This Week in the World: Week 5

We made it to the last day of January! To me, this month always seems to be one of the more difficult ones of the year, especially during a pandemic (and especially if you’re in a lockdown). Nevertheless, tomorrow it’s time to welcome February… a month dedicated to Black History, Valentine’s Day, and the fact that we are inching closer to spring.

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 5.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Tomorrow kicks off Black History Month. While our efforts for racial equality should continue year round, this month serves as a reminder to continue to prioritize those leanings and actions. I'll continue to share some resources throughout the month, but here are a few suggestions I’ve found helpful to get started:

• Last year I really enjoyed THIS LIST from the NAACP that shares 28 ways to celebrate Black History Month (it shares one item for each day, making it really easy to hold yourself accountable and follow along with these promptings).

• Chances are you already follow Rachel Cargle, but in case you don't already know, she leads a free "Do the work" challenge every February that helps you learn, unlearn, remember and celebrate the black experience. I've followed along for the last couple of years and found it to be highly informative and really inspiring. I recommend you start this new journey with Rachel tomorrow… I know I will be!

• I loved this Brené Brown podcast episode with Emmanuel Acho from "uncomfortable conversations with a black man.”

• Some Recommended Reading:

  • "I'm still here" - Austin Channing Brown

  • "Me and White Supremacy" - Layla F Saad

  • "How to be Anti-Racist" - Ibram X. Kendi

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES

• Will travelers need a negative COVID-19 test to board flights within the US? The CDC says it's under consideration.

• Canada to enforce hotel quarantine for arrivals, ban travel to Mexico and Caribbean.

• What Airlines Are Doing to Make Flying Better, Safer, and More Fun in 2021.

• 10 Mistakes to Avoid While Traveling Abroad During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

• Why you should think about booking a holiday now. (And remember, I offer travel planning!)

TWO THINGS HAPPENING/ENDING TODAY:

1. The CBD I swear by is currently on sale (an additional 50% off subscriptions… which are already 20% off!) There is no commitment to a subscription, meaning you can cancel at any time… but I take these drops every night before bed and the soft gels every morning when I wake up to help manage my stress. Use code "BLONDEATLAS50" at checkout for the full discount.

2. This afternoon at 4pm CST, I'm teaching an online course about "Tips for Solo Travel" — register to join us!

WEEKLY FAVORITES:

• FAVORITE PURCHASE: This sunrise alarm clock has made waking up so much more enjoyable (a light turns on and slowly becomes brighter before any noise occurs, so you're likely to wake up more gently and not during a deep REM cycle).

• FAVORITE LISTEN: After seeing protests outside the Russian embassy on my walk last week left me curious, I appreciated this dialogue from Vox on “Why Putin wants Alexei Navalny dead.”

• FAVORITE READ: I was a bit lazy with my reading for a while, but suddenly I can't put down City of Girls… it is wonderful!

• FAVORITE REMINDER: I’ve re-watched this video from Amanda Kloots several times this week whenever I am lacking motivation. Lockdown can make it tempting to get a bit lazy or let yourself complain… but sometimes a little perspective is all you need to shift your mindset.

CURRENTLY ON MY WISH LIST:

• I have been listening to a lot of Billie Holiday lately and am keen to add her greatest hits vinyl to my repertoire.

• Considering I only leave my flat for my daily walk, I'm home pretty much all the time. To brighten these dreary lockdown days, I have a candle lit more often than not, and I've almost burned through all my current ones. Next on the list is this Diptyque scent, which is classic and chic.

• I'm dreaming of the day that it's nice enough to have picnics in the park again. I got a picnic basket I love last year, so now I'm eyeing THIS QUILT from a store I love in Paris (my napkins in my flat are from here as well!)

A FEW RANDOM LINKS I LOVE:

• Will 2021 be the year to align globally on sustainability reporting?

• Someone shares why "I walked off a fully loaded plane to avoid another UK lockdown."

• The Metropolitan Opera is offering free nightly streams of their concerts.

LONDON HAPPENINGS:

• You Can Now Take A Video Tour Of The V&A’s Beautiful Kimono Exhibition.

• My Aunt (who was an English professor for many years, including countless summers in Oxford) recently introduced me to the London Bookshop Review newsletter, which is a fun resource for any literary enthusiast (especially those who love London!)

• Since Londoners will still be in lockdown (sigh) here are some Valentine's Day restaurant meal kits to order now.

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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

*Friendly Disclaimer: some of the links above are affiliate, which means if you make a purchase, I get a small kickback (at no cost to you!)