May Favourites

I'm not really sure what happened this month but somehow, I found the time to get caught up on pop culture. I finished reading four books in the last two weeks, binge watched multiple shows with Shane, and even read a comic he got me. Something other than the Tinkle and Archie comics I grew up reading.

So let's get right into the list because I have some fun things to share with you.


  1. Book - Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

    Remember when Shane and I went snooping around bookstores in search for the complete edition of Grimms' Fairy Tales? That was a perfect anniversary date for us because not only did we find what we were looking for, but we also secretly scanned the backs of all the books we wanted to buy and found them on Amazon at a lower price. My father is very proud of our innate Indian-ness.

    But right before we walked out of one particular bookstore, we saw this beauty.

    Not only was it a book we always wanted to read, but it was also oh-so-beautiful. And it smelled really really good. I don't know how to explain it. The problem was, we saw it and then made the mistake of touching it (that jacket is the softest thing you will touch). And since we imprinted on it, we actually paid the full price for it and brought it home.

    I love it for how beautiful it is, but also for what an amazing read it was. It's one of those books that'll take you just a few hours to finish reading but those few hours are going to be refreshingly exciting.

  2. Book - Yes Please by Amy Poehler

    Yes, there's another book on this list. I couldn't help it. I've only just gotten into the whole non-fiction-self-improvement-semi-autobiographical-journal style genre of books. And turns out that that's pretty much the main genre of books Meenal likes to read. She recommended this one to me some time ago and I decided to pick it up this month.

    And boy, was my mind blown. I listened to the audiobook which she narrates along with a bunch of amazing people including Seth Meyers, Patrick Stewart, and Kathleen Turner and it was a total delight to listen to. She's funny, witty and an amazing story-teller. And that, I'm sure, doesn't come as a surprise to anyone.

  3. Comic - The Walking Dead Volume 1 : Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman

    Shane brought this home one day and asked me if I wanted to read it. I'm not a comic book/Manga person at all but wasn't surprised to see him read yet another one. It was thin, had a lot of lovely illustrations, and seemed like something I could easily flip through in my free time if I wanted. But once I started, I didn't remember to pull my tongue back into my mouth and shut it till I reached the end.

    It's really well done, and we're planning to purchase the entire set soon. It would totally be a good investment.

  4. TV Show - Love, Nina

    If you're looking for a funny, entertaining, feel-good series that you can finish watching in one sitting, this is the show for you. Based on the book by the same name, this short series comprising of just 5 episodes revolves around the life of Nina Stibbe, the 20-year-old nanny who comes to live with a single mom and her two kids in London.

    The book was a collection of real letters written by Stibbe to her sister in Leicester. And the experiences documented were those from the household of Mary-Kay Wilmers and her two sons with filmmaker Stephen Frears.

    Set in 1982, this show depicts a very modern single mother (played by Helena Bonham Carter) and her smart yet unruly boys. Trust me, it's a delight!

  5. Podcast - Family Ghosts by Sam Dingman

    Podcast lovers, I bring to you a work of art.

    Every family has it's ghosts and skeletons in the closet. You hear about that "uncle who vanished without a trace, the grandmother who turned out to be a jewel smuggler, the father who led a double life..."

    People who haunt you and other members of your family, stories that are repeated at every Christmas dinner and some others that never get told.

    Sam Dingman delves deep into these stories, investigates them, gets in touch with the people involved, and reveals very many secrets. He starts off with the story of his own grandfather and step-grandmother, and how their relationship affected his mother's art in later years.

    I'm not doing the show justice with my description here. To know why I love it so much, you're going to have to give it a listen.

    This is a relatively new show that just has a pilot out as of now. The actual release date has not been announced yet but it'll be out sometime later this year and I cannot wait.

  6. Home - La Maison de Senteurs Reed Diffusers

    This, by far, has been my best buy from Marks and Spencer. Especially their Verveine Citron Fragrance Diffuser which I've kept in our bathroom. I kid you not, the place smells so good that I sometimes find myself walking into the bathroom just to smell it. Aaaaand there's a sentence I never thought I'd say!

    Later, I also purchased their Fleurs de Mimosa and Huile d’Olive scents and placed them around the house.

    You have to agree with me, good scents are definite mood enhancers.

  7. Fragrance - Burberry Body Eau de Parfum Intense

    Speaking of scents, I'd promised last time to share my favourite perfume on my next list of favourites. This was a gift from Meenal and happens to be one of her favourite scents. I fell in love with it the minute she brought it into my home and I associate the scent with good times with her.

    It lasts forever and is one of those scents that you want to be wearing all the time because it makes you feel like a diva. At least that's the effect it has on me.

  8. Skin Care - Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Exfoliant

    I've been looking for a new weekly exfoliant and have been very happy with this product. It really does clear up my skin and the next day, the difference is obvious.

    When you first apply it, you'll actually feel like there are tiny little needles pricking into your skin, removing a layer of dead cells and unclogging all your pores. It's slightly on the pricier side but it's not one of those products you'll be using daily so it'll last a while.

  9. Beauty - Rimmel UK Wake Me Up Foundation

    I've been using this foundation for months and just purchased my second bottle. It perfectly matches my skin tone, is light and easy to apply and comes with SPF, making it perfect for the summer time.

    It doesn't make my skin oily or sticky and stays on for hours. In fact, I apply it after mixing it with my sunscreen and it still blends perfectly onto my skin. Rimmel has always been a brand that worked well for me so I think I may have found the right fit for me. I'm probably going to stick to this one.

  10. Food - Maki and Ramen Sushi Bar

    I've always been a big fan of East Asian cuisine, especially Japanese. Recently, we went to this sushi bar here in Edinburgh and got foodgasms.

    Aaaaand I'm hungry now. I'll just say that if you ever visit Edinburgh, this is one place you need to eat at. And don't forget to order sake!


And that's all for this month! I hope you found this list interesting and even decide to read/watch/listen to/try out some of the things I've shared. And if you do, be sure to let me know!


I'll be answering your questions for this month's Qna tomorrow so do send in any questions you might have to my email or DM me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. See you tomorrow!