Bad Romance part 2: The romance genre needs better critique, not more gatekeepers
Though romance novels have always centered relationships and women, there’s no argument that issues of consent and coercion abound in the genre's shady past. Consider the conflicted relationships readers have with Kathleen Woodwiss’ The Flame
and the Flower, a novel that is said to have started the modern “bodice ripper” romance genre. Here’s part two analyzing the romance genre in books…
Looking inward teaches me to accept myself as I am
During yoga last night, I was instructed to look inward, to close my eyes and only see myself. To look inward toward myself for satisfaction. I spent the entire hour with my eyes closed just doing what felt right in my body and not trying to compete with the girl on the mat next to me. That simple choice to keep my eyes closed and look inward was incredibly awakening. It inspired me.
You have to see this radically honest YouTube docu-series about race, gender, sexualities, and more
I was introduced to StyleLikeU as a media platform producing “radically honest docu-style videos that give voice to role models of all body-types, ages, races, genders, sexualities, and abilities, who stand proudly outside of norms and are comfortable in their skin, disentangling style from fashion in the process.” Um, yes please. This required further investigation since it sounded fairly groundbreaking. I was absolutely not disappointed.
I’ve been married for three years and I still can’t pick a married last name
It happens all the time. Someone will look at me, ask for my name, and I’ll panic. What is my name here? My doctor and my library know me as Ms. My-Last-Name. Our dog groomer and favorite restaurant know me as Mrs. His-Last-Name. My bank knows me as both. And at some point, my gym changed my name to match my husband’s, but I forget and give them the wrong name every time. Who am I this time?
Always looking SHARP: cactus accessories for your home and your bod
Some things are just HOT right now: alpacas, festival gear, desert stuff… but one thing that makes me happy is the endurance of the cactus and succulent trend. Please stay forever, my prickly and green lovelies. Aloe you very much. You’re always looking sharp. I’m ready to stop being a cact-I and start being a cact-US. Many apologies for all those puns.
Let’s take a look at some of the most adorable cactus accessories for wearing and decoration no matter what season it is…
16 breakup TV shows to binge watch your way back to life
Remember my big roundup of best breakup movies to soothe your poor broken heart? It’s time to dive down the boob tube rabbit hole to find the most bingeable breakup TV shows.
Grab your favorite snack (40 lb. bag of cereal marshmallows, perhaps?) and get to watching…
You can totally own a retro ’90s Caboodles makeup case again
If you were collecting makeup (or crafting supplies, art supplies, various junk!), you probably had a Caboodles makeup case sitting in your room in some shade of retro pastel fabulousness. Vintage versions have been available at places like eBay, Etsy, and vintage shops for ages, but now they’re available in new versions! Commence squeeing!
On meeting your heroes: the Elfquest creators who helped create me
This year is #FortyYearsofPointedEars for my favorite graphic novel series, Wendy and Richard Pini’s Elfquest. They are heading to Chicago’s C2E2 which means I’m finally going to get to meet my heroes. Here’s how Elfquest has impacted me (in life, career, and elsewhere) and how I plan to make the best use of my brief moments with them.
Have you met your heroes?