I binge-watched 'Cruel Summer' and got nostalgic for '90s stuff

Last week, having walked home from the market—a nice, effortless stroll but for the danger of contracting coronavirus—I cleaned the house, fed the dogs, showered, and played with my kids to watch four episodes of Cruel Summer. Set in a small town in Texas in the early nineties, Freeform's new series tells the story of two teen girls: the dorky Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia) and the popular Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt). It reminds me of Pretty Little Liars, but when I first heard the title I thought it was a biopic of Bananarama in their prime years.

Cruel Summer is just so-so, but it has enough charm to keep me interested. The secret is to make things that appeal to my inner teen without equating youth with stupidity. It's also loaded with iconic throwback hits, including songs by The Cranberries, INXS, Mazzy Star, and 4 Non Blondes. If you were a kid in the '90s, the soundtrack will likely take you right back.

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Sheri DeBow's Strange Dolls

These dolls by artist Sheri DeBow are hardly something you would buy for a child. Each piece is one of a kind, and people who love to collect strange, creepy, or gothic dolls will surely love her creations. Sheri studied painting and drawing and took sculpture courses at Napa Valley College in California. She says her inspiration comes from dreams, books, love for history and general life experiences, good and bad. To see more of Sheri's work, follow her on Instagram .

Weirdly Charming

If you’re a fan of art that makes you do a double-take, you need to check out Richard Brener . Based in the UK, Richard is an internationally collected artist who works primarily with ink, fineliners, and gouache. When you first see his pieces, they actually look pretty playful. Then you realize the entire canvas is packed with thousands of tiny, ghost-like shapes he calls "champs." They’re all squeezed together like commuters on a rush-hour train, and the level of detail is honestly mind-blowing. Richard spends hundreds of hours drawing these little guys over and over. It’s obsessive, very intentional, and a little bit wild. The cool part is that the longer you stare, the more the vibe shifts. Check out more photos below:

When the Agave is Fine, But the Decanter is Finer

I rarely drink tequila, but this limited-edition Reposado from Gran Agave makes my brain scream: "I must own this thing!" I'm buying it not because of the balanced flavor and aroma, smooth texture, or even purity—but because I really like the ceramic ghost-shaped decanter. Once it's empty, I'll just refill it with something cheaper, just to keep the Halloween spirit alive.

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