A perfect Sunday with... India Armenta
Chilaquiles, seaside runs and the most quotable movie ever!
Every week, a top writer, artist, actor or creator reveals how they’d fill their perfect Sunday, sharing their favourite comfort reads, movies, food… anything that would make their weekend great.
Today, it's the turn of India Armenta, host of the Ladies of Lore Podcast.
India's perfect Sunday… brunch
I feel like now is the time to confess that I have actually never been out for a brunch! It seems to be the thing to do at the moment, but I am yet to experience the bottomless brunch. If I could choose anything though, it would be chilaquiles. It's a Mexican breakfast of strips of corn tortillas that are fried, covered in salsa and topped with cheese and a fried egg. There's something about them that just feels immensely comforting and they're full of flavour and a little spice, I can polish off multiple plates with absolutely no problems. I'm also a bit of a caffeine connoisseur too, so an oat milk flat white on the side is an absolute must.
India's perfect Sunday… read
I have recently embarked on the huge task of making my way through Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere Universe, so far I've read Mistborn and The Well of Ascension so the natural choice for this would be The Hero of Ages.
BUT Oathbound, the third book in the incredible Legendborn Cycle by Tracy Deonn, has just been released, so I think I'm going to go with that. There is absolutely nothing better on a Sunday than curling up and getting lost in a good book and the Legendborn Cycle books are the perfect ones to do this with, it's a wonderful fresh take on Arthurian Legend. Even though I haven't finished book 3 yet, I'm already excited for book 4!
India's perfect Sunday… comic
This is a tough one! I think I will go with Watchmen. It's the first comic I ever read and I fell in love with it very quickly. I love how it takes the concept of superheroes and presents it in a really gritty and realistic way. There's so much symbolism and political commentary running through it which I always love to see in anything I am reading or listening to. The characters are complex and flawed which is so interesting to see in a superhero figure. It also raises some pretty deep philosophical questions about power and free will and leaves you really thinking.
India's perfect Sunday... Movie
One movie that I have loved since I very first watched it as a child is The Princess Bride. There's something about it that just feels warm and fuzzy and magical all at once and no matter how many times I watch it, I am just as hooked. It is just the perfect mix of romance, fantasy, comedy and probably some of the most quotable lines in any movie I have ever seen. To not pick this would be inconceivable!
I will also give an honourable mention to the whole of the Twilight series, which I enjoy completely unironically. I actually went through a phase where I couldn't sleep without background noise and the first Twilight movie was my go-to for getting to sleep, so much so that I can quote the first 5 minutes or so word for word (clearly I was falling asleep after that).
India's perfect Sunday... TV binge
For the longest time, I kind of avoided comedy shows. I don't know why really, because I do actually enjoy laughing, maybe I was worried I wouldn't laugh and then I'd feel bad about it. But I think the show that changed that for me was Schitt's Creek. It's a riches to rags story about a wealthy family who lose it all and have to move to a town called, you guessed it, Schitt's Creek. It has so much heart and soul and the characters all have amazing growth, by the end of the series you truly care for them. Much like The Princess Bride, it's also super quotable and we love a Schitt's Creek quote in this house. Catherine O'Hara truly makes Moira one of the most iconic characters in any television I have seen and it's a show I'll return to again and again.
India's perfect Sunday… podcast
What may be a little known fact about me is that I am a huge NFL fan, being a Brit the NFL isn't really featured too heavily in our news so I rely on a few Podcasts to keep me updated. My current favourite is Scoop City by the Athletic. I tend to get a bit obsessive over my hobbies so I like to listen to all of the analysis of games and trades and players.
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Moving away from sports though, I've recently started listening to You're Dead To Me, which is a comedy history podcast that I've been loving. Sometimes we have to laugh at the past and laughing while learning something new is a perfect combination to me - I told you I do enjoy laughing!
Honest Reviewer🇬🇧
India's perfect Sunday… album
I am a huge Swifty, I went to the Eras tour twice last year and it was one of the most incredible experiences, so it would be very easy for me to say a Taylor Swift album (probably Folklore). However, one of my absolute favourite albums of all time and one I think more people should listen to is Preacher's Daughter by Ethel Cain. The first time I heard this album I was in the gym and had to stop what I was doing to sit down and absorb it fully. It's an album that feels almost cinematic and tells a tragic story, if you've not given it a go I'd really recommend it, there's also a whole google document with all the Ethel Lore, yep, this album comes with lore. This is one of those albums that I can listen to hundreds of times and still find new things with every listen, so it's a go to for me any time I'm listening to music.
India's perfect Sunday… treat
I'm fortunate enough to live very near to the coast, so a Sunday treat for me would usually involve the seaside in some capacity. Growing up, my Grandparents used to take me to the beach after school and on weekends, I lost my Grandad not long ago and when I'm there I feel a little closer to him. I love walking along the sea front, usually with chips one way and then back again the other way with an ice cream, because you can't have one without the other. I find the seaside is the best place to clear your mind and throwing some stones in the sea can be pretty cathartic! I've recently got into running too, so I am hoping to take the dog on some runs along the seaside in the evenings very soon. Now I've written that down it means I have to do it - so thanks for holding me accountable!
Ladies of Lore is the podcast dedicated to the fierce, forgotten and fascinating women of mythology and folklore. We unpick, unravel and explore their origins, their stories and explore how they have changed through time to arrive in today's modern world. From vengeful goddesses to cunning tricksters, warrior queens to mystical seers, we dive deep into the legends that shaped cultures - and the women who ruled them.
Whether they've been erased, misunderstood or overshadowed, we're here to set the record straight and bring their stories to life. If you love myth, history and powerful women, this is the podcast for you.
Find Ladies of Lord on their Patreon and website
India is the host of Ladies of Lore Podcast and soon to be host of Heroines of History on Patreon. A history and mythology enthusiast from Suffolk, India is passionate about bringing to life the fascinating stories of women that often get forgotten.