What I’m Into: March 2018

Spring and sunlight are here! We made it, everyone!

Reading:

All my March reads were thought-provoking, and controversial in some way or another – I definitely have enough reflections here for a monthly book review. Discussion welcome! Special mention to You Play The Girl, which was impressively comprehensive, made me angry and sad, yet somehow ended on a hopeful note.

Watching:

I watched Neflix’s Lady Gaga documentary, Five Foot Two, at the gym and had to rewatch her Super Bowl performance immediately after. (Is she the four-iest Enneagram Four ever or what?!) I wouldn’t recommend watching it around kids, but it was fascinating.

Around Town:

Memphis history was made when the U of M named our most famous alum, Penny Hardaway, our new basketball coach!! My joy, excitement, and optimism is not expressible in words, though this comes close. (I also echo this reflection from Jen Clarke.) I had started assembling a Tigers-focused post before the announcement, and might still write it, so I won’t say any more right now.

I saw Wicked with my mom and Taylor’s mom! I read the book yeeears ago, but had never seen the show, and it lived up to the hype for me. (My mom was less impressed. After Defying Gravity: “Why was everyone going so nuts about this song?” Me: “She’s coming into her power! Sticking it to the man!!” Mums: *shrug*)

A group of us enjoyed the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Beale Street. The weather was perfect, so it was a lot livelier and more crowded than last year! The Order of Boll Weevils cracks me up. Once in a while I see them just driving around town in their convertible bus.

Tonight I’m going to see Leslie Odom, Jr. talk about his new book and perform a short set. I get starry-eyed when his Nationwide commercials come on TV, so I expect to be rapturous and/or flailing the whole time. Can’t wait! (Also I’ll be one less degree of separation from Lin-Manuel Miranda!)

At Home:

My plants are coming back to life a little more each day! I’m chomping at the bit to start this year’s planting, but not much is available yet. After one of my DIY spring wreaths broke, I splurged on this pre-made magnolia one at Michaels.

I scored two new duvet covers at a great Pottery Barn Outlet sale. My beloved embroidered bird duvet cover, which a group of my friends gave me after my divorce, has been patched and re-patched and can no longer hold together. I reluctantly found a couple of replacement options and am happy so far with the first one (which, of course, I found in the kids and teens section. So much better than the adult section. They have a whole line of Star Wars bedding!).

Making:

Lately I’ve felt an urge to sew again. I patched some jeans for Taylor, figuring it out as I went. Most traditional sewing methods and patterns frustrate and confuse me, which is why I waited so long to learn. I started following Tilly and the Buttons and want to make every pattern she posts, but I fear it would end in tears. I successfully made a skirt once, but all my other projects have been either rectangle-based or totally freeform. I even messed up hemming my guest room curtains – one is noticeably higher than the other. Math disabilities: still fun in adulthood! Has anyone tried any Tilly patterns?

Wearing:

I won a Stitch Fix giveaway from my favorite fashion blog, Wardrobe Oxygen! I’ve been curious about Stitch Fix for years, but skeptical they could find clothes sight unseen for my proportions… plus it’s not cheap. Well, my first Fix contained one total miss, three cute-but-meh items, and THE BEST WORK PANTS EVER. Slim, slightly cropped trousers are all the rage at my new workplace, and these were exactly what I needed right down to the color (navy). They’re well-made, fit perfectly, and look and feel great. I’d happily shell out for another pair. Looking forward to my next Fix – I still have some credit left! Thanks Allie!

Beauty:

Brenda’s Skincare Reboot, Chapter 3: I’ve settled into a routine* and am seeing some progress! Most of March was the gross “purging” phase I was told to expect, but now whole sections of my forehead are smooth, so I’m hopeful. * = CeraVe foaming cleanser morning and night, followed by La Roche-Posay Effaclar toner, then Paula’s Choice Extra Strength Skin Clearing Treatment for day and Keeva Tea Tree Oil cream at night. Still doing a Skinfood black sugar mask a couple of times a week, and limiting Clarisonic use to once a week, if that.

Random Happiness:

Taylor and I went to our friends Jakob and April’s wedding at a historic home. It was a beautiful ceremony. Later in the month, Taylor won a Lagos silver bracelet at a networking event and surprised me with it. He had casually asked if I’d heard of those, I looked them up and was sort of meh, but thankfully he decided to give it to me anyway and I ended up loving it in person. And of course the gesture meant everything to me.

The best part of my old job was being the Memphis representative for Hilton Suggests, so I was very happy to find out I was a Top Tweeter for 2017 (even after I left!). You better believe that went on my LinkedIn immediately. Still waiting for my call from the Memphis CVB or Chamber of Commerce. ;)

Two friends I admire very much, Myla and Hillary, had babies in March. ♥ I think this personal baby boom is now paused for the moment! Related: I’ve realized my lack of maternal experience makes me a total And-Peggy in baby-related discussions, uncontrollably tossing out every secondhand anecdote I have in an attempt to contribute. Sorry, world. I’m getting it under control.

Wellness:

I successfully completed the Germantown Half-Marathon, aka the Cold Turkey Half because I didn’t train aside from the races that led up to it. Under the circumstances I was happy with my performance! The following week, I created a spreadsheet of all my race results dating back five years. The data confirmed my decision to take a break from distance races and focus on 5Ks and 10Ks. Since my first half in 2016, I’m around 2:30/mile slower across the board. I’m starting a treadmill interval routine that will hopefully help my speed and help get rid of my lovely waistline bulk from starting weight training. (This article saved my sanity last weekend.)

The yoga studio where I was a member for about two years closed this month. I hadn’t had time to go regularly since starting my new job, but I made it to a few classes at the end. It was crazy to think about how much my practice has grown and enriched my life since I started going there, and how much my life has changed in general. Thankfully there are several yoga studios in Midtown, and I can still follow my favorite teachers around as time allows, even if it’s not quite the same.

My team at work took Myers-Briggs as a group, and my INFJ-ness is holding steady. I’m an eternal student of personality systems, so it was fun for me to discuss in a work context – there was a lively discussion of introverts feeling disadvantaged in the corporate world (extrovert bias is real!!).

I was supposed to finish my Lenten reading, The Road to Daybreak, two weeks ago. I’m still only halfway through. I decided not to beat myself up after thinking, with a Holy Spirit ring about it, “Hey, maybe what you need to give up for Lent is THE GOD OF PRODUCTIVITY.” I’ll get to the end eventually.

Your Monthly Rufus:

This month, Rufus decided he’s too cool for our gated community and started trying to go over this brick wall. It would be tough to retrieve him from the other side of it. I supervise him outside as often as I can because I want him to have fun, but I can’t let him roam free in our high-traffic neighborhood full of dogs and wildlife. I have to admire his adventurous spirit, though!

Quote of the Month:

This one is coming to mind a lot lately.