The Weekend Edit No. 16
A sexy new (gay-ish) series, the paint color we're painting our living room, a cozy flat tour, and the new mystery book I can't put down
Dear reader,
Happy Friday! How was your week? We’re coming off a sickness that has been plaguing us for the last seven days, and we’re so over it. You really don’t realize how much we all take for granted feeling healthy until you’re sick for a week straight. I’m so ready to feel like myself again.
On the plus side, being sick does have some charms. I have enjoyed laying on the couch or in bed more than usual, though the house can’t just stop because both of us are sick. We were still out running errands, grocery shopping, and working throughout it all because the show must go on. Still, there were quiet moments, like yesterday afternoon when the sky was dark and the rain was drizzling and we both fell asleep on the couch for an hour. When your body needs rest, listen to it.
This week, PJ has been listening a lot to The Mel Robbins Podcast, and every episode is so enlightening. Do you listen to it? I used to be big into self-help podcasts when I drove 45 minutes to work every day, but I haven’t listened to any in a long time. He was playing one the other day about drinking less, and it spoke to him. He hasn’t drank in over two and a half weeks, and has since decided, as mentioned in the podcast, to not drink for three months. I was shocked when I first heard that timeline, especially with Valentine’s Day coming up and then my birthday the following month, but I’m proud of him. I haven’t drank in over a week because of the sickness, but I might just stick it out with him. We’ve also been toying around with changing the name of Vino & Vent (our weekly live chat show on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok). TBD!
In other news, I came across this great post by
from her wonderful newsletter about how to dress like Paul Newman, and I couldn’t agree with her more. Why don’t we all want to dress like Mr. Newman? Classic. Timeless. Charming. These are all words that come to mind when I think of his style. She posts some great photos of him along with pieces that you can buy to channel his vibe, and I’m just feeling very inspired by his whole deal.
Here’s what else went on this week:
PJ and our new assistant Ethan rescued Stella last week, who was pretty much on her deathbed. Her body temperature was 74 degrees when they found her abandoned by her mom (which happens more than you would think). He has been nursing her back to health all week, in between nursing himself back to health, and now she isn’t just surviving, she’s thriving here at our house in town. Adeline, our dog, has adopted Stella as her puppy and makes sure to lick her, care for her, and they sleep together on the back porch every night. It’s so cute. Stella should hopefully be able to go to the farm full time in a few months.
I made Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore With Mushrooms and Bacon from The New York Times Cooking and it was the perfect comfort meal for this cold, rainy weather we’ve had on and off this week. The kids didn’t love it because of the mushrooms and “chewy” chicken, but I thought it was delicious. I doubled the amount of red wine the recipe calls for and it was just right.
We got rid of a lot of clothes this past week and donated them to a local consignment shop. While I was there dropping everything off, I found a few new-to-me items to try on and eventually brought home with me. My favorite find of the day? This vest that was $7! Yay for thrifting, which has and always will be our favorite way to buy pretty much anything.
After four years of living with white walls in our living room, we finally decided the time is now to paint them a more Craftsman-appropriate color, AKA moody, warm, and earthy. We settled on Pining for You by Benjamin Moore, and I bought a little sample of it yesterday and put some on the walls and it got me so excited! I cannot wait to add color to that room to make it extra cozy in there. We’ve slowly started adding more warm colors to our house over the years to make it more in line with what a house like ours (Craftsman Bungalow) should look like. I am hoping to start painting next week!
I’ve had this book for over a year, but didn’t start it until I was in bed sick all last weekend. It’s now become my new favorite comfort book as I sneak in a few pages before falling asleep every night. In The Night Wood is a dark, atmospheric novel about a grieving couple who move to a remote English estate with ties to a mysterious old fairy tale. As historian Charles investigates the eerie book, strange things from its pages start creeping into reality, blurring the line between folklore and fate. It’s gothic, unsettling, and full of that creeping sense that maybe the monsters in the woods aren’t just stories. Bonus: It takes place in a big, gorgeous, Victorian mansion with corridors and rooms galore. I can’t wait to finish it.
Have a cozy weekend, friends.
Welcome Distractions
Something to Watch
“Prime Target” on AppleTV+. We started this new series starring a dreamy Leo Woodall last weekend and I have to say, it’s one of our favorite premieres in recent memory. It’s about genius mathematician who goes to Cambridge and is studying prime numbers and how they relate back to everything in life. But soon, he realizes he’s at the center of a much bigger conspiracy. We’re only two episodes in, but there’s already a sexy gay storyline, a lot of mystery/action, and cozy cardigans galore, so consider us hooked.
Something to Read
The Myth of a Loneliness Epidemic from The Atlantic (paywall). Writer Faith Hill looks at the current belief that society is experiencing an unprecedented surge in loneliness. Despite initiatives like the appointment of "loneliness ministers" in the UK and Japan, and advisories from health authorities, Hill suggests that current data doesn't conclusively support the notion of a worsening loneliness crisis. Measuring loneliness is complex due to evolving societal definitions and expectations of relationships. Also, different individuals experience and interpret loneliness in varied ways, making it challenging to draw broad conclusions (there’s a difference between being alone and feeling lonely). She emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of loneliness, recognizing its multifaceted nature and the importance of tailored approaches to address it effectively. A fascinating read.
Something to Listen to
“Stick Season (We'll All Be Here Forever)”. Noah Kahan’s third album has been out for about three years now, but it’s the perfect vibe for this cold, dark, rainy winter season. It’s all we’ve been listening to for the last few weeks and now the kids are even hooked. Our favorite tracks are Stick Season, All My Love, Dial Drunk, and Homesick, though honestly, there isn’t a single skip on this album.
Weekly Fave
I installed new curtains in our front room last week after debating for years if we should do them in there or not. We have them in every other room of the house except the one when you first walk in, which happens to be the coziest IMO. Now that they’re hung, I can’t imagine that room without them. It just took 8 years to get to this point! You can click the image above or here to see more of our favorite curtains!
A Closer Look
“I tend to create spaces which are quite clean, quite modern, and architecturally quite uncluttered. The pieces themselves create the drama, create the color and the decoration in many ways.” Virginia White shares her beautiful, eclectic flat with House and Garden UK and it quite literally stopped me in my tracks this morning. This is a house with soul, with life, with meaning and purpose, and you just know a special place like this when you see it. It’s cozy and collected, smart and sophisticated, and most of all, intentional.
You May Have Missed…
This Week’s Vlog
We’re dealing with a break in, a bad haircut, and lamb drama in this week’s vlog. Hope you enjoy! xoxo
Have a wonderful weekend. We’ll see you on Tuesday. If you feel up to it, please like this post and share it! It helps get the word out and lets others discover Okay McKay. Thank you, friends!
Thanks for this week’s, Edit. It was nice to share all the information. There’s so much of it with which I can identify. It’s always a pleasure to read.
As with others’ comments, I’m liking the wall paint color, as well. I’m sure it’ll add that warmth you’re anticipating. I also agree with your choice to hang curtains. I think regardless of style or design curtains add the final touch to most window designs.
It was also quite interesting for me to read that you used to maximize your time and listen to your self-help tapes while commuting. I used to do the same, unwinding with various literature. I subscribed to Books-on-Tapes’ unabridged versions of those titles that I had previously read and those I hadn’t yet enjoyed. It was very special to me and a great use of my alone time.
Kudos to PJ and Ethan for all the care and kindness given to little Stella. What a wonderful result after the touch-and-go period PJ spoke about in the vlog. The photo of him comforting her even while still dealing with his own symptoms is quite an endearing moment to capture.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention what a special picture of you, Thomas, modeling your “new vest!” I think the overall look you present is lovely - particularly with your recent haircut and the facial fuzz your sporting! Good for you!
Wishing you both all the best for a continued recovery. Feel better, soon! 🤗🤗
So glad that you’re on the final stage of that flu! 🤒 Hope you’re fully recovered soon 🫶🏻
I love the paint color! We painted some walls also a shade of green in the new home upstate, and the rest white (from a developer gray that we hated) and it changed the whole vibe of the house. It’s a 1850 multi-family house that was renovated into two apartments (we’re on the second floor) in 2020. Some original features were saved and they’re beautiful. I feel with only painting we could highlight them, and hide the boring lack of them in some other rooms.
I started watching Prime Target in one of our flights last week and I really liked it as well. I only watched episode 1, but Leo Woodall got me hooked for how many seasons they want to make LOL
I’ll take your book recommendation. I’m trying to read more but I’ve struggled with finding books that keep me captive. In 2023 I ended up reading 30 books, and gave myself a 2024 goal of at least 12. I only read 4. I started another 4 but never finished them. I miss that feeling of “it’s already 3am and I should be sleeping, but I can’t put this book down”.
I’m afraid I’m with the kids about no-no to chewy textures in food. But in cases like mushrooms I just chop them in smaller pieces so I can’t tell they’re there 😅
Have a great weekend!
Pablo (& Marcos)