MUSIC
doo bee doo by freshlyground
“Did you hear the news on the radio today? People have agreed to give their love away…” That’s how the 2004 international hit begins, a refreshing call for open hearts and minds.
I was working on my first cruise ship, the Disney Wonder, in 2008, where I spent many nights at crew bar parties DJ’d by crew members from around the world. On South African night, this song came on, and with a rhythm and melody I can only describe as “a song in the key of positive vibes,” I was hooked. I sprinkle it into my day whenever I need to groove, bounce, and fall back in love with the world around me.
wellness
MOON WATER
I recently discovered the ritual of moon water: filling a glass bottle with water and leaving it beneath the full moon to soak up its energy. I’ve been keeping a little around for daily use, taking a sip or spritzing some onto my houseplants. The older I get, the more open I become to the power of ritual, intention, and even a little placebo magic. Maybe it’s all about energy, or maybe it’s simply about finding small ways to make the everyday feel a little more enchanted.
food
michelle Kwan salmon pasta
My all-time idol is Michelle Kwan, and her Instagram recipes are top-notch. Here's one of my recent favorites: Bake one large salmon steak, a container of cherry tomatoes, a block of feta, 3–4 tablespoons of jarred pesto, one diced zucchini, salt, pepper, and a generous drizzle of olive oil in a glass baking dish at 400°F for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, boil your favorite pasta and reserve ¾ cup of pasta water. Once the salmon bake is out of the oven, toss in a big handful of fresh spinach and stir until wilted. Add the pasta and reserved pasta water, give everything a good mix, and voilà!
performance
company xiv
Imagine walking through the doors of a rundown warehouse into a smoky, incense-filled bar, where a burlesque dancer ushers you to your seat. What unfolds is a contemporary dance meets burlesque meets Cirque-level acrobatics meets Met Gala-worthy costumes meets pop opera meets fairytale fantasy, all rolled into one spectacular show. The first production I attended was their take on Cinderella, which featured a glass-slipper tour de force: the entire cast danced with one heel on, alternating between a catty, heels-inspired dance whenever they turned toward the heeled side and a deeply grounded, barefoot modern dance when they turned the other way.
travel
mediterranean steps, gibraltar
On one of the European-itinerary cruise ships I danced aboard, we made several stops to Gibraltar, a tiny peninsula welcoming ships into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic. One day, my little gang and I aimlessly wandered up to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar, dodging Barbary macaques, when we stumbled upon a tiny sign reading “Mediterranean Steps.” We had absolutely no idea what it meant (smartphones and data were scarcely a thing back then), but we decided to follow it. What we discovered was a magical series of natural staircases carved into the stone, winding down the mountainside along the coastline toward the famous Pillars of Hercules, the legendary markers of the entrance to the Mediterranean, with a counterpart across the Strait on the African side.
film
the joy luck club
In 9th grade, we were assigned an excerpt from Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, and I remember finding it a bit too depressing at the time. Flash forward to 2010, when I was working on a cruise ship and the film version seemed to play on repeat on the crew TV channel, where it quickly became one of my top 5 films of all time. the film follows four mother-daughter relationships, weaving together their histories between China and San Francisco. There’s a profound nugget of wisdom tucked into each of the eight stories, but the one that resonates with me most is Rose’s: a woman who gradually loses her sense of self and self-worth, only to rediscover her strength through the spirit of her grandmother.
coffee
go get em tiger, los angeles, ca
While on tour in Los Angeles, I discovered what might be the best iced latte of all time inside Grand Central Market in downtown. At Go Get Em Tiger, each iced latte is vigorously shaken to smooth perfection in a cocktail shaker before being poured over oversized ice cubes that keep it from melting too quickly and watering down the coffee. Not only is the coffee incredible, but the merch is equally fantastic.
literature
bird by bird by ann lamott
part memoir, part writing instruction, and part self-help book in disguise. My favorite passage is when Lamott urges writers to stop editing their thoughts and words to appease others. She likens the process to exploring a castle where you can wander freely, except for that ONE door you’re too afraid to open. I can’t help but liken it to the infamous West Wing in Beauty and the Beast. It was forbidden, deeply painful, and full of the things the Beast desperately wanted to keep hidden. But once Belle dared to explore it, she began to uncover the truth beneath his defenses, ultimately helping him rediscover his true self.
little wonders
unicorns and scotland
After doing an ancestry DNA test many years ago, I discovered that Scottish ancestry was my predominant lineage. It wasn’t until making that discovery that I developed much interest in visiting Scotland, as I’ve always gravitated toward off-the-beaten-path and spiritually infused destinations. But the more I’ve researched it, the more I’ve realized that Scotland is brimming with fantasy, folklore, and spirituality.
In the late 15th century, the unicorn became a prominent symbol of Scottish heritage, eventually earning its place as Scotland’s official national animal. (I suppose I should’ve expected as much from the country that gave us the legendary Loch Ness Monster.)
roller coaster
formula rossa, ferrari world, abu dhabi, uae
When I rode this coaster in 2022, it was the world’s fastest - launching you at a staggering 149 mph through a series of low-to-the-ground helixes in the blazing heat of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Riders are required to wear protective goggles to shield their eyes from the insane speeds. (Fun fact: I stole mine and now use them to cut onions in my apartment.) I still prefer Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, with its slightly slower launch up a 400+ foot top hat, but this was a pretty spectacular experience, and with a MUCH shorter queue!
art
gymnastics fashion
The sport most people refer to simply as gymnastics is officially known as artistic gymnastics, distinguishing it from rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, and tumbling. But the artistry extends well beyond the routines themselves. There’s an entire fandom devoted to gymnastics leotard design, particularly in NCAA women’s gymnastics, which absolutely deserves its own coffee table book someday. In 2024, in celebration of the Paris Olympics, Swarovski showcased the Team USA Women’s Gymnastics leotard collection in all its sparkling glory. Designed by GK Elite Sportswear’s Jeanne Diaz, the collection featured eight dazzling designs, each valued at approximately $3,000.
