5 things for Friday 🎹

an Inspiration Station, just because!

Oct 14, 2022

∙ Paid

i take Inspiration Station curation very seriously…Sidenote: i’d originally planned to use a picture of Gail from Coronation Street, a soap opera set in Manchester, UK, looking into her computer, but i wasn’t sure of the context of the scene it was from because i don’t watch the show…but wanted to imply that the furrowed brow and look of concern on Gail’s face is the energy of concentration i put into this project. but i’d also saved this SWEET SWEET image above of Tyler (who you’ll find in this edition) which i think might be a better representation of me curating cutlets 4u from my portals of joy which i hope will resonate. Concentrated joy. yes.

Hi frens,

I’m attempting to unclog my sausage factory and Draft Post Backlog and let some of this be free, in hope there might be something here which can offer you some joy, some delight.

oh and in case it’s resonant, i’m thinking of another community meetup soon, to move and create some ease together, what do you reckon? up for a soft-soft-spacemaking session? when can you meet? this Sunday? another day? drop me a direct line by text or voicemail here!

slide into my DMs

I’d love to hear from you here too, about *waves hands around with a flourish* this electronic mail, so meet me in the comments and let me know how you’re doing, and if you dig any of these giblets, and, if you like, feel welcome to screenshot this nugget and share on your socials (you can tag me on insta/twitter/even tiktok if you feel like it!) i love to feel your resonance. This is an interdependent symphony! 🎶

Most of all, i hope this finds you succulent and nourished as can be. And if not, i hope this might offer you a space to land.

Ok, let’s get into it!

Excerpts from evergreen ‘Prince + autumn mood’ photoshoots

First up, my eyes need some beauty, i mean, when is this not relevant? Here’s something to quench tired eyes 💜💦

Prince stands before us in a woodland area where leaves have turned orange and his car is in the background. he appears to have arrived to meet us. he looks pensive and serious.

Prince stands in front of a gigantic tree. i think it might be an oak tree but this tree is COVERED in yellow leaves. Prince appears very small in front of it. nature is abundant. autumn is present. we feel the season.

🍁 Good time for a PSA for anyone looking for some support for their creativity and care during the autumn season - doors to my Take Care of You: Autumn programme are open (for the 5th year running!)

You can get all the deets and sign up here! 🍃

💞 Some kind words from Poppy about the programme →

Dionne holds space in such a loving, lighthearted, reassuring way. She intuits your worries and swoops in gracefully and playfully to allay them.

I found Take Care of You so helpful, it helped me to commit to a new practice, writing morning pages, and stick to it against all the odds!
Having an online community all working on getting into good habits gently holding me to account was just what I needed to get me back into keeping some precious time for myself amidst the busy life of being a working mum.
The practice had a profound effect! I was able to unearth and expel unconscious prejudices and negative attitudes that I didn’t really know I had, and I have felt like a new person having shaken them off!”

Tyler + Ernie!

Tyler and Ernie and a rubber duckie sit before a computer perhaps in the early 90s? they are projecting together

Have you been following this thread of Tyler James Williams (aka Greg from Abbott Elementary but also Chris from Everybody Hates Chris amongst other roles)?

caroline conrad @CPConrad

@daniel_fidler omg 😭😭

What’s wild is i kinda remember this feature on Sesame Street:

bobbi hosts ✨The Afternoon Special ✨ @hiimbobbi

I have found the clip! His little “that’s right!” at the end is just too cute 🥹 https://t.co/eF6dSEaZ3Y

Here’s a version with captions.

“That’s right!” My heart!

Also: does anyone else feel like Greg is coded as autistic in Abbott Elementary? Love me some autizzy representation! 🌈♾🦋💜🪐✨

Janet arrives!

Do you have a favourite musical year? Last week (October 7th) was the 25th anniversary of one of my favourite records - The Velvet Rope - from one of my favourite musical years - 1997 - from one of my favourite artists - Janet Jackson.

As you know, Mimi’s (Mariah Carey) Butterfly is right up there for me (you might know i hold the symbolism of butterflies dear 🦋), and last month was a feast of rememberings for the 25th anniversary. But i’d also love to hold space for this vital album, and THIS ENTRANCE Miss Jackson made to perform what i think is, if i absolutely had to choose, my absolute favourite song of hers, Empty.

(If the anticipation is too much, check around the 1:20 mark)

And more steady angle and wows of a different perspective here ✨ Here’s the full song for those who also love to stim-bathroom disco along to it with me! 💓

Any nkotb fans in the hus?

Do you remember this? One of my fave cuts (and felt AFFIRMED of my fandom since 1986 - lol)

also recommend the full audio because they cut it from the official video and it’s the outro for me (from the 4 min mark 🎻)

🎟 Funfact: Longtime Mimi (Mariah Carey) collaborators Trey Lorenz and Walter Afanasieff co-wrote this earnest banger!

🎟 Sidenote to the funfact: Never Let You Go (also on this record) is also a banger + Teddy Riley is all over it!

Lurking in my archives of joy: Phil and Pippin!

Thanks to Ketil for knowing i would relish this picture!

Pippin the dog sits in front of a keyboard with a picture of Phil Collins mounted atop the keyboard.

Because it unlocks a portal of my brain reserved for it (since 1990?!) and the glee i felt in remembering it’s part of a series including this:

Pippin the dog rests its head on a keyboard and gazes up to a picture atop the keyboard. the picture is of Phil Collins. We presume Pippin loves and or misses Phil.

The doggo’s name is Pippin and was star of the TV show Woof! Do you remember? Here’s a link to the first episode of the show and sidenote: i think it was filmed in Moseley (an area of Birmingham), feel like i researched this recently because

i was probably on a rabbithole of music from 1996 and
i’m ever-ever-ever looking for places in the world that might feel like home.

Anyway, Pippin was STAR of the Phil’s music video Something Happened on the Way to Heaven which you can find here 💁🏽‍♀️✨

🎢 Funfact: we have Phil’s *actual* old 80s Yamaha DX7 synth which we bought second hand! Feeling the closeness! And if you listen to my podcast i Feel For You, you can hear it used in the theme song!

…Well, that’s all for now frens. How was that for you? As ever, please leave some trace in this space if you walked here (always fun to see so many of you tuck into each delivery!).

You’re welcome to ‘like’ this post if you’re feeling pretty quiet, or feel free to tell me about anything that resonated, or something you’re diving deep into these days in your research rabbitholes!

And if you wanted some musical treats, i update my ✨ Vibes: Immediately! 🍔🌺🦋📠🧿🔋🐳💿💜🐸💅🏾🍯🛼🐚🦇✨ playlist on the regular (including songs mentioned here but also ones which lurk in the crevices of my heartspace, so follow for updates ✌🏽