And now that it’s Fall, even though it’s 80 degrees in Pennsylvania in late October, I think it’s time for a Volume TWO to catch you up on what I’ve been Seeing, Hearing, Tasting, Feeling and Smelling these past few months and maybe recommend a few new things for you. Ready?
Must See (Must Watch)
Riverdale
What? Why aren’t we recapping this show every damn week? The only time we’ve discussed Riverdale here on That’s Normal was in May when Beth discovered it and couldn’t decide whether she loved or hated it.
I LOVE it. It’s Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars but better than the latter and less sexy than the first. It’s the Archie COMICS. Somehow. I think it’s only the Archie Comics characters and not the storyline AT ALL, but it’s still fun to recognize characters I haven’t thought of, well, ever.
Plus it has some eye candy in the form of these two guys:
It’s been awhile since I’ve liked a CW teen drama. I hear people love Shadowhunters. I gave up on Pretty Little Liars back when we thought we knew who A was the first time (did we ever REALLY find out who A was? That show is over, right?) And watching a teen drama will always remind me of my one and only, true original forever the one for me: Seth Cohen and The OC:
Bonus Must Watch
Crazy Ex Girlfriend is back! And Rebecca Bunch is crazier than ever! Fingers crossed that Greg comes back!
Must Hear (Must Listen)
Guys. If you take one bit of advice from me from this post, let it be this: Download the podcast Where should we Begin by Esther Perel.
Esther Perel is a psychotherapist who became known from her book “Mating in Captivity” which explores the paradoxical union of domesticity and sexual desire. Ho really. Hang with me here! I’ve admired Esther for awhile now and have loved her writings, the times I’ve heard her speak on podcasts and videos I’ve watched and enjoyed her stint on my previous MUST LISTEN recommendation: Dear Sugars Radio. So when I found out she was going to have a podcast, I was ALL IN.
Her podcast is a REAL LIFE listen at a one time therapy session between a couple. They change the names and some identifying features, but you are actually listening in to a marriage and sex therapy session between a couple. There is a conversation between two wives who struggle with a familiar story of working wife and stay and home wife- lack of desire, lack of intimacy, boring domestic partnership. There is a story of a woman who found out her husband has been a sex addict and cheating on her most of their 40+ year relationship. And then there’s the THIRD episode you should start with: A session between two former conservative Christians who struggle with sexual desire for each other. Esther asks them to role play and he adopts a French accent. And the woman becomes extremely attracted to her husband’s French alter ego. It’s a MUST LISTEN. really! Find the Podcast links here.
Bonus Must Listen
Up First from NPR. It’s a 10-12 minute podcast I listen to first thing every morning that talks about an important story from the day before or whatever is in the news right AT that moment. It’s just enough to wake you up, get you in the know about the important stories and give you a little Dad Joke from Steve Inskeep before your Morning Coffee!
Must Taste
My Pico De Gallo
Since it’s been summer in Fall, tomatoes are still plentiful here in Philadelphia and we’ve still been dining al fresco. A few weeks ago, I accidentally made TO DIE FOR Pico De Gallo Salsa. I’ve attempted this easy recipe before, but for some reason it never connected. But I GOT IT NOW. And you must make this now:
Bekah’s World Famous Pico De Gayo
Ingredients:
- 5-6 Tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom or anything that isn’t too seedy. Double the amount if you use smaller tomatoes like Roma)
- Small Red Onion
- 1 Jalepeño
- 3-4 cloves of garlic
- 1-2 Limes
- Handful of Cilantro
- Salt (to taste)
Instructions:
1. Deseed the tomatoes as best you can and dice them. The smaller you make it, the juicer the pico will be.
2. Dice the onion, add to tomatoes
3. Add 1/2 – 1 jalepeño, depending on spice level
4. Chop 3-4 cloves of garlic (I like extra garlic) and add to mixture
5. Chop handful of cilantro and add to bowl
6. Add the juice of one lime
7. Add Salt
8. Mix. Taste. Adjust. You might need more lime. You might want more jalepeño. Maybe you need that last tomato. Maybe it needs more salt.
9. If you can resist eating it, let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to meld the flavors together. You probably won’t resist though
Must Touch
My Hair when it’s Curly. This is a weird one, I know, but I might let you (and you know that’s something curly-haired girls RARELY say). I started using Miss Jessie’s MULTI-CULTURAL CURLS this year and the description on the bottle is this:
MULTICULTURAL CURLS™ IS EXCELLENT FOR MIXED HERITAGE & MULTI TEXTURED CURLS. ALSO FOR BEKAH.
I dunno as I’m not sure “mix of western European countries” is considered mixed heritage, but my curls have never looked better. I still hate them, but at least I can semi-control them now.
My routine:
1. Shampoo/ Condition in the shower
2. Comb out in the shower (while water is running)
3. Get out of shower. Squeeze excess water, immediately put hair up in Turkish Towel
4. Keep hair up for 10-15 min.
5. Unwrap hair. Add in Miss Jessie’s Multi-cultural curls, squeezing it through my hair DO NOT BRUSH OUT CURLS
6. Leave hair. Pin it back if I must. Go on with my routine.
7. Right before walking out of door, squeeze hair again. start to create some curls with my fingers. Add more product if it looks to be getting frizzy
8. Walk to Coffee shop with terrible drowned-rat wet looking hair.
9. 1 hour later, look in mirror to confirm hair is dry. Fluff. Fix placement of curls.
10. Wah-la! Beautiful curls!
Here’s a picture of me with some penises on my head
Must Smell
I’ve been burning a lot of incense this summer. I walked into a store down the street from my house that has really expensive hippy products I wish I had in my home, but begrudgingly have to admit, I’m not enough of a hippy to own. And it smells SO GREAT. So I bought some of what they were burning. My house gets pretty smokey (I may not know what I’m doing) but at least I sorta smell like a hippie from time to time.
This is one of the brands I like: Rituals Palo Santo
Okay, there I have it! This is how my Fall is going so far!
