simple pleasures: pottery, in need of London recs, and going off birth control

no.5 - planning a trip to London, binging Bridgerton, recovering my hormonal cycle, and my happy mornings playlist

simple pleasures is a monthly curation of all my favourite new (and old and loved) things - think a collection of passions, habits, books, quotes, purchases, recipes, and more.

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From this month onwards I thought I’d keep the simple pleasures email a little simpler, because don’t we all love a little rebranding? Categorised and to the point with bullet points, pictures, etc. to keep these emails short and flowy.

New in

• I started a pottery wheel throwing course and it’s already my favourite new hobby. The way the clay glides under the hand is soothing and having to keep stable requires a lot of focus, which I found puts me in a meditative state. So all in all, it’s very therapeutic. This article relates my experience well.

• Being less consumed with materialism is something I’ve been working on, and I’ve written a short essay on it. My first ever personal essay on here. Thank you all for the amazing feedback on it!

• I booked a trip to London! It’s been my dream to visit London ever since I moved back to Europe, so when I randomly had a look at the train prices one day and spotted a cheap option, I took it as a sign and spontaneously bought myself a round-trip for the end of June. I already have my accommodations booked, tickets to the musical of my dreams (the Phantom), and some cafes and walks saved. But I need your recommendations - viewpoints, shops, restaurants (for solo travelers), things to do etc. Leave a comment, because I’d love to know!

• I went off birth control. Simply because I’ve been on it for about 14 years, and I’m curious as to how my body is without synthetic hormones. I can’t lie and say I’m not a little scared of the process, especially considering I also have PCOS, but I’m ready to give my body a chance. I’ve been reading Beyond the Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighten to help prepare myself for post-birth control symptoms. Let me know if you have experience coming off BC (especially with PCOS) and if you have any tips.

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Reading…

• I loved this article by fellow substacker

  Teresa Wu
  about keeping long-distance friendships alive - something I try to be better at

• One of my favourite substackers and style icon

  jordan santos
  wrote a great article about being curated online. It reminded me that it’s better to live in the present than share every minutiae of my life online

• Severance by Ling Ma. This is probably the first book about a pandemic I’ve read after Covid, and it’s eerie how parallel certain experiences and sentiments are (especially considering this was published in 2018)

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Watching…

• One Day (Netflix) - I know the story, I have read the book and seen the movie with Anne Hathaway multiple times. But let me tell you, I still wept. It’s a wonderfully executed series, with beautiful scenery and amazing lead actors. Ambika Mod is my new favourite woman.

• I’ve been rewatching Bridgerton (and Queen Charlotte) in anticipation of the new season. Even on a second watch, it remains an amazing show. I tried reading the books once and it’s one of those unique cases when the adaptation trumps the book by miles.

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Spending on…

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been struggling with my consumption mindset so I’m trying to be more mindful of my spendings - and simultaneously a bit more grateful for the things I already have. So I’ve really only spent money on some essentials or experiences this month.

Just remember, I don’t share these because I believe you need any of these. You don’t. If you already have a good skincare routine, for example, keep it that way. And if there is anything you do consider buying, then take a few days to mull it over.

• Tunturi dumbbells (5kg) and Bala Bars - Of course, weights are not essential, but I’ve been wanting to up my workout game for a while, and since I’ve had a bad experience purchasing cheaper models (extreme plastic-rubbery smell), I expanded my budget a little.

• Beauty of Joseon bits - I have started to love this simple brand that doesn’t immediately break the bank. I purchased a travel version of their Ginseng toner to take on my trips (I have and love the full-size). I also got the Revive serum, the Revive eye cream, and the Dynasty cream.

• Flamingo Razor - Not a lot to say here, but I love these razors as they have a smooth bit about the blades that makes it easier to shave.

• A cinema membership - I love going to the cinema, so I gifted myself a cheap monthly membership with which I can go see one movie a month. I call it “paying for an experience” and a good excuse for a solo date or meeting with a friend.

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Listening to…

Happy upbeat songs like The Killers. I’m slowly curating a playlist in this vibe. It’s a stark difference from the melodramatic playlist I shared before.

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Inspired by…

A new category! I love Pinterest to find inspiration, but sometimes it just gets a bit too much with all the boards. This is not shopping inspiration per se. It’s simply that the shapes, materials, and colours have an inspiring effect on me.

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