There’s nothing quite like getting on an airplane and flying away on vacation. It’s been more than two years since we had a real vacation, thanks to the pandemic, and it did not disappoint! We spent our days on the beach reading, then happy hour on the lanai playing Qwirkle and evenings binging TV. Here’s the pop culture I enjoyed this month…

Reading

Finally people, I had time to read some books! And with only one VERY TERRIBLE CHOICE, it was great. I finished Jo Koy’s Mixed Plate on audiobook and it was a really great memoir. His mom is a hilarious character and I know that his new show Josep will reflect that!

My first book of vacation was the beach read I needed, People We Meet on Vacation. It was light hearted and an easy read, exactly what I needed to get me into vacation mode. Then I read the worst book I’ve read in a very long time, and then I finished the trip with Detransition, Baby which is a great book and one that I know made a lot of year end lists in 2021.

I had been meaning to read Kitchen Confidential ever since I found an autographed copy years ago, it’s been on my bookshelf. After watching Road Runner last month (FYI, it’s going to be on CNN in March if you haven’t watched it yet!) I decided to try the audio version which Bourdain reads. It’s hard and also calming to hear his voice. I miss his tone and sarcasm. It’s so weird to remember that he wrote this BEFORE he made it big. If you’re an Anthony Bourdain fan and haven’t read this book, grab the audiobook for your next read.

Listening

Vacation didn’t make for a lot of podcast time, but I did try to keep up on What a Day while we were gone. The Joe Rogan episode of The Daily was really interesting too if you missed it.

There’s a new season of Sounds Like a Cult and the first episode was about Trader Joe’s, I felt seen…

I downloaded The Trojan Horse Affair but haven’t started it yet. Too many audiobooks, might be time for a podcast binge…

Watching

While visiting my niece last month I watched part of Encanto but that kid decided to finish the movie without me, SO a week later I ended up watching again, and it was wonderful. I will always talk about Bruno…

My dad texted me to tell me I needed to watch Encanto (check!) and Coco which hadn’t made my list – we aren’t big movie watchers at my house and my husband really isn’t a cartoon guy. Luckily on our flight to Hawaii Coco was available and you better believe that the movie finished just as we were landing and I am sure my seatmates thought I was crying about the landing, but it was the perfect ending that got me.

Vacation seemed like the right time to finally watch Season 4 part 1 of Ozark. It was dark and crazy and we decided that before the final part comes out, we’ll have to rewatch the series since there are so many moving pieces that we had a hard time keeping track. Back home we finished up Yellowstone which I didn’t expect to like as much as I did. It’s a crazy story with lots of moving pieces, and of course I love the local politics stuff! If you liked Succession or Righteous Gemstones, try Yellowstone, trust me.

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window is the most ridiculous title I’ve ever had to type. Kristen Bell can do no wrong in my book, when I was 2 episodes in and on the fence, my sister in law texted to keep watching. I am so glad I finished this series on the flight home. The over the top-ness of the series and the final whodunit reveal were the exact amount of insanity I didn’t know I would love.

I am LOVING The After Party on Apple+. That every episode is a different movie genre is such a clever idea. There are a ton of great characters, and obviously so far my favorite was the musical ep! For a complete 180* TV experience, I also really enjoy All Creatures Great and Small  – it’s a really sweet show where nothing bad happens and the squabbles are very British. And to continue the boomerang, I loved this season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake, and I am so glad that Real Housewives of New Jersey are back!

Okay, vacation or not, what pop culture did you enjoy this month?