Recently Enjoyed Things | August 9, 2024

Nobody cares, BB. Isn't that wonderful?!

Early August seems to be when we collectively start shaking the beach sand out of hair, rinsing the sunscreen off, and clamoring back to old routines. Everything in its time, so this back-to-business-babes attitude feels pretty freaking good right now. Summer = recovery (unless you’re parenting school-age kids and you have a full-time job, then the LOL at this statement is so intense it morphs into sobs and hiccups), but that inherent hibernation mode wears off right as August shows up because we are gassed up and ready to go. Hopping right back on the highway to burnout! The next exit is in December.

So anyway, in the last week or so, there have been lots of emails in my inbox starting with some variation of “I’m back….!” and mostly I’m like, you were gone?

And look, I know that sounds unfriendly, but actually, I think it’s the nicest thing and serves as a kind reminder of a larger theme I keep returning to: literally nobody pays attention to us as much as we pay attention to ourselves.

Somewhat recently, I was in the middle of telling a story when I had the intense realization that it was time to shut up - I was starting to embarrass myself with all the oxygen I was sucking up. I bungled the ending, wrapped up quickly and then proceeded to stew over it for, oh, a couple days. You know what I mean, right? Anyway, I briefly mentioned it a few weeks later to someone who’d been there, trying to gauge the situation, and long story short, she had no idea what I was talking about. Why am I so obsessed with myself? is my internal rage. Nobody is thinking about what I said because nobody cares.

I was out for a run yesterday and came to a stop to catch my breath right as my neighbor opened his garage door and walked out. He probably thinks I’m a wimp, I thought. When actually, he probably doesn’t think anything about me at all.

What a gift.

I often think of this graphic I saw many years ago and now I offer it to you because it’s just such a good reminder:

What a freedom. Say something dumb! Nobody cares. Do something outrageous. Unless it’s criminal, nobody cares! Go forth, or go take a break, or whatever it is, and nobody cares.

In general, we are only at the center of our own constellation, and our attention spans for other people’s gafs is short. So go forth friends with your weird and wacky selves. Welcome back.

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But first, some housekeeping: there’s some affiliate links in here. But aren't they everywhere? Anyway, if you click on something and buy it, I might earn a commission at no cost to you.

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Recently Enjoyed

Reading

I’m passionate about reading and sharing books that are readily available at your library and don’t feature a waitlist 47 people long. So these are rarely new, hot releases, but if you’re intrigued, there’s a good chance for instant gratification at your library.

• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - Chugging through. I think…maybe Ann Patchett isn’t for me. I recognize the writing is lovely, but I’m just not hooked. I felt this way about Dutch House too, which everyone loved and I thought was boring. Maybe I’m not cultured enough, IDK. I am, however, an actual resident of the real life setting, so it’s fun to see so many local features like the Cherry Festival, etc.

  • Any other Michiganders around here? I keep wondering if Tom Lake itself refers to Blue Lake Arts Camp or maybe even Interlochen?

• Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjahlian - This was an accident. I was at the library dropping off some nearly overdue books and I was like, in and out, no time to peruse! But then I spotted the “hot reads” book shelf near the checkout counter and I figured I had 2 minutes, right? I’ve seen this book about a Princess Diana impersonator in Las Vegas who gets wrapped up in a murder mystery on a few book lists, and I’ve enjoyed Bohjalian’s writing previously (specifically Midwives - it’s great), so here we are, borrowing this book with a stack of TBRs at home 10 miles long.

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Shopping

• ⭐ Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Tidal Wave // omg omg omg. The color of my dreams (right now). I call this impulse buy “Marge Simpson Blue” and I have it on every single one of my digits. PS the name is a misnomer, it’s not gel, and it doesn’t need a UV light. I think the verbiage is supposed to signal longevity, which I can attest, but application is business as usual. Coat, coat, dry.

• Keeping one staunchly foot in summer over at LLBean, but you know, maybe tip-toeing just a little bit in October.

• Truly vapid spending, but this bubble letter monogram necklace has me ticking off reasons I deserve to treat myself.

  • Related: Baublebar is running a friends and family sale. I am neither, but I like a sale price. I decided to get this in celebration of my 11 year anniversary coming up.

• Patting myself on the back for being so deeply committed to wearing sunscreen on my face that it is actually a different color than the rest of my body. I’m test driving these Isle of Paradise self tanning drops, which have succeeded in turning my palms orange (rookie) and also balancing out my skin tones.

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Recent Saves

Yeah it does.

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3 Things

My summer uniform. Which conveniently, is only three things.

Swear to God, these are not all taken on the same day. My commitment to the uniform is just very real.

*Thee* Target Tank | I know I talk about these endlessly, but I have three gray ones that I pretty much rotate daily, plus a handful of other colors, so my commitment is authentic. Listen, there is no outfit - NONE - that isn’t perfectly complemented by this particular tank. I will die on this hill.

Athletic shorts | I am not brand loyal because *thee* version has not presented itself yet, but suffice to say I’m almost definitely bumming around in loose, stretchy, and made-for-running shorts when all I’m really doing is “running” to Target. I’m also partial to athletic skorts for a somewhat more polished look.

J Crew Flip Flops | On par with the classic $3 Old Navy rubber flops in terms of functionality and how likely I am to buy a fresh pair in April (aka 100% likely - it’s an annual action item list). I beat the absolute hell out of my J Crews because I wear them everywhere, and I don’t feel bad because they’re not spendy. Nicer looking than a beach flip-flop but just as practical.

Honorable mentions: ankle bracelets that I never take off. Sunscreen, duh. A bag big enough to fit a book, drink, and some snacks.

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Sending You on Your Way

(Interesting things I found on the internet this week)

• ⭐ I am a potato. Just…trust me. It’s fun.

• I so enjoyed this brief peak into the lives of Seven Women on Choosing to Move to Another Country from Cup of Jo.

• I’m…not…into it. But I guess if you must, this is one of those rare occasions when fake is better than natural.

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Last Week - In case you missed it:

Deep in the dog days over here with one prerogative: do not give a single fuck at all.

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PS -

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Here’s a few things I wrote about recently:

• Weekend Musings - talking hat culture.

• Everything I liked and recommended, all in one place.

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