Friday Five: December 2, 2021

I got this icebox where my brain used to be

Dec 03, 2021

How is winter treating you? I am already tired of the sun setting at the 4:00pm hour in New York. I am also tired of the continued uncertainty we’re living through, so much so that every time I see “Omicron” my brain says “Omarion.” I have said “Omarion” out loud at least twice in this context, after which my brain sings “I got this icebox where my brain used to be.” You don’t need to go any further into my psyche than this to understand me. It’s the change of seasons, darkness (literal + metaphorical), and living through a two-year long pandemic that remind me we all need some joy. So here we are with the Friday Five.

Song: Could I pick a better song title? Frankie Beverly & Maze’s ‘Happy Feelin’s’ is seven minutes and twelve seconds of beautiful sunlight, warmth, and good energy. You can’t listen to it without 1) moving, 2) smiling, 3) ideally both 1 + 2 at the same time. Play this while you’re outside on a walk or jog, take five slow, deep breaths, and remember that most of the time all we can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.

Video: As mentioned above, do you really want to know how irresistible ‘Happy Feelin’s’ is? I played it while writing that blurb and Miss Fig’s tail immediately started flying in every direction, sometimes on beat. Tail wagging = happiness = Happy Feelin’s. You can hear me stifling my laughter below:

Roya Shariat @royashariat

Maze & Frankie Beverly's 'Happy Feelin's' is so irresistible, my dog's tail is grooving to it

Recipe: New Yorkers who lived here in the early 2010s (or NYU alums) will remember Baked By Melissa. Those impossibly tiny cupcakes in vibrant colors had a hold on ~~people~~ me. While Melissa’s original claim to fame might be teeny tiny cakes, she started a TikTok where she often shares salad recipes, and one in particular has haunted me: a green goddess cabbage salad. I made it this week and the real lesson here is that we should all be eating our salads like dips, with chips. If you need a reason to eat half a head of cabbage you should try it. Friendly PSA: the raw garlic in the dressing will do a number on your breath and acid reflux so consider garlic powder instead!

Quote: This week I’m thinking a lot about one of my favorite Jalaluddin Rumi quotes, “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” As mentioned earlier, we are all just putting one foot in front of the other and figuring life out, even though the path ahead is extremely uncertain. This quote grounds me when I’m spiraling or when I’m feeling hopeless (*~just 2021 things~*). I hope it gives you some comfort when you read this.

🍹 Bonus Playlist: I teamed up with the lovely people behind Ghia (thank you Ghia founder + CEO and Consumed subscriber Mélanie! 🤗) to make you a holiday playlist. Enjoy this Digestivo during or after a heavy holiday meal, as you’re getting ready for a night in or out, or when you just want to move your body a little and feel something. My musical influences from all over the world made their way to this playlist, ranging from Iran’s Googoosh to Japan’s Nujabes (RIP) to the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo. If you listen, tell me what your favorite song or biggest delight was. Also, Ghia’s new Ghianduja is a delightful treat that I’m eating by the spoonful.