February's Six
Image Credits: upper-left tile via Quanta; lower-middle tile via Sweet Tooth Fairy; lower-right tile via www.frazeyford.com
The aim of this series is to corral some favorite things and share them in a short and sweet post. Whether it’s a favorite song, book, recipe, tip, or product, hopefully you will find some inspiration in this list.
1. Philologist turned mathematician, the extraordinary Tadashi Tokieda, shares his approach to math as a way of making sense of everyday phenomena. In the course of this interview (linked here), I couldn’t help but think that his orientation towards ordinary surprises is a lovely statement on how learning should be conceived of more generally. Take for example his observation that “Sometimes adults have a regrettable tendency to be interested only in things that are already labeled by other adults as interesting…if you come a little fresher, and a little more naive, you can look all over the place, whether it’s labeled or not, and find your own surprises.” I also couldn’t help but think how technology (I mean this in a general sense) undermines our ability to be surprised and to feel a sense of wonder. Maybe this is the new mom in me worrying, but I hope that my children will not become complacent or bored by things that are truly worth their attention because they have been over-stimulated by smartphones, tablets, etc. Dr. Tokieda shares a similar worry, “One thing that is a bit disconcerting is that nowadays,” he writes, “more and more people spend so much time in virtual reality, where anything happens, that then no one is surprised by much in the physical world.” Worrying aside, this interview is thoroughly inspirational and well worth a read.
2. Now, on to some thematic February material. Last year, during my commute home, I listened to This American Life’s “Rom-Com” episode (stream it here). The whole episode is great, although it is Act 1 that stuck with me. This act is actually a short story by Simon Rich called “The Present,” narrated by Daniel Radcliffe. I re-listened to it, and it is as good as I remember. Warning: it will make you cry—or perhaps I’m unusually emotional fragile?—so listen to the whole episode to end on a lighter note. Without giving away too much, the story is about a man who realizes that the best gift he can give to his lover is not at all what you might expect.
3. I love, love Bobbi Brown’s Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm. I purchased the shade bare glow, although when I restock, I am going to try the shade golden glow. It is so intensely hydrating and illuminating, but in a subtle non-glittery way. I like to wear it on no-makeup days so that my natural skin appears a bit glowy. The only problem is the price, as it is a hefty $68 for one ounce. That said, sign up for the email list to get a discount on your first purchase. Find it here.
4. I have a classic cookbook recommendation: Chez Panisse Vegetables, by Alice Waters. You can find it here . I purchased a “like new” used version for less than $8. Among the many easy and delicious recipes is one for pickled cucumbers and shallots that I cannot get enough of. This is a cookbook you will turn to time and again as it is organized by vegetable, which is especially helpful if you have produce in your fridge that you need to make something with or if you have a particular vegetable craving. Grab yourself a copy and let me know what you think!
5. I have ordered Sweet Tooth Fairy’s frosted sugar cookies and all I can say is YUM. They are decadent: huge, generously frosted, and so buttery. They arrive at your doorstep individually wrapped and so cutely packaged, so they are perfect for gifting and sharing. Find their cute seasonal offering here.
6. Not in the loving mood this February? We have all been there. Not to worry, I have just the song for you. Frazey Ford’s “Done” is everything you need it to be and more. Listen to it here. This tune is a must listen and, I never thought I’d say this, the music video is fantastic too.
Alison