TL;DR: make autumn cozy
Inspirations, simple pleasures, events, things to buy and a quote to make the beginning of autumn better
An actual footage of me hanging on to the summer warmth and sun and never letting go. But I try to have a positive attitude about the upcoming autumn and figure out how to make the best of it. So along the lines of my TL;DR newsletters, I wanted to share some recommendations.
Inspirations
BOOK: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak - told from a perspective of a dead sex worker in Istanbul, who in 10 minutes and 38 seconds before her soul fully abandons the body, brings up her most precious memories. Captivating story on love of all kind and belonging.
FILM: The Lost King by Stephen Frears with the one and only Sally Hawkins playing a role of a woman determined find the lost body of king Richard III and prove he was misjudged by historians as a traitor. Based on a true story! Left me feeling that nothing can stop a woman that’s determined to prove her point.
PODCAST: Witch by India Rakusen from BBC - wonderful, in-depth limited series discussing the historical and contemporary understanding of witchcraft in our culture. Not just for the ones who believe in magic!
READ: Ballet v machismo: the male Latin American dancers challenging old-fashioned ideas of manhood by Naomi Larsson Piñeda on Guardian
Simple pleasures
Last season of Sex Education on Netflix - I’ve always liked the show and how it introduces important information on various topics connected with sex and gender. But this season I’m really amazed how the managed to put together celebration of queerness, female masturbation, menopause, late motherhood, passing away of a parent and all the topics that were previously present into an engaging and simple story.
Collecting chestnuts and colorful leaves - become a child again and pick them up on your walk. Feel the cold, smooth skin of a fresh chestnut in your hand. Put the leaves on display somewhere you sit for a long time and let them remind you of our connection to nature.
Find the workout that fits your mood on Nike app - it’s totally free and you can do it wherever you feel the most comfortable. I loved a slow-paced yoga class with Sam Vora called 25-min Yoga: Mindful Moves
If following a routine is not your thing or your schedule is really tight, try just shaking your body to release the stress. It may sound and look silly, but there are proven benefits to doing it. Plus - there’s no wrong way to do it! Read more here if you would like to understand it better, or just turn on your favorite music and shake that stress away.
Events
Clay Meditation Workshop by Handful on 9 October - experience the soothing effect of playing with clay in this guided workshop run by Anke Buchmann.
Creative writing retreat in Brandenburg with Madhvi Ramani on the weekend 14-15 October - the workshop is all about finding your writing voice, in a beautiful setting of a farm (with chickens!)
The Sinners Saloon at 5 November - wonderful burlesque show organized by Felicity Felicis. I have visited their show in December last year and it blew my mind.
Things to buy
Good pillow - find your own type, but please invest in it as much as you can. We spend so much time sleeping, we should take care of our bodies then too. I personally love memory foam pillows and can recommend this one.
Vibrator - make the colder days and less sun more bearable by getting naturally high with no work involved. I’m a fan of air suction vibrators and I recommend Satisfyer brand - they have multiple price tiers for different preferences. My last purchase was this one.
Sexy underwear for bigger breasts and butts by Ewa Michalak - Polish brand that produces bras and panties for a wide range of sizes, but not forgetting about making them look sexy. They deliver to almost every country and their website is in English.
Quote
“Since most of us struggle with periods of self-hatred, bad body images, shame and confusion over sex and pleasure, I recommend having a hot love affair with yourself. Sexual healing begins by learning how to turn yourself on, discovering your sexual fantasies, and giving yourself an abundance of self-love and orgasms.” -
Betty Dodson, Sex for one
Have a cozy start into the autumn and let me know your ways to celebrate the new season.
Xxx
Monika