Normalize birthday registries
As a Leo and someone who is obsessed with my friends, birthdays are my favorite holidays to celebrate. And yes, they’re holidays. I think it’s kind of cruel that we only get one day a year to be fully selfish, so I usually opt for a birthday weekend. I think society should place more emphasis on half birthdays too, but I’ll have to take that up with Congress or something. As much as I love celebrating my friends’ birthdays like they’re my own, I find gift giving extremely difficult. My love languages to give to others are quality time, physical touch, and words of affirmation. If you want me to plan your birthday, best believe I’m pulling out all the stops and making sure you have a fantastic time. We’re going to new places I know you’ll love, old favorites, eating at restaurants guaranteed to blow you away etc. In another life, I swear I’m an event or vacation planner.
If we’re in person, know you’re getting a big hug from me, and hand painted cards have become my specialty over the past year or so. I try to be my friends’ number 1 cheerleader and it’s easy to express how much I genuinely love and care for them in a note or message. But with physical gifts, I find myself worried I’ll fall short. My family has never been big into gifts, with the exception of Christmas, so I’ve come to not place a ton of significance in them. Anytime a friend gets me a gift on my birthday, I’m so grateful they got me anything at all. I guess I should extend myself that same kindness, but I still consider myself a mediocre gift giver. I got lucky freshman and sophomore year because my friends and I would do Secret Santa and use an online website to make a little list of wants before it randomly assigned us our person. That list would be my foundation for the next few months since all of their birthdays came after Christmas. If I’m lucky, I’ll see things randomly at antique stores, little gift shops, artist markets etc. that remind me of friends and I’ll get something in preparation for birthdays, even if it’s months out. However, I can’t solely depend on this method.
This brings me to an idea I think we should implement with haste. Birthday registries. Think wedding or baby registry but for your birthday. You put general things you’re loving on this list, or specific items you want, and update it throughout the year. It could be an extension of Instagram or a website we all start to use. I don’t care how it happens; it just needs to happen. I would much rather guarantee myself, and my friend, that I’m getting something they will want and use. If I happen to find something that reminds me of them in the wild, perfect! A fun little addition on top of what they’ve already asked for. I know my gift-giving anxiety would be greatly reduced with a birthday registry. I want the love I have for my friends to be reflected in their gift. We make lists for Christmas so why not for birthdays?
On another note, I finished Maxton Hall. I need season 2 now, this is not a joke Prime. Episode 6 gave me palpable tension into a heartfelt confession, dynamic music choice during intense scenes, I was pausing to catch my breath- it was everything Bridgerton wasn’t and more (I know I’m nagging now; I’m just seeing parallels). There were a few cringey lines but with foreign shows, it’s hard to know whether it’s a translation issue or subpar writing. Hasn’t been mentioned yet, and I know we’re all thinking it; James is so gorgeous it’s actually ridiculous. Also, I always forget that English is a Germanic language, and they’ll say stuff in German and I’m like “Omg our word is the exact same.” Silly me. Anyways, watch Maxton Hall! And make a birthday registry! Sincerely, your birthday obsessed but gift-giving challenged friend Faith.
Weekly REPORT Leftovers:
READING
Challengers review: A fantastic analysis of the (not so) hidden meanings in the film. I’m obsessed with this movie. I can’t believe it’s being taken out of movie theaters soon- curse streaming service deals.
Film title design warrants more appreciation: Wanted to read this because when I watched Saltburn for the first time in theaters, I remember seeing the title page and knowing from that moment that I was going to love the movie. Something about it fit so perfectly. Mostly focuses on graphic design work in Poor Things, which I haven’t seen, but interesting nonetheless.
EATING
Coconut shrimp curry: Super easy recipe to follow and it was delicious. Coconut curries are my weakness even though they end up being so horrid to my stomach.
