I’ve been in a Meryl sort of mood lately—probably something to do with her epic political takedown at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. And while I’ve seen so many of her impressive films (from Heartburn to Florence Foster Jenkins) I still hadn’t watched Kramer vs. Kramer…until now.

Over the weekend, I finally rented this film on demand. (Our video store closed, remember?) I’d obviously read so much about it—for example, this chilling piece from last year’s Vanity Fair—but seeing it was something else. For those unfamiliar, the film is about a couple in New York City going through a divorce and the impact it has on their young son. The reason for the divorce has to do with a rebellion (and revelation) on both sides when it comes to their traditional roles. Joanna (Meryl Streep) never saw herself as a full-time housewife. And Ted (Dustin Hoffman) never saw himself with a role inside the home.

The fallout is fascinating and heartbreaking to watch, a tribute to the skill of both actors at the helm. (Seriously, they both won Oscars for their work.) As a sociology major, I found myself wondering why more of my classes didn’t reference—or require a screening of—this movie given that it so thoughtfully depicts the evolution of a marriage and the shifting cultural norms of men and women at home. In fact, it felt so honest and real that at the end of watching, it was sort of impossible to choose sides.

Have you seen this film? What are your thoughts? (Watch the trailer here.)

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OK, so it’s officially cold in New York. As a result, lately, I’ve been all about making homemade soups. If I make a large enough batch, it’s enough to get us through the week (and maybe a couple of lunches, too). Here, three recent—and delicious—recipes we’ve tried:

1. Potato Leek Soup. This one is a staple and probably the only recipe I know by heart. But here’s the beauty of it: It’s got six total ingredients. (I swear, those are the best kinds of meals.) Basically, you need 6 leeks, 4 tablespoons of butter, 4 cups diced potatoes, chicken broth and nutmeg and cayenne pepper to season it when it’s done. I can’t find the exact recipe online, but this variation should do.

2. Jerusalem Artichoke Soup. Commonly referred to as “sunchoke” soup, this recipe has a delicious texture and flavor. Tastes great with a side of Brussels sprouts. Yum.

3. Soupe au Pistou. The hardest part with this soup is making the pistou. A mortar and pestle worked better for us than our blender since it allowed us to grind the basil so that it was really fine.

What new recipes are you trying this month?

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Exciting news: Matt and I are going to London in just a few short weeks! Even more exciting? I’ve never been. (Pretty crazy considering I’m such a Royal Family fan.) Most of our accommodations are booked—we even managed to squeeze in an overnight trip to Paris—but now the fun part: Mapping out all the things we want to do. Here a few of the things that are at the top of my list.

1. Visit Kensington Palace and see Princess Diana’s dresses. Yep, just in time for our trip, there’s a brand new exhibit opening called Diana: Her Fashion Story. I can’t wait to see so many memorable pieces—like the dress she wore to the White House to dance with John Travolta—in this collection. The craziest part? This will be my second time seeing her clothes up close. (I saw them in Lowell, Massachusetts as a kid when a special exhibit traveled through town.)

2. Explore Portobello Road and Notting Hill. The streets look so colorful and it seems like the perfect place to meander and shop around—especially if we time it for the Saturday outdoor market.

3. See a play (or two). Matt nabbed tickets for a couple of shows already—one done entirely by candlelight by Shakespeare’s Globe and the other starring Daniel Radcliffe in the West End.

Clearly, this is just scraping the surface of all the things we plan to see and do, but would love to hear any travel recommendations you have! (The more Royal-related, the better, of course.)

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So: Matt and I have both been feeling a bit lost on how to show our support to our senators (like Chuck Schumer) who are tirelessly working to fight the hard fight. We’ve got a long road ahead, clearly, and it’s tough to feel like there’s much we can do to help on a daily level. One idea—recommended by the Women’s March—is to write a postcard to our local politicians to express our opinions and let them know that we’re behind them 100%.

Over the weekend, I set out to my favorite card supply stores in my neighborhood and was surprised to find that postcards are pretty difficult to find. After striking out twice, my go-to stationery shop reminded me: All you need to send a postcard is a single-sided card and a postcard stamp.

Her brilliant suggestion? Take fold-over cards that I already have and split them in half at the crease. Voila! Two postcards. Draw three lines where you can write the address and attach the stamp. You’re done.

Matt and I set a goal to each write one a week. Our effort of course feels small, but it’s a place to start.

Update: If you’d rather order inexpensive postcards online, Etsy has an amazing selection here.

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Saddest news ever: The adorable video store—called Video Free Brooklyn—in my neighborhood closed. Seriously, it was a once (and sometimes twice) a weekend activity for me and Matt. We’d breeze over on a Saturday night and scan the shelves for tens of minutes, calling out to compare notes on which films one or the other still hadn’t seen. Since it closed, I’ve had to resort to Netflix/Amazon/Vudu scrolling. Here, are four films I’m so happy I found.

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