The Cats & Coffee Curated Content Series
Welcome to the March 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 return of Baby Yoda, a historical murder mystery, and some lovely Dark Academia book and coffee vibes.
Favorite Finds of the Month
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: March 29, 2023
Article: The Mental Health Benefits of Spring-Cleaning, Lauren Valenti for Vogue
While sitting at my distractingly cluttered desk, I found that this Vogue article on spring cleaning really spoke to me. While I don’t particularly enjoy cleaning, I admit that the article is on to something when it says that cleaning can help manage stress and anxiety. According to one expert interviewed in the piece, “A lot of people, when they are faced with other problems that maybe they can’t address at the time, or they’re just kind of overwhelmed, they find that cleaning helps them restore a sense of control.”
So, if you’re feeling a little out of sorts, or like you’re not quite in control like you’d like, maybe a bit of spring cleaning is the way to go!
Read The Mental Health Benefits of Spring-Cleaning by Lauren Valenti for Vogue here.
YouTube Video: The Last of Us: Scientists Have Already Proven Joel Was (Probably) Right | ING (Spoiler Alert)
I waited until the first set of The Last of Us episodes were all available before watching them and, man, do I have feelings now that I have. I didn’t expect to be so engrossed in the series, to be honest. Video games aren’t my thing, and I expected the series to be full of gross jump scares. Lo and behold, it is so much more. So, by the end of the season, I was pretty invested in Joel and Ellie, and thought the Fireflies’ plan to take Ellie’s brain “for science” was sketchy at best. It seems I’m not the only one who felt this way, as this emphatic YouTube video describes:
Instagram Account: @champagneunicorns
I’ve been following Champagne Dubois of @champagneunicorns for a while now and cannot recommend her page enough! Full of fun bright colors and unique designs, the account is rounded out by Pony, Champagne’s iconic “cat-fluencer” furbaby.
Together, Champagne and Pony create adorable style content and generally embrace the Cat Mom Life vibe. I particularly love any photoshoot where Pony wears a scarf, because it’s just extra adorable, but all of the content these two share is great! You can tell through the photos and video captured that they have a great bond, which is always fun to see.
Give Champagne and Pony a follow on Instagram here for all the colorful style and cat content! You can check out Pony’s favorite products here and learn more about Champagne’s art on her website here.
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: March 22, 2023
Article: 21 Lighthearted TV Shows to Stream to Take the Edge Off a Bad Week, Anna Moeslein for Glamour
You’re going to want to bookmark my must-read article of the week. We’ve all found ourselves in streaming ruts, myself included. And I don’t mind re-watching my favorites (Modern Family) again and again, but I have realized that, in doing so, I have almost forgotten about older favorites of mine.
Photo Credit: ©CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corp.) / Courtesy Everett Collection
This round up of lighthearted TV shows from Glamour covers all the comedy bases in my opinion, from Parks and Recreation to Emily and Paris, The Great British Baking Show to Abbott Elementary. It includes both contemporary shows and older series you may not have even thought of! Definitely worth holding onto for whenever you need a lighthearted series to binge.
Read 21 Lighthearted TV Shows to Stream to Take the Edge Off a Bad Week on Glamour here.
YouTube Video: Mary, Queen of Scots: Facial Reconstruction from her Death Mask. The Stuart Queen Back to Life
Ok, this is kind of a two-parter because I came across the must-watch video thanks to a newer Mary Stuart bio video from the same channel. I’ve decided to share the older video (embedded below) because I really enjoyed seeing how the creator constructed a lifelike version of Mary Stuart in PhotoShop. Basing the reconstruction on the famous Lennoxlove Death Mask, supposedly taken immediately after Mary Stuart’s death, the creator builds a uniquely lifelike portrait of the famous Scottish queen, one distinct from the stylized portraiture of her time.
P.S. Are you interested in learning more about Mary, Queen of Scots? Check out my Mary Stuart reading guide here for all my favorite fiction and non-fiction books on her life and legacy.
Instagram Account: @swanbones
Kelly Louise Judd, the artist behind the @swanbones Instagram account, creates beautiful nature-themed imagery that is mesmerizing and calming. Focusing her work on flowers and animals, Judd’s artwork has a realistic-yet-whimsical vibe that draws the viewer in, and colors that catch the eye.
From block print snakes to hand painted ferns, Judd’s style is pretty easy to recognize once you see a few of her pieces. I particularly love her pattern pieces, like the floral designs featured here, because they remind me of a lovely sort of botanical wallpaper or print.
Give Kelly Louise Judd a follow on her Instagram, @swanbones, for more beautiful artwork and behind the scenes videos of her artistic process. Be sure to check out her Etsy shop, as well, where she sells prints, coloring pages, stickers, and other home decor pieces of her art. I, for one, am particularly interested in this lovely Fern Cats print!
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: March 15, 2023
Article: ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ Netflix Film Adaptation: Everything We Know So Far, Jacob Robinson for What’s On Netflix
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has been a booktok favorite for some time now, and for good reason (it was one of my favorite books from 2022). The novel is considered one of the most popular historical fiction novels in recent years, so it was not super surprising to hear that the book would be made into a movie. However, not a lot is known about the piece’s production.
In this article, Jacob Robinson goes over the few details we know about the film adaptation. Robinson also shares a list of actors and actresses fans have polled to play the characters, which has some interesting names that I’d love to see come true. As for concrete news, Netflix has acquired the rights to the film, which was originally going to be produced by Freeform and Fox 21. Now, though, the film is listed as “in production” with Netflix.
All this is to say, it’s the perfect time to pick up the book yourself and get reading!
Read ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ Netflix Film Adaptation: Everything We Know So Far here.
YouTube Video: Diane Morgan Talks Cunk on Earth, Finding History Boring and Why She Hates Stand-Up | Late Night with Seth Meyers
After absolutely devouring Netflix’s Cunk on Earth series, I found myself curious about the lead “historian” of the show. If you haven’t seen the show yet, Cunk on Earth is essentially a historical documentary, where host Philomena Cunk (played by Diane Morgan) walks the viewer through historical topics. The series plays off the sometimes ridiculous tropes of documentaries, like walking through woods, which Diane Morgan and Seth Meyers discuss at length in the interview. In all, this quick interview offered some funny and interesting insights into the series, and Diane Morgan’s unique and profound sense of humor.
Instagram Account: @hazel_theminiwiener
This week’s must-follow Instagram account brings me such joy, I can’t even handle it. This petstagram account features Hazel, the mini wiener dog who loves to try new foods. She is patient to a point, and always has the funniest reactions to trying different snacks. Plus, her humom, Kayla, does a great job adding text to the videos narrating Hazel’s emotions. Seriously, I just laugh so much!
A lot of Hazel’s videos could be considered ASMR forward. As someone who doesn’t particularly like ASMR, as a whole, I have to say, I get the appeal when it comes to Hazel’s posts. For me, it has to do with the commentary on the screen, which is always just so spot on. Plus, Hazel does the cutest little happy dance that is sure to boost your mood (see a compilation of these great moments here).
Give Hazel a follow on Instagram here for some pure pup joy! Check out Hazel’s Etsy shop here for adorable merchandise, as well. I particularly like the Holy Fluff sticker here.
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: March 8, 2023
Article: How Barnes & Noble turned a page, expanding for the first time in years, Alina Selyukh for NPR
An interesting phenomenon is occurring in the book world: Barnes & Noble is expanding again! Anyone who basks in formative memories of wandering through the book store behemoth as a teenager will be pleased to hear that they plan to open 30+ new stores in 2023. A big change in how the chain is run was inspired by indie bookshops. Local Barnes & Noble stores will have more authority than ever to order what readers in their area want.
Podcast: Mary Queen of Scots’ Lost Letters Decoded | Not Just the Tudors with Suzannah Lipscomb
I’m catching up on Not Just the Tudor podcast episodes so bear with me as I share a second great episode after my recommendation last week. This particular episode is all about Mary Stuart, my favorite doomed queen, and the cryptology work that has been done on a huge batch of her lost letters. Easily the most important discovery related to Mary Queen of Scots in the past hundred years, 50 letters written during Mary’s imprisonment have been deciphered, and the methods used to crack the codes is just fascinating!
Listen to Mary Queen of Scots’ Lost Letters Decoded from Not Just the Tudors here.
Instagram Account: @the_mini_adhd_coach
If you see many of my Instagram stories, you have probably seen some of Alice Gendron’s posts on ADHD. Offering quick snippets and insights into life with ADHD, this account has made understanding adulthood with ADHD so much easier.
Building a sense of community about the little things (and some big things) related to ADHD, Alice Gendron breaks down stigma and shares knowledge in easily digestible graphics.
Check out @the_mini_adhd_coach on Instagram for a huge library of ADHD insights, and be sure to check out Alice Gendron’s forthcoming book, The Mini ADHD Coach: Tips and Hacks to Make Life Easier, here!
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: March 1, 2023
Article: Need to know before ‘Mandalorian’ Season 3: The major plots you missed in ‘Boba Fett’, Kelly Lawler for USA Today
As a big Baby Yoda fan, I’m eager to see my favorite Star Wars character return with The Mandalorian for a third season. After the end of season two, Disney’s The Mandalorian showed Mando and Baby Yoda going their separate ways. Baby Yoda (Grogu) was shown leaving to study under Luke Skywalker.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm (Grogu training to be a Jedi in The Book of Boba Fett)
However, Baby Yoda is back with Mando in season three, thanks to a few pivotal moments in The Book of Boba Fett, which aired in early 2022. In case you haven’t seen the intervening show (I’ve only seen the episodes with Baby Yoda in them), Kelly Lawler fills you in on everything you need to know ahead of The Mandalorian‘s season three premier.
Are you a fan of little Grogu, as well?
Check out my round up of the best Baby Yoda themed finds here!
Podcast Episode: The Death of Amy Dudley | Not Just the Tudors with Suzannah Lipscomb
Amy Dudley is a fascinating historical figure partly because we know so little about her. The wife of Queen Elizabeth I’s long-time favorite, Robert Dudley, is perhaps best known for the mysterious circumstances of her death at the bottom of a staircase. In this episode of Not Just the Tudors, Suzannah Lipscomb discusses Amy Dudley’s life and death with Dr. Joanne Paul, author of The House of Dudley.
Listen to The Death of Amy Dudley from Not Just the Tudors here.
Looking for more historical content like this? Check out a great YouTube video with Dr. Joanne Paul that I featured in the summer of 2022 here. You can also read more about Not Just the Tudors in my guide to the best historical podcasts here.
Instagram Account: @bookishcoffeelover
When I saw @bookishcoffeelover‘s handle while scrolling through my Explore page, I knew I had found a new favorite account to follow. I mean…books and coffee? Two of my favorite things! Aayushi, the creator behind the account, is based in Mumbai and highlights books, coffee, and general lifestyle content. She has a great eye for photography, and crafts a great mix of curated and casual Dark Academia vibes.
Aayushi shares book reviews on her profile, along with little snippets into her daily life and travels. I really enjoy the aesthetic reels she shares, featuring beautiful images, literary quotes, and Aayushi’s natural curiosity.
Give Aayushi a follow on her Instagram, @bookishcoffeelover, for all the lovely Dark Academia book vibes. You can peruse her Goodreads profile here for more book reviews and recommendations, as well.
Want more great finds like these?
Explore the February 2023 edition of my Curated Content Series for more great reads, listens, and Instagram accounts to follow.
