Welcome to 10 Things I said WTF to, an edition of WTF that will arrive in your inboxes on the last day of each month. It will be a round up of ten things from the ending month that have made me say WTF - all for various reasons, good or bad. Ranging from something minuscule and mundane like a recipe i’m loving, or bigger life issues and chaotic world events. Maybe you’ll discover some new things to try, buy, eat or watch!
I thought I’d switch it up for December’s edition of ‘10 Things I Said WTF to’ and make it a 2023 round up! A collection of 10 things that I loved, or made my 2023 easier, better or simply made me say WTF!
Hosting an Event / Collaborating with Ganni?!
If you’ve been here since the first ever WTF, then you will of seen my 2023 vision board that I annotated with ‘collab with Ganni’, which was hidden in a small section because I didn’t want to attract attention to a goal that seemed so unrealistic. As a self-confessed ‘“lazy influencer” who doesn’t dedicate enough time to making content and forgets to post for a week at a time, I honestly didn’t think this collaboration would ever happen. Shockingly, it did, and it was every bit as amazing as I hoped it would be. This is 100% my biggest achievement of this year because getting to work with my favourite brand of the past 4/5 years was just so special. Thank you so much to everyone who came to the event, or even just engages with my content, it means the world!
Saltburn
Yeah I know you’re probably sick of everyone just constantly talking about Saltburn being the ‘film of the year’ - but it really is. I haven’t seen another film released within the past few years that was anywhere near as good as this, it literally knocked Barbie right off the top spot. It’s so refreshing to watch a film that isn’t based off anything we’re already accustomed to, because everything released now seems to be a re-make or in a cinematic universe like Marvel etc. I honestly felt lost in this new world and learning about all new characters, along with such an incredible soundtrack and plot.
This was also the first time I’ve experienced someone walking out during a film at the cinema, which was 100% an overreaction and is another reason why people should watch trailers!!! I also didn’t see the ‘twist’ coming at all until about half way through when my friend Polly whispered something to me, but even so, the unravelling ending was still absolutely shocking. I spent the whole week afterwards telling anyone and everyone I know to watch it.
Boygenius’ ‘The Record’
The Record by boygenius wins best album of the year for me. I had this on repeat constantly when it first came out, and months later it’s still every bit as good!
These Silly Plastic Clogs
I was pretty late to jump on the garden clog trend, but after seeing NYC fashion girlies all over my feed and FYP rocking these hemp little granny shoes and looking so chic, I had to jump at the chance when I came across a pair in my size. I debated getting these for quite a while, but ended up originally going for the jelly sandal alternative back in May. I wore them a lot in summer and loved the material and how comfy they were. While shopping for Christmas presents I inevitably ended up also shopping for myself and tried on the clogs as the display pair was conveniently my size. The rest was history… I’ve barely taken them off since. £25 is a true bargain for such a comfy and practical shoe. However, I can’t pretend that my feet aren’t sweating relentlessly!! My next purchase needs to be a breathable cotton insole, which i’ve heard relieves the steam-room effect slightly. These truly go with any outfit and I instantly feel cute when I put them on! So they deserved a spot on this list.
Ribbon / Bow Mania
2023 is the year the world went bow crazy, it seemed as if this trend popped up out of nowhere, but suddenly was everywhere. I’ve seen bows on everything and anything, from the end of plaits, the ears of family pets, and even ice cubes. I’d put the original source of the year’s biggest trend down to ballet-core and Sandy Liang’s traditional uniform and recital inspired designs. This has truly taken over the internet, which makes me almost certain by early 2024 we will look back on it in the same way we look at studded acid wash denim shorts and Jeffrey Campbell heels. But - at least our Christmas tree’s looked cute!
The Amiel Jumper by Sézane
I’ve always struggled to find good staple knitwear, but the Amiel jumper by Sézane has been the best piece in my AW wardrobe this year. So much so that I now have it in four colours. I end up wearing one most days because they are such a good shape, so soft, so comfy and so easy to style. My personal favourite is the charcoal grey which I sadly think it sold out online, but I highly recommend hunting it down on Vinted.
*for reference I wear a large, I’m a size uk 10/12.
Quinn
To explain briefly, if you haven’t already heard of it (😉), Quinn is a female-founded app for Audio Erotica. It’s basically ethical porn, with no visuals just audio, that really leans into the genuine desires and fantasies of women. Not like typical porn where everyones someones step-something and no women are actually enjoying themselves, it’s just all for the male gaze.
I first heard of Quinn through their Tik Tok marketing which I always thought was spot-on, which actually led me to research further into it. I was super inspired by founder Caroline Spiegel’s story of why she created the app, so if you’re interested you should definitely go to Youtube and watch some interviews with her! However, even after all of this for some reason I didn’t download it?
To be completely honest, as a result of my anti-depressants my sex drive was at an all time low and after many trips to the doctors, I didn’t think there was a way to bring it back. If you’re on an SSRI, then you probably know this feeling all too well. But eventually, there was one night I couldn’t sleep while my boyfriend was away and while doom-scrolling I kept seeing Tik Tok’s from Quinn, so I decided to sign up for the free trial.
At first I definitely was unsure if it was going to work for me, but after spending a bit more time on the app and listening to many different creators and voice actors, I found a few that I really enjoyed. I was honestly shocked at how much it sparked my imagination and boosted my libido. Since then I’ve been a paying subscriber (£4.49 per month) and have been actively encouraging all my friends to download it. I realised I definitely wasn’t alone after taking some time to read through the comments on different audios or on Quinn’s socials - many women have found that listening to Audio Erotica on Quinn has helped them work through their own issues with sex or loss of sex drive.
I don’t want to say too much because I highly recommend trying it out for yourself to see what all the fuss is about, theres a reason why the app now has over 300,000 paying subscribers!
Pinterest
I’ve been an avid Pinterest user for a few years now, but I feel as if in 2023 it’s become my main source of inspiration and the first place I go to for anything WTF related. My relationship with Pinterest is definitely healthier than my relationship with any other platform, because there’s an element of detachment from it? You see all these endless aesthetic images but because it’s not usually the person in the photo who uploaded it - it’s somehow easier to not compare yourself and spiral? It just feels fun, it feels like being a teenager and making collages from your favourite magazines.
Cleopatra and Frankenstien
Cleopatra and Frankenstein was the first book I read in 2023 and it still ended up being my absolute favourite. I loved the story and the way it was written, it was a great length, totally and completely binge-able. I’m already looking forward to reading it again. If you’re wanting to get back into reading I can’t recommend enough starting with this book! I think I also heard it was being developed for TV?! Fingers crossed it doesn’t get ruined…
WTF
Of course, I have to end this list on the biggest thing I said WTF to in 2023…WTF! I can’t believe it’s been one whole year since I started this newsletter, and how much it’s grown and developed since. I love curating and writing every edition of WTF, and in all honesty - feel proud of myself for sticking to it consistently! Because shamefully, I love picking up new hobbies and hyper-fixations to then just forget about them within a month. But WTF is here to stay, so thank you so much for subscribing and reading.