Well hello friends! Here's another vote for a monthly advent calendar! With like, seasonally appropriate treats! I could totally get behind that!
This week has mostly been treasures - working towards solving some health issues which is great! and had a couple of long chats with friends and that doesn't happen as often as I'd like! Last night we got to go up to a nearby town that has a Charlie Brown Christmas Grove, which is entirely community driven and local companies and elementary school classrooms and 4H groups sponsor and decorate hundreds of trees. It's just magical! I may be biased, but my favorite is the Donate Life tree (and not because a photo of me is on it!).
Today we're headed to another Christmas event and dinner with friends and Sunday we've got dinner with friends too! My heart is full!
The work of this week is finding funding. Our nonprofit needs to find some regular funding to survive and it's so hard friends. I HATE asking for $ and it doesn't get easier. The need is huge, but I think people are weary of hearing about struggle. The no's or not now's are frequent and the yeses are rare. And still, we persist. There are people who need our help!
I'm not even going to try to make sense today, just list some stuff that's on my mind. Hope that's ok.
😊 I got a much needed haircut this morning. My bangs had gotten way too long and I've been surprised all day at how much easier life is when you can see what you're doing! 😂
😟 Today I realized I don't have any wrapping paper but what's worse is I have nothing to wrap. I haven't managed to buy a single Christmas present yet and I'm starting to panic a little. (I am the worst at buying presents. The actual worst. What do you even get people?)
😊 We've had lots of snow and lovely, cold weather here since the end of November. (That never happens!) It's been amazing and I don't have the words to describe the joy and peace I feel in my heart when I get to take walks in the snow. It is truly the best thing in the world.
😟 The snow has started to melt.
😊 Yesterday, while Christmas shopping, I found a really nice jacket. I've needed a new one for a while and it was 25 % off so yay!
😟 Not being able to get vaccinated stinks. A lot.
😊 I finally started watching Only Murders in the Building and it's a lot of fun.
😊 After my haircut this morning I bought myself some lovely flowers and they're making me v happy.
If you have any kids to buy for... I can't help with that.
But for anyone out of school I have found that consumable gifts go over very well. Unique snacks and drinks, restaurant gift cards, gift cards to anywhere. I got several things from a store in my town that only sells things from our state (AL) so I got some pretty cool stuff that my people will enjoy (soaps, dip mixes, fancy crackers, jellies, etc). The internet has made it so easy to get everything we want when we want it, so people are truly so hard to buy for these days.
Consumable gifts had not crossed my mind, I love that idea. I also like the thought of local gifts since most of the people I'm buying for used to live here but have moved away in the last five years. These are great ideas, thank you so much!
I hope you’re able to get some rest for that migraine. I’m so sorry that you’re unable to get vaccinated. Here’s to some non-monkey-like self-care this weekend. ❤️
I am sitting in the coffeeshop taking a break from my USDA recertification modules (you guys, it is so boring and I've been out of school for awhile - my endurance for this sort of thing has faded completely). I am typing this on my new computer! Which I should have bought when I started thinking about getting it back when I had a full-time job, but I thought I could power through with my dinosaur. That turned out to be...over-optimistic. Oh well.
I am going to repeat my plea for help/advice from last week since I was late to the party: People with jobs with lots of standing - how do you do this without your body hurting all the time? I'm used to being on my feet a lot, but being static in one place is different and I'm having a hard time. I had a surgery shift last week, and having a giant knot in the middle of my back when there's still two hours of work to go is not conducive to efficiency. I have new shoes ready to go for next time, and I currently do not have anywhere to do yoga. Help.
I'm just now starting to on-board Christmas music. This happens every year: I don't really hit "Christmas cheer" mode until about half-way through December, and then Christmas comes and I've only had a couple of weeks to enjoy the season and then it's over and I feel weird about it. Last year I decided to go semi-liturgical and listen till around New Years, which helped. All of that to say, here are my fave Christmas albums, but I haven't had a chance to listen to them all yet this year.
- The OG, the Queen: Amy Grant - Home for Christmas
- My dad especially was very into Mannheim Steamroller when I was growing up, and A Fresh Aire Christmas is a fantastic album which contains probably my favorite version of Veni, Veni.
- The Oh Hello's Family Christmas Album
- The Sounding Joy: Christmas Songs In and Out of the Ruth Seegar Songbook by Elizabeth Mitchell (and friends). This was a gift from the Spotify algorithm a few years ago. It's an extensive and laid-back collection, with some traditional carols and some more obscure folk tunes. Keep your ears out for appearances from some female folk faves such as Natalie Merchant and Aoife O'Donovan.
Beth, you can totally take the Christmas season into January if you want - the 12 days of Christmas don't end until January 5! But so glad to have some more specific album recommendations, we always end up listening to the same thing (heavy on Feliz Navidad because it's my husband's favorite song haha)
I'm just impressed because that probably means you actually know the words rather than just mumbling everything except "Feliz Navidad" and "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas". Giving music recommendations is a niche thing I really love to do - always glad to be of service!
Did you mean you don’t have a yoga studio nearby or no room at home for yoga? If you have a slice of floor for a mat, try Yoga with Kassandra on YouTube.
I'll add Lesley Fightmaster's yoga YouTube to the list. She's a little more challenging than Adrienne, and less chatty. I've learned a ton about proper form and technique from her.
I've done Yoga with Adriene before, but I'll have to add that to my list. I currently live in a tiny trailer and most of my living area is occupied by a dog crate. I'm way too self-conscious to go to a class. 😬 Hoping to be in someplace bigger soonish.
Elizabeth Mitchell is a major favorite! Her Woody Guthrie collection, Little Seed, still gets requested on road trips from our 15 and 11 year olds.
Have you looked into zero or negative rise shoes? They help lengthen the back of your body by putting your heels level with or slightly lower than your toes. I bought zero rise shoes (currently marketed as barefoot running shoes) for exercising in, and I have had no back pain at all. Not the same as standing all day, but they're what I wear if I know I'll be on my feet for a long time.
I used to teach wearing heels all day, so I can feel your pain about standing in one place. Could you get custom orthotics done? Some insurances cover that.
One thing I love about this little corner of the interwebs is how it makes me recall little treasures to be thankful for in the midst of sometimes really turdy weeks. Gracious, I need that this week.
Big turd: after months and months of avoiding it and doing all the things to avoid it, my 3 big boys (9, 7, and 5) tested positive for Covid. Ugh. Guys. Just, ugh.
Treasures in the turd:
1. My husband, 5 month old, and I all tested negative.
2. Symptoms for all 3 have been mild - mostly congestion, cough, and fatigue (like, they are running around like mad men this morning. Unexpected.)
Turd: We now are missing out on some fun things: school Christmas parties, my husband's work Christmas party, my 7 year old's last 2 soccer games of the season. Lots of sad faces.
Treasures in the turd:
1. I get to plan a family Christmas party to make up for the school one and I am having a ball doing it.
2. Forces family time and slowing down, which I love.
3. Target Drive Up. Grocery pick up. Not having to go into stores at the busiest shopping time.
4. It's been a super mild December in Kansas, so we can still get outside and soak up vitamin D.
Other treasures this week:
- My 5 month old is showing interest in solid foods, which means we have come to my absolute favorite point in an infant's life: making purees. It is my one "crunchy mama" thing that I have done with all my children and I absolutely find crazy joy from it.
- Finished Only Murders in the Building: oh my word, I love this show. I so hope there's going to be a 2nd season. I need answers!
- Finished the Throne of Glass series. Oh. My. Word. I teared up in so many places in Kingdom of Ash. I have such a book hangover, guys, that I do not know what to read now.
That's all for me. I'm going to go make some baby food, cancel appointments, and take some vitamins. Hope you all have a restful weekend!
Sarah, you finished Throne of Glass! Gah, what a series, right?! I straight up sobbed with the whole witch tower part. SOBBED. I think Sarah Maas writes some of the best characters I've ever read. If you want a good standalone book, Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer or Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson or Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik are all really great. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden takes a LONG time to get into, but once you get into it, you will instantly have to read the second and third books. Makiia Lucier's Isle of Blood and Stone duology also has really great characters. Clearly, I could talk about fantasy books for a long time!!
Ermegersh, the witch tower part. Manon and the 13 were my favorites to read about once they were introduced, and Manon and Dorian ended up being my fave couple in the whole series. Thank-you for those recs! I am a fantasy noob, so I will definitely be checking those ones out!
I loved Manon and the 13! Although I really liked Yrene and Elide's stories as well. And I love to recommend books, especially fantasy, so if you like something specific (my favorite kind might be historical fantasy, like imagine if Bridgerton had magic - it's a book called Sorcery and Cecelia) let me know!
That's a big turd indeed but I'm amazed at how many treasures you've been able to find in the midst of it. Good news, they're shooting the second season of Only Murders in the Building right now!
I usually make up my own, though I also use some cookbooks from the library to get me going - I really like America's Test Kitchen Baby and Toddler Food.
Update for Lauren and anyone else interested - the gum graft went ok, I think! Someone told me that the anesthesia injections would be the worst part, and they were right. And so far Tylenol & Advil have been all I've needed afterwards. It wasn't so much fun that I'm now looking forward to the second one I'll eventually have to do 😂 , but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. Fingers crossed that when I go back in 2 weeks to get it checked out, he says everything looks great!
Question - if we are tentatively planning a weekend away at Hilton Head, having never been before, any tips / recommendations?
Recommendation / return of Pants Corner - after trying on countless jeans from Madewell, returning them all, and several discouraging convos with customer service, lol, I had almost given up on finding any non-skinny jeans that worked for me. Behold, these girlfriend jeans from Boden. I wouldn't change a single thing about them, and now have three pairs. https://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/girlfriend-jeans/sty-t0370
Hooray for good jeans and a gum graft that went well! (Btw, since English isn't my first language, I had to google what a gum graft is and now I'm going to do some research because my dental hygenist told me there was nothing to be done about my receding gums. So thanks!)
Oh, interesting, because my dentist tried to convince me for a year, before referring me to the periodontist, that I should instead get adult braces, because my dentist said my bite was causing my receding gums. When I mentioned that to my periodontist, he said he's only seen one person whose receding gums were because of their bite; that usually it's because of overbrushing or genetics.
My BIL had gum grafts done a few years ago and has to have his second procedure on Tuesday so he’s coming into town and staying with us for the night. 😬 Glad minimal drugs are doing the trick and hope it heals perfectly?
I don’t know if you could comprehend the joy your jeans rec gave me. I have a pair of Madewell jeans that I don’t like and I haven’t been able to find any alternatives. Why are all the straight jeans cropped???? ANYWAY, I’ll be ordering the Boden ones this weekend.
All the straight jeans ARE cropped. Why? Who knows. (or very long so you can do the selvedge thing, which I just do not have enough money to invest in that specific of a trend). I hope you have luck with this Boden pair - they somehow fit perfectly (not too tight) without bagging out ... which seems so hard to find anymore.
Update from last week: Still on the Disney/Universal trip with my husband’s family. Please say some specific prayers about my father-in-law driving the 10 passenger van. It’s a white Chrysler, if you want to tell God and the angels something specific. We’ve had some close calls with his driving, and my husband has tried talking with him about it to no avail. In the end, I think we’ll be okay, but it’s been scary. (Not hyperbole.) Thanks, pals! Hope you all have a great weekend. I can’t wait to go home.
On my own this week with lil bebe while my husband and older daughter braved the airport for their first pandemic flight. I am a little nervous after being so careful for so long but recent family events made this an important trip. While I am a little lonely here caring for one child feels almost like a vacation☺️.
During nap/early bed times for PHX I have enjoyed some me time and am not running around frantically trying to reorganize my house so that has been nice. I enjoyed “Single All The Way” a fun sprawling Christmas movie (think family stone minus the cancer). And then I watched the reboot episodes of SATC. Woof. Sometimes it is good to let art be and not constantly reboot. Leave us wanting more (ala fleabag). Maybe it will get better? But this was not very good.
I am almost done with “Seven Days in June” by Tia Williams and it has been a treat albeit some hard subject matter. The prose is truly next level and it deserves all the accolades and more. I do have a problem with plot point about a character unintentionally ghosting someone when they had their cell phone the whole time. Send a text my friend!
I hear bebe waking up so I will catch up in the comments later. Much love!
Single All the Way is on my list! I think I might nope myself out of our standing Friday night dinner with friends to sit on the couch, recover from the week, and watch!
It's snowing in Denver today! Our first snow of the season, which is absurdly late. Usually we get a few inches in October. Sadly, part of my beloved low-status job is shoveling sidewalks, so I have to go into work now instead of five hours from now as previously scheduled.
We've had extended family in town this week, none of whom are vaccinated. We had this whole big conflict with them about it a couple of weeks ago and made them promise to wear masks in our house, etc etc, but then when they got here for dinner the other night with their masks in their pockets, I discovered I had spent all my pro-mask capital, and was like, "Eff it. Come on in!" I was just too tired to deal with another awkward conversation. They have since all tested negative for Covid, so it was kind of a non-issue, but I do feel a little bit like a hypocrite for getting so worked up about it in advance and then when it came down to it, I couldn't bring myself to care enough.
I think this would be my attitude if/when my unvaccinated parents ever come to visit us. Families are tricky and really tough to hold boundaries with - emotions come into play so much!
It’s really hard to follow through on masks when there is a big group involved. We have run into the same feelings here. We’re all tired—be kind to yourself. ❤️
It’s snowing here in SLC, too! The ski resorts are loving it because we have had unusually small (no) amounts of snow this year. Enjoy your winter wonderland!
Not a hypocrite. Just someone who has been worn down. I get it. Glad they all tested negative, and sorry that it even had to be an issue.
Hello from yet another branch of the library! I'm filling in at our Southern branch today and we have a school group coming. I'm so excited to be working with some high schoolers even if it's just for a little bit! Other treasures from this week:
🤱I babysat for a friend of mine so she could take her employees out for a holiday dinner. It was wonderfully chaotic with 6 kids 9 and under but so much fun!
😍 We had a ladies night with church and I rode with my pastors wife/friend I babysat for and it was a nice time to catch up. She's been super busy making and shipping orders for her pottery business and we haven't been able to spend much time together recently.
💵 Found out that we'll be getting a significant bonus in Jan as essential workers. My brother has plans to attend a conference in London next summer, and I had joked about coming along as a tourist. It is now totally a possibility and I'm so pumped. We did a trip over my 25th birthday and next year will be 30, so I feel like it's officially a tradition now.
Oh my goodness, the last time I watched 6 kids under 9 I was in high school and had at least twice the amount of energy I do now! But how kind of you, what a great friend!
Oh, this is my friends gorgeous pottery! It's too late to order for this year, but thought I'd share if anyone is interested. https://www.maryfrancescarter.com/
Why am I laughing so hard about Year Three of Covid?! (however, let's remember what a success Harry Potter had in his year 3 and go with that energy).And that Anne Helen Petersen article, WHEW. "Be patient and gentle with yourself. This isn’t “self-care.” It’s recuperation." - THIS is my entire attitude moving forward.
We've been full of colds over here, which sucks. I was ready for a great week of prepping for Christmas, and was only mildly disappointed to keep my two older kids home on Tuesday with sniffles. Then their school had a positive Covid case, and they have been home since then. It's not been terrible, having everyone home all day every day, but we've blown through a LOT of the Christmas movies I had been saving for Winter Break, so I'ma need a new plan. SHARE YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES PLEASE.
~ My Indoor Hat is still going strong, and all the other members of my family who don't mind the Arctic tundra temperatures around here can enjoy themselves while I stay toasty warm.
~ My FAVORITE blogger, Janssen Bradshaw from Everyday Reading, put out her 2022 Book Club List and I am SO EXCITED. Who wants to read these with me?! (I can already tell you that Defy The Night is magnificent) https://everyday-reading.com/2022-everyday-reading-book-club-list/
~ We're all putting some form of peppermint in our coffee these days, right?
Ok, I'm ignoring all the whining about who needs to use the glitter glue next over here, pouring more coffee, blasting A Christmas Festival (play the John Williams one, you won't regret it, but play it LOUD at minute 7:50), and preparing my oldest for his second dose tomorrow (he is like me and does NOT do well with needles whatsoever). Lots of love and peppermint hugs to all of you!!!
Yes and Amen to checking out cookbooks from the library. To vet, but also to read - they are my favorite book palate cleanser after a long series or intense book. I am going to need to look at the book club list and the curry! I love curry!
I didn't realize it, but I do this too, especially after long series or something really heavy, such a great palate cleanser! And the book list looks great to me, she is my go-to person when it comes to book recommendations!
He did really well until we were facing down the needle, then he point-blank refused, so I had to hold him and 2 seconds later, he was completely fine. Needles can be scary!
I totally check out cookbooks before I buy them. I'm getting better at judging whether I'll like it based on reading the recipes, but nothing beats trying them on your in-house focus group for three weeks prior to committing.
I am on the struggle bus this week. I think I may be driving the struggle bus, actually. 🚍 But I am slowly chipping away at my ginormous to do lists (and letting go of the things that just are not coming together). And my husband has been very good to me, which makes all the difference. I'm sorry I have no treasures to share. I don't get much internet time these days, so must of the things that make me laugh are memes and photos people send me, so I can't share them.
Dawn, I'm still enjoying your treasures from last week. We had so much fun with St. Nicholas Day and are looking forward to St. Lucia day next week too!!
I woke up stupid early this morning and I can already tell it’s going to be a CBD kind of day. I’m just going to be kind to myself and look forward to Friday movie night.
That is an excellent plan. I feel like I should make some kind of Snoop Dog joke about every day being a CBD kind of day, but I just can't get it together.
🍪: I am getting paid an abnormally large amount of money to bake a few dozen treats for my old nanny boss. She does not cook or bake and has three cookie parties to go to. So today at 6 am I will start with the first batch of her treats!
🍪: I F I N A L L Y got appletv and started watching Ted Lasso. Holy Cow. I hope this show never ends.
🍪: I am basically done christmas shopping for everyone already! I have to stop at the post office today and send a few packages and I still have a few small things I need to buy my husband, but that’s about it!
🍪: I work in the SLC visitor’s center now and I got to help the cutest couple from Knoxville yesterday. They just moved here because he loves to ski and got a job up at a resort in park city. They were so fun and we chatted for almost an hour and I answered all their questions.
Now, some turds. I’d like to begin by saying that in reference to how I am doing, overall, I am basically Bo Burnham in his Inside special saying, “Yeaaahhhh I am not doing well!” So here we are. Turds this week will be represented as feet, because feet are disgusting.
🦶🏼I have never had this happen before, but on Wednesday, I was just thinking about our family friend, and I heard clear as day, “You need to text her and let her know you’re thinking about her”. I ignored it at first but it happened two more times that day, so I finally did that evening. I left it simple and just told her I was thinking of her and hoping she was doing well. She responded and said she’d had an abnormal mammogram and hadn’t told anyone. She can’t get tested until next Friday, but she doesn’t want to worry her daughters before anything serious. I sobbed. This woman is so kind and lovely. Even though she says the likelihood of it being benign is extremely high, I just wish she didn’t even have to be in the middle of it.
🦶🏼 I am basically detoxing off of 9 years of being on the birth control pill and I feel almost clinically insane. I don’t mean that lightly - I don’t know that I have ever had ups and downs like this.
That’s all, folks. I’ll see you in the comments while I bake today and dream about squeezing some of you at the Chicago live show in April!
Those ups and downs are NOT fun... Praying for you and praying for your friend. I'm glad you reached out to her. Oh yeah, welcome to the wonderful world of Ted Lasso!
Ugghhhh I have been on birth control for 15 years now and thinking about getting off of it scares me so bad. I really don't even know what kind of person I am in my natural non-medicated state. Praying all the side effects subside soon.
SHELBY. I want to see these cookies, are you making those ginger ones you were talking about? And I'm so jealous that you're only at the beginning of your Ted Lasso journey. I made it so we only watched one episode a night after a few episodes because I wanted to savor it. It's delightful. Also, about birth control - I didn't react well to taking it, but then stayed on for five years, and it was NOT a fun journey to get off, but if you ever need to text someone random stuff, IT CAN BE ME. Hugs friend.
No they’re not the ginger ones - they’re gooey brown butter pecan blondies!!! Bon Appetit Recipe. I will take you up on that offer. I will text you soon. ♥️
I'm so glad you wrote the note! Those out of the blue check-ins can mean the world to someone in pain. We need to know someone sees us and that we are not alone. Tell your friend that the Swipes are on her team! And enjoy cookie day! Your house is going to smell amazing!
Isn’t it funny how sometimes those little nudges happen when people need them to happen? Please keep us posted on your friend, I hope she is able to pull through!
I had a similar reaction to getting off my first round of antidepressants. I have grown to accept that sure, maybe I don’t need it right now, but I know it’s possible I may need them again. I know getting off meds is so hard. Please let us know how you’re doing with your BC detox! ❤️
☀️❤️ Good morning from my bed and getting to take today off because my heavens I needed it more than I thought I did.
💌 😴 I accomplished my goal of writing my Christmas cards for my out of towner friends last night and they will go out in the mail today (side note, if anyone wants a postcard, last call!). I told a friend last night that the main reason why I had to stop is that I was so tired that I kept spelling the word Christmas wrong at least four times. Some of my friends will be getting very scribbled cards! When I read that tweet about making year 3 of Covid our best year yet, I felt it in my bones because my signature for the most part has been “cheers to 2022!” I should’ve gone with what Melanie said to me, which was “I hope you have the best holiday season and 2022 available to you!” That feels more reachable.
🎶👯♀️ Doing Spotify Wrapped blends with friends has been fun! Several friends apologized for their “weird music taste” and I had to remind them that we had at least a 95% similarities match. I don’t know how Spotify quantifies such a thing, but I am proud to be weird and they should be too.
🎄🥲 I went to a friend’s Christmas party this past weekend and it was a hybrid Christmas cookie decorating and movie night party. For movie night, it was announced that we would watch Elf. Problem is, the last time I watched that movie, it was under some very sad circumstances and I don’t have the happiest memories about it and I didn’t want to think about it. So, I told my friend/the party host that I was bouncing for that reason. She insisted that we can change the movie and no one actually cared that much, I insisted that the people were promised Elf and they should get Elf and my sad petty problems (narrator: they weren’t petty) shouldn’t get in the way. Then my friend told me “we want you here and we want you to stay and Elf isn’t the end of the world.” I cried on the spot and hugged her and we all watched Home Alone.
⛪️ 😭 The next day at church, my pastor asked us the question of “if the person standing next to you was Christ Incarnate, how would you treat them?” And I realized that’s what my friend had been doing for me and I could write a whole sermon about it but cannot due to time and space constraints!
🎉🎢 I’m going to Disney today and tomorrow and it’ll be nice to have some more childish fun before the holidays really start!
I love you all and let’s me Covid Year Three our best year ever (or as Melanie and the Pantsuit Politics ladies say, the best year available to you)!!!
Oh, I got a little teary reading what your friend said. That's so sweet! And totally the right choice because hanging out with you must be 100 times better than watching Elf. Btw, I once wrote so many Christmas cards I forgot how to spell my own name. That's when you know it's time to go to bed.
It's strange, but I actually think Elf is growing off (is this the opposite of growing on?) me - I enjoy it less and less every year, whereas I enjoy Home Alone more and more every year! I hope you have a great time at Disney!
Woohoo for finishing the Christmas card stack! I've never fully embraced sending holiday cards because it feels like so much work.
What a kind and loving friend to show you so clearly that you are far more important than a movie choice. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy a different movie and some time together.
Have fun at Disney and I'm so glad you've got a great friend who knows that you are much more important than a movie. And besides, Elf goes off the rails in the last third of the movie anyway, whereas Home Alone gets really good at the end. I saw something that said it was Die Hard for kids, and it's the TRUTH.
Good job getting your cards out! Ours Christmas letter concludes with, "Good luck with Junior year!" And how lovely to be seen and cared for by your friend. I hope you enjoy your day off and your childlike fun this weekend.
Ughhhhhhh it was such a sweet moment and it meant so much. I do hope that Elf can be a part of my holidays again without it reminding me of sad weirdness! 🖤
Re: Christmas cards, I had wondered to myself how I was able to do a whole batch of them all at once whereas I couldn’t this year…and then I remembered that there were no Christmas parties last year due to it being Year One of Covid and since I was home a lot, I could just light a candle, turn on Spotify, crank them out and throw them into the mail bin. Not this year! 🤣
My kids have a 2 hour fog delay and aren’t up yet 😳😳 so I’m sitting in silence next to the Christmas tree and it’s GLORIOUS. We’ve got a full holiday weekend with scaled down family events & my older 2 girls are halfway vaxxed and it’s probably the biggest treasure I have right now - they’ll be fully vaxxed by Christmas!
(Spoke too soon on the sleeping kids, one just clumped down the stairs lol) I hope you all have a not-awful weekend!
Well hello friends! Here's another vote for a monthly advent calendar! With like, seasonally appropriate treats! I could totally get behind that!
This week has mostly been treasures - working towards solving some health issues which is great! and had a couple of long chats with friends and that doesn't happen as often as I'd like! Last night we got to go up to a nearby town that has a Charlie Brown Christmas Grove, which is entirely community driven and local companies and elementary school classrooms and 4H groups sponsor and decorate hundreds of trees. It's just magical! I may be biased, but my favorite is the Donate Life tree (and not because a photo of me is on it!).
Today we're headed to another Christmas event and dinner with friends and Sunday we've got dinner with friends too! My heart is full!
The work of this week is finding funding. Our nonprofit needs to find some regular funding to survive and it's so hard friends. I HATE asking for $ and it doesn't get easier. The need is huge, but I think people are weary of hearing about struggle. The no's or not now's are frequent and the yeses are rare. And still, we persist. There are people who need our help!
Ahh, that tree grove sounds so lovely! Have you ever decorated a tree?
Yes! Decorating day is an absolute party! So. much. fun!!
First things first, I would very much like an advent calendar every month, pleaseandthankyou!
Happy Friday everyone! How are you? I have a bit of a migraine today and here is live footage of me attempting self-care: https://twitter.com/D1C0MM/status/1466207478060777473
I'm not even going to try to make sense today, just list some stuff that's on my mind. Hope that's ok.
😊 I got a much needed haircut this morning. My bangs had gotten way too long and I've been surprised all day at how much easier life is when you can see what you're doing! 😂
😟 Today I realized I don't have any wrapping paper but what's worse is I have nothing to wrap. I haven't managed to buy a single Christmas present yet and I'm starting to panic a little. (I am the worst at buying presents. The actual worst. What do you even get people?)
😊 We've had lots of snow and lovely, cold weather here since the end of November. (That never happens!) It's been amazing and I don't have the words to describe the joy and peace I feel in my heart when I get to take walks in the snow. It is truly the best thing in the world.
😟 The snow has started to melt.
😊 Yesterday, while Christmas shopping, I found a really nice jacket. I've needed a new one for a while and it was 25 % off so yay!
😟 Not being able to get vaccinated stinks. A lot.
😊 I finally started watching Only Murders in the Building and it's a lot of fun.
😊 After my haircut this morning I bought myself some lovely flowers and they're making me v happy.
I leave you with this Twitter thread of Mariah Carey as Christmas baubles to get you in the holiday spirit: https://twitter.com/Pandamoanimum/status/1466363735598063618
The self-care live footage is me after having kids home all week with colds!
I can imagine! Hope they feel better this week and you can get some rest.
If you have any kids to buy for... I can't help with that.
But for anyone out of school I have found that consumable gifts go over very well. Unique snacks and drinks, restaurant gift cards, gift cards to anywhere. I got several things from a store in my town that only sells things from our state (AL) so I got some pretty cool stuff that my people will enjoy (soaps, dip mixes, fancy crackers, jellies, etc). The internet has made it so easy to get everything we want when we want it, so people are truly so hard to buy for these days.
Consumable gifts had not crossed my mind, I love that idea. I also like the thought of local gifts since most of the people I'm buying for used to live here but have moved away in the last five years. These are great ideas, thank you so much!
I hope you’re able to get some rest for that migraine. I’m so sorry that you’re unable to get vaccinated. Here’s to some non-monkey-like self-care this weekend. ❤️
Thank you, that's so kind!
I am sitting in the coffeeshop taking a break from my USDA recertification modules (you guys, it is so boring and I've been out of school for awhile - my endurance for this sort of thing has faded completely). I am typing this on my new computer! Which I should have bought when I started thinking about getting it back when I had a full-time job, but I thought I could power through with my dinosaur. That turned out to be...over-optimistic. Oh well.
I am going to repeat my plea for help/advice from last week since I was late to the party: People with jobs with lots of standing - how do you do this without your body hurting all the time? I'm used to being on my feet a lot, but being static in one place is different and I'm having a hard time. I had a surgery shift last week, and having a giant knot in the middle of my back when there's still two hours of work to go is not conducive to efficiency. I have new shoes ready to go for next time, and I currently do not have anywhere to do yoga. Help.
Anne Helen Peterson also had this very good article at Vox: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22788620/single-living-alone-cost
I'm just now starting to on-board Christmas music. This happens every year: I don't really hit "Christmas cheer" mode until about half-way through December, and then Christmas comes and I've only had a couple of weeks to enjoy the season and then it's over and I feel weird about it. Last year I decided to go semi-liturgical and listen till around New Years, which helped. All of that to say, here are my fave Christmas albums, but I haven't had a chance to listen to them all yet this year.
- The OG, the Queen: Amy Grant - Home for Christmas
- My dad especially was very into Mannheim Steamroller when I was growing up, and A Fresh Aire Christmas is a fantastic album which contains probably my favorite version of Veni, Veni.
- The Oh Hello's Family Christmas Album
- The Sounding Joy: Christmas Songs In and Out of the Ruth Seegar Songbook by Elizabeth Mitchell (and friends). This was a gift from the Spotify algorithm a few years ago. It's an extensive and laid-back collection, with some traditional carols and some more obscure folk tunes. Keep your ears out for appearances from some female folk faves such as Natalie Merchant and Aoife O'Donovan.
Beth, you can totally take the Christmas season into January if you want - the 12 days of Christmas don't end until January 5! But so glad to have some more specific album recommendations, we always end up listening to the same thing (heavy on Feliz Navidad because it's my husband's favorite song haha)
I'm just impressed because that probably means you actually know the words rather than just mumbling everything except "Feliz Navidad" and "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas". Giving music recommendations is a niche thing I really love to do - always glad to be of service!
Did you mean you don’t have a yoga studio nearby or no room at home for yoga? If you have a slice of floor for a mat, try Yoga with Kassandra on YouTube.
I'll add Lesley Fightmaster's yoga YouTube to the list. She's a little more challenging than Adrienne, and less chatty. I've learned a ton about proper form and technique from her.
I've done Yoga with Adriene before, but I'll have to add that to my list. I currently live in a tiny trailer and most of my living area is occupied by a dog crate. I'm way too self-conscious to go to a class. 😬 Hoping to be in someplace bigger soonish.
Elizabeth Mitchell is a major favorite! Her Woody Guthrie collection, Little Seed, still gets requested on road trips from our 15 and 11 year olds.
Have you looked into zero or negative rise shoes? They help lengthen the back of your body by putting your heels level with or slightly lower than your toes. I bought zero rise shoes (currently marketed as barefoot running shoes) for exercising in, and I have had no back pain at all. Not the same as standing all day, but they're what I wear if I know I'll be on my feet for a long time.
Thanks for the music recommendations! I'm afraid I don't have any advice for standing but I really hope you can find something that helps.
I am always available for music recommendations!
Can you have a cushy mat at your job? That really helped me when I was in a static standing job.
This is the first place I've done surgery that didn't have mats, so I'll definitely have to ask about that.
I used to teach wearing heels all day, so I can feel your pain about standing in one place. Could you get custom orthotics done? Some insurances cover that.
That might be the next thing to look into once I see how I do with my new shoes.
One thing I love about this little corner of the interwebs is how it makes me recall little treasures to be thankful for in the midst of sometimes really turdy weeks. Gracious, I need that this week.
Big turd: after months and months of avoiding it and doing all the things to avoid it, my 3 big boys (9, 7, and 5) tested positive for Covid. Ugh. Guys. Just, ugh.
Treasures in the turd:
1. My husband, 5 month old, and I all tested negative.
2. Symptoms for all 3 have been mild - mostly congestion, cough, and fatigue (like, they are running around like mad men this morning. Unexpected.)
Turd: We now are missing out on some fun things: school Christmas parties, my husband's work Christmas party, my 7 year old's last 2 soccer games of the season. Lots of sad faces.
Treasures in the turd:
1. I get to plan a family Christmas party to make up for the school one and I am having a ball doing it.
2. Forces family time and slowing down, which I love.
3. Target Drive Up. Grocery pick up. Not having to go into stores at the busiest shopping time.
4. It's been a super mild December in Kansas, so we can still get outside and soak up vitamin D.
Other treasures this week:
- My 5 month old is showing interest in solid foods, which means we have come to my absolute favorite point in an infant's life: making purees. It is my one "crunchy mama" thing that I have done with all my children and I absolutely find crazy joy from it.
- Finished Only Murders in the Building: oh my word, I love this show. I so hope there's going to be a 2nd season. I need answers!
- Finished the Throne of Glass series. Oh. My. Word. I teared up in so many places in Kingdom of Ash. I have such a book hangover, guys, that I do not know what to read now.
That's all for me. I'm going to go make some baby food, cancel appointments, and take some vitamins. Hope you all have a restful weekend!
"Treasures in the Turd" - sounds like an IG account where people find things in their dog's poop that they thought were missing lol
Haha, I actually thought of something similar - finding the items your kids swallowed in their poo.
Sarah, you finished Throne of Glass! Gah, what a series, right?! I straight up sobbed with the whole witch tower part. SOBBED. I think Sarah Maas writes some of the best characters I've ever read. If you want a good standalone book, Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer or Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson or Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik are all really great. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden takes a LONG time to get into, but once you get into it, you will instantly have to read the second and third books. Makiia Lucier's Isle of Blood and Stone duology also has really great characters. Clearly, I could talk about fantasy books for a long time!!
Ermegersh, the witch tower part. Manon and the 13 were my favorites to read about once they were introduced, and Manon and Dorian ended up being my fave couple in the whole series. Thank-you for those recs! I am a fantasy noob, so I will definitely be checking those ones out!
Ok friend, if you have a Kindle and want more Sarah J. Maas, GO GET THIS NOW! https://www.amazon.com/Court-Thorns-Roses-eBook-Bundle-ebook/dp/B08MY59Y5J?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&linkCode=ll1&tag=themodemrsdar-20&linkId=ba69ef8ba2edb588bf0a2d2163f7b814&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
This is going to get me through the rest of this isolation! Thank-you for this tip!!!!!
😱😱😱
YAAAAAASSSSS
I loved Manon and the 13! Although I really liked Yrene and Elide's stories as well. And I love to recommend books, especially fantasy, so if you like something specific (my favorite kind might be historical fantasy, like imagine if Bridgerton had magic - it's a book called Sorcery and Cecelia) let me know!
I loved making baby purees too! I even asked for a received a good processor for Christmas the year the twins were 8 months old.
It's so fun and cathartic!
That's a big turd indeed but I'm amazed at how many treasures you've been able to find in the midst of it. Good news, they're shooting the second season of Only Murders in the Building right now!
Huzzah!!!!
Do you have a favorite website for purees or do you make up your own? We did BLW last time but may need to go the puree route this time.
I usually make up my own, though I also use some cookbooks from the library to get me going - I really like America's Test Kitchen Baby and Toddler Food.
Smitten Kitchen has, buried in her recipe collection, several interesting purees. I think if you click on Recipes, it's categorized under baby food?
Hello, all! :)
Update for Lauren and anyone else interested - the gum graft went ok, I think! Someone told me that the anesthesia injections would be the worst part, and they were right. And so far Tylenol & Advil have been all I've needed afterwards. It wasn't so much fun that I'm now looking forward to the second one I'll eventually have to do 😂 , but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. Fingers crossed that when I go back in 2 weeks to get it checked out, he says everything looks great!
Question - if we are tentatively planning a weekend away at Hilton Head, having never been before, any tips / recommendations?
Recommendation / return of Pants Corner - after trying on countless jeans from Madewell, returning them all, and several discouraging convos with customer service, lol, I had almost given up on finding any non-skinny jeans that worked for me. Behold, these girlfriend jeans from Boden. I wouldn't change a single thing about them, and now have three pairs. https://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/girlfriend-jeans/sty-t0370
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Hooray for good jeans and a gum graft that went well! (Btw, since English isn't my first language, I had to google what a gum graft is and now I'm going to do some research because my dental hygenist told me there was nothing to be done about my receding gums. So thanks!)
Oh, interesting, because my dentist tried to convince me for a year, before referring me to the periodontist, that I should instead get adult braces, because my dentist said my bite was causing my receding gums. When I mentioned that to my periodontist, he said he's only seen one person whose receding gums were because of their bite; that usually it's because of overbrushing or genetics.
Yeah, I definitely overbrush...
Good jeans are truly a miracle!
Thanks for the pants rec! I've needed to order some for a while, but haven't loved my old JCrew ones enough to reorder in my new size.
Yes!!! I used to have a few J.Crew pairs that I loved ... when I went to reorder, I couldn't find anything there that fit me as well.
My BIL had gum grafts done a few years ago and has to have his second procedure on Tuesday so he’s coming into town and staying with us for the night. 😬 Glad minimal drugs are doing the trick and hope it heals perfectly?
whoops. meant !!* and not a question mark lol
I don’t know if you could comprehend the joy your jeans rec gave me. I have a pair of Madewell jeans that I don’t like and I haven’t been able to find any alternatives. Why are all the straight jeans cropped???? ANYWAY, I’ll be ordering the Boden ones this weekend.
All the straight jeans ARE cropped. Why? Who knows. (or very long so you can do the selvedge thing, which I just do not have enough money to invest in that specific of a trend). I hope you have luck with this Boden pair - they somehow fit perfectly (not too tight) without bagging out ... which seems so hard to find anymore.
Yay, I'm glad that gum graft went well!
Update from last week: Still on the Disney/Universal trip with my husband’s family. Please say some specific prayers about my father-in-law driving the 10 passenger van. It’s a white Chrysler, if you want to tell God and the angels something specific. We’ve had some close calls with his driving, and my husband has tried talking with him about it to no avail. In the end, I think we’ll be okay, but it’s been scary. (Not hyperbole.) Thanks, pals! Hope you all have a great weekend. I can’t wait to go home.
Dear Lord, please help that specific 10 passenger white Chrysler van in Florida be safe!
Thanks, Amanda! We’ve just got one drive left to go—to the airport. 🙌🏻
Oh dear! Will definitely pray!
Yikes!!! Hope you get home safely ASAP!
Oh godddddddd. T’s and P’s! That’s something I haven’t thought about since my high school years.
Aw, I do hope you all will be ok! Good for you husband for saying something.
Did you make it to Harry Potter world yet?
We did! Did that first. Diagon Alley was amazing!
Yaaay! :) It's so magical!
On my own this week with lil bebe while my husband and older daughter braved the airport for their first pandemic flight. I am a little nervous after being so careful for so long but recent family events made this an important trip. While I am a little lonely here caring for one child feels almost like a vacation☺️.
During nap/early bed times for PHX I have enjoyed some me time and am not running around frantically trying to reorganize my house so that has been nice. I enjoyed “Single All The Way” a fun sprawling Christmas movie (think family stone minus the cancer). And then I watched the reboot episodes of SATC. Woof. Sometimes it is good to let art be and not constantly reboot. Leave us wanting more (ala fleabag). Maybe it will get better? But this was not very good.
I am almost done with “Seven Days in June” by Tia Williams and it has been a treat albeit some hard subject matter. The prose is truly next level and it deserves all the accolades and more. I do have a problem with plot point about a character unintentionally ghosting someone when they had their cell phone the whole time. Send a text my friend!
I hear bebe waking up so I will catch up in the comments later. Much love!
So glad you're getting a "vacation" (haha!) and glad you're getting to watch some fun stuff!
Single All the Way is on my list! I think I might nope myself out of our standing Friday night dinner with friends to sit on the couch, recover from the week, and watch!
Sounds like the perfect end to a hard week!
Interested in this movie! I have been perpetually confused by Family Stone, and DNF. But this sounds interesting!
It is not a masterpiece but it was fun and lighthearted with great character actors you will recognize from other movies/shows.
I just decided. Single All the Way is our Friday movie.
Great plan!
It's snowing in Denver today! Our first snow of the season, which is absurdly late. Usually we get a few inches in October. Sadly, part of my beloved low-status job is shoveling sidewalks, so I have to go into work now instead of five hours from now as previously scheduled.
We've had extended family in town this week, none of whom are vaccinated. We had this whole big conflict with them about it a couple of weeks ago and made them promise to wear masks in our house, etc etc, but then when they got here for dinner the other night with their masks in their pockets, I discovered I had spent all my pro-mask capital, and was like, "Eff it. Come on in!" I was just too tired to deal with another awkward conversation. They have since all tested negative for Covid, so it was kind of a non-issue, but I do feel a little bit like a hypocrite for getting so worked up about it in advance and then when it came down to it, I couldn't bring myself to care enough.
I think this would be my attitude if/when my unvaccinated parents ever come to visit us. Families are tricky and really tough to hold boundaries with - emotions come into play so much!
Heidi, can you believe the high where I am in Alabama for tomorrow is 79.......
It’s really hard to follow through on masks when there is a big group involved. We have run into the same feelings here. We’re all tired—be kind to yourself. ❤️
I agree with Shelby. It’s not that you didn’t care enough. You’re just tired.
It’s snowing here in SLC, too! The ski resorts are loving it because we have had unusually small (no) amounts of snow this year. Enjoy your winter wonderland!
Not a hypocrite. Just someone who has been worn down. I get it. Glad they all tested negative, and sorry that it even had to be an issue.
Yeah, we're supposed to go skiing right before Christmas, and we've been a little anxious about the snow levels.
Hello from yet another branch of the library! I'm filling in at our Southern branch today and we have a school group coming. I'm so excited to be working with some high schoolers even if it's just for a little bit! Other treasures from this week:
🤱I babysat for a friend of mine so she could take her employees out for a holiday dinner. It was wonderfully chaotic with 6 kids 9 and under but so much fun!
😍 We had a ladies night with church and I rode with my pastors wife/friend I babysat for and it was a nice time to catch up. She's been super busy making and shipping orders for her pottery business and we haven't been able to spend much time together recently.
💵 Found out that we'll be getting a significant bonus in Jan as essential workers. My brother has plans to attend a conference in London next summer, and I had joked about coming along as a tourist. It is now totally a possibility and I'm so pumped. We did a trip over my 25th birthday and next year will be 30, so I feel like it's officially a tradition now.
Oh my goodness, the last time I watched 6 kids under 9 I was in high school and had at least twice the amount of energy I do now! But how kind of you, what a great friend!
6 kids under 9? Wow! I hope you get to go to London next year! It's my favorite place on the planet.
Oh, this is my friends gorgeous pottery! It's too late to order for this year, but thought I'd share if anyone is interested. https://www.maryfrancescarter.com/
Why am I laughing so hard about Year Three of Covid?! (however, let's remember what a success Harry Potter had in his year 3 and go with that energy).And that Anne Helen Petersen article, WHEW. "Be patient and gentle with yourself. This isn’t “self-care.” It’s recuperation." - THIS is my entire attitude moving forward.
We've been full of colds over here, which sucks. I was ready for a great week of prepping for Christmas, and was only mildly disappointed to keep my two older kids home on Tuesday with sniffles. Then their school had a positive Covid case, and they have been home since then. It's not been terrible, having everyone home all day every day, but we've blown through a LOT of the Christmas movies I had been saving for Winter Break, so I'ma need a new plan. SHARE YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES PLEASE.
Treasures:
~ I got this cookbook with birthday money after vetting it at the library (am I the only one who checks out cookbooks beforehand? If I'm investing money, I have to know I can cook the recipes) and I am PUMPED to do more plant-based meals next year! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/634444/the-weekday-vegetarians-by-jenny-rosenstrach/
~ My Indoor Hat is still going strong, and all the other members of my family who don't mind the Arctic tundra temperatures around here can enjoy themselves while I stay toasty warm.
~ My FAVORITE blogger, Janssen Bradshaw from Everyday Reading, put out her 2022 Book Club List and I am SO EXCITED. Who wants to read these with me?! (I can already tell you that Defy The Night is magnificent) https://everyday-reading.com/2022-everyday-reading-book-club-list/
~ We're all putting some form of peppermint in our coffee these days, right?
~ Still doing Curry Fridays over here and y'all, this curry is a winner. Especially if you serve it over Bri McKoy's coconut rice instead of noodles. IT IS MAGIC. https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/thai-turmeric-chicken-and-noodles/#wprm-recipe-container-100266
Ok, I'm ignoring all the whining about who needs to use the glitter glue next over here, pouring more coffee, blasting A Christmas Festival (play the John Williams one, you won't regret it, but play it LOUD at minute 7:50), and preparing my oldest for his second dose tomorrow (he is like me and does NOT do well with needles whatsoever). Lots of love and peppermint hugs to all of you!!!
Weekday vegetarian was my go to gift this year as I so enjoyed it and have multiple vegetarians in my family.
There are already about 17 recipes that I want to make!
Yes and Amen to checking out cookbooks from the library. To vet, but also to read - they are my favorite book palate cleanser after a long series or intense book. I am going to need to look at the book club list and the curry! I love curry!
I didn't realize it, but I do this too, especially after long series or something really heavy, such a great palate cleanser! And the book list looks great to me, she is my go-to person when it comes to book recommendations!
Oh, I love this idea of curry Fridays!
But her curries are super tasty too!
Haha we actually just changed it to "whatever looks yummy on Half Baked Harvest" Fridays after my husband and I both sent this recipe to each other https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/crispy-sesame-ginger-egg-rolls-with-sweet-chili-sauce/
Weekday Vegetarians is on my Christmas list and I am so excited for it!
I like it because it's not JUST recipes, it's also got lots of other tips for incorporating more plant-based eating!
Good luck with the second dose!! I remember being so afraid as a kid. It’s scary! Also checking out cookbooks is a genius idea!
He did really well until we were facing down the needle, then he point-blank refused, so I had to hold him and 2 seconds later, he was completely fine. Needles can be scary!
I totally check out cookbooks before I buy them. I'm getting better at judging whether I'll like it based on reading the recipes, but nothing beats trying them on your in-house focus group for three weeks prior to committing.
In-house focus group - this is what I'm calling my family from now on lol
I am on the struggle bus this week. I think I may be driving the struggle bus, actually. 🚍 But I am slowly chipping away at my ginormous to do lists (and letting go of the things that just are not coming together). And my husband has been very good to me, which makes all the difference. I'm sorry I have no treasures to share. I don't get much internet time these days, so must of the things that make me laugh are memes and photos people send me, so I can't share them.
Sending you love and hoping next week will be easier on you!
Thank you!
Hope you get a break from the struggle bus this weekend. Thinking of you!
Thank you!
Dawn, I'm still enjoying your treasures from last week. We had so much fun with St. Nicholas Day and are looking forward to St. Lucia day next week too!!
Oh yay! I'm so glad. :) I'm already thinking about what donuts I want...
Never apologize for not having treasures! Some weeks we don’t have any. And that’s just okay.
I woke up stupid early this morning and I can already tell it’s going to be a CBD kind of day. I’m just going to be kind to myself and look forward to Friday movie night.
That is an excellent plan. I feel like I should make some kind of Snoop Dog joke about every day being a CBD kind of day, but I just can't get it together.
A freaking delight every time. Coffee was slow to do the trick this morning. Added this newsletter in and now I can do life. Thanky. XO
The tweets alone can give us super powers.
My favorite place in all the internet land. ♥️
Some treasures:
🍪: I am getting paid an abnormally large amount of money to bake a few dozen treats for my old nanny boss. She does not cook or bake and has three cookie parties to go to. So today at 6 am I will start with the first batch of her treats!
🍪: I F I N A L L Y got appletv and started watching Ted Lasso. Holy Cow. I hope this show never ends.
🍪: I am basically done christmas shopping for everyone already! I have to stop at the post office today and send a few packages and I still have a few small things I need to buy my husband, but that’s about it!
🍪: I work in the SLC visitor’s center now and I got to help the cutest couple from Knoxville yesterday. They just moved here because he loves to ski and got a job up at a resort in park city. They were so fun and we chatted for almost an hour and I answered all their questions.
Now, some turds. I’d like to begin by saying that in reference to how I am doing, overall, I am basically Bo Burnham in his Inside special saying, “Yeaaahhhh I am not doing well!” So here we are. Turds this week will be represented as feet, because feet are disgusting.
🦶🏼I have never had this happen before, but on Wednesday, I was just thinking about our family friend, and I heard clear as day, “You need to text her and let her know you’re thinking about her”. I ignored it at first but it happened two more times that day, so I finally did that evening. I left it simple and just told her I was thinking of her and hoping she was doing well. She responded and said she’d had an abnormal mammogram and hadn’t told anyone. She can’t get tested until next Friday, but she doesn’t want to worry her daughters before anything serious. I sobbed. This woman is so kind and lovely. Even though she says the likelihood of it being benign is extremely high, I just wish she didn’t even have to be in the middle of it.
🦶🏼 I am basically detoxing off of 9 years of being on the birth control pill and I feel almost clinically insane. I don’t mean that lightly - I don’t know that I have ever had ups and downs like this.
That’s all, folks. I’ll see you in the comments while I bake today and dream about squeezing some of you at the Chicago live show in April!
Those ups and downs are NOT fun... Praying for you and praying for your friend. I'm glad you reached out to her. Oh yeah, welcome to the wonderful world of Ted Lasso!
Love you following that urge to reach out-sounds like a divine appointment. Hope the hormones settle soon-truly the worst!
Ugghhhh I have been on birth control for 15 years now and thinking about getting off of it scares me so bad. I really don't even know what kind of person I am in my natural non-medicated state. Praying all the side effects subside soon.
SHELBY. I want to see these cookies, are you making those ginger ones you were talking about? And I'm so jealous that you're only at the beginning of your Ted Lasso journey. I made it so we only watched one episode a night after a few episodes because I wanted to savor it. It's delightful. Also, about birth control - I didn't react well to taking it, but then stayed on for five years, and it was NOT a fun journey to get off, but if you ever need to text someone random stuff, IT CAN BE ME. Hugs friend.
Also, is it April yet?!
No they’re not the ginger ones - they’re gooey brown butter pecan blondies!!! Bon Appetit Recipe. I will take you up on that offer. I will text you soon. ♥️
I'm so glad you wrote the note! Those out of the blue check-ins can mean the world to someone in pain. We need to know someone sees us and that we are not alone. Tell your friend that the Swipes are on her team! And enjoy cookie day! Your house is going to smell amazing!
Thank you! It is already delicious in here. 🥳
Isn’t it funny how sometimes those little nudges happen when people need them to happen? Please keep us posted on your friend, I hope she is able to pull through!
I had a similar reaction to getting off my first round of antidepressants. I have grown to accept that sure, maybe I don’t need it right now, but I know it’s possible I may need them again. I know getting off meds is so hard. Please let us know how you’re doing with your BC detox! ❤️
♥️ Thank you! I am hoping it eases soon. And I will keep everyone updated on my friend!
☀️❤️ Good morning from my bed and getting to take today off because my heavens I needed it more than I thought I did.
💌 😴 I accomplished my goal of writing my Christmas cards for my out of towner friends last night and they will go out in the mail today (side note, if anyone wants a postcard, last call!). I told a friend last night that the main reason why I had to stop is that I was so tired that I kept spelling the word Christmas wrong at least four times. Some of my friends will be getting very scribbled cards! When I read that tweet about making year 3 of Covid our best year yet, I felt it in my bones because my signature for the most part has been “cheers to 2022!” I should’ve gone with what Melanie said to me, which was “I hope you have the best holiday season and 2022 available to you!” That feels more reachable.
🎶👯♀️ Doing Spotify Wrapped blends with friends has been fun! Several friends apologized for their “weird music taste” and I had to remind them that we had at least a 95% similarities match. I don’t know how Spotify quantifies such a thing, but I am proud to be weird and they should be too.
🎄🥲 I went to a friend’s Christmas party this past weekend and it was a hybrid Christmas cookie decorating and movie night party. For movie night, it was announced that we would watch Elf. Problem is, the last time I watched that movie, it was under some very sad circumstances and I don’t have the happiest memories about it and I didn’t want to think about it. So, I told my friend/the party host that I was bouncing for that reason. She insisted that we can change the movie and no one actually cared that much, I insisted that the people were promised Elf and they should get Elf and my sad petty problems (narrator: they weren’t petty) shouldn’t get in the way. Then my friend told me “we want you here and we want you to stay and Elf isn’t the end of the world.” I cried on the spot and hugged her and we all watched Home Alone.
⛪️ 😭 The next day at church, my pastor asked us the question of “if the person standing next to you was Christ Incarnate, how would you treat them?” And I realized that’s what my friend had been doing for me and I could write a whole sermon about it but cannot due to time and space constraints!
🎉🎢 I’m going to Disney today and tomorrow and it’ll be nice to have some more childish fun before the holidays really start!
I love you all and let’s me Covid Year Three our best year ever (or as Melanie and the Pantsuit Politics ladies say, the best year available to you)!!!
Oh, I got a little teary reading what your friend said. That's so sweet! And totally the right choice because hanging out with you must be 100 times better than watching Elf. Btw, I once wrote so many Christmas cards I forgot how to spell my own name. That's when you know it's time to go to bed.
Thankfully, my name is kinda short and I have written in so much that it’s basically muscle memory now. There were lots of good tears all around!
It's strange, but I actually think Elf is growing off (is this the opposite of growing on?) me - I enjoy it less and less every year, whereas I enjoy Home Alone more and more every year! I hope you have a great time at Disney!
Me too, my friend, me too, and not just because of the weird memories associated with Elf for me!
Woohoo for finishing the Christmas card stack! I've never fully embraced sending holiday cards because it feels like so much work.
What a kind and loving friend to show you so clearly that you are far more important than a movie choice. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy a different movie and some time together.
Me too! 😭 🥰
Have fun at Disney and I'm so glad you've got a great friend who knows that you are much more important than a movie. And besides, Elf goes off the rails in the last third of the movie anyway, whereas Home Alone gets really good at the end. I saw something that said it was Die Hard for kids, and it's the TRUTH.
And THANK YOU, I completely agree about Elf going off the rails!
I posted that it was Die Hard for kids on Instagram, which I stole from a Brooklyn Nine Nine joke. 🤣
Good job getting your cards out! Ours Christmas letter concludes with, "Good luck with Junior year!" And how lovely to be seen and cared for by your friend. I hope you enjoy your day off and your childlike fun this weekend.
😂😂😂 I love your choice of holiday card signature!
Hey good on you for even doing christmas cards! I hard passed because I knew I didn’t have it in me.
How lovely of your friend to reassure you that your presence is desired more than anything else and following through with a change of movie. ♥️
Ughhhhhhh it was such a sweet moment and it meant so much. I do hope that Elf can be a part of my holidays again without it reminding me of sad weirdness! 🖤
Re: Christmas cards, I had wondered to myself how I was able to do a whole batch of them all at once whereas I couldn’t this year…and then I remembered that there were no Christmas parties last year due to it being Year One of Covid and since I was home a lot, I could just light a candle, turn on Spotify, crank them out and throw them into the mail bin. Not this year! 🤣
My kids have a 2 hour fog delay and aren’t up yet 😳😳 so I’m sitting in silence next to the Christmas tree and it’s GLORIOUS. We’ve got a full holiday weekend with scaled down family events & my older 2 girls are halfway vaxxed and it’s probably the biggest treasure I have right now - they’ll be fully vaxxed by Christmas!
(Spoke too soon on the sleeping kids, one just clumped down the stairs lol) I hope you all have a not-awful weekend!
I love sitting next to the tree, especially if it's in silence (something that is pretty coveted around here). Hooray for almost vaxxed kids!
Those quiet treeside moments *are* glorious. 🎄 Hooray for vaxxed kids! And a sort of, normalish-feeling holiday weekend. Enjoy!