Things to Consider #1

a rapper, a YouTuber, dogs, dolls, shoes, yummy things

Jan 06, 2025

Hello Internet

I hope that this newsletter finds you well and that the start of this year has filled you with a renewed sense of hope. If not, then one can only hope that the year will only get better from here.

I wrote earlier about camicore, which I will be exploring in this weekly newsletter. I suggest that you visit that post to get an idea of my taste and feel inspired to delve deeper into your own. This year has truly begun in media res. I’ve been a bit out of sorts, reaching for beauty in the confusion, and returning to the simple pleasure of looking, archiving my “likes“ to ground myself and tend to the garden of my mind. Shall we dive in?

Things to Consider (current favorites)

Lexa Gates

We’re starting with a heavy hitter. Lexa Gates is an R&B musician and rapper, but I find that her artistry and brand extend far beyond the bounds of music. You might recognize her as the girl in the glass box promoting her latest album, Elite Vessel. I am excited to watch her rise to prominence and am biting my tongue here because I have lots to share about my love for this artist later this week. Stay tuned.

Heaven Sent Honey

Eloquent, enigmatic, elegant, wise. Celinko posts videos on YouTube that are dreamy and meticulously crafted and talks about her lifestyle manifesto and philosophy of sensualism, of which I am a devoted follower. One of the most important things that she has taught me is that elegance is the mastery of time. Very Venus-Saturn energy. I would love to know her natal astrology chart. My guesses are an Aquarian or Capricorn Venus and a Scorpio or Taurus rising (I’m biased and assume people with good taste is always Taurus Risings). I’m currently alternating between her and Mina Le for my YouTube needs.

Pin Up Doll Photography

Retro, campy, kitschy, glamorous– this art checks all the boxes for me. The photos are cinematic, they tell a story and build a world that only belongs to vintage postcards. I do wish that there were more dolls of color in these photographs.

May include: A blonde doll wearing a gold and black dress and a pearl necklace. A doll with brown hair wearing a gray suit and a red and white striped tie. The dolls are standing in front of a sign that says 'UPTOWN'. — Nicole Houff on Etsy

May include: Three figures holding a blue and white surfboard with a white stripe in the middle. — Nicole Houff on Etsy

May include: A doll wearing a pink robe and black lingerie sitting at a vanity with a triple mirror. The vanity has a gold frame and is decorated with a small bouquet of red flowers and a clock. The doll has black hair and is wearing black stockings and heels. The doll is sitting on a white chair with a blue letter B on the back. The doll is looking at the mirror. There is a small table with a black purse and a plant in the background. — RetroFashionDolls on Etsy

May include: A blue convertible car with a doll in the passenger seat holding a bottle of wine. A police officer stands next to the car. — RetroFashionDolls on Etsy

Big Dogs

Specifically, Afghan Hounds. These are the supermodels of the dog world. Chic and high-maintenance, their bodies are artwork, long legs forming compositional lines.

This may contain: two dogs laying on top of a bed in a room with red and gold wallpaper

This may contain: a large white dog sitting in front of a window with flowers on it's side — shot by Petra Collins for Gucci

This may contain: a woman is walking two dogs on a leash in black and white photo with the dog pulling her — Michèle Morgan by Ernest A. Bachrach, 1940

This may contain: a painting of a woman with a white dog — Woman with a Stole by Jean Dupas, oil on panel, ca. 1929

High Heel Mary Janes

I am oh so lucky and grateful to have acquired these heels over the holidays. I’ve been holding out on Mary Janes for years, mostly because when covid hit, they became huge and I wasn’t sure if the revival was for me. But then, I fell in love with the paintings of Paul Laurenzi and realized that a high Pleaseresque Mary Jane was what I needed. Pleasers are built to make you appear taller, yes, but also to help create compositional lines when you’re pole dancing. While I will not be doing the former anytime soon, I’m excited to incorporate erotic aesthetics into my wardrobe with these heels.

paul laurenzi- lick ice down in flame — Lick Ice Down in Flame, Paul Laurenzi, 1986

Eating Decadently at Home

All tell and no show for this one. Since I’ve been on winter break, I’ve made more time to make quality meals at home. Below are some of my recent creations.

Miso honey carrots, radishes, and shiitake mushrooms over ricotta and sourdough toast
Blueberry ricotta pancakes with a dusting of matcha
Green goddess arugula salad with shiitake mushrooms, pine nuts, shiitake mushrooms, and hard-boiled eggs
Potsticker salad with homemade peanut butter dressing
Umami pappardelle: pappardelle with shiitake and brown beech mushrooms and a parmesan-miso-nori cream sauce. A dusting of furikake on top.1

Not a meal, but it deserves a shout-out: Jeni’s Lemon and Blueberries Parfait Ice Cream with shortbread cookie crumble.