Good Things #12
In which I make a new friend called Old El Paso, find a way to stop the children waking up at 4.30am and buy something I don't want to talk about
Dear Friends,
I hope you’ve had a good week and aren’t too sad that you had to get your coat back out for the random April snow (UK subscribers only). Or sad that your heating costs twice as much as it did and it’s freezing (UK). Also I hope you’ve recovered from people talking to you about the Will Smith-slap (World).
But winter coats in the spring snow, worn outdoors and indoors, and TV slaps aside, here are some good things.
TV: Phoenix Rising on Sky Documentaries
No surprise here but you know the musician Marilyn Manson? Can you picture him? Yeah, it turns out he isn’t a good guy. This two-part documentary follows actress Evan Rachel Wood, a survivor of shocking domestic violence, as she tells her story and names the musician as her abuser. She has, and other victims of Manson have, campaigned successfully for a change in the Statute of Limitations in the US giving victims of abuse 5 years (raised from just 2) to come forward and report their abusers. It’s a difficult watch, so please be advised of a major trigger-warning alert. But it’s a brilliant and brave documentary. You can read more about The Phoenix Act here.
|Phoenix Rising is on Sky Documentaries.
Shopping: A silicon toilet brush
Right, an unmentionable private bathroom recommendation because we’re friends and life is not all just silk pillowcases and Victoria Beckham eyeliners. I’ve never had a toilet brush before. And I don’t wish to talk about it. Suffice to say I’m horrified by not only the reason for toilet brushes, but also the fact of them, and the way they sit in the corner of people’s bathrooms and we all pretend it’s OK.
However, not having a toilet brush has been a source of contention in my house for years, as I’ve refused to buy one or discuss the buying of one. But my boyfriend has taken matters out of my hands (so to speak) and bought this silicon brush that clips to the wall and you can also put BLEACH in the thing it sits in.
I’ve got to admit, it does a job in a minimally horrifying way. And it’s silicon so it’s cleaner (and more cleanable) than I was expecting. You can spend a lot of money on these things but this one on Amazon costs £8.99. Now goodbye and let’s never ever talk about this again.
|The Silicon Toilet Brush, currently £8.99 on Amazon.
Shopping: Pencil Pleat Blackout Curtain Liners
Yay it’s getting lighter in the evenings (UK subscribers). But oh no, now the children think it’s time to get up at 4.30am because the sun is shining through their curtains and onto their eyelids.
If you have thin curtains, and are disinclined install blackout blinds on your windows because you’re not a millionaire, I think I have a cheaper and easier solution. I saw someone else recommend this on Instagram so, full-disclosure, I haven’t personally tried this myself, but I trust the person who has and she said it works brilliantly. These are blackout curtain liners from Dunelm which just clip on to the back of your existing curtains so you can easily take them off, wash them and put them away for the winter once darkness falls again.
|Blackout Liners, Dunelm, nine different lengths available from £12.
Food: Old El Paso Chilli Con Carne Seasoning Mix
Why didn’t I know about this until this week? I’m assuming you all knew but you’ve been keeping it from me for years, watching me try to season things with salt and random herbs while you tuck into your incredible Chilli Con Carne’s? Well thank you Old El Paso for showing me who my real friend is here.
This week I helped a friend unpack his shopping and this Old El Paso Seasoning Mix packet dropped out of the bag. I held it up to him, stunned, and said: “WHAT the hell is THIS?” And now I know. Old El Paso makes these seasoning mix bags so you can cook actual recipes that taste like they’re supposed to taste. For example, this absolutely banging Chilli (depicted) or there’s a Fajita mix one too. Highly successful in my house. What else don’t I know? Tell me please in case there are more like me.
Treasure from the internet: The most relatable picture you’ve seen this week? It was mine
I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s “Good Things” newsletter! Please “like” it with the tiny little heart if you have!
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Say “Hi” if you want by replying to this email or find me on Twitter @emilyincam.
I’m having a week off next week so I’ll see you the week after!
Love, Emily xx
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More stuff by me:
I write a monthly column in my gorgeous local Cambridge magazine, Velvet. You can read it here.
Also this week, in my job as a TV writer: I watched Fast 9, having never watched Fast and Furious before, with chaotic results.
❤️