Here is the playlist for this summer 2021

Summer of Now - James Blake

Around 1:22 this song picks up in a way that gets me in my inner core. There is something about a nostalgic song regarding summertime that adds to those reflective moments. Roll down the windows and turn up the volume on this baby.

Cigarettes and Coffee - Otis Redding

This tune makes me think of every good feeling that a couple could experience rolled up into one tune. Bare feet, two mugs, sitting on countertops late at night while cooking, deep talks and the sounds of good music in the background.

This Will Be - Natalie Cole

Blame it on the 98’ remake of The Parent Trap, but this song for me says summer. I would binge this film during my childhood summers. The end credits rolled to this track. The opening chords get me every time.

Gratitude - Brandon Lake

I love this thankful prayer. Sometimes words are best said heavenwards.

For the past two years, I have been an executive board member of Women in Film and Television Atlantic. A board who has collectively, and tirelessly done their best to move the needle for women in film and television in our Atlantic provinces.

I am a proud board member and member of this organization.

As the end of my term approached and I realized I needed to take a step back in order to focus on other work I have reflected on what the time on this board has afforded me.

Take Aways

You Get What You Put In

When Kim McTaggart encouraged me to officially join the board she said over the phone “this is a role you get what you put in. It’s up to you the amount of work you want this to be.” That phrase not only had me instantly wanting to join, but I have carried it with me in all future situations since 2019.

It’s Okay to Listen First and Act Second

Although when new on a board you may be tempted to jump in and assert yourself. it is also helpful to take inventory of the atmosphere that is already present, discern where you best can contribute and find ways that you can bring something to the table.

You at the Table Has Value

It was easy to look at the women around me and be a bit flummoxed about how I ended up sitting with them. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that being on the board of WIFT-AT has not only brought me closer to the industry I have been working to grow in, but closer to myself. I have witnessed what I bring to the table in a fresh way, and I have also realized when I have over-shot. That’s a huge skill to see.

No One is Above Anyone Else

When we view one as bigger or louder than another, we limit the world we create. I felt valued by my board members both seasoned in their work and new.

I am not done volunteering, but now from a different seat.

Thank-you WIFT-AT for being a welcoming place for me to grow and embrace my professional voice.

Drums of Autumn | Diana Gabaldon

Rereading any Outlander book is a treat. This remained no exception. Leave it to Diana Gabaldon to give us even more epic story development that crosses time, eras, generations, genres and cultures. This is my second time sitting down with Drums of Autumn. #noregrets

Many Ways to Say I Love You: Wisdom for Parents and Children from Mister Rogers | Fred Rogers

Words of Wisdom from Fred Rogers on the various forms of love. There is nothing more healing than that.
(note, I read this through my ‘iBooks’ app,.

The Paragon Hotel | Lyndsay Faye

Not yet finished, but a riveting historical mystery set in the 1920’s during prohibition Oregan and New York City. With a character who refers to herself as ‘Nobody’, it’s a constant page turn to discover where she came from, where she plans to go next and what is keeping her at the Paragon Hotel.

FILMS /TV SHOWS of Note

Ted Lasso S01 - because it might be the best comedy that hit TV ever. Exposing mental health, real life and comedic life all in one.
Q Into the Storm - because although Q-anon was something I knew about, the deconstruction of where it all began and the ways it spread is something next level scary and worth taking in for the broader awareness of how conspiracy theories can either make or break you.

Jenna Marks

Filmmaker, Animator, Artist

Jenna is from and lives in Nova Scotia and was encouraged from her early years to go into art school. Through her education at NSCAD Jenna fell into the art form of film and animation through its diverse collaborations of the visual, audio and sensory art forms.

Through the program Hot House through the National Film Board and her life long love of working with her hands Jenna felt a passion rise in her for the art form of animation, especially that of stop motion filmmaking and she has continued to harness and hone the art form into her own unique path.

Words from Jenna Marks

“Best advice, is picking something and just doing it, no matter how much you hate it, just finishing something is so important and of value it will fill you up so much.”

“I tell myself: ‘This is just this one film. this is just this one time. This film is fine if it sucks. This is perfect for what it is at this point in my life.’.”

INSTA LIVE <——LISTEN

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https://jennamarksfilms.com

Pothos

As we wait for our music / reading room couch to arrive I thought a new plant for the bookshelf would be a great idea. After research, I thought we’d start with a Pothos. So far, so good.

Spring Soy Candles

I sprung for the Spring set from Okanagan Candle Co. I have been sad to wait for my favourite local soy candle maker to start production again, but supporting another Canadian business, despite the distance seemed like a smart idea. I love that this pack lets you try all the candles to decide which one is your favourite.

Secret Garden

A secret, yet not so secret if you know me well, is that I ADORE a good Korean Drama. No matter how kitchy they can be, there is something so sweet and lovely about sinking into a limited series that attempts to embrace the ‘love story’ concept in the format of a KD. This series remains the best I have ever watched. Originally I watched this in 2011 and this would be my third rewatch of the series.

Origins Toner

I finally have landed on a toner that fits my skin type and current needs.

The Ordinary Cleanser

A gift on my birthday, and let’s just say “I see the light” in regards to ‘The Ordinary’.

String of Pearls

A pick up from Bloom on a whim. Another lovely music / reading room additive.

On Grief and Grieving

A book I am studying for a project.

Checks and Balances Exfoliant

Another back to the basics product that I am highly in love with. Simple is best with me.

Creativity is a lot like a path in the wilderness.

It leads into a dark and winding brush full of unknown twists and turns.

It weaves through thick weeds, roots of trees that bump up almost on purpose beneath your foot tread, ready to trip you up and throw you flat on your face into the dense leaves.

It winds through thickets of doubts and fears.

It unravels like never ending questions, thoughts and ideas.

It reveals a trail of intrigue, curiosity and mystery.

It turns like quick u-turns and slow meandering loop de loops.

And sometimes,

It leaves you breathless, enraptured and full of endless wonder.

If there was one thing I would want to remind you of, and remind myself of at the same time…

There is no telling where creativity leads…and that is the whole point.

You follow the path not because it’s supposed to be marvellous, but because the option not to seems more daunting than the former.

Embrace the journey.

Follow the leads.

Top Centre - Clockwise : Canadian Currency Tray | Amazon, Jewlery Box | Birthday Gift from Auntie Nicole, Lounge Set | H&M, Kiwi Co Crate Puppet | Kiwi Co Box from Tai Ma, Rainbow Ribbon | Gift from Auntie Heidi, Sketcher Sneakers | Soft Moc, Pyjamas | Gift from Mimi & Yeye, Disney T’s | H&M, Yellow Dress | Zara, Brave Hoodie | H&M, Star Pants | Gift from Mimi & Yeye, Heart patch Jeans | Old Navy, Short Overalls | Old Navy, Winnie the Pooh | Chapters, Welcome to Pawston! | Chapters, Bike Helmet | Canadian Tire, Readers | Chapters

Spring is always an exciting season for us as parents and for our little, as a birthday marks the beginning of a new year in her life. Turning six feels big to us. In truth, every age thus far has brought major milestones. This year her main birthday gift was a blue bike. Complete with a bell and no training wheels. A huge step for her, since due to various life circumstances she hadn’t had a bike since her pink tricycle.
That along with various other milestones we have had and eventful spring, to say the least.

New to Her

Yellow Dress

A beautiful dress from Zara for her 6th Birthday. A little family tradition. Every birthday deserves a new dress.

Brave Hoodie

Although she takes forever to get used to new clothes, especially anything that is outer / extra layers, she took to this new hoodie eventually and it has become her favourite. I wish I had one for myself to be honest.

Sketcher Sneakers

Although she was voting for the light-up sneakers, we needed to put money aside for her bike and stuck with the non light up pair. We will meet that desire on the next go around, which will probably be sooner than later. She’s growing like a weed.

Still Going Strong

Readers

Although she has had readers in level 1 and level 2 for awhile, adding new ones to her collection is making her a ravenous reader. No complaints about that.

Disney T’s

Graphic T’s that have a sweet nostalgic quality to them are my fav. I love it how these haven’t worn with weekly washes.

Star Pants

Thankfully these have been a great fit during Winter and Spring. She is a weed these days.

Time to Go

Pyjamas

Over the Spring she has actively grown out of her sleep-ware. Very doubtful any of these warmer pairs will fit come Autumn.

Various shirts / pants

Not pictured here are various pants and shirts we have had to pass along due to her growing arms and legs.

When June arrives, it always has a way of shocking me.

“June? Already?” I think like clockwork every June 1st.

With just under six months of putting the concept of ‘Flow’ at work in both the personal and professional I have had a few revelations, some struggles and some meditative thoughts sprinkled in.

Flow has eased into my thinking

and attempted at reminding my busy mind to let what is happening ‘happen’. It has also challenged me to tune in to the chaos and distractions that abide and find new ways to navigate through them.

There will always be a family crisis, a pressing social engagement, a work deadline, a chore, a medical / personal appointment, etc to tend to.

There is also S P A C E to flow through these things, if we but let it.

Part of it, is giving ourselves permission not to be rushed by our own expectations and those of others.

I see it in how we are approaching Summer this year.

Summer’s are usually stuffed with people ‘coming back home’ for visits, special events, road trips, and networking events.

Despite the pandemic, this year looks very much the same as most.

‘Back home visits’, special events, road trips and networking events...you name it.

Depending on who you are in the work you do, depends on the amount of days in a summer you can take off.
For an Electrical Engineer who specializes in oceanography equipment and a writer / producer in the film and television industries…our prime output times are in the warmer months of the year.

Ya’ll, there are only eight weekends in summer the ‘official summer break’ calendar, yet we act like it’s a four month occasion with no work deadlines, medical appointments, home projects mixed in.
That’s about sixteen days to attend to all of those needs without taking time off work.
That could seem like a lot, but in reality.. it goes by like a flash.

But this year…

Although we are honouring the special events of our own, the need to refresh our souls by the ocean and re-connect with our peers after almost 2 years of constant distance, we are letting ‘flow’ rule our calendar.

Setting down the plan book, the dates, the constant need to fit in ‘just one more visit’, and seeing what happens in the beauty of one day and one week at a time.

Having the the space enough to ask ourselves, ‘what do we need this weekend? How can we show up for what we have to do, what we need to do and also what we can do?

Although we may not always be able to have the weekend / summer schedule that we would wish, letting our personal family unit’s flow dictate the schedule and not the surrounding pressure of ‘summertime’ madness is one way we are learning from embracing what it means to honour momentum of now.

Top Centre - Clockwise: Graphic T Femme | Dynamite, Graphic T Music Notes | Mod Cloth, Cream Scarf | Indigo, Romper | RW&Co, Origins Exfoliant | Sephora, Origins Toner | Sephora, Monarch Butterfly Sweater | Winners, Loose Black Pants | RW&Co, Karl Lagerfeld Flats | The Bay, Pleather Pants | Zara, Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon | Indigo, Girlfriend Jeans | The Gap, Black Cami | H&M, Long Sleeve Shirt | RW&Co, Oversized White Button Shirt | Aritzia, Ordinary Face cleanser | The Ordinary, Ordinary PM Toner | The Ordinary, Cream Oversized Hoodie | Aerie, Tan Turtleneck | RW&Co

Spring saw us in Nova Scotia in the third wave of the COVID pandemic.

This being the hardest wave we have seen yet due to variants. For the first time we were parents of an ‘at home learning’ child and had to navigate our own careers alongside her education.

Thankfully, our Province is opening back up as case numbers drop and the number of vaccinated people go up.

This has meant a more curated approach to my spring capsule this year. More ‘at home working’ outfits and weekend cozy vibes.

New To Me

White / Grey Romper

I adore this romper. Relaxed, light and playful, it adds a lot to my spring / summer capsule.

Beige Hoodie

Although the softest fabric inside and out, this hoodie began buzzing after the first wear. It does not hold up well to look the way it was marketed as from the get go. It does however remain in tact and as warm and as cozy soft as ever. Unfortunately I wouldn’t suggest this for anyone due to it’s lack of ability to hold it’s smooth appearance.

Taupe Long Sleeve

A purchase early spring that was to help with my lack of long sleeves that are not ‘turtle necks’. It is a season fav.

White Oversized Button Shirt

I hunted all Spring for this and am not disappointed with this expensive purchase. The material is high quality, it’s loose yet shapely at the same time. I expect this to be in my wardrobe until it’s threadbare.

Still Going Strong

Tan Turtle Neck

Great for those early spring days in March when a turtle neck is still the best option.

Butterfly Sweater

Though not the most expensive sweater find with the highest quality, the graphic decal is holding up well after multiple washes and it symbolizes a change in my mindset that began during the pandemic. Always a sucker for symbolic capsule items.

Girlfriend Jeans

They do the job. No complaints.

Time to Go

Grey Bridesmaids Dress

Purchased for the besties Wedding in 2017, this dress has seen a handful of wears. I am feeling that it is time to put this baby up for sale. (Not pictured here.)

Ankle Socks

About every pair of my ankle socks had holes in them by mid spring. I ordered another batch of under armer ankle socks to replace them.

This year I was privileged to join Lynn Matheson with a project in development stage to Cynthia Knights five day crash course on creating a pitch document and a stellar logline through the PEI Screenwriters Bootcamp.

Both Lynn and I were tipped upside down with the approach Cynthia uses to the early development stages of a project.

In many ways, the information wasn’t new, and yet, that back to the basics approach that Cynthia gave us was was a game changer.

The Takeaways

• Courses with a writing/creative partner are always more fun. (built in support system)

• Spending the time reworking and truly honing a logline is a key that seemingly fundamentally simple will unlock the real story.

• Never underestimate what is beneath your ideas. You have to mine for gold.

PSA

If you have’t heard Cynthia describe the goals and intention of a logline, I highly suggest you find a way to get it straight from her.

Monogamy | Sue Miller

A beautiful and at times heartbreaking novel on the complexities of a marriage. Be this something you can relate to or not, it is written with a meditative pace and flows in a rhythm that reminds me of a rainy day curled up under a blanket.

The Huntress | Kate Quinn

A post WWII story of three main characters and the worlds that intertwine them. I have not fully completed this novel but the intrigue has me fully committed. What would you do if you found out your new step mother was a Nazi / German spy right as your father ties the knot? I am all the way down this rabbit hole.

Television Series & Films of Note:

Mouthpiece - for it’s physicality of the journey of grief,
Fleabag S02 - for it’s arresting commentary on what it means to overcome the crutches that you have created for yourself.
The Queens Gambit - for the chess world and beautiful acting of Anya Taylor-Joy.

As I have been working this year on various projects, I have been reminded of this vital concept again and again.

Holding Space is an incredible act.

It takes more grace and humbling than one can genuinely wrap one's head around.

Even when I find myself saying, "ahh, there we are, we are doing it. I am sitting in this moment holding Space for this." I am highly aware of how it is attempting to slip and change through my fingers at any time. Our egos and sense of self-importance are at constant war with the act of holding Space.

I am not sure that I am excellent at it.

But I know that I can walk away from moments with an incredible sense of wonder when I attempt it.

"Wow…what was that?"

"What went on there?"

"Something just happened, and somehow we all survived."

If I could communicate anything through this incredibly abstract concept, is this:

Holding Space is simply that. You exist at the moment you are in, and you have that moment. You look around you, feel inward, and feel outward, but your output stops or is slowed.

Instead of worrying about what to say next, how to act, or how to be, or how to react at all, you get comfortable with what is happening in front of you.

Often times this is very apparent to me when it's obvious someone is spinning out emotionally.

And let me be clear,

I recognize this because I can be this.

It's easier to recognize something in someone else that we have already been or done.

Holding Space for someone who is not acting appropriately, not comprehending their own possibly toxic behaviour (my own included) is a way to honour the hurt that is occurring in front of you, but it is also honouring the 'you' inside. To hold Space means that you can see the depth and layers of it all and recognize that although you may have triggered something and have something to learn here, the behaviour isn't about or a reflection of you.

Holding Space is the practice of taking your own self-importance and placing it on the shelf to bear witness to what is happening.

Does it mean you let abuse occur?

No.

Does it mean you relinquish your own humanity and allow someone to treat you inappropriately?

No.

Does it mean you table your own healing to stay in the pit with someone else?

No.

It means holding Space for yourself first.

If you can learn to hold Space for yourself in a holistic way, you will hold Space for others.

Hold Space for what is still broken in you.

Hold Space for the learning you still have yet to learn.

Hold Space for the dreams you are dreaming.

Hold Space for the body that you are caring for.

Hold Space for the history that made you.

Hold Space for the healing that you are working on.

Hold Space for the you that is you.

When we do this, turning it outward and holding Space for others becomes not just something we can begin to understand but a practice that we can fully take on holistically and healthily.

We bear witness to the pain and life of others because we have first bared witness to our own.

There was a time when a nightly review routine was avidly at play in my life.

While being a student, an interpreter, a teacher. There is an element of preparedness that goes beyond getting to bed on time.

Pack the lunch, review the weather, pick the outfit, review the schedule etc.
Somewhere along the lines, I stopped doing it.

Maybe because I equated it with teaching or being a student?
Maybe because when you create from your own home office, you are used to staying accountable in the moment and reviewing tomorrow's task doesn't seem necessary.

Recently, I have begun doing it again, although this time with a different goal in mind.

Reviewing the day I have had and lightly reviewing the one to come.

Look over the tasks accomplished (both personal and professional) through journaling, document thoughts, record what is being tracked (habits, etc.), review the next day and its already scheduled meetings, appointments, tasks etc., check the weather.

This simple nighttime task, although not always done, changes the day ahead.
It seems like a small thing to do, but it shifts the energy and creates space for what is to come in my own mind.

A clearing of the clutter, a vacuum of the dust bunnies, a spray of lavender to lay down, close one's eyes and truly relax until they open again, and it's time to take on a new day in that new headspace of mine.

I had the pleasure earlier this spring to join Noor Aubaid, Heather Burke and Ariel Gough in a round table discussion that cracked open topics that are near and dear to all of our hearts.

This episode is a recent release and they describe it here:

In our very first round table discussion, we sit down with Ariel Gough co-founder of Bailly Fragrance, and Amy Grace writer and producer, consultant, and co-creator of Brilliansea to chat about everything entrepreneurial. We get raw and real about how to take the leap of faith and what's needed when choosing purpose and passion. We drop the secrets on how to: turn your worst moments into sharable lessons, and how to make your wildest dreams come true!

What this episode so wonderfully captures is the sacred space that is created when we come together in our uniqueness, honour the work and journey that have led us all to this table and continue the narrative of support, celebration, deep questions and most important, the sharing and listening to each other.

I am amazed to have had the chance to share and to hear the voices of these women.

What an honour.

Check out the Episode Here:
She + Me Podcast

Noor Aubaid
Heather Burke
Ariel Gough

Another year in lockdown during my birthday.

In many ways, it was discouraging to be changing plans, yet again.

In other ways, it was a delicious opportunity to go inward and truly reflect on what another year of my life has meant and what another year of life to live could mean.

If I was to put my finger on something,

it would be those moments of quiet questions that have led and continue to lead towards the deeper and more important questions.

What are you called to do, now, with others?

This can be difficult to look at within the confines of a pandemic.

I would like to think that my world is vast, my connections and work is large, and that in fact I am called to create space for many, many people.

This is not untrue.

I also think that a habit of mine, and any of us in a world of so much access, is get caught up in the dizzying ‘much-ness’ of the world.

What came with the pandemic restrictions has been a grappling, and a true reality check to make us rethink what access and connection means.

We still scroll and listen and have our ties in places that far outreach us.

Yet,

How do we show up to those in front of us?

How do we show up for those far away?

There is a movement I have noticed.

What are you going to do when the pandemic is over?
When life is back to normal, what are your goals?

I am sensing in my deep spirit not to go back to that type of thinking.

I am called to go back to that guttural core of me and create that space in the here and now with the way things are today.

So a declaration that is happening in my thirty-second year is to continue the work with those who are in my space today. To honour the project ideas and work to adapt to the confines of any given moment.

Going back to what was, is to say that all that once was, was good and healthy.

I think we all know that 24/7 life was not a healthy route we all were taking.
I think we all have seen what baking bread, time to reassess our values, raise our kids, muddle in the quiet, struggle with the heartbreak of a world still so broken, and the senseless inhuman treatment of so many …

We need to humanize ourselves and our callings again.
To humanize ourselves means we are one step closer to humanizing ‘the others’.

Strip it back and see what we all have left to work on, cultivate and create.

So much potential in the human life if we but give ourselves the chance and space to sort, muse, ponder, wonder, and be moved into action.

Big.

Small.

or simply.

the one thing we can do today for ourselves and those who inhabit our space.

In the end,

it’s all a ripple affect.

Onwards to 32.

Amanda Baiocco
she/her
Sound Therapist & Energy Worker

Amanda takes her passion with nervous system, energy and mindset awareness into all aspects her services, business and life. She is certified through the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Toronto as a Sound Therapist among other various certification levels. While also running her individual business she joined founder of Fiends to co-run the business.

Amanda works to uphold her values in community, connection and in being trauma informed, how it impacts us all uniquely and using the social justice lens to view that trauma in the healing process.

Amanda starts her days with a child pose for an average of five to ten minutes as a way to ground herself.

Words from Amanda:

Let yourself be loved.
Receiving is also an action.
Don’t let it go to your head, let it go to your heart.

INSTA LIVE <——- LISTEN

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Six.

Her vibrancy has shone through like a ray of light the past year of her life.

Although in yet another lockdown for her birthday it is very evident that Zoë has changed so much in the past year.

Becoming more and more the person she is on the inside on the outside.

This year she has taught me to love, celebrate and feel more.

It’s been difficult to have to walk her through so many changes and upheaval that we never would have planned but her settling into the changes has been a reminder of how adaptable our spirits can be when surrounded by those we love.

For her sixth year we pray for opportunities to connect with good friends, a free spirit, sharp mind and a growing in her inner self and the One that made her.

unwashed hair. no makeup. feeling inspired and silly. filtered in Black and White because I love black and white photos.

It’s easy to spend a lot of time striving to cover up for who we are.
To boost ourselves.
Prepare the ground.
Set the stage.

We are at the point we don’t even know we are doing it.
It’s a habit.

To believe we have to pretend to be more in order to be enough.

We filter.
We alter.
We edit.
We manipulate.
We shrink.
We blow up.

Let’s strip this down.

You, as you are in your work and life are unequivocally, irrevocably, irreplaceably enough.

You bring you to the table.
There is no other you to bring to the table.

Now, don’t get me wrong.

I am also under the strong belief that pride and ego are huge hinderance to true and deep work.
I believe that we are all replaceable in the grand scheme of a project, idea or effort.

No one person is the sole reason something can occur.
But we each have a part to play if we humble ourselves enough to play that very important role.

But this is it.

When we believe we have to boost ourselves in order to be enough we are letting pride ride the car. When we act like we are nothing important and yet passive aggressively drive from the backseat we are missing the whole entire thing.

It’s not about how you are the only one who could do something, it’s not even about convincing people that you are the right one to do something. It’s about being wholly and completely you in the you that you are when you do your life and work.

You don’t need to filter the images of yourself or your work in order to be important.

Show up as you.

The you that is human.
The you that has a history.
The you that still has growth to do.
The you that has accomplished so much already.
The you that has dreams.
The you that isn’t done learning yet.
The you that is vulnerable.
The you that is strong.

As Fred Rogers so perfectly puts in his song:

But it's you I like
Every part of you.
Your skin, your eyes, your feelings
Whether old or new.
I hope that you'll remember
Even when you're feeling blue
That it's you I like,
It's you yourself
It's you.
It's you I like.

Everything Is Spiritual | Rob Bell

I have followed Rob Bell’s writing for decades now. He continues to stay anchored in core truths while also exploring the depth in what people today are aching for. His stream of consciousness style has always spoken to me, and here we get to let it sink into our bones. In many ways, maybe it’s his leaning to stream of consciousness that has allowed him to explore so much in thought, theology and open discourse with others.

We know those waters. Loss and pain and grief and wounds and not knowing what to do or where to go or how to deal with the agony of life. We know those waters. There’s spirit in there, hovering, waiting to bring something new out of it. This is why people who inspire us the most always have been through those waters. They’ve expierence that hovering. They’ve seen that new creation. - Rob Bell'

Sex & Vanity | Kevin Kwan

This book was highly disappointing for a myriad of reasons. It’s hard to truly finish a book I dislike but it is more difficult to write about why I dislike it so much. It’s art. All art is subjective. I write more freely here because I am a huge fan of Kevin’s ‘Crazy Rich Asian’ series which I believe broke barriers, was written with a beautiful wink to both the reader and all those who may relate.
Sex and Vanity is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with a Chinese culture slant. Some elements work and most do not.
My biggest issue is that this reads exactly what it is: a man writing a female lead. Our protagonist comes off not only a fabrication of a man’s mind, but hallow. Her thoughts, her mannerisms all described were exactly why we have problems for young women. When men write us to be that hollow, that flimsy of character, all we get reflected back to us are the shallow and flimsy filters of ourselves.
Many women have these elements about their personality and character, but ALL these women have dynamic range to many degrees.
Case and point: Sophie Kinsella’s character Rebecca Bloomwood in the shopaholic series is outrageous. Completely out of this world shallow and airy. But we believe her. We laugh at her and with her. We find ourselves in her and we may know her. Why?
Because women written by women will always come from a different place than men writing women.
Men can do it, I believe they can, I have read books that are enrapturing and feel true to soul, but this…this was not it.

Films / Television Series of Note:

The Crown S04 - for the beauty of historical adaptations that give room for the complexities of people, a construct and an institution.
Fleabag S01 - for the raw honesty of a woman processing through trauma on multiple levels of her life. Cringe worthy and yet also insightful if you can sit through it to fully understand the various broken characters.
Before Midnight - Utter realness. Capturing the realities of a relationship, the good, the precious and the ugly and not discounting any of them as more or less important to the total sum of what it means to love another.

Three videos I made for a sweet and lovely spirit who lives across the country.
They aren’t perfectly produced due to a time crunch, but they did what I wanted them to do.
I wanted her to know how much I cared about her on her thirtieth birthday despite the distance.
Each video encapsulates an area of our friendship in one way or another.