The TueDo List: Girls Getaway + Press-On Nails + F-it Gifts
Plus, Happy Holidays from your TueNight Crew!
THIS WEEK
📖 READ: On the true meaning of "Bohemian Rhapsody” lyrics. Please don’t make us go to an office holiday party. The revolutionary writing of bell hooks. Before Bauhaus: How goth became goth. How to host your in-laws without losing your goddamn mind. Vanishing NYC in SATC. MC Lyte wants us to say “yes.” 2021 was the year in limbo.
👀 LOOK: Fake out your boss with the busy simulator. Emoji to scale. An app that lets you “lend your eyes” to a blind person.
🎧 LISTEN: An 65-song playlist of Black artists covering the Beatles. The B-69s cover pop songs in the style of the B-52s. Last year’s cover of “WAP” is pure genius.
🤣 LOL: “It’s beginning to look a lot like March 2020.” Clever, funny, and ugly Christmas sweaters. The f*** it gift guide.
📺 WATCH
Wednesday: The Matrix Resurrections. (Theaters and HBO Max)
Friday: Penélope Cruz in Parallel Mothers. (Theaters)
Saturday: Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in The Tragedy of Macbeth. (Theaters)
STORY: The Perfect Girls Getaway: When What Goes Unsaid Is The Whole Point
By Annette Earling
We didn’t have to solve any problems — we needed only to eat, drink, and add another log to the fire. This, despite the fact that we are three women perched on the edge of what can sometimes feel like an abyss. Our lives have been upended and here we are in midlife, still auditioning new futures, while a worldwide pandemic is making change almost impossible. But that night we were able to find our centers again.
OBSESSED: 21st Century Press-On Nails
By Liz Thompson
I’ve always hated my hands. I have very wide nail beds, so wearing nail polish used to feel like I was shining a spotlight on my least favorite body part. Plus I never had the patience or dexterity to do my own nails at home. Sometimes — for work trips or special occasions — I’d go to the salon and cringe. Like, hello, my name is Liz, please don’t pay ANY attention to these gnarly looking fingers. But today, DIY press-on manicures are at the top of my self-care list (right up there with wine haircuts and junk journaling), thanks to a recent discovery: press-on manicures.
BOOKS: The Best We Read in 2021
We asked a few TueNighters about the best books they read in 2021. Here’s what they said:
Margit D.'s fave book of 2021 is The Secret to Superhuman Strength. “This latest graphic novel from Alison Bechdel was the perfect, easy pandemic read. Bechdel explores her lifelong fascination with fitness (not to be confused with ‘being good at sports’) and it’s existential and hilarious all at once.”
Lynn H. recommends The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton. “The story is told from the POVs of many characters, and the audiobook in particular, with pro actors in all the parts, feels like an old-time radio drama of an amazing book-length article in Rolling Stone.”
Annette G. loved Sistersong by Lucy Holland for its glorious writing and fascinating story. “Arthurian-adjacent, set in Celtic Britain after the Romans have left but before the Saxons take over. The future of a kingdom and magic depends on three siblings, children of the current king, who has abandoned magic for enforced Christianity.”
Margaret C. wants everyone to read Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir by Brian Broome. “His story is incredibly powerful, and the way he structured the book was brilliant. It was so perfect it made me angry. Which I guess is not rational? Read it!”
For a quick escape, historical romance novel enthusiast Liz T. thinks you should check out Julia Quinn. “I've read (and re-read) every book in her now-infamous Bridgerton collection of eight juicy novels; yes, I plan on binge-watching Season 2 of Bridgerton in 2022.”
Melisa W. can't say enough about Dave Grohl's The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music. “As a huge fan I already know so many of the stories about the Foo Fighters but reading Dave's personal perspective made my 2021 much brighter.”
Wendi A. highly recommends All I Ever Wanted: A Rock 'N' Roll Memoir by Kathy Valentine. “This memoir by the bassist for the Go-Go's is a peek into Kathy's life as a rock star, but it goes much deeper than that. Kathy is an insightful, heartfelt writer who gets to the core of family relationships, recovery, and navigating the world as a strong woman.”
What was your favorite book this year? Let us know in the comments.
A selection of great stories and listens from other “grown-ass lady” sites
Hey Perry: The 4-1-1 On Perimenopause Symptoms
Jumble & Flow: Why “Get Out of Your Comfort Zone” is Not Helpful Advice, and What to Do Instead
Midlife Mixtape: Ep 111 The Final Midlife Mixtape Podcast Episode
Support She's the First to fund programs that ensure girls all over the world are educated, respected, and heard! For inspiration, watch these videos.
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We’ll be off next week. Peace, love, and health to you and your loved ones!
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