this week’s forecast 🌞🌯💿🍿🌀💃🏼
spring is springing, homemade subs, concerts, movies, hot takes & a poignant quote about dance
Hiiiiiii! I’m writing this perched on some rocks, basking in the sun, after taking a post-meta dip with Joy, who is much more resilient in the cold but was kind enough to join me for my first dip in the ocean of the year. Consider this the official kick-off to the post-saturdance dip (which will turn into swim when temperatures rise) ritual that I was semi-consistent with last summer. I’m not going to lie, there are a lot of endorphins running through me from meta and that cold water zing that I feel like I might blow a fuse (in a good way — I feel high as a kite!), so I am feeling extra enthusiastic right now! I’m quite (very) hungry all of a sudden so I think it will be a short & sweet read of a few things that have me excited for the week ahead — things that add joy, pleasure, wonder and depth to my life and elevate my well-being.
Food!
I live very close to Nat’s Pizza, which is a bit of a Kits institution and known for some epic meatball subs. I had the idea this past week to try my hand at making my own version that would boast a bit more nourishment while satisfying the craving — their sub definitely slaps, but it’s so indulgent you feel a bit non-functional after. I love the pursuit of making something taste indulgent while being nourishing, so I’m envisioning a sourdough bun with a homemade marinara sauce (nothing complicated), some banana peppers, a high quality cheese, and then Gardein plant-based meatballs which are so freaking tasty, high in protein, contain fibre, and are much lower in saturated fat than traditional meatballs. Will report back on my success!
Movement!
I’m going to film a movement snack for ya! Probably something yoga inspired that will include some breathwork and spherical shapes. Maybe I’ll make a playlist to go with it.
Music!
I’m going to the Fcukers show this Thursday at The Commodore because as Joy said, “oh you have to go, it’s spring!” when I was humming and ha-ing about a late night followed by early teaching. We’re doing it all, baby! I can’t wait to grooooooove to their very fun beats (Saturday meta got a lil preview, not once but twice and I think I may have recruited a few people to join…see ya there!) I have been thinking a lot about how I can support artists more given that my extensive use of Spotify leads to mere pennies in financial return, so it feels good to purchase a ticket and promote an artist in class as a thank you for the joy they bring to me and my students (and what joy was had!)
There are many new albums I am really enjoying right now, including Charlotte Cornfield’s Hurts Like Hell (she went to the same high school as a few of my friends!) the Volumes: One compilation released by Bon Iver this past Friday, and Grace Ives’ Girlfriend (she’s playing in Vancouver this month!) If you’ve been vibing with something — new or old — I always love to hear about it!
Movies!
Fingers crossed I will be going to see Project Hail Mary again and possibly The Drama and I plan to watch Dream Scenario (I guess I’m on a Nick Cage bender — this was recommended by our friend Nic and I am going in blind on this one!)
A thought!
Maggie Rogers shared a hot take in an interview I listened to this past week: when people get nervous they become exactly who they were in high school. It stuck with me, maybe because I’ve been thinking a lot about my teen self lately (wrote a bit about her here). I haven’t fully fleshed out my stance on this yet but I thought it was an interesting prompt for reflection. Do you agree? Something to take offline!
A Quote!
Billy Elliot was one of my favourite movies growing up and I vividly remember seeing it in theatres when it came out in 2000 at age nine — it may have been the first “grown up” movie I ever watched on the big screen, and it felt familiar as my Dad told me many stories of growing up as a working class kid in England. I was reminded this week of the scene where Billy describes his experience with dance, and I think it’s such a wonderful articulation of how it can feel in one’s body.
Question: What does it feel like when you’re dancing?
Billy Elliot: Don't know. Sorta feels good. Sorta stiff and that, but once I get going... then I like, forget everything. And... sorta disappear. Sorta disappear. Like I feel a change in my whole body. And I've got this fire in my body. I'm just there. Flyin' like a bird. Like electricity. Yeah, like electricity.
I like to think that when we dance in the way we want to move, to the music that lights us up, it’s like plugging ourselves in — one of the few forms of movement that expends energy while simultaneously generating it.
From the archives!
I wrote the post below almost exactly a year ago relating to my experience moving from an eating disorder to intuitive eating — it feels important to share right now as a lot of recent convos have remarked on the resurgence of thinness that we’re seeing in celebrities, fitness influencers etc. Whether this increase in public thinness is from GLP-1 use or eating disorders or the plethora of other reasons is a whole other conversation — but regardless of the cause, it can be especially triggering to those who have a history of disordered eating. For myself, I have had to work hard on rewriting the belief that developed very early on that thinness is safe. This belief made food a source of anxiety for a lot of my life. I made this post free for all to read — I think it’s a good reminder for anyone feeling funky around food these days, and the principles within it have served me well.
Time to go home even though this sunshine feels so good!!! I hope you have a wonderful week!
xo T