🧔🏽 Lil Treasures #113: NFTs and Bearded Zac Efron

Hello my friends! OH MY WORDLE we made it through January. I didn’t think I was going to, but I am proud of literally everyone. Way to go, team. I’ve had a very weird week where I accidentally got scammed in a very stupid way, but that’s a story for next week. EITHER WAY, cue Shaina Twain ‘cause it looks like we made it.

I finally got around to answering some of the questions from Instagram (you know, from a few weeks ago). I’m answering some here and some on the Swipe Up+ next week (things like:

“where can I start to worship God again after church hurt?”

“how do I respectfully challenge my church on their narrow view of women in leadership?”

“I’m leaving my church. How do I leave well/say goodbye?”

“How do you cope with transitioning theology?”

“When did you know it was time to deconstruct?” - you know, just some light topics),

so if you’re not over there and you want to be, just click that button below for some Tuesday deep-dive goodness. As always, if you want to join but it’s not financially feasible for you, please email me at hello@erinhmoon.com and either Hannah or I will get you set up.

Okay, let’s get to those questions.

Q: Can we talk about hell according to the Bible and history? I’m kinda confused.
A: Yes! We have a whole entire episode on the Bible Binge where we talked about all the different theologies surrounding hell, historically how it came to be, and what we think about it. You can listen here¹.

Q: With your recent experience, what advice do you have for a first-time homebuyer?
A: Buying a home (especially for the first time) is like getting on a merry-go-round where the teenage operator has stepped away to take a hit on his vape pen, and as he left, accidentally switched the lever from “mild amusement” to “nightmare vortex.” And if you attempt to get off, someone else will get the house of your dreams and you will be sorry for the rest of your pathetic days on this planet.

I mean, it feels like that.

I am almost 39 years old and when my real estate agent is talking about mortgage rates, I’m like, yes, I absolutely know what those are, but just in case Ben doesn’t, please explain it like he’s five. But seriously², here are some things that have been helpful to me:

1. Ask stupid questions. I mean, ask what a mortgage rate is! I am officially too old and have owned too many homes for me to ask, but you are still fresh and new. Why don’t high schools have a class called “The Real Things You Need to Know as an Adult”? It could include this entire process, NFTs, how one pays taxes, and stuff about cars so you don’t look like an idiot at the Jiffy Lube.

2. Figure out your non-negotiables pre-search. Make a budget, and stick with it. If you’re buying a home with someone, get your Venn diagram of the things you both like. Think about what you’ll need to do to the house or property in the future. For instance, it might seem like a great idea to buy a house surrounded by woods on 2.5 acres, but what you don’t realize is that half the woods are dead, so you have to take the trees down before an errant wind comes and knocks them all down on your house.

3. Get pre-approved. This one is easy because most sellers won’t even look at your offer if you aren’t pre-approved. Again, I do not know what this means, but someone will, and they will help you. You also might be pre-approved for a higher amount than you actually want to fork over every month. So just pay attention to that. Or ask about it. But not me.

4. Prepare to drain your bank account. The nickel and dime-ing at the end of the process is so overwhelming.

5. Visit the house in all kinds of weather and at different times of day. What if it’s on a weird mini flood plain? What if there’s a street light that shines directly into the bedroom? If you can’t do that, I recommend having the inspection done while it rains, if possible. That way, you can’t hide a sneaky leak or horrible mold smell.

I would LOVE for you to share your home-buying tips in the comments for this question-asker. Also if you happen to know what a mortgage is, I’ve gone this long without knowing, so I feel confident I can manage for the rest of my life.

Q: What’s your favorite Olive and June color and have you tried the press-ons?
A: Y’all, these press-ons are changing me, fundamentally, at my core. I cannot function with long nails, so I’ve been clipping and filing mine down to where they work for me (if I can’t find a style I like in the shorts or extra shorts) and it’s been great. I am a chronic nail picker, so this has stopped my tradition of commuting home while destroying my manicure as my primary form of self-care, which I think we can all agree is progress. I actually snagged a set of short press-ons in my two fave O&J colors: Lava and Besties, which felt like winning a very specific lottery that only I care about. We’re taking the Ws where we can find them.

Q: How do you deal with liking your church but not feeling challenged enough in faith?
A: I would say it might be time for you to take some challenges on in your personal practice! And I think this is really exciting! Read some books by people who you don’t always agree with, start a new prayer ritual, find a spiritual director or companion, take a class, engage in something fresh like meditation or volunteering in one of the ministries at your church that you don’t usually interact with. Let your church be the starting point and go excavating yourself!

Q: I need to process the Redeeming Love movie but none of my friends grew up with it. What do I do?
A: Jamie and I did a whole episode in Bible Binge Seminary! Come hang out with us!³

Okay, now on to the treasures!

😠 For your comedic relief, I present this video of me after a long day.

🍜Y’all know I love a good egg or egg-themed recipe. Currently at my house we’ve been on a big boiled egg kick and I find the gummy remnants laying around everywhere. While that’s kind of gross I’m also immensely proud of this legacy that I’ve passed on. Anyway, I’ve been craving them constantly lately so when I saw this recipe for Chili Oil Egg Ramen from HBH I added to my meal plan so fast. Also it is only a 25 minute recipe! Freaking brilliant.

🍎 If you need to hack your cry today, here’s a lovely video of an amazing educator being celebrated on the Jimmy Kimmel show.

🧶 This post from Jedidiah Jenkins about deconstruction is really beautiful.

🎣 A few of you shared this AT&T commercial featuring Zac Efron and I don’t really know how to feel about it, but I do know I laughed heartily. And I love his mustache. And now I’m suddenly hungry for some shrimps.

Let’s do the Tweets!

Danté Stewart (Stew) @stewartdantec

Be gentle and attentive. So many people are in a long season of grieving and mourning and trying to find a way to be present and whole.

Reuven Perlman @ReuvenPerlman

Without caffeine I wouldn’t have the explosive energy required to sit in a chair all day every day.

David Griner @griner

Every southern school newsletter is like • We are doing everything we can to address this Covid surge • Please join us at Spirit Night in the Chic-fil-A ball pit for a sneeze competition and bubblegum swap

Lizzie Molyneux @LizzieMolyneux

I've been into NFTs all my life- Nachos For the Table

Lucy Huber @clhubes

Please stop making me go viral I just want to converse with my 300 best friends who I’ve never met on this website and then go to bed.

maggie lalley @magslals

Some people are like I will stop at nothing and I’m like really? I would stop at a lot of things like for instance what if it’s difficult

Maggie? Winters? @saggiesplinters

well well well if it isn’t the one ingredient I already had for a recipe so I went out and bought 8 more things for it and then I waited a few days and now that one ingredient went bad

Owl! at the Library 😴🧙‍♀️ @SketchesbyBoze

it's been a long week and maybe you need to see some flower cows

Caissie @Caissie

I’m happy for Mr. Wordle. He made a game for his partner because she loved word games, then he shared it with all of us for nothing. Now he gets a million unexpected dollars. Because he loved someone!

The real reason we go on a StupidWalk™

Sam Evans @ReallySamEvans

When I was a kid, I’d think, “Man, my dad goes on a lot of walks” and now I go on a lot of walks and think, “Aw, how sweet, my dad was trying not to murder his whole family!”

ilana peña @ilanacubana

Those Yellowjackets girls are so resourceful. If it had been the drama club on that plane they would have acted out Rent and then died

👀 this Tweet

Robert Vore @RobertVore

scouring my bible to find the story where Jesus responds to people's pain with dismissive snark

Amy Fritz @amyfritz

So many that decry Twitter as a dumpster fire are missing a mission field of people crying out in deep grief. Sometimes it looks like anger because, in many ways, it's easier to do anger here than to say, "My heart is broken and I'm afraid no one cares."

Dylan Adler @DylanAdler6

It’s always “Mr. DJ turn the music up” and never “Mr. DJ how is your healing journey”

Carrie Ann @barelycarrie

trail mix is just a bag of m&ms with obstacles

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s newsletter, pals. May your weekends be filled with good things to eat and all the Winter Olympics footage your hearts can manage. Can’t wait to see you in the comments!

1. This is a free episode!

2. Let me be clear. I have no idea what a mortgage is.

3. This is behind a paywall, just FYI.