Five Things

{Coffee table details at a friend's house}

Truth be told, I could have used a drink this week. It's not that anything particularly bad happened, but I felt every night wound down into a cozy comfort that would have been perfectly topped off with a smooth cocktail. However, I've been finding comfort in other ways; specifically, curling up with my favorite podcast (um have you guys been listening to 'Serial'? I'm obsessed!), doing a lot of baking, taking not-too-hot baths and burning fall-scented candles. It'll have to do until February rolls around and those little adjustments have forced me to get creative in a fun way. I hope you all have a great weekend!

 

{Dramatic fall sunset}



{Mismatched teacups - ideal for a girls brunch}



{lunch}



{Leaves from a morning walk}

Links I Love

1. Beauty editors' all-time favorite makeup products. (thecoveteur.com)

2. Cinnamon raisin knots. (whatshouldieatforbreakfasttoday.com)

3. 12 weekend habits of highly successful people. (lifehack.org)

4. Helpful Thanksgiving timeline. (blog.williams-sonoma.com)

5. Seriously cool, minimalist coasters. (food52.com)

6. Creative wall paint ideas. (athomeinlove.com)

7. Why that outfit: Penny Lane's wardrobe from Almost Famous. (elle.com)

8. Tips to decorating as a couple. (laurenconrad.com)

9. A beautiful centerpiece that you can eat. (bbcgoodfood.com)

The 10 Best Documentaries on Netflix

While I'm not one for reality tv, my taste in watching mediocre movies is pretty embarrassing. I'll enjoy pretty much any romantic comedy and often watch them multiple times. Maybe it's rom-com fatigue, but I've been gravitating towards films that offer a bit more depth and leave me feeling inspired. I've always enjoyed documentaries (I wrote a longer piece on Happy here), so I thought I'd share ten of my all-time favorites.

1. Jiro Dreams of Sushi: A look at an unassuming sushi bar in a Tokyo subway that's been serving phenomenal cuts of fish to its customers for decades. This documentary examines how Jiro, the elderly proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, has dedicated his life to perfecting his craft. 

2. Somm: This documentary follows four expert sommeliers as they try and pass the Master Sommelier Diploma Exam, an intensely difficult test where the majority of people fail. There are only about 200 Master Sommeliers in the world and their ability to discern specific varietals/years/regions is astounding.

3. Bill Cunningham New York: An intimate take on the life and motivation behind the New York Times' longtime fashion and street style photographer Bill Cunningham. It's an incredibly moving story of a man and his passion for capturing the zeitgeist as he sees it. 

4. Spinning Plates: Less about the restaurants that they run, this documentary focuses on the drama that chefs juggle in their everyday lives. From the 3-star Michelin restaurant's head chef with cancer to the owner of a local Mexican-food joint who is behind on rent, this movie manages to dig deeper than a simple restaurant experience. 

5. Man on Wire: This story follows an eccentric Frenchman, Philippe Petit, as he illegally walks a tightrope between New York's two World Trade Towers in the 1970s. But, more than being a story about how he pulled it off, the film dives deep into his relationships and childhood, in an effort to explore how they contribute to making Phillipe a man with an unquenchable passion for risk taking. 

6. Tiny: A documentary about a couple who build their first home may sound like a snooze, but not when they're attempting to build a tiny version. The couple taps into a community of people who swear by living small, and set out to test the theory that less is more.

7. Sound City: Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl investigates the now-shuttered Sound City Studios, where some legendary albums from Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac and Nirvana were recorded.

8. Fed Up: An exposé on the sugar industry and how their lobbying power tapped government greed to make this generation's children the first in history to die before their parents. 

9. The Armstrong Lie: A documentary that was years in the making, this film swings from chronicling athlete Lance Armstrong's comeback, to his vehement denial of doping accusation, and his ultimate downfall and admission to those same charges. 

10. Good Ol' Freda: Hired when she was just 17-yearsold, Freda Kelly remained the secretary for The Beatles for over ten years and shares her inside knowledge of what made four of the most famous singers in the world, tick. 

Happy

I'm a big proponent of watching documentaries - they're a cerebral departure from romantic comedies and I love how they get me thinking about things in a different way. This past week, I watched Happy and I haven't stopped talking about it. It explores what really makes people happy (hint: it's much more than just money) and I found the results quite impactful. I consider myself to be a genuinely happy person - but it's also something I actively pursue. It's not often that a movie makes me question aspects of how I live my life, and I've since made three simple changes that have made me feel more fulfilled and ultimately...happier.

1. Support a cause I believe in. When it comes to my happiness, nothing makes me more delighted than my cats. I don't have time to volunteer at local shelters right now, so I donated to the two rescues (Marble and LouLou. Knowing that I can make a difference in the life of an animal is much more important than that new coat I've been eyeing.

2. Take care of my body. I was extremely active in high school (I played varsity soccer, volleyball, and track), but since then, I haven't made it a priority to take care of my body. For the most part, I can get away with eating what I want with little exercise, but as I approach mid 20's, I want to make a change. The film explores the idea of discovering one's "flow," an activity that you find so enjoyable that it becomes your sole focus. I never took dance classes growing up, but find them so fulfilling.

3. Connect with others. I love spending time with my boyfriend and will usually choose a relaxing evening at home with him over pretty much anything else. But just because that nightly option is there, doesn't mean it's always the right choice. Instead, we've been making an effort to get out more - whether it's to support a store opening, a restaurant we've been wanting to try, or to meet up with friends. At the end of the day, my relationships with people and my community means more to me than anything else. A lot of documentaries support great causes, but sometimes their initiatives seem so huge that I wonder just how much of a difference I can make. What I found most inspiring about Happy is that it really doesn't take much - a few little adjustments can make a big impact.