✨ May✨

🎀 Mollie’s Monthly Memories🎀

Seven Sisters and Their Five Brothers

We began with backpacks of food, no blisters and a prayer. 

We took the train from London to Seaford and then halled ass with about 150 other brave mid-20-ers to make the second train from Seaford to Eastbourne. 

Susana wore jeans, a bold and very European choice for a 13-mile hike. 

And we were off! Made it about 30 minutes before we started questioning our choices.

After climbing the first big hill we were like “okay bam! done the worst is over” How naive. We spent the next 9 hours going up and down and up and back down and back even more up. The hills were practically 90-degree angles, so climbing them was practically scaling a wall.  We stopped for lunch at the bottom of one of the hill (instead of waiting till we got to the top to have a nice view while we ate,  because we were positive we wouldn't make it to the top without sustenance)

Now, don’t get me wrong, it was gorgeous and obviously love spending time with Susí and Yaz. The water was so blue and the grass was so green, and we saw horses. But oh boy was it hard.

To keep ourselves occupied, other than talking shit and complainging, we started answering the NYTimes 36 Questions to Fall in Love <3. It’s actually a really great bonding activity. Yaz, rightfully, demonstrated how they are a better person than Susana and I. One of the questions was about a crystal ball being able to tell you the truth about anything. Yaz said they would want to know their family history (sensible and admirable), while Susana and I settled on wanting to know every single person who has ever had a crush on us (lewd and frivolous). I normally assume it's everyone, but I would love confirmation. 

As we were walking, I started thinking about the food I packed. I thought that I was so fucking smart for putting ice in a Ziploc bag with my little protein box to keep it cold. In the protein box were meat, cheese, grapes and hard-boiled eggs. I’m telling you, I was going for a full swole, fitness, pump vibe. 

I started thinking “wow, I really hope I closed that ziploc tight… because that would be…really bad if I didn't!”

When we sat for another break, I decided to check, and you guessed it! I did NOT zip the Ziploc tight. And what used to be a protein box was now protein soup in a box. And It! Was! Gross!!!!!  Ever seen a liquified hard-boiled egg? Yeah. I spilled out the egg meat water, which looked like baby vomit, and we continued the journey. 

We finally finished the last sister. Certain we were done. There was an ice cream truck and a gift shop (all signs of completion 😉 ). We did notice there were a few more hills ahead of us, but SURELY we didn't have to climb them. 

We asked an employee at the gift shop how to escape, to which she said we just had to “climb a few more hills”, and then we would be done! She said, “It takes me about an hour and a half, but im older, so it will probably take you guys less”

It took us at least three more hours with multiple breaks. At this point, somehow, despite being the ONLY ONE in hiking boots, my feet were getting covered in blisters. 

Call me crazy, but I thought calling a hike the “Seven Sisters” meant obviously there would only be seven (7) hills. Wrong. So wrong. I would like it on record that the sisters’ mom’s a slut and they have about 5 more siblings.

We eventually realised we were going to miss our train back, so after deliberating if hitchhiking was that bad of an idea, because how could someone kidnap all of us? We just attempted a shortcut which just led us to the beautiful views of the side of the road, but we finally we made it back to the train station. 

When I got home I made the Incel Special aka big slab of steak and Spongebob mac and cheese.  Here’s a picture of the steak next to my hand (the normal one) to give everyone a visual.

Still Employed

It's been over three months since I started at Body & Soul, but it feels like a lifetime! In a good way, I think?

For these past 3 months, I have been cleaning up the mess my predecessor left. Let me tell you something right now. If I see that man in the street, I will challenge him to a street fight. Like every other man, he over-promised and under-delivered.

In the beginning of the month, I attended a protest with one of my co-workers since the government cut funding for therapy for adopted children. Part of Body & Soul is providing said therapy for adopted children and their families so… fuck!

This month I had a lot of external meetings. Which means I went to corporate London (saw lots of hot men with evil personalities) and gave speeches to corporate folks about why we are great! And they should give us so much money! After I gave my little speech, we did arts and crafts so they could rest their sad, tired and stressed-out wittle bwains 

The arts and crafts were for the purpose of our POP UP SHOP!!!!

As I am currently typing this in the back office at work (shhh don’t tell anyone), Body & Soul is holding a pop-up shop. The shop was a fundraiser, and as you all know, I AM the Head of Fundraising after all, so it was very important. 

All our amazing members, staff, and volunteers crafted, painted, built, glued, sewed and beaded all to create products to sell and raise money for our fabulous little charity.  It was really special. The whole community came together, and there was so much love in the room. And the CFO of Amnesty International came bought lemonade frome me 🫡 Looks like they got to me, I’m going all mushy hippie. 

I want to give a very special thank you to Rory, Susana, Betty, Yaz, Cate and Eden for coming and not just supporting me but supporting the life-saving work I do!

Gulay<3

I found Gulay in a Cosmo article of the 32 Best Facials in London. £100 for a 90-minute personalized facial seemed like a great deal. I was scheduled for 6:30 pm on a Saturday night…. 2 AND A HALF HOURS LATER AT 9PM!!!

After arriving in a basement in Camden, Gulay wrapped me in a heavy, fuzzy blanket despite it being 70 degrees outside. According to her machine, my skin is 23 years old…UM too old for me, are you kidding? I want my skin to be 10 years old, pre-puberty, baby face, not a fucking wrinkle or pimple in sight. Gulay spent the next 2 and a half hours absolutely annihilating my face. She informed me I have big pores for my age. Awesome:) Then she asked me if I had ever had eyelid surgery because I “look like I have”. Another insecurity to add to the list ✅ . She was very chatty, telling me about her daughter's room that flooded, and then she offered me the lunch her husband packed for her (????)

 At one point, she announced to me that the pores on my nose aren't necessarily clogged but rather I have dark hair follicles (?) I have never had laser hair removal, but I lost my laser virginity with Gulay when she gave me laser hair removal on just my nose. It felt like when ice is on your skin for so long that it burns.

She used a plethora of machines on me, including some high-frequency machine she “only got a few days ago”. In the end, she said she trusted I would pay her, and I just left. Despite the extra hour and the LASER HAIR REMOVAL, she did not charge me extra at all. When I got home (it's about 10 pm now) I received 36 TEXT MESSAGES from her. Which included my new morning and evening skincare routine, and about 28 photos she took of her computer, like she held her phone up to her computer and took pictures of products I should get. And ya know what? Im gonna get them, I trust this b. She is devoted to her craft like I’ve never seen.  I WILL be returning. Lmk if anyone wants her info.

On my Artist’s Way

A few years ago, Devon gave the the book The Artists Way. I started it and it felt like some hippie spiritual shit I was too lazy for. Then years passed, I moved to London for my masters in Human Rights, and  I stopped doing stand-up and theatre. My creative expression was going only into arts and crafts (which still slays ofc), but as time went on, I felt this lack in my life. The new job takes up over half of my waking hours per week, and my whole life has been feeling like one big grant application. 

So when I went back to NY last month, I brought back The Artist Way, determined to fill this creativity void in me. Now don’t get me wrong it is still hippie spiritual shit (lots of talk about god and “the creator”) but this time I am determined to actually do it. 

So, for reference, The Artist Way is a book that takes you through a 12-week journey to get in touch with your creativity. Each week, there are new tasks to accomplish, but the two main components throughout are Morning Pages and The Artist's Date. 

For almost a month, I have been waking up every day 30 minutes earlier and journaling 3 pages. Then once a week, I have to take my inner artist out on a date (whatever that looks like for you). This is the most dating Im doing these days anyway. 

Each “week” is actually taking me about 2 weeks as a result of my simultaneous business and laziness. So technically im not even on week 3 yet. But determined I remain!

Determined so much in fact that I decided to audition for a new works short play series in South London.

I was SO nervous, like SO so anxious. I haven't been on a stage in about 3 years. I tried to eat KFC beforehand (?), but I was too nervous to eat so I put it in my bag and just smelled like chicken the whole audition. But I got a callback!!!! At my callback, I did a scene with a middle-aged Italian man who, after I did my southern accent, asked if I could do a Mexican accent…..to which I, disturbed, said no, to which he then asked if I could do a Chinese accent…. Big yikes Paulo!!! Bigggg yikes. 

But then! But then!!!! I got offered a PART. 

Eeep!!! 

So yeah. It's a small, silly 10-minute play, but I put myself out there and it paid off!!!! Broadway is calling baby. 

 Rory Ran The Hackney Half

It was only a few years ago that I thought the word “marathon” just meant a long run. Imagine my surprise when I found out all marathons are the same length. Anyway, Rory ran a HALF marathon, 13.1 kilometres, whatever the hell that means. Along with her other fans, I watched my girl run in the cutest outfit ever? Don’t think you should be allowed to run and be fashionable, but okay, I guess. It was the first time I have ever (willingly) been to a marathon!! It was like one big game of smash or pass. It is Hackney after all.

I also kept getting emotional because everyone was accomplishing their goals, literally could never be me, but I’m so proud of these strangers.

We tracked her bib thing and got to see her a handful of times throughout! I believe I also ran a half marathon that day because we had to trek through the wilderness to get to the finish line. Where is my medal, huh? The finish line of the Hackney Half was legitimately a musical festival. There was a stage and tents, and companies giving out free things. It was like a Coachella but with sober people. 

But srsly Rory slayed the house down boots gaga mama and I am super proud of her!! 

Waffles, Fries, Beer, Chocolate, Oh My!

The Eurostar is a magical magical place, for the mere reason that I got to leave work at 5 pm and hop on a train and in a matter of hours was in Belgium. Trains are a better form of travel than planes, there I said it!!!!!! 

Since Maura and I are essentially in a long-distance relationship, we had to have our monthly meet-up. We were originally sharing a bed but IM SORRY! SOMETIMES I SNORE IN UNFAMILIAR BEDS. I DON'T KNOW WHY !!! TALK TO A SCIENTIST. So Maura slept on the couch.

Saturday: We got the train to Brugge. It was pouring rain, and I was not in the right shoes. We ate brunch and walked around a bit, but the rain was putting a literal damper on the vibe, so we made our way back to explore Ghent. 

In Ghent, we walked around and stumbled upon a pro-Palestine march, which of course was a perfect afternoon activity for two girls with human rights degrees. It was really great, truly. There’s something about seeing a global movement in action that is so inspiring. There were also so many old people <3 . After we got some fries, not french fries though, just FRIES. Or frits. 

We went to a castle that used to be where the Belgians got medieval tortured, and apparently there used to be mannequins reenacting the torture, so I was obviously pumped. But I guess some of these lame ass tourists bitched about how graphic it was and they took away all the mannequins and violent imagery and instead gave everyone a “comedy” audio guide….  I wanted to see a guillotine!! Cowards!!!! Show me!!!!  They did have some torture cartoons, though.  Rock and Roll.

Sunday 

We packed up and headed to Brussels. Maura didn't have a holiday on Monday, so she was abandoning me. Before she caught her train, we got brunch, and I soaked up the last bit of time with someone who spoke all the languages (and Maura herself ofc). We strolled around, saw the Manniken Pis, which was a statue of a little boy peeing…okay. Then we said our goodbyes :( 

So now I was out on my own. It was the first time I was in a different country (I wasn’t living in) on my own. I did lots of walking, went to the Royal Art Museum and loved the Magritte exhibition. Saw the Jeannke Pis, which was a statue of a little girl peeing… slayed. Got a Belgian matcha duh. Drank beer, read my book and went to a nice Belgian restaurant for dinner. I got to skip the whole line because I was dining for 1. I ate my Flemish stew in the company of my own thoughts and my own thoughts only. And they say being single is no fun! Ha! Ha!!!!!!!

I roamed around some more until eventually returning to the hostel. My first time staying in a hostel solo too! Lots of breaking out of comfort zones here. It was fine, nothing to report except that there were no hot people and I had to sleep on the top bunk:( 

Monday

Final Belgian day!
Got a delish pain au chocolate and sat in a park to do my morning pages. Visited the Morellen area and made my way through their flea market. After two more matchas, some liquidy Thai food and more chocolate, I was not feeling too great…. Luckily, it was time for me to bid farewell to dear Belgium. Till next time! 

Honorable Mentions

We Took an Ugly Walk

According to Time Out magazine, one of the best walks in London is from Stratford to Greewhich. So Yaz and I thought we’d do it. It was a public art walk where we followed a map that led us to a bunch of outdoor art pieces. Sure. The whole walk was meant to be two hours. It took us about 90 minutes to find the first piece of art. We then proceeded to have the UGLIEST walk. We gave up and took the bus back. Yaz was not a happy camper. I am going to write a strongly worded letter to Time Out to discuss the definition of “best”. Literally welcome to your tape Time Out.

Making My Ancestors Proud By Playing MahJong

My co-worker/friend Miren and I went to the East and South East Asain Community Centre and learned how to play mahjong. Mahjong is very big in both the Asian communities as well as old Jewish communities, so Nana and my great-grandmother both played it. It is similar to Gin Rummy, if anyone knows that game? It was a bucket of fun. I learned the Chinese characters really quickly, okay, polyglot!! Miren and I played as a team, and we won TWICE. It’s like both of our ancestors were combining their power, and their spirits were playing through us.

Hey Human Rights Folks!

I got drinkys with some LSE Human Rights folks! Else, Cate and Liv to be exact. Those smarties are doing smart people things like being lawyers and judges.  The justice system just got cuter!

🎀 Mollie’s Mind 🎀

Jumping to Conclusions 

Devon and I were recently discussing the newsletter, and he brought up that sometimes the Mollie’s Mind sections don't have real conclusions. I mean, he’s right. Usually, Mollie’s Mind is exactly what it sounds like … just something I was thinking about that month. Most of the time, I don’t know the conclusions more than anyone else, which is kind of why I just put it out into the universe.  But I thought, why not take a look back at a few Mollie’s Minds and make some conclusions? 

July 2024: Reflecting on My Birthday

What I Wrote About: Post-turning 25, I reflected on the fact that I hate reflecting. Often I like to think that I have learned from embarrassing or cringey mistakes but yet they keep happening, and the pot of things to look back on in horror never seems to run out. 

My Current Conclusion: Recently, I told my coworkers that during my interview, I called the Candy Kittens that they gave me Percy Pigs. Both pink-circles-looking-gummy-candy. After getting the job and realising my faux pas, I was so embarrassed, I thought Oh my god, they all just sat there and watched me ramble about how much I love Percy Pigs and they weren’t even Percy Pigs I’m a dumb dumb. 

This is a very trivial example, I know,  but when I recently told them how embarrassed I felt, we all had one big laugh. They remember it, don’t get me wrong, they all remember it. But they thought it was more me being a charming, unaware American. Literally no harm, no foul.

My conclusion is that I need to work on giving myself grace. I can’t change the past, and I also won’t stop making mistakes. I only ever think about the things I do wrong, and it creates a narrative in my head that I am someone who always makes mistakes. I owe it to myself to notice the small wins too.

August 2024:  I Hate August

What I Wrote About: Hating August. As a kid, August felt like beginnings, but as an adult, it always feels like endings.

My Current Conclusion: Who knows what this upcoming August will offer me, but I can already kind of predict I’m gonna be stressed out. I am, however, really trying to have a bit of Mollie renaissance at the moment. I am clearing the storage from my phone (a big deal for me), putting myself out there, trying new things and getting a new skincare routine (thank you Gulay). I mean, sometimes endings are good or whatever (bad habits, bad boyfriends). My conclusion is that I can’t set myself up for disaster by having high expectations for summer; I have to set myself up for success by being realistic, bettering myself in general. If I work on myself for the other 11 months, then let’s hope it spills into August.

December 2024: I’ve Had Enough Rejection Exposure Therapy

What I Wrote About: Getting rejected at every turn and just hoping for a win. I also say that im done dating until I get a job lol. 

My Current Conclusion: About a month after I wrote this, I got a job offer. My current job, however, is full of rejections. I thought I would be over with it, but the funny thing about writing grant applications all day is ya gotta submit them and they either get accepted and you get a bunch of money or they get rejected and you get crying in the back office.  So my exposure therapy has actually dialled up. Have I started dating… yeah, that's also no. I’m a busy girl!

My conclusion is that rejection fucking sucks but to be rejected you have to put yourself out there and putting yourself out there is also how you get what you want. I can’t want something I’m too afraid to ask for.  I put myself out there this month (theatre auditions!! Something notorious for rejection!) and I got a part! Couldn't have one without the other.

March 2025: What Radicalized You

What I Wrote About: I had trouble expressing my thoughts on how people develop their morals and values 

My Current Conclusion:  We are fucked and headed towards a fascist state. xx

April 2025:  The Friendship See-saw

What I Wrote About: I’m tired of getting my feelings hurt when I try to save a friendship that is not being reciprocated. 

My Current Conclusion: This was just last month, and I am still really frustrated about it. I am making an intentional effort to no longer reach out all the time to people who never reach out to me and feel so personally attacked when they don’t. It’s hard because when living in a different country from your family, your friends are everything, so when friendships end or fade away, it hurts more.  It's disappointing. My conclusion is to proactively seek people who make you feel secure and seen. That’s all to that.

🍵 Mollie’s Matcha 🍵

An ode to Belgian Matcha

🎀 Mollie’s Music 🎀

Y’all slept on this.

Thanks for reading.

I miss you all so much,

XXXX

-M