The Cats & Coffee Curated Content Series
Welcome to the May 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 best of the 2023 Met Gala, a sneak peek at the third season of The Great, and Estonian artist Anette Pirlo, who is dedicated to preserving culture through her artwork of goddesses and female divinities.
Favorite Finds of the Month
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: May 31, 2023
Article: During the Dog Days, Escape to the Old Days, Alida Becker for the New York Times
Summer reading should be completely escapist, sending you to places and times you’re reluctant to leave. The best historical novels do just that, and this season there are plenty to choose from.
As you may know, I’m a huge fan of historical fiction. In fact, it is my favorite genre of book. So, when I came across this round up of escapist historical fiction summer reading, I knew I had to share it with you, too! The list features a variety of time periods and geographical locations, plus many covers and titles I’ve not even heard of yet.
One that stood out as an Instagram favorite that I have in my TBR list is Emilia Hart’s Weyward, whose story I’ve heard lives up to the beautiful cover. Beyond Weyward, The Queen’s Spies from Oliver Clements’ Agents of the Crown series, and Loot from Tania James particularly caught my eye.
Read Alida Becker’s new Historical Fiction guide on the New York Times for free here.
Looking for more historical fiction recommendations? Check out all my posts on the genre here, from themed reading guides to reviews of the latest historical novels!
YouTube Video: Aubrey Plaza Rewatches Parks & Rec, White Lotus, Ingrid Goes West & More | Vanity Fair
As a huge Parks & Rec fan, Aubrey Plaza is one of my favorite actors. Here, she rewatches some iconic scenes from Parks, along with other shows and movies she’s been in, and reacts just like you’d expect Aubrey Plaza to react. It’s pretty funny to see April in Parks so quickly compared to Harper in White Lotus and seeing how much of Aubrey is in these characters.
Instagram Account: @literarianist
If you’re like me and can’t get enough book photography, you’re going to love @literarianist! From limitless shelfies to aesthetic photos of books and coffee, @literarianist really embraces the reader vibe I aspire to.
One of my favorite things about bookstagram accounts like this is seeing what books people find important. The books they collect and share, even when they’re not necessarily what they’re reading at this moment. For example, check out this bookshelf scavenger hunt photo! With a mix of classics and novels I’ve not heard of myself, accounts like this help challenge followers to read outside their comfortable niche.
Give @literarianist a follow here for more great bookstagram content, from themed posts to book shop hauls and everything in between.
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: May 24, 2023
Article: A First Look at Sofia Coppola’s Deeply Personal New Book, Keaton Bell for Vogue
Sofia Coppola is the ultimate artsy cool girl, and I’ve long been a fan of her work. Just between The Virgin Suicides to Marie Antoinette, Coppola’s films made a huge impact on my personal creativity, between the aesthetics of the films, the interesting heroines shared, and, of course, the iconic music and soundtracks.
Image Credits: Sofia Coppola via Vogue
So, when I came across this article from Vogue about Coppola’s forthcoming book, Archive, I knew I had to share. The book is a scrapbook of sorts, featuring bits and pieces of memorabilia saved and insights from her lengthy film career. Not only is the interview with Vogue writer Keaton Bell interesting, but I enjoyed learning about Coppola’s tendency to hold on to special things from each set, whether that is a set of photos, clothing, or set pieces.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be re-watching my favorite Sofia Coppola films for the remainder of the week.
Read A First Look at Sofia Coppola’s Deeply Personal New Book by Keaton Bell on Vogue here.
YouTube Video: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain & Ireland | History Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday
Have you seen Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix yet? I watched the series in two days and absolutely loved it. Sobbed like a baby at the end, and I don’t normally cry at shows or movies! Anyway, if you’re curious about the real Queen Charlotte, I came across this detailed video about Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the inspiration for Bridgerton’s regal matriarch, from Lindsay Holiday’s history channel:
Instagram Account: @gus.and.walter
If you’re like me and love cats and love to laugh, then you’re going to be obsessed with my IG of the week. Gus and Walter are two adorable cats who share adorable cuddly moments along with hilarious videos all over the internet.
You can tell from their Reels tab that Walter is the star when it comes to videos. Gus is more of a meowdel and is featured more prominently in the pair’s photos. Walter’s videos are a riot, especially when his humom calls him by his full name(s), as you can see here!
Give Gus and Walter a follow on Instagram here for some of the cutest, funniest cat videos online. You can see all the other platforms Walter and Gus are on, along with some of their favorite products and gifts, here.
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: May 17, 2023
Article: Siobhán McSweeney Just Rejected A Bunch Of Designers And People Are Loving The Reason, Rebecca Rovenstine for Huffpost
Leave it to Sister Michael to make waves at the BAFTAs this year. Siobhán McSweeney wore a bright red dress (with pockets!), which was notably affordable when it comes to red carpet ensembles. At a price point of $345, the dress was created by Fashion Brand Company and is available for sale in inclusive sizing.
Image Credit: Rowben Lantion via Getty Images
“I had lots of offers of amazing designers who wanted to dress me, but I refused to wear anything by a designer who would not design for my body if it wasn’t BAFTA-nominated,” McSweeney said on the red carpet. She stated that she’d rather support designers who dress for “the very average woman,” rather than getting something special from a designer who otherwise limit sizing.
P.S. If you, too, believe that being a Derry Girl is a state of mind, be sure to check out this article on the series and their BAFTA win!
YouTube Video: Why the Medieval Aesthetic Never Dies: The History of Medieval Revival Fashion | Kaz Rowe
This video came up on my homepage and I can totally understand why the YouTube algorithm would think I was interested. The Medieval Aesthetic is almost consistently a part of fashion and culture, whether it’s in small details, like stylized jewelry, or overt reproduction. In this video, YouTuber and content creator Kaz Rowe discusses why this historical period is so popular, along with some of the major revival movements that have emerged based on it. All in all, an interesting look into all the different -core aesthetics we know and love on social media today.
P.S. Kaz Rowe mentions cottagecore in this video, and why it became so popular in 2020.
If you’re interested in more on the topic, be sure to check out my guide to all things cottagecore here!
Instagram Account: @titsayy
I recently came across Titsay’s art page on Instagram and am loving the sweet imagery and comforting self-care reminders that permeates the work. Titsay likes to draw things that make their heart happy. And, in this endeavor, I can assure you they certainly succeed.
Titsay has a few styles of artwork, which is part of why I so thoroughly enjoy this account. From stylized-yet-whimsical watercolors to soft digital art to a consistent cartoon animation style, Titsay’s talent is wide-ranging and engaging. Plus, many of the pieces center on cats, so it’s no surprise that I’m such a fan!
Check out Titsay’s Instagram here for all the lovely artwork. You can support Titsay’s art via Patreon here and order a commission of your own here. If you find existent art of theirs that you love, prints are available in a variety of forms here.
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: May 10, 2023
Article: Notes from Prince Harry’s Ghostwriter, J.R. Moehringer for The New Yorker
Collaborating on his memoir, “Spare,” meant spending hours together on Zoom, meeting his inner circle, and gaining a new perspective on the tabloids.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to devour Prince Harry’s jaw-dropping memoir Spare when it came out earlier in the year. You can read my thoughts on the book in my first reading round up of the year. This must-read article, though, is less about the content of the book and more about the collaborative process.
Image Credit: Illustration by Simone Masson
I guess I would have assumed Harry used a ghostwriter, but, to be honest, I never gave it much thought while I was reading the book itself. As a writer myself, I found J.R. Moehringer’s insights into the “collaborative” writing process to be…well…stressful, but also interesting how he got into the field.
You never hear a kid say, “One day, I want to write other people’s books.” And yet I think I can detect some hints, some foreshadowing in my origins.
Read Notes from Prince Harry’s Ghostwriter by J.R. Moehringer for The New Yorker here.
YouTube Video: Psychiatrist Breaks Down Succession’s Family Dynamics | GQ
I don’t know about you, but I have been hooked on this final season of Succession. The characters are all so awful to each other, and the drama so unfathomable, that I simply cannot look away. In this video, a psychiatrist breaks down the drama of the Roy family, describing how Logan Roy’s narcissism is at the center of everything that goes on in the show. The references to gaslighting from Logan to the competition between the kids is really quite fascinating. The video then goes into the psychological profiles of the main characters, showing how they stem from the central narcissism.
Instagram Account: @the.moon.also.reads
This week’s must-follow Instagram is a fun bookstagram, @the.moon.also.reads, run by twins Nicole and Allyson. I first came across the account on my explore page and was immediately drawn to the cat photography on the page. As a devoted reader and cat mom, I always like to see sweet pictures of other reading buddies!
In all, the sisters behind @the.moon.also.reads have created a beautiful aesthetic and engaging community through their chatty captions and book reviews. They discuss what is going on in their lives and are open about mental health, which is always refreshing to see.
So, whether you’re looking for books to add to your TBR, or simply for lovely book photography, give Allyson and Nicole of @the.moon.also.reads a follow on Instagram here. You can see their Goodreads profile here for more reading inspiration!
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: May 3, 2023
Article: 17 Looks That Did the Most at the Met Gala, The New York Times’ Styles Desk
Who interpreted (or ignored) the Karl Lagerfeld theme best? Hint: Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Phoebe Bridgers, Jared Leto and Anok Yai made the list.
The iconic Met Gala was held on Monday night, with all of Anna Wintour’s approved guests out in full force. This year’s theme encompassed the career or Karl Lagerfeld. There were lots of black and white ensembles, lots of pearls and flowers. The theme was fairly controversial, as Lagerfeld famously disliked pink (there were lots of pink outfits on Monday) and was notoriously against “curvy” women, among other things. Bearing this in mind makes me like the pops of pink and reds we saw even more…!
The New York Times’ pulled 17 of the Met Gala looks that “did the most” — that is, “not necessarily the best, not necessarily the worst, just the most.” These 17 are just a small snapshot of the attendees, so you can see all the red carpet photos they have here (including Jared Leto as a cat). As for my favorites from the NYT list, I have to pick these four:
Image Credits (L to R): Dua Lipa, Nina Westervelt for The New York Times; Pedro Pascal, Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times; Phoebe Bridgers, Nina Westervelt for The New York Times; Taika Waititi, Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
Read 17 Looks That Did the Most at the Met Gala from The New York Times for free here.
YouTube Video: The Great Season 3 | Official Trailer | Hulu
I’m not sure how I missed this when it came out, but Hulu has released the official trailer for The Great‘s third season. I love this show so much, from the costumes to the characters, the wit to the history it sort of follows. With Elle Fanning playing Catherine the Great, this series is equal parts comedy and costume drama, where they “occasionally” incorporate historical facts. In this season, we can expect peasant uprisings and new challenges to Catherine’s tenuous rule:
Instagram Account: @anetteprs
Anette Pirlo is an artist from Estonia, dedicated to preserving culture through her art. With a grounded, earthy style, Anette illustrates goddesses and female divinities from across different cultures. As if her artwork wasn’t impressive enough, she also crafts beautiful statues of divine figures, including Brigid from Celtic mythology, Artemis from Greek myth, and Freyja from Norse mythology.
In her various posts about goddesses and female divinities, Anette introduces the figure and gives history to the mythology. She also offers insight into symbols incorporated into the art. For example, with the Irish Goddess-Queen Maeve, Anette notes the Irish scene on her skirt and the glass of mead in her hand, which is thought to have gotten its name from her. Beyond these posts, though, I really enjoy the “Did You Know” series Anette shares, where she offers background on mythology fun facts.
Follow Anette Pirlo on Instagram here, and be sure to stop by her Etsy shop to view the many beautiful prints, statues, and packages available with her artwork of goddesses and female divinities.
Shop Anette Pirso Illustrations
Want more great finds like these?
Explore the April 2023 edition of my Curated Content Series for more great reads, listens, and Instagram accounts to follow.
