Empties!

In case you missed it: I posted a recap of last week on Saturday.  

I switched up from my regular vitamin C serum and tried this Vanicream Vitamin C serum. I do like it. I feel like the results are equivalent but I do think you don't get as much in the tube for the cost. It has a verrrrry light coconut smell I think, which I like, but could be off-putting if you hate coconut. Would 10/10 recommend but it is a few dollars more than what I normally buy with the same results. I think it'd be the best bet for sensitive skin because it's by Vanicream. --> It's 30% off right now if you subscribe so that's a great deal! 

4-in-1 Glow Perfector. I use this as a concealer because I don't do foundation. I like it a lot. This is my second tube. 

I buy the sensitive skin products for the kids and I usually just look around at whoever/whatever is having a sale. This Honest shampoo and body wash is a good one. No scent but great bubbles in the tub. 

Same with the eye patches: I buy whatever I know is good and is on sale. I *prefer* the non-individually packaged ones so this tub of 30 pairs was great. 

I tend to buy small, travel-sized bottles of hair product because it's easier to take with me if we're going somewhere and/or I really don't go through it fast enough to justify big bottles. However, I have gone through two of these travel hairsprays in the last few months so I bought a bigger one this past week. I do use it on Sutton as well to control the flyaways so this is probably why I ran out so quickly. 

I really like this brand of shampoos and conditioners.  I buy it at Sally's but maybe just once a year or so. I bought this in September, have used it on and off, and I *just* ran out. It's like Biolage but it's the generic brand, basically. I've actually tried to tell stylists that I use this and they don't like it because they are always trying to up-sell the Biolage in the salon to customers so they tell me it's "not a thing" or roll their eyes --not kidding. I do not go back to those salons. Go to Sally's and ask questions if you are interested in trying new products! 

Friday Slides Review!

To anyone who is on the fence about spending money on the Bombas Friday Slides, I bought them so you can have an honest review :)

First, I've had the $10 slides from Target. I wore them to the pool 2 years in a row. I have these slides from Amazon and I wear them around the house, currently. I don't love spending money on flip-flops so I usually have a pair of Sanuks and that's it. Bad flip-flops are really bad for your feet, and I haven't worn regular flip-flops out and about in years. To me, they give "stopping at a gas station on a road trip" vibes and I can't do it. (I think that comes from that Where the Heart Is movie, to be honest). 

Four years ago, I splurged on the Birkenstock Arizonas in teal. They are made of a styrofoam material* and are squeaky when wet. The feeling of my toes on that material was more than I could handle. They also have this raised support thing that you can see in the pictures. I don't understand why. It hurt my feet. Like, I couldn't wear them. Anyway, they sat with our outdoor shoes for a couple of years and last year Mav chewed on one a little and I didn't even care. I threw them away. Also, the print/logo rubbed off when wet. Basically, they were awful. 

I say all of that to put out there that I'm not unfamiliar to the game of buying summer slides that aren't flip-flops. 

This spring, I kept getting ads for Bombas and decided to splurge for Mother's Day. I was also riding out my foot issues for all of April and I used that to justify buying higher quality sandals for sure. Though, after the Birkenstock Regret of 2021, I was hesitant. 

I ended up going with the Desert Bloom, I got a size 8, and they were true to size. 

I cannot say enough good things about these shoes!

They don't get all weird and squeaky when they're wet. They dry quickly. They feel like nothing on your feet but are incredibly supportive. The footbed is almost completely flat and the ridges on the bottom actually kind of massage your feet the way those amazing adidas slides did back in the day. (I think I had them in 9th grade?) They also don't have a print logo or anything, just the name on the bottom. 

Honestly, I'm ready to buy another pair because I like them so much. If you are looking for a beach, summer, splashpad (me) sandal that is a little bit more elevated than a flip-flop and you can also wear with a sundress or into the grocery store after the pool (also, me), this is for you. 

*All of these slides have EVA listed as the material but the Birkenstocks were the only ones that felt like walking while encased in a styrofoam cup.

**I wish this post was sponsored, but it's not.**

Two guilty pleasures.

1. Politics. I ride an adrenaline high on election nights. It's the weirdest thing. I picked up this hobby of following politics around 2016, but I always paid attention from about 2000 on. I remember following 2012 pretty closely on Twitter. With podcasts and live coverage and tracking of the electoral map, I really went for it in 2018, 2020, and 2022. It's like an actual hobby. On debate night last week, the season started. 

2. I love Nordstrom Anniversary Sale season. It's funny because I don't have an N card and I don't buy from the sale. But I love seeing what other people are buying and I love reading the lamenting about how quality has gone so far downhill. That being said, here's what I would want if I were shopping the sale (no affiliate links here)...

All Saints Tote (though if I had the access and unlimited funds to spend on bags at this second, I'd get the leather one)

SuperGoop pack

Treasure and Bond Knit Top

Free People Sweatshirt

Hourglass Blush (I have this and love it, so I would like the mix of colors to play around with instead of a single palette.)

Zella Pocket Joggers

This is the literal definition of window shopping here because I can't buy any of these things anyway! They'll all be gone by August when the sale opens up to everyone. I could see splurging on that nylon All Saints bag post-sale though. 

Do you shop the N Sale? Do you...follow politics? 

Products lately.

I recently placed an order with A'del Natural Cosmetics again. About a year ago, I got loose powder from them instead of buying Bare Minerals. I liked it so much better! I'm almost out now because it lasts forever. This is what I got from them this time:

I kept going back and forth about whether I should order products from Beauty Counter or from A'del. The truth is that A'del is a Christian company started by one woman and the products are superior. They just really are. This is not drugstore make-up. It also has all the "free" labels on it and it's not terrible for you. 

Granted, Beauty Counter is also a clean option and I do like their products a lot; they're just a lot more expensive and I don't know where my money is going aside from into the MLM infrastructure. 

The selling point to A'del for me personally though, is that they give a military discount. TWENTY PERCENT. It makes such a difference. 

Here's my order from A'del:

This is what a similar product order would look like from Beauty Counter:

BC doesn't have powder foundation, which was my reason for going to A'del. The Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil is what I wanted from BC but I'm going to try the Blue Lagoon Cleanse(ing) oil instead because it's basically the same thing and I've heard good reviews. Cream blush has been on my list for awhile. ...does blush go bad? I have a powder blush I've loved from Sephora but it doesn't give the same look it used to it seems. 

Something else I went back to, speaking of MLMs, was ordering a product from Rodan + Fields.

 Hear me out: I seriously love their products. I would use them exclusively if they weren't so expensive. When I was a consultant, my products were mostly paid for by my commissions and discounts. If you don't have an actual need for the products, it's probably not something you want to spend money on just for fun. If you don't have a *need* for actual dermatological products, it's not worth it. But my skin has been bothering me again lately...flare-ups of PCOS and stress, probably. 

As I perused the new offerings on the site, I saw this geared toward acne. While I am a forever stan of Unblemish, it's not cheap. And it's a whole regimen. I don't want the sunblock (I love Supergoop Glowscreen for my face). I don't feel like I need the toner. I have no dark spots that it's meant to treat. I really like my elf toner, to be honest. All I really want is the "dual intensive acne treatment" (the peroxide/salicylic acid stuff you put on your face before bed) and a cleanser for the end of the day. 

I ended up getting Spotless instead. It fits what I want for half the price. I mean, who cares if it's for "teens" right? 

I will say that I think the formula is different than Unblemish but I'm seeing results already so I'll take it. If you have any kind of regular adult acne, I highly recommend because, short of going to the dermatologist and getting prescriptions (a route I've also taken in the past), you won't find a better OTC treatment than Rodan+Fields. 

I don't sell anything for them anymore, but my advice is that if you plan on ordering more than once a year, it's absolutely worth the $19.95 to become a PC Perks member. Free shipping and a hefty discount on all products. 

And then two very affordable and effective products to round out this post:

Gold eye masks. 

These are a game-changer if you have sinus issues and a godsend after a night up with a toddler. Keep them in the fridge. 

CeraVe eye cream

This is the best eye cream. Beauty Counter ($77 and $47), Rodan + Fields, or spend all the money you want on a product. This $13 tube is superior. Change my mind. 

Hacks saving my life right now.

$37 worth of baby/toddler medicine. 

Which cost 5x as much as the mucinex I would give to Wells if he were sick. And it would actually work.

I had a moment this week again. It was I should really make sure I work out at night. I have been doing yoga a lot of mornings as it does help to set my day in the right direction. My routine is to listen to The Bible Recap while I clean up the kitchen at 5am and, then, once everyone is up and watching TV with their cups of milk, I do a 10 minute yoga video locked in my room before getting ready for school. 

But then, my complete lack of sleep has thrown this off, so it's been hit or miss. So my idea was Wow, if I would just exercise, I would feel more energetic. This, in a vacuum, is true. However, I'm kind of back in this place where I don't think I can ask one more thing of myself. It sounds dramatic but I can feel my body rebelling. I cannot ask it to do one more thing that gives energy instead of stores or replenishes it. 

Anyway. That's the state of things. 

There's not one thing anyone can actually do to help unless you want to be a live-in housekeeper. I have a friend who offers to take the kids after school (I would only take her up on it in case of an emergency but it's the offer that means the most). Sutton has the best people in the world taking care of her each day. Scott actually sleeps with Sutton on the couch most nights just to keep her quiet. I am the problem. If she sees me, she loses her mind and wants held and wants to cry and whine. He, on his own, can keep her quiet. She has been sick on and off for two weeks so the reasoning is it's just a phase. I hate that phrase more than anything. It doesn't feel like a phase while you are up 8-10 times a night for no discernible reason and this will go on for an indeterminate amount of time. 

Needless to say, I have strategies to cope. Here they are:

+Keurig + this giant box of kcups.

I found that taking the time to clean, refill, and set the coffeepot each day was stressing me out. Plus, sometimes on the weekends, I just want one cup of coffee. I don't want to make a full pot. For awhile now, I've just been setting the pot for 8 cups each night and it brews in the morning and that's it. Our pot is also five years old and has lived in PA, KS, and MO and I can't say that moving has been kind to it; it doesn't always work right. 

However, taking even a 10 minute task off my plate gives me some relief a lot of nights when I'm trying to clean up the kitchen (which meant the kitchen had to be cleaned up at night and not in the morning). 

The Keurig is super helpful in this way. It brews in 2 minutes while I brush my teeth and put my contacts in each morning and there's no prep and no clean up. 

It's the little things. 

I also got this giant box of kcups from Costco for about $30. Saves me remembering to buy them each week and much more cost-efficient. 

+This big bag.

All my stuff goes into this tote and it's very easy to transport a toddler back and forth to school if I'm not juggling 4 bags. I cannot recommend it enough. The toddler would probably fit into it too. 

+Walmart brand diapers and wipes.

Luckily, Sutton is not picky about her diapers and wipes. I buy the Walmart brand. They're the cheapest products I've found and the diapers don't leak. With Wells, I think I used mostly up&up because we lived practically next door to a Target. I really like the commissary's store brand too (Tippy Toes?). Also, very cheap. There is no need, in this economy, to be buying Huggies or Pampers. Like, the reason just doesn't exist. 

In addition, the Walmart grocery pick-up I mentioned last week. I would not survive without grocery pick-up. 

I'm sure there's more to mention, but those are the 3 at the top of my mind right now. 

What's saving your life right now?

Products lately...

1. Beauty Counter Vitamin C Serum. This is my holy grail product. I have purchased it once and then was gifted it for Christmas again. It's the best feeling, best smelling serum I've come across. Cannot recommend enough. It's just a punch to the wallet, so I try to alternate with something less expensive. 

2.  Beauty Counter Overnight Resurfacing Peel. Another holy grail product. I use it every other night. It makes my skin so soft. If you're going to try Beauty Counter, this is what I would try first. 

3. Laniege moisturizing cream. My mom gave me this at Christmas. It's rich without being greasy. It's perfect for dry spots on your face after washing...I admit, I don't use moisturizer and just generally use one of the those serums up there. This is light and doesn't make me break out so it's perfect. You don't need a lot either to make it effective. 

4. Beauty Counter Reflect Effect Mask. This was an impulse buy. I have few words to describe it. It's absolutely amazing. That's all. If you are looking for a mask, this is it. Ugh. I hate that I bought it and I hate that I love it. It smooths like some sort of filter and makes you glow. 

5. Loreal Extraordinary Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. I've really struggled with finding shampoo/conditioner I like enough to use for more than a week. It's been ongoing since...August? I decided Olaplex shampoo/conditioner wasn't for me. I tried some cheaper brands, like Herbal Essences again, and then basically wanted to throw up (pregnancy). And so I grabbed this when I was at Walmart one day. I LOVE it. It's a mild scent, makes my hair feel very soft and clean, and I do use it every day. It's also super cheap. (I actually used Olaplex again the other day just to switch it up...my hair felt and looked like straw in comparison to the results I get from the Loreal Extraordinary Oil.)

6. La-Roche Posay Pigment Clar facewash. I tend to get a few melasma spots on my cheek when I'm pregnant. They do fade after, but I thought this would be a good option to try since I needed a new facewash anyway. I love this brand a lot. It's all pretty much fragrance free and very clarifying in that you don't feel like you have some sort of residue leftover. I use it in the shower and/or when I wash make-up off. Definitely recommend. 

Monday Favorites

Last week spiraled downward in such a way that there were no Friday Favorites or even Friday things. 

We ended the week sitting in the crawlspace due to a tornado warning. This was after I discovered the primary physical symptom I seem to be getting from this pregnancy is varicose veins, which is utterly horrifying. This did not happen last time.  Also, this was after I had trudged myself to Walmart after school to buy my mirror as a Christmas present and had to load and unload it myself #becauseWalmart and the Salvation Army bell ringer actually had to help me get it out the sliding exit doors. This was also after I'd had an emotionally-wrought week at school and I don't know how I'm going to keep this up for 3 more months, and after Wells had had his own emotionally-wrought week at school ("clingy and crying a lot"), and after Scott had been gone all week (and then he worked all weekend) and I'm sure the dogs are mad at me because there's not much I can do with them when it's completely dark at 4:30pm and I'm sure that's why Scout keeps peeing on the Christmas tree skirt. 

Well. 

These are some good things I wanted to recommend:

To start: 

The Great British Baking Show (i.e. Bake Off): The Beginnings. This is only on Netflix for the next two weeks, so binge it now. I don't know how I missed this season that was put out a few years ago. It's the only thing that's held my interest on TV in quite awhile. When it comes to the other Bake Off seasons, I have a lot of trouble getting into the newer ones. I miss Mary Berry and I miss Mel and Sue. This season is from 2012. 

These socks. 

These are the only athletic socks I wear. They are thick and supportive and cushiony without feeling heavy. I found them at Costco back in 2014ish. Costco (and only Costco) always has them and I buy a new pack every year or so. This time, I bought two packs and I'm throwing away all my others. They are sufficiently worn out. 

More Costco clothes. 

I don't know what it is about Costco clothes. Their sweatshirts are unparalleled and so cheap. I got myself two over the last couple of months. I also got Scott sweatpants. This is the only one that's still on the site. It's a steal. 

Liquid IV.

I bought this for Scott last month because he was supposed to be traveling overseas and jetlag and all. He didn't go and I don't even know if he saw this in the cupboard. I've been drinking a lot of pedialyte lately in an effort to stay hydrated so I decided to try the Liquid IV instead. Guys, it tastes so much better than pedialyte. It's not super cheap (pedialyte isn't either) but it's definitely worth it if you feel you need a product like this. 

Stay tuned for my Festivus Airing of Grievances coming on Wednesday :)

Retail Therapy: Things worth your time

In the last month or so, I've been shopping a lot. This is part of why I tracked my spending at the beginning of the year: I always go a little nuts come late summer. 

However, these are things that are worth your time, and are either second-time buys for me or things I've personally done the on-the-ground research on...I whole-heartedly recommend them all. 

First, I caved and bought my favorite Beauty Counter serum. This Honest brand I recommended last week is great too, but something about this Tripeptide just seals the deal for me. I love it. Ugh. Hopefully it lasts til Christmas. I use it 1-2 times a day. 

These Gap leggings. They are the modal crop sleep leggings. But, they are absolutely perfect under shorter dresses with flats/sandals/wedges and also perfect in the winter if you wear higher boots because they go to about mid-shin. Also perfect for yoga, Pilates, errand-running with a longer shirt...

This is my third pair. I wore two holes in my first black pair, SEWED/GLUED them, and still wear them around the house. I have gray too. I just needed a new pair for the school year. They run a teeny bit big so get your regular size. 

I guarantee they will go back to regular price after school starts, so grab them now. 

These Old Navy zip-ups. 

I had an ON zip-up years ago that I adored. The zipper just fell off one day in the washer. Not a testament to quality, sure, but I haven't found a material/fit since then that I liked as much. I check multiple times a year to see if they've brought that style back (they haven't). I did finally run into an actual ON store over the weekend and these were on sale for $10 each. Sold. The fit is not the same at all, but they will be fine over dresses in a chilly classroom or when out walking the dogs. The material is much nicer than the traditional ON zip-ups. If you can find them on sale, it's worth it. I got black and gray. 

I also grabbed a bunch of random things from Amazon that we needed ("needed"), but I'll share those in the next Amazon link-up. 

Products I'm Loving--July 2020

There will be no weekend recap. My weekend included sharing a box of mac and cheese with a 2 year old on Friday night and sharing a frozen pizza with him on Saturday night. 

No one needs evidence of how bad things got around here. With tantrums (from us all) and a real feel temp of 104 degrees...not every weekend needs to be remembered for posterity, right?

One thing I did manage to take care of was organizing our master bath more-so than it has been in the last month. So I got to look at old products and new products, and find new homes for them all.

I get my best and most favorite beauty/bath product ideas from blogs. Hopefully this will give you some ideas if you're in the market for something new. 

Fellow contact lens wearers, this is the best solution I've found. I buy travel bottles often, because they take up less space. But since I soak in a peroxide solution most nights, this is what I'll use if I need to moisten a contact after a nap or something. It's like bathing your eyeball in lotion. So refreshing. It's also the same price as all the other solutions so it's worth picking up if you need some anyway. 

I've tried Cetaphil on and off in the last two years but this is one I picked up randomly because my doctor recommended "something like Cetaphil" when I was having awful issues with allergies around my eyes this spring. 

A week later, Scott asked me what I was doing because my skin looked "really good". This is it. Just this! 

It's not drying, it leaves your face squeaky clean, and it doesn't have a strong scent. 

My face looks better when I use this, in comparison to any other product I've tried recently.

I mentioned this Lancome eye cream before...this container is a sample. It is wonderful; refreshing, smooth, and (I think) really helps with bags and circles. It's not cheap but I will get some more when my BeautyCounter eye cream runs out. Usually I use the Lancome in the morning and the BC at night. (You're seriously never too young for eye cream. Just do it.)

And a product I haven't tried as of yet is a night cream. A blogger I follow mostly for her recommendations suggested this. It's less than $15 and you don't use much. It does feel great. 

I use it every other night. I didn't want to recommend it until I knew it wouldn't make me break out. A week in, we're good so far. 

Any beauty product recommendations to share? 

Pro Tips

Here's some tips and tricks I've been using lately...

+Bioterra. My cousin was the only person I ever went to for haircuts and highlights before I moved to Alaska. She told me that Sally's Beauty Supply has a knock-off version of Biolage and I've been buying it ever since. I got away from it in Colorado because I don't even know where the nearest Sally's was, but we had one right near us in Alaska and now, here, there's one right next to our post office.
Bioterra is half the price of Biolage and, from trying both, it's identical.

+ Diaper boxes are perfect for storing/moving books. They're the best size because it's not so big that the box will be impossibly heavy if it's full. And they have built-in handles.

I have a ton more books to load up, but I'm just collecting more boxes at this point. I'll tape them up and stack them and they'll be ready to move again. In our last house, we had a ton of bookshelves so I really have nowhere to put the books we have but don't need/read right now. 

+I clean the bathroom while Wells is in the tub. Not every day, but it's 10 minutes of time where he likes to splash around and I don't leave the room, so I usually wipe down the fixtures, clean the toilet, wipe the walls/shelves of the shower, and wipe down and organize the sink.

+Give your stuffed animals to your kids.
Most of my stuffed animals I had as a child are still at my parents' house. However, apparently, as late as my early 20s, I was fond of buying stuffed animals at gift shops. I had a few in a box that has moved with us for the last 10 years. Since I'm using this time in Pittsburgh to sort through every single thing we own...I pulled them out, cut all the tags off, and gave them to Wells. What exactly was I planning on doing with a stuffed penguin from the St. Louis Zoo anyway? Stuffed animals are meant to be played with and storing them away is a waste of space.

These are just some tips I've gathered in the last month or so. "Life hacks", if you will, but "Pro Tips" sounds less millenial, right?

August Recommendations

These spinach and sausage muffins were delicious. I didn't put in the onion and went with bell pepper instead. They reheated very well and were tasty all week long. However, they all but destroyed my muffin tins and I don't know why. I sprayed them well with Pam and it just didn't work out the way I wanted. I did make them twice, just to be sure it wasn't a fluke. I have silicone muffin cups around here somewhere (you know, from when I used to actually bake things), so when I come across those, I'll try again.

Also, microwaveable bacon. Cooking bacon is a pain, even in the microwave. I was cooking bacon on the stove a few weeks ago and grease shot into my eye. That was the last time I tried cooking bacon on the stove. Buying the actual packs of microwaveable bacon is so much easier. I don't make vast quantities at once, so this does the job.

New sneakers were at the top of my want/need list right now. I can't truly recommend these because I haven't really tried them. But I got them over the weekend.

And, to continue on with wants/needs, I need a dress for a wedding. Because I'm preppy and weird, I was liking this one:

This one.

Or this one.

It's a fall wedding on the east coast, so maybe with a new pair of booties and black tights. I miss the east coast.

This last one is kind of an anti-recommendation:
If a teacher wants a color printer, a teacher must buy a color printer herself/himself. We have one and I like it and it's wireless and portable and does the job. My teammate bought this one from Amazon and told me she'd let me know how she liked it because I was thinking maybe I should get one too ("ours" is technically "Scott's"). After she used it, she reported that it went through ink way too quickly.
Therefore, if you are looking for a color printer, I wouldn't get this one.

Linking up with Lauren and Bre!

July Recommendations

+Go Bayside podcast. I binged this whole podcast (80+ episodes that are usually more than 1 hour each) in 3 weeks. It was wildly entertaining. I spent a lot of my elementary years watching Saved By The Bell. I remember specifically 1st grade being a big year for that. My parents weren't terrible, by the way. They would watch with me and roll their eyes and try to tell me that was not what high school was like. I didn't believe them.

+The Cult of Pedagogy. This is a teaching website and I read my way through every article in about a week. It was so informative and real. It's also a podcast and I pretty much made my way through that entire backlog too. 

+Ozark. This is a new show on Netflix. Not only did we live in the Ozarks for a year plus a few months but we spent many weekends at Osage Beach and the lake there. Osage Beach was the nearest Target so I spent some time driving that 45 minute stretch of woods at least once a month.
This show is so enthralling...it just kept going and going and I kept watching and watching...it plays out like a movie. I just love Jason Bateman.

+Online grocery shopping. I mentioned this on Friday and I cannot recommend enough that you at least try it. I discovered that I can keep my cart open on the app and just add to it as I think of things instead of writing them down and likely losing the list. I'm using Wal-Mart because that's who offers the service near us but, even though I don't love Wal-Mart, I can get over that for two reasons: I'm not randomly buying things I don't need and spending extra money. And I don't even have to go into the store. Yes, please. There's a few things I'll end up getting elsewhere (dog bones, K-Cups, and ice cream/Italian ice is much better priced at the commissary) but that's like an every two or three-week trip.

+Stuff Mom Never Told You and Stuff You Missed in History Class. Since podcasts are my preferred form of daily media entertainment, I'm always looking for new ones. I used to listed to Stuff You Missed in History Class all the time and then it got old (pun not intended), so I unsubscribed. I recently went back to it, pulling all the recent episodes from the last year that seemed interesting. As for Stuff Mom Never Told You, there's so many topics and so many interesting thoughts and research and whatnot...give it a go. The hosts are fun to listen to as well. Their episode on MLM was fascinating and led me to John Oliver's video which was funny and informative. Even though I'm a believer in Rodan and Fields products whole-heartedly, I have many thoughts on multi-level marketing.

+And, lastly, this post on miscarriage and making it to the other side. It's refreshingly real. I didn't have a miscarriage, but I know what it's like to feel weak and achy and so completely unlike myself that I couldn't even sit up or roll over without being in pain. IVF can cause your abdomen to fill with fluid and that definitely happened to me. All of the hormones that I pumped into myself for the cycle of IVF we did in May took such a toll...there's literally nothing natural about it...but it was comforting for me to remember that I was not the first person to go through that and I certainly wouldn't be the last. If you're struggling with something similar, that blog post is a good one.

If you're looking for Pinterest recommendations, I posted what I've Pinned and Done lately last week. 

Things to consider.

The Keepers on Netflix.  SO good. I watched all seven episodes in one day (that was how I spent my Friday night). Seriously, just amazingly done and eye-opening. Terrifying at the same time.

Riverdale. This is Gossip Girl-ish in a way. I first heard about it on the Appointment Television podcast, and had no interest in it. However, needs must and I started watching when I finished The Keepers. I watched all 13 episodes this past weekend. #goals I'll be watching season 2.

This article from teacher to students is entertaining. #6 and #7 especially. I find it FASCINATING that parents can't sign paperwork or send supplies but they can supply Junior with at least two fidget spinners.

This article about the silent tragedy facing our kids. I'm pretty sure I spent half of my childhood "bored" and I wouldn't be half as resilient as I am today were that not the case.

These flats from Target. I bought the black ones back in April and wear them a lot. At least 2-3 times a week.  I decided to get just the brown ones too while I was browsing the other day. Money well-spent. $17 isn't much when considering cost per use. I don't know why the website is only showing the wide width but I got the cognac ones this week.

Linking up!

Things to Consider Adding to Your List

Linking up with Lauren today to list out a few things worth considering.

I really tried to think about things I do/use every day and how they could maybe help you too.

(Note: no affiliate links have been overused in the writing of this post. Also, I will go out of my way to avoid an affiliate link...unless I like you.)

1. This is pretty much why I don't have a Fit Bit.

2. If you are a teacher, this blog is fabulous. She has a podcast with real, actionable steps/tips too.

3. If you have dogs who like to run and you don't always have them on a leash, these are my lifesaver collars. The camo part vibrates or shocks the dog. Vibrating is for making the dog stop, look for me, and come back to me. Shocking is to get them back to me ASAP if they're not listening or if there's danger. The orange part makes noise that lets us locate the dog. We let them run around outside when we're outside and, to find them, the orange part screeches like a hawk and the dog realizes they need to come back and we can hear where they are at the same time. It has different settings though, so it doesn't always have to screech like a hawk. It's also to measure when they're on point and have found a bird.
I use these collars MULTIPLE times a day. They weren't very expensive for the amount of use we get out of them because we've been using them for almost 4 years.

4. Using the Lil' Dipper Crockpot as a diffuser. I read that lavender keeps away bugs so I fill the crockpot with water and put in a few drops of essential oil. It makes the whole house smell pleasant, and if I ever get around to remembering to buy different scents, I'd mix it up a bit. I was initially worried that it'd be an impossible smell to get out of the Crockpot (I only use the thing for food once or twice a year) but it cleans right out very easily with no residue or smell leftover if you need it for dip.

5. Le Pen. Ugh. These are amazing. In fact, I now hate my Sharpie pens and the Papermate Flair are even worse. They feel so cumbersome and scratchy; not super smooth like Le Pen pens do.

6.  This lotion. Since I sprained the fingers on my right hand last fall (or stoved them, as a Pennsylvanian would say), they've caused me problems. When I went to get a massage last month, she kind of played around with my fingers and said to try the NOW lotion to get the swelling and joint pain under control. I won't lie: the lotion smells awful but I use it a couple of times a day. It's a giant bottle too. I think what has really helped my hand is massage, though. I've been constantly moving and wiggling my joints. The masseuse said that the more I move them and massage them, the better they'll get. But I like to think that the lotion helps too. I usually put it on and wiggle my fingers around while I walk the dogs and especially before I go to bed at night...I've noticed then that the inflammation is barely there in the morning like it used to be.

So, any things I should consider trying/using?

Things to consider.

Some current recommendations...

Carrot Top Paper Shop. I got this great springy print, a quote by my favorite author. Remember back when I used to go to the LIW Museum as often as I possibly could?

This article about teaching. It's fascinating. I read it three times.


Kindle Daily Deals. So I need to stop buying books. Here's the thing: if a book is on my TBR list or I want to read it (like, I think I'll love it), I'll buy it. Spending $1-$5 on a book isn't much, but it does add up. I was able to grab a book plus narration for $5 and it had been on my TBR list for months. I was also able to pre-order two new books coming out this year for $4 each. I guess I've gotta put that Kindle to use though, right? When I told Scott it was unnecessary, he asked if I was going to use it. And I am. I never buy paper books because I hate clutter, so this is my weak (weak) justification.

Pilates! As always. Heads up: If you want to become a member of The Balance Life Sisterhood, membership is closing at the end of March and won't open again until September-ish. If you tried 21 Days of Pilates this month and want in, get in now! (nope, not being paid to say this..I wish!) It's a month by month membership so, worst case, you get out after a month. 

And then, I know I've mentioned it before, but this composting container is a game-changer. I love it.

And I never thought I'd say something like that. 

Linking up with Lauren :)

Food I Love (and Food I Hate)

There are some foods I really love that I'm sure 99% of you could simply do without altogether.

1.  Candy Corn.
If you've been around here for any amount of time, you already know this.  I love candy corn.  It is everything that is perfect and good and sweet in this world.  In fact, I now buy it year-round.

2.  BWW Chipotle Dry Rub Boneless Wings. 
Every once in a while, I get a wing craving that will not go away unless I answer it.  Or feed it, in this case.  I particularly adore this variety from Buffalo Wild Wings, and I am aware they're really just seasoned chicken tenders.  Bone-in wings are too much work in this modern-day, lazy society I suppose.
Anyway, I eat wings maybe 2-3 times a year.  I had them in June, with my brother, and we took the leftovers home (before that, I hadn't had them since last June).  He ate them for breakfast before I could get to them.  I was miffed.  But he had paid for them so oh well.
Last weekend, I got this wing craving again and convinced Scott we needed to pick up some on our way home from Lowe's (note: it was completely out of the way). I ate four when we got home, planned on having the rest for breakfast the next day and...he had friends over that night and he gave away my wings.  I almost started to cry because I was losing my leftovers again.  I was in a terrible mood all weekend and he knew better than to make me cry, so I was able to steal half back for myself before succumbing to "love thy neighbor".

3.  Unsweetened tea.
I don't like sweet tea.  I like it straight.  Preferably from Dunkin Donuts, but I can make it at home too if necessary.  It makes the perfect accompaniment to a bag of candy corn, really. I know so many people who can't drink unsweet tea and I'm often ashamed to offer it as a beverage choice because of this. It's just my personal preference so that's what I make, but I know many people can't stand it.  I offer sugar to stir in but I'm aware it's "not the same".

Onto food items I won't touch with a 10-foot pole...
1.  Salmon.  The flavor, the smell, the texture.  I'm not a fan.
2. Cottage cheese.  Ew.
3. Tuna.  Double ew.
4. Meatloaf. The worst.
5. Sometimes bananas. I'm really weird about bananas. They're okay once in awhile. The smell of ripe bananas is terrible though.
6. Hard-boiled eggs. The smell...
7. McDonald's.  I stand against McDonald's on principle (though I've probably only eaten there a dozen times...I don't eat burgers but I would touch them with a 10 foot pole so they didn't make this list).  I hate that McDonald's, in their commercials, makes you try to believe you can have a healthy, active lifestyle as you're eating McDonald's.  It doesn't really work that way.

We went out to dinner a couple of nights ago and Scott's friends picked the place. Before we left, I asked where we were going and Scott said, "A place that only serves meatloaf and salmon".
Every time we go to someone's house for dinner, he tells me that he told them my favorite food is meatloaf and that's what we should have.

What food do you love that seems crazy?  And/or what food won't you go near?
(This can tell you a lot about people. Also, I feel like I've written a similar post before...)