This is taken from my weekly newsletter which hits inboxes every Monday morning. At the beginning of each month, I add in an Editor’s letter which you can read below and check out the other elements you can find in my weekly newsletters.
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Monday 3rd April 2023
Is it a little egotistical to call myself an editor in this first monthly edition of the newsletter? But I suppose, what other title would I give myself?
I guess I could call myself a content creator as all I do in my spare time is create content for various different social platforms, but that seems like something that should be left to the influencers of today’s society.
Anyway, for the basis of these monthly newsletter editions, you can hereby refer to me as your editor as that is what I will be calling myself. Not quite Editor-in-Chief, but maybe some day.
As I sit in a coffee shop in London writing this, there’s quite a lot to reflect on that happened in March.
I turned a year older and am getting ever closer to the 30 mark which is insanely daunting but I’m also low-key excited as they do say your thirties are the best years of your life.
I spent my birthday in Las Vegas which as always, was incredible. I always feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be when I’m in America and I make no secret of the fact that I want to move back there someday, but the visa situation just isn’t easy in the slightest.
On the topic of America, I can’t not mention the recent school shooting that took place in Nashville last week. My favourite city in the whole of America, I still can’t believe that 1. There have been no changes to gun laws since any of the school shootings that have taken place and that 2. Someone could want to murder innocent kids that are going about their everyday lives in the classroom.
When this happens, the first thing I think is what can I do to help? Should I sack off my career in influencer marketing and change to a career in law and politics to try and make some sort of difference in the form of gun laws and control in the states? What can I do, because I feel like I need to do something.
When events like this happen, it really makes me take a look at what I do for a living and think I could be doing something so much more worthwhile than paying influencers to promote makeup and fragrance.
It also makes me reconsider whether I really want to move to America. Do I want to live in a country where law and order seems optional? Where kids stock up on guns and can buy firearms as soon as they turn 18? Where I could send my kids to school and never know if they’re going to come home alive?
This is a very heavy newsletter topic for the first ever monthly letter, but it’s something I feel incredibly passionate about and couldn’t not mention.
Other than a trip to Las Vegas, March was a relatively quiet month which was needed after all the travelling in February and before even more travelling begins in April.
I’m headed to Marrakech this weekend and am very excited to tick off another continent on my travels but also extremely excited to experience a new culture.
As always, you can follow along over on Instagram @orlaghclaire and I will be back next month to report on my trips to Marrakech, Magaluf and Norway. Three very different trips for the month of April.
Orlagh Claire x
What I’ve Been Watching
YOU (Netflix)
I’ve just finished the new season of You and I must say I was a little disappointed watching the first half of the series and may I say, bored.
But, I wanted to persevere with the second set of episodes that were released and I’m very glad that I did because there were many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming.
For the second half of the series, I would say that it is worth watching.
And I’m not sure we’ve seen the last of Joe Goldberg just yet.
What I’ve Been Listening To
Inner Monologue – Olivia Neill
Like the Pursuit of Wellness, I’ve been listening to Olivia Neill’s podcast since her very first episode and am yet to miss one. Full of Olivia’s life, ramblings and dramas, I’m hooked every Wednesday about what she’s been up to in the influencer world and her latest boy dramas. A favourite YouTuber of mine, it’s refreshing to hear her so raw on her podcast every week.
What I’ve Been Reading
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
The winner of the 2022 Booker Prize, I went into this book with very high expectations. However as I also expected, the book was literary fiction in genre which typically means nothing much happens and that it’s all about the beauty of the writing. The seven moons indicated the time Maali had after dying to set some things straight before going to The Light. If you’ve read 10 Minutes, 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak, you’ll see some similarities. It didn’t overly excite me with the plot, but it was eye opening to read about wartime in Sri Lanka and the different political organisations in the country and also the importance of wartime photographers.
What I’ve Been Eating
Ping Pong, Southwark
I’m on the search for the best dim sum in London and although I’ve tried many places already, there are still a few left on my list.
We were headed to see Witness for the Prosecution in Southbank but also wanted some dim sum before the show and found this popular dim sum restaurant by Waterloo Station. We opted for the platter as we like to try different dumplings of everything and anything. This along with some bao buns were the perfect dinner before the theatre.
Where I’m Going Next
Marrakech, Morocco
I’m headed to Marrakech this weekend for four days of glorious heat. It’s due to be 31-34 degrees while we’re there, so of course the factor 50 will be coming with me.
I’m so excited to explore another culture as I don’t really know what to expect from Marrakech apart from what I’ve seen on the Sex in the City movie. I’m hoping to bring back lots of trinkets from the bazaars and try amazing food.
March Podcast Episodes
45. Remember What I Said About Australia? I Might Be Taking It Back…
I had a lot of opinions about Australia a few months ago in episode 28, but this week I might be redacting some of those statements.
43. The De-Influencer Will Probably Put Me Out of a Job, But I’m Here for It
There are now influencers that are telling you the things you don’t need to buy and the trends that you shouldn’t be following, making my job a bit harder.
March Blog Posts
Entering 26 and Leaving My Mid-Twenties Behind
I turned the ripe old age of 26 in March and reflected on my year of being 25, as well as looking ahead to what I hope 26 brings me.
I’m looming ever closer to 30, but enjoying the remaining years of my twenties.
Checking In: The Sheraton TriBeCa Hotel, NYC
Welcome to a new series on Orlagh Claire where I review hotel stays around the world. Starting off this series is The Sheraton Hotel in TriBeCa, New York City where we spent five nights at the beginning of 2023 when we visited New York for New Year’s Eve.
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