Recap: May & June 2024

I have been working on this post for quite a while. Let’s get into it!

Reading

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (4 stars) A government worker in near-future Britain is tasked with caring for a time-traveling “expat” from 1847.

The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton (3 stars) A Gothic-type mystery set in a Miami mansion on Biscayne Bay. I was excited for this because of the setting, but it wasn’t really my cup of tea.

The Woman They Wanted: Shattering the Illusion of the Good Christian Wife by Shannon Harris (5 stars) Not only is this compelling and relatable to any woman with an evangelical background, but Shannon Harris is also a good writer.

Funny Story by Emily Henry (5 stars) This might be tied with People We Meet on Vacation for my new favorite EmHen. (The rest, in descending order: Beach Read, Book Lovers, Happy Place)

How Y’all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived by Leslie Jordan (3.5 stars) A simple and enjoyable read. What a precious human he was.

You, with a View by Jessica Joyce (4 stars) A cute romcom about a woman grieving her grandmother who goes on a road trip with her grandmother’s lost love… and his grandson, who happens to be her high school nemesis. Yes, I am deep in my enemies-to-lovers era.

You Are Here by Karin Lin-Greenberg (3 stars) An ensemble novel about a diverse group of people who work in a dying mall.

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza (3.5 stars) A chef’s beloved late aunt leaves her money to go to Sicily and investigate a plot of land that’s supposed to belong to their family. She gets way more than she bargained for. Giusy is delightful.

XOXO, Cody: An Opinionated Homosexual’s Guide to Self-Love, Relationships, and Tactful Pettiness by Cody Rigsby (4 stars) The first time I took a Cody ride on the Peloton, he started talking about Chipotle out of absolutely nowhere, and has been one of my favorite instructors ever since. I enjoyed hearing more about his life and getting new XOXO, Cody content.

Let’s Talk About Hard Things by Anna Sale (3 stars) An exploration of death, sex, and money by the host of the podcast of the same name.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (5 stars) For those not on BookTok or Bookstagram, this is a new adult fantasy novel about a cutthroat college for dragon riders. It lived up to the hype. I went out to buy Iron Flame almost immediately and am still working on it.

Watching

My watching of things is at an all-time low. I literally have no opportunities to watch anything. If I did, I would binge Maxton Hall. HOWEVER: I did see Challengers with my friend Jenny and was thoroughly entertained.

Listening

The unofficial song of the women of my church. <3

Hi, have you heard this banger by a bunch of Irish school children?

I have discovered Australian artist G Flip. Big Paramore vibes. The drumming in this song is insane:

Thanks to the Dramione fandom for bringing this Tommy Richman jam to my attention:

I listened to a bunch of Chappell Roan to see what all the fuss is about, and she’s growing on me. Her songs are fun (but not meant for the kiddos). My current fave is Ultra Graphic Super Modern Girl.

This No One Told Us episode about highly sensitive children (and parents) made me feel so seen!

Tradwives are a hot topic these days on all my media, but You’re Wrong About had the best take yet: The Tradwife Rises

Travel

C’s school was closed for all of Memorial Day week, so we went to our stomping grounds in Hallandale Beach with my bestie Kara and her husband and two boys. We had an Airbnb right on the beach with a water view!

One day my uncle took us all out on his boat in Biscayne Bay, and everyone enjoyed it, even C who refused to get in the water. He would not swim in the pool or ocean, or play in the sand, the entire trip (despite enjoying these things in the past). We tried our best, but all he wanted to do was sit in the condo and watch Peppa Pig. Meanwhile, Kara’s boys were having a blast. I did get some beach time thanks to Taylor staying with C, but not going to lie, I felt pretty down. I guess three is a hard age for everyone. We did have some fun evenings – walking around at Hollywood Beach, and having dinner at The Fish Grill in Dania Beach, which is going on my rotation.

Around Town

For Mother’s Day, my mom and I went to a Christian Siriano exhibit at the Brooks. It was so much fun. They had a “runway” area where you could put on a costume and walk. Hilarious. This orange dress in the middle was my fave.

Some Midtown art. This mural is new!

A few of our regular activities: the Botanic Gardens (Big Backyard not pictured), the zoo, and visiting the cats at House of Mews.

After four years in our house, we suddenly realized we have a small park within walking distance. We walk over after work some evenings. It’s a good change of scenery, I can get some steps in, and we often run into neighbors there. C loves the swings.

As many of you know, in May there was a massive aurora over much of the continental US. My feeds were full of amazing photos from other Memphians, but we couldn’t see a thing at our house, so I did what any reckless Midtowner in search of darkness would do: drove over to the Overton Park Greensward at 11 pm. In retrospect I see a little pink and green in this photo (the best I got), but I assure you, I saw nothing with my naked eyes. Womp womp.

Home

We play in the backyard every evening. C loves his water table!

One of C’s favorite books is Planting a Rainbow, and I think about it when I’m in the yard. We have orange flowers, and white flowers, and purple flowers too!

I got this Persian shield plant at a nursery in Collierville. I’d never seen one before. Highly recommend for a pop of color!

C recently learned to use the hose by himself and enjoys helping us water. :) He also directly sprays us with zero regard for our clothes. It’s usually so hot that I don’t mind much.

Wearing

In May I bought some summer shoes. My aging feet will no longer tolerate Old Navy flip-flops et al., so I’m slowly upgrading. I thought these The Sak leather thongs looked so elegant (coastal grandma?) and have been wearing them a lot! I also got some Reef Water Vistas, which look woven but are actually rubber and can be worn into the water and just about anywhere. They are fantastic. The silver sandals are from Macy’s and not as supportive as the first two, but a nice option to have.

I don’t know how they got me, but I discovered the simple fit-and-flare silhouettes and bright colors of Boden dresses and became obsessed. I am now a huntress of secondhand Boden (they’re $100 a pop new). I’ve gotten all these and more on Poshmark in the last couple of months, plus one new with tags at a neighborhood porch sale. I’ve also learned that the only Boden Outlet in the US is in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Who wants to go and also take The Office tour?

These Old Navy chino shorts are a win and also this floral dress. Since I’m most comfortable in knee-length dresses and no one except Boden is making them anymore, my new hack is to order a Short/Petite in midi dresses (maybe go up a size for the petite) or a Long in mini dresses, and they end up about the right length. I employed this trick when I finally bought the Pact Fit & Flare Midi Dress in black on sale. I’m still poking around resale for the French Navy floral pattern.

In my ongoing quest for affordable, hypoallergenic jewelry that I can live in, I now have Oh Clementine mini huggie hoops in silver and gold. My only gripe is that they can be hard to take off!

If you need some new cheap sunglasses for the summer, I recommend these.

Beauty

Here are some things I’ve been using lately.

My hairstylist recommended the Bumble & bumble blow dry cream for when I straighten my hair, and nothing does it better. (Don’t waste your money on their curl products – I did and they are not good.)
After hearing about Maya Base fragrance in the Gee Thanks community for years, I’m finally trying it and I think I’m in the 1% of people it doesn’t work for. It wears off and no one has told me I smell good. Maybe I need to layer it with something?
I got Benefit Pardon My Brow Wax in my Ipsy bag, and why is it so much better than my $6 NYX brow mascara? WHYYYYYY?
I’ve started double-cleansing at night with this cleansing balm I bought a while back. It really helps take off my eye makeup.
This drugstore Monday leave-in conditioner is very good, but the packaging is a little frustrating to use.
Eyelash serum update: IT WORKS. I have used up my first tube and noticed a difference. I’m now seeing if the much cheaper e.l.f. version will give similar results.

In summer beauty news, after much thought, I decided to get a Ulike IPL Laser Hair Remover. Shaving was causing misery that I could no longer live with, IYKYK. At first I used the laser at least twice a week, but have gradually slacked off because the routine takes a while. I’ve already done enough to confirm that it too WORKS. Comment or DM me with any questions!

Wellness

Life has been overall better lately, but I’m still kind of up and down emotionally. Struggling with your kid over everyday tasks like eating, getting dressed, going to the potty, leaving the house, getting in the car, etc. every single day wears on a person. The current state of the world also wears on a person. I had one existentially spirally day when I felt literally sick with anxiety (and that was before July 1!!). My therapist gave me a three-step process and I’ve been sharing it with everyone:

What is your worst fear at this moment?
What is the realistic likelihood of it actually happening? (YES, there is a non-zero chance and it goes up from zero daily and that alone is disturbing, but just put a percentage on it!)
What can I do right now to help me feel more prepared / in control / better about it?

My first response to this exercise was to Google “diabetes preppers” and start working on C’s passport paperwork. Get those passports now, guys. Don’t wait.

In physical health news, I continue to get stronger, which is a big win! My Peloton output is rising and I’m taking higher-level Pilates classes. In August I’ll get blood work done to see if I’m back in a normal iron range. I feel fully recovered from my surgery, although my incisions still look a little gnarly. Hoping they fade over time. I am also down eight pounds, but seem to be stalled out. I’ll take it though.

Random Happiness

I’ve never been one to need the newest or top of the line gadget, but I really had the itch for the 15 Pro Max, and I have No Ragrets. I love the larger screen and better camera. It sounds petty, but one of my motivators was constant annoyance about needing so many types of chargers (I previously had the 13, which is still on Lightning). I think once I upgrade my Kindle this month, all our devices will be USB-C. These things matter when you’re always short on time, energy, patience, and brainpower.

I’ve been wanting this type of glass with the lid and straw for a while, but we already had too many glasses. Taylor surprised me with a set from Costco and I have been drinking from them exclusively.

When Taylor and I were dating, he won a silver Lagos bracelet for me in a raffle at a jewelry store. I wasn’t familiar with the brand, but I loved it because he gave it to me. Almost a year ago I went to Miami with my siblings and mom. I packed the bracelet. After I’d been home a while I realized the bracelet was missing (along with a few other pieces). I searched everywhere but never found it, so I figured either I had left it behind, or someone stole it from my hotel room. My sadness about it persisted and I felt terrible for being so careless.

For Mother’s Day this year, Taylor gave me a new Lagos bracelet. (He reiterated that this one was not free.) It meant a lot to me. I kept meaning to post about it but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. A couple of weeks ago I went on a deep search for my passport (which I still haven’t found) and dug in a hidden pocket of my work backpack – my WORK BACKPACK that goes with me most of the week. I found a small black case. Inside was all the jewelry I took on my trip last summer. INCLUDING MY BRACELET. It was with me the whole time.

I loved this Litany to Honor Women that we said at church on Mother’s Day. We had a Prayer for Fathers on Father’s Day in a similar vein, and I got to read it since I was the liturgist that day.

Toddler Update

C is three! His birthday party was in the backyard as usual. We set up a splash pad and kiddie pool, cornhole, and other fun stuff. There was no party theme because he had no opinion on any ideas I presented. :) His whole preschool class came to the party, which made me so happy! We don’t have a class contact list or anything so I was extra glad to meet his classmates’ parents. Neighbors and church friends and regular friends also turned out. It was the biggest party we’ve had at our house so far.

The biggest news of this post is that C now has an insulin pump! We were so relieved to clear this final hurdle of our intro to diabetes. The pump gives him a constant drip of insulin, and when he eats, all we have to do is enter his carbs into the Omnipod app and it doses him accordingly. It also communicates with his Dexcom (glucose monitor) to keep track of his blood sugar, and is learning his patterns over time to optimize his insulin dosage. I cannot express how thankful I am for this technology – the CORRECT use of AI!! No more shots, and his time in range has gone way up. We were kind of in a holding pattern waiting for him to get his pump, so now we’re settling into our long-term new normal and can start teaching family and friends how it all works.

C is becoming a kid really fast. His vocabulary is exploding, we can now have actual conversations, and he’s making jokes. He makes me laugh every day. His current obsession is Peppa Pig and he’s using a lot of British words for things. Between that and Bluey, I’m surprised he doesn’t have some kind of accent.