THE SUNDAY DRILL

I met Monique Madsen in the middle of nowhere, on the high seas of Hong Kong, aboard the Genting Dream, a 151,300-ton, 335-meter-long, 40-meter-wide, and 18-deck-tall dream of a cruise ship run by Dream Cruises out of the former British colony.  

A former editor and associate publisher, Monique is now an entrepreneur, running her own consulting company Modeme as a brand strategist and creative director specializing in personal branding, marketing, digital branding, and social media services.

She’s a true-blue city girl, even in the 18 years she spent discovering the world, making a place for herself in cities like Copenhagen and Shanghai. While she has more control of her time now that she has her own company, Monique is still in love with downtime, treasuring every opportunity to sit back and relax, to live life at a pace that doesn’t anymore involve running in heels. She enjoys dining out with friends, doting on her three-year-old schnoodle, and consuming copious amounts of black coffee if it isn’t happy hour.

What is your idea of a perfect Sunday?
A very slow morning! I have slow mornings daily as I wake up quite early, but on Sundays, it’s very relaxing to know I can sleep in if I want to.

Best Sunday ever in your memory.
Going to the park with my dog Malthe with friends and their dogs too, then heading to Wildflour for brunch or going to the Sunday market together at Salcedo Village. It’s always a leisurely brunch or a late lunch with friends.

Best word to describe Sunday.
Slow!

Book you would recommend as a Sunday read
I’m not reading a book right now, but on Sunday mornings I love having my coffee while reading “Modern Love” articles in The New York Times before browsing news headlines.

What is the most extravagant thing you could think of having or doing on a Sunday? 
I love tinkering around my home, whether tending to my plants, editing my closet, or doing the laundry! It’s the kind of downtime I rarely have these days as I usually end up still socializing on a Sunday.

What would be the perfect topic for Sunday brunch conversation? 
I love Sunday brunches with my friends— it’s the best! Conversations span from random everyday things, recent trips, dating anecdotes to more serious subjects like politics, life goals, and career plans.

Best movie or series that once made your Sunday
Great Expectations, the 1998 movie with De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Chris Cooper, and Gwyneth Paltrow. I’m a huge Dickens fan, I buy hardbounds of his when I travel. I know movie versions are usually disappointing but this one is really good. I cried buckets, ugly cried, and it felt so good.

A quotable quote about Sunday that’s made for you
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” It’s a Greek proverb, also a line from one of my favorite Netflix series After Life. I love this because I love trees— and on Sundays I love going to the park.

What does “wear your Sunday Best” mean to you?
Loungewear, my Natori robe, or silk pjs, but if I’m going out for a proper brunch—anything in linen and in white.

If you were to write a book about the Sundays of your life, what would be the title? 
There’s not enough hours on a Sunday.

Best Sunday companion.
My dog Malthe. I love snuggles in the couch and long, off-leash walks in the park with him. If I could invite someone I find most intriguing, I’d invite Martha Stewart over for sure. Sundays are an errand day and I can never have enough Martha life hacks, like how to get stubborn stains out of my whites, how to store wool and cashmere in this weather, and how to make a mean espresso martini to sip in between chores. I think my dad is the best Sunday companion too. He is the most interesting person to me. He’s a well-read, He’s an early riser who walks two hours every morning and reads up on everything, whether current events or politics or history. He is so old-school and it’s simply refreshing to get the point of view of someone who’s off social media.

Best Sunday in your life.
It was with an amazing ex-boyfriend, apples, and coffee, telling stories, and laughing in bed.

Worst Sunday in your life.
Well, I’m 41. There’s been quite a few Sundays spent recovering from hangovers due to regrettable nightouts and one too many glasses of mixed drinks.

If Sunday were a flavor, what would this flavor be?
Avocado toasts for brunch. Better yet, eggs Benedict, black coffee, and more black coffee

Where in the world would you like to be next Sunday, if you can just go there by magic?
Honestly, after traveling and a few hectic weeks lately, I just want to be at home with my family.