The Cats & Coffee Curated Content Series
Welcome to the April 2023 edition of my weekly Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series! This series features weekly short-form content round-ups of articles, videos, podcasts, and Instagram accounts that inspire and entertain me or make me think. In short, I find content that is worth your time so you don’t have to! This month’s Curated Content Series highlights include the struggles of organizing your personal life, a discussion between The Last of Us‘ game and show creators, and a cozy bookstagram that will inspire your next read!
Favorite Finds of the Month
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: April 26, 2023
Article: ‘Quiet Luxury’ Is Extending Beyond the Runways—And Into Your Home, Annie Davidson Watson for Vogue
Ever since the Gwyneth Paltrow trial and the latest season of Succession started up, there’s been a lot of talk about “quiet luxury,” a “muted style movement that’s ironically making more noise than anything else right now.” For clothing and accessories, this translates to logo-free, ready-to-wear pieces that are “exceptionally” high quality.
Images Credit: (1) Ceramics by Tomoko Sakai, styled by Colin King. Photo: Adrian Gaut; (2) The lobby area of a home designed by Ken Fulk. Photo: Douglas Friedman
In the home, however, it is more of a look of restraint. Annie Davidson Watson discussed the style with Ken Fulk, an interior designer, who said that the home motif is “not about a style or look per se—which can be as layered and bold as ever—but rather a focus on quality and a dedication to making every moment matter. From the rituals of your daily wake-up regimen to the profile detail in a crown molding, it’s about investing in the pleasure and beauty of our everyday lives.”
For a design style that seems to be necessarily reserved for the ultra wealthy, Fulk’s description reminded me a lot of the slow living/cottagecore mindset. Achievable, intentional, almost sustainability-adjacent. Some interesting thoughts to keep in mind in your own home — I know I will!
Quiet Luxury Inspired Finds for the Home
YouTube Video: The Woman Behind The Queen: Marie-Antoinette | ElleHistory
Historian Dr. Estelle Paranque recently started a YouTube channel called ElleHistory, dedicated to discussing historical women, sharing academic advice, and reviewing contemporary historical shows and media. Estelle Paranque is a great storyteller, and her passion for history is always readily apparent, whether it’s on her channel here or in one of her guest podcast appearances (I came across her work thanks to the Talking Tudors podcast!). In my must-watch video this week, Paranque breaks down why Marie Antoinette has become such a misunderstood figure in history, explaining the queen’s “good heart and good actions that are too often overlooked.”
Instagram Account: @waterofwhimsy
Regan Ralston, the watercolorist behind @waterofwhimsy on instagram, creates beautiful works imbued with everyday magic and mysticism. Based in Ithaca, New York, Regan is fascinated by folklore and history, interests which are readily apparent in her watercolor works.
After a successful “Witch Aesthetic” series she shared on Instagram during the pandemic, Regan began to delve more deeply into the unique features of modern witchcraft, along with related personality traits. It’s through these style posts that I came across her work, and I’m certainly not the only one! With pieces ranging from messages from magical animals to tea blend recipes, seasonal stickers (I particularly like this sheet of animal familiars) to little gift guides, Regan’s artwork always inspires me when it comes up on my feed!
Check out Regan Ralston’s @waterofwhimsy Instagram account here for all the lovely watercolor witchy art you never knew you needed. You can support her work by shopping her designs either from Redbubble or Etsy. She also has a book coming out this summer called Kitchen Witchery for Everyday Magic which is available for preorder here!
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: April 19, 2023
Article: Getting Married in a Nap Dress, Emma Grillo for The New York Times
The dress — a sort of elevated nightgown — drew devoted fans during the pandemic.
Now it comes in bridal styles.
I’m a big Hill House Nap Dress fan. The Ellie is my favorite style, but I’ve also branched out into other types from the brand, namely the Elizabeth and the Adeline. So, as your friendly neighborhood Nap Dress aficionado, I was eager to see what the brand had in store for their new bridal collection. For dresses that are based on nightgowns, I was curious about what the capsule collection would contain. This NYT article tells me that I was not alone in this.
The Lace Ribbon Ellie Nap Dress | The Lace Elizabeth Nap Dress | The Eyelet Cleine Top & Skirt
In all, the collection features elevated fabrics and accents of the brand’s staple styles. The price points for the pieces are, unsurprisingly, much higher than their everyday counterparts. The collection is interesting, and will likely fill the niche of bridal shower and getting-ready styles. Makes this Nap Dress lover wonder what else the brand’s founder, Nell Diamond, has up her ruffled sleeve.
Read Getting Married in a Nap Dress by Emma Grillo on The New York Times for free here.
YouTube Video: Pedro Pascal Talks ‘The Last of Us’ and Stealing Baby Yoda | Explain This | Esquire
I’m going to be real honest with you here: I’m so far in a hole of Pedro Pascal/The Last of Us videos on YouTube that it’s engulfing my entire feed. I know I’ve shared a lot of The Last of Us lately, but I’m hooked. Plus, with The Mandalorian currently in its third season, I’m loving all of the Baby Yoda insights that Pedro Pascal shares in PR videos. So, I have another one for you, which I think you’ll enjoy:
Instagram Account: @paperbacksandicedcoffee
Sometimes, I come across IG handles that just speak to me; @paperbacksandicedcoffee is one such handle. With this account, Katie, the book and coffee lover behind the account, shares her current reads, delicious coffees, and amusing bookish tweets.
Not only does Katie post high quality book content, but she is also pretty open about the pressures of being a creator. Her posts are always a nice reminder that reading and sharing online should be fun and engaging, not draining.
Give Katie a follow on Instagram here for all of her bookish tweet round ups, recommended reading, and enjoyable bookstagram posts. While you’re at it, be sure to check out her new newsletter!
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: April 12, 2023
Article: House of the Dragon Season 2: What We Know So Far, Erica Gonzales and Lauren Puckett-Pope for Elle
Surprising no one, House of the Dragon has been renewed for a second season on HBO. Rumors suggest that the second season is being filmed in Cáceres, Spain, throughout the summer, using the city for scenes set in King’s Landing. Based on this and some vague HBO rep comments, it seems that season two will come out around summer 2024.
Image Credit: HBO
The confirmed season two cast has all the big names you’d expect after season one — Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, and so on. Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, who play the younger iterations of the feuding queens, likely won’t be back for flashbacks. At least not yet. Show runner Ryan Condal told Variety that “[the young queens] are not a part of the story we’re telling, yet.”
Read House of the Dragon Season 2: What We Know So Far on Elle here.
YouTube Video: Making and Testing a Victorian Skincare Routine | Bernadette Banner
After a brief sabbatical, Bernadette Banner is back to her regularly scheduled Victorian tomfoolery. This past weekend, she released a video where she makes and tests Victorian era beauty recipes, to varying levels of success. What struck me through the video was the sheer amount of alcohol and acetone the recipes called for! My skin dried up just thinking about it. Anyway, it’s interesting to see which concoctions Bernadette liked and which ones she would not be using again. Could you imagine living in a time when you had to make all these things yourself?!
Instagram Account: @mrmattmccarthy
I never much cared for surrealist art…until I saw @mrmattmccarthy‘s surrealist cat art! Matt McCarthy is a digital artist whose primary subject is the ever-lovable house cat. Through collage and digital art, Matt creates uncanny-yet-realistic images that always make me smile.
While some of Matt’s work features house cats in places where giant house cats are most definitely not found — such as, on top of a building — others (like this one) are closer to reality, challenging the eye upon first glance.
Give Matt a follow on Instagram here so you don’t miss any of his amazing surrealist cat art. Also, be sure to check out his Etsy shop for cool art prints, stickers, postcards, and digital downloads.
Favorite Prints from Matt McCarthy
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: April 5, 2023
Article: When Did Our Personal Lives Get So Professional?, Madeleine Aggeler for The New York Times
The ubiquity of corporate organizational tools means how we manage our work and private time often doesn’t look that different. Is that bad?
As someone who loves screens, this article from The New York Times really hit close to home for me. I’m on a computer most of the day, whether it’s for work or for personal, and I don’t think that’s super unusual. Nor is it unusual to struggle with scheduling and organizing personal life. There are so many things to remember to do, whether you’re single or in a relationship, whether you have kids or not, own your home or not, and so on.
In this article, Madeleine Aggeler speaks with a handful of people about their success or disinterest in relying on professional scheduling and organizing tools for the personal. From people who love their Google Calendars to those who find familial use of them strange, the article touches on many of the mundane, daily struggles we all deal with.
YouTube Video: The Last of Us cast sit down with game and show creators | Creator to Creator (Parts 1 & 2)
In the past two weeks, I’ve watched The Last of Us all the way through twice. First, on my own; next, with Brett. So, suffice it to say, I’m deep into TikTok and YouTube about the series. My must-watch YouTube video this week is a sit-down discussion between the show creators, game creators, and Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal. All in all, a very interesting analysis of bringing the game to life, and how they brought in a whole new audience of non-game players (IE: me).
Note, these videos contain spoilers if you haven’t seen the show yet!
Instagram Account: @theespressoedition
Stephanie, the blogger behind @theespressoedition on Instagram, is a cozy lifestyle blogger focusing on book reviews, hygge home decor, and classic style. I came across her work through her amazing bookstagram, which features beautifully moody photography combined with coffee and book chats. All in all, some of my favorite things!
While Stephanie’s static posts on Instagram are all amazing in themselves, she does a really great job creating engaging stories, where she talks about real life along with bookstagram content. For example, while I write this, her stories are all about what her followers are reading, which only adds to the already huge library of book recommendations you’re going to want to read!
Give Stephanie a follow on Instagram here for all the cozy bookish content. Be sure to check out The Espresso Edition’s website for more in-depth book reviews, themed reading guides, and more!
Want more great finds like these?
Explore the March 2023 edition of my Curated Content Series for more great reads, listens, and Instagram accounts to follow.
Thank you again SO much for including me in this post. I’ll really never be able to fully express how much this means to me. I can’t wait to continue following along with your blogging journey! xx
I’m so glad you like the feature! Thank you so much for the kind words and I can’t wait to see what you create in the future — I truly love your content!