Hello this is your pilot speaking. We’re cruising at an altitude of Trying Not To Think About Everything That’s Going On Right Now. We’ll be over to Powering Through The Pain in just a short while, so kick back, relax and enjoy Flight 2020 on Hell in a Handbasket Airlines.
🤝 This week, the big news is that we’re bringing back We Got You Club. You can go here to read more about it, how it works, and how I’ve asked Jesus to smite you should you be a heartless person who scams people out of money on the internet. We can’t put out fires (literal or figurative), but we can do what we can with what we’ve got. So head on into that spreadsheet and do your doins. Also @threeletterbirds, whose design I love, reached out and was like, can I just whip up some art for We Got You Club, and I was like, WHAT IS HAPPENING?! So she made our cute header and design elements because she’s amazing and we’re fancy. Go look at her Etsy store, you will just straight up perish.
I did not give in to total despair this week and I do have some treasures. Plus, so many of you sent me things throughout the week, which was lovely and made me feel like I was getting an internet hug.
👑 Tom Felton has become maybe my favorite post-Harry Potter actor. He’s quirky, and this video of him singing You’ll Be Back isn’t even particularly good, but he’s just so charming. It worked for me, okay?!
🥺 Guys I have been so worried about Pauline because 2020 has taken so much from us and it doesn’t seem to care that I need Pauline and Geoffrey in good health or I WILL TAKE TO THE BED. But our girl seems to be on the up and up and we’ll take what we can get at this point.
Calling anyone who wants just a flair💫 (yes I said it) of fall in their coffee. I am your girl. I don’t love sugary lattes or overly sweet creamers. But I do love a hint! Here’s how we make it:
1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup water 2 TBS canned pumpkin (pro tip, reserve 2 TBS from the can of pumpkin you use for your pumpkin chili) 1/4 tsp cinnamon
In a small saucepan over medium heat add all ingredients. Simmer until everything is combined (about 2-3 minutes). Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. Use to sweeten your coffee, Iced Doubleshot, latte, tea, Old Fashion ... OR drizzle over oatmeal, pancakes, your fingers. What have you. Welcome to pumpkin honey simple syrup. It’s low-key extra, just like us. Cheers!
🙌 When I listened to this episode of Armchair Expert with Nadia Bolz-Weber, did I sit down on the elementary school track at 6:15 in the morning and offer a hymn of praise? I did. It’s incredible and I’m at the point now where I only want to be pastored by recovering addicts.
💄 When Jamie wears new makeup, it’s a hot topic around the office (meaning we talk about it for a good twenty minutes while Knox goes in another room). A month or so ago she was extolling the virtues of liquid blush, which feels like the advanced calculus of makeup. How does one blend? It’s liquid? What do I do? I was extremely skeptical, but I gave it a shot with the blush I’ve worn since I was 21: NARS Orgasm. AND GUESS WHAT - liquid blush is so easy and it stays on longer and I look like a rosy-cheeked cherub.
✍️ I know everyone on the internet is talking about hope*writers this week, but the hype is real. They provide such a comprehensive way to fully form you not only as a writer, but all the other hats writers need to wear nowadays. They let me poke around their member’s library this week, and I was honestly blown away. Great content and a great community. If you’re interested, you can check them out here.
OH! One last thing: we’re doing Comfortable Together (a group go-thru of The Comfortable Words) in October. More info coming soon, but it’ll all come through here, so you won’t miss it.
Hey just a cool and super chill reminder that there are affiliate links all up in this mess, which support The Swipe Up/Lil Treasures at zero cost to you.
I'm probably late to the party on this one, but the Facebook page "The same video of the same guys dancing to a different song everyday" has brought so much joy to me and my husband this past week. We are selling our house, hopefully to buy a house, and it's been way more stressful than I had anticipated. https://www.facebook.com/sameguysdancing
Welp, we're still in the US.... I'm about to pound on the visa office and beg to be let out before we get closer to the election. I mean with the passing of RBG, things might get crazy. France let us back in!!
But we have had amazing weather this weekend. I spent it with my parents and siblings, and we had a campfire Saturday night complete with S'mores. Did you all know about replacing Hershey bars with Reese's making a Reese S'more?! So that. That is my treasure. My life is different now.
We are slowly figuring out how to homeschool in French. We're finally catching up with my son's classes!
Also as a prediabetic I try to avoid sugar, but Chocolate just has a stronger pull. Well, I've learned about Lily Chocolate. It's equitable and stevia sweetened! They even have dark chocolate peanut butter cups which are amazing. (Also I assume you all will ignore the fact I talk about s'mores and then in the next breath bemoan the fact that I am prediabetic...)
Treasures for the week: I took a huge leap and joined a writing workshop run by Erin’s dear friend Megan Beam. I’m terrified as all get out to share my writing, but meeting everyone last night via Zoom was a delight.
I also finished Untamed by Glennon Doyle and The Lazy Genius way by Kendra Adachi this week. Very different books. Both wonderful and inspiring!
Other than that, the week was spent wading through all the turds of the world and constantly being on the brink of being pulled under. But that’s just par for the course now. Remote school was slightly better. My kid’s teacher is amazing and responded immediately to how overwhelming the work load was last week and lightened the assignment load. And my kiddo and I are starting to feel our way through the new routine. He had a lot of long night wakings this week though which means I had very little sleep. Could sleep at least not be a battle right now?
Found this treasure tonight (yes it was published in July but somehow it popped on my mini feed today?) and I’m wondering if this makes Erin like Laura Linney any more? 🤣
Treasures and Turds: my thoughtful friend brought me a Pumpkin Rosemary Latte to work today. It counteracted not having water at our house the past couple of days because our well malfunctioned. Since we didn’t have any water I did get to go to my parents’ house and take a shower in their recently remodeled bathroom and the shower there is fancy hotel quality. Unlike a hotel, you have to squeegee the shower glass afterwards per Mom’s orders. But it was a small price for a great shower!
Yesterday I sat on my front porch while my Dad mowed part of our yard and our two year old played in the sprinkler. In one moment I could see the both of them living their best lives. Too often I fret over the aging of my parents and I stress over how tired I am from this ‘surprise’ baby at age 41. I was able to take in the moment yesterday and appreciate it and I loved it.
It’s dreamy. I don’t know anything about making lattes but I do know there is real pumpkin in there because there is pulp at the bottom. I have had two in the past three days.
I would love that combo in a candle. I would get one daily if the shop wasn't about 15 minutes from my house. I did notice that the barista was wearing Heelys to cruise around the shop which seems like a genius idea. I would break my neck but she was all of 20 years old and probably has better balance than me.
I just ordered my first Stitch Fix box! I asked for jeans and hoping for some petite ones that fit my figure.
The fruit crisp from Bread and Wine is a go-to recipe for me.
I sure miss the Scholastic Book orders. Our kids are at a Christian school and they don't allow it which makes me roll my eyes but not much I can d
Really? No scholastic book orders from a Christian school? Wow. I;m shocked there isn't a Christian version OF this?
I hope your box works for you! I have been very lucky with magical pants fairies. I'm around 5'4 with no shoes on (my license says 5'6, whoops!) and they have been great about my pants.
So, I caved a few weeks ago and agreed to be my daughter's soccer coach, and can I say while these 6&7 year old girls are pretty cute and fun, I really, really would rather not. I hope she remembers this as a sign of how much I love her. 😂
I am apparently filling up my IG feed with pretty things, and if you like that too and like photography, here's a treasure for you:
Trying this week to get myself into a good writing/work routine now that the kids are at school, and I think I know what will work, I just have to stay disciplined. Music helps, so my second treasure is to recommend the band Beta Radio. Chill, acoustic, Americana/folk vibe. Good for fall, and mellow enough to be in the background or foreground.
Listen, I know you're currently regretting the coaching thing, but she will remember it as awesome. I did volleyball last year and it about killed me, but it ended up being super fun (sometimes).
First time commenting, but I can already tell y'all are my people.
I guess I'll start with a turd: I found out yesterday I need another nasal surgery. I had one 10 years ago for chronic congestion and polyps. It was a miracle (guys, breathing is so awesome!), but now I apparently have another "big juicy polyp" (Dr's words, not mine) that's causing my air way to be 90% blocked on the left side. I'm partly relieved that I'm not going crazy, and I have an excuse to feel crappy and grumpy, but obviously surgery sucks and is expensive. We don't have traditional insurance (we use a health care sharing ministry), so yesterday began the circus that is calling every dr. and facility and getting quotes and trying to work something out with my "non-insurance." Yay.
Treasure 1: I just finished reading Code Name Helene, and it wrecked me, but was so, so good. It's fiction, but it's based on the life of Nancy Wake, an undercover agent and leader of the resistance movement in France during WW2. I was so inspired by this badass lady that I went on a Wikipedia deep dive about her as soon as I finished the book. Also a good reminder that I can, in fact, do hard things--and maybe even make a difference with my little life.
Treasure 2: This Sea Kelp scrub from Acure is my new favorite thing. It's bright green and smells like you're cleansing yourself with the coral reefs, and afterwards my skin is smooth as butter. LOVE IT. https://acure.com/brightening-facial-scrub.html
As someone who has had a sinus infection since forever, I could not agree more that breathing really is awesome! I'm sorry you need surgery and that it's a lot of work but I hope you'll feel so much better once it's done.
For longer than I am proud to admit, when I was new to the Popcast world, I thought Bri McKoy was Knox's wife. Yes, I know it's spelled different and Bri and Ashley are totally different names, but those were simpler times when you could just be confused by small things and not people who believe in Q Anon.
It feels like a really self absorbed treasure, but I got a haircut for the first time since January 25th yesterday. My hair is short and cute and wavy and IT BRINGS ME A LOT OF JOY!! I put on makeup just for giggles yesterday because I liked the way I looked. First time in MONTHS!! I wore a nice blouse and some high heel booties to the salon, really just because I could. I felt like an actual human. It was so nice. I’m back to my same old disheveled self today, but there was some hope.
Another great treasure is that I think the medication the doctor has put me on for my endometriosis is helping some! My pain has actually been manageable this week!!! Which is wild after six months of hardly being able to move for a week!!!
I too have had a horrible, terrible, no good, awful week and I want to punch my doctor in the face. So there's that.
Since I'm in a really foul mood, I have just about convinced myself that there is no such thing as treasures, so I'm going to list a few good things below just to prove myself wrong!
*Tea
*My hibiscus is about to bloom
*We Got You Club
*New nail polish
*All the TikToks here that make me laugh
*Soup
*Candles and blankets
I'm getting ready for my next Netflix binge. What should I watch? Some things I haven't seen yet are Derry Girls, Dead to Me, Grace and Frankie, Queer Eye, The Crown season 3. (Clearly I have a lot to catch up on!)
Ok, I'm going to curl up under a blanket and stay there all weekend. Take care friends and thanks for being awesome!
Trust me, I am the same. Lived in MN all my life, every year I dread winter more. I was trying to explain it to my husband -- about how my biggest issue with winter (aside from the snow, the cold, the darkness) is the fact I can't 100% depend on the safety of the roads I drive on daily. The fact that any stop light, intersection, on/off ramp, could be bad. That anxiety plagues me all winter. I can drive anywhere at anytime Fall/Summer/Spring, not an issue in the world. But Winter? I hate leaving my house. I hate that nagging knot of worry about the safety aspect.I basically become a shut in and have to psych myself up to drive anywhere. I HAAAATE it. And this only happened due to a pretty gnarly car accident I had 8 years ago. Before that, NO worries whatsoever.
Thank you dear friend. It was one of those day after a bad snowstorm + black ice + 4 lane freeway + sent my car into a total spin situation on the freeway + got hit by another car while spinning and they drove off virtually unscathed and then I was left with damages on my vehicle that had me driving a loaner for over a month. So thankfully my husband gets this fear I have and does a majority of the winter driving and knows how I have to psych myself if I go out. I become HYPER aware of the weather, knowing what roads get treated for all the things. I can even tell you about problematic intersections in my area where there is a high likelihood of slick spots despite good plowing and salt/gravel efforts. I hate that I'm like this now. But, alas.
What do you think of Gilmore Girls? I had watched it years ago and it's not my favorite show on earth but my husband decided to put it on starting with pilot episode a couple nights ago and I was shocked at how comforting it was to watch. I really enjoyed it. And there's so many episodes/seasons...it could keep you busy for a while!
Definitely Queer Eye if you’re looking for some heartwarming, genuine human kindness! I hope if you choose it, that it brings you joy & light after such a hard week 💗💗💗
I agree with the Queer Eye recommendation - will hopefully restore a little hope! your treasures are beautiful and praying for more comforting days ahead!
And yes, make your blanket fort and watch Queer Eye (all the seasons and Japan too!) and I'd save the Crown, its ..... grey at times. And not something that will boost you for some of the storylines.
Derry Girls is a MUST. Dead to Me is actually kind of cathartic because Christina Applegate's character is SO ANGRY. But it's definitely kind of dark, so depends on your mood. And The Crown season 3 will be good for just getting lost in.
Oh gosh - I feel ya on worrying about our Pauline! When I saw she was in hospital and saw Geoffrey's face telling us about it, I Eliza gasped to the point that my hubby dropped what he was doing and asked me what was wrong? He didn't seem to understand my adoration for this sweet couple.
And yes to Stitch Fix pants! They just sent me a pair of jeans - I don't need another pair of jeans - but they are perfect and I caved and bought them. Someone stop me....
A combo of treasures and turds this week. Starting a nonprofit organization during Covid is stupid hard, internet friends. It is mind boggling how many barriers get thrown up in your way to helping others. But, my blog post was accepted on the Travels Tea and Transplants Blog, which is good! https://www.travels-tea-transplants.com/blog/findingtheperfect Hopefully it'll bring some attention to our little foundation. Check it out if you'd like! https://www.heartfelthelpfoundation.com/
Heading to the coast to camp and get out of the smoke - California is burning...send rain...and just say no to gender reveal parties...
Despite the turds, fellow travelers, after facing death and having a heart transplant, it's pretty easy to find the treasures and find slivers of perfect in this ridiculously imperfect world. Have a great weekend friends!
Oh favorite place on the internet, even though I'm usually just a lurker! Your treasures and turds are a joy to share in, as we all are handling a LOT. Quick turd recap:
- My turds have been turdy - a dear, dear friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after an unexpected full hysterectomy, and some major struggles with one of my kids in school...lots of tears, some assessments with specialists via Zoom, too many apologies from ME for losing my sh*t with the struggles of distance learning, to name a few. Thank God for therapy!
Treasures!!!
- Gals, I saw that Tom Felton video on IG earlier this week and I wondered, "Am I attracted to him, now that he's older and seems genuinely nice?" The answer is yes, I find him strangely hot - AND THEN. I Wikipedia-d him (duh), and WE WERE BORN ON THE EXACT SAME DAY/YEAR. Somehow this legitimizes my crush. Our bday is on Tuesday 💁🏼♀️
- The Wedding Planner is on Netflix. JLO is the best and MM in sweaters and glasses is a delight.
- My twin brother (Tom's and I's triplet, if you will) started a silly podcast about TV pilots, and it is the only thing that got me giggling this week. We dissected the TERRIBLE pilot of Full House last night, and we cry laughed at the stupidity, and chose our dream TV kitchen/bedroom, etc. (Weirdly, Full House debuted on 9/22/87 as well...)
- I started reading American Royals via the library app, and it is SO FUN! It imagines that America has a king/queen who go all the way back to the Washington's. It's super fun and not overly silly.
Mackenzie!! WELCOME TO THE TOM FELTON CLUB. 🙌🙌 I literally just mentioned him last week in my comment, so seeing him appear in Erin’s treasures was a GIFT. 🤣 Can you even with those glasses?!
Ooh I forgot to ask!! What's your hodgepodge TV set dream house/apartment? I want the kitchen from Fresh Prince, Lorelei's front porch, and a funky apartment like Boy Meets World at college.
Hello lovelies, This week has been better, it's possibly because I just stuck my fingers in my ears and yelled "LA LA LA LA LA" lounder - either way better is better. This weeks treasure list is short and sweet.
It's my absolute favorite and to top it all off one of my sisters told me I "got moms decorating gene' and this feels like the biggest compliment. I have such fond memories of the magic my Mom created for each holiday with the decorations in our home. I feel so proud to have a piece of those skills.
That's all for me this week. Have a great weekend!
I feel like sticking your fingers in your ears and yelling LA LA LA might be the best way to deal with life right now! That and making your house cozy.
Hey y'all. Two things. If you're like me and don't like spending money on things that may not be worth it but you can't know until you try, here is your permission to get:
2. the Merlin Magic Sleep Suit if you have a baby who can no longer be swaddled but you want better sleep. Get a used one from Facebook Marketplace (some people do free shipping if you can't find one local!) or Mercari. WORTH IT. (for used... not sure I'd buy a new on... cheapskates foreva)
Also I was so pleased that I could help 2 people on the We Got You sheet without praying or spending money because my prayer life is lacking and my bank account is stretched. Yay for having other helpful skills to share! So this is your permission to click if you don't feel able to pray or pay.
I am loving going through this We Got You Club spreadsheet! I didn’t last time it was open, and it’s such a delight seeing everyone helping each other!
Treasures:
-I was woken up many times last night because of a storm here in Oregon, and I’m not even mad about the lack of sleep because it rained ALL NIGHT. We in Oregon have been praying for rain for the last two weeks to help with these awful wildfires, and it finally came! (We won’t talk about the fact there was also lightening which is the last thing we need and that too much rain can also be bad right now.) I woke up with the air quality index downgraded from hazardous to just unhealthy for the first time since last Monday! Still not perfect, but I felt like I could take a deep breath when I walked outside this morning and saw real sun and kind of blue skies.
-I’ve been back at work all week after my bout with mono, and it’s been so good to get back into a routine. I don’t do well sitting at home with nothing to do and no one around for more than a day, so my 2+ weeks out was driving me a little insane.
-I don’t cook with an Instant Pot often, but when I moved a few months ago I did miss being able to use my sister’s for things like bone broth, so it was on my radar to get one if they went on super sale somewhere. Target had the $100 one 40% off this week and I had a gift card, so I scored that thing for $30! Then discovered the world’s best classic mac ‘n cheese recipe, and it is life changing. Here it is for you all: https://www.dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-macaroni-and-cheese/. Don’t change a thing in the recipe (except I used gluten free pasta because I have dumb gluten issues). You’re welcome. The Boy was very upset I made it when he wasn’t around, so I guess I’m just going to have to make it again soon so he can have some. Darn.
Turd:
The Boy’s stolen car hasn’t been located and his insurance is dumb and won’t even provide a rental, which makes the distance thing between us more of a pain. Boo to car thiefs.
Update on the much-needed rain: It is coming down in buckets right now, and all the little kids at my work (a homeless shelter for women & children) are running around and jumping in it right now. It is so pure and joyful.
It turned out delicious even with gluten free noodles?!?! I have missed good homemade mac and cheese since I had to ditch gluten in 2013! I am so excited!
I'm telling you, life changing. One of those things you try a bit of out of the pot and then keep going back for more and more 'taste tests' before even putting any in a real dish. Even reheats well!
,🙌 for rain. I'm going to have to try that mac and cheese! I don't make mac and cheese very often bec my kids are weirdos and don't like it, but sometimes you jusy need some cheesy carby goodness.
I also don't make it often, but it's because I will eat too much of it and then my body hates me. But sometimes you just need that comfort food, ya know? Also, the fact that not just one, but multiple children don't like mac n cheese is wild. 🤯
Right?! Although I suspect that my son is very influenced by my daughter's food preferences. She's older and he takes a lot of those kinds of cues from her.
Erin, this newsletter is such a perfect addition to a Friday. Your efforts are ministerial. Thank you sharing that video of Steve Kerr. We finished The Last Dance on Netflix recently and I got really wrapped up in these side characters to MJ. Steve Kerr chiefly among them. To see the trickle down effect of Phil Jackson to Steve as a player and now Steve as the same kind of hippy-dad coach is really special. Glad to come across that montage this morning, thank you!
Long time lurker, first time commenter :) But I finally have some treasures worth sharing!
1. James Morrison's acoustic cover of Man in the Mirror. His voice is like butter.
2. All specialty beverages at Trader Joe's, but particularly:
a. I don't know if this is local to Chicago, but mine just started carrying canned La Colombe Pumpkin Spice draft lattes. They are adorable and delicious.
b. Trader Joe's Sparkling Coconut Water with Yuzu. Also delicious. Also adorable.
You all are a delight and I've been coveting your treasures for a while now. Thank you so much!
Good morning! My 15 yo niece has the biggest crush on Tom Felton and has shown me multiple Tik Toks. She also has a crush on my cougar crush Harry Styles and we are now at war.
I need some Christmas music recommendations! Last year I sang (with 2 other vocals) a female version of Penny and Sparrow's "Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming" at a concert. I assumed the concert would be canceled this year but we are going to try and do a socially distant version and I'm searching for a song idea or inspiration. I'm looking for something with strings (last year we had a violin and cello in addition to piano and bass) with harmonic vocals. I'd love to hear some Christmas music recommendations if anything comes to mind. Thank you, thank you!
Traci, have you ever heard the Johnny Reid version of I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day? Not sure how well-known he is outside of my beloved Canada, but this arrangement has beautiful strings, and the line "God is not dead, nor does he sleep" gets me in my feels every single time.
Both The Oh Hellos and Sleeping at Last have beautiful and dreamy Christmas albums! I believe Rejoice, Rejoice on TOH has strings, and Sleeping at Last has many with them. I LOVE his rendition of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and also The Christmas Waltz and The First Noel.
Okay you mentioned Tom Felton AND Penny & Sparrow in your comment, so you are speaking my language 😂🙌 Have you listened to any of Audrey Assad’s Christmas music? One of my favorites by her is “Winter Snow.”
oooh! i will try to think of what my choir did last year...we are working on a really mean arrangement of Patapan for this year, and i will be cursing my director for picking this one as i learn to wrap my tongue around tu-re-lu-re-lu (I WISH I WAS KIDDING)
we did I Have Seen the Light last year that might translate nicely to a 3 part female voices, but i will keep thinking
Jillian! Sang Patapan in college, and once you get it, you will be so glad. I STILL remember it and hum it at Christmas time. tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pannnn.
I have a treasure that is a treasure to me and please don't romp on my ding dong (not that you people would, you are lovely) - Our governor announced yesterday that he is approving that all school districts can now allow K-4 kids to return to school ALL FIVE DAYS. All the praise.
While that is truly a joyful thing, I have a turd that is dampening my ability to fully immerse in a mom happy dance. I am a person with major depressive disorder (mostly under control, thank you Jesus for meds), but this week it has been acting up. This morning I figured out the trigger - I am lonely. Surrounded by lovely people (husband, kid, and book store customers) notwithstanding. I am seriously, despairingly, tearfully lonely.
That is all. Love to you, my peeps. Thank you for being here.
I'm praying the day of 5 day a week is in our future here soon as well. I'm sorry you're feeling down. It's so crappy and I have definitely been there. It is absolutely awful. Sending love ❤️
A return to school? YES LORD YES. MAY IT BE SO EVERMORE AMEN.
I feel you on the lonely. It’s a lonely sort of year and mental illness amplifies it so much. I’ve got no soothing words here. But will a hearty “me too” help?
I am looking forward to the dance I will do on the day my kids go back to school. And mental illness in a pandemic...I hear you. I told my sister-in-law this morning - I just want to go back to my regualr anxiety, not the pandemic kind.
OMG yes. I saw a meme the other day that was perfect - it said something about when pandemic depression and chronic depression meet seasonal depression...that should be fun! ;)
i am so sorry that you are lonely - it is so hard to feel lonely surrounded by people. praying for any insight or breakthrough that will allow to feel seen and be loved as you deserve. praise hands for SCHOOL!
that is a real feeling! I personally recognize it as my desire for heaven. This is not my real home, and depression makes that so much more evident at times. Thank you!
You’re comment about it making you realize your desire for heaven reminded me of a book I ADORE called “Blessed Are The Misfits” by Brant Hansen. If you have the brain space to read, it’s a good one. I’d go as far to say it’s in my top five favorite books ever.
🎵Goood mornin' good mornin' its great to stay up late (watching tiktok) good mornin' good mornin' to you!🎶
My only turd for the moment is my freakin' wisdom teeth and lack of dental insurance that is keeping me in pain this week. UGH.
My RIGHT THIS MOMENT treasure is that I mapped out my entire semester's worth of work ahead and think I've found a rhythm that allows me to get sh*t done, and still find rest. I am not good at resting. I am working on that. Today's gonna be a good day, and I'm just gonna keep saying that til I believe it.
I got to go to the local symphony last weekend for freeee cause I know people. my Boy. the symphony performs at our church and he has to work the sound for them, so I get to be ushered in on his arm and hang out in the balcony and enjoy beautiful music and have my heart a little bit healed.
I was on the phone with said Boy last night after class, and I had a moment of "how did I even get here??" - Come October we'll have been on speaking basis of "friends" for a year. November will mark my realization of a crush, December will be a year of *talking*, and then February a year of dating... WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK. where has time gone? how did his Chaos and my Calm find each other and decide to try to make it work?
anyway. the pie for this weekend is Blueberry custard.
I found a LOT of good seratonin hits on tiktok this week (though I can only dream of being the curator that Jillian is 😀)
My sweet conservative mom didn't know what she was doing when she had NPR on in the car all the time. This one really said *for YOU* https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDyhpXR/
I wonder if there is a word for the feeling you described - realizing where you are and wondering how the actual heck you got there but being so grateful. Such joy for you, Sarah!! 💗
Cardigans ABSOLUTELY cure sadness! Also, the girl hanging out the car window 😂 Here's to a productive and restful routine! I'm working on that myself for writing, but mostly because I am TOO good at resting. 😬
please send me a slice of blueberry custard asap, thank youuuu. proud of you for finding a rhythm and getting to marvel at the grace of God with chaos and calm intertwining in the most beautiful. praying for further blessings and gathering my mamma mia band ;)
Well this week has just blown chunks. I’m thankful for our internet gang. I’m currently sitting in the airport waiting to board. My sweet Aunt Kathy aka Wassie went VERY unexpected to be with Jesus. I’m so pissed and broken hearted. While I adore my little town the only way to get to the funeral - that I don’t want to go to but really who does- is to have a 5 hour layover in Charlotte. Please pray that when I get to Charlotte I can get on an earlier flight. I don’t mind the 5 hours of alone time but I just want to get to my people as fast as possible!
Your words about her on IG were absolutely beautiful. I’m so sorry for your loss, Erin. Praying for a possible flight change! And for family time as you grieve & remember her. 💗
Thank you. Small town problems there are no other flights to my hometown. So I’ll just read and do so prayer prep! I’m dying to put on my bold lipstick that makes me feel brave but masks ruin everything.
What a strange week it has been…but that’s not really news, huh?
I have had to make the decision to no longer be the “extra mile” volunteer at church. Or rather, I’ve come to terms with it after seeing how it is an increasingly difficult pursuit, that yields more heartache than joy. I have always been comfortable using all my time, energy, and creativity pouring into different ministries that serve the people in my life. I love it! And I will continue to teach and love the kids in my class with every fiber of my being…but I’m done with the rest. I have had to mentally put it down.
The visual here is not as poetic as a youth camp exercise of writing something on a smooth rock purchased from a craft store and dropping it into body of water in order to “let go and Let God”. It has more of a “tying a ransom note to a brick and hurling it through the window of an abandoned building just so you can hear the glass break and remember what it feels like to feel” vibe. But whatever. You get it.
So now I just have all this “extra mile” energy and I have no idea where to apply it. I think for a while I have assumed that I was out of all types of energy, and that it would dissolve with the rest…because that is certainly a place I have found myself before. But I have to try at something. I have to spend this passion somewhere, because I know that I will spiral SOMETHING FIERCE without a place to apply hope. I’m just in uncharted waters and it’s uncomfortable. Again, you get it.
In the Treasure category – I did get to briefly see my Sunday school kids IRL instead of on a screen, and we made tie-dye masks to celebrate them going back to in-person school next week!
This week was my first week back to work after taking a much needed 10 day break. Most of the week has been okay and I am thankful for the sweet mercies of having a mostly easy breezy work week. Working from home has been really hard for me the last month - I miss my coworkers and overall work environment. My job isn't my favorite thing, but I work for a great company and team so I've always been able to "bear it", but with working from home for the last 6 months it's reminded me of all the things I'm missing from working in the office and that it may be time to take that career pivot I've been thinking about. I'm scared to be honest because it feels like I'd be taking a risk in the midst of a risky year, but the good thing is I would need to go back to school or take some classes so now may be a perfect time to do that! If any of you have done a career switcharoo, I'd love to hear your experiences and any advice!
Other treasures:
1. Trader Joe's has vegetable "skillet" bags in their bagged salad section and I've been loving them. Most of them are some kind of stir fry type mix but it's been a great way to get my veggies in without having to make an entire side vegetable for one person. All you do is throw it in a pan with oil and add the sauce. Easy peesy!
2. It's fall which means I'm falling asleep watching Gilmore Girls every night. This show will always be my favorite and will always be a balm to me. If it is ever taken off Netflix I will be crushed but then will quickly purchase the entire series on Amazon or iTunes.
3. Away luggage had an incredible sale last week and I got a large carryon bag for 50% off...I'm not really travelling anytime soon BUT I am going on a trip to Israel in October 2021 with Tara Leigh Cobble and Jamie Ivey (I could die just typing that out!) and I am determined to fit all my stuff in this bag for that trip.
4. Lastly, everyone go listen to Tim McGraw's song 7500 OBO. It's cheesy, and kind of odd but it is also a freaking bop. Also notice the violins playing in the background that are the same violin chorus for his song Where the Green Grass Grows...honestly what a masterpiece. I listen to this song when I feel down and need a pick me up even though I can't relate to this song at all haha
No real career switcharoo advice, but was laid off a few years ago from a job I loved. Going through that taught me a WHOLE lot and am grateful to be in my job today! Had I kept the layoff job, I would have probably been furloughed :( You can do this brave thing!
Morning and look, we made it to another Friday. Good or bad, we are here. WE ARE HERE. I am planning to fly though the comments and comment away and make this fuel my day to be all the better.
A coworker walked in as I was reading some of this and I must have had a furrowed brow and he remarked on how I was making a face. Y'all I'm in a mask. So my eyes and forehead were expressive enough. So there's that. Let's dive right into my list as everyone is getting to know me...so here we go!
1. New kitchen backsplash. So we are in the midst of househunting and doing all the things so we can buy something. And we are making small home repairs to class our small townhouse up a bit. My husband, father-in-law and I did a new backsplash in our kitchen. It meant the kitchen was in major disarray for 2-3 days which ........ guys, I can't handle large home repairs/renos that cause excess mess and make our small house feel even smaller. BUT its done now and its better. It also made me go through 3 sets of cupboards and CLEAN THEM OUT. Needed.
2. Clothing: (a) I got a stitch fix box. I do these quarterly for myself -- I don't know what magic fairies work there but they always end me AMAZING PANTS. I *hate* pants shopping. You want to torture me? Make me go to a store to try on pants. So pretty much anytime Stitch Fix sends me pants that fit. I don't even look at the cost, I just BUY THEM. If anyone wants a referral code, let me know and I can send if you want to try it out (b) I also took the time and put away my shorts and 'summer pants' and picked outfits for ALL my pants in my closet for work outfits. I love doing this and yes, every Saturday I pull outfits for the entire week. This gives me a lot of relief as I hate doing excess thinking at 6:05 am.
3. Podcasts: Getting caught up on many, did I make a list/plan to listen to some I have a backlog of? yes. Lol. Am I also making a plan to just delete some from the list? Yup. Anyone do that? Have a certain season where you find yourself listening to certain ones more than others and others are taken off the roster because you don't NEED that content right now? I totally seem to change my content Fall going into Winter. Today on my list for catch up: Big Boo Cast, Popcast, and Be the Bridge
4. Books: Have plans to finish 2 books this weekend, one will be Thanks a Thousand by A.J. Jacobs (via audiobook) - I really love all of his work and this one has been a nice short remind of all the thankfulness we should have. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39860114-thanks-a-thousand
I am also going to finish Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist, I think this winter I will be reading all of Shauna's book and I plan to make some of her recipes this fall/winter as well. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18908604-bread-wine
5. Honey Clementine Yankee candle. Perfect sweet smelling candle that doesn't give me a headache or want to eat something HAHA.
6. Food: Of course my love for all the jam keeps going (we have opened up to day 4 of the Advent calendar) -- also, because its fall Aldi has brought back the Maple Leaf Creme Cookie. Oh I adore these!
7. Facts of Life on dvd from my library. I have made this a fun little binge, and its actually kind of crazy how many of the episodes still hold up with the messaging they have for women. Granted, some of the fashion choices ooooh lordy no. Yes, our house still has a DVD player still and yes we use it a lot. We like to spare our WiFi sometimes from streaming everything and on Friday we also have a movie night with our kids and have been showcasing movies we liked as kids. Tonight? Short Circuit.
8. A turd that fertilized to a treasure........ So we had to cancel the October yellowstone trip with my dad. He made the decision because due to all things Covid his catering business is basically Nil and his income has been impacted. He still has his correctional facility job (for now as the campus he works at is planning to close, so not sure how he will be transferred, etc).... SO in light of this I decided, NO we are still doing SOME sort of family trip. So to the interwebs I went and found a house on Airbnb in the larger tourist town near my dad that is spacious and allows dogs (if we boarded our 2 senior spoiled dogs they'd probably die). So a long weekend is happening. And yes I have already been researching take out food options and tap rooms I will be hitting when there. ;)
Okay, now time to make my son's Scholastic Book Order -- yes school still do book orders! And he reviewed the many options and said to me in his pure 7 year old way "mom, I found something I kind of want, but its a little expensive....." ---> it was $7.
He is so my son when it comes to buying things for himself
Hope this finds everyone well in your corners of the world,
I would like your Stitch Fix code. I think I need to give them a try since there have been several positive comments on their choice of pants. Shopping for pants (and shorts) is hard and I really don't like most of the ones I own.
Hey girl hey, now while I know we connected last night, I wanted to reply to this.......because I'm me.
Glad you approve of my backsplash ;)
And yes, finding the house to rent and knowing my dad can come up for at least one of the days is so nice. Then he's coming down to OUR neck of the woods the following week, so I will get some nice face time with him, so yay!
We both have a fun 'unread' pile we need to read through. I say bump up Bread & Wine, you won't regret it. We should crosscheck our piles and see what other books align.
Re #3: I have SO MANY podcast episodes backlogged. I've tried to delete episodes but I always get so nervous I might miss something important. 🤷♀️🤦♀️
"A turd that fertilized to a treasure" I love that phrasing! And that you get to go on a little trip with your dad!
I feel the seasonal podcast thing. Mostly the issue is if I find a new one to listen to, one of the oldies has got to go. I used to be a die-hard Jamie Ivey podcast listener, but then I started listening to so many more and had to cut something. Honestly, weirdly, if a podcast starts producing too much content I kinda stop listening because I can't keep up... #completionistproblems
I only do Patreon for The Popcast and Big Boo Cast....I thought about another, but I am sort of debating it -- which for me, if in doubt? GO WITHOUT haha.
For me it's also I look for certain genres in certain seasons as they feed me in a different way. Like I only listen to Emily Freeman's podcast in the Fall/Winter months and journal on them because I feel I need her level of comfort, so I just attack her back catalog and listen to one every day. I need her kindness and tone at that time of the year and NOT as much in the summer months -- if that makes ANY sense?
The Aldi maple cremes are accidentally vegan, which makes me excited!! I got the caramel apple this week because I can only handle one sweet treat in my house a week!
I hope you have the best family get away, sounds like you all need it!!
Wow, score that they are vegan too. I didn't even notice that. I am more team savory than sweet, but these maple cookies, just one of them gets me that perfectly little treat I need.
I feel that I have to find the bright side of any turd sitch to see what it has become or else I'll just end up crying right? Also, can we talk about how my new hobby is scrolling Airbnb for places I might rent in my area to go hide away from my family? Is that bad? I want to just rent something for like 2 days and get a BREAK!
Ahhh! I want to respond to everything your listed. Same on so, so many. I purge/delete things from my podcast list - you are not alone. I'm also reading Bread & Wine by Shanna Niequist. I'm trying to pace myself and savor it, so I only read a chapter a day as part of my morning. We're making the goat cheese biscuits for breakfast on Sunday. I'm trying to practice self control, but I can't not comment on Scholastic Book Orders. I love when the scholastic form comes home from school. So nostalgic. I can turn down lots of the kids "I wants" but I can never say no to books.
Bread and Wine is still one of my favorites. I read it years ago, but still pick it up sometimes when I need to feel like I'm having coffee with a wise friend. The recipes are legit too. The blueberry crisp is a regular around here.
Scholastic book fairs. I CANNOT WAIT. I loved those so much as a kid and I can't wait for that phase. We will buy ALL THE THINGS. Your son sounds precious. <3
My 7 year old (Lincoln) is a delight and I'm just so happy they still bring home those newsprinted book lists. I do try to buy from them here and there, but we also use them as models of books to get from our library.
I completely agree about Stitch Fix pants! How is it possible? I wish I understood and could do it all by myself, but until that day comes, I save up my spending money and splurge on the Stitch Fix magic every so often.
They are truly magicians. I get annoyed when they have brands that are solely theirs and you can only buy them through their website, but have I done it? YES.
I just scheduled my Fall stitch fix (fall is the only time I care about fashion) last night!! co-signing on the fit of the pants they send. they've been magical.
Like how do they know this sizing magic? Like no weird waist-butt gap? Things that actually perfectly fit. It's some sisterhood of the magical pants situation. And I am HERE.FOR.IT
We have/had a physical book fair a couple times a year I let him buy something from. But yes totally going to get him the 'expensive' book because he so deserves it. Plus that glee of getting the book delivered at school is such a flex (ha).
What is it about magic Stitch Fix pants?! That has also been my experience! The tops are hit or miss for me (thanks garment industry for discounting my chest size) I totally listen to certain podcasts seasonally!
Can’t recommend Michelle Obama’s new podcast as a work soundtrack
What does it say about me that I knew exactly what you said? ;) But I plan to powerbinge her. I'm scared she will make me cry at work. I try to keep my podcasts during work hours as ones that won't bring on sporadic or unintentional crying.
The tops are an issue for me too sometimes. I'm sort of inbetween a S & a M and sometimes I want flowy, sometimes I don't want to be a shapeless cloud of a person. But I have been VERY clear that I don't want to look like a 40something try hard. If everything in the box can all go together, then its magic and I buy it all.
I'm not sure how I have acquired so many pants, because I can't remember ever willingly going into a store to shop for them. It's a terrible exercise. Blessings on all the Stitch Fix Pant Fairies!!!
I realized my pants are mostly from Stitch Fix lately. I have a couple pairs of old Navy jeans that are getting too worn and I now consider those "weekend pants" but Target has sort of fallen out of favor for me and what I can rely on (I miss Merona). So the Stitch Fix Fairies get all my love.
Welp, we were scheduled to take our van to the shop this morning, and the plan was to use the other car to drop off my daughter at school, then pick up my husband at the mechanic's, but the battery is dead on the other car. So that's an annoying way to start Friday.
On the Treasure side, I've been listening to the Cormoran Strike novels by Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling, and I'm almost done with the fourth one. The mystery element is fine, whatever, but what I'm really here for is the relationship stuff. Gah. So heartwrenching and sweet and frustrating and perfect.
1. I rage/anxiety/disgusted with the world cleaned my kitchen floor grout last night. Can I make people stop being scum? Nope. But I can scrape the scum off my grout. So that’s what I did. Also discovered my grey grout is actually supposed to be tan so THAT’S GREAT.
2. Call the Midwife is back and GBBO will be back next Friday! 🥰 British tv is the warm comfy blanket 2020 needs.
3. Speaking of warm comfy blankets, I may actually use one next week! Usually September in Georgia is basically July 2.0 but this year we’re getting some cool fall temps. Ahhh...
4. I’m 100% jealous of everyone recommending Trader Joe’s/Aldi products. Curse my small rural town! I normally drive over an hour for occasional TJ’s trips but the closest one is in Athens, GA which is basically a COVID hot tub right now so I’m avoiding it. So here I sit with no cilantro salad dressing. 😭
The liquid Bar Keepers Friend! I spread it on, let it sit for a minute, then used a grout brush to scrub! Wipe off the excess with a wet rag and then I steam mopped the entire floor when I was done.
When I was 42 weeks (YES 42) pregnant back in March I decided to start rewatching from the beginning. I was hoping watching all of the babies being born would encourage mine to come out 😂 It worked!
Chummy is my favorite! It hasn’t been the same since she left 😢
No Aldi in Colorado either, and when I visit my parents in Illinois they're like, "You want to go where, now?" When I was growing up there, Aldi was the domain of the impoverished and the grad student families (🙋🏼♀️), so its renaissance as a desirable purveyor of quirky snacks and seasonal items is still super weird to us.
Ha yes! There is an Aldi about an hour away but the ease of Walmart grocery pickup keeps me a faithful customer. Who wants to drive an hour with 3 kids to shop during a pandemic?! 😂
I’m so thankful for this newsletter especially today because I quit social media this week! I was so worried about all the things I’m going to miss out on so thanks for all of your treasures!!
Did anyone else jump off the social media train this week?
I need to edit my feed but I fear I’m in addiction territory with my phone and social media. It has been a breath of fresh air for my brain these last few days- I’m sure you feel that off of Twitter!
The default is turds but a couple stick out: (1) The hazy sun here in Michigan due to the fires out west was slightly terrifying and quite erie. I texted my sister's, "are we all gonna die? I can see the sun this morning plain as day and it looks weird." My son asked why he could actually look into the sun and my daughter asked is that the moon? Why is it red 😂. There was a whole lot of confusion until I read it was from the fires out west. Yes, it was pretty to look at I suppose but IT. AIN'T. RIGHT. I'm so worried about mother earth and it's inhabitants. (2) my alarmist cousin chat lit up last night due to EEE a type of deadly encephalitis passed by mosquitos has killed like 22 horses here and Michigan and if passed to humans is pretty deadly. They're currently spraying our state to kill the mosquitos, people have to avoid evening activities and use DEET spray. As if we don't have enough to worry about...needless to say it took a minute to fall asleep 😂.
Treasures: 1.have you ever had a Milka bar? I'm not a fan of milk chocolate normally but I ate two king sized bars this IN BED this week and I am not mad at them. Have you had a dark chocolate Ritter Sport with hazelnuts? Transformative. Unfortunately all the stress has made me a chocolate bar expert. Treasure or turd? You decide.
2. My husband also pissed me way off the other day and I ROSE ABOVE IT which never happens.
3. my brother in law made plans to come over and organize my kitchen cabinets because he wanted to get out of my sister's (his wife's) work picnic 😂. Win-win for me!
Keep afloat friends! We've made it another week. Now for a shower and a Starbucks on this Friday. Happy Friday lil swipes friends!
Milka bars were my fave after school snack once a week when I studied in France, and OH THE VARIETIES. Praying for safety, and what wonderful treasures!
They are new to me. I've seen them for years and was put off by the "sport" part. Like whats sporty about them? 😂. Because I'm gonna have to exercise after eating the whole thing?? Worth it. The hazelnuts are whole and generously distributed. Amazingly Delicious
OMG, I had to look as to WHY they were called that and the INTERNET DELIVERED
Why Ritter Sport name?
In 1912 Alfred and Clara Ritter founded a chocolate factory in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. ... The chocolate brand known today, Ritter's Sport Schokolade, was launched in 1932 after Clara suggested creating a chocolate bar that would fit into every sport jacket pocket without breaking but weighed the same as a normal bar.
I will look for those! I found these milka at a little local Lebanese owned supermarket where they carry random things. I had the oreo and hazelnut and they were both great
Good morning, friends! I'm just gonna dive right in, my brain has little capacity for writing that isn't in a list form today :)
- I have a new favorite mid morning snack. The Snack Selects from Aldi - particularly the cherry juice infused dried cranberries with roasted cashews. So good!
- I reconciled with a friend after not talking over a year. It's a long complicated story, but the short version is: we stopped talking because I had to put some boundaries in place. All is apologized for and forgiven now, and it feels nice to be able to chat with him again.
- Pantsuit Politics episode from 9/11 titled "Wildfires, Woodward, and the Weight of the Work". I listened twice in one day, it was just what my heart needed to hear.
Sticking with treasures today, because the other stuff feels like too much.
Love the ambiance videos. You inspired me to find some videos to use for our little at home classroom ambiance and I found some Harry Potter ones to surprise my girls with next week. So excited.
Aw yay! We like harry potter in my room too, that typically comes out at Halloween and Christmas :) We're all about anything that makes our classroom feel cozy.
i am so glad to hear about a friend reconciliation!! i love that getcha head in the game too, it makes me laugh EVERY TIME. have been saving the Pantsuit Politics ep, but will listen today! Thank you!
Thank you! <3 The friend reconciliation was out of the blue but has definitely made the week better. Ohmygosh yes! I laughed soooo hard at that getcha head in the game. I was saving the episode too, but my sister texted and said I had to listen; she was right :)
The existence of the We Got You club makes my heart want to explode. This is the best corner of the internet, hands down.
TURDS:
Everything. 2020 is breaking me, y’all. And the only thing that comforts me is eating Dot’s pretzels like there’s no tomorrow. Processed carbohydrates are at the top of my MVP list this year.
TREASURES:
THE NEW SEASON OF THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW STARTS ON NETFLIX NEXT FRIDAY! Is it weird that I got choked up the second I heard? It is the warm hug in a fuzzy blanket we all need so badly right now, and if you haven’t watched yet, GSE. (Were any of you in sororities who said GSE? Get so excited? 😅 My sister’s sorority said it all the time - GSE for our fundraiser this month! GSE for finals being over next week! - and now my husband and I say it all the time. GSE for meatloaf tonight! GSE for a negative Covid test! It started as a joke but now we legit can’t stop. 😂)
If you have read any new YA novel lately, I hope this is as hilarious to you as it is to me.
I mentioned it last week, but a little while ago I decided to start a Facebook meme ministry where I save my favorites and do giant meme dumps a couple times a week. It’s my version of the Care Bear Stare at all the 2020 ugliness, and it’s the one thing I feel good about this year.😅 Here are links to this week’s editions:
At the very beginning of the first episode, before we even see the results of the first bake, my husband and I always pick who we think will be the overall winner. It’s amazing how well we’ve both done!
Looking forward to that Pumpkin Honey Simple Syrup! I also made a pretty good pumpkin smoothie with a bit of coffee in it, so if smoothies are your jam, here you go: https://www.liveeatlearn.com/healthy-pumpkin-smoothie/
Truly feeling the getting close to pushing through the pain. Had a beautiful Sunday of rest (thanks Megan for starting that Sabbath convo a few weeks ago!) and made it through to Thursday, where the wheels fell off, but Lord, if I didn’t make it to the end of the day on His grace alone. Started off with copious amounts of dog blood (“this will be quick chore to trim nails”) which triggered fight/flight brain, which took my day’s alloted energy. I am so grateful for today 😂😂
I have been sending a lot of snail mail cards recently, and I thought of the Lil Swipes! If you care to get one, message me your address at jilliankmf [at] gmail .
And now, a jumbo sized Tiktok roundup, if only cause I needed all of these this week.
I'm still recovering from last night when I lay in my bed crying because I didn't know where my wallet was (I found it this morning), and even though I knew it wasn't a big deal, it was the last thing on a heap of a week. But I am now crying happy tears after watching all of these tik toks. So thank you.
i hate that straw and the guilt you feel mid-crying sesh because you know it's not a big deal, but it is ALL A BIG DEAL. i am glad for the relief of happy tears of laughter! :)
Jillian, gold as always! As a former orchestra member, the choir director mouthing "great job everyone" at the end of the choral WAP was SO SPOT ON. I died. I didn't realize the LMM vacuum I had in my heart, so thanks for that one. I'm enjoying the Meteor/Meatier riffs and hope there are others, and it was cool to see the lady behind all the beautiful MHN art!
i live for a conductor affirmation - one of my friends who is a high school choral director shared this after she accidentally shared her screen and her students could see that WAP was high on her recently played list :D - also hoping for more dinos!
JILLIAN. YOU GEM. I squealed at that Secret Tunnel one! your list is impeccable this week! I hope you and brinkley are sufficiently recovered after yesterday! 💛
Snail mail is such a lost art and I am here for it! Such a good idea!
Just reading about your dog made my blood pressure go up in solidarity. I h-a-t-e doing that and completely feel you on it taking your energy for the day. You made it to the weekend you’re doing great!!
And now I’m going to binge your tiktoks bc that’s the best part of Friday mornings.😉
UGHHH I saw your story about your dog’s nail 😫 That is always my worst fear when clipping my cat’s nails... also probably why his nails are way too long most of the time 🙈 So sorry that happened. Praaaaise the Lord for new mercies each morning, amirite?!
Will be emailing you for snail mail ☺️ & saving the TikTok roundup for quiet time later 🙌
Oh the horrid dog blood from nail trims! I may have nail trimming ptsd and now refuse to trim my dogs nails. My husband has to do it or else I just go into fight or flight mode, too! I’m so sorry that started off your week 🙈 Looking forward to looking through your treasures!
SAME. I nicked two of my dog's quicks the first and last time I tried trimming myself and will NEVER go through that massacre again. $10 at the vet is a worthy treat.
Dearest Swipes. Picture me waving to you from face down on my floor. I’m EXHAUSTED. I mean, exhaustion is just the norm at this point, but I’m feeling a special kind this week.
My oldest started preschool this week, and I’m super grateful for the staff for being so kind as we all navigate the bizzaro changes for this year. My son has some anxiety about going, & I don’t think it has everything to do with the masks/distancing, but more so to do with being away from home after not having school since March! His sweet little heart is feeling so many big things, & we are definitely dealing with it at home, but I’m so proud of him.
Okay treasures!
📖Finished “Kill The Spider” by Carlos Whittaker this week and wow. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a counselor and he literally wrote about his experience in a week-long counseling intensive but this book was FASCINATING and humbling and beautiful and I love the Whittakers so very much. Super grateful he was willing to share this story with the world. I’d also say the book is a testament to how powerful group therapy can be.
🙏Speaking of - I have a counseling appointment later this morning. Always a mixture of nerves and gratitude as it gets closer to time to go.
ASHLEY 🤣🤣🤣 I’m cracking up. I was literally JUST thinking “OH NO I forgot to mention Tom!!!” And then your comment shows up. Thanks for lookin’ out for me 😆
The video is perfect. His glasses are everything. 🙏🙏🙏
Yay for making it through the first week of preschool!! That’s huge for him and for you! And I hope you have a great counseling appointment today - I feel that way going in every time. Way to go doing the hard things, mama.
I hope you get a lot out of your counseling appt today! I know what you mean💕💕 glad your sweetie had a good time at preschool, and I am gonna try to replicate a little John Laurens swagger 😂😂
Hello friends! Well this weekend marks one year since I was blindsided by a traumatic betrayal and breakup. One that felt like my world was ending. But you know what? I’m doing really well. Don’t get me wrong, the pain lingers and I can get so angry about it some days, but I know myself so much better now than I did a year ago. I’m growing and challenging myself (yay for therapy!). I’m surviving a pandemic while single. Even though my world was shattered, I picked up most of the pieces and abandoned the ones that didn’t serve me, and I’m really proud of myself. I wish I could forget the date on the calendar, but it feels important to acknowledge the progress I’ve made. My best friend told me this week that she’s so excited to get older because you get to know yourself better: who you are and what you want. I’m choosing to embrace that mindset and keep figuring out who I am 😊
Treasures for this week
- Dark Chocolate Oreos. These aren’t a new discovery for me, but every time I eat one, I am filled with joy. They’re the only ones I buy now
- Setting my video call background as the painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware. I find it hilarious, and the reactions are either “hey you’re crossing the Delaware!” (Validation) or “What’s that?” (Educational opportunity)
You should be so proud of yourself. Picking up the pieces and discarding the ones that do not serve you is important work, but so hard. Post divorce I mentioned wishing I could erase our wedding date from the calendar and a good friend told me that even though the date never goes away it does get easier each year and now 5 years removed I can say she's right. I LOVE your friends insight and could not agree more!
Good for you!! Therapy is such hard, brutiful work - way to go putting in the time and heart and vulnerability. That is awesome!! I love getting older for the same reason - it makes me want to cry, coming back to myself. Also, Washington crossing the Delaware- that made my morning.😂 It’s the little things.
This seems like a safe community and I really don’t know where else to ask.....Thirdlove bras?? Yay or nay? I see them all over the socials but wonder if anyone has tried them. Thanks!
I have only tried the t-shirt bra and liked it. It really just became the means for me to find the right bra size and for that reason alone, I think it was worth the money. I've thought about reordering more but I work from home right now and don't see the point in buying more normal bras when I wear athleisure 90% of the week now...
Your intro. I laughed and cried a little when I read it after really feeling the weight of all the things this week. So thankful for your humor and honesty.
And my treasure for the week. 365 Heavy Cream at Whole Foods. It’s the closest I’ve found to double cream and is mentally taking me back to London each morning.
It’s cream that they have in England and it has more cream than milk. The closet thing we have here is heavy whipping cream but this particular 365 cream has a higher milk fat content so it’s the closest thing to double cream I’ve found. I use it in my coffee and is wonderful!
Confession: earlier this summer I also had to insulate myself from all the sadness for my own health and I listened to ALL oh the Harry Potter books on audio. It was a 3 month thick weighed blanket and helped me face the world again.
This week I rewatched About Time and if you need a warm hug this is the movie for you! Fantastic dialogue and heart warming plot that will help you remember each day is a gift.
Okay I definitely need to watch About Time again. I haven’t seen it since college! Sounds like exactly the kind of movie I need right now. Also YAY for HP! 🙏⚡️
I think I’ve mentioned how obsessed with Aldi I am, right? Anyway, their $3.99 candles are the very best but the fall line this year is perfection. If you can get one before the crazies buy them all, do it!
We’ve had some massive growth at my little church in the last month. During *all of this*the growing pains seem to be even harder to navigate. We are trying to make everyone feel safe and comfortable but inevitably someone feels unseen or unheard. I’m having trouble balancing all the balls of my specific ministries. One is doing well and one is floundering. But tomorrow is Sabbath so I can leave my worry at the feet of Jesus for one day!
A good reminder that I don't take advantage of Aldi nearly enough. Prayers as you navigate the "growing pains" and the challenges of balancing everyone's comfort and safety.
ALDI IS THE BEST! (Caps intended!) -- but, here's a turd for me for the week. They REARRANGED my local Aldi's layout. I cannot find anything! AAAAH LOL
My husband, knowing me well, came home (we take turns on who grocery shops) and he's all "I have bad news about Aldi, I need you to prepare yourself" and he explained how they rearranged the layout. And I gasped. I was like "NO! I can write you a thesis on exactly where everything was on the list, what did they do??! I need details" -- and he couldn't give them to me! He just warned me that everything sort of turned on one axis and switched and yeah. I went in and had to brace myself when I went this weekend. The reason I love Aldi and Trader Joes is the small size and knowing where to find basically everything quickly. It's why places like Costco give me hives, I can't handle the literal largeness and TOO MANY THINGS. So yes. It might take me another week. But good news -- the wall of cheese and dippy things is in the same place.
This sounds like a nightmare. Half of the fun of aldi is finding the hidden gems amongst the common goods! My biggest beef during covid has been that my store puts all the finds for the week in one aisle. Where is the fun in that, aldi??
My campus of over 35,000 students only has 52 confirmed COVID cases as of this morning. I just don't want everyone to get complacent now. I need everyone to continue staying on course and following our plans.
My husband is the VP of his small engineering firm. He just started his MBA and is in the process of becoming part owner with the goal of transitioning to sole owner when the current owner decides to retire. He's also trying to grow the firm at the same time. I am so excited for him and his goals and opportunities. It also means I am picking up more of the household slack. I may internally gripe about this as I'm cleaning the cat litter for the millionth time, but I will give credit where it is due. My husband's love language is gift giving and in recognition of my extra efforts keeping the house moving and caring for our toddler in support of this temporary crazy time, he has gifted me a Peloton. It arrives October 8 and I am marking the days off on my calendar like a kid in school marking off days until vacation.
Final bright spot: my 14 month old has discovered the joy of Mickey Mouse and to see his excitement over recognizing Mickey on his t shirts and such makes me smile.
Fall is also my favorite! Checking out the curl magic, because while I am not a Curly Girl I have an 11 year old who is and it's a totally different ball game. Thanks for sharing.
AHHHH! What great treasures! I ordered a Peloton (oddly enough to arrive the same day!) but just upgraded my purchase to the Bike+ (speaking of Treat Yo Self, Dana). Let me know your leaderboard name when you get set up!
A Peloton!! I can’t wait to hear what you think - I resisted for so long and lately I’m super intrigued. Three cheers for being recognized at home! 🙌 And yay for Low Covid numbers - fingers crossed that trend continues.🤞
It's Spring here but you bet I'm making Bri's pumpkin syrup.
This week I went to my old theological college and did a lecture about self-harm and anxiety to the youth & children's ministry class. Here's the thing: I've been unemployed since December (church budgets, y'all, they suck), and am firmly lost in the wilderness of unproductivity, but for one day I was able to feel like I was a real life adult. I put grown up clothes on and did my hair and make up and I spoke about things that matter to people instead of my puppy. Then I visited someone who I worked for for a year, who runs a healing ministry, and we chatted and prayed and gosh it felt good. I felt valued and welcome and I could cry from the joy. I also got a Starbucks cold brew with pumpkin cream because whilst it's Spring here, we do love to pretend we're in US seasons.
Since then the week is a bit of a dumpster fire, honestly. I found out I owe a bunch of money for student debts, and can't continue studies until I pay it, and I can't get a job until I finish the degree because Covid has everyone looking for jobs that just don't exist.
Basically, the treasure of my week was a day of feeling like a real life human.
Other treasures include this Banana Bread recipe, which made me feel super fancy today:
And y'all, I'm posting on the spreadsheet when I can but there's a little bit of hope and that's.. well.. special. I've got needs. And I feel bad asking for help, but HELP IS GOOD, GUYS AND GALS.
Feeling like a human is no small treasure, girl. You are so valuable and I see you and feel you. Also, what an awesome thing to talk to youth ministry about! Would you mind pointing me toward some possible resources?
I loved doing it, so much. It’s my groove. Talking about hard stuff fills my tank like nothing else. Can you tell I’m an enneagram 4? Chuck me an email and I’ll send some things your way :)
Praying for you! And in these moments, I'm glad you got the joy of doing something you love. Also...adding that banana bread recipe to my files because you can never have too many good banana bread recipes.
It's a good recipe, for sure. I had all the things for it on hand, and that's a good sign for me. It also looks bloody beautiful on my bench. I felt so fancy when I made it.
I'm firm with myself on that - but sometimes you've just gotta admit the feeling without talking back to yourself, you know? Sit in that mess and feel the feels and let other people remind you of good things.
Not a fall girl (sorry) but even I may have to get on board with that pumpkin syrup.
This week was just turds. I’m on that flight run by Hell in Handbasket airlines and I’m mad because they’re not even handing out peanuts or ginger ale.
Covid sucks, but you know what sucks more? Covid plus not being able to go outside. We're on day 6 of being stuck inside due to insanely poor air quality in Seattle. It's never been like this, ever. It felt like a cruel joke. I wanted someone to say, "Hey! you've been punked!" Instead we locked all our doors and spent our free time trying to keep the toddler from escaping and running out to the backyard. I read in our local paper Tuesday that fires spanning a space equivalent of 53 Seattles were burning our state. Have mercy.
What made it worse is that then all of us have been sick. It's fine - colds are generally a normal rite of having children but in Covid-time, every sniffle, every cough is reason for panic. Our daycare doesn't take kids with runny noses now, so my husband and I were balancing work with two sick children. We did get tested and we found out we were negative today. Upon the results, I texted my mom out of desperation - I may have used capital letters - and she came to help. We are all very happy to see her.
Tomorrow we're supposed to get to an air quality that's just bad for sensitive groups... so we're gonna let the toddler run wild outside.
If this is any indicator of my brain state, I was pumping yesterday and forgot to connect the bottles to the breast pump... and pumped milk all over my lap. Thankfully I was just at home. Can you imagine if I was at work?
Coworker sniffs the air: "Does anyone smell sour milk...?"
The giant project at work is launching next week and it's going to be some early mornings and late nights but then MAYBE things will be normal. One can only hope.
Please share all treasures big and small. I need them. And thank you for this space to vent. I'll try to be more positive next week.
Dude. The sickness right now is next level. Every little sniffle is grounds for panic. We did the work from home with sick kiddos shuffle in August and it was...not a fun week. I got my negative test results back the morning of a normal summer camp day, and I've never packed a lunch so quickly. I hustled my oldest into the car and got him outta there with a HUSTLE. I'm so sorry you had to face that + bad air. It is like being punked!
Erika I just want to send you all the hugs! That sounds like a profoundly terrible week. And the smoke SUCKS - my kids are so pent up doing distance learning and then not going outside, yeesh.
This is VERY random, but if you are even an average Frozen 2 fan, the 6-part documentary on Disney+ made me happy/in-awe cry every single episode. I even watched half when I didn't have much time but needed to be in awe of something. Hope your weekend gives some respite and that you all feel better very soon!
Don’t you dare try to be positive if that’s not how you’re feeling - come as you are and rest knowing we get it and we got you. 🙂 I jump at every cough now too - I think we’re all going to have some PTSD when this is all over with that. I hope the toddler gets a lot of energy out outside and you can rest this weekend!
I’ve also pumped onto my lap before. It took a surprisingly long time for me to realize what was even happening. I guess I was just so used to being covered in bodily fluids that it didn’t register?
I was so sure I had peed and was so confused. I had a moment of outrage that all those freaking kegels weren’t working and then a moment of silence for my brain which actually was the culprit
I feel you on the air quality. Our fire season is coming right up and I remember moving into my house in December last year and seeing the sky a weird tinge of red and breathing smokey air and it was... miserable. Every breath felt wrong.
I am now giving myself permission to see my dramatic couch flops as elegant, thank you 🤣 Your time away sounds delightful, I need to do that this weekend!
I'm probably late to the party on this one, but the Facebook page "The same video of the same guys dancing to a different song everyday" has brought so much joy to me and my husband this past week. We are selling our house, hopefully to buy a house, and it's been way more stressful than I had anticipated. https://www.facebook.com/sameguysdancing
Welp, we're still in the US.... I'm about to pound on the visa office and beg to be let out before we get closer to the election. I mean with the passing of RBG, things might get crazy. France let us back in!!
But we have had amazing weather this weekend. I spent it with my parents and siblings, and we had a campfire Saturday night complete with S'mores. Did you all know about replacing Hershey bars with Reese's making a Reese S'more?! So that. That is my treasure. My life is different now.
We are slowly figuring out how to homeschool in French. We're finally catching up with my son's classes!
Also as a prediabetic I try to avoid sugar, but Chocolate just has a stronger pull. Well, I've learned about Lily Chocolate. It's equitable and stevia sweetened! They even have dark chocolate peanut butter cups which are amazing. (Also I assume you all will ignore the fact I talk about s'mores and then in the next breath bemoan the fact that I am prediabetic...)
Treasures for the week: I took a huge leap and joined a writing workshop run by Erin’s dear friend Megan Beam. I’m terrified as all get out to share my writing, but meeting everyone last night via Zoom was a delight.
I also finished Untamed by Glennon Doyle and The Lazy Genius way by Kendra Adachi this week. Very different books. Both wonderful and inspiring!
Other than that, the week was spent wading through all the turds of the world and constantly being on the brink of being pulled under. But that’s just par for the course now. Remote school was slightly better. My kid’s teacher is amazing and responded immediately to how overwhelming the work load was last week and lightened the assignment load. And my kiddo and I are starting to feel our way through the new routine. He had a lot of long night wakings this week though which means I had very little sleep. Could sleep at least not be a battle right now?
What type of writing are you working on?
A fantasy book. Probably YA because my main characters are teenagers.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/arts/television/ozark-emmys-laura-linney.amp.html
Found this treasure tonight (yes it was published in July but somehow it popped on my mini feed today?) and I’m wondering if this makes Erin like Laura Linney any more? 🤣
Treasures and Turds: my thoughtful friend brought me a Pumpkin Rosemary Latte to work today. It counteracted not having water at our house the past couple of days because our well malfunctioned. Since we didn’t have any water I did get to go to my parents’ house and take a shower in their recently remodeled bathroom and the shower there is fancy hotel quality. Unlike a hotel, you have to squeegee the shower glass afterwards per Mom’s orders. But it was a small price for a great shower!
Yesterday I sat on my front porch while my Dad mowed part of our yard and our two year old played in the sprinkler. In one moment I could see the both of them living their best lives. Too often I fret over the aging of my parents and I stress over how tired I am from this ‘surprise’ baby at age 41. I was able to take in the moment yesterday and appreciate it and I loved it.
Ears perk
Pumpkin rosemary latte???
Need more input about this!
It’s dreamy. I don’t know anything about making lattes but I do know there is real pumpkin in there because there is pulp at the bottom. I have had two in the past three days.
And rosemary too??! That sounds ah-maaay-ziiing! What a combo I would want both in my cup and in a candle!
I would love that combo in a candle. I would get one daily if the shop wasn't about 15 minutes from my house. I did notice that the barista was wearing Heelys to cruise around the shop which seems like a genius idea. I would break my neck but she was all of 20 years old and probably has better balance than me.
I just ordered my first Stitch Fix box! I asked for jeans and hoping for some petite ones that fit my figure.
The fruit crisp from Bread and Wine is a go-to recipe for me.
I sure miss the Scholastic Book orders. Our kids are at a Christian school and they don't allow it which makes me roll my eyes but not much I can d
Really? No scholastic book orders from a Christian school? Wow. I;m shocked there isn't a Christian version OF this?
I hope your box works for you! I have been very lucky with magical pants fairies. I'm around 5'4 with no shoes on (my license says 5'6, whoops!) and they have been great about my pants.
So, I caved a few weeks ago and agreed to be my daughter's soccer coach, and can I say while these 6&7 year old girls are pretty cute and fun, I really, really would rather not. I hope she remembers this as a sign of how much I love her. 😂
I am apparently filling up my IG feed with pretty things, and if you like that too and like photography, here's a treasure for you:
www.instagram.com/jacknative
Trying this week to get myself into a good writing/work routine now that the kids are at school, and I think I know what will work, I just have to stay disciplined. Music helps, so my second treasure is to recommend the band Beta Radio. Chill, acoustic, Americana/folk vibe. Good for fall, and mellow enough to be in the background or foreground.
Later, lovelies!
Oooh, I'll have to check out Beta Radio!
Good luck with the coaching, you're an awesome mom!
Listen, I know you're currently regretting the coaching thing, but she will remember it as awesome. I did volleyball last year and it about killed me, but it ended up being super fun (sometimes).
Thanks!
First time commenting, but I can already tell y'all are my people.
I guess I'll start with a turd: I found out yesterday I need another nasal surgery. I had one 10 years ago for chronic congestion and polyps. It was a miracle (guys, breathing is so awesome!), but now I apparently have another "big juicy polyp" (Dr's words, not mine) that's causing my air way to be 90% blocked on the left side. I'm partly relieved that I'm not going crazy, and I have an excuse to feel crappy and grumpy, but obviously surgery sucks and is expensive. We don't have traditional insurance (we use a health care sharing ministry), so yesterday began the circus that is calling every dr. and facility and getting quotes and trying to work something out with my "non-insurance." Yay.
Treasure 1: I just finished reading Code Name Helene, and it wrecked me, but was so, so good. It's fiction, but it's based on the life of Nancy Wake, an undercover agent and leader of the resistance movement in France during WW2. I was so inspired by this badass lady that I went on a Wikipedia deep dive about her as soon as I finished the book. Also a good reminder that I can, in fact, do hard things--and maybe even make a difference with my little life.
Treasure 2: This Sea Kelp scrub from Acure is my new favorite thing. It's bright green and smells like you're cleansing yourself with the coral reefs, and afterwards my skin is smooth as butter. LOVE IT. https://acure.com/brightening-facial-scrub.html
I love all things acure and ww2 so welcome!
As someone who has had a sinus infection since forever, I could not agree more that breathing really is awesome! I'm sorry you need surgery and that it's a lot of work but I hope you'll feel so much better once it's done.
I love that Acure scrub! 👏
So sorry you have to get surgery again 😩 Not a fun process to get on the other side of it, but I hope it brings relief & rest!
For longer than I am proud to admit, when I was new to the Popcast world, I thought Bri McKoy was Knox's wife. Yes, I know it's spelled different and Bri and Ashley are totally different names, but those were simpler times when you could just be confused by small things and not people who believe in Q Anon.
You were not alone in this.
It feels like a really self absorbed treasure, but I got a haircut for the first time since January 25th yesterday. My hair is short and cute and wavy and IT BRINGS ME A LOT OF JOY!! I put on makeup just for giggles yesterday because I liked the way I looked. First time in MONTHS!! I wore a nice blouse and some high heel booties to the salon, really just because I could. I felt like an actual human. It was so nice. I’m back to my same old disheveled self today, but there was some hope.
Another great treasure is that I think the medication the doctor has put me on for my endometriosis is helping some! My pain has actually been manageable this week!!! Which is wild after six months of hardly being able to move for a week!!!
Hooray for haircuts and good meds!
Feeling like an actual human is awesome. I put on makeup for the first time in a very long time today and I looked so weird! 😂
I'm really, really happy to hear that the meds are helping! ❤
Yay for good meds!
Praaaaaise for endo meds!! So glad you found some relief! That is huge. 🙌
Two things that I think are secret game changers are a good hair cut and good undies!
Amen!
Yes! Definitely!
Undergarments make or break the outfit imho!
Uncomfortable undies are the worst!!!!
ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY
Yay haircut! Haircuts can be sneaky mood miracles, in my opinion. And that's really great that you've felt better!
Thanks!!💕
I too have had a horrible, terrible, no good, awful week and I want to punch my doctor in the face. So there's that.
Since I'm in a really foul mood, I have just about convinced myself that there is no such thing as treasures, so I'm going to list a few good things below just to prove myself wrong!
*Tea
*My hibiscus is about to bloom
*We Got You Club
*New nail polish
*All the TikToks here that make me laugh
*Soup
*Candles and blankets
I'm getting ready for my next Netflix binge. What should I watch? Some things I haven't seen yet are Derry Girls, Dead to Me, Grace and Frankie, Queer Eye, The Crown season 3. (Clearly I have a lot to catch up on!)
Ok, I'm going to curl up under a blanket and stay there all weekend. Take care friends and thanks for being awesome!
Hope you get some relief soon, sweet Rebecka!
I love Queer Eye. Every episode I cry (in the good way) at some point.
I binged Dead to Me last weekend and laughed and am pretty sure I cried, too.
I'm impressed at the list you have. That's some good quality binging in your future.
I have Dead to Me S2 on my "winter binge" list because MN winter is going to be LOOOOONG this year I fear.
No, don't tell me winter is on it's way. I prefer living in denial!
Trust me, I am the same. Lived in MN all my life, every year I dread winter more. I was trying to explain it to my husband -- about how my biggest issue with winter (aside from the snow, the cold, the darkness) is the fact I can't 100% depend on the safety of the roads I drive on daily. The fact that any stop light, intersection, on/off ramp, could be bad. That anxiety plagues me all winter. I can drive anywhere at anytime Fall/Summer/Spring, not an issue in the world. But Winter? I hate leaving my house. I hate that nagging knot of worry about the safety aspect.I basically become a shut in and have to psych myself up to drive anywhere. I HAAAATE it. And this only happened due to a pretty gnarly car accident I had 8 years ago. Before that, NO worries whatsoever.
Oh, Mel, I'm so sorry you were in an accident and that it causes you that much anxiety still. That has got to be so hard. Praying for you! ❤
Thank you dear friend. It was one of those day after a bad snowstorm + black ice + 4 lane freeway + sent my car into a total spin situation on the freeway + got hit by another car while spinning and they drove off virtually unscathed and then I was left with damages on my vehicle that had me driving a loaner for over a month. So thankfully my husband gets this fear I have and does a majority of the winter driving and knows how I have to psych myself if I go out. I become HYPER aware of the weather, knowing what roads get treated for all the things. I can even tell you about problematic intersections in my area where there is a high likelihood of slick spots despite good plowing and salt/gravel efforts. I hate that I'm like this now. But, alas.
Thank you, Danielle! You're so kind!
I haven't had Netflix for that long, it's fun to finally be able to catch up on shows I've heard so much
What do you think of Gilmore Girls? I had watched it years ago and it's not my favorite show on earth but my husband decided to put it on starting with pilot episode a couple nights ago and I was shocked at how comforting it was to watch. I really enjoyed it. And there's so many episodes/seasons...it could keep you busy for a while!
Excellent choice! I binged it a few years ago when I was really, really sick and comforting is a good way to describe it.
QUEER EYE
I do need to hack my crying!
Definitely Queer Eye if you’re looking for some heartwarming, genuine human kindness! I hope if you choose it, that it brings you joy & light after such a hard week 💗💗💗
Aww, such a sweet thing to say! Thank you.
Derry girls with captions! And Aldi $3.99 candles!
Sadly, we don't have Aldi here...
Boo that's no fun.
I agree with the Queer Eye recommendation - will hopefully restore a little hope! your treasures are beautiful and praying for more comforting days ahead!
Thank you, Jillian!
Finding the treasures, so needed.
And yes, make your blanket fort and watch Queer Eye (all the seasons and Japan too!) and I'd save the Crown, its ..... grey at times. And not something that will boost you for some of the storylines.
I really, really didn't want to list treasures. So I knew I needed to!
Got it, saving the Crown for better days.
Derry Girls is a MUST. Dead to Me is actually kind of cathartic because Christina Applegate's character is SO ANGRY. But it's definitely kind of dark, so depends on your mood. And The Crown season 3 will be good for just getting lost in.
Interesting. I am also very angry but I don't let it out. (Enneagram 1w9 🙄) A catharsis might be good!
I watched 4 episodes this morning. I have no regrets.
Oh gosh - I feel ya on worrying about our Pauline! When I saw she was in hospital and saw Geoffrey's face telling us about it, I Eliza gasped to the point that my hubby dropped what he was doing and asked me what was wrong? He didn't seem to understand my adoration for this sweet couple.
And yes to Stitch Fix pants! They just sent me a pair of jeans - I don't need another pair of jeans - but they are perfect and I caved and bought them. Someone stop me....
A combo of treasures and turds this week. Starting a nonprofit organization during Covid is stupid hard, internet friends. It is mind boggling how many barriers get thrown up in your way to helping others. But, my blog post was accepted on the Travels Tea and Transplants Blog, which is good! https://www.travels-tea-transplants.com/blog/findingtheperfect Hopefully it'll bring some attention to our little foundation. Check it out if you'd like! https://www.heartfelthelpfoundation.com/
Heading to the coast to camp and get out of the smoke - California is burning...send rain...and just say no to gender reveal parties...
Despite the turds, fellow travelers, after facing death and having a heart transplant, it's pretty easy to find the treasures and find slivers of perfect in this ridiculously imperfect world. Have a great weekend friends!
That was a lovely blog post!
I hope your trip is refreshing, Denise!
Oh favorite place on the internet, even though I'm usually just a lurker! Your treasures and turds are a joy to share in, as we all are handling a LOT. Quick turd recap:
- My turds have been turdy - a dear, dear friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after an unexpected full hysterectomy, and some major struggles with one of my kids in school...lots of tears, some assessments with specialists via Zoom, too many apologies from ME for losing my sh*t with the struggles of distance learning, to name a few. Thank God for therapy!
Treasures!!!
- Gals, I saw that Tom Felton video on IG earlier this week and I wondered, "Am I attracted to him, now that he's older and seems genuinely nice?" The answer is yes, I find him strangely hot - AND THEN. I Wikipedia-d him (duh), and WE WERE BORN ON THE EXACT SAME DAY/YEAR. Somehow this legitimizes my crush. Our bday is on Tuesday 💁🏼♀️
- The Wedding Planner is on Netflix. JLO is the best and MM in sweaters and glasses is a delight.
- My twin brother (Tom's and I's triplet, if you will) started a silly podcast about TV pilots, and it is the only thing that got me giggling this week. We dissected the TERRIBLE pilot of Full House last night, and we cry laughed at the stupidity, and chose our dream TV kitchen/bedroom, etc. (Weirdly, Full House debuted on 9/22/87 as well...)
- I started reading American Royals via the library app, and it is SO FUN! It imagines that America has a king/queen who go all the way back to the Washington's. It's super fun and not overly silly.
I had this very same thought process with Tom! My mom's bday is 9/23 & brothers is 9/26; love people born this time of year. Happy Birthday!
Is American royals the book series that looks like crazy rich Asians?
I think MM in a sweater and glasses is one of my favorite MMs! I think about that movie almost every time I eat m&ms 😂
i live for this, Zac Efron is my twin, and what a satisfying time. Happy early birthday!!
Happy birthday to you, Tom Felton and your brother!
(Full House was my absolute favorite show when I was a kid but I never liked the pilot...)
Tom Felton Vindication!
Our birthday is Tuesday 🤣
Mackenzie!! WELCOME TO THE TOM FELTON CLUB. 🙌🙌 I literally just mentioned him last week in my comment, so seeing him appear in Erin’s treasures was a GIFT. 🤣 Can you even with those glasses?!
The glasses are what pushed me over. And his rakish smile...thanks for inducting me into the club!!!
Yes to American Royals!! I also highly recommend the author’s other series: The Thousandth Floor and its two sequels
Ooh thank you!!
What a fun thing to do with your brother!
Ooh I forgot to ask!! What's your hodgepodge TV set dream house/apartment? I want the kitchen from Fresh Prince, Lorelei's front porch, and a funky apartment like Boy Meets World at college.
Hello lovelies, This week has been better, it's possibly because I just stuck my fingers in my ears and yelled "LA LA LA LA LA" lounder - either way better is better. This weeks treasure list is short and sweet.
First, this. If Belle was an influenser
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFDQYcgB_RF/?igshid=18x3gypkdqv7v
Belle is my favorite Disney princess (I don't want to hear anything about Stockholm syndrome)
Treated myself to this pretty. https://preview.tinyurl.com/yxtsandy Paired with volcano oil from Anthropologie is truly a treasure.
The biggest treasure for me has been breaking out all the fall decor. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFR6zCun3rF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
It's my absolute favorite and to top it all off one of my sisters told me I "got moms decorating gene' and this feels like the biggest compliment. I have such fond memories of the magic my Mom created for each holiday with the decorations in our home. I feel so proud to have a piece of those skills.
That's all for me this week. Have a great weekend!
I feel like sticking your fingers in your ears and yelling LA LA LA might be the best way to deal with life right now! That and making your house cozy.
Seriously using ALL the coping mechanisms over here.
"I don't want to hear anything about Stockholm syndrome." 😆
That’s a whole mood
Hey y'all. Two things. If you're like me and don't like spending money on things that may not be worth it but you can't know until you try, here is your permission to get:
1. Blue-light blocking glasses. You might not even think you need them BUT YOU DO. Better eye experiences are possible, and I just bought 2 pairs for like $13. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08133JX5P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (PS I have a huge face/head and they fit great!)
2. the Merlin Magic Sleep Suit if you have a baby who can no longer be swaddled but you want better sleep. Get a used one from Facebook Marketplace (some people do free shipping if you can't find one local!) or Mercari. WORTH IT. (for used... not sure I'd buy a new on... cheapskates foreva)
Also I was so pleased that I could help 2 people on the We Got You sheet without praying or spending money because my prayer life is lacking and my bank account is stretched. Yay for having other helpful skills to share! So this is your permission to click if you don't feel able to pray or pay.
As a nanny, I can fully support the Merlin sleep suit. It is magically and I gift it to everyone!
Merlin Magic Sleep Suits are God's honest truth.
Right? re: We Got You -- those small wins really are making me feel all the great things.
If you’re like me and Living Proof Dry Shampoo is eternally a treasure, heads up it’s on sale today at target for $14!!
👏 This is good news!
I am loving going through this We Got You Club spreadsheet! I didn’t last time it was open, and it’s such a delight seeing everyone helping each other!
Treasures:
-I was woken up many times last night because of a storm here in Oregon, and I’m not even mad about the lack of sleep because it rained ALL NIGHT. We in Oregon have been praying for rain for the last two weeks to help with these awful wildfires, and it finally came! (We won’t talk about the fact there was also lightening which is the last thing we need and that too much rain can also be bad right now.) I woke up with the air quality index downgraded from hazardous to just unhealthy for the first time since last Monday! Still not perfect, but I felt like I could take a deep breath when I walked outside this morning and saw real sun and kind of blue skies.
-I’ve been back at work all week after my bout with mono, and it’s been so good to get back into a routine. I don’t do well sitting at home with nothing to do and no one around for more than a day, so my 2+ weeks out was driving me a little insane.
-I don’t cook with an Instant Pot often, but when I moved a few months ago I did miss being able to use my sister’s for things like bone broth, so it was on my radar to get one if they went on super sale somewhere. Target had the $100 one 40% off this week and I had a gift card, so I scored that thing for $30! Then discovered the world’s best classic mac ‘n cheese recipe, and it is life changing. Here it is for you all: https://www.dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-macaroni-and-cheese/. Don’t change a thing in the recipe (except I used gluten free pasta because I have dumb gluten issues). You’re welcome. The Boy was very upset I made it when he wasn’t around, so I guess I’m just going to have to make it again soon so he can have some. Darn.
Turd:
The Boy’s stolen car hasn’t been located and his insurance is dumb and won’t even provide a rental, which makes the distance thing between us more of a pain. Boo to car thiefs.
yum mac and cheese, and so glad for rain!!
Update on the much-needed rain: It is coming down in buckets right now, and all the little kids at my work (a homeless shelter for women & children) are running around and jumping in it right now. It is so pure and joyful.
I love this!!!
It turned out delicious even with gluten free noodles?!?! I have missed good homemade mac and cheese since I had to ditch gluten in 2013! I am so excited!
Yes! I was a bit worried it wouldn't work, but I kept everything else the same and it was perfect! I used brown rice noodles.
Thanks for the tip! I will be trying this!
I gotta try this m-n-c.
I'm telling you, life changing. One of those things you try a bit of out of the pot and then keep going back for more and more 'taste tests' before even putting any in a real dish. Even reheats well!
,🙌 for rain. I'm going to have to try that mac and cheese! I don't make mac and cheese very often bec my kids are weirdos and don't like it, but sometimes you jusy need some cheesy carby goodness.
I thought I was the only one with weirdo kiddos that don’t like Mac n cheese!
I also don't make it often, but it's because I will eat too much of it and then my body hates me. But sometimes you just need that comfort food, ya know? Also, the fact that not just one, but multiple children don't like mac n cheese is wild. 🤯
Right?! Although I suspect that my son is very influenced by my daughter's food preferences. She's older and he takes a lot of those kinds of cues from her.
Erin, this newsletter is such a perfect addition to a Friday. Your efforts are ministerial. Thank you sharing that video of Steve Kerr. We finished The Last Dance on Netflix recently and I got really wrapped up in these side characters to MJ. Steve Kerr chiefly among them. To see the trickle down effect of Phil Jackson to Steve as a player and now Steve as the same kind of hippy-dad coach is really special. Glad to come across that montage this morning, thank you!
Big fan of Steve Kerr because of The Last Dance. What a guy.
So glad!
Just had SO MUCH FUN meeting needs on the We Got You club sheet! I love it sooo much!!!! 😍🥰
I'm totally sharing the 🍉 watermelon tweet with my Avatar-The-Last-Airbender-loving kids.
Long time lurker, first time commenter :) But I finally have some treasures worth sharing!
1. James Morrison's acoustic cover of Man in the Mirror. His voice is like butter.
2. All specialty beverages at Trader Joe's, but particularly:
a. I don't know if this is local to Chicago, but mine just started carrying canned La Colombe Pumpkin Spice draft lattes. They are adorable and delicious.
b. Trader Joe's Sparkling Coconut Water with Yuzu. Also delicious. Also adorable.
You all are a delight and I've been coveting your treasures for a while now. Thank you so much!
Jenny! You're the artwork Jenny! Thank you! It's so lovely. :)
Jenny, thank you again for the We Got You Club artwork. You are a treasure.
PUMPKIN SPICE LA COLOMBE YUM
I discovered how much I love gin during shelter-in-place! This sounds delicious!
Gin is magically especially in the winter!
Good morning! My 15 yo niece has the biggest crush on Tom Felton and has shown me multiple Tik Toks. She also has a crush on my cougar crush Harry Styles and we are now at war.
I need some Christmas music recommendations! Last year I sang (with 2 other vocals) a female version of Penny and Sparrow's "Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming" at a concert. I assumed the concert would be canceled this year but we are going to try and do a socially distant version and I'm searching for a song idea or inspiration. I'm looking for something with strings (last year we had a violin and cello in addition to piano and bass) with harmonic vocals. I'd love to hear some Christmas music recommendations if anything comes to mind. Thank you, thank you!
Traci, have you ever heard the Johnny Reid version of I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day? Not sure how well-known he is outside of my beloved Canada, but this arrangement has beautiful strings, and the line "God is not dead, nor does he sleep" gets me in my feels every single time.
Both The Oh Hellos and Sleeping at Last have beautiful and dreamy Christmas albums! I believe Rejoice, Rejoice on TOH has strings, and Sleeping at Last has many with them. I LOVE his rendition of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and also The Christmas Waltz and The First Noel.
Traci have you considered Mary Did You Know? 😎
Yes, but if you're not Kenny Rogers what is even the point?
Okay you mentioned Tom Felton AND Penny & Sparrow in your comment, so you are speaking my language 😂🙌 Have you listened to any of Audrey Assad’s Christmas music? One of my favorites by her is “Winter Snow.”
Brilliant! I forgot all about Audrey Assad. Thank you!
I love that song!
oooh! i will try to think of what my choir did last year...we are working on a really mean arrangement of Patapan for this year, and i will be cursing my director for picking this one as i learn to wrap my tongue around tu-re-lu-re-lu (I WISH I WAS KIDDING)
we did I Have Seen the Light last year that might translate nicely to a 3 part female voices, but i will keep thinking
Jillian! Sang Patapan in college, and once you get it, you will be so glad. I STILL remember it and hum it at Christmas time. tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pannnn.
BRING ON THAT FIFE AND DRUM, YO!
Prayers for you and tu-re-lu-re-lu. That is what my singing nightmares are made of. :)
I'll check out "I Have Seen the Light"...sounds like it's up my musical alley. Thank you!
the recordings of it are really 90s, but it honestly has some real potential as a lady voice arrangement!
So cool... going to check them both out.
Morning, internet friends.
I have a treasure that is a treasure to me and please don't romp on my ding dong (not that you people would, you are lovely) - Our governor announced yesterday that he is approving that all school districts can now allow K-4 kids to return to school ALL FIVE DAYS. All the praise.
While that is truly a joyful thing, I have a turd that is dampening my ability to fully immerse in a mom happy dance. I am a person with major depressive disorder (mostly under control, thank you Jesus for meds), but this week it has been acting up. This morning I figured out the trigger - I am lonely. Surrounded by lovely people (husband, kid, and book store customers) notwithstanding. I am seriously, despairingly, tearfully lonely.
That is all. Love to you, my peeps. Thank you for being here.
Praise hands for back to school and prayer hands for you. Lonely is such a hard feeling. Glad that you are a part of this community.
I'm praying the day of 5 day a week is in our future here soon as well. I'm sorry you're feeling down. It's so crappy and I have definitely been there. It is absolutely awful. Sending love ❤️
A return to school? YES LORD YES. MAY IT BE SO EVERMORE AMEN.
I feel you on the lonely. It’s a lonely sort of year and mental illness amplifies it so much. I’ve got no soothing words here. But will a hearty “me too” help?
"me too" always helps. ❤️
No one here would romp on that ding dong! I'm so sorry about the loneliness.
I am looking forward to the dance I will do on the day my kids go back to school. And mental illness in a pandemic...I hear you. I told my sister-in-law this morning - I just want to go back to my regualr anxiety, not the pandemic kind.
OMG yes. I saw a meme the other day that was perfect - it said something about when pandemic depression and chronic depression meet seasonal depression...that should be fun! ;)
Praising with you for the kids going back to school - enjoy that mama!! Praying you feel some extra Love today...the loneliness is so hard.
i am so sorry that you are lonely - it is so hard to feel lonely surrounded by people. praying for any insight or breakthrough that will allow to feel seen and be loved as you deserve. praise hands for SCHOOL!
Our beloved Erin H. Moon gets all the credit for this one. :)
Oh my gosh yes. This hit me. I don’t know that I’ve ever been able to give words to it, but this resonates so much.
that is a real feeling! I personally recognize it as my desire for heaven. This is not my real home, and depression makes that so much more evident at times. Thank you!
You’re comment about it making you realize your desire for heaven reminded me of a book I ADORE called “Blessed Are The Misfits” by Brant Hansen. If you have the brain space to read, it’s a good one. I’d go as far to say it’s in my top five favorite books ever.
I've never heard of this one, but I will check it out! Thanks!
🎵Goood mornin' good mornin' its great to stay up late (watching tiktok) good mornin' good mornin' to you!🎶
My only turd for the moment is my freakin' wisdom teeth and lack of dental insurance that is keeping me in pain this week. UGH.
My RIGHT THIS MOMENT treasure is that I mapped out my entire semester's worth of work ahead and think I've found a rhythm that allows me to get sh*t done, and still find rest. I am not good at resting. I am working on that. Today's gonna be a good day, and I'm just gonna keep saying that til I believe it.
I got to go to the local symphony last weekend for freeee cause I know people. my Boy. the symphony performs at our church and he has to work the sound for them, so I get to be ushered in on his arm and hang out in the balcony and enjoy beautiful music and have my heart a little bit healed.
I was on the phone with said Boy last night after class, and I had a moment of "how did I even get here??" - Come October we'll have been on speaking basis of "friends" for a year. November will mark my realization of a crush, December will be a year of *talking*, and then February a year of dating... WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK. where has time gone? how did his Chaos and my Calm find each other and decide to try to make it work?
anyway. the pie for this weekend is Blueberry custard.
I found a LOT of good seratonin hits on tiktok this week (though I can only dream of being the curator that Jillian is 😀)
this chaotic ukulele cover of electric love is EVERYTHING and GORGEOUS https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDyqFLr/
I don't have baby fever *you* have baby fever https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDy9K6s/
Keeping up with the Jones' Fall edition https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDyqbdE/
Is there a support group for this? https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDy4wbC/
MOOD™ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDyQHQy/
My sweet conservative mom didn't know what she was doing when she had NPR on in the car all the time. This one really said *for YOU* https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDyhpXR/
Librarians everywhere are cosigning this one https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDyXrRj/
love you all, and hope to see some familiar faces in the Faith Adjacent book club this month!! I got my copy of The Book of Longings yesterday!
Lol. The cardigans.
<3
"Ask your doctor if coffee is right for you" That got me! 😂
GET OUTTA HERE WITH THAT BABY TIKTOK omg. 😍😍😍
I wonder if there is a word for the feeling you described - realizing where you are and wondering how the actual heck you got there but being so grateful. Such joy for you, Sarah!! 💗
Look into dental schools for your wisdom teeth. Those suckers hurt! But dental schools are loads cheaper!
Thats a good idea!
Blueberry custard sounds delightful!
Cardigans ABSOLUTELY cure sadness! Also, the girl hanging out the car window 😂 Here's to a productive and restful routine! I'm working on that myself for writing, but mostly because I am TOO good at resting. 😬
please send me a slice of blueberry custard asap, thank youuuu. proud of you for finding a rhythm and getting to marvel at the grace of God with chaos and calm intertwining in the most beautiful. praying for further blessings and gathering my mamma mia band ;)
I'll send it by owl this evening :D
and from your lips to God's ears. Thank you very much. there's still a lot to figure out but I like him in my life and I'd like to keep him there.
Aand I will joij you in the support group, and idk why the Fall decoration one really got me, BUT IT DID
it was the sound effects for me! 😂
OMG the baby!! :) And I absolutely agree that cardigans cure sadness. Science.
apple custard sounds amazing!!!!
Well this week has just blown chunks. I’m thankful for our internet gang. I’m currently sitting in the airport waiting to board. My sweet Aunt Kathy aka Wassie went VERY unexpected to be with Jesus. I’m so pissed and broken hearted. While I adore my little town the only way to get to the funeral - that I don’t want to go to but really who does- is to have a 5 hour layover in Charlotte. Please pray that when I get to Charlotte I can get on an earlier flight. I don’t mind the 5 hours of alone time but I just want to get to my people as fast as possible!
Praying ♥️♥️♥️
Your words about her on IG were absolutely beautiful. I’m so sorry for your loss, Erin. Praying for a possible flight change! And for family time as you grieve & remember her. 💗
Thank you. Small town problems there are no other flights to my hometown. So I’ll just read and do so prayer prep! I’m dying to put on my bold lipstick that makes me feel brave but masks ruin everything.
praying for swift and safe travels - and sweet time with your people. <3
I'm so sorry Erin! Praying you'll be able to get an earlier flight ❤
Thank you. I mean I’m shame free and I’ll just nap but I’d rather be with my peeps!
I saw this on Instagram this week - may we all be loved by someone willing to mop their way out of our homes. Praying for you!
The genuine best Wassie’s ever!
Praying!!! And i’m not far from the little destination town - dm me if you need anything 💕💕
Thank you! I wish we were going to Disney instead!
ONE DAY
What a strange week it has been…but that’s not really news, huh?
I have had to make the decision to no longer be the “extra mile” volunteer at church. Or rather, I’ve come to terms with it after seeing how it is an increasingly difficult pursuit, that yields more heartache than joy. I have always been comfortable using all my time, energy, and creativity pouring into different ministries that serve the people in my life. I love it! And I will continue to teach and love the kids in my class with every fiber of my being…but I’m done with the rest. I have had to mentally put it down.
The visual here is not as poetic as a youth camp exercise of writing something on a smooth rock purchased from a craft store and dropping it into body of water in order to “let go and Let God”. It has more of a “tying a ransom note to a brick and hurling it through the window of an abandoned building just so you can hear the glass break and remember what it feels like to feel” vibe. But whatever. You get it.
So now I just have all this “extra mile” energy and I have no idea where to apply it. I think for a while I have assumed that I was out of all types of energy, and that it would dissolve with the rest…because that is certainly a place I have found myself before. But I have to try at something. I have to spend this passion somewhere, because I know that I will spiral SOMETHING FIERCE without a place to apply hope. I’m just in uncharted waters and it’s uncomfortable. Again, you get it.
In the Treasure category – I did get to briefly see my Sunday school kids IRL instead of on a screen, and we made tie-dye masks to celebrate them going back to in-person school next week!
Sometimes just making a choice is the best choice.
What a good choice. What a hard choice. What a brave choice.
I reckon there’s secret places you’ve wanted to use the extra mile energy and haven’t had space to even dream of them fully yet.
Unrelated, there’s a song called Eryn Smith and it’s now stuck in my head. It’s not about you because she’s often half-sober but I mean...
https://open.spotify.com/track/3qPZ6JTMFZHHKPTiDRRoHl?si=sNdH3UjTQcGMxQkjBmU3bQ
Good for you! I have faith you will find the perfect next place for your giving energy.
Good for you for sure! Will be praying for the new lucky destination for that extra mile energy
I know that was a hard choice but good for you!
This week was my first week back to work after taking a much needed 10 day break. Most of the week has been okay and I am thankful for the sweet mercies of having a mostly easy breezy work week. Working from home has been really hard for me the last month - I miss my coworkers and overall work environment. My job isn't my favorite thing, but I work for a great company and team so I've always been able to "bear it", but with working from home for the last 6 months it's reminded me of all the things I'm missing from working in the office and that it may be time to take that career pivot I've been thinking about. I'm scared to be honest because it feels like I'd be taking a risk in the midst of a risky year, but the good thing is I would need to go back to school or take some classes so now may be a perfect time to do that! If any of you have done a career switcharoo, I'd love to hear your experiences and any advice!
Other treasures:
1. Trader Joe's has vegetable "skillet" bags in their bagged salad section and I've been loving them. Most of them are some kind of stir fry type mix but it's been a great way to get my veggies in without having to make an entire side vegetable for one person. All you do is throw it in a pan with oil and add the sauce. Easy peesy!
2. It's fall which means I'm falling asleep watching Gilmore Girls every night. This show will always be my favorite and will always be a balm to me. If it is ever taken off Netflix I will be crushed but then will quickly purchase the entire series on Amazon or iTunes.
3. Away luggage had an incredible sale last week and I got a large carryon bag for 50% off...I'm not really travelling anytime soon BUT I am going on a trip to Israel in October 2021 with Tara Leigh Cobble and Jamie Ivey (I could die just typing that out!) and I am determined to fit all my stuff in this bag for that trip.
4. Lastly, everyone go listen to Tim McGraw's song 7500 OBO. It's cheesy, and kind of odd but it is also a freaking bop. Also notice the violins playing in the background that are the same violin chorus for his song Where the Green Grass Grows...honestly what a masterpiece. I listen to this song when I feel down and need a pick me up even though I can't relate to this song at all haha
Just found mini cornbread biscotti at Trader Joe's and it may be my favorite food find ever there.
That Israel trip sounds like a dream!!
No real career switcharoo advice, but was laid off a few years ago from a job I loved. Going through that taught me a WHOLE lot and am grateful to be in my job today! Had I kept the layoff job, I would have probably been furloughed :( You can do this brave thing!
Morning and look, we made it to another Friday. Good or bad, we are here. WE ARE HERE. I am planning to fly though the comments and comment away and make this fuel my day to be all the better.
A coworker walked in as I was reading some of this and I must have had a furrowed brow and he remarked on how I was making a face. Y'all I'm in a mask. So my eyes and forehead were expressive enough. So there's that. Let's dive right into my list as everyone is getting to know me...so here we go!
1. New kitchen backsplash. So we are in the midst of househunting and doing all the things so we can buy something. And we are making small home repairs to class our small townhouse up a bit. My husband, father-in-law and I did a new backsplash in our kitchen. It meant the kitchen was in major disarray for 2-3 days which ........ guys, I can't handle large home repairs/renos that cause excess mess and make our small house feel even smaller. BUT its done now and its better. It also made me go through 3 sets of cupboards and CLEAN THEM OUT. Needed.
2. Clothing: (a) I got a stitch fix box. I do these quarterly for myself -- I don't know what magic fairies work there but they always end me AMAZING PANTS. I *hate* pants shopping. You want to torture me? Make me go to a store to try on pants. So pretty much anytime Stitch Fix sends me pants that fit. I don't even look at the cost, I just BUY THEM. If anyone wants a referral code, let me know and I can send if you want to try it out (b) I also took the time and put away my shorts and 'summer pants' and picked outfits for ALL my pants in my closet for work outfits. I love doing this and yes, every Saturday I pull outfits for the entire week. This gives me a lot of relief as I hate doing excess thinking at 6:05 am.
3. Podcasts: Getting caught up on many, did I make a list/plan to listen to some I have a backlog of? yes. Lol. Am I also making a plan to just delete some from the list? Yup. Anyone do that? Have a certain season where you find yourself listening to certain ones more than others and others are taken off the roster because you don't NEED that content right now? I totally seem to change my content Fall going into Winter. Today on my list for catch up: Big Boo Cast, Popcast, and Be the Bridge
4. Books: Have plans to finish 2 books this weekend, one will be Thanks a Thousand by A.J. Jacobs (via audiobook) - I really love all of his work and this one has been a nice short remind of all the thankfulness we should have. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39860114-thanks-a-thousand
I am also going to finish Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist, I think this winter I will be reading all of Shauna's book and I plan to make some of her recipes this fall/winter as well. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18908604-bread-wine
And I started this one https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52163643-the-unraveling-of-cassidy-holmes -- but we'll see once I have more time to dive in when I can like the characters.
5. Honey Clementine Yankee candle. Perfect sweet smelling candle that doesn't give me a headache or want to eat something HAHA.
6. Food: Of course my love for all the jam keeps going (we have opened up to day 4 of the Advent calendar) -- also, because its fall Aldi has brought back the Maple Leaf Creme Cookie. Oh I adore these!
7. Facts of Life on dvd from my library. I have made this a fun little binge, and its actually kind of crazy how many of the episodes still hold up with the messaging they have for women. Granted, some of the fashion choices ooooh lordy no. Yes, our house still has a DVD player still and yes we use it a lot. We like to spare our WiFi sometimes from streaming everything and on Friday we also have a movie night with our kids and have been showcasing movies we liked as kids. Tonight? Short Circuit.
8. A turd that fertilized to a treasure........ So we had to cancel the October yellowstone trip with my dad. He made the decision because due to all things Covid his catering business is basically Nil and his income has been impacted. He still has his correctional facility job (for now as the campus he works at is planning to close, so not sure how he will be transferred, etc).... SO in light of this I decided, NO we are still doing SOME sort of family trip. So to the interwebs I went and found a house on Airbnb in the larger tourist town near my dad that is spacious and allows dogs (if we boarded our 2 senior spoiled dogs they'd probably die). So a long weekend is happening. And yes I have already been researching take out food options and tap rooms I will be hitting when there. ;)
Okay, now time to make my son's Scholastic Book Order -- yes school still do book orders! And he reviewed the many options and said to me in his pure 7 year old way "mom, I found something I kind of want, but its a little expensive....." ---> it was $7.
He is so my son when it comes to buying things for himself
Hope this finds everyone well in your corners of the world,
Love from MN
Mel
I would like your Stitch Fix code. I think I need to give them a try since there have been several positive comments on their choice of pants. Shopping for pants (and shorts) is hard and I really don't like most of the ones I own.
Here you go! https://www.stitchfix.com/invite/ygy5shvcd5?sod=w&som=c
MEL! The Yellowstone trip!!!
I'm so proud of you for figuring something out, but sorry you guar are losing out on that amazing trip.
I'm also proud of you for the stitch fix box, and I want messenger pics of that backsplash, PRONTO. #needy
Ahem. I have Bread and Wine in my "unread" pile. I didn't know you had it, too. (giggles to herself with glee)
Hey girl hey, now while I know we connected last night, I wanted to reply to this.......because I'm me.
Glad you approve of my backsplash ;)
And yes, finding the house to rent and knowing my dad can come up for at least one of the days is so nice. Then he's coming down to OUR neck of the woods the following week, so I will get some nice face time with him, so yay!
We both have a fun 'unread' pile we need to read through. I say bump up Bread & Wine, you won't regret it. We should crosscheck our piles and see what other books align.
Facts of Life!! I need to watch these DVDs. I think Punky Brewster will also be a must-watch.
The rewatch has been a lot of fun. I'm still in S1, hope to start S2 this week! Is there still a Punky reboot happening??
I haven't heard of the reboot being cancelled, so I hope it's still in the works.
Re #3: I have SO MANY podcast episodes backlogged. I've tried to delete episodes but I always get so nervous I might miss something important. 🤷♀️🤦♀️
"A turd that fertilized to a treasure" I love that phrasing! And that you get to go on a little trip with your dad!
I feel the seasonal podcast thing. Mostly the issue is if I find a new one to listen to, one of the oldies has got to go. I used to be a die-hard Jamie Ivey podcast listener, but then I started listening to so many more and had to cut something. Honestly, weirdly, if a podcast starts producing too much content I kinda stop listening because I can't keep up... #completionistproblems
I feel this! This is one of the reasons I don't support podcasts on Patreon. I don't have time to listen to the bonus material! 😂
I only do Patreon for The Popcast and Big Boo Cast....I thought about another, but I am sort of debating it -- which for me, if in doubt? GO WITHOUT haha.
Now that's just a good life motto! ;)
I'm not allowed to even consider Patreon until I've listened to everything in my queue. Which works out great since I can't afford it anyway. 😂
That was 100% how my mom raised me....it applies so well to so many areas of life.
SAME! Like I kinda feel like a bad friend but I can barely keep up with the free content! lol
Exactly!!!
For me it's also I look for certain genres in certain seasons as they feed me in a different way. Like I only listen to Emily Freeman's podcast in the Fall/Winter months and journal on them because I feel I need her level of comfort, so I just attack her back catalog and listen to one every day. I need her kindness and tone at that time of the year and NOT as much in the summer months -- if that makes ANY sense?
About Bread & Wine - Shauna’s bacon wrapped dates are actually perfection. 🙏
I have made something like that before and --- holllly schmolllleeey dangerous.
The Aldi maple cremes are accidentally vegan, which makes me excited!! I got the caramel apple this week because I can only handle one sweet treat in my house a week!
I hope you have the best family get away, sounds like you all need it!!
Thanks Rachel!
Wow, score that they are vegan too. I didn't even notice that. I am more team savory than sweet, but these maple cookies, just one of them gets me that perfectly little treat I need.
I'm so glad you are making the pivot for the trip with your dad!
He lives close to where we are going so its a really ideal pivot :)
I will now be looking for turds which have fertilized into treasures...that metaphor makes me unreasonably happy.
I feel that I have to find the bright side of any turd sitch to see what it has become or else I'll just end up crying right? Also, can we talk about how my new hobby is scrolling Airbnb for places I might rent in my area to go hide away from my family? Is that bad? I want to just rent something for like 2 days and get a BREAK!
Ahhh! I want to respond to everything your listed. Same on so, so many. I purge/delete things from my podcast list - you are not alone. I'm also reading Bread & Wine by Shanna Niequist. I'm trying to pace myself and savor it, so I only read a chapter a day as part of my morning. We're making the goat cheese biscuits for breakfast on Sunday. I'm trying to practice self control, but I can't not comment on Scholastic Book Orders. I love when the scholastic form comes home from school. So nostalgic. I can turn down lots of the kids "I wants" but I can never say no to books.
Bread and Wine is still one of my favorites. I read it years ago, but still pick it up sometimes when I need to feel like I'm having coffee with a wise friend. The recipes are legit too. The blueberry crisp is a regular around here.
Yes, I just love her realness. I get that real true and loved feeling. I will be reading all her books.
HA! I welcome the big reply. Respond away!
I plan to make her recipe for the modified Cassoulet that sounds amazing.
Scholastic book fairs. I CANNOT WAIT. I loved those so much as a kid and I can't wait for that phase. We will buy ALL THE THINGS. Your son sounds precious. <3
My 7 year old (Lincoln) is a delight and I'm just so happy they still bring home those newsprinted book lists. I do try to buy from them here and there, but we also use them as models of books to get from our library.
I completely agree about Stitch Fix pants! How is it possible? I wish I understood and could do it all by myself, but until that day comes, I save up my spending money and splurge on the Stitch Fix magic every so often.
They are truly magicians. I get annoyed when they have brands that are solely theirs and you can only buy them through their website, but have I done it? YES.
I just scheduled my Fall stitch fix (fall is the only time I care about fashion) last night!! co-signing on the fit of the pants they send. they've been magical.
Like how do they know this sizing magic? Like no weird waist-butt gap? Things that actually perfectly fit. It's some sisterhood of the magical pants situation. And I am HERE.FOR.IT
Scholastic book orders! Book fairs were my favorite growing up and I loved bringing that sheet home and picking out something I wanted.
We have/had a physical book fair a couple times a year I let him buy something from. But yes totally going to get him the 'expensive' book because he so deserves it. Plus that glee of getting the book delivered at school is such a flex (ha).
What is it about magic Stitch Fix pants?! That has also been my experience! The tops are hit or miss for me (thanks garment industry for discounting my chest size) I totally listen to certain podcasts seasonally!
Can’t recommend Michelle Obama’s new podcast as a work soundtrack
wow *can't recommend ENOUGH* get on it, even on spotify only
What does it say about me that I knew exactly what you said? ;) But I plan to powerbinge her. I'm scared she will make me cry at work. I try to keep my podcasts during work hours as ones that won't bring on sporadic or unintentional crying.
The tops are an issue for me too sometimes. I'm sort of inbetween a S & a M and sometimes I want flowy, sometimes I don't want to be a shapeless cloud of a person. But I have been VERY clear that I don't want to look like a 40something try hard. If everything in the box can all go together, then its magic and I buy it all.
Michelle's podcast is on my list!
I'm not sure how I have acquired so many pants, because I can't remember ever willingly going into a store to shop for them. It's a terrible exercise. Blessings on all the Stitch Fix Pant Fairies!!!
I realized my pants are mostly from Stitch Fix lately. I have a couple pairs of old Navy jeans that are getting too worn and I now consider those "weekend pants" but Target has sort of fallen out of favor for me and what I can rely on (I miss Merona). So the Stitch Fix Fairies get all my love.
Welp, we were scheduled to take our van to the shop this morning, and the plan was to use the other car to drop off my daughter at school, then pick up my husband at the mechanic's, but the battery is dead on the other car. So that's an annoying way to start Friday.
On the Treasure side, I've been listening to the Cormoran Strike novels by Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling, and I'm almost done with the fourth one. The mystery element is fine, whatever, but what I'm really here for is the relationship stuff. Gah. So heartwrenching and sweet and frustrating and perfect.
Boo for car trouble. Hope the rest of your Friday was better than the morning.
I LOVE the Cormorant Strike novels. And yes, it's all about the relationships.
Good morning!!
1. I rage/anxiety/disgusted with the world cleaned my kitchen floor grout last night. Can I make people stop being scum? Nope. But I can scrape the scum off my grout. So that’s what I did. Also discovered my grey grout is actually supposed to be tan so THAT’S GREAT.
2. Call the Midwife is back and GBBO will be back next Friday! 🥰 British tv is the warm comfy blanket 2020 needs.
3. Speaking of warm comfy blankets, I may actually use one next week! Usually September in Georgia is basically July 2.0 but this year we’re getting some cool fall temps. Ahhh...
4. I’m 100% jealous of everyone recommending Trader Joe’s/Aldi products. Curse my small rural town! I normally drive over an hour for occasional TJ’s trips but the closest one is in Athens, GA which is basically a COVID hot tub right now so I’m avoiding it. So here I sit with no cilantro salad dressing. 😭
British TV is the best!
I paid a small fortune to have all the tile in my house removed because of my deep hatred of grout.
Both of my bathrooms have the original tile from the 50s not only on the floor but on the wall. I love it but also hate it 😂
Ooo 1950s tile maybe to special to bust out! I did paint my grout once when it would not stay white.
How did you get your grout so clean might I ask? Any special concoction of chemicals?
The liquid Bar Keepers Friend! I spread it on, let it sit for a minute, then used a grout brush to scrub! Wipe off the excess with a wet rag and then I steam mopped the entire floor when I was done.
This is a treasure for sure!!!
I haven't watched Call the Midwife in a few seasons - but I think I need to pick it up again. #Chummy And obvi GBBO is a must!
When I was 42 weeks (YES 42) pregnant back in March I decided to start rewatching from the beginning. I was hoping watching all of the babies being born would encourage mine to come out 😂 It worked!
Chummy is my favorite! It hasn’t been the same since she left 😢
No Aldi in Colorado either, and when I visit my parents in Illinois they're like, "You want to go where, now?" When I was growing up there, Aldi was the domain of the impoverished and the grad student families (🙋🏼♀️), so its renaissance as a desirable purveyor of quirky snacks and seasonal items is still super weird to us.
Ha yes! There is an Aldi about an hour away but the ease of Walmart grocery pickup keeps me a faithful customer. Who wants to drive an hour with 3 kids to shop during a pandemic?! 😂
I’m so thankful for this newsletter especially today because I quit social media this week! I was so worried about all the things I’m going to miss out on so thanks for all of your treasures!!
Did anyone else jump off the social media train this week?
I just jumped of Twitter and I am on Instagram but have suuuuuch a closely guarded feed so the content is gentle and wonderful.
I need to edit my feed but I fear I’m in addiction territory with my phone and social media. It has been a breath of fresh air for my brain these last few days- I’m sure you feel that off of Twitter!
Yes basically avoiding some of the news in general brings me a lot of peace right now
The default is turds but a couple stick out: (1) The hazy sun here in Michigan due to the fires out west was slightly terrifying and quite erie. I texted my sister's, "are we all gonna die? I can see the sun this morning plain as day and it looks weird." My son asked why he could actually look into the sun and my daughter asked is that the moon? Why is it red 😂. There was a whole lot of confusion until I read it was from the fires out west. Yes, it was pretty to look at I suppose but IT. AIN'T. RIGHT. I'm so worried about mother earth and it's inhabitants. (2) my alarmist cousin chat lit up last night due to EEE a type of deadly encephalitis passed by mosquitos has killed like 22 horses here and Michigan and if passed to humans is pretty deadly. They're currently spraying our state to kill the mosquitos, people have to avoid evening activities and use DEET spray. As if we don't have enough to worry about...needless to say it took a minute to fall asleep 😂.
Treasures: 1.have you ever had a Milka bar? I'm not a fan of milk chocolate normally but I ate two king sized bars this IN BED this week and I am not mad at them. Have you had a dark chocolate Ritter Sport with hazelnuts? Transformative. Unfortunately all the stress has made me a chocolate bar expert. Treasure or turd? You decide.
2. My husband also pissed me way off the other day and I ROSE ABOVE IT which never happens.
3. my brother in law made plans to come over and organize my kitchen cabinets because he wanted to get out of my sister's (his wife's) work picnic 😂. Win-win for me!
Keep afloat friends! We've made it another week. Now for a shower and a Starbucks on this Friday. Happy Friday lil swipes friends!
When live in germany Ritter was my chocolate of choice!!
I love a good feelings treat.
Milka bars were my fave after school snack once a week when I studied in France, and OH THE VARIETIES. Praying for safety, and what wonderful treasures!
Number 3 is just magic! I wish my brother in law had a picnic he wanted to get out of 😉
Have you had a dark chocolate Ritter Sport with hazelnuts? --> YES! I hide them from my family. They are a DELIGHT
They are so so so good!
They are new to me. I've seen them for years and was put off by the "sport" part. Like whats sporty about them? 😂. Because I'm gonna have to exercise after eating the whole thing?? Worth it. The hazelnuts are whole and generously distributed. Amazingly Delicious
OMG, I had to look as to WHY they were called that and the INTERNET DELIVERED
Why Ritter Sport name?
In 1912 Alfred and Clara Ritter founded a chocolate factory in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. ... The chocolate brand known today, Ritter's Sport Schokolade, was launched in 1932 after Clara suggested creating a chocolate bar that would fit into every sport jacket pocket without breaking but weighed the same as a normal bar.
I officially love the Ritters and their logic
Ok, this fact is now my favorite treasure of the week!
LMAO 🤣 I love it. Now a devotee. It IS very important that candy bars fit into a jacket pocket!
Right? Like let's normalize food that fits well in pockets! haha
The World Market candy section is heaven!
I will look for those! I found these milka at a little local Lebanese owned supermarket where they carry random things. I had the oreo and hazelnut and they were both great
Good morning, friends! I'm just gonna dive right in, my brain has little capacity for writing that isn't in a list form today :)
- I have a new favorite mid morning snack. The Snack Selects from Aldi - particularly the cherry juice infused dried cranberries with roasted cashews. So good!
- Our ambience video for the week - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJd62YiTjWw&t=44s&ab_channel=ImmerseInNature This one might be my favorite.
- The caramel sauce someone posted last week. Forgive me for not remembering names, I try, but there are so many.
- This rendition of "Getcha Head in the Game" - https://www.instagram.com/p/CE-gkGhlnKE/?igshid=153m184vx6hk3
- I reconciled with a friend after not talking over a year. It's a long complicated story, but the short version is: we stopped talking because I had to put some boundaries in place. All is apologized for and forgiven now, and it feels nice to be able to chat with him again.
- Pantsuit Politics episode from 9/11 titled "Wildfires, Woodward, and the Weight of the Work". I listened twice in one day, it was just what my heart needed to hear.
Sticking with treasures today, because the other stuff feels like too much.
You found us one with a Christmas tree! You have my heart...
glad someone else loves it as much as I do!
The sauce was me!
I’m so glad it delighted you.
May it be drizzled everywhere.
Listen, most of it never even made it out of the pot :)
Love the ambiance videos. You inspired me to find some videos to use for our little at home classroom ambiance and I found some Harry Potter ones to surprise my girls with next week. So excited.
Aw yay! We like harry potter in my room too, that typically comes out at Halloween and Christmas :) We're all about anything that makes our classroom feel cozy.
i am so glad to hear about a friend reconciliation!! i love that getcha head in the game too, it makes me laugh EVERY TIME. have been saving the Pantsuit Politics ep, but will listen today! Thank you!
keep going even when it's tough <3
Thank you! <3 The friend reconciliation was out of the blue but has definitely made the week better. Ohmygosh yes! I laughed soooo hard at that getcha head in the game. I was saving the episode too, but my sister texted and said I had to listen; she was right :)
Hi friends!
The existence of the We Got You club makes my heart want to explode. This is the best corner of the internet, hands down.
TURDS:
Everything. 2020 is breaking me, y’all. And the only thing that comforts me is eating Dot’s pretzels like there’s no tomorrow. Processed carbohydrates are at the top of my MVP list this year.
TREASURES:
THE NEW SEASON OF THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW STARTS ON NETFLIX NEXT FRIDAY! Is it weird that I got choked up the second I heard? It is the warm hug in a fuzzy blanket we all need so badly right now, and if you haven’t watched yet, GSE. (Were any of you in sororities who said GSE? Get so excited? 😅 My sister’s sorority said it all the time - GSE for our fundraiser this month! GSE for finals being over next week! - and now my husband and I say it all the time. GSE for meatloaf tonight! GSE for a negative Covid test! It started as a joke but now we legit can’t stop. 😂)
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDr4dNk/
If you have read any new YA novel lately, I hope this is as hilarious to you as it is to me.
I mentioned it last week, but a little while ago I decided to start a Facebook meme ministry where I save my favorites and do giant meme dumps a couple times a week. It’s my version of the Care Bear Stare at all the 2020 ugliness, and it’s the one thing I feel good about this year.😅 Here are links to this week’s editions:
https://www.facebook.com/1213981950/posts/10224071685639289/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/1213981950/posts/10224052851048436/?d=n
Also, God bless the dogs and the babies.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPlIGBAA4y/?igshid=msq5uia1nbmk
The Dorothy face at the pumpkin patch! I laughed so hard I almost cried!
Yes! Yes! Yes to all of this! GSE Dots! GSE GBBS! Looking forward to perusing the Meme Ministry a little later.
YES to GBBS and YES to We Got You!
THANK YOU for the meme round up this week - bookmarking!
and we did not say GSE, but i am sure there were many equally annoying things we said LOLOLOLOL
I am so ready for the new season of GBBS!
Yessss...my friend and her husband do a baker draft after the first show and I think we’re joining them this year. 😂
Amazing!
I need this in my life!
At the very beginning of the first episode, before we even see the results of the first bake, my husband and I always pick who we think will be the overall winner. It’s amazing how well we’ve both done!
Oh that sounds like such fun!
Looking forward to that Pumpkin Honey Simple Syrup! I also made a pretty good pumpkin smoothie with a bit of coffee in it, so if smoothies are your jam, here you go: https://www.liveeatlearn.com/healthy-pumpkin-smoothie/
Truly feeling the getting close to pushing through the pain. Had a beautiful Sunday of rest (thanks Megan for starting that Sabbath convo a few weeks ago!) and made it through to Thursday, where the wheels fell off, but Lord, if I didn’t make it to the end of the day on His grace alone. Started off with copious amounts of dog blood (“this will be quick chore to trim nails”) which triggered fight/flight brain, which took my day’s alloted energy. I am so grateful for today 😂😂
I have been sending a lot of snail mail cards recently, and I thought of the Lil Swipes! If you care to get one, message me your address at jilliankmf [at] gmail .
And now, a jumbo sized Tiktok roundup, if only cause I needed all of these this week.
Household Creed - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAxcGEa/
Hands down the best story I’ve seen - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAQr2EW/
The Search for Boone’s Blue Ball - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAxw6cV/
Office Hours Be Like - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAQkkPn/
Pleasant dreams! - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAQjjp1/
Specifically for Sarah P - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAQrwNG/
Bathing dogs in this house, certified treats 7 days a week - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAV1h4o/
“When a Ravenclaw is calmly studying in the library and a drunk Gryffindor comes running through” - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJA4pWyu/
The year is 1864 - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJA4G1mk/
Somehow, I think Annie B Jones would be uncomfortable with the handsomeness quotient in this? - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJA4KSkq/
idk why autotune dramatic readings slay me, but they do - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAVexCu/
Aesthetic - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJATsDFw/
BBB - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJATpEa4/
And since it’s been awhile for an LMM appearance - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAw8qj4/
😼🎹 - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJAwRm9f/
(NSFW but hilarious) Madrigal WAP - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJD1mNDw/
🦖🦖🦕🦕 part 2 - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJD6gNfK/
WHAT CAN’T MHN DO?! - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDU6wdY/
And finally, wow - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDdAKBn/
For the TikTok ministry of Jillian, oh Lord, we give thanks.
I'm still recovering from last night when I lay in my bed crying because I didn't know where my wallet was (I found it this morning), and even though I knew it wasn't a big deal, it was the last thing on a heap of a week. But I am now crying happy tears after watching all of these tik toks. So thank you.
i hate that straw and the guilt you feel mid-crying sesh because you know it's not a big deal, but it is ALL A BIG DEAL. i am glad for the relief of happy tears of laughter! :)
Jillian, gold as always! As a former orchestra member, the choir director mouthing "great job everyone" at the end of the choral WAP was SO SPOT ON. I died. I didn't realize the LMM vacuum I had in my heart, so thanks for that one. I'm enjoying the Meteor/Meatier riffs and hope there are others, and it was cool to see the lady behind all the beautiful MHN art!
i live for a conductor affirmation - one of my friends who is a high school choral director shared this after she accidentally shared her screen and her students could see that WAP was high on her recently played list :D - also hoping for more dinos!
JILLIAN. YOU GEM. I squealed at that Secret Tunnel one! your list is impeccable this week! I hope you and brinkley are sufficiently recovered after yesterday! 💛
just for you my friend! and we are working on the extra treatos! but on the downward stretch <3
Possum King! Made my morning!
i cried laughing at that one - what a strong finale.
LOLOLOLOL at the cat piano!! I needed that so hard. (I may have peed a little.)
LIKEWISE :D i love some 80s/90s synth keyboard
I hope you and your dog are both ok now. Thank you for a lovely tiktok summary. The possum one is so wholesome
we are both much better after a full night's sleep! and you are so welcome!
I also needed a jumbo sized roundup this week so thank you! I can't pick a favorite, these were gold!
my favorite kind! runs the gamut, hits all the notes :)
Snail mail is such a lost art and I am here for it! Such a good idea!
Just reading about your dog made my blood pressure go up in solidarity. I h-a-t-e doing that and completely feel you on it taking your energy for the day. You made it to the weekend you’re doing great!!
And now I’m going to binge your tiktoks bc that’s the best part of Friday mornings.😉
thank you friend! it was such an offhand decision with so many consequences LOL
Possums. Boone’s ball. Hostile ball of yarn. The man being the cobra 😂
👏🏻 Amazing roundup, Jillian!! 👏🏻
a true cornucopia hahahahah
UGHHH I saw your story about your dog’s nail 😫 That is always my worst fear when clipping my cat’s nails... also probably why his nails are way too long most of the time 🙈 So sorry that happened. Praaaaise the Lord for new mercies each morning, amirite?!
Will be emailing you for snail mail ☺️ & saving the TikTok roundup for quiet time later 🙌
truly PTL for new mercies - and can't wait to hear what you think!
Laughed so loud at the Creed one. Like. Wow. And MHN IS THE ABSOLUTE QUEEN. I love her so much. Thanks for these 😍😍
Oh the horrid dog blood from nail trims! I may have nail trimming ptsd and now refuse to trim my dogs nails. My husband has to do it or else I just go into fight or flight mode, too! I’m so sorry that started off your week 🙈 Looking forward to looking through your treasures!
SAME. I nicked two of my dog's quicks the first and last time I tried trimming myself and will NEVER go through that massacre again. $10 at the vet is a worthy treat.
i am going to buy one of the "grinders" to allow me to continue being cheap and avoid the blood :) and enjoy!
truly! i love IDGAF cat - gonna feel like him tomorrow!
love this :)
likewise, it is just too good
thank you my friend for the seal of approval! :)
Dearest Swipes. Picture me waving to you from face down on my floor. I’m EXHAUSTED. I mean, exhaustion is just the norm at this point, but I’m feeling a special kind this week.
My oldest started preschool this week, and I’m super grateful for the staff for being so kind as we all navigate the bizzaro changes for this year. My son has some anxiety about going, & I don’t think it has everything to do with the masks/distancing, but more so to do with being away from home after not having school since March! His sweet little heart is feeling so many big things, & we are definitely dealing with it at home, but I’m so proud of him.
Okay treasures!
📖Finished “Kill The Spider” by Carlos Whittaker this week and wow. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a counselor and he literally wrote about his experience in a week-long counseling intensive but this book was FASCINATING and humbling and beautiful and I love the Whittakers so very much. Super grateful he was willing to share this story with the world. I’d also say the book is a testament to how powerful group therapy can be.
🙏Speaking of - I have a counseling appointment later this morning. Always a mixture of nerves and gratitude as it gets closer to time to go.
🎶I am in a very happy, loving marriage but YOU GUYS I love a good breakup song. This acoustic version of “Stayaway” by MUNA is unbelievable and I can’t get enough: https://open.spotify.com/track/38TDGceS2vVyOxIdU4n9ZU?si=vLD69sMVQBGO7JcLSGntwA
😎Anthony Ramos rollin’ into the VMA’s like John Laurens in the place to be: https://twitter.com/hamiltonmusical/status/1300236579055833088?s=21
Okay, that’s all from me this week. V excited for Comfortable Together!! Peace, y’all ✌️
Carlos is my favorite pandemic IG account add, and I have told him as much. And in true Carlos fashion, he replied.
He is just the most kind.
Carlos is a gem of a human.
AGREED.
Oh, your sweet little boy. I hope it gets easier for him. Well done him and you for getting through the first week!
Thank you, friend! I’m very hopeful ☺️
I'm just over here wondering why you have yet to comment on Erin's Tom Felton content. LOL LOL.
ASHLEY 🤣🤣🤣 I’m cracking up. I was literally JUST thinking “OH NO I forgot to mention Tom!!!” And then your comment shows up. Thanks for lookin’ out for me 😆
The video is perfect. His glasses are everything. 🙏🙏🙏
Yay for making it through the first week of preschool!! That’s huge for him and for you! And I hope you have a great counseling appointment today - I feel that way going in every time. Way to go doing the hard things, mama.
Thank you so much!! Feeling grateful all around. 💗
I hope you get a lot out of your counseling appt today! I know what you mean💕💕 glad your sweetie had a good time at preschool, and I am gonna try to replicate a little John Laurens swagger 😂😂
Thanks, friend!! And YES gotta channel all the JL swag 😆
Hello friends! Well this weekend marks one year since I was blindsided by a traumatic betrayal and breakup. One that felt like my world was ending. But you know what? I’m doing really well. Don’t get me wrong, the pain lingers and I can get so angry about it some days, but I know myself so much better now than I did a year ago. I’m growing and challenging myself (yay for therapy!). I’m surviving a pandemic while single. Even though my world was shattered, I picked up most of the pieces and abandoned the ones that didn’t serve me, and I’m really proud of myself. I wish I could forget the date on the calendar, but it feels important to acknowledge the progress I’ve made. My best friend told me this week that she’s so excited to get older because you get to know yourself better: who you are and what you want. I’m choosing to embrace that mindset and keep figuring out who I am 😊
Treasures for this week
- Dark Chocolate Oreos. These aren’t a new discovery for me, but every time I eat one, I am filled with joy. They’re the only ones I buy now
- Setting my video call background as the painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware. I find it hilarious, and the reactions are either “hey you’re crossing the Delaware!” (Validation) or “What’s that?” (Educational opportunity)
- Target hanging closet organizers! https://www.target.com/p/3-shelf-hanging-fabric-storage-organizer-light-gray-made-by-design-8482/-/A-53170341 I optimistically/prematurely pulled out my fall and winter clothes, and my closet now looks like a store with my sweaters on display
- Rewatching Beyoncé’s Homecoming on Netflix. She’s just incredible
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Stay safe and healthy! 😊
Well done, Avery. Making it through all the "firsts" of holidays, anniversaries, etc. is a huge victory after a hard breakup. You're doing it!
You should be so proud of yourself. Picking up the pieces and discarding the ones that do not serve you is important work, but so hard. Post divorce I mentioned wishing I could erase our wedding date from the calendar and a good friend told me that even though the date never goes away it does get easier each year and now 5 years removed I can say she's right. I LOVE your friends insight and could not agree more!
Good for you!! Therapy is such hard, brutiful work - way to go putting in the time and heart and vulnerability. That is awesome!! I love getting older for the same reason - it makes me want to cry, coming back to myself. Also, Washington crossing the Delaware- that made my morning.😂 It’s the little things.
Go, girl!! I totally agree with your friend re: getting older. What a gift to be able to see your progress. And YESSS Homecoming! 💗
Proud of you! Some days are harder than others, and being single in these times is ruff stuff. Keep going!
And Homecoming will never not make me happy!
Thank you, Jillian! ☺️
Happy Friday, all. We made it!
My little corner of Kansas made the national news this week for some negative reasons (as many university cities are lately), but this article about a local restaurant owner gave me hope that maybe my whole town isn’t a dumpster fire: https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/diners-coronavirus-kansas-reopen/2020/09/14/b8cd1b6a-d33e-11ea-8d32-1ebf4e9d8e0d_story.html
Also, Paul Rudd trying to get Millennials to wear masks was 🤣: https://twitter.com/nygovcuomo/status/1305612543801647104?s=21
My first-born turns 8 in one week and I am feeling a lot of feels about it. 8 just seems so big to me for some reason. 😭 So I have been doing a lot of retail therapy lately - mostly used books, but I also purchased these LS shirts from ON (I am a sucker for thumb holes) and they have become my new favorite transition shirt: https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=552860062&pcid=999&vid=1&&searchText=lightweight%20boat%20neck%20long%20sleeve#pdp-page-content
I started The Book of Longings this week for Bible Binge Book Club and whew - I cannot wait to discuss this with others.
That’s all from this flyover state. Hope you all have a great weekend!
I can't believe Paul Rudd is 51 BUT ALSO millennials ARE wearing masks! He needs to be talking to my Gen Z college kids
Paul Rudd is 51? I'm done.
You're not wrong. We drove by a house party last weekend on campus and...I wanted to yell some very not nice things at the unmasked college kids...
He actually does say Millennials, so you weren't wrong -- he is! haha :)
I could not stop laughing at the Paul Rudd video!
My favorite was when he just gives up and starts yelling...I was in stitches!
YES! That's when I cried with laughter! :)
Buying a silly number of those long sleeve thumb hole shirts immediately!
Happy birthday to your oldest. I understand all the feels, my first-born turns 11 this week.
I don't know what it is about the thumb hole - I just feel more cozy with them! And happy birthday to your first-born, too!
Thumb holes are everything I never knew I always wanted. And happy birthday your buddy!!
Right?? And thanks!
Happy birthday to your first born!
Thank-you!
Paul Rudd is such a delight!
Truly!
Preach.
This seems like a safe community and I really don’t know where else to ask.....Thirdlove bras?? Yay or nay? I see them all over the socials but wonder if anyone has tried them. Thanks!
A nay for me.
I have only tried the t-shirt bra and liked it. It really just became the means for me to find the right bra size and for that reason alone, I think it was worth the money. I've thought about reordering more but I work from home right now and don't see the point in buying more normal bras when I wear athleisure 90% of the week now...
The T-shirt bra worked great, the wireless one not so much, regardless of fit. Finding all the ways to lift and contain and cover ain’t easy.😂
I like them for regular bras and not having to go into a store to try on. My fave are the more cotton ones which are still comfy in Florida Heat
I'm personally a nay. For their price and all their 'fit finder' logic they still didn't fit me AS well as I wanted it to.
HA same and they gave me a weird side boobage. Know what I don't need at 43? Side boob spillage.
This thread gave me mid-morning lols. Thanks, gals.
Erin! I am trying to access the We Got You Club list but it’s only letting me View, not edit it.
Your intro. I laughed and cried a little when I read it after really feeling the weight of all the things this week. So thankful for your humor and honesty.
And my treasure for the week. 365 Heavy Cream at Whole Foods. It’s the closest I’ve found to double cream and is mentally taking me back to London each morning.
What is double cream and why don’t I know about it?!?
It’s cream that they have in England and it has more cream than milk. The closet thing we have here is heavy whipping cream but this particular 365 cream has a higher milk fat content so it’s the closest thing to double cream I’ve found. I use it in my coffee and is wonderful!
Confession: earlier this summer I also had to insulate myself from all the sadness for my own health and I listened to ALL oh the Harry Potter books on audio. It was a 3 month thick weighed blanket and helped me face the world again.
This week I rewatched About Time and if you need a warm hug this is the movie for you! Fantastic dialogue and heart warming plot that will help you remember each day is a gift.
I've been listening to the HP books on Audible to fall asleep at night, with the sleep timer feature - something so comforting about it!
That sleep timer is life changing!
I have such a girl crush on Rachel McAdams and has completely forgotten About Time - I need to add that to my weekend list!
I looooove the Harry Potter books on audio. Jim Dale as a reader? PERFECTION!
I love About Time!
Okay I definitely need to watch About Time again. I haven’t seen it since college! Sounds like exactly the kind of movie I need right now. Also YAY for HP! 🙏⚡️
An underrated movie, About Time! We might have to add it to the official Fall Canon of movies 😂
Yes! Such a cozy feel good movie! It's on Netflix
Is it user error that I can't add to the We Got You list? It says I have to request access to edit. Thanks!
Same thing is happening to me!
I think I’ve mentioned how obsessed with Aldi I am, right? Anyway, their $3.99 candles are the very best but the fall line this year is perfection. If you can get one before the crazies buy them all, do it!
We’ve had some massive growth at my little church in the last month. During *all of this*the growing pains seem to be even harder to navigate. We are trying to make everyone feel safe and comfortable but inevitably someone feels unseen or unheard. I’m having trouble balancing all the balls of my specific ministries. One is doing well and one is floundering. But tomorrow is Sabbath so I can leave my worry at the feet of Jesus for one day!
Have a great Friday!
A good reminder that I don't take advantage of Aldi nearly enough. Prayers as you navigate the "growing pains" and the challenges of balancing everyone's comfort and safety.
Aldi is legit the best! Thank you for the prayers. We definitely need them!
ALDI IS THE BEST! (Caps intended!) -- but, here's a turd for me for the week. They REARRANGED my local Aldi's layout. I cannot find anything! AAAAH LOL
UMM no m’am, you do not rearrange the Aldi without notice!
My husband, knowing me well, came home (we take turns on who grocery shops) and he's all "I have bad news about Aldi, I need you to prepare yourself" and he explained how they rearranged the layout. And I gasped. I was like "NO! I can write you a thesis on exactly where everything was on the list, what did they do??! I need details" -- and he couldn't give them to me! He just warned me that everything sort of turned on one axis and switched and yeah. I went in and had to brace myself when I went this weekend. The reason I love Aldi and Trader Joes is the small size and knowing where to find basically everything quickly. It's why places like Costco give me hives, I can't handle the literal largeness and TOO MANY THINGS. So yes. It might take me another week. But good news -- the wall of cheese and dippy things is in the same place.
This sounds like a nightmare. Half of the fun of aldi is finding the hidden gems amongst the common goods! My biggest beef during covid has been that my store puts all the finds for the week in one aisle. Where is the fun in that, aldi??
Same here. I've only shopped at aldi and what we call green Wal-Mart, it's a smaller grocery only walmart, since covid.
will be praying for the growing pains! that stuff is HARD
It really is so thank you for the prayers!
The Aldi candles are a hidden gem!! Going to check them out today - thank you.😊
You’re welcome! They smell better than bath and body works!!
I've got the apple cider candle in my kitchen - I love it.
I just started that one last night, so good!
Baby Yoda watching his Mandalorian Season 2 trailer is giving me LIFE:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJDUT5na/
Also this account bakes with Baby Yoda, and it never fails to make me smile! 😊
I just binged Mandalorian this weekend and LOVED it! So excited for s2!
Fall is my favorite season so I may have to try Bri's pumpkin syrup.
No turds this week - I have today off so am feeling all the silver linings this morning.
The good: I found the magic potion that works on my curls and will be using it henceforth until discontinued as is my wont when finding the perfect hair product. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0106OMRH8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My campus of over 35,000 students only has 52 confirmed COVID cases as of this morning. I just don't want everyone to get complacent now. I need everyone to continue staying on course and following our plans.
My husband is the VP of his small engineering firm. He just started his MBA and is in the process of becoming part owner with the goal of transitioning to sole owner when the current owner decides to retire. He's also trying to grow the firm at the same time. I am so excited for him and his goals and opportunities. It also means I am picking up more of the household slack. I may internally gripe about this as I'm cleaning the cat litter for the millionth time, but I will give credit where it is due. My husband's love language is gift giving and in recognition of my extra efforts keeping the house moving and caring for our toddler in support of this temporary crazy time, he has gifted me a Peloton. It arrives October 8 and I am marking the days off on my calendar like a kid in school marking off days until vacation.
Final bright spot: my 14 month old has discovered the joy of Mickey Mouse and to see his excitement over recognizing Mickey on his t shirts and such makes me smile.
Magic curl cream is worthy of our celebration!
A peloton! What a sweet gift.
Fall is also my favorite! Checking out the curl magic, because while I am not a Curly Girl I have an 11 year old who is and it's a totally different ball game. Thanks for sharing.
AHHHH! What great treasures! I ordered a Peloton (oddly enough to arrive the same day!) but just upgraded my purchase to the Bike+ (speaking of Treat Yo Self, Dana). Let me know your leaderboard name when you get set up!
Will do!
A Peloton!! I can’t wait to hear what you think - I resisted for so long and lately I’m super intrigued. Three cheers for being recognized at home! 🙌 And yay for Low Covid numbers - fingers crossed that trend continues.🤞
I wish I had a peloton!! Enjoy!
I want the peloton treadmill. SOOOO badly.
It's Spring here but you bet I'm making Bri's pumpkin syrup.
This week I went to my old theological college and did a lecture about self-harm and anxiety to the youth & children's ministry class. Here's the thing: I've been unemployed since December (church budgets, y'all, they suck), and am firmly lost in the wilderness of unproductivity, but for one day I was able to feel like I was a real life adult. I put grown up clothes on and did my hair and make up and I spoke about things that matter to people instead of my puppy. Then I visited someone who I worked for for a year, who runs a healing ministry, and we chatted and prayed and gosh it felt good. I felt valued and welcome and I could cry from the joy. I also got a Starbucks cold brew with pumpkin cream because whilst it's Spring here, we do love to pretend we're in US seasons.
Since then the week is a bit of a dumpster fire, honestly. I found out I owe a bunch of money for student debts, and can't continue studies until I pay it, and I can't get a job until I finish the degree because Covid has everyone looking for jobs that just don't exist.
Basically, the treasure of my week was a day of feeling like a real life human.
Other treasures include this Banana Bread recipe, which made me feel super fancy today:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/09/06/how-to-make-super-easy-banana-bread_a_23199521/
This product called Face Hero that is truly my face's hero:
https://gotoskincare.com/products/face-hero
And y'all, I'm posting on the spreadsheet when I can but there's a little bit of hope and that's.. well.. special. I've got needs. And I feel bad asking for help, but HELP IS GOOD, GUYS AND GALS.
You are in such a hard spot. Praying for you. (And isn’t it lovely to have a reason to get dressed up sometimes?!)
It really is! It was warm so I even got to wear a dress I hadn’t yet worn. It was a delight.
Feeling like a human is no small treasure, girl. You are so valuable and I see you and feel you. Also, what an awesome thing to talk to youth ministry about! Would you mind pointing me toward some possible resources?
I loved doing it, so much. It’s my groove. Talking about hard stuff fills my tank like nothing else. Can you tell I’m an enneagram 4? Chuck me an email and I’ll send some things your way :)
Tamaracorine@gmail.com
help is GREAT, guys and gals. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing, so glad you got to feel like a real life human, and we love you!
Praying that you can continue to find moments of peace amongst all the crazy.
Praying for you! And in these moments, I'm glad you got the joy of doing something you love. Also...adding that banana bread recipe to my files because you can never have too many good banana bread recipes.
It's a good recipe, for sure. I had all the things for it on hand, and that's a good sign for me. It also looks bloody beautiful on my bench. I felt so fancy when I made it.
I'm firm with myself on that - but sometimes you've just gotta admit the feeling without talking back to yourself, you know? Sit in that mess and feel the feels and let other people remind you of good things.
Not a fall girl (sorry) but even I may have to get on board with that pumpkin syrup.
This week was just turds. I’m on that flight run by Hell in Handbasket airlines and I’m mad because they’re not even handing out peanuts or ginger ale.
Covid sucks, but you know what sucks more? Covid plus not being able to go outside. We're on day 6 of being stuck inside due to insanely poor air quality in Seattle. It's never been like this, ever. It felt like a cruel joke. I wanted someone to say, "Hey! you've been punked!" Instead we locked all our doors and spent our free time trying to keep the toddler from escaping and running out to the backyard. I read in our local paper Tuesday that fires spanning a space equivalent of 53 Seattles were burning our state. Have mercy.
What made it worse is that then all of us have been sick. It's fine - colds are generally a normal rite of having children but in Covid-time, every sniffle, every cough is reason for panic. Our daycare doesn't take kids with runny noses now, so my husband and I were balancing work with two sick children. We did get tested and we found out we were negative today. Upon the results, I texted my mom out of desperation - I may have used capital letters - and she came to help. We are all very happy to see her.
Tomorrow we're supposed to get to an air quality that's just bad for sensitive groups... so we're gonna let the toddler run wild outside.
If this is any indicator of my brain state, I was pumping yesterday and forgot to connect the bottles to the breast pump... and pumped milk all over my lap. Thankfully I was just at home. Can you imagine if I was at work?
Coworker sniffs the air: "Does anyone smell sour milk...?"
The giant project at work is launching next week and it's going to be some early mornings and late nights but then MAYBE things will be normal. One can only hope.
Please share all treasures big and small. I need them. And thank you for this space to vent. I'll try to be more positive next week.
Dude. The sickness right now is next level. Every little sniffle is grounds for panic. We did the work from home with sick kiddos shuffle in August and it was...not a fun week. I got my negative test results back the morning of a normal summer camp day, and I've never packed a lunch so quickly. I hustled my oldest into the car and got him outta there with a HUSTLE. I'm so sorry you had to face that + bad air. It is like being punked!
Erika I just want to send you all the hugs! That sounds like a profoundly terrible week. And the smoke SUCKS - my kids are so pent up doing distance learning and then not going outside, yeesh.
This is VERY random, but if you are even an average Frozen 2 fan, the 6-part documentary on Disney+ made me happy/in-awe cry every single episode. I even watched half when I didn't have much time but needed to be in awe of something. Hope your weekend gives some respite and that you all feel better very soon!
Don’t you dare try to be positive if that’s not how you’re feeling - come as you are and rest knowing we get it and we got you. 🙂 I jump at every cough now too - I think we’re all going to have some PTSD when this is all over with that. I hope the toddler gets a lot of energy out outside and you can rest this weekend!
Thanks!
No need to be positive when everything sucks - thank you for sharing, and praying for some normalcy, a break, etc soon!!
Thank you.
I’ve also pumped onto my lap before. It took a surprisingly long time for me to realize what was even happening. I guess I was just so used to being covered in bodily fluids that it didn’t register?
Yeah I was like - I’m getting warm - oh dang it.
I was so sure I had peed and was so confused. I had a moment of outrage that all those freaking kegels weren’t working and then a moment of silence for my brain which actually was the culprit
That sounds awful. I pray you get some relief this week.
Thank you.
I feel you on the air quality. Our fire season is coming right up and I remember moving into my house in December last year and seeing the sky a weird tinge of red and breathing smokey air and it was... miserable. Every breath felt wrong.
Don't feel pressure to be positive. Vent away.
Thank you.
I’ve heard from coworkers that the east coast is seeing our smoke! Crazy.
Praise God from whom all blessing flow!!
Huzzah!
Praying in agreement for the red velvet recipe.
GLORY INDEED for Mamas, Junior League cookbooks, and comforting recipes <3
🙌
SO love this for you!
the movie re-enactment! love
I just watched too many of those lol
I am now giving myself permission to see my dramatic couch flops as elegant, thank you 🤣 Your time away sounds delightful, I need to do that this weekend!
Carbs and wine (in whatever form) can solve so many short term issues. I support this combination so much.
And white chicken chili might be on my roster for the week. I made a shepherd's pie last night for meeting a comfort need too.
Patio + prosecco + pasta & bread - transcendent. So glad your Rhett sent you off for some self care.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 he deserves all the Oscars for doing one of my fave scenes JUSTICE
Making a note to self that I need to go sit on restaurant patios and drink prosecco and eat bread more often...
Trader Joe's seasonal body products are always a joy!