Loving… our Instagram Reels for the podcast. Bri’s husband, Sean, had the amazing idea that we should be doing Reels to go along with our podcast episodes, and he even offered to make the Reels for us. (It’s something he does for his job, so he’s familiar with the technology.) So on our latest episode (about attachment styles!) we filmed ourselves on our phones while we recorded the podcast and then sent the recordings to Sean and he was able to create two very fun Reels from them. We posted our first Reel last week and it’s so good! Sean did such a great job. Our next Reel will be posted this week. 🙂
Loathing… scalp psoriasis. I finally scheduled an appointment with my dermatologist to talk about a new treatment regime because what I’m currently on is no longer working. What’s been happening is that my scalp gets these dry skin patches in two separate areas (the back of my head, right above my ears) so I use my steroid treatment, which is seeming to over-correct the problem. It takes away the dry skin but leaves me with inflamed spots that are so, so itchy. I’ve been slathering my hair with a specific psoriasis cream and it helps a little, but not as much as I’d like. Hopefully, my derm can help! My appointment isn’t until early next month but I was put on their cancellation list so I’m crossing fingers and toes I can get in with her this week.
Reading… three books. How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety by Ellen Hendrickson, which has been chock-full of helpful tips. Alongside that, I’m reading Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks, which has been a fun contemporary romance so far. And on audio, I’m listening to The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. What am I not reading? My Brilliant Friend. I tried, you guys, but it was just a slog for me and I finally gave up.
Watching… The Circle. When we did our PowerPoint night for book club, my topic was “Book Club’s Reality TV Futures,” and I paired each book club member with a specific reality TV show to go on. For my own reality TV future, I gave myself The Circle. The premise of this show is that all of the contestants live in a beautiful apartment (ALONE!) and communicate with other members using a voice-activated app. You can choose to play as yourself or as a catfish. And every few days, everyone rates each other from their favorite to least favorite. The top two players are the “influencers” of the group and can choose who of the remaining players to “block.” It’s a game of social skills and strategy, but you get to do it all while living by yourself and not having to be around people 24/7, which sounds like the perfect fit for me. (And you are allowed to read during your downtime, so just think of how many books I could get through!) Anyway, I blew through the first two seasons this month and I’m hooked.
Listening to… “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan. He has really blown up recently and I started hearing about him all over my Instagram feed so I decided his newest album (released in 2022) would be my February album to listen to. I really, really enjoyed it! He has such a great voice and I love the soulful nature of his songs.
Anticipating… The Popcast Live! The Popcast is my favorite podcast and I have been dying to go to one of their live shows. This year, when they announced they would be in Chicago in June, I immediately texted Kim to find out if she had the weekend open. She did and we made plans to go to the show together. I AM SO EXCITED, YOU GUYS! Not only will I get to see my favorite podcasters in person, but I’ll also get to spend time with one of my all-time favorite humans, so it’s a win-win for me.
Thinking about… eliminating Ubereats (and other food delivery) from my life. I love the convenience of food delivery, but it’s rare for me to actually enjoy the food (it’s always better straight from the kitchen to your table at the restaurant!) and it’s gotten so expensive lately. It’s easy to spend $35+ on one order for one person, and that’s just ridiculous. I would like to use it very sparingly and just for special occasions—like ordering lunch on a day filled with meetings. I’ve finally come around to the reason so many of you don’t use these food delivery services. It took me a while to get here, but I made it!
Buying… new skincare products. I’ve been using Paula’s Choice products for a long time now (a few years, at least) but I really haven’t noticed a big difference in my skin. My main problems are oiliness, redness, and uneven skin tone. I also deal with hormonal acne, but there’s not really a skincare product that can help with that unfortunately. After doing some light Internet research, I settled on giving La Roche Posay a try. Their products are seemingly very helpful for people with skin tones similar to mine, so we’ll see! It can’t hurt to try, right? I’m going to replace my cleanser, toner, serums, retinol, and moisturizer with LRP products. I’ll keep using The Ordinary’s niacinamide product (since it doesn’t appear LRP offers this treatment on its own, womp). I’m hoping to do a follow-up post in a few months about my skincare routine—a lot has changed since that original post.
Grateful for… a doctor who listens to my concerns. I went to see my primary care doctor last week, and one of the reasons for that visit was to see about getting a referral for a colonoscopy. I’m not having any symptoms that make me nervous, but my grandma had colon cancer and I read an article about how people in their 30s are getting diagnosed with colon cancer more often, so it scared me. Unfortunately, my doctor can’t just give me a referral due to “anxiety,” lol, but she did walk me through the protocol she would need to go through to get me that referral. And I learned that I am not at increased risk of colon cancer! I always thought I was, but guidelines have changed recently. Now, you have to have a first-degree family member who was diagnosed (my grandma is second degree, so she doesn’t count) or a second-degree family member who was diagnosed under the age of 45 (grandma was in her mid-60s) or multiple family members diagnosed with colon cancer (so far, it’s only been grandma). So not only did my doctor walk me through the guidelines and protocol for colonoscopies, but she also really assuaged my fears! Now I can confidently wait until I’m 45 to get my first one, and I’m not too upset about that.
What are you currently loving and loathing?
I am not reading My Brilliant Friend either! I gave it two stars the first time I read it and so I did not vote for it this time around for the CBBC. However, I did give it a shot, thinking that maybe this time would be different, but nope, I still do not enjoy it. I gave up, despite loving the book club format, as life is too short for bad books and I already wasted time on this one before! I fully support your decision to not finish it 🙂
Thank you! I know it is a very beloved book but it just was not working for me at all, and I did not feel compelled to pick it up at all this weekend. I don’t even care about what happens to the characters! That’s always my sign to abandon a book.
Oooh I am here for the skincare switch – can’t wait to hear how it goes. I am on the edge of my seat, Stephany, the edge of my seat!!!
I love the reels, and I’m so excited for you with the live show. I would love to do that for one of my favourites some day!
Wow, Ubereats is expensive! I’ve never ordered it so I had no idea.
I voted for MBF and I am finding it to be a huge slog. But, we are almost done! And I am curious as to how it ends.
I will keep you updated on the skincare switch! I’m still using up my Paula’s Choice products but I have started using a new serum that’s supposed to help with dark spots/uneven skin tone. WE’LL SEE.
With MBF, I started to realize that I don’t even care what happens to the characters and that was my cue to abandon the book. I’ll be following along still!
I also really just…didn’t like MBF. I remember seeing you comment before it was chosen that you were NOT a fan so that put my radar on high alert.
I did finish it because I wanted to know how it ended, but I skimmed it quickly as I just could not stay engaged with the story reading it in smaller snippets. I read synopses of the remaining books in the series so I could see how it all turned out!
I have literally never had food delivered to me IN MY LIFE. It feels…daunting!
I always know it’s time to abandon a book once I stop caring about the characters and how it will all turn out. I’m sad I couldn’t finish it with the CBBC, but onward to other books!
The first time I ordered food delivery, it was daunting! But now I’m an old pro. *cries*
I’m with you on MBF – I tried, I understand and appreciate what the story is trying to say, but I just couldn’t focus. I skimmed to the end and I’ll enjoy the discussions and seeing what everyone else has to say.
We’ve got colon cancer in our family so I will be taking my colonoscopies seriously. The age for the first screening used to be 50 but was moved down to 45 after I turned 45 – so guess what scheduling my first is on my list. My goal is to make the call to get it scheduled by the end of February which would be this week. Sigh, I’m still having trouble picking up the phone.
The scheduling is the hardest part! I feel you on that completely. But think of how relieved you’ll feel when you DO have it scheduled!
What season of The Circle are you on? I LOVE that show! Its so fun!!!
My dad had colon cancer so my brother & I have to get tested every 5 years. I hate it – but I always want to be smart. its always so good to be proactive.
I’ve watched seasons 1 and 2 so far! I’m taking a break to watch Love is Blind because I’m nothing but a glutton for trash TV. HA.
So important to be proactive when it comes to colon cancer! If my grandma had gotten her colonoscopies regularly, she probably wouldn’t have gotten sick (or at least, it wouldn’t have gotten to stage IV). That’s what I remind myself!
I use a La Roche Posay serum and think it’s done great things (I am very mix-and-match with skincare haha!). Currently loving the forecast up here which has the week in the 50s (except for Wed); there’s such an emotional difference between the 40s and 50s for me… Currently loathing the list of phone calls I have been actively avoiding (one place, I have sent 4 emails – FOUR EMAILS – with nothing back; and we have corresponded via this email before so I know it’s the right one)…
I love mixing and matching skincare, too! What LRP serum are you using now?
Phone calls are the WORST. I have had to make too many of them recently, and have two that I need to get done today. We can do it!
I’m so sad that the MBF book club isn’t as successful as ATGIB. Oh, well. There are not books as beloved as ATGIB!
I am with Elisabeth. I don’t think I’ve ever ordered food delivered outside of maaaaybe a pizza or two in college. I’m too frugal. LOL.
My mom was just diagnosed with colon cancer and the first thing my FIL (a primary care physician) said to me was that I should get a colonoscopy. I’m 44 and when I called to ask my primary care about it, they just said that I should wait until I’m 45. I guess I don’t know how to feel about it!
It’s okay! This was the book we all chose together, and it was bound to happen that one book didn’t work for everyone. There are lots of people still reading, though, and I am so glad it’s working for them!
I’m sorry to hear that your mom has colon cancer. That’s crazy, though, that they said you should wait another year to get a colonoscopy! Technically, based on the guidelines I was given by my doctor, you should be eligible now!
Hee hee, I like your reel. Yes to footlong cookies!
i am liking MBF, but I’m not loving it. Weirdly, my husband read it and LOVED it and is now on the second book. Like I said, I’m liking it but I doubt I’ll read the next one.
I love all the photos of the cats, and I LOVE that cat blanket!
Footlong cooooookies!
I was trying to trudge along in MBF but I have had no desire to pick it up and keep reading, which was my cue to abandon. Hopefully the next book we choose for the CBBC will work better for me!
I am really enjoying My Brilliant Friend but haven’t been reading it! Yikes! It has been hard lately to find time to sit and read.
So glad your doctor helped you feel less concerned about colon cancer. My grandmother died of colon cancer (as did her mother) and so I have a heightened awareness of the risk. But my gastro source says 45 is still the target for a first scope, so I’m waiting! I do think about it a lot, though — since I’m in that general age group, a lot of my friends are getting theirs so it’s a hot topic.
I’m glad you’re loving MBF! I really wish I had it in me to keep going, but onward and upward!
I am so so so so pumped for June! We are going to have the best time!!! Thanks for asking me and for all the hard work getting the tickets!
I am so glad you shared the colonoscopy thing! My mom’s parents both had colon cancer at the same time and my dr previously told me I need to get tested when I am 40 (this year)! I will ask again!
I CAN’T WAIT, KIM! YAYAYAYAY!
Wow, they had colon cancer at the same time?! What are the odds of that?! Crazy!
Harry and Jack spend MOST of the money they make as summer lifeguards on Ubereats deliveries to the pool. AND THERE IS A NSACK BAR and also a golf course restaurant ON SITE. **shakes head**
It is SUCH a guilty pleasure, but it is so damn expensive. There are better things to spend my money on!
Your cats look like they are totally judging us in that first pic!
I was tempted to get tickets to Popcast live since it’s so easy to get to Chicago but with all the work travel I am doing in the first half of the year, I don’t think I can add something else on! I would have loved to have gone, though! If I did not have such small humans I totally would have gone!
I’m glad you felt better about your colon cancer risk after talking to your doctor! I’ll get my first colonoscopy at 45 which is not far off considering I am 43! Eeks. My aunt had colon cancer so we have a slight family history. My 3 older siblings had clear scans luckily. They all had polyps but nothing concerning.
We use food delivery very very sparingly since it is so stupid expensive w/ the delivery charge and tipping, etc. I would say we order Indian maybe 2-3 times/year so we feel ok paying up for it at those times, especially since it would be like 40 minutes round trip to go get it ourselves. Phil will gladly go and pick up other take out so we tend to do that more + we regularly get take and bake pizza.
Ahh… it would have been so cool to see you if you had gone to this Popcast show. Next time!
It really is SO expensive to get food delivery. It can be double the price in some instances, and that’s just ridiculous.
Kitties! Cute pictures.
I DNF’d the book club book, too. Like you, I put it down and felt no draw to pick it back up. There are too many other books I want to read, but I look forward to the next book club selection to try again.
I’m so glad your doctor was so helpful. That’s the way it should be!
They are the cutest babies, I agree! 🙂
Yes, onward to better books! I’m excited to see what book we choose next for the CBBC – ya win some, ya lose some.
Prices really have gone up a lot and we’ll only do take out when we pick up. I will not pay for the convenience of UberEats.
I am sorry you’re dealing with scalp psoriasis. Not fun. My cousin dealt with it for a while and I am hoping you’ll find a solution with your doctor!
Thanks, San! We have a new treatment plan in place for my scalp psoriasis and I’m feeling a LOT better. Yay!
I’m so glad your doc talked to you, walked you through the (CORRECT) assessment (I know these things because of what I teach and what I researched in the past), and was able to assuage your concerns. That said, your mom should definitely be getting scoped (I think this is her mom, right?) to keep an eye on her colon. 🙂
Um, you know what state is next to Illinois? I’m just sayin’. I know you’ll be busy, though. I’ll just have to get myself to FL. Grudgingly. Not because of you, but because of Gov. (name redacted).
Glad you got an updated treatment plan for your scalp. Things that are treatable should be treated appropriately. Here’s hoping it works.
Yes, it’s her mom who had colon cancer and she’s been getting regular screenings ever since Grandma was diagnosed! She’s very good about her regular checkups and I am VERY grateful for that!
Ooh, a Wisconsin bloggers meetup would be fun! Hmm… must ruminate on this a bit…