February 2023 Favorites

In February, one of my closest friends got married. And though it was difficult - hadn't been to an event that large in 15 years - I was honored to be there to support her. This brought up many emotions. Memories. And yes, anxiety. But it was worth it. Self-care was essential during this process. Here are some favorites that helped me through.

Long Pond Sessions: Recently, my admiration for Taylor Swift has spread to my bestie cousin. I hadn't watched the Long Pond Sessions yet, so we watched together this month. And wow. I came away with some new insights and ways of viewing Folklore's songs. But what surprised me was how this special really showcased the beauty of Taylor's voice. I've always enjoyed her singing, but I've mostly focused on her talent as a lyricist. This showed me the strength of her voice. (Watch on Disney+!)

Hogwarts Legacy: I was hesitant to pick up this game. The trailers weren't pulling me in, the time period didn't speak to me, and for hopefully understandable reasons* my deep love of Harry Potter has been tainted in recent years. After watching some videos and talking about the game with a friend, though, I decided to give it a chance. The castle and world around it are rendered beautifully, and there's been something joyous about reclaiming this world that sparked my imagination as a child.

Once Upon a Broken Heart: I'm only about 100 pages in, but already enchanted by this new story set in the Caraval world. The writing flows well, and the fantasy details add sparkle to the experience without slowing it down. Stephanie Garber was already a great storyteller, but I feel she has been able to just about perfect her expressive style here.

Music Favs: Darkness (Darren Hayes) Staying (Many Voices Speak), Romeo (Chairlift), As I Walk into the Sea (Allie Crow Buckley), Pale September (Fiona Apple), Fake Moon Landing (Dave Thomas Junior), Another Love (Tom Odell).

*I do not support J.K. Rowling's harmful views on the Trans community. While imperfect, Harry Potter and its fandom helped form a lot of my compassion and values growing up. With that compassion, I believe that we can build something better and more inclusive than what we were given.