What's distracting Sarah? #3

I've been Marie Condo-ing the shit out of our gaff this week. With my son and my dad both leaving for pastures new, there's space for a total re-do. I intend to whip this scruffy home into a haven of loveliness, all books and scented candles and comfy chairs casually draped with tasteful throws. Unfortunately I am a hoarder with the aesthetic taste of an over-sugaraed 7 year old. I'm drawn to bright colours and sparkles. Eh, I wonder if this relates to being easily distracted?

Anyway, here's another round up of stuff that’s grabbed my attention and kept me from doing the stuff that I should be doing. Hope you enjoy. xx

TV: MINX

Okay so this is more than a little bit racy. There are numerous boobs and more penises than you could shake a stick at! But the series is all about feminism.

Set in Los Angeles, Minx  follows the struggles of a young feminist writer who's desperate to change the publishing industry of the 1970s, a time when gender equality wasn't really a thing.

Needless to say the pale, male, stale, bosses of the publishing industry aren't interested at all, so she forms a surprise bond with a publisher of porn magazines. He's an unlikely ally and together they set out to create the first women's erotic magazine.

It's funny and charming while exploring the power of  female unity from a range of perpsectives. And again, there are lots of naughty bits on show, so don't watch it with your parents or your kids. Awkward.

ADVENTURES: CANOPY AND STARS

Fancy a weekend in a treehouse? A remote cabin in the woods? A luxurious hideaway by the side of a lake? We've used this company for a number of trips and been very happy  with our stays. In fact, the cabin where I broke the hammock (the picture on the front of the website) was a Canopy and Stars place.

It's not proper camping, but then I don't want to be burying my own poo under a bush or getting washed in a well. But these (some of them extraordinary) spaces are a means to get away from busy-ness of every day and slow down for a bit. With access to running water and a toilet!

SHOP: SNAG TIGHTS

I bloody love this shop. They started with tights in all sorts of colours and patterns, but now make a range of clothes. This is now the only place I get tights from as they always fit (no drooping or surprise roll down), they are delivered quickly and wrapped in some lovely tissie paper so it feels like you're getting a present!

Everybody should be able to have clothes that fit. When we started Snag, our market research showed that 90% of tights wearers couldn’t find tights that actually fit. So we’ve committed to making all our products in at least a size 4 to 36 and that the same clothes should be available in all sizes.

The other reason that I love this company is that they use a range of models and promote inclusion in all areas. There are some bloomin foxy sorts modelling for Snag that makes it feel like a real celebration of diversity.

READING: THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Okay so Margaret Atwood's classic is deffo not a secret find. Even if you haven't read it, you'll probably recognise the red cloacked, white bonneted character either from the TV show or from the use of the image as an act of protest.

I've included this book as it was a turning point for me. I thought I wasn't clever enough to read books like this. I assumed I wouldn't understand what was going on or I'd find the whole experience of reading somegthing 'lofty' too hard.

I was wrong. The Handmaid's Tale is a complicated plot, expressed clearly and beautifully. It's really accessible and easy to understand, far more so than the TV show I think. Reading it felt like I'd opened a door to all sorts of other books that I thought I couldn't manage. I no longer have the fear of not being clever enough for certain books. It's very liberating.

I'm also besotted with Margaret Atwood. I've seen her speak at live events and I'm blown away by her. At 82 years old she's remains a disruptive force of nature.

And finally...

Middle Aged Fat Lasses Podcast, Ep 4: Cooking

This episode sees Sezl and me chat all things culinary. As usual we veer wildly off topic, exploring subjects from chickens multi-purpose bum holes, to tracking down Bette Midler in a New York City restaurant.