Dear reader,

This year, I’ve been looking at ways of extending the world of apartamento 710 from being mainly an online endeavor to a more tangible, real-life pursuit. This goal has taken different shapes. I have mailed more than 40 letters to readers in different parts of the world, from Indonesia and Australia to Brazil and Lebanon. I’ve printed posters that I take with me everywhere I go. A few readers have found me through these at different coffee shops, and it is always exhilarating when I get a note from them letting me know they found me through a poster. Let’s not forget the importance of giving our work a place to live outside of the Internet.

As I look at ways for my work to occupy a space in the real world, I’ve been thinking about how much courage and vulnerability it takes to put yourself out there. We all want to be seen, but not all of us are ready for the exposure once more people start paying attention. I am still navigating this resistance in my own work and trying not to let it stop me.

After months of looking at my sketchbooks, I dragged myself to a local Risograph studio and printed one of my original illustrations. If you are a print media geek like me, you know that nothing compares to the printing quality of a Riso machine—the intensity of the colors, the softness of the page. I am very proud of how this came out.

For the next two weeks, I will be mailing my new illustration to all readers who upgrade to a paid subscription. If you have considered becoming a paid supporter of my work, this is a great time for you to do so. Thanks for all the love!

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Reference Library is an occasional compilation of all the different curiosities that inform the world of apartamento 710. All the books, films, and music that I am loving, the artwork I am paying attention to, and the practices or mediums I’m experimenting with. Sharing it all with you for your leisure.

Come on in, and enjoy your stay!

My favorite films

Early this year, I cancelled my Netflix subscription. I didn’t have a streaming alternative already lined up. Soon enough, I discovered Tubi, a free service, and my favorite, Kanopy, which curates international and independent cinema, as well as a wealth of content from the Criterion Collection. In case you didn’t know, you can access Kanopy for free with a library card.

Below is a list of almost everything I watched since September: Some of my favorite love triangle stories, my top Tarantino film, and the first David Lynch movie I’ve ever seen, Mulholland Drive. Lots of spicy French cinema, because I’m trying to learning French, and of course, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which I saw on the big screen at VIFF. A couple of great documentaries on the list, too. It’s been a remarkable, cinematic year for me. If you are looking for great stories to immerse yourself in this winter, this list is solid.

• The Third Lover, 1962

• A Married Woman, 1964

• Blue Velvet, 1986

• Chungking Express, 1994

• Y tu mamá también, 2001

• Mulholland Drive, 2001

• Lost in Translation, 2003

• Death Proof, 2007

• Coraline, 2009 — First time watching, by the way. So good.

• We need to talk about Kevin, 2011

• Neruda, 2016

• The Florida Project, 2017

• The Lighthouse, 2019

• Pearl, 2022

• Rodeo, 2022

• Nosferatu, 2023

• Frankenstein, 2025

Documentaries

New ways of experiencing audio

After using Spotify since middle school (wild to type these words lol) I said goodbye to the platform for good. Big year for tech-break ups over here. But what can a girl do if there are almost no decent streaming service providers these days??????

Since then my relationship with music has changed quite a lot. I went from playing something in the background almost every waking minute of my day, to now being more intentional with what I want to listen. On the streaming side, my partner and I kept a Youtube Music account. Sharing it means less convenience, but that would do for now. I’ve also became more curious about old, analog ways of listening to music. We started a vinyl collection that I am excited to expand slowly. I have been playing with the idea of getting an MP3 player.

Going to live shows is another way I decide to support the work of the musicians I love. This year I was lucky to see Nathy Peluso, Wet Leg, The Marias, and the Haim sisters in concert. A great year for women in music. I am definitely not updated in the latest releases as I used to be since I no longer have an algorithm picking music for me. I am enjoying having more agency in finding the things I want to consume.

Subscribing to the mailing list of my favorite artists so I know when they are on tour or releasing new work has been a way to staying on top of things. Friends are always showing me new music that they think I will like too, which is very sweet. In October I visited my friend Andrea for a few days and we went on a roadtrip around Cowichan Valley, where she introduced me to Olivia Dean. I will never forget the first time listening to ‘A couple Minutes’ on the road, as we drove through the most beautiful views of fall.

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Youtube shows

This is some of the good stuff I watch regularly on my commute, while cooking dinner or decompressing after a long day of fighting the patriarchy.

Books

My reading year started with great momentum after giving myself the challenge of going through all the books in my shelf in 3 months. Once I finished the challenge my my attention went to other places (films hehe) but I am slowly making my way back to books again. I am currently re-reading Milk Fed by Melissa Broder, and This Is Strategy, by Seth Godin. As you can see I am girl of balance. I am excited to read a shit ton of fiction this winter. And poetry. Do you have any good recommendations? I want something that makes me feeeel things.

Recent essays

this rubble is ours

success looks different as the eldest daughter

I’m eating 2 starbursts, a box of pink nerds, and a bag of nerd clusters while Nemahsis sings, “you’re good for nothing, you said it to me once before,” in my ear. I nod my head because I know. you’ve said it more than once to me before…

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5 months ago · 40 likes · 14 comments · sayeda

Journal Rash

How to Reset Your Artistic Life

The thing about landscapes is they wait. They have nothing but time. A mountain range doesn’t care if you show up next Tuesday or never again. It was here before you, and it will be here after. There’s no accountability in geology…

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6 months ago · 976 likes · 93 comments · Estee Zales

adriatica

how to read like a writer

I read, I reflect, I take notes, I grind away at the writing of others, I produce my own, and all this takes up more and more of my day…

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5 months ago · 146 likes · 5 comments · giulia spadoni riva

Before we go

• For my Vancouver based readers: The Cinematheque is doing a screening series of David Lynch’s films, including Wild at Heart, which I have been dreaming of seeing on the big screen. Let me know of you would be interested in meeting up to go and discuss the film afterwards. A lil meet and greet if you will.

Thanks for making it all the way to the end! Let me know in the comments all the things you are experimenting and fun with during hibernation season. 🌀 Love ya!

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Get in touch with me at florenciaornelas.f@gmail.com if you’d like to collab or work together : )

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Welcome to Reference Library — a new corner in the apartamento 710 world.

A personal archive, kind of a digital garden, and a compilation of all the things I am enjoying and dissecting each month. Articles and books I am reading, food I am making, films and long-form videos that I am watching, and more. Reference Library will give you a glimpse of all th…

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I am writing this on the first day of March—my favorite month of the year. Many things are happening this month: Pisces season, my birthday 😋 , Daylight Savings, and Spring... oh, we can feel you in the air. I always say that Spring is the true new year. It’s a time when my mind and body finally have the capacity to start new projects and embark on new adventures. Winter is not the time for this. Winter is for looking inwards, conserving the little energy we have, while Spring is for slowly coming out of our cocoons and flourishing.

These are the things I am looking forward to during my favorite season. A vision board or maybe a manifesto, to remind myself of how I want to feel during the next few months.

• Reading fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, poetry, design and fashion-related books, children's books, and comics. For the first half of my mid-20s, I read more self-help books than I can even remember. I think I am ready to step into a new stage in my life where I allow myself to read for the sake of having fun. I want to imagine new worlds, daydream, and let these new stories inform my day-to-day life. I want to have more fun and take things less seriously. What we consume plays a huge role in how we see the world, so it is time for me to focus my energy on reading materials that feed this desire.

• Volunteering in my community: I want to spend my energy contributing to my community, and I’ve been thinking about the causes I’d like to support this year. Our local food bank and the library are places I feel called to contribute to this year.

• Cooking with new ingredients: My local farmers' market is back this Spring, and I am literally counting the days until I can spend my Saturday mornings walking around and discovering new ingredients to incorporate into our kitchen. I am VERY ready to switch the base ingredients we’ve been cooking with during the winter. According to my Internet research, here’s what’s in season in British Columbia during Spring:

  • March — Cabbage, Carrots, Chard, Cucumbers, Hardy Greens, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Shallots, Sunchokes, and Tomatoes.

  • April — Asparagus, Beets, Bok Choy, Cauliflower, Chard, Fennel, Garlic, Mushrooms, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Rutabagas, and Spinach.

  • May — Beans, Chard, Green Onions, Kale, Leeks, Peas, Peppers, Radishes, and Turnips.

  

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• Micro-traveling: I am looking forward to traveling more around the province of British Columbia here in Canada (with the exception of an upcoming trip to LA for my birthday). We plan to visit new cities to find a place where we can live in the future and hopefully own a home one day (a girl can dream). We are privileged to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The Pacific Northwest has so many gems that I can’t wait to see. Salt Spring, Galiano Island, and Tofino are at the top of my list for this year!

• Moving my body: With more sun and warmer temperatures, my body naturally feels called to spend more time outside, walking or biking. Last year, I ran a half marathon for the first time, and although I don’t think I’ll do it again soon, I do want to get back into running a few times a week because my body loves the feeling after a good run.

• Spending more time in silence: As we emerge from hibernation mode, I want to be mindful of giving myself time to adjust to this new rhythm of life. This includes going on walks without headphones or my phone and eating my meals without watching a show. We live with constant noise, and our nervous system deserves a break!

• Intentional gatherings: While I want to embrace silence this season, I’m also excited to meet my friends more often or host them for intentional plans like puzzle nights, drawing dates, or picnics at the park.

• Wearing more color, prints, and textures: This is probably one of the things that excites me the most about Spring. I am eager to wear florals and polka dots. And since I don’t have to wear a hat to protect myself from the cold anymore, I am excited to wear all my new hair accessories too, now that I have long hair.

  

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• I broke up with Spotify 💔 after more than 10 years with my subscription, I decided to cancel my family plan to explore other options. Mainly, I am tired of streaming and subscription services owned by the same white men. For my birthday my partner got me a vinyl player and I am learning to enjoy music in a new way. Building my physical collection of records will take time, so I do plan on subscribing to a new music streaming platform, but I am not sure which one yet. In the meantime, I have the Evermore vinyl that my friend got me for my birthday repeating nonstop (yes, I was very spoiled this year!!!!!).

• I made a promise this year: I will not buy new books until I read all the ones I already own. I have around 25 books on my bookshelf that I haven’t read. This is an exercise of 1) consuming what I already have at home to make space for new stories and 2) challenging myself to read more, which will help me to be a better writer. You need to read as much as you write. In January, I read only one book. In February, I read five and I am planning to read seven in March. Let’s see if I finish all of them by the end of the Spring so that I can start reading new titles! Please let me know in the comments what you are reading this season! I am currently reading Women Who Run with the Wolves and A General Theory of Love.
  

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Is that time of the year again! Do you have your 2025 resolutions? Every year, sitting down to write my goals and put together my manifestation mood board is something I look forward to. However, I think I no longer resonate with the mentality of working on a new version of myself as soon as January starts and hurrying to start working on all my goals. At least where I live, January is one of the coldest, grayest, and rainiest months of the year, with little to no sunshine. This means that I feel more tired than usual, seasonal depression is kicking in, and the little energy I have left in me I use to take care of my basic needs. This is definitely not the ideal time to start working on my best self.

I used to hate winters here in Canada, but now I see them as an opportunity to chill, hibernate, and reflect. I have learned to adjust to each season and live with more acceptance. Also, I think capitalism is the only system that benefits from us wanting to change and achieve more and more as soon as we enter a new year. I invite us to slow down and leave that for Spring.

I am not saying to throw your resolutions list out of the window or not to start working on your goals right now. I just want us to feel less pressure this time of the year, knowing that is ok to be still, to pause. We still have a few more months of winter to plan our strategy, to get ready to flourish in the spring.

Here are some of the things I am doing this winter, as I slow down to pause. A lot of cooking at home, spending time indoors, doing hot yoga, and going to the movies at 10:00 am on a Sunday.

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FINAL RANDOM THOUGHTS

• I am going to New York for the first time this month! As a small girl town growing up watching allllll the movies, shows, etc I am beyond excited to hit the streets of cold NY this January. I am not staying long but I would appreciate your recommendations of places to see, and where to eat/drink in the comments!

• I am planning on growing my hair this year, anyone else in this room doing the same? Have had my hair short for the past 5 years and I am slowly adjusting to this long-haired personality. I also forgot how much maintenance, time and money is involved in having long hair. Current hair rituals that are helping my hair grow faster and healthier:

  • Washing it once (max twice) a week (my mom and sister don’t support this lol)

  • Applying oils before my wash day. My mom made me an oil mix that contains rosemary and other 5 oils and I have been using it since the summer, noticing lots of new baby hairs!

  • I have been using the Ouai shampoo for thin hair for almost two years now and that paired with my other tips above has been working very well for me. I also use their wave spray and leave-in conditioner and my hair loves it. They are a bit pricy but they last for months as I only wash my hair once a week.

  • Another thing I missed about having long hair was getting to wear cute accessories. I am very tempted to get the Sandy Liang scrunchie when I visit their showroom this month. Do you think it’s worth it?

    sandyliang

    

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Thanks for reading this one, I am looking forward to continuing the conversation in the comments!

Besos,

Florencia

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is taking its sweet time to arrive this year. We only have experienced a few days of real summer but mentally, I am more than ready to spend my afternoons basking under the sun, eating overpriced cherries. This week, as I was journaling my intentions for the season and putting together my vision board, I realized a big theme: my mind and soul are craving an offline summer.

After reaching a serious point of exhaustion and burnout last year with my self-diagnosed social media addiction, I’ve been slowly trying to build a new relationship with the Internet. I decided that I no longer wanted to build a personal brand out there (or anywhere), but rather focus on living a real life, in the real world.

I am still consuming a lot of content online, but this year I’ve been leaning more towards longer-form pieces. Here is a lil roundup of what I’ve been consuming lately, that has left me feeling energized rather than anxious or annoyed.

Reading

Books and comics

• The 48 Laws Of Power, by Robert Greene - If you ask me, the book can be a little problematic and I am taking everything with a grain of salt. With that being said, I am enjoying SO much. Especially reading the history research that was made to bring this book to life and all the valuable lessons we can find in centuries’ worth of knowledge.

• A silly old Peanuts comic from the 70s to balance the heavy vibes of the book above.

  Side note: It’s my first time going through a comic and has been such a delight! There’s something about reading a story filled with doodles and dialogue bubbles that makes me feel like a little kid again. Highly encourage you to explore your local thrift store and give a comic a chance!

Newsletters

So hard to only pick a couple but otherwise this would be the longest issue:

Total Rec

I Regret What's In My Camera Roll

Last week, I celebrated my birthday on a classically beautiful June day with my friends, swimming in the sun and enjoying delicious cake. That evening, fueled by the day's joy and love, I decided to lay in bed and write about my death. (Your girl knows how to party…

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2 years ago · 1274 likes · 153 comments · Totally Recommend

You've Got Lauren

#39: Boring Girl Summer

I don’t have any summer plans. No trips to Europe or lakeside Airbnb rentals. No family cottage to stay at. I’m at a peculiar time in life where I don’t have major responsibilities (like raising children or owning my own home) but I still have minor ones (like working to pay the bills and making dinners). I make enough money to buy myself books and fancy groceries, but not enough to travel very far or decorate my home with all the furnishings I find online…

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2 years ago · 1313 likes · 150 comments · Lauren Marie

Watching

• I recently saw Tyler’s conversation on pivoting careers, perfectionism and promoting your work as an artist and it left me so inspired. Thanks to Yancey Strickler for sharing this gem in his newsletter.

• Can’t stop listening to Sabrina’s performance on BBC Radio! I’ve been viewing/ listening to it non-stop while making breakfast every morning.

• I’ve been coming back to my roots and catching up with my favorite YouTube people. Jenny’s vlogs are always a massage for my brain. Enjoyed this one so much in particular, where she gave us a sneak peek into her days visiting Vancouver Island this year.

Listening

1. This episode of The Modern Retail Podcast was so good. An interview with Alyse Borkan, the founder of one of my favorite brands, Rocco. It left me dreaming about having my own brand one day!

Side note but also related: Really loved this landing page on Rocco’s website encouraging customers to be outside hanging out on Saturday night instead of shopping online. In an era where brands are almost shoving products down our throats it’s refreshing to see brands like Rocco do the opposite. Also, the playlist was actually very good btw. Marketing bbs, any thoughts on this strategy?

2. I’ve listened to this episode quite a few times and often go back to it when I am feeling inspired, highly recommend it when you are trying to break a creative block. Kassandra’s voice is heavenly. She also happens to be one of the most talented ceramists out there so she knows what she is talking about here.

How I am getting my attention span back to normal

There are days when I succeed at being more present and forget about my phone for hours. But on other days, I go down a rabbit hole following all my Instagram ads or end up viewing Instagram stories of people I don’t care about without even realizing it. In The Utopia of a Life Offline, I go deeper into all the things I am experimenting with to live a more authentic life offline while still getting to use social media in a way that feels good to me. In a perfect world, I delete all social media apps (I deleted TikTok early this year which feels crazy to me!) but is not that simple.

The bottom line here is, I am determined to be conscious about what I am consuming online and I want to be fully present in the real world this summer. Have time to listen to my thoughts and form my own opinions. Experience for the first time in years what it’s like to not be entertained every minute of the day. I crave being unavailable without feeling guilty and getting rid of that sense of urgency that never seems to go away.

Here are 10 other things I will be doing this summer instead of being chained to my phone.

I wish an abundant and wholesome Summer for all of us. One where we get to protect our peace of mind by setting the right boundaries —both online and IRL. Will see how it goes and report back in the Fall, ok? Love you!

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