It's a Love Story, Baby Just Say Yes!! (Issue #40)
Today’s theme is Valentine’s Day, a reflection on love and relationships ahead of next Wednesday.
Hi friends!
Happy (early) Valentine’s Day. Before we jump into today’s roundup of love-themed recommendations, make sure you check out my roundup of Easy Valentine’s / Galentine’s Day Gifts and Activities for Last-Minute Lovers compiled in a bonus issue a few weeks ago. If you’re still looking for gifts and/or date ideas for next Wednesday, all of the suggestions I gave are still possible on an abridged timeline!
Now, onto today’s recommendations. <3
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
Podcast: Just Break Up
Hosted by real-life best friends Sierra DeMulder and Sam Blackwell, Just Break Up answers real questions from real listeners about “romance, heartbreak, family, mental health, and more.” Their relationship advice is endlessly insightful, helpful, kind, and LGBTQ-friendly! I love listening to their insights, and have recommended this podcast more times than I can count!
Movie: Past Lives
I first watched this movie in theaters a few months ago, and love the way it explores relationships throughout a person’s life. It’s up for best picture, so it’d be a fun watch before the Oscars next month. Here’s the full description: “Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are torn apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Decades later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront destiny, love, and the choices that make a life.”
I’m a fan of the Bachelor franchise and all of its spin-offs, but the Golden Bachelor might just be my fave!! Their debut season featured 72-year-old Gerry Turner, whose love story ended in a Bachelor wedding (which you can also watch now on Hulu or the ABC website)!
Action items to support and care for the world around us.
JewishCurrents: The Work of the Witness by Sarah Aziza
I came across this article when @Abigail Koffler shared it in her Substack @This Needs Hot Sauce a few weeks ago. The piece opens with a question: “Three months into a livestreamed genocide, we must ask—what does all this looking do?” It’s a really great reflection on the real effects of being able to witness a genocide online, and the implications it has for our actions. A poignant and urgent read.
The New Yorker: Gaza is Starving by Isaac Chotiner
In a Q+A with the chief economist of the World Food Program, this article highlights a lesser-discussed crisis threatening Gaza – food scarcity and the risk of famine. The fact is even if Israel were to scale back its attack on the region, the food crisis would persist and may lead to an even bigger humanitarian crisis in the long run. Highly recommend you give it a read.
Instagram: @Wizard_Bisan1
Bisan Owda is a filmmaker, activist, and journalist, currently documenting the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. She posts regular videos and other updates on her Instagram, and it’s a really valuable source to see what’s happening from the perspective of those directly affected.
Gaza Mutual Aid Solidarity Google Form
Created and powered by a group of volunteers with loved ones in Gaza, this GoogleDoc provides many great ways to get help and give direct mutual aid to distressed and displaced families, assisting them meet their basic needs during this ongoing humanitarian crisis. It’s a really helpful document with lots of practical ways to get involved, even if you (like me) live physically far away from the crisis.
Things to try + share in the group chat.
My friend Amelia recently introduced me to the Beli app and I’m ~obsessed~! The app is like a Letterboxd or Goodreads for restaurants! You can track and rate all the restaurants you’ve visited, see the places other folks in your area recommend, and keep track of places you want to try. As of writing this newsletter I’ve rated over 161 restaurants and compiled a huuuuuuge list of places I want to try in the future. You can add me on the app with the username @celisiastanton, or through this link.
It’s not a hot take to say our media and broader culture tend to shy away from accurately representing the sex lives of older adults. That said, I really appreciated this interactive article from Cosmopolitan, in which Lauren Alexis Fisher features the stories and perspectives of a variety of folks aged 60-95, all centered around the topic of “Sex After 60.” My friend found this article because it features @welcometoheidi, a 63-year-old content creator who shares her daily outfits and reflections about aging and living a full and meaningful life on her Instagram and TikTok. I’ve since followed Heidi myself and love her videos!
Italian food screams “date night” to me, and I’m planning to try this recipe for Chicken Parmesean very soon! I appreciate @maxiskitchen’s focus on getting a really crispy breading, because nothing is more disappointing to me than a soggy breaded chicken, haha!
And there you have my little Valentine’s Day roundup. I hope your days are filled with love and relationships (both platonic and romantic) that fill your cup!!
But wait! If before you go make sure you check out the bonus issue paid subscribers got this week. In it, I’m taking a journey through the inappropriate lyrics, teenage angst, and surprise cover songs of my life!
Until Monday!
Want to stay connected between now and next Friday? Don’t be a stranger!! Make sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok. Know someone who you think would like Sincerely, Celisia? It would mean the world if you could help spread the word by sharing this newsletter through the button below!! <3