrots, celery, and onions soaking up some Pinot Grigio.
Lentils, carrots, celery, and onions soaking up some Pinot Grigio.

Much like the smell of soup can evoke feelings of warmth and contentment, there are certain pieces of music that can feel like wrapping a soft blanket around yourself. Lately, I have not been able to get Sufjan Stevens’ “Eugene,” from his most recent album, Carrie and Lowell, out of my head. It is 2 minutes and 24 seconds of pure sweetness. Despite the heavy Christian imagery and influence in much of Sufjan’s music, his genius art has resonated with me deeply for the past ten years. The new album is so spare and haunting, yet imbued with so much hope and positivity. It is so vulnerable and human that it almost takes on its own life. “Eugene” finds Sufjan reminiscing about his childhood upon the death of his stepfather. Despite the gravity of the subject and the yearning refrain, “I just wanna be near you,” the song is strangely uplifting. Or maybe Sufjan is just tricking us with major chords. Who knows?

In any case, it’s worth listening to “Eugene.” And then buying Carrie and Lowell. And everything else he’s ever released. Hey, Asthmatic Kitty, can you hire me for PR?