Peach pie, 99c rentals and mini goals

Mondays are much easier when you know there's a slice of pie in the fridge with your name on it (and ice cream in the freezer). I made a peach pie over the weekend using Sophie Hansen's recipe, which is right at the end of this post. Summer pies are simpler than winter ones, because the filling doesn't need to be cooked beforehand. I reckon I'll make one more before stone fruit season is out.

It is still smokey here in Canberra but we've had a couple of days where the air quality has been safe, which has made everyone feel a little lighter and free. We had a really fun weekend, cooking from The Silver Spoon Classic, a Christmas present from my youngest brother and his fiancee. We had friends round for pie, went back to yoga and watched Long Shot. I read that it was the best underrated rom com of 2019, it also happened to be a 99c rental on Apple. It stars Seth Rogan and Charlize Theron and was super fun - the soundtrack is great too.

I'm also making sourdough again. I made a starter over the holidays using a recipe from the Flour & Stone cookbook and am turning out my best loaves ever. It's so exciting, especially because I've given up in the past when it was time-consuming and unsuccessful. These latest loaves are crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside and quite sour too. I'm using recipes from this American zine and have also made sourdough tortillas and crumpets. At the moment, I'm baking weekly and we're making a thing of eating it fresh. I made a batch of broccoli, lemon and Parmsean soup on Sunday night in preparation for our Monday loaf.

Finally, I'm setting three small goals for each week, something I learnt from doing a 12-week 'reset' journal last year. They're less outcome orientated and more about how I'd like to feel and what I'd like to do during the week. They're kind of like this - only without the daily tasks/reminders. I'm easing myself into the new year :)

Tiny joyful things

Because it's Wednesday, I wanted to share a few things I look forward to every single week. They're tiny joyful things that are part of my routine and help to punctuate the week. Let me know if you have any too! I'm always looking to add lovely things to my day-to-day.

On Monday mornings, I read Sophie's newsletter before breakfast, usually while stirring some porridge. It's a gentle way into the week and it's usually filled with recipe and podcast suggestions, bright pictures and reflections on the season. Monday is also the day a new Unstyled podcast episode drops, and I'll save the episode for a bus ride home later if the week (if I can manage it).

Midway through the week, a favourite blog column comes out. It's called The List and it's written by Leslie of Cupcakes and Cashmere. I have her author page bookmarked on my phone, and it can be the nicest way to unwind after getting home from work.

Round about the same time, a new episode of The High Low comes out too, just as I'm craving something funny/cheery to listen to before and after work.

Anywhere between Thursday and Saturday, I get excited about doing the market shop. It's when I gather ingredients for new recipes I want to try (for work or just for fun). Most weeks I stop at a farm shop in my lunch break or on my way home, and get to the markets every now and then. Or I convince Tony to make a date out of it, and we drive to a favourite produce stand in a nearby town and stock up on veggies after brunch or coffee out. There is something about the colours of the produce and maybe the possibility too that makes me feel so happy and creative.

On Saturday, kind of like how the weekend paper used to be a morning ritual for me, I read Cup of Jo's list of links from the week and always find something to read or enjoy. Erin posts a lovely end-of-week wrap too, and the stories she links to are always surprising and broad-ranging.

And something that happens throughout the week - coffee after my yoga class. The teacher normally brews the coffee, and it's always a lucky-dip to see who sticks around to hang out. Last week, after class coffee came with bonus homegrown lemons.

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Great things, inspiring things, silly things

Hello from my favourite corner of the couch. Things have been busy round here - Tony's midway through a residency at Megalo print studio (his first prints are looking zany!) and work has been a little crazier than usual. I'm also adjusting to... multifocals, which make me feel about 100. They seem to have banished my days-long headaches, which makes life so much cheerier. I'm also wearing scrunchies again to balance things out :)

Here are a few lovely things to share and something silly too, because every now and then things don't quite go to plan:

I've been getting back into the Longform podcast after hearing about the Sloane Crosley episode on The High Low. Every episode features an in-depth conversation with a writer, and I also enjoyed the Wesley Morris interview (love how he talks and writes about race and culture - it's nuanced and thought-provoking) and the Michael Pollan episode was inspiring and had me in stitches.

While I don't write much for work these days (aside from short things like recipe wraps), I've thoroughly enjoyed the shift to editing stories and supervising videos. It's unusual work because it's invisible work, but there is something immensely satisfying about shifting words around on a page and making subtle (and sometimes big) tweaks to make a story the best it can be. Most recently, I felt privileged to edit this story by Ben, who had his prostate removed at 36 and is now trying to start a family after cancer.

And now for something silly. This puttanesca-inspired baked risotto might be my favourite Hetty McKinnon recipe ever. I first made it after a long weekend trip to Sydney when I was a little weary and craving a home cooked meal. It was fast and comforting and I loved the addition of lemon juice.

Then one Monday night I figured I'd make a double batch to share with a friend... which almost overflowed 😂 Tony helped me save it, which involved transferring it to another slightly bigger but still too-small pan at the end and I am proud to say the giant batch of risotto survived and no one cried or yelled.

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My favourite things to do in Canberra

A few times a year, I'll get a text from a friend asking for Canberra recommendations ahead of a weekend visit. When Lou, a reader from the UK, sent me a message about her upcoming visit, it made me think of sharing some of my favourite places with you too.

So, here's my mini guide to Canberra. I've narrowed it down to the places Tony and I visit lots. They're the places we take friends and family when they're here to see us. It includes a heart-pounding hike, a hidden art installation, plus where to sample a cheeseburger-inspired spring roll:

Breakfast, brunch and coffee

Go for coffee at Barrio, a tiny cafe in Braddon that always has good vibes and hearty food. On a cold winter day, their ham hock toastie and a hot cocoa makes everything okay. They've just started opening at night on weekends for drinks and snacks, and it's worth keeping an eye on for their casual dinner events too.

We often take friends and family (or just ourselves) to Local Press on the Kingston Foreshore. It's right by the lake and has plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. Head here if you have a busy day ahead, the meals are delicious and filling.

Then there's a series of diner-style cafes run by the ONA coffee house. Their newest one is Highroad in Dickson. The fit out is beautiful and Tony's always looking for an excuse to go. We'll often share a souped-up shake and some halloumi bites.  ONA On The Lawns in Manuka is especially good if you're brunching with kids. There's a little grassy area out the front that's great for dog-spotting and running around. My favourite book store, Paperchain, is nearby. There's also The Cupping Room near the New Acton precinct.

Or if stocking up on local supplies is more of your thing, visit the Ainslie IGA and pick up Bombolini doughnuts, The Muesli Bar's honey toasted granola, and some Three Mills bread. Recommending a supermarket might seem strange, but this one has a cult following (and an insane cheese wall too).

Dinner and drinks

If we're going out for dinner, Lazy Su is always our top choice. I love the music, the playful atmosphere, and we always order the Wagu cheesesteak spring rolls :) You only need two people to get the banquet, which serves up their greatest hits - they also have a vegan banquet.

We tend to skip dessert so we can head to the nearby Frugii for the best gelato and ice cream in town. My Dad always visits multiple times when he's in Canberra and they'll always have a seasonal flavour like Hot Cross Bun and Anzac Biscuit.

If my parents are in town and we want to take them somewhere special, we go to XO in Narrabundah. It's contemporary Asian food, and as an Chinese Australian, eating there is always an emotional experience. The food always reminds me of dishes I grew up eating. If you go - listen out for the medley of TV theme songs they play in the bathrooms, and order the soft serve for dessert.

There's also Pulp Kitchen in Ainslie, which has a cosy neighbourhood vibe while still being a bit fancy. We went for our most recent wedding anniversary and love its sister restaurant, eightysix. Sometimes we go after the movies just for the banoffee pie.

There are plenty of quick and filling options too - Locale in Deakin is our favourite pizza joint. We order the Locale, which has hot salami, blue cheese and mascarpone. Grease Monkey in Braddon serves up Mary's style burgers. Bistro Nguyen in the city is our favourite place for Vietnamese (order the pork belly stew!), and we also love Thai Chiang Rai and Sammy's Kitchen in Kingston.

For drinks, Bar Rochford is refined and cosy - they have a fire in winter and the food is really good. If you're into craft beer, Capital Brewing is a relaxed place to spend a sunny afternoon. They also have a Brodburger van - Canberrans love Brodburger for unfussy burgers and hotdogs. And while we haven't been, the Pop Inn wine bar always looks pretty no matter where it's set up.

Places to visit

The city is surrounded by mountains, and climbing them can be a really nice way to start or end a day. The Mount Ainslie walk is probably the most popular, and it gives you a beautiful view of the city. The track starts off gently but you should save your energy for the stairs near the summit. The return trip takes about an hour or a little longer if you keep stopping to take photos :)

Out of all of the museums and galleries, the National Gallery of Australia is my pick. There's usually a blockbuster exhibition and a range of free shows. If the weather is nice, it's lovely to walk through the sculpture garden. I especially love the fog work. Just outside the entrance is one of James Turrell's sky spaces. You can visit it at any time but it's best viewed at sunrise and sunset, when a special light show plays. The optimum viewing times are posted here every day.

Other things we love, Here yoga studio in Downer, Palace Electric cinema in New Acton (get a hand-dipped choc top and head to Monster Kitchen & Bar  afterwards for a snack), riding around Lake Burley Griffin, and Tony's busting to try Go Boat.

Fun things for kids

Questacon is really popular with toddlers and young children - our friends buy an annual family pass. For smaller folk, we've spent some time at the Yarralumla Play Station in Weston Park. There's a mini train and an adventure playground.

The most impressive playground is at the National Arboretum. They've built giant acorns that sit on top of ladders of varying heights, which kids can climb into. Across town, Manuka pool has a sweet wading pool, and then there are free play spaces for kids at the big institutions like old Parliament house and the national gallery.

Lastly...

While you're in town, Her Canberra and Visit Canberra are great for getting a sense of what's happening that week. I also love Megan Sparke's Instagram account, especially when I'm looking for somewhere new to eat.

The city has plenty of festivals too. Enlighten is my favourite because there's a night noodle market and it reminds of when we first moved to Canberra :)  We also have a food truck festival and a hot air balloon festival.

Enjoy!

Plum cake + an exciting new podcast

I've been thinking about family rituals this week, since my sister moved to Canberra. Maybe we'll have a standing Friday night dinner somewhere local, like the family in The Squid and the Whale. We've already promised my niece a girls' day out, including "a meal at a restaurant" at her request (four year olds!).

I have the best memories of going to my grandparent's house for dinner as a kid. They used to own a Chinese restaurant in Sydney and had a servery built into their home - a little hatch that connected the kitchen to the dining room. With dinner covered, my parents, aunts and uncle took turns bringing dessert.

A summer plum cake is becoming a new family ritual. I made one last year, using fruit that a friend brought into the office to share. My extended family divvied it up on a balmy afternoon, after my grandfather's wake. When the plums appeared in the office again this week I realised we were nearing the anniversary of his death.

I baked this dimply plum cake (it's jewel-toned and jammy) to share with my family who are in town to help with my sister's move. We managed to demolish the whole thing on an equally hot day, this time in my sister's new lounge room. It's a simple tradition that makes me think of my grandfather, and our ever-growing family.

On a very different note, I am so excited about the Making Obama podcast, which comes out next month. Making Oprah was such a joyous and fascinating podcast series, and I am sure this next series will be just as good. I heard the reporter, Jenn White, speak at a podcast conference in Sydney last year and was blown away by her ideas and humanity (I even plucked up the courage to ask a question). You can listen to a preview of the new series here :)

Summer fun

Things are definitely feeling summery and relaxed around our way. We're home for the holidays, and are starting to settle into days with no alarm clocks or set agendas. If you're about to finish work or are already on holidays, here are some things you might enjoy for the slower days ahead:

One movie I highly recommend is the Japanese animated film Your Name. I watched the trailer a few months ago but found it a bit bizarre. Then it showed up in my brother's e-newsletter as a must-watch, and in the iTunes store that same week. I watched it on a rainy Sunday afternoon, it was surprisingly moving and very beautiful too. We had to go out for ramen afterwards :)

This is a bit of a guilty pleasure - lately I've been tracking down my favourite restaurants and local businesses on Spotify and listening to their playlists. Here are some fun ones - Lazy Su made a Yes! playlist to celebrate the same-sex marriage postal vote result, and shared the playlist for their hip hop ramen nights. I keep an eye on the new softserve flavour at XO, a fusion Asian restaurant near our place, and their music is always eclectic.

And if things are really busy, I love tuning into my yoga studio's playlists. The Joey Pecoraro tracks remind of me the days when I used to take a beginner's ballet class in Sydney. It was the best way to wind down after work and shake out my computer posture.

I bought a pair of Springcourts sneakers when I was in Sydney earlier this month to replace my white Vans. They are ten times more comfortable ... and the same style that Yoko Ono wore on her wedding day :) I'm excited to wear them with summer dresses and on weekend bike rides.

And ahead of my desk warming party, I bought a copy of Charlotte Ree's baking e-book Bakeree, after Catherine gave it a great wrap. I made the chocolate and macadamia cookies with white choc chips and they were super yum! We have a small stash in our biscuit tin and home, and I am still sneaking one every day.

Yay!

Did you watch the announcement today? I was so nervous - and then excited and relieved. Watching the coverage has been emotional (this photo!), and I hope that it's not too long before same-sex marriage is legal in Australia. I've already volunteered to make a wedding cake :) Let's continue to look after our LGBTIQ family and friends because it's not over yet, and we can help keep the good vibes going and look out for one another too. Some other good things:

My copy of A Modern Cook's Year by British cook Anna Jones arrived last week and it's easily my favourite cookbook of 2017.  So far I've made the ricotta gnocchi with a quick cherry tomato sauce (so good!), and her latest one-pot pasta with asparagus, lemon and peas, which came highly recommended from a friend.

I'm also keen to try the rhubarb and rose ice cream and this smoky mushroom and roast kale lasagna. There are eight recipes from the book here (god bless the Guardian), including two desserts and a bunch of hearty mains.

I am holiday ready! I bought this cute cotton nightie to pack for beach holidays and lazy summer mornings. This one is pretty too. I've also rediscovered the secret to a good night's sleep - exercise that gets the heart thumping at some point in the day.

I finally had the chance to watch a few episodes of Humans of New York: The Series. I love that the city is such a big part of the show (maybe even a character in its own right), and that each episode is based on a big theme, like independence, purpose, parenting and imagination.

A post shared by Nourishing Club by Kate Levins (@nourishingclub) on Nov 9, 2017 at 11:41pm PST

And two things you can do to make the days feel longer -  one, make a simple dinner. This one's from Sydney nutritionist Kate Levins. She's also written about a healthy eating day, and it's changed how I eat fruit. Secondly - I've turned off all of the notifications on my phone, from Facebook Messenger to my podcast app. Things have been peaceful. 

Spring things

How are you feeling now that we've (finally) hit spring? I've just gotten over a lingering cold and it's been sunny enough to ride my bike again. Yay! September is looking good - Tony and my third wedding anniversary is next week, I'm heading to a conference about podcasts, and there's a Blue Mountains holiday on the horizon.

Other good things - my friend Beth shared the story of a water ballet on Facebook. The ballet was staged by friends in a wading pool to honour a dying artist's final vision. The dance was choreographed, the swimming costumes handmade, and the resulting performance so, so joyful. Here's a great quote from the article: "Be involved. Be engaged - appreciate your beautiful, awesome body that isn't failing you."

I recently discovered Thalia Ho's baking blog, Butter and Brioche, and I've been trying out some recipes. I started with her spelt choc chip cookies, next on my list is this chocolate sheet cake with thick frosting and a sprinkle of fleur de sal. Thalia's Instagram is beautiful too!

A post shared by By Madeleine Dore (@extraordinary_routines) on Aug 28, 2017 at 3:00am PDT

Was August busy for you too? I feel like time is going to keep flying, so I was especially thankful to see Madeleine Dore's series on being creative and burning out on her Extraordinary Routines blog. It includes interviews with many Australian women I admire, like Nirrimi Firebrace and Kate Berry.

I am reading Jessica Friedmann's debut book of essays Things That Helped that chronicles her experience with postpartum depression. I saw Jessica speak at the Canberra Writers Festival and was moved by her honesty and articulate account of early motherhood. I am only part way through this book but wholeheartedly recommend it.

A post shared by Grace Bonney (@designsponge) on Aug 24, 2017 at 4:22pm PDT

And I loved this tour of a houseboat in the Netherlands, which is home to an impressive cookbook collection and a cat named Smurf. The house is compact, colourful and afloat!

Photos: Top image by Erika Schultz for The Seattle Times, chocolate cake photo by Thalia Ho.

Fun stuff

What are you reading at the moment? While I was travelling for work, I raced through Kevin Kwan's latest book Rich People Problems. It was so much fun. If you're interested, it's worth reading the first two books, Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend, before you get stuck into this one. And if you've read all three, a movie is coming soon!

Speaking of movies, Tony and I watched The Trip to Spain a few weeks ago and loved it! It's laugh-out-loud funny, so much so that our row of seats was shaking from laughter throughout the film. I've seen all three films and this one might be my favourite of the series.

I picked up these tassel earrings while I was in Darwin and feel extra cheery when I wear them. I get lots of compliments too! The remind me of these Muppets and dress up my usual jeans and stripey top combo  :)

Finally, I've been catching up on Death, Sex & Money episodes and really enjoyed this interview with comedian Jeff Garlin, who plays Larry David's agent in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Right at the end of the interview, he gives host Anne Sale some thoughtful advice on her post-baby body.

This quote also made me laugh: "Every morning when I get up, I look in the mirror and I smile to myself because I look ridiculous first thing in the morning ... that smile makes me laugh and then I set the tone for the day."

Girl power

How great is this poster? It's free to download from The House That Lars Built and it's by illustrator Libby VanderPloeg. I'm going to print a copy and save it for the little studio space that I'm slowly pulling together at home.

The poster was inspired by In the Company of Women, a thick book of thoughtful interviews by Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney. I treated myself to a copy when it came out last year and have scribbled down so many great quotes.

Over the weekend, I started listening to Violet Sessions, a podcast that comes out of Violet Bakery in East London. It's hosted by Claire Ptak, who owns Violet Bakery, and journalist Danielle Radojcin.

I especially enjoyed their conversation with Penny Martin, editor of The Gentlewoman magazine and this funny chat with broadcaster and supper club host Alice Levine.  (Side note: check out Alice's pretty apartment!)

And finally, here's something I stumbled across in a comments feed on Instagram from Nirrimi, whose blog I admire. She was responding to a comment about her friendship with another talented photographer Georgia, - "I have a saying, don't be jealous be inspired."

Hope you're having a good week!

New books

I packed a bunch of new books for my trip to Sydney and I'm getting through them. On the weekend my friend Sarah gave me a copy of The Little Book of Slow, which is a pocket-sized book about simple living and slow cooking.

So far I've made two pies from the recipe section - a hearty meat pie and an apple and cinnamon pie - both for my parent's freezer. It's been such a sweet reference book to have in my holiday backpack. Bonus points for colour coordinating with my notebook and novel :)



I'm also flicking through Note to Self, which I stumbled across in a Melbourne bookstore. It reminds me of the blogs and zines I read in my uni days - some of the chapters are diary-like and there are beautiful photos of everyday life and the occasional poem too.

It's an easy one to dip in and out of and it's partly about living more mindfully. I can whiz through dozens of pages in the time that I might spend scrolling through Instagram.

P.S I also bought the latest Haruki Murakami book but I thought two hardbacks might be a little much for a week away. It's waiting for me at home.

Three everyday reads

I would love to read everyday but most weeks, time gets away from me. For ages, reading meant always having a novel on the go but lately I've been enjoying books that are easy to dip in and out of. Here are three that fit the bill:

How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh

I read a page of How to Love each morning as I'm climbing out of bed. It takes me two minutes. Each entry touches on a practical aspect of love from a Buddhist perspective - from how to communicate in an argument to ways to be more comfortable in your own skin. While I don't agree with all of the entries, I find myself mulling over the great ones over the course of the day.

Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups

This was a Christmas present from my sister Carla. It's an anthology that's meant to put you to sleep. It's filled with short stories and poems from greats like Roald Dahl and Haruki Murakami as well as more contemporary writers like B.J Novak. It's a thoughtful compilation that makes it possible to read something satisfying even if 10 minutes is all you can manage.

In the Company of Women

Do you read Design*Sponge? My friend Sophie introduced me to it when I was living in Wagga Wagga (her kitchen was featured!). This book comes from the blog's founder, Grace Bonney, and every time I flick through it, I end up scribbling quotes in my journal. It profiles over a hundred creative women who share their approaches to life, work and creativity. The photography is beautiful, the interviews are illuminating and most profiles are just a couple of pages long.

What are you reading at the moment? I started Pond the other day and it's unlike anything I've ever read.

March fun

Happy March! Here are four fun things to kickstart your month, starting with the podcast everyone's talking about - Missing Richard Simmons. It's about a fitness guru from the '80s who takes a sudden break from his very public life. I started listening on the weekend and it's equal parts intriguing and fun.

Good news - the new season of Love is less than two weeks away. Tony and I watched the first season in a day, when we were both at home with the flu. This year will be different. Also the second season of Master of None is coming soon!

A post shared by Bill Hayes (@billhayesnyc) on May 27, 2016 at 6:53am PDT

I am still thinking about Insomniac City, a month or so after I finished reading it. The Good Weekend published an extract over the weekend, if you're interested in checking it out.

And I've been enjoying all of the extra Moonlight coverage that's come with the Oscars. The Daily had an interview with director Barry Jenkins (listen from 9 minutes), The New York Times profiled Mahershala Ali back in October and he was interviewed with his wife Amatus on Death, Sex & Money last year. This interview with Alex Hibbert, who played the lead character as a young boy, is also super sweet.

Listening to...

I'm always on the hunt for new podcasts and last week I started getting into Death, Sex and Money from WNYC Studios. It's hosted by Anna Sale who has the gentlest way of broaching big issues and asking personal questions. She describes the show as being about "things we think about a lot and need to talk about more."

It's not a new podcast - it's been running for two years - which means there's an excellent archive to trawl through. I really enjoyed Ellen Burstyn's interview with the legendary Gloria Steinem (such a great idea to have contemporaries in conversation) and was moved by We're Not Going to Have Karl Again and this interview with a young Korean woman who talks about her life after her father's murder.

Most of the episodes are between 20 and 30 minutes which makes them the perfect length for lunch time walks or daily commutes. If you're a fan of Conversations I reckon you'll like this show too. It's a little freer in format, just as intimate and philosophical too. And while some of the subject matter may sound troubling, each interview is handled in such a sensitive and fascinating way, which makes listening in so worthwhile.

P.S If you're already a fan, there's an interview with Anna Sale on The Longest Shortest Time. And this interview about how she managed her maternity leave is also great.

Found flowers + what I'm reading

On Sunday, after we'd finally straightened out the house, I picked a few flowers from the gardens that are part of our apartment complex. Everything is in bloom at the moment and even though I felt a little sneaky taking some cuttings, I'm so glad I did.

Right now I'm reading A Year Between Friends: 3191 Miles Apart: Craft, Recipes, Letters and Stories. Every day I'm busting to get home to read a little bit more, even if it's a couple of pages before bed.

The book is based on the 3191 Miles Apart blog, which I discovered a few years ago through a recipe for coconut choc chip cookies. It's a shared blog between two Internet friends, who found each other on Flickr and have been collaborating through photographs for years. They're real life friends now, and the book chronicles a year of their everyday lives and their friendship too.

Inspired by their beautiful photos of everyday life, I snapped these shots late yesterday. I baked a batch of peanut butter granola in between loaves of bread and spent some quiet time reading after a busy few days of catch ups and errands. If you like their blog too, make sure you sign up for their newsletter, it's always a highlight of my Sunday.

P.S I'm also reading The Guest Cat, which I picked up on our Sydney trip. I'm drawn to Japanese fiction but am yet to properly get into this novel. It could be to do with the translation or that fact that I'm only a tiny way in.

Picnic for one

One Friday night on our way to dinner, Tony and I passed a girl setting up for a picnic by herself. She had a towel, some fancy chips and a book and she was still there when we passed the same spot on our way home. I love organising picnics for friends but I was curious to try a solo picnic. It might sound a little lonely but it's actually super relaxing.

On Easter Sunday I packed a thermos of tea, some Easter eggs and a new book and walked down to the lake. Away from my computer and things about the house that I'm very good at fussing with, I drank tea, read and people-watched in the sun. I'll definitely do it again, next time I'm home alone or need a little time to myself.

P.S I'm reading Erin's book Simple Matters and am loving it.

Aziz Ansari on love and text

On the weekend Tony and I finished watching Master of None, and while I wait to see if there will be another season (fingers crossed!), I'm getting stuck into Aziz Ansari's first book, Modern Romance: An Investigation.

I first heard about it in this hilarious This American Life segment, Romancing the Phone. Part stand-up, part real-life investigation, it's an intriguing look at the role of texting in dating today. 

I picked up the book this morning and am already hooked. Even though I haven't dated for years and years, flipping through it reminded me of how fun - and torturous - texting can feel if you really like someone and they don't message you back. 

There's an audiobook, which Aziz Ansari narrates himself (super funny teaser here), and I was really tempted to listen to it but the book has photos, funny text interactions like they'd appear on a phone, and charts too - it is a non-fiction book after all ;)

I also stumbled across this back issue of The Happy Reader, which has a great profile and Aziz's summer reading list. Super fan much?

P.S - Another awesome author read audiobook is Jon Ronson's So You've Been Publicly Shamed.