Since getting the DJ Pocket Osmo 3 last month, I’ve been recording up a storm! Pretty much every single day! It’s a bit surprising because I haven’t felt inspired to create video for months. Even though I’ve been doing it since 2009 and I have started/stopped a lot throughout the years for many reasons… mostly because social media has changed… a lot, and so has my attitude towards algorithms and validation factors that are out of my control.
Here’s one of my first videos ever, recorded 16 years ago, with actor Willie Garson, who passed away in 2021. I’m so glad we forever have this time capsule of him, right after he adopted his son, who he was cooking dinner for.
One thing that hasn’t changed in all this time is how creatively fulfilling I still find the process to be, even when I’m filming/editing something as “superficial” as a makeup routine.
I was reminded of this recently when I met up with my longtime friend that I met via blogging (creating content before it was called creating content), Katie Horwitch, and wrote more about that here. (You can read Katie’s thoughts about how we met and that special time of the internet)
TLDR, we make up our own rules when it comes to sharing, in whatever format — and that includes right here on Substack (which has now become its own form of social media in ways that I’m not crazy about).
But if you feel like watching more of these short-form videos, and you’re still on any of these platforms, here are my links: IG, TikTok, and YT.
June Blog Posts
June (long-form) Videos
FYI the East Fork Pottery I mention below is having their annual Seconds Sale July 1-6th! You’ll get 30% off nearly-perfect items (I honestly cannot tell the difference) — read about last year’s sale here.
I usually film my own short form, but Abe was the DP on the video above and also the one below, chronicling our trip to the California Botanic Garden.
June Recs
📚 Rebecca Makkai is one of my favorite authors (The Great Believers is one of my all-time favorites) and has shared a very in-depth look into how book prizes work. Speaking of books, I have somehow found myself in #booktok. I don’t ever share negative reviews about any artist, but starting/finishing a book and unloading my thoughts/feelings immediately has been really fun! Here’s my 2026 list so far; I’m currently spending every single morning leisurely listening to Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell.
🎤 Labrinth’s COSMIC OPERA ACT II (Apple, Spotify) would be really excellent to get high and listen to, I assume. (I haven’t gotten high in years.) Also, I have also been thoroughly enjoying every single song on Olivia Rodrigo’s new album (sober)!
🧖🏻♀️ I’ve always found those collagen overnight masks to be frustrating, overrated, and wasteful, so I was thrilled to learn this easy moisturizing technique from skin queen Charlotte Palermino.
🧠 A few mental health related things that helped me this month — from Psychology Today, a mindset coach on TikTok, Sabeena Ladha’s tips on getting out of a funk, and what appears to be an ad for a card game.
🎧 If you’re caught up on one of my favorite shows this year, Widow’s Bay, listen to this episode of the podcast Search Engine! It reminded me of the “Patricia” character (who I quite relate to sometimes).
❤️ Did want to put this $45 Amazon version of the Adam Lippes Anorak on your radar if you, like me, have been searching for the perfect lightweight jacket for summer evenings and don’t have $2500 to spend on a silk bomber.
🩲 Also wanted to share my new favorite underwear, the Skims Fits Everybody Boy Shorts, which you’ll never catch me modeling in a video. I heard they were very comfy and so I bought a pattern on sale that I’d normally never order (cheetah) to test it out. And in the last month, I find myself reaching for them every time they’re clean. They’re on sale now at Nordstrom, so I am going to get some non-cheetah colors.
💤 Even though she’s right here on Substack, I’ve been reading Joanna Goddard’s blog for almost two decades and the comments are always a goldmine of info, like on this post by Kelsey Miller about getting to sleep.
🎥 I actually watched Hard Truths last month but I still can’t stop thinking about it. Not surprisingly; Mike Leigh’s 1996 movie Secrets & Lies with the same actress (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) is one of the first films I watched that made me want to be an indie actress. Here is my full 2026 movie watching diary!
I remember when you first posted that video of Willie Garson! How special to have this footage. You've always been so good at capturing the everyday moments and routines and turning them into something special. So happy you've gotten back into filming them and the process still feels so fulfilling — and selfishly, I'm so happy for all of us that you've gotten back into filming them so we can enjoy watching :)
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