My week has been so bananapants, I had to make an email template to respond to a dumb mistake I made. I have labeled it thusly:
I won’t belabor this, but I just want to say thank you so much to those who bought the Lent guide, and equal thank yous to those who could care less about Lent and are taking it like champs, all this Lent talk. There’s a certain metallic taste that you carry in your mouth when you offer up work to be consumed, and so every DM, every email, every like, every show of support is so meaningful. I cannot even tell you. Thank you. Y’all make me teary on the reg.
NOW BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING, where we blissfully avert our eyes for just a moment from CDC informing us of the impending coronavirus epidemic spread. Let’s throw out some treasures, mkay?
🇺🇸GUYS. I have exciting news. Karen Howell, one of my very favorite Twitter follows, retweeted important information from Variety that Olivia Wilde is directing a KERRI STRUG BIOPIC WHICH YOU CAN JUST INSERT DIRECTLY INTO MY VEINS. Let me be very clear about this: Olivia Wilde is one of the best directors alive. I tried to Facebook Friend Kerri Strug as an adult twice (she turned me down twice, it’s fine I still love her). The first SNL sketch I ever watched was “Shake it off, Kippy!” - the 1996 US Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team is UNPARALLELED in my heart and my mind. As someone who owns multiple Team USA sweatsuits, I can be trusted (if we haven’t been friends during an Olympic year, just HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS). How many times did we as children go out to the pool and use the dividing rope as a vault by which to spring forth from, winning gold with a torn ligaments? STICKING THE LANDING ON ONE FOOT? Little Kerri Strug being carried off the mat, flowers in hand, ankle taped to hell and back? There is nothing like it. I know there is a lot of controversy with women’s gymnastics and Bela Karolyi is, at best, an absolute monster of a coach, so I don’t want to romanticize it, but it was truly the most magical and intense Olympic moment. Just watch the video (I cried again watching it just now) and then we’ll all go see what is sure to be the best movie of whatever year it comes out.
✅ How are we feeling about the election? Lol. I’m voting for Amy Klobuchar next week in the primary (although I did strangely cry at the Elizabeth Warren/Taylor Swift “The Man” mashup video I watched the other day [also as a sidenote, I loved the The Man video! Do we think Taylor as a man looks a little Tom Cruise-ish? Plus a The Rock vocal cameo? Come on. Yes.]). I’d be interested to know who you are voting for, but like…keep it cool? I assume we will, because as a rule, you guys are generally cool. But butthole behaviors won’t be tolerated as they are not treasures. As always, I point to isidewith.com to find out the candidate with whom you most align with, because as we all know: there is no perfect candidate. I’m telling you this because I think it’s important that the moderate middle speaks up, so here I am. Telling you who I’m voting for like an animal. May God be with the comments.
👗 Do you remember those silky nightgowns with the lacy sleeves? They looked like this:
As a side note, this is 100% how I feel after this week. SAME ENERGY, BABY ERIN.
Anyway, my friend Megan and I were reminiscing over these nightgowns and how they made you feel so fancy during bedtime. I loved that they were always a little cold when you pulled them out of the drawer, and it was appropriate to wear to a big Star Search sing-a-long around the TV at night. I went searching for some, to see if they even exist anymore and LO: they do.
I found these at betsyandlace.com and they have ADULT VERSIONS, which I will be buying ASAP. The girls went nuts for them and immediately started twirling, which I guess is just what one does in these nightgowns. Not an ad, they don’t know I’m alive, but a very happy purchase here at the Lunar Module.
📚 I know it’s probably weird to promote the book of a dude you work with like it’s not under duress or something, but Knox McCoy’s new book, All Things Reconsidered, is open for pre-orders and it is so good. I mean, so good. I read an early copy because I sit six feet away from him and I bugged him about it until he finally relented, and it is a treasure. Pre-orders are massively important to authors (the publishing industry is weird), so if you’re thinking about getting it, just jump in and pre-order that sucker. You will not be sorry. You will be the opposite of sorry.
Okay. That’s it for me. I hope everyone had a great week and I’m looking forward to reading your own treasures. ❤️
Oh and I guess you can tell it takes me a few days to read the newsletter and start responding. No telling what's happened since you sent this. Maybe the Olympics have been canceled and I didn't realize it.
Two days late to this discussion (right now, Sundays are email catch up days for me). I’m voting for Pete Buttigieg. This is the first election in my life in which I won’t be marking a Republican ballot. I changed my affiliation to Independent last year. My state’s Rep party won’t allow non-Republicans to vote in its primary. Not surprisingly, my state’s Democratic Party lets Independents vote a Democratic ballot! I feel a bit hopeless - I live in the reddest of red states, as we never have a single county that doesn’t have a Republican majority in general elections. But I forge ahead anyway with my largely useless vote, thanks to the electoral college. I’m just relieved not to put a check mark next to the name of a four-year-old.
KERRI STRUG IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. In 2020, I have re-enacted her landing and crawling off the mat TWICE to educate my friends about the greatest Olympic moment of our generation. Whenever I play the game fishbowl I always rotate through the members of the magnificent 7... but always start with Kerri (duh)! My claim to fame is I played volleyball with Dominique Moceanu‘a sister in high school. I always had to practice keeping my cool around her. The 1996 Olympics began my love affair with the global event. I’m so looking forward to Tokyo... I didn’t even think that coronavirus could take them away.
1. Florida doesn’t vote until March 17 so I’m hoping the field narrows a bit before I have to choose. I don't agree with all of her policy stances but I think Elizabeth Warren sounds so smart and I appreciate how Much thought she seems to have put into her plans. I like Pete and Amy too. I call myself a professional fence rider because I’m such a down the middle moderate.
2. Baby Erin was precious! I LOVED Star Search!!! I definitely Had dreams of getting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For my singing routine in my side ponytail 😂😂.
3. I’m really loving th Lent guide. Your words are always so well chosen and beautiful. Great job! 😊
I am loving All the Broken Things so very much! I’m fasting social media, so I can’t like or reply on the socials. But thank you for your work! It’s wonderful. 🖤
So I am a US permanent resident, not a citizen, and therefore not allowed to vote. But why the hell are there no other republicans seemingly running. Why is no one talking about them? Surely there has to be another option for Republicans. Can somebody explain this to me?
Um, so while it CLEARLY says "How are we feeling about the election?" I actually read "How are we feeling about the erection?" and I was VERY confused for a second. I'm sorry, and I will be getting my mind out of the gutter, I promise.
As far as treasures go, I don't think I could have gotten through this week without Audrey Assad's "The Middle". (And chocolate.)
Hey Erin! I really appreciate you stating who you’re going to vote for in the primary. I’m in South Carolina, and I am 100% voting for a woman. Not just because I would love to see a woman become president, but also because Warren and Klobuchar are both highly qualified for the job, and would do the best job in my opinion. Thanks again for a lovely Friday read 😊
Another vote for Warren here! She is the only one who had bold leadership after the economic crisis in ‘08, she has experience getting things done, and she has shown she can take on Trump during these debates. And I need to see a woman be president in my lifetime! I’m so tired of seeing the women be (at least) twice as good as the men, clearly win the debates, and still lose.
As for the Corona virus, I need advice! My extended family (12 of us) are supposed to go on a Caribbean cruise the first week of April! DO WE STILL GO?! 😬
Fellow member of Team Amy. I’m one of those moderate political orphans and she seems like the candidate most in line with my beliefs and values. Plus, is it too much to ask for a female president in my lifetime?
I one hundo p had a red silky nightgown with white lace. It was my Christmas nightgown and nothing delighted me more than to see my own daughter twirl in the same one. She is all about the Disney princess dress nightgowns, so I’m for sure ordering a mother daughter set of jammies. It’ll be fine. This is what therapy is for.
Oh man! Those nightgown. So fancy. So full of static. I also had the flannel Land of Salzburg nightgowns for winter, which were ruffly instead of lacey. I remember dancing around in those, singing "I could have danced all night" from My Fair Lady.
Pete, actually. Which I never would have guessed at the beginning of all this. And maybe he has no shot. But I am pulling for someone centrist, and I am concerned about the reports of Amy mistreating her staff. I just think you can tell a LOT about a leader (CEO/manager/pastor/etc) by how they treat staff behind closed doors. Still have a few days to decide, so I will keep researching/pondering.
My husband keeps saying, "You are into pajamas more than anyone I know." Guys, I have like three (maybe four) pairs. But he only has a brother and he doesn't understand that girls are raised to wear pjs and nighties instead of just peeling off our clothes so they can throw tomorrow's clothes on over our dirty underwear (mom of a 12 y.o. boy here). But new sleepwear is one of the best things in the world and when I am rich I will have new pjs weekly.
My husband and I are total Warren stans, but we like Biden as a number 2 option. I'd be okay with anyone other than Bloomberg or Gabbard. That mashup is amazing.
I still haven't watched this week's episode, but Good Girls is a must watch.
The biggest thing I'm looking forward to is meeting the new dog we have adopted! He's being fostered in MS and we are just waiting to find out when the transport can bring him to us. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
I am a big fan of the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd and Monica Padman. I know that Dax is not everyone's fav but hear me out...I think Monica and him do a fantastic job balancing each other out and interviewing together. I am just fascinated by any celebrity's backstory/every day life. There's something about hearing Ashton Kutcher talk about how he desperately wants his kids to like him that is so endearing and wonderful. ("Celebrities- they're insecure and need approval just like us!") Anyway, they also launched another podcast under their umbrella called "Monica and Jess Love Boys". Dax is so far only on the first episode. The hosts are Monica and Jess (a friend of Dax and Monica's) and they're talking about breaking their unhealthy dating habits. Jess dates too much and Monica doesn't date enough. My dating experiences are very similar to Monica's so I especially love hearing the advice she gets and hearing about her experiences. It's made me feel less insecure about my lack of dating experience and although I don't agree with all of the advice that's been given, there's definitely been some nuggets that are helpful for me and have challenged me. HIGHLY RECOMMEND even if you've been married for 50 years. I think it gives really good insight on what it's like to date in 2020 and will give you empathy for others whose dating lives look so completely different from what yours looks/looked like. I will say that Jess is very transparent (and detailed at times) about his sex life, so it's definitely not suitable for sensitive ears and if that's something that is going to bother you or make you feel uncomfy - this may not be the podcast for you.
Also on the subject of pajamas and lounge wear - I stan a good robe. My entire immediate family has been a robe family and it was so normal for me to come downstairs on a Saturday morning and see my mom and dad in their robes drinking coffee and reading the paper. (I want to add here that they are definitely wearing clothes underneath so this isn't a weird, my family walks around naked thing.) Sometimes my mom is in her robe on Saturdays until 1:00 pm...it's a lifestyle. As I got older and had friends sleepover I quickly realized that this is not normal for most people. So if you don't own a comfy robe and slippers, do yourself a favor and go buy them. If you live in a area with a cold climate you must splurge on Ugg slippers and a plush robe. If you live in the south where it's not as cold, I still recommend Ugg slippers but maybe buy a robe that's linen, cotton, or silk.
I’m in Seattle and we’re currently voting. I chose Warren. I don’t agree with her about everything, but she holds her own, shows kindness and compassion, and I think she would be a competent leader.
My favorite candidates are Pete and Warren. I'm more moderate and Warren is too liberal for me on policy, but she's so freaking smart and I think she would be an incredible leader. I think I'll be voting for Biden in the primary though, because I just really don't want Sanders to be the nominee. As a physician, I do not think a 79 year old who just had a heart attack is fit to be president, and I also don't think he can beat Trump. So right now I'm just being practical and that's why I'll vote for Biden. I wish we had a ranked choice voting system, or a runoff or something so we didn't have to vote strategically like this. :(
Oh wow 😬 I’m either your only conservative reader or the only one willing to admit it in the comments 😂🤷🏼♀️ Who DIDN’T watch that Olympics with dreams of greatness and gold?? I’m excited to read Knox’s new book, and I’ve also preordered Melanie Shankle’s On the Bright Side, and Beth Moore’s Chasing Vines is on my TBR bedside table pile 📚
Ok that quiz was stressful and then NOT HELPFUL since I tied 4 candidates who are consistently polling at the top of the dems primary, lol. I probably need to go back and rank the questions on how important they are to me... #moderatemiddle
Also, how did they make Taylor's legs look so hairy and mannish in those tennis scenes of The Man??
I’m loving your Lent study. I say that with zero suck uppery. It’s been my favorite way to start the last few mornings. My husband and I listen together and he said yesterday “we can do this every day, right?” ❤️
Also probably voting for Amy Klobuchar. I love how spicy and smart Elizabeth Warren is But I’m definitely more of an Amy K moderate and she just seems like she can get 💩 done and my goodness, can we just get back to unsexy work of actual governance.
Umm I did not know about this Kerri Shrug movie but my life is made. It won’t ever get better. Wow. I used to reenact her performance while practicing the triple jump in junior high track. That ‘96 team was perfection. I recorded everything on VHS. Then I damn brother recorded over it with Bulls playoff games. 🙄
That mashup of The Man also made me tear up! Warren and I are fairly different ideologically but I respect her so much and enjoy seeing her kick butt and take names. I'm also an Amy K supporter, even though her crappy treatment of employees makes me cringe. Cheers for the moderate middle!
Also I would point out that change almost always happens at a personal level. Active involvement in our neighborhoods, our churches and our communities is going to have a much greater impact than what political figurehead we support. We've been fostering a 17 year old teen mom for the past year and this weekend she moves into her own apartment for her first stab at independence. Since she came to live with us she has learned to drive, graduated from high school, set up day care assistance and held down a steady job. I can vote pro-choice or I can vote pro-life, but the past year we have spent equipping a young mom to successfully parent her son has far more impact on preventing abortion and keeping families together than any vote I could possible cast. Go be awesome.
Erin, you're NOT stupid! Maybe have a lot of balls in the air, a lot of kids, and are perfectly imperfect? Yes! Stupid? No! Show yourself a little grace. It's OK. You're still awesome!
Yes on the nightgowns! I had a ballerina pink one with a matching robe. I remember one time my older sister (5th grade to my Kindergarten) had a slumber party and invited boys over to wrap our house - like you do in the early 90's - and to look "cool" I sported that gown with a Minnie Mouse t-shirt on top and thought I was the ISH.
I am a sucker for face product ads on Instagram and clicked on Bambu Earth's skincare quiz. It was lovely. I received a follow up email that said, "I believe societal expectations are impossible to keep up with, reinforced by companies that love to convince us that we have lots of problems so they can sell us their solutions. The mission of Bambu Earth is to change the conversation around beauty, to have a greater impact on the way our society defines it, and most importantly: to remind you of your beauty." Amber, who I am assuming is the CEO invites you to connect with her personally. I responded to the email, which made me cry and she wrote back. I have not tried the products, but when I get an extra $$, I will.
Lastly, I am really into epic fantasy romance books right now. I found a 3 part series by Dana Marton called the Hardstorm Saga. It is SOOOOOO good! There are a few sexy parts, but very tame. The romance aspect is an important arc, but the adventure takes the main stage.
It’s not too late to vote for Elizabeth Warren 🤣 I don’t like Amy after hearing how she treats her staff also I want progressive values in office, too much white supremacy in the middle.
I'm not celebrating Lent formally, but I'm sure your work is meaningful to many people and I'm happy to see it in the Lil Swipes. BTW - I want to live in that night gown and in the summer I'm all about the maxi dress. Colorado is a super Tuesday state as well and I'm between Pete and Warren, still haven't totally decided. But my 13-year-old son went with my sister to an Amy event and was so impressed with her! Happy Friday everyone!
Ummm 1. You need to rename that as I do not allow my friends to call themselves stupid. Nope. Not gonna allow it.
2. I love you even more now as I have a long standing Olympics obsession. Like counting down the days. I must tell you my Aunt watched everything go down with the 1996 Gymnastics team LIVE in PERSON and I was never more jealous of anything in my life. She bought a (scalped) ticket and just walked right in and watched one of the greatest things in the history of the Olympics in person. Sigh. She did take me a few days later and we watched the Gold medal table tennis match and while amazing is not quite the same. ;)
3. My husband had me looking for N95 masks last night because he read they were the best last night. Lord be a shield for this blasted virus. I told him I was more worried about the flu right now. (I work on a college campus! These folks come into my office sick... plus they are totes germy with all their kissy kissy and not washing their hands!)
Warren vote here. I actually do not align with her on lots of issues (Klobuchar is my 2nd choice and I do align more with her), but I've decided that leadership style is the most important thing to me this election and Warren has a leadership style I have confidence in. Empathy AND tenacity. Yes, please! Plus I think it's time for a woman to come clean up the messes men have left for the past 200+ year.
The kids have been home most of the week with snow closures (O! Canada) and I’m feeling a little a little cabin feverish (all kids and no silence makes Angela a twitchy girl).
I’m rereading The Stand, both for pleasure and as a how-to when ‘-19 comes to town.
As for politics, I’m embarrassed and angry over our federal government and RCMP’s treatment of our First Nation’s as well as disgusted by Ford Nation’s attempts to dismantle our educational system.
So, yeah, why is it so hot in here? And why am I i this hand basket?
First, Erin......you are amazing. The work you put into your work, we see you. The Lent guides, The Comfortable words. Not just the work you do for the written guides but the audio content. I can't imagine. You are allowed to have an error and people -- give Erin grace for this!
Election: I am an Amy stan. I'm a Minnesotan and Amy has been a part of my life for many years. Quick story of her. I was involved with a community event she was attending as a guest and I was very pregnant. I was ushering her to her seat for a dinner and she looked at me "wait I need to sit down but you are up now? No." and she sat me in her spot and placed her hand on my shoulder as she carried on conversations within that radius of space. There were times she had her back to me but her hand would stay on my shoulder as if to say "I'm here, don't think I'm not paying attention" -- that moment; that night, that kindness told me everything I needed to know about her as a person.
The nightgowns -- oh the joy of those extremely glossy "silk" nightgowns. I had a few. Those pearl buttons, that lace! The glamour. Did I catch myself sipping my strawberry quik pulling in some Alexis Colby-Carrington energy? OH YES.
The jump off the pool rope. OMG that took me BACK! My dad ran a campground when I was a kid and we had the rope dividing the shallow end from the deep end and oh my word between 80s Karate kid poses, dirty dancing lift imitations and pretending it was a balance beam. That rope got USE!
Am I the only one surprised by the results of that candidate quiz?! I’m now questioning everything. Still undecided on who I will vote for and hoping for a smaller pool when it’s my turn to vote.
I had just moved to Atlanta when the Olympics happened. I felt like those Olympics were mine. Lol. That Kerri Strug moment was everything! Side note I grew up in North Houston right near the Karolyi gym and one of my neighbors was on the 1988 Olympic gymnastics team so I have definitely have feelings good and bad about the Karolyis!
Welp, I almost made my kid late for school because I was finding out who I side with. Elizabeth Warren, apparently, but last week the Washington Post told me I most closely aligned with Joe Biden, so 🤷🏼♀️.
I just finished reading The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher, and it was a delight. 600 pages of English restfulness. I'm trying to get my husband to read it now, but he's a way slower reader than me.
Fun fact: I started college in the fall of 1996 (right after the Olympics) and perfected my Kerri Strug vault impression in my dorm floor hallway. I’d like to think that it is still remembered far and wide. Also my kids currently go to a gymnastics place owned by 96 team member Amanda Borden, so I’ll be very excited to see who will be playing her. I’m all in on this project.
Y’all, I live for this Little Treasures email every week!
I was 18 and visiting my grandmother during the summer of 1996. I remember sitting in her living room watching the gymnastics finals and rooting so hard for USA. I cried when Keri stuck that final landing. I showed this video to my oldest son the other day as a lesson in perseverance. Cried then too.
Loving Home Town on HGTV and feel like Ben & Erin are my new BFFs. If you’re not following them on the Insta, do it! Read her post about the Valentine’s dinner he did for her and you’ll never be the same.
I think how you feel about Kerri Strug is how I felt about Michelle Kwan. Seeing someone that looked like me on tv was mesmerizing.
I’ll be voting tomorrow in the SC primary for Elizabeth Warren.
And I’m a massive soccer fan so this week the soccer brought me a lot of joy when my team beat Real Madrid (we are also under investigation for breaching UEFA’s financial fair play, so ehhh, you win some, you lose some).
Yes to all the twirly night gowns! Nothing better than twirling as a little girl. My daughter absolutely loves it. We vote come Super Tuesday in Texas. I’m leaning toward Biden or Pete. Truth be told I’m very torn. I’m just not sure yet. My husband is voting for Pete unless something major happens. Thanks for the website recommendation.
Olympics in pool brought back so many memories. My sisters and I would pretend that one was the gymnast and one was the coach so that we could yell at the other in love obviously 😉. And then the nightgown so many happy memories that I’m more than happy to say are not captured on video.
The silk nightgown!! I had a yellow one that my mom says was given to me at age 3 and I wore it until I was at least 10 and barely came down to my thighs. It was the best. I'm going to have to buy them for my nieces since my daughter is 18 and wouldn't be caught dead in one.
I watched the Garth Brooks biography, The Road I'm On, last night because The BigBoo Cast convinced me to and I loved it! He was pretty much the soundtrack of my high school and college years so - memories. Plus he tears up at every mention of his mama, his wives, and his daughters and I was here for it!
Oh and I guess you can tell it takes me a few days to read the newsletter and start responding. No telling what's happened since you sent this. Maybe the Olympics have been canceled and I didn't realize it.
Oh AND THE GOWNS!!! <3 <3 <3
Thank you for isidewith - now I see how I lean in the political arena. "I don't care" isn't really the best option!
Also, I forgot about Keri Shrug but I remember those Olympics and that jump so clearly. Thank you for that too!
Two days late to this discussion (right now, Sundays are email catch up days for me). I’m voting for Pete Buttigieg. This is the first election in my life in which I won’t be marking a Republican ballot. I changed my affiliation to Independent last year. My state’s Rep party won’t allow non-Republicans to vote in its primary. Not surprisingly, my state’s Democratic Party lets Independents vote a Democratic ballot! I feel a bit hopeless - I live in the reddest of red states, as we never have a single county that doesn’t have a Republican majority in general elections. But I forge ahead anyway with my largely useless vote, thanks to the electoral college. I’m just relieved not to put a check mark next to the name of a four-year-old.
KERRI STRUG IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. In 2020, I have re-enacted her landing and crawling off the mat TWICE to educate my friends about the greatest Olympic moment of our generation. Whenever I play the game fishbowl I always rotate through the members of the magnificent 7... but always start with Kerri (duh)! My claim to fame is I played volleyball with Dominique Moceanu‘a sister in high school. I always had to practice keeping my cool around her. The 1996 Olympics began my love affair with the global event. I’m so looking forward to Tokyo... I didn’t even think that coronavirus could take them away.
1. Florida doesn’t vote until March 17 so I’m hoping the field narrows a bit before I have to choose. I don't agree with all of her policy stances but I think Elizabeth Warren sounds so smart and I appreciate how Much thought she seems to have put into her plans. I like Pete and Amy too. I call myself a professional fence rider because I’m such a down the middle moderate.
2. Baby Erin was precious! I LOVED Star Search!!! I definitely Had dreams of getting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For my singing routine in my side ponytail 😂😂.
3. I’m really loving th Lent guide. Your words are always so well chosen and beautiful. Great job! 😊
I am loving All the Broken Things so very much! I’m fasting social media, so I can’t like or reply on the socials. But thank you for your work! It’s wonderful. 🖤
So I am a US permanent resident, not a citizen, and therefore not allowed to vote. But why the hell are there no other republicans seemingly running. Why is no one talking about them? Surely there has to be another option for Republicans. Can somebody explain this to me?
Um, so while it CLEARLY says "How are we feeling about the election?" I actually read "How are we feeling about the erection?" and I was VERY confused for a second. I'm sorry, and I will be getting my mind out of the gutter, I promise.
As far as treasures go, I don't think I could have gotten through this week without Audrey Assad's "The Middle". (And chocolate.)
Hey Erin! I really appreciate you stating who you’re going to vote for in the primary. I’m in South Carolina, and I am 100% voting for a woman. Not just because I would love to see a woman become president, but also because Warren and Klobuchar are both highly qualified for the job, and would do the best job in my opinion. Thanks again for a lovely Friday read 😊
I absentee voted in the Florida primary and voted for Mayor Pete a few weeks ago.
Another vote for Warren here! She is the only one who had bold leadership after the economic crisis in ‘08, she has experience getting things done, and she has shown she can take on Trump during these debates. And I need to see a woman be president in my lifetime! I’m so tired of seeing the women be (at least) twice as good as the men, clearly win the debates, and still lose.
As for the Corona virus, I need advice! My extended family (12 of us) are supposed to go on a Caribbean cruise the first week of April! DO WE STILL GO?! 😬
Fellow member of Team Amy. I’m one of those moderate political orphans and she seems like the candidate most in line with my beliefs and values. Plus, is it too much to ask for a female president in my lifetime?
I one hundo p had a red silky nightgown with white lace. It was my Christmas nightgown and nothing delighted me more than to see my own daughter twirl in the same one. She is all about the Disney princess dress nightgowns, so I’m for sure ordering a mother daughter set of jammies. It’ll be fine. This is what therapy is for.
Oh man! Those nightgown. So fancy. So full of static. I also had the flannel Land of Salzburg nightgowns for winter, which were ruffly instead of lacey. I remember dancing around in those, singing "I could have danced all night" from My Fair Lady.
Pete, actually. Which I never would have guessed at the beginning of all this. And maybe he has no shot. But I am pulling for someone centrist, and I am concerned about the reports of Amy mistreating her staff. I just think you can tell a LOT about a leader (CEO/manager/pastor/etc) by how they treat staff behind closed doors. Still have a few days to decide, so I will keep researching/pondering.
Abi Ayres is one of my fav inst stories accounts to watch: she's watching The Bachelor for the first time and her reactions are hilarious!!!
Chris Kattan as Kerri Strug is comedy gold. His squeaky voice had me crying laughing. And HOW does he look like her TWIN?! =D
My husband keeps saying, "You are into pajamas more than anyone I know." Guys, I have like three (maybe four) pairs. But he only has a brother and he doesn't understand that girls are raised to wear pjs and nighties instead of just peeling off our clothes so they can throw tomorrow's clothes on over our dirty underwear (mom of a 12 y.o. boy here). But new sleepwear is one of the best things in the world and when I am rich I will have new pjs weekly.
#YangGang til I die, so I don’t know what I’m going to do now. 🤷🏻♀️
My husband and I are total Warren stans, but we like Biden as a number 2 option. I'd be okay with anyone other than Bloomberg or Gabbard. That mashup is amazing.
I still haven't watched this week's episode, but Good Girls is a must watch.
The biggest thing I'm looking forward to is meeting the new dog we have adopted! He's being fostered in MS and we are just waiting to find out when the transport can bring him to us. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
I am a big fan of the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd and Monica Padman. I know that Dax is not everyone's fav but hear me out...I think Monica and him do a fantastic job balancing each other out and interviewing together. I am just fascinated by any celebrity's backstory/every day life. There's something about hearing Ashton Kutcher talk about how he desperately wants his kids to like him that is so endearing and wonderful. ("Celebrities- they're insecure and need approval just like us!") Anyway, they also launched another podcast under their umbrella called "Monica and Jess Love Boys". Dax is so far only on the first episode. The hosts are Monica and Jess (a friend of Dax and Monica's) and they're talking about breaking their unhealthy dating habits. Jess dates too much and Monica doesn't date enough. My dating experiences are very similar to Monica's so I especially love hearing the advice she gets and hearing about her experiences. It's made me feel less insecure about my lack of dating experience and although I don't agree with all of the advice that's been given, there's definitely been some nuggets that are helpful for me and have challenged me. HIGHLY RECOMMEND even if you've been married for 50 years. I think it gives really good insight on what it's like to date in 2020 and will give you empathy for others whose dating lives look so completely different from what yours looks/looked like. I will say that Jess is very transparent (and detailed at times) about his sex life, so it's definitely not suitable for sensitive ears and if that's something that is going to bother you or make you feel uncomfy - this may not be the podcast for you.
Also on the subject of pajamas and lounge wear - I stan a good robe. My entire immediate family has been a robe family and it was so normal for me to come downstairs on a Saturday morning and see my mom and dad in their robes drinking coffee and reading the paper. (I want to add here that they are definitely wearing clothes underneath so this isn't a weird, my family walks around naked thing.) Sometimes my mom is in her robe on Saturdays until 1:00 pm...it's a lifestyle. As I got older and had friends sleepover I quickly realized that this is not normal for most people. So if you don't own a comfy robe and slippers, do yourself a favor and go buy them. If you live in a area with a cold climate you must splurge on Ugg slippers and a plush robe. If you live in the south where it's not as cold, I still recommend Ugg slippers but maybe buy a robe that's linen, cotton, or silk.
I’m in Seattle and we’re currently voting. I chose Warren. I don’t agree with her about everything, but she holds her own, shows kindness and compassion, and I think she would be a competent leader.
Former Minnesotan who doesn’t like Amy. I’m voting for Trump. And I loved cold, swirly, static-filled nightgowns too. 🙂
My favorite candidates are Pete and Warren. I'm more moderate and Warren is too liberal for me on policy, but she's so freaking smart and I think she would be an incredible leader. I think I'll be voting for Biden in the primary though, because I just really don't want Sanders to be the nominee. As a physician, I do not think a 79 year old who just had a heart attack is fit to be president, and I also don't think he can beat Trump. So right now I'm just being practical and that's why I'll vote for Biden. I wish we had a ranked choice voting system, or a runoff or something so we didn't have to vote strategically like this. :(
My Treasures for the week:
1. The Little Women "I can't" meme on Twitter makes me laugh every time.
2. The 99% Invisible podcast on the history of Who Let the Dogs Out.
Oh wow 😬 I’m either your only conservative reader or the only one willing to admit it in the comments 😂🤷🏼♀️ Who DIDN’T watch that Olympics with dreams of greatness and gold?? I’m excited to read Knox’s new book, and I’ve also preordered Melanie Shankle’s On the Bright Side, and Beth Moore’s Chasing Vines is on my TBR bedside table pile 📚
Ok that quiz was stressful and then NOT HELPFUL since I tied 4 candidates who are consistently polling at the top of the dems primary, lol. I probably need to go back and rank the questions on how important they are to me... #moderatemiddle
Also, how did they make Taylor's legs look so hairy and mannish in those tennis scenes of The Man??
I’m loving your Lent study. I say that with zero suck uppery. It’s been my favorite way to start the last few mornings. My husband and I listen together and he said yesterday “we can do this every day, right?” ❤️
Also probably voting for Amy Klobuchar. I love how spicy and smart Elizabeth Warren is But I’m definitely more of an Amy K moderate and she just seems like she can get 💩 done and my goodness, can we just get back to unsexy work of actual governance.
Umm I did not know about this Kerri Shrug movie but my life is made. It won’t ever get better. Wow. I used to reenact her performance while practicing the triple jump in junior high track. That ‘96 team was perfection. I recorded everything on VHS. Then I damn brother recorded over it with Bulls playoff games. 🙄
That mashup of The Man also made me tear up! Warren and I are fairly different ideologically but I respect her so much and enjoy seeing her kick butt and take names. I'm also an Amy K supporter, even though her crappy treatment of employees makes me cringe. Cheers for the moderate middle!
Also I would point out that change almost always happens at a personal level. Active involvement in our neighborhoods, our churches and our communities is going to have a much greater impact than what political figurehead we support. We've been fostering a 17 year old teen mom for the past year and this weekend she moves into her own apartment for her first stab at independence. Since she came to live with us she has learned to drive, graduated from high school, set up day care assistance and held down a steady job. I can vote pro-choice or I can vote pro-life, but the past year we have spent equipping a young mom to successfully parent her son has far more impact on preventing abortion and keeping families together than any vote I could possible cast. Go be awesome.
Erin, you're NOT stupid! Maybe have a lot of balls in the air, a lot of kids, and are perfectly imperfect? Yes! Stupid? No! Show yourself a little grace. It's OK. You're still awesome!
Yes on the nightgowns! I had a ballerina pink one with a matching robe. I remember one time my older sister (5th grade to my Kindergarten) had a slumber party and invited boys over to wrap our house - like you do in the early 90's - and to look "cool" I sported that gown with a Minnie Mouse t-shirt on top and thought I was the ISH.
Politics: Going back and forth between Biden and Warren. On isidewith, all my percentages are so close together as to render my results unhelpful. This clip of Steven Colbert and Warren is pretty great (https://people.com/politics/elizabeth-warren-stephen-colbert-guess-the-billionaire/).
I am a sucker for face product ads on Instagram and clicked on Bambu Earth's skincare quiz. It was lovely. I received a follow up email that said, "I believe societal expectations are impossible to keep up with, reinforced by companies that love to convince us that we have lots of problems so they can sell us their solutions. The mission of Bambu Earth is to change the conversation around beauty, to have a greater impact on the way our society defines it, and most importantly: to remind you of your beauty." Amber, who I am assuming is the CEO invites you to connect with her personally. I responded to the email, which made me cry and she wrote back. I have not tried the products, but when I get an extra $$, I will.
Lastly, I am really into epic fantasy romance books right now. I found a 3 part series by Dana Marton called the Hardstorm Saga. It is SOOOOOO good! There are a few sexy parts, but very tame. The romance aspect is an important arc, but the adventure takes the main stage.
It’s not too late to vote for Elizabeth Warren 🤣 I don’t like Amy after hearing how she treats her staff also I want progressive values in office, too much white supremacy in the middle.
Thanks, Erin!
I'm not celebrating Lent formally, but I'm sure your work is meaningful to many people and I'm happy to see it in the Lil Swipes. BTW - I want to live in that night gown and in the summer I'm all about the maxi dress. Colorado is a super Tuesday state as well and I'm between Pete and Warren, still haven't totally decided. But my 13-year-old son went with my sister to an Amy event and was so impressed with her! Happy Friday everyone!
Ummm 1. You need to rename that as I do not allow my friends to call themselves stupid. Nope. Not gonna allow it.
2. I love you even more now as I have a long standing Olympics obsession. Like counting down the days. I must tell you my Aunt watched everything go down with the 1996 Gymnastics team LIVE in PERSON and I was never more jealous of anything in my life. She bought a (scalped) ticket and just walked right in and watched one of the greatest things in the history of the Olympics in person. Sigh. She did take me a few days later and we watched the Gold medal table tennis match and while amazing is not quite the same. ;)
3. My husband had me looking for N95 masks last night because he read they were the best last night. Lord be a shield for this blasted virus. I told him I was more worried about the flu right now. (I work on a college campus! These folks come into my office sick... plus they are totes germy with all their kissy kissy and not washing their hands!)
Warren vote here. I actually do not align with her on lots of issues (Klobuchar is my 2nd choice and I do align more with her), but I've decided that leadership style is the most important thing to me this election and Warren has a leadership style I have confidence in. Empathy AND tenacity. Yes, please! Plus I think it's time for a woman to come clean up the messes men have left for the past 200+ year.
The kids have been home most of the week with snow closures (O! Canada) and I’m feeling a little a little cabin feverish (all kids and no silence makes Angela a twitchy girl).
I’m rereading The Stand, both for pleasure and as a how-to when ‘-19 comes to town.
As for politics, I’m embarrassed and angry over our federal government and RCMP’s treatment of our First Nation’s as well as disgusted by Ford Nation’s attempts to dismantle our educational system.
So, yeah, why is it so hot in here? And why am I i this hand basket?
First, Erin......you are amazing. The work you put into your work, we see you. The Lent guides, The Comfortable words. Not just the work you do for the written guides but the audio content. I can't imagine. You are allowed to have an error and people -- give Erin grace for this!
Election: I am an Amy stan. I'm a Minnesotan and Amy has been a part of my life for many years. Quick story of her. I was involved with a community event she was attending as a guest and I was very pregnant. I was ushering her to her seat for a dinner and she looked at me "wait I need to sit down but you are up now? No." and she sat me in her spot and placed her hand on my shoulder as she carried on conversations within that radius of space. There were times she had her back to me but her hand would stay on my shoulder as if to say "I'm here, don't think I'm not paying attention" -- that moment; that night, that kindness told me everything I needed to know about her as a person.
The nightgowns -- oh the joy of those extremely glossy "silk" nightgowns. I had a few. Those pearl buttons, that lace! The glamour. Did I catch myself sipping my strawberry quik pulling in some Alexis Colby-Carrington energy? OH YES.
The jump off the pool rope. OMG that took me BACK! My dad ran a campground when I was a kid and we had the rope dividing the shallow end from the deep end and oh my word between 80s Karate kid poses, dirty dancing lift imitations and pretending it was a balance beam. That rope got USE!
Am I the only one surprised by the results of that candidate quiz?! I’m now questioning everything. Still undecided on who I will vote for and hoping for a smaller pool when it’s my turn to vote.
I had just moved to Atlanta when the Olympics happened. I felt like those Olympics were mine. Lol. That Kerri Strug moment was everything! Side note I grew up in North Houston right near the Karolyi gym and one of my neighbors was on the 1988 Olympic gymnastics team so I have definitely have feelings good and bad about the Karolyis!
Welp, I almost made my kid late for school because I was finding out who I side with. Elizabeth Warren, apparently, but last week the Washington Post told me I most closely aligned with Joe Biden, so 🤷🏼♀️.
I just finished reading The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher, and it was a delight. 600 pages of English restfulness. I'm trying to get my husband to read it now, but he's a way slower reader than me.
Fun fact: I started college in the fall of 1996 (right after the Olympics) and perfected my Kerri Strug vault impression in my dorm floor hallway. I’d like to think that it is still remembered far and wide. Also my kids currently go to a gymnastics place owned by 96 team member Amanda Borden, so I’ll be very excited to see who will be playing her. I’m all in on this project.
Erin Moon is a national treasure.
Y’all, I live for this Little Treasures email every week!
I was 18 and visiting my grandmother during the summer of 1996. I remember sitting in her living room watching the gymnastics finals and rooting so hard for USA. I cried when Keri stuck that final landing. I showed this video to my oldest son the other day as a lesson in perseverance. Cried then too.
Loving Home Town on HGTV and feel like Ben & Erin are my new BFFs. If you’re not following them on the Insta, do it! Read her post about the Valentine’s dinner he did for her and you’ll never be the same.
I think how you feel about Kerri Strug is how I felt about Michelle Kwan. Seeing someone that looked like me on tv was mesmerizing.
I’ll be voting tomorrow in the SC primary for Elizabeth Warren.
And I’m a massive soccer fan so this week the soccer brought me a lot of joy when my team beat Real Madrid (we are also under investigation for breaching UEFA’s financial fair play, so ehhh, you win some, you lose some).
Yes to all the twirly night gowns! Nothing better than twirling as a little girl. My daughter absolutely loves it. We vote come Super Tuesday in Texas. I’m leaning toward Biden or Pete. Truth be told I’m very torn. I’m just not sure yet. My husband is voting for Pete unless something major happens. Thanks for the website recommendation.
I was NOT READY to watch that clip of Kerri again. Heart raced. Sweat happened. Tears were shed. Thanks for the nostalgic cardio.
My happy of the week is this clip of Kristin Bell (my celebrity crush/hero/stylist. We are the same size and both love Barb, as represented in this.): https://www.instagram.com/p/B8qhgaDlm2M/?igshid=1aupvx6qoef4y
And also, if you aren’t following Boss Baby, you’re missing these precious moments of passion from a tiny sassy human: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8fRBWPAikK/?igshid=iha2tn4y6x1d
I canNOT see or hear the name Kerri Strug without thinking of that SNL skit so thank you for that! It was short but impactful, clearly. 😂
Olympics in pool brought back so many memories. My sisters and I would pretend that one was the gymnast and one was the coach so that we could yell at the other in love obviously 😉. And then the nightgown so many happy memories that I’m more than happy to say are not captured on video.
I am here for the Kerri Strug biopic. And I am so thankful for your Lent guide! I so appreciate all your content. Keep Erin-ing!
The silk nightgown!! I had a yellow one that my mom says was given to me at age 3 and I wore it until I was at least 10 and barely came down to my thighs. It was the best. I'm going to have to buy them for my nieces since my daughter is 18 and wouldn't be caught dead in one.
I watched the Garth Brooks biography, The Road I'm On, last night because The BigBoo Cast convinced me to and I loved it! He was pretty much the soundtrack of my high school and college years so - memories. Plus he tears up at every mention of his mama, his wives, and his daughters and I was here for it!