January Diary Entry: TV, Podcasts, Crafts, and Tap

It’s been a good start to 2023. January has been all about trying to keep my mind and body active and entertained. I’ve been taking lots of notes about random things, and I’ve finally gotten into this podcast craze I have been missing out on. I’ve found some cool things to watch on tv and even took a tap class. Here’s my round-up for the month:

What I watched:

• Lovers in a Dangerous Time (Tubi) – a woman goes back to her small hometown for a class reunion and reunites with her friend. It is a low-key movie but there are a few themes that are relevant, especially if you come from a small town
• Becoming Abi (Netflix) – a cute workplace show set at a marketing agency in Nigeria, which follows Abi as she navigates her career and dating life
• Perfect Bid (Netflix) – a documentary series about a Price is Right fanatic and his perfect bid that caused a scandal
• Schmigadoon (Apple+) – stars Key (from Key & Peele) and is about a couple that gets stuck in a fictional musical town. So funny!
• Fleishman is in Trouble (Hulu) – This series starring Claire Danes, explores the relationship between a man and the wife that he separates from after a 15-year marriage, and the course that their relationship takes post-marriage. The series touches on dating, marriage, kids, career changes, postpartum depression, and separation. This is a powerful story about love, friends, and family that will make you laugh and cry.
• Breaking Fast (Hulu) – an LGBTQ rom-com about a Muslim-American man who meets an American man and starts sharing meals during the holy month of Ramadan
• The Housewife and the Hustler (Hulu) – a documentary series that follows the story of attorney Tom Girardi and his “Housewives of Beverly Hills” wife, Erika Jayne, as they lived lavishly off the proceeds gained from clients that he scammed
• Starstruck (HBOMax) – funny show set in London about a woman who unknowingly has a one-night-stand with a movie star and then sorta kinda dates him. So awkwardly funny
• McMillion$ (HBOMax) – documentary series about the McDonald’s Monopoly game and the $24 million scam in the 90s by a mastermind and his accomplices

Podcasts I’ve Listened To:

I have been wanting to get into podcasts for some time. I got a new phone recently and decided this was the time to dive in. Initially, I bookmarked a ton of true crime podcasts but I haven’t really been feeling true crime as much lately. I kinda noticed that true crime stories put me in a mood, and made me jittery and nervous all the time, so I decided to stop absorbing so much violent, sensational, scary stuff. I’ve totally limited my intake of murder mysteries and crime shows and have, for now, steered clear of true crime podcasts. I will admit though, I have a lot of scam podcasts on my list, so that will probably be what I get into next. But this is what I’ve been listening to for the last few weeks:

• The Minimalists – If you have not heard of the concept of minimalism or the two guys ,The Minimalists, who are a big part of this movement, do yourself a favor and google their website, watch their documentary, or listen to one of their podcasts. They give the most amazing motivational viewpoints on removing clutter from your life, be it physical, mental, technological, or emotional clutter. I have tangible takeaways every time I watch or listen to whatever they have to say.
• Bitch I’m Budgeting – I started following this IG account, and then realized she had a podcast. I have become sort of obsessed with tracking my finances and staying on top of my budget lately. Her IG posts and her podcasts really help me to maintain the enthusiasm for tracking my money.
• A Mindful Moment – I love to listen to this one mostly when I go for walks. Being out in nature, clearing my mind, and taking a few minutes to have a literal mindful moment, really makes me breathe deep and fully appreciate life, health, and gratitude. The episodes are usually just a few minutes long, but they really help me to feel grounded and centered.
• Erotic Stories – Sometimes you just really need to zone out and trust me, these do the trick. lol.
• The Professional Creative– This one is great for anyone who wants to use their creative talents to make money. She gives some great tips and a lot of food for thought for people who use their craft as a primary source of income or as a side hustle.
• Therapy for Black Girls – I was actually pleasantly surprised that this podcast was more than chats about mental wellness. This podcast delves into topics such as workplace issues, tv shows, personal development, as well as topics around mental health. This podcast definitely has some moments that have me wanting to take notes.

What else I’ve been up to:

• Saw Ne-Yo perform with the National Symphony Orchestra: This girl loves a concert. And with COVID, it has been something that I’ve really missed. When I saw that Ne-Yo was performing with the National Symphony Orchestra, and that tickets were super reasonable, I jumped. The show was fabulous! Having a date night, getting dressed up, and having a night out in the city…it was all so wonderful. Ne-Yo has an extensive catalog so he couldn’t sing everything. But seeing him perform with the accompaniment of the orchestra did something for my inner band geek.

• Took a Tap Class: I took a couple of tap classes a few years ago and loved it. I needed to get some physical activity into my life so I thought it was time to dust off the tap shoes. But finding adult tap classes is a struggle. I found one close to me and decided to give it a try, but unfortunately, this class wasn’t a good fit for me. It was a little more advance than what I was looking for, and the instructor indicated that his plan was to not slow down because he got too bored going slow. OK… So, I had definite feelings about that being the attitude for a beginner class, and ultimately, I didn’t care enough for the instructor to really debate it. So I’m still on the lookout for a class, and in the meantime, I will set up a practice board at home and do some online instructional videos.

• Attended a new church (virtually): A nearby church was recommended to me, and I wanted to check it out. So I have been attending virtually all month and taking lots and lots of notes, which I plan to blog about.

• Started a new craft: I saw fabric button earrings on IG and just had to learn how to make them. I am pretty sure I’m going to go entirely too far and make trillions of these adorable things. Here are a few of my creations photographed in one of my past obsessive craft creations, the clay trinket dish.

• Sold some items on Poshmark: I have a ton of stuff to get rid of, and I love selling my items on poshmark. Every time someone buys something, it makes me kinda giddy.

What did you get into in January? Let me know if you made anything cool or did anything fun. And definitely let me know if you have any tv shows, movies, or podcasts that I should check out!