Hello Saturday, Volume 1
For me, there are only a few things better than a cozy Saturday morning. As I write this post, I'm lounging on the couch in my pjs, sipping yummy Trader Joe's coffee from my favorite YETI coffee mug, having a few of the seasonal pumpkin spice mini cake donuts from Krispy Kreme (because they're back!), and listening to Katy Perry's new album Smile. Earlier this week, I traveled to the Charlotte, NC area for work for the first time since February and I actually had to go into my local office for a day for the first time since April. It's been a long week my friends, so I'm looking forward to a few extra hours of relaxation that I wouldn't otherwise get if it wasn't Saturday.
Lately I've been brainstorming ways to expand Just Jen Things to share more links I love with you guys. Because I love Saturday mornings, I figured Saturday would be the perfect day to have a cup of coffee, reflect on the previous week, and put into words what I've been up to, what I've been listening to, and miscellaneous links from around the web that I’ve been reading throughout the week. So I welcome you to the first Hello Saturday of many! This series will be ever-changing over the next weeks and even months, but I know I have to bite the bullet and start somewhere. I mean, procrastination stopped me from starting last week and you know what they say, there’s no time like the present.
Highlight of the Week: We celebrated Mogul's second Gotcha Day!
August 28th is a special day in the Brandl/Wouters' household as it marks the anniversary of Mogul's Gotcha Day. I'll have a full blog post ready on life with a dog in the next few weeks, but for now please admire this year-over-year growth comparison picture and check out last year’s life with a dog blog post. I can hardly believe he used to be as small as he was in the first picture, but the photos don't lie. From his itty bitty puppy days, we've always loved his big ears and long tongue among other things like his quirky personality. Two years have really passed in the blink of an eye.
What I've Been Listening to - Music & Podcasts
folklore (deluxe edition) by Taylor Swift. Obviously. I'm loving the new bonus track "the lakes", too!
Smile by Katy Perry. A much more mature pop album than her last 2017 project, my favorite track is "Daisies".
heart theory by Lindsay Ell & also her episode Lindsay Ell on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s podcast “Off The Vine”. Written about the seven stages of grief, the whole album is a mood taking you on a journey through heartbreak, acceptance, and healing. In the podcast episode, Linsday talks to Kaitlyn about how the idea of the album came together and why what almost breaks you will make you even stronger later on in life. A truly inspiring artist who shares real life — the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Me And The Boys In The Band by Carly Rae Jepsen. A quarantine-inspired song to her bandmates, my favorite comment on the YouTube video was: I did not have "Carly Rae Jepsen releases Dudes Rock anthem" on my bingo card but I'm here for it. I love the CRJ fandom.
In A Dream by Troye Sivan. Absolutely loving Troye’s new EP. I’ve been a fan since “My My My!”, which yes, I heard for the first time when he performed it with Taylor Swift on tour.
BADLANDS (Live from Webster Hall) by Halsey. If you're craving live music and concert vibes, Halsey just released this gem on Apple Music and Spotify. My favorite track on the setlist is actually a talking break: “I’m Not Playing Closer”. Halsey says: “Usually by now [toward end of the concert], there’s someone in like the 6th row who’s like ‘Shut the (explicit) up, stop talking, play your songs, play Closer!’” *crowd laughs* and she adds, “I’m not (explicit) playing Closer.” lol, got to love The Chainsmokers. But for real, my faves were Roman Holiday and Gasoline — also my favorites from the studio album as well.
Growing Up Robinson with Craig and Michelle. Such a great episode from the Michelle Obama Podcast all about reminiscing youth. It’s clear Michelle and Craig have so much love for each other as siblings. I loved listening to the stories they shared from their younger days, especially the cigarette story!
From Around the Web
Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Emotion,’ a pop masterpiece, is five years old. Emotion is one of my favorite pop albums of all time, yet so many people have never given it a listen because they equate Carly with “Call Me Maybe” (which is like 8 years old btw) and nothing more. The article calls Emotion “the best pop album you may have never heard”. I was late to the game on it myself, but there’s been no looking back since. It’s right on par with Taylor Swift’s 1989 if you want my true opinion.
Still Teenage Dreaming of Katy Perry's Pop Masterpiece 10 Years Later. How in the heck is this album 10 years old!?
Letting go of being No. 1, Katy Perry finds her 'Smile'. Often times with new projects, artists try too hard to repeat past successes. Katy Perry spent a lot of time at number 1 with singles on past albums, but has come to recognize that her last album “Witness” fell short in a lot of capacities, probably due to the “trying too hard” aspect. With her new project, she’s finally accepting that she may never see the same successes she’s seen in the past, but she also knows now that she’s worth more than a number 1 spot on the Billboard and is subsequently releasing better music as a result.
For you music video people, The 32 best music videos of 2020 (so far), ranked.
Regan’s amazing reviews of Lindsay Ell’s heart theory and Taylor Swift’s folklore. Read Lindsay Ell’s heart theory: Real, Vulnerable + Empowering and My Thoughts On Taylor Swift’s Surprise Album “folklore” now! When other people so eloquently describe my thoughts on albums I love, I would rather share their words than write my own.
A cool article I recently stumbled upon on Why time feels so weird in 2020. I also wrote about the paradox of time in quarantine in my May blog post on my thoughts of life in quarantine, so it’s fun to see the similarities between my post and this new one on Reuters.
Food related for you broccoli & cheese lovers like me, here’s an article with links to 15 Comforting Broccoli and Cheese Recipes. I’m adding some of these to my “need to make now” dinner lists.
Announcing the JoJo Fletcher x Etsy Summer Home Collection. This Etsy collection is giving me all the late summer must-buy vibes. Send help!
And one more for today — Colin Kaepernick Sends Letter to LeBron James Thanking Lakers Star for Protests. #blacklivesmatter
After spending last week Saturday at the lake with friends, Alex and I have no firm plans for today. For now, I’m going to go get ready, clean up the house a bit, do some laundry, and squeeze in a few chapters of my latest book, Beach Read by Emily Henry. We have to venture out for some groceries and take the dog for a walk later, but other than that, we have an obligation-free Saturday ahead of us. Just the way I like it!
Enjoy!
JB