Things To Do And Distract Yourself With This Election Day

Phone bank, bake something delicious, and then dissociate with a great rom-com.

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Today we’re leading with cautious hope. Let’s all do what we can to survive the next 24 hours… and then the days and weeks after that.

Things you can still do…

Phone bank with Knock for Democracy – I got assigned to call voters in North Carolina!

Do targeted phone banking through the Harris campaign directly, assigned based on where you are calling from! For New York, it’s Georgia.

Call voters in PA with Vote Save America!

Text or call everyone and anyone that you know in a swing state. Confirm their voting plan, and if they don’t have one, explain why this election matters to you. 

Things you can dissociate to…

Watch!

“Anatomy of Lies” on Peacock, which is not comforting but is extremely distracting. (I concur!!! Fucking wild!!! -Emma) This three-episode documentary digs into the many lies of former Grey’s Anatomy writer Elizabeth Finch, who was exposed in 2022 for faking cancer, making false claims of harassment, abuse, and mental illness, and appropriating the traumatic stories of people she knew for her own lies – and for storylines in her scripts. I’d read the Vanity Fair articles that made her lies public, but the documentary is even more in-depth and chilling. -Claire

The “Martha” doc on Netflix. Turns out there is actually a TON I didn’t know about Martha Stewart’s life, and especially about the criminal case against her. Fucking James Comey…. -Emma

The new Hallmark series “Mistletoe Murders” which somehow combines a crime procedural with a holiday rom-com. It’s unhinged and wonderful! -Emma

The new season of “Great British Baking Show,” if you haven’t started it yet, is underway on Netflix. Greg and I have watched a couple episodes, and we are utterly charmed with this season’s bakers so far – ingénue Sumayah, heartthrob Dylan with his vulpine beauty, warmly hilarious Nelly, and even gruff dad Andy. -Claire

Classic feel-good rom-coms! “When Harry Met Sally,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Notting Hill,” “While You Were Sleeping,” and “Pretty Woman” quite literally never miss. 

Listen!

Music that reminds you of less anxious times! A few days ago, Matt Sitman tweeted that he’d been revisiting “The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter,” which inspired me to get back into that 2007 album as well as Ritter’s 2006 debut, “The Animal Years.” If you haven’t listened, I do recommend these albums; his melodic folk-rock sound is irresistible, and his lyrics are dense with allusion and imagery. But perhaps most comforting is that it reminds me of being 20 and invincible again, in part because I haven’t listened to Ritter much in the past decade. Find your time capsule album and let it lift your spirits. -Claire

Catch up on engrossing podcasts like “Normal Gossip,” “If Books Could Kill,” “Betrayal” and “The Kill List.” -Emma

Read!

Can you focus on a book? Try something extremely fun and foolproof: the chick-lit greats like Helen Fielding or Sophie Kinsella would really hit the spot, or the historical romance series I became obsessed with after the 2016 election, Tessa Dare’s fantastically feminist Spindle Cove books. In the romance vein, Beverly Jenkins can also take you on a historical detour, while Emily Henry’s “Funny Story” and Laura Hankin’s “One Star Romance” are classic rom-com fun. 

And, when in doubt, the classics never disappoint. Jane Austen and Edith Wharton might have just the right blend of prickly humor, social commentary, and escapism that the moment calls for. -Claire

Bake! 

Thank you to the NYTimes for putting together this list of “12 Treats to Bake While You Wait for Election Results.” These will come in handy when we all need to stress eat later tonight. -Emma

I also recommend these brownies, which are easy, incredibly rich, and excellent with a dusting of cinnamon, sea salt, and even chili powder if you want to get spicy. –Claire

Shop!

The Sephora sale waits for no election results. Here’s what we’re buying:

• Claire: I’m re-upping some favorites! Sunday Riley Good Genes is a perennial sale purchase, since I hate paying full price for such an expensive cream. Merit Clean Lash and Flush Balm get used daily, so I need to restock. I’m also weighing their Day Glow highlighter, which I’ve almost purchased many times, and their Great Skin Priming and Firming Moisturizer. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask weather is back. Finally, I’m looking for a good, long-lasting matte red lip. It used to be my signature lip shade, and the crisp weather has me in the mood to bring it back. Currently weighing the Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé – other recs are welcome!

• Emma: I’m also using the sale as a way to restock tried and true products! KVD Tattoo Eyeliner (I recently switched from black to brown eyeliner and it’s perfect), Ilia True Skin Concealer, Ilia Mascara, Makeup Forever HD Foundation, Merit Flush Balm, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Liner, and my favorite Dior Lip Gloss in Intense Mauve. Other products that I don’t quite need to refill yet but swear by include the  Makeup By Mario Ethereal Eyes palette, Necessaire body wash, Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Serum, Caudalie’s Salycilic Acid Toner, and Caudalie Cleansing Oil.

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