Coffee Catchup: My Favorite Things Right Now Plus What I Really Think About Wuthering Heights
+ sexy playlist, home decor inspo, and my fave Romantasy Substack
My aunt stayed with me a couple weeks ago for about seven days, and we did her favorite thing ever: another jigsaw puzzle. My strategy is to find the pieces - hers is to actually put them together. It works out perfectly for both of us.
We went to TJ Maxx where she helped me find the cutest things I had absolutely no business buying. She helped me in the garden, pruning and planting while getting eaten alive by mosquitoes - and refused to complain even once.
We watched a movie in Spanish and I even got her into the pool and hot tub, which she never does. We laughed, we talked, and honestly the whole week just felt easy.
What breaks my heart is that she has five children and none of them are in her life, so this Mother’s Day, it’s up to me and my siblings to celebrate her. Not out of pity, but out of love and the simple fact that she deserves to be seen too. I’m grateful that we can not only do that for her, but want to.
There’s something about being around someone who just wants to feel noticed, and letting yourself slow down enough to actually notice them, that makes everything feels more present and precious all at the same time.
Some people come into your life and make it louder and more energetic. Others make it soft and slow. As I get older, I realize more and more that when you finally slow down enough to really see someone, you realize how much you’ve been needing to be seen too.
Right now, Bookshop.org is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Month by supporting AAPI Authors and AAPI-owned bookstores. From now until May 15th, they’re offering 15% off select titles by AAPI authors with the code AAPI26. You can find all the titles on my Bookshop.org storefront (linked).
I can personally recommend “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. It made me think of my brother and what I would do if I had a chance to see him again. For those of you that have lost a loved one, fair warning, you’ll probably sob your eyes out.
Disclosure: If you choose to purchase any books through my Bookshop link, I’ll earn a commission at no extra cost to you. You’ll probably get sprinkled with good vibes by the Book Fairy and end up with amazing book karma.🧚🏽♀️✨
I have sooo been waiting to see this so very controversial movie! We just watched this today and honestly it was so much better than I expected.
Full disclosure: I’ve never read the Emily Brontë novel, which might explain why I loved the film so much, especially considering Reddit seems to think it’s a crime to enjoy it as a romance. Right or wrong, the movie absolutely is a romance, and I am who I am, so here we are.
First off, this movie hit every single romance novel nerve ending I have. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, who play the leads Catherine and Heathcliff, are gorgeous and also have such incredible chemistry they can power a small city.
The angst, the trembling, the longing, the “I hate you but I’d die for you” energy — I was I-N-V-E-S-T-E-D. And then there’s the finger‑sucking scene…OMGGGG. Between that and the things Heathcliff whispers to Catherine, I lost my breath for a full five minutes, y’all. Soooo, so hot.
Catherine, though… girlfriend is a menace. Charming, magnetic, and selfish in a way that makes you want to throw a chancla at the screen. She didn’t deserve her husband, Heathcliff, or Nelly. If someone in my life knew every dark secret I’ve ever had, I would NOT be pissing them off on the regular.
But to be fair, women back then didn’t have a lot of options so I gotta give her a little slack. Catherine was trying to survive, strategize, and still get her cake with a side of Heathcliff. As hard as she tried, it was never going to end well.
I’ve heard Heathcliff is even more toxic in the novel, which honestly makes me more excited to read it (twisted, I know). I need to know if the slow‑burn, soul‑snatching tension is just as intense on the written page and my naughty imagination.
The acting, the build‑up, the emotional chaos, the cinematography (especially Catherine’s final scenes) were stunning. Messy, dramatic, obsessive, and romantic in my favorite romance-novel kinda way. I loved every second of it.
Have you watched this yet? What did you think??
A dangerously sexy album that feels like it was made to soundtrack Catherine and Heathcliff’s relationship chaos.
May is the last month in Spring, which means it’s time for a home refresh right before summer. And as this is our very first Spring in our home, there’s a lot to do!
We’re expecting a parade of guests starting next month, which means the guest room is getting a makeover, the patio is getting a glow‑up, and Facebook Marketplace is about to know me intimately. But first…a yard sale this weekend. We haven’t had one in 10 years, so wish us luck!
Not gonna lie, though, I’m absolutely giddy by the thought of all the decorating I’ll be enjoying in my near future. If you want to see the before and after of our updates, let me know in the comments!
In the meantime, my Pinterest boards are getting a lot of love right now. Here’s what’s inspiring me lately.
If you love what you’re reading so far, there’s more! Sandrapop is a newsletter for midlife women about self-love, color, travel, and life that makes you laugh out loud AND walk away feeling seen, inspired, and totally fabulous. Subscribe for free, then share it with your friends…because every woman you love deserves a little more color and delight in her day. Oh, and did I mention you get a free gift too?
One of my favorite moisturizers is Belif’s Aqua Bomb. It leaves your skin so soft and dewy, which at my young age of 47 is critical. One regular size jar usually retails for $40 but guess what?! THIS girl snagged a set of two (regular size + mini) for a very low $15 at TJ Maxx (OMG, they should totally pay me for how much I mention them).
My mom was with me so she got a set too, and now she’s obsessed, which is a miracle because she’s so picky. However, that should tell you how great it is because she’s almost 70 years young and she’s seen a difference in the softness and dewiness of her skin too. It’s now our go-to moisturizer, even at regular price.
If you’re 40+, 50+, 60+ and your skin has been whispering “please hydrate me,” Belif’s Aqua Bomb is a good one. The eye cream is fantastic too.
read this: this book left me crying on the bathroom floor
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If you’re not traveling right now, same. But if your soul is itching for adventure, I’ve got you. A Hawai’i edition is coming later this month, and this summer I’ll take you through Croatia and Spain. Until then, here’s my husband pretending he’s in Game of Thrones at the top of Klis Fortress in Croatia. He’s so cute.
Until next time, stay bold, stay curious, and stay deliciously extra. The world is brighter because you’re in it. I’ll see you in your inbox soon.
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💬 LET'S DISCUSS: What did you really think about the movie Wuthering Heights?
I just finally got to watch Wuthering Heights this past weekend on the plane and I LOVED it. It's faithful to the book and a beautifully twisted story. I agree the acting was phenomenal and the production made the whole story ethereal.
I've always been a fan of this toxic romance (which yes, isn't technically a "romance" because there's not a HEA), and I really enjoyed this interpretation. They're two really damaged people who are so intensely, horribly, perfect for each other.