A New Month, A New Me

February has been a wonderful, wild ride. I'm sad to see it end, but also looking forward to more fun things to come this year. This month I turned 30, and I feel more like myself and more comfortable in my skin than I ever have before. So without further ado, here are the things that have me shamelessly happy dancing right now!

Book that became the perfect beach read: We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby

I brought this book on vacation after having been turned onto her blog recently. Not only is her irreverent voice right up my alley, but she found a way to turn her loathing of just about everything in life into some surprisingly heartwarming tales of what it means to be an urban woman looking for happiness in life. I laughed out loud on the beach by myself repeatedly reading these essays and I highly recommend them to anyone with a tough enough stomach to handle her language. Sometimes crude, it's not for the faint of heart, but certainly worth a read if you're looking for something light and fun. So good I had to read bits out to my friend multiple times.

TV show that has me drooling...literally: Ugly Delicious with Chef David Chang

I haven't watched every episode yet, but that's because I'm savoring this new series. Definitely something to watch only when you have a pantry stocked with healthy things! By the end of each episode I'm itching to get into the kitchen in the best way. I've seen a lot of other food docs featuring David Chang as well as some of the restaurants he visits, but his unique point of view on each food is wildly entertaining. If you like cooking and eating, you're going to enjoy this show. Netflix is crushing the game when it comes to culinary documentaries lately, and this is just another example of that trend. If you've enjoyed Chef's Table, Cooked, 42 Grams, or even Somm - this will be an absolute treat. Also featured in PBS's Mind of a Chef, Chang breaks down the culinary arts for the viewer in a cheerful (but not condescending) way and this show takes that talent and runs with it. Definitely a good watch before dinner.

Series that never lets me down: Mozart in the Jungle

This. Freakin. Show.

I was ECSTATIC to see there was a new season available this month on Amazon Prime. The music, the characters, the story, and did I mention the music yet?! I fell in love with this show when it was recommended to me last year and immediately binged all three seasons. This fourth season did not disappoint, and I may or may not have watched all of it in one weekend. I could easily have finished it in one day if I wasn't pacing myself by watching it with a friend. Somehow this show is both completely earnest and completely ridiculous at the same time. With each episode highlighted by a different gorgeously arranged piece of music, even the soundtrack goes above and beyond other shows. This is no Glee; this is the story of true musicians and conductors with all of the comedy and the drama you hope for, and none of the melodrama you dread. I would confidently put this show among my top ten of the last couple years, and definitely worthy of making two TV recommendations in one ANM post.

Album I grooved to on my sun-drenched vacation: Earthtones by Bahamas

The album Earthtones came out shortly before I left on vacation and it prompted a friend to recommend the artist's previous albums. Oh boy, had I been missing out before now. I put all their tracks on shuffle as soon as I got on the plane and I pretty much didn't stop listening to them until I got off the plane back at home. It had the perfect relaxed, beachy vibe that still has so much soul and substance. There's a depth to the tracks (especially So Free and Alone) that lingered and almost haunted me after I got back. Now anytime I hear them I'm completely transported back to that trip and I cherish the memories I made along with these tunes. This album is perfect for a vacation of the mind. Put it on, close your eyes, and just bask in the sunshine conjured up by the rhythm and soulful vocals.

Gift that has changed my (culinary) life: Wusthof Pro Knife

I haven't been cooking for very long, and I've been confident in the kitchen for even less time. I had bought a cheap, but decent knife set from Target when my then boyfriend and I moved in together out of college and that has lasted for quite a while. I made do with learning to cook with them, but was just starting to get the itch to up my game and treat myself to some higher-quality tools. I had borrowed a sharpener to try to eek some more life out of them, but they just didn't cut it anymore (pun very much intended). Enter the Wusthof Pro series chef's knife. I had this on my wishlist for a few months and my father and step-mother somehow divined that it was actually the only thing I'd truly want for my birthday. I've had it for less than a week and I couldn't be happier with it. It makes every meal easier and I feel like a real home chef every time I hold it.

Honorable mention: my new gooseneck electric tea kettle which has transformed my morning routine. There's something so delightful about the tactile experience of pouring with a gooseneck. I feel so fancy getting to use it (causing me to fall even deeper in love with my coffee), and even my evening tea feels nicer using it - perfect for when I want to put my feet up and relax with something warm and soothing. It takes no time to get up to temperature and keeps warm for an unbelievably long time. Big shout-out to the friend who found this for me after I had been lusting after his for ages. You're the real MVP.

Another month done, another closer to even more exciting things. I am pumped for this year of my life and I hope these recommendations also bring you joy. Let me know if these spoke to you or even if they left you scratching your head. Tell me what you've discovered this month; I'd love more recommendations for next month. Let's chat!