Ate It Up | 09

March recap, shows, books, and a season of acceptance.

AteItUp is a roundup of everything I’ve engaged with over the past month—books read, movies and shows watched, things I’ve bought, and anything else that caught my attention. It’s part reflection, part recommendation, and a way to document the media, objects, and ideas shaping my days.

Hey y’all! Got around to this later than planned, but I still have fun things to share! To think that it’s been three now four months into the year feels mind-numbing. This year is moving quickly, and the events and happenings seem to only be beginning. Soon I will be graduating, which often I feel nothing but sadness about, and going on my honeymoon, which I feel excited about. Spring is in full bloom over here in Texas, Sunny, and in the upper 80s most days. Outside of this, I am gearing up for the next steps after my MFA. It feels exciting, fulfilling, and scary right now.

March was filled with anxious days, beautiful moments, moody mornings, and quality time with friends and with myself. Reflecting on it now, it truly felt like a season of growth; it was indeed a month of growth. I watched a lot, as usual, read more than typical, cried often, and felt very present in my life, both good and bad. Additionally, I shifted the usual order of the rundown, because why not? Some fun things happened in March 🙂. The post is too long for an email, so enjoy!

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On my mind this month: Highlights

• I mentioned a few months back that I am a nonfiction, staff writer for a new online magazine called Readin. mag. And now I can proudly say, I’m published twice! The first, piece was with another writer named YJ, about books to read about womanhood. The second, in the April issue, is about pop culture and book pairings! FUN! AHH!

• Listening to people laugh, it’s so tender tbh

• Enjoying the ridiculously nice weather in Texas. Sunshine is truly making a difference in my mental health.

• Continuous gratitude for my beautiful life, this was a sentimental month.

• I went to a concert for my friend’s B-day and saw one of her favorite artists, Fana Hues. She was so beautiful, ethereal, angelic. It was a very small intimate show, with not too many people and it’s been a minute since I went to a concert. Forgot how much I love live music.

• Sitting outside in the sun <3

• Believing people

• Doing things I want to do alongside things that I don't. For example, working on my final paper while rewatching Bridgerton while drinking 3 different drinks. Somehow it’s moving like it’s my medicine to get through such a sticky time.

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Shows

The Pitt(MAX)

I kept hearing about The Pitt here and there—never from anyone directly, just whispers online. But let me tell you: this show is it. As someone who loves a good medical drama (and has watched more than a few), The Pitt stands out. Each episode unfolds over a single hour in the shift of a team of ER nurses, capturing not just the pace but the emotional weight of the job. Even though I know people who work in healthcare and have spent my fair share of time in hospitals, this show still managed to offer a new perspective. It blurs the line between professional and personal, often weaving in cases that hit close to home for the main cast. There's a kind of mirroring that happens—between the characters, the patients, and even the viewer.

Yes, it’s a drama, but it never lets you forget that these are real-life scenarios for many. Unlike other shows that rely on rare or overly dramatized medical conditions, The Pitt grounds itself in the familiar: heart attacks, blood clots, births, and shootings. These are the cases we recognize, whether or not we work in medicine. And what lingers most is the relentlessness of it all. You could lose three patients in the first hour of your shift—and you still have eleven more to go. That’s something I’ve never really seen emphasized in other medical dramas. And it hits. Randomly read this piece about a doctor reviewing it, and liked how he could appreciate its realistic and at times unrealistic takes.

The White Lotus(MAX)

I love the rich, white nonsense chaos that The White Lotus does so well—and this season delivered. Set at a retreat in Thailand, the show dives into spirituality, with each character confronting their version of a spiritual journey (some deeper than others, of course). This season took a bit to get into and moved at a slower more discombobulated pace for me. But since I waited until April to write this, I’ve now seen the finale and—GOT DAMN. As soon as it ended, I made Fred start season one with me, because how has he not seen it? Mike White put his whole foot in this series. Each season keeps me on my toes and finds a way to stay sharp, and weird. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a show to go on forever, but this one might be the exception.

The Righteous Gemstones(MAX)

This has quickly become one of my favorite shows—and honestly, there’s nothing I can compare it to. Every single character is hilariously, gut-wrenchingly over the top. The casting? Truly some of the best I’ve seen. The show follows a wildly dysfunctional family dynasty running a megachurch, navigating grief, greed, and good old chaotic Christian nonsense. They deal with everything and nothing all at once—and somehow, despite being mostly in the wrong, you still root for them. What’s wild is how tender and heartfelt it can be, even while being laugh-out-loud funny. It takes you on a real journey. Growing up in the church, it’s surreal to see a show that captures the spectacle and performance of organized religion so well. And listen—Judy is my favorite character, hands down. If nothing else, watch it for her gloriously unhinged behavior.

Adolescence(Netflix)

If you haven’t heard about this show… teach me your ways, because everyone and their mama is talking about it—and for good reason. It took me a minute to watch it with my own eyes because my expectations were through the roof. But it didn’t take long to understand the hype. This show rocked me and left me speechless.

It’s not just about youth and media and how those forces negatively affect people. Episode 4, in particular, really drives that home. Even though it’s a drama—and not everyone responds to sadness with violence—it paints a powerful picture of what it means to grow up on the internet. That’s something I don’t think we talk about enough. The cinematography is stunning, and the acting is next level. Each episode is filmed in one take—a concept I always love seeing executed well. And this show delivers, pulling you into the inescapable pain it portrays. I don’t want to say too much. I think it really calls to pay attention to what young people are going through—their wants, their needs, their fears—and how often the world fails to meet them with care.

The Residence(Netflix)

Watched this show over two days. Our girl Shonda loves a monologue! This show was cute! I love Uzo and stan to watch her act in anything, and she ate this role up. The show is a take on Clue(idk if that’s the whole premise but to me, it was haha) as the white house staff tries to solve a murder. The show was quick-witted in all the right ways, and I liked the pace it maintained as the story continued to unfold. The casting was surprising but overall aided for some good storytelling.

Severance(Apple TV)

I’ve talked about this show quite a bit in my newsletter, and Season 2 just wrapped up with a bang—it had me on the edge of my seat! That said, I’m still processing how I feel about the finale (no spoilers here), and I have to admit this season didn’t hit quite as hard for me. While the show still has its signature charm—clever writing, eerie atmosphere, and strong performances—I found myself less pulled in week to week. It felt like some of the momentum and emotional depth that made Season 1 so gripping got a little lost in the shuffle. I’m still rooting for it, though, and curious to see where it goes next.

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Movies

Interstellar (Hulu)

It might be believable but I have never seen this movie before. Despite hearing so much about it, I was surprised by its visuals and storytelling. I loved it. The story was pretty breathtaking and I cried quite a bit. Murphy and Mann(played by Matt Damon) did piss me off quite a bit which I had to get over. Mann has made me no longer wish to see Matt Damon in anything. Idk what drugs Christopher Nolan was on writing this but the twists and turns had my neck spinning. I found the story captivating and made me want to learn more about space despite my many fears.

Luther: Never Too Much (MAX)

Never Too Much is an anthem—and the fact that it was Luther Vandross’s debut song is truly unmatched. I love Luther so much. He’s a generational talent, and I’m so grateful my whole family listened to him while I was growing up. My dad used to pick me up from school blasting “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” or “I’d Rather.” My mom would play This Is Christmas as soon as the weather started to turn in Ohio. Luther has been the soundtrack to so many moments, big and small. Learning more about his story and experiences was nothing short of life-changing. I love, admire, and respect this man deeply—and getting to hear how he created his music is truly unforgettable.

Origin (Hulu)

If you want to know about my many tears this month—this movie served up a few cups of them. Directed by Ava DuVernay, it follows Isabel Wilkerson (played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) as she writes the very real book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents (which I still need to read!). This is one of the most beautifully tragic films I’ve seen in a long time. Talk about “I don’t know how she does it”—Ava brought this story to life. I loved seeing a Black woman centered in a story about work, resilience, truth-seeking, and legacy. The way familiar and lesser-known stories were woven together was powerful—like the retelling of Trayvon Martin’s story, alongside the introduction of Black anthropologist Allison Davis (played by Isha Blaaker), who finds himself in Nazi Germany just as Hitler is coming into power. It all hit me hard and like many said I do think it is a must-watch.

Mickey 17 (In Theaters)

Anything Bong Joon Ho makes tends to sit heavy in my stomach—and this movie was no different. He knows how to tell a story and keep you locked wholly through. This one follows Mickey, who agrees to be a “disposable” human sent to help colonize a new planet. It’s a story about the quest for love, endurance, and, ultimately, what it means to be human. Some of the film stills are burned into my brain—I can’t get over them. This might sound shady, but I love that the movie wasn’t trying to do too much. It felt focused and intentional. I also loved seeing R. Patz in this role. The accent (minor spoiler!) threw me off at first, but it grew on me quickly. I found out later the movie was based on a book—so now I’m adding that to my reading list.

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Books I read in: March

Down The Drain by Julia Fox (audiobook)

I loved listening to this audiobook! I wrote a longer book review, here on Instagram. I like that Fox seems so normal alongside her celebrity and the way she brings life to the page. You can tell she is telling this story in her own words, which I admire and her story truly affected me.

Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business by Roxanne Gay (audiobook)

Roxane Gay remains one of my favorite writers to read—sharp, honest, and never afraid to tell it like it is. Opinions is a collection of her essays from the past decade, covering a wide range of topics with her signature clarity and insight. From politics and pop culture to personal reflection and public discourse, Gay reminds us what thoughtful criticism can look like in chaotic times. This book was short but packed a punch, was crazy to hear an essay in 2015 seem like it could've been written this year.

Currently Reading/Recent Pickups

I shopped at a book sale a few weeks back at my new favorite used book store, Livra books. I didn’t plan on shopping for books, but rather wanted to go to “look” but you know how that goes. I picked up quite a few, various art ones, some comics for Fred. I want to do a book pickup post on its own cause the list is long and my fingers don’t have the energy for that, so stay tuned for that later this month!

Big Swiss(kindle): 70% done

Really staying on my toes with this one. So many folks have talked about it good and bad. It has been my fiction read alongside my informative, not entertaining non-fiction, I know and love. Not sure how I feel about it just yet. It has made me laugh and physically cover my mouth with my hand as I read. Hope this helps!

The Color of Law: 10%

I started this book 5 years ago… So Something happened and I was like it’s about time to pick it back up. It's just as good and informative as I remember it to be.

Erasure: 6%

I feel like I think about American Fiction once a week and this book keeps staring at me on my TBR shelf. So finally I worked up the courage to start it. So far Everetts's writing is as captivating as ever. And it has been really interesting to see the story unfold and compare it to the film. This might be one of the first books I’ve read, after seeing the film first. Which makes for an interesting read.

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Food/Recipes:

This was not a super fun eating month but rather a point of survival lol

• Creamy Parmesan meatballs: I used to love Salisbury steak growing up. Steak with Gravy sauce for those who haven’t had it. This takes me back to this recipe, definitely more upscale than the TV dinners but still so savory and comforting.

• Mommy Boost juice from Whole Foods. Love beets and this is one of my favorite juices and I get it almost every time. Call me, mommy.

• HEB gluten-free brownie box mix. BIG YUMMY

• My obsession with smoothies continues.
  

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Music/ Podcasts

Relationships - HAIM

I can’t stop listening to this song. I blast it in the car, on my walks, and while working. It is a summer bop, anthem. A need! I can’t wait to see what the new album will have in store.

Two Star and the Dream Police - Mk.Gee

This alongside his single ROCKMAN has been on absolute repeat. I got into Mk. Gee around the same time, I started listening to one of my favs Dijon. They worked together on Dijon’s most recent album. There are live performances of some of the albums on YouTube. I love the raspy tone and yells his music has. I also really am a fan of the way he mixes. I hope he makes a live recording album.

Random but good things: wishlist/pickups

My wallet is begging for mercy. But I do want some pants and I’ve been looking at so many different styles. I like these from le bon shoppe, in the Gingham. They are sold out, but keeping my eyes peeled for a restock. Peeling my eyes for some new kind of ugly shoes, which is my MO. Have my eyes on these from Birkenstocks , these from Hoka which I like a lot. For now, I am saving my coins but in the next month, I’m going to London, so best believe I will be shopping!

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That’s all for now!

Lots of love,

Ya Little Mama