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.

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

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!)

This Week in the World: Week 4

Hello again! As I’m putting finishing touches on this, I’m watching snowflakes fall outside my flat in London! It doesn’t really snow much here, so it’s really fun to see all my neighbors poking their heads out their windows to take photos and hearing kids yell “Mummy! It’s snowing!”

I hope you are cozy with a warm coffee or tea and enjoy reading what I’ve gathered for “This Week in the World.” Here’s what I’ve enjoyed in the news, in the travel community, and around the world:

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES

• The more I’ve researched, the more I agree with this prediction that “Vaccine passports will be 'essential' for resumption of international travel.”

• 6 ways the Biden administration could change travel.

• Traveling With a Purpose: For Some, It’s a 2021 Resolution.

• Considering traveling to the UK? Hotel quarantine for UK arrivals to be discussed.

WORLD NEWS

• “In speech, policy and fashion, Inauguration Day showed sustainability as a new American value.” — I love reading all of this!

• Speaking of this week’s inauguration, here is what President Biden has done with his first few days in office so far.

• Tomorrow is Burns Night, which commemorates the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759. The day also celebrates Burns' contribution to Scottish culture (his best known work is Auld Lang Syne). If you fancy celebrating another culture, Here are 10 Burns Night Recipes To Help You Celebrate At Home.

• Media bias is such a hot topic in today’s divided world. I believe that now more than ever, it is crucial we all refresh our understanding of media literacy and commit to knowing how reliable a source is before we share something! While biased sources can still be truthful, it’s important to understand how to consume media sources responsibly. Here are resources I have found helpful in doing that:

  • I love THIS VIDEO from Mike McHargue that I shared last year, which walks you through how to discern what is factual in reporting today (vs. what is opinion).

  • @sharonsaysso has some IG story highlights all about understanding a broader meaning of bias and how facts are characterized.

  • Media Bias Fact Check is helpful for vetting bias of particular news organizations.

WEEKLY FAVORITES:

• FAVORITE SUSTAINABLE HAIR CARE: I’ve been using Davines for a few years now and love everything about this sustainable, Italian-based, B Corp brand. Their products work wonderfully for me (and you can feel good about using them). A few of my personal favorites: THIS energizing scalp treatment helps stimulate growth, THIS bodifying fluid gives beautiful and natural volume, & THIS keratin treatment is great for dry ends that feel like straw in the winter. Whatever your hair concerns are, I highly recommend checking them out.

• FAVORITE WATCH: I just started (and am enjoying!) Lupin on Netflix (great for watching with a significant other, as it has both action AND beautiful scenes filmed around Paris).

• FAVORITE LISTEN: I made THIS PLAYLIST a few years ago on a trip I took to the Loire Valley, but have been listening to it on repeat while working lately because it gives me major Bridgerton vibes.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO:

• I was so excited to find out that Migrateful is offering online cooking classes! Migrateful is a wonderful organization here in London that runs cookery classes led by refugees, asylum seekers & migrants struggling to integrate and access employment. The classes provide ideal conditions not just for learning English and building confidence, but also for promoting contact and cultural exchange with the wider community. I loved the in-person class I did last year, and think this is such a great opportunity for those of you NOT based in London to join!

• A Scripted Julia Child Series Is Coming to HBO Max!

• My friends at 35 Thousand (a great resource for women who travel- esp. for business!) always have the best product recommendations that I swear by. I loved THIS READ they recently shared and can’t wait to try some of these feel-good beauty and wellbeing finds they recommended.

• I recently sponsored an elephant with Sheldrick Wildlife that I am so excited about! This is a wonderful organization and it costs next to nothing to sponsor one of these sweet faces!

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

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

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 3

Hello again! Thanks for joining me for another “This Week in the World”. I hope you’re curled up somewhere warm with your coffee or tea as you make the most of another morning of my least favorite month of the year (not to mention in the midst of a pandemic!) It’s been another gloomy week locked down here in London, but I’m keeping positive by the thought that more people are being vaccinated as each day passes.

The week ahead comes with some important highlights: tomorrow is MLK day, Wednesday is the inauguration and some new travel rules regarding COVID testing for US arrivals will be implemented shortly after. Let’s dive in to what’s coming up, what’s happened recently and some other favorites I’ve noted.

MLK DAY IS TOMORROW

Yesterday I stumbled upon this graphic above from my IG story memories from two years (art by @odddaughterco) but it feels even more relevant this year. 2020 was the catalyst for many to recognize their ignorance when it comes to the topic of racial justice. And while that overdue work may have finally started, tomorrow serves as a reminder that it is far from over for all of us. Rather than merely enjoying a day off work or posting an MLK quote to your social media feed, here are some tangible ways to honor a man who spoke out against injustice 57 years before anyone ever posted a black square on Instagram:

• First, I recommend actually watching the “I Have a Dream” speech from the March on Washington in 1963. You’ll notice a peaceful march at the beginning of THIS VIDEO. That march happened almost SIXTY YEARS AGO now. While the majority of protests for racial justice that have happened this last year were also peaceful, the sheer fact that protests for black and white lives to share equality are still necessary should be enough to make anyone angry.

• Consider donating to The Loveland Foundation, which provides therapy and other resources communities of color, with a particular focus on Black women and girls.

• I loved THIS ARTICLE on “How to serve on MLK day while isolating at home.”

• My friend Jess also wrote THIS POST on 4 Ways to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES

Image c/o Condé Nast Traveller

• I just launched an online course all about “Tips for Solo Travel” that I’ll be teaching live on Sunday, January 31 from 4-5pm CST! I’ll also record the course if you still want to purchase it at a later date (but keep in mind, you can only participate in the Q&A at the end if you tune in live!)

• ANY US-bound traveler will now need a negative COVID-19 test to enter (even citizens just returning home). If you will be returning to the US from another country in the near future, make sure you’re privy to these new rules.

• While we’re not back to normal yet… it doesn’t mean we can’t start dreaming! I loved THIS LIST that Condé Nast Traveller put together of “The Best Destinations for 2021” — I’m definitely hoping to hit a few of these!

WEEKLY FAVORITES

• FAVORITE READ: I loved reading THIS ARTICLE and wish that I could taste one of the bottles of Bordeaux that just spent the last 12 months in space!

• FAVORITE WATCH: To rid the lockdown blues, this weekend I indulged in a few heartwarming films (some new, some I’ve already seen) that really help lift any spirits and made you thankful to be alive. If you haven’t already seen Soul, Wonder, or Coco… I highly recommend all 3.

• FAVORITE LISTEN: I have several jazz albums on vinyl and some trusty old playlists I always frequent, but I’ve loved listening to THIS PLAYLIST called “Cocktail Jazz” on Spotify that my friend Heather turned me on to recently.

• FAVORITE PURCHASE: I don’t always purchase new things worth mentioning every week, so thought I’d re-share a couple of older purchases I made for my flat. The first is from one of my favorite artists, Ciao Chiara. Chiara is an Italian artist who also lives here in London and has beautiful prints of her original paintings (I have a few in my flat!) Secondly, Simrane is a gorgeous shop in Paris where I ordered some table linens from (mine are sold out but there are tons of gorgeous options HERE!)

ON THIS SIDE OF THE POND

• If you also binged Bridgerton on Netflix like I did HERE is a list of locations where they filmed the show (and a few of them are here in London!)

• It snowed in Paris this weekend and the city looked even more magical than usual!

• The inauguration may be taking place in the US on Wednesday, but this side of the world will certainly be watching too! (HERE is an article written by a UK news organization for those watching over here). From that moment on, the new administration can get to work (with items like tackling COVID, and re-joining the Paris Climate agreement projected to be some of the top priorities).

• I loved reading THIS LIST of 10 things to look forward to in 2021 here in London.

IMPORTANT ISSUES

• After watching Jane Goodall’s Masterclass on Conservation this weekend (HIGHLY recommend if you have a subscription), I was reminded how important it is to continue to advocate for the environment through storytelling and helping people understand why they need to care. If you haven’t already watched David Attenborough’s “Our Planet” on Netflix, please watch this incredible film to learn more about why biodiversity (more HERE) is so crucial.

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

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

xx

Whitney