Hello, and welcome to the Cena Luna Newsletter!
I have no idea what I'm doing!
Hi Friends!
It’s been many months since we last interfaced on the interwebs and I have to say––despite my social media hiatus it’s great to be back in my own way. While Instagram used to be a place of great discovery and creative inspiration for me, I found myself repeatedly falling down a rabbit hole of doom scrolling irrelevant and unrelated video content. That said, I miss the opportunities for creative sharing that social media provides.
Enter then, a newsletter from Cena Luna
Who is this newsletter for, you might ask? Well, if you like good food, cooking, television, movies, design, pop culture, or buying cool stuff––in other words, literally anyone!––you might enjoy this publication. You will also need to tolerate the occasional (read: frequent) typos.
A newsletter? Why now, Lauren?
I have no idea! How often will it be released? No clue! Will it have a similar format each time? Beats me!
If there’s anything at all I’ve learned about the creative process it’s to, in the words of our dearly departed Mikey Berzatto, let it rip. The farther I get into my adulthood, the less need I feel to have it all figured out, and to have something perfected before it sees eyes beyond my own. And if even one person is inspired to take on a new creative hobby or project and share it with others after reading this, I will consider it a massive success.
So, without further ado, let’s get to the good stuff. Thanks for reading, friends!
A weeknight recipe I can’t stop making
This Salmon with Green Salsa Verde from Bon Appetit has been a staple in our house for over a year now, but for some reason when it’s blazingly hot outside like it’s been recently in parts of California, it just hits different. The citrus is so fresh and creates a sweet/savory vibe that highlights the delicate salmon in all the right ways. I usually roast some cauliflower on a separate sheet pan and broil it for a couple of minutes after taking the fish out, then plate everything together and spoon the herby, citrusy sauce over everything at the end. Bonus: it’s verrrrry good cold the next day for lunch tossed with a handful of arugula.
A weird and wonderful Brooklyn house tour
If you finished Presumed Innocent last week and need another dose of everyone’s favorite bolo-tie loving Chicago lead prosecutor Tommy Molto, actor Peter Saarsgard and his wife, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal (yes, Rusty and Tommy are IRL BROTHERS-in-law), recently opened their home to Architectural Digest. It’s cool and artsy in all the ways you’d expect, deeply personal and fun. Plus, they are an extremely cute couple.
Now playing on Spotify
If you’re watching House of the Dragon (hereafter referred to as “HOT-d”), there’s no better podcast in my opinion than the Ringer’s Talk the Thrones. Starring Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson and Mallory Rubin, these Game of Thrones diehards dissect every episode with humor and immense care for the source material. I find myself smiling through the entire episode week after week. Can’t wait for the finale this Sunday!
In my cart
Ever since Gen-Z discovered my beloved Benetint on TikTok, I can never seem to find it in stock. I’ve finally found a suitable replacement in Milk’s Waterjelly Lip and Cheek Stain. The texture is smooth and cooling and has a gorgeous buildable color. I have it in Red and I’ve got Berry Plum in my cart.
Freaked out when I saw this bag on Shopbop and then I remembered I’m house poor. Thinking about buying this one as a substitute for a few late summer weddings to pair with this dress purchased at Fina.
In local news
In San Joaquin County, female owned and operated businesses are cropping up everywhere and two of my close friends have recently joined the fray in launching their own. Patitas Tacos, run by our former nanny Brianna Locke and her sweet husband A.J., is the culmination of a lifelong passion for cooking and sharing her sacred family recipes with loved ones. You can catch her truck in Elk Grove for now (don’t miss the breakfast burritos on Saturdays), but look for her in Stockton and Lodi SOON!
My friend Lisa is a dedicated fitness instructor and one of the most motivated people I know. At a crossroads in her career, Lisa decided to take the leap and just opened Pulse Fitness Co. in Lodi. Conveniently located across from Wine & Roses, you’ll find a mixture of Barre, Bootcamp, and Pilates classes taught by the queen herself, all in a gorgeous, moody venue that’s really something else.
Thanks for letting me blab about all my favorite stuff right now. Until next time!
xx, Lauren
You’re so talented! 😘
I love this and you. THANK YOU!!