The Cats & Coffee Curated Content Series
Welcome to the September 2022 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 tips for getting a better night’s rest, a new 73 Questions video with Vogue, and an Instagram celebrating the world’s most beautiful libraries.
Favorite Finds of the Month
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: September 21, 2022
Article: Queen Elizabeth Used Her Lipstick to Send a Secret Signal and It’s Actually Genius, Elle Turner for Glamour
In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, the analysis of her reign — and her small habits — have been fascinating. This article about how she used her lipstick to let her team know she was ready to leave an event is, as the title suggests, genius.
Photo Credit: David Levenson/Getty Images
The article quotes a former footman as saying that doing one’s makeup in public was not proper etiquette. However, the Queen would “take her lipstick out and put it on with no mirror or anything, and that was a signal to the ladies that she was ready to leave.” The article also references a few other cues the Queen used in social situations you might find interesting, such as swapping her purse from arm to arm.
YouTube Video: Castle Expert Breaks Down Hogwarts Architectural Details From Harry Potter | Architectural Digest
I’ve been behind on my usual YouTube watching with the move. However, when I saw this Harry Potter-themed video from Architectural Digest, I knew it had to be my must-watch video of the week. In the video, historian Meredith Cohen breaks down details from Hogwarts Castle and discusses the real-life influences that can be seen throughout the series. An interesting discussion for any history and Harry Potter lover!
Instagram Account: @northknits
I’ve been slowly getting back into crocheting lately, so I’m looking for inspiration from some of my favorite yarn-craft accounts. Jewell Washington of @northknits is one of my favorites, both for her yarn color aesthetic but also because of her candid discussions about projects, life, and so on.
For example, the above video came up on my feed on a day when I was dealing with some confidence issues around being a lawyer but not working in law. I love how Jewell embraced her creativity and shares her vulnerable side, because she puts words to sentiments a lot of creatives experience.
Be sure to give Jewell a follow on @northknits here, as well as on her @ourmakerlife knit and crochet community page! You can learn more about Jewell and @northknits on her website here.
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: September 14, 2022
Article: What happens when a monarch dies? Lessons from history, Tracy Borman for History Extra
As you know, Queen Elizabeth II passed away last week. The historian in me has been fascinated by all the details about ceremony and procedure that come next. Before I get into it, it should be noted that the British monarchy has a complicated and problematic colonial history, discussions of which are reignited with Elizabeth II’s death. Certainly, the question of what the monarchy should look like, or even whether it should exist, is up for debate.
My particular interest, though, and that of many other history lovers, centers on the ways in which what is going on now with the transfer of power reflects what has been done for centuries. For example, being able to watch the Accession Ceremony for the new King, announced by heralds, was absolutely fascinating to me. The script and protocol of events such as these had been, until now, things we could only read about. Now, they are filmed clearly and easily, shared all around without any delay.
Anyway, turning back to my article of the week. Tracy Borman, a favorite historian/author of mine, discusses the various protocols that have existed and evolved since the Tudor times. Covering monarchical deaths ranging from the Princes in the Tower to King George V, right up to Queen Elizabeth II, Borman highlights the importance of secrecy, among other things, in creating a smooth transition of power.
Read What happens when a monarch dies? Lessons from history by Tracy Borman for History Extra here.
YouTube Video: The Serpent Queen | Official Trailer | STARZ
With the Premire of Starz’s latest historical drama, I thought it appropriate to share the series’ official trailer. The Serpent Queen premiered this past weekend, and you can watch the first episode now on Starz. The series follows Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, telling her story from childhood on.
Want to learn more about this new historical drama?
I shared details and FAQ about The Serpent Queen in a blog post here.
Instagram Account: @mikzazon
Mik Zazon is a writer and model using her platform to fight unrealistic body standards. She is the founder and creator of the #normalizenormalbodies tag on Instagram, a huge community of people working to embrace self-confidence and healthy body image.
*Note, Mik does discuss eating disorder recovery*
I’ve always been drawn to Mik’s complete honesty wit her audience and followers. She goes beyond what typically comes to mind with self-confidence issues — that is, one’s weight and jean size — to discuss smaller nuances of the mental health journey. For me, I particularly appreciate her honesty about dealing with acne, something that I hate to admit often keeps me from showing up on IG stories.
Give Mik a follow on Instagram for all of her honest, open, and relatable self-confidence content, as well as some great style finds, home accents, and everything else she loves to share!
P.S. looking for more body-positive social media accounts to follow?
Check out a few more of my favorites here!
Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series: September 7, 2022
Article: Wide Awake at 3 A.M.? Our Readers Offer Advice, Anahad O’Connor for The New York Times
In times of stress — whether that’s good or bad — I always find my sleep schedule is first to suffer. With the new house, I’ve had a lot on my mind, and plenty of to-do lists whipping through my brain throughout the evening and into the night. It’s definitely been negatively affecting my sleep. So, when I saw this advice article from The New York Times, I felt like it was calling my name.
Image Credit: Dominic Kesterton
From the suggestions in the article, the idea of counting objects seems promising to me, as does the idea of lulling yourself to sleep with a breathing exercise. Although I might try “the biscuit cure” next time, if I wake up feeling snackish.
YouTube Video: 73 Questions With Jennifer Lawrence | Vogue
I haven’t seen many Jennifer Lawrence interviews lately, so I was excited to see she did a 73 Questions video with Vogue. While playing mini golf, Jennifer discusses family life, her first time at the Oscars, and what it was like to work on The Hunger Games.
Instagram Account: @ancientlibraries
In decorating my new home office, I would be lying if I said I didn’t take a lot of inspiration from bookstagram accounts. One such account that served as a major source of my inspiration was @ancientlibraries.
The Ancient Libraries account features photos of the most beautiful libraries and bookstores from around the world. There is a mix of historical libraries, like this monastic library from Austria, to bookshops you might recognize, to inspiring home libraries like the one above.
Give @ancientlibraries a follow to fill out your Instagram feed with beautiful bookstagram photography. The account is good about sharing where the photos are from, so you can find plenty more great bookstagram accounts to follow by clicking through their captions!
Want more great finds like these?
Explore the August edition of my Curated Content Series for more great reads, listens, and Instagram accounts to follow.
