The TueDo List: Quarantinis + Margit's Caboodle + Jennifer Kane
THIS WEEK
WATCH: Regina King’s directorial debut, One Night in Miami, and the much-hyped WandaVision, both come out Friday. The new adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small. An animation of a funny and true Bowie story. 10 year-old Nandi Bushell covering Led Zeppelin. Kamala Harris and her family Zooming. The stunning trailer for The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
READ: 10 outstanding short stories to read in 2021, and 22 books to look forward to this year. The life-changing possibilities of pole dancing. Imagine having Adam Ant as your neighbor – and storing his stuff in your basement for 15 years. High school sweethearts reunite and marry after nearly 70 years apart.
ENJOY: This tribute to Mary J. Blige for her 50th birthday. What’s in your Quarantini? A magical hotel room for fans of The Queen’s Gambit. Did you ever “get your colors done”? Now there’s an app for that. Sunday’s Indoguration for a good cause (and OpenPuppies for non-stop dog gifs). Need to let it all out? Just scream.
(Image: Andra Day as Billie Holiday, via Hulu)
STORY: When You Lose Your Mother
By Sarah Balsley
“When it was time for me to go that evening, I lay my chest to my mother’s chest and kissed her cheek and whispered ‘I love you’ in her ear. She could no longer form crisp words, but sort of sang it back to me, in three syllables, so I understood.”
(Psst: Want to write for us? Pitch us here!)
OBSESSED: Skincare TikTok — the Whole Kit and Caboodle
All pandemic, I’ve had a “why should I wear any makeup” kind of attitude, but recently, looking at my dry, patchy, sun-starved skin, I started wondering if I shouldn’t actually take better care of this mug — get a better moisturizer and maybe throw on a little occasional Zoom-ready foundation. Then I discovered Sonia Valencia, a 43-year-old TikToker who talks about “mature” skincare and beauty. After devouring video after video about icing one’s face, why I should be using Vaseline at night, and the wonders of It cosmetics, I started taking notes and filling my shopping cart. Sonia’s core tips are pretty basic: SPF, SPF, SPF and drink tons of water (if you do nothing else.) She’s got a bit of a potty mouth — which I love — and ends her videos with “You’re welcome beetch.” But she also gives tried and true advice on her go-to concealers, mascara, brushes, and techniques.
You guys. I went bananas.
I decided I needed a complete makeup overhaul — some of my makeup is, like, 10 years old. I bought concealer, two foundations (one and two), a primer, a bronzer, brushes, a rosacea-combating moisturizer, thermal spring water face spray, blender sponges, an eyeshadow palette (an eyeshadow palette? WHERE AM I GOING?) and, of course, roll-on Vaseline. I even bought a disco-silver Caboodle for my bathroom to organize my new stuff. A CABOODLE. What am I, 12? Blame a time where things feel untenable and dark — at least I can control my dark circles.
OK, I will choose to not feel shame about this, but next time you see me I will look VERY pretty. Thanks Sonia, you beetch.
— Margit Detweiler
TueNight 10: Jennifer Kane
(Jen on a Zoom call with assistants Molly and Midge in the background.)
“A few years ago, after being deeply disappointed by Fifty Shades of Grey, I decided to challenge myself by writing an erotica book under a pen name. Lo and behold, I got a book deal out of it. Learning to knit would have been an easier hobby, but this one certainly made for more interesting small talk at parties.”
Stay safe, Tuenighters!
OMG, I remember having a Caboodle as a kid! Love that they're making a comeback :)
I follow Sonia Valencia on Tik Tok, too.