1. Hi Substack Universe
This takes me right back to blogging days
Super excited to get started here, a strange space between being a journalist and quite literally journalling. I have a few things planned out but we’ll see how it goes! I’m going to pop in your inbox fortnightly with some inspiration, what’s on my wish list, thoughts and ideas, recommendations and what I’ve been listening to (I’m a big podcast girly), a brief socials round up of what content I’ve put out and of course I’m going to have lots of questions for you too, so do reply if you feel like it (I would love it).
What I’m Pinning
Recent thoughts dump
Loving watching the outpouring of love and appreciation for friendships with women on social media after the Barbie movie. It made me reflect on my own friendships and reminded me to treasure them more. Also, lots of thoughts on the Barbie movie but I’m assuming you’ve seen enough of that already.
I’m obsessed with using Notion and I don’t know how I organise my inner world before it. I might share some templates I’ve made if you’re into it.
What’s On My Wish List
1. Sheer Deep V Long Slip Dress / 2. SAINT LAURENT Slim leather belt / 3. Checkered Venice Robe / 4. Adidas Gazelle Indoor / 5. Koh-I-Noor Toothbrush / 6. Scoop Neck Linen Vest / 7. Ribbed Glassware / 8. Charlotte Tilbury / 9. JIL SANDER Logo T-shirt / 10. Black Silky Midi Skirt
Recommendations to listen, watch, read, eat.
Podcast episodes I listened to recently
Celebrity Memoir Book Club, ‘Dolly Parton Sings About Her Life and Other Unfinished Business’. This was a wild ride and there’s definitely so much more to Dolly that we will absolutely just never ever know.
The Guardians Women’s Football Weekly. I played soccer/football from when I was 14 for a few years and recently for a season. I love listening to this pod to understand what’s happing in the World Cup, even though it is a perspective from the English team they do seem to be very excited for The Matilda’s!
The Daily, ‘Russia’s New Target: The Glinal Food Supply’. Ukraine supplies 30% of grain and Russia supplies % of fertiliser. Meaning no one can get grain, and no one can get fertiliser to grow the grain elsewhere. Explains the collapse of an agreement between Ukraine and Russia and how we’re feeling it all over the world. There’s lots of podcasts on the war, I thought this was logistically interesting and obviously devastating. Hot girlies should know what’s happening out in the world.
Even The Rich, ‘Anna Wintour: The Rebel Wears Prada’ series. I’m adding her actual book to my audiobook lineup but I loved this podcast. It really paints a picture of what her life has been like and the inner workings of what’s behind those dark sunglasses. I also listen to Rich and Daily for a little celebrity news every day. It’s a bit of fun!
How To Talk To People, ‘What Do We Owe Our Friends?’. Along the same theme as the barbie friendship goodness this week, we can’t forget that it’s harder than ever to keep friendships. This podcast made me realise I give people the option to bail on me before they do. “Do you want to get a coffee in a fortnight on Thursday at 10am? No worries if not!”. It shields me when someone flakes. Not sure if this comes from not being able to ask for help easily or being brought up and taught never to rely on others… a lot to unpack here.
Accounts/Posts that piqued my interest
I’m really enjoying outfit videos and just simple, elegant style from @fabianacristinx on ig.
Watch this Tiktok - Of course I was wearing my Fenty skin tint, Rare beauty blush and Dior Lip Oil as this video swooped up onto my screen. Guilty. It’s an interesting TikTok by @tariromakoni talking about whether foundation will be a thing of the past. I loved a comment by @Brooke DeVard “I think foundation will be rebranded. ‘Skin balm’ ‘skin tint’ ‘skin blur’ etc. sort of like how lip gloss bc lip oil”. I feel like this is the way we’re heading! 16 year old me never thought I’d be wearing a natural look.
Watch this Tiktok - Blueberry milk nails and consumption with @c.a.i.t.l.y.n. A lot of her videos are super interesting and probably good to keep in mind while we exist in our consumer culture.
Food recommendation this week
The Meat and Wine Co. We visited a few weeks ago and the food was so good. You absolutely can’t beat a fancy steak and mash and my partner absolutely loved it. Definitely somewhere I’ll be taking him again for a special meal or as a little treat. I posted a quick vlog of our visit here.
Reply to sender:
I’m heading to Melbourne later this year and would love your recommendations! I am putting together a very detailed itinerary and need to include great places to eat, shop, the best places to find bagels, museums and art galleries, good walks etc.
This fortnights social posts
I’m almost finished posting 30 Days of Winter Outfit Ideas on TikTok. This was really fun to challenge myself and explore what I actually like to wear in my wardrobe. It also helped me figure out exactly what the missing pieces were to create the outfits I felt were ‘me’ but I wasn’t already wearing. I’m slowly getting this series over onto Instagram. It’s easier to be enthusiastic about TikTok at the moment. I’ve linked everything on LTK too.
Paid collaboration with L’Occitane Australia. What a dream! I have posted a few videos using their Almond Shower Oil and if you have used this, you already know it’s great. If you don’t use this, I don’t need to convince you to have a wonderful shower every single time. On Instagram here and here, on TikTok here and here.
My LTK is absolutely packed with links to everything I’ve featured in my videos recently. I have really been active on here just getting up as much content as I can. It’s been so motivating from commenters on TikTok asking for links so I thought I should just get it together. Now I post on LTK almost every day and I love it more than posting on ig. Linked it here if you love using LTK too!
That’s all I’ve got for this week! If you have any feedback I would looove to hear it. Thank you for reading my little brain dump <3
Love, Isabella
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