Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: May 6-May 12, 2024

Scrolling through social media Friday night is when they started popping up.

Yep, you guessed it. Pictures of the Northern Lights.

How freakin’ cool is it that we got not one, but two, natural wonders here in Ohio in a little over a month? (If you’re not following, the first one was the solar eclipse). And even more bizarre, that it wasn’t cloudy in the Buckeye state for both of them???

the Northern Lights as seen from my driveway

Naturally, I went outside to join in the fun and quickly realized that my phone was seeing way more of the party than I was. Gotta love those city lights. And if you want a good chuckle of all of it, this TikTok had me cracking up when I saw it Saturday morning.

@lenasyed The one time my camera could capture something better than my eyes😭 #northernlights #ohio IC: @hazell🐉💕 ♬ original sound - Our Awesome World 🌎

Anyways, here is this week’s Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.

Reading

How to Fail at Flirting (Denise Williams)

I read, and finished, a book! It’s been an exhausting few months and I’m super proud of myself starting, and finishing, a novel this past week. It helps that said novel, How to Fail at Flirting, is super fun. Naya is a math professor stuck in a rut, looking to try new things in the face of uncertainty at work. She meets Jake at a bar (it’s way cuter than you think), and what starts out as one night of fun, quickly becomes something more. The book is super predictable at times, but the characters aren’t annoying and there is some comfort in knowing what is coming next. It’s a super breezy read, and great for getting back in the reading groove.

my read shelf:

Eating

Chili Cheese Nachos (Eating Well)

Eating Well recipes always seem to treat us well. And this chili cheese nachos recipe 100% followed suit. In the mood for Mexican food for Cinco de Mayo, I was searching for something easy, and also homemade, that could satisfy a craving. The homemade chili in this recipe was the perfect nacho topper, not too heavy like a hearty chili meal, and not too runny that it falls off a chip. A sturdy tortilla chip is a must here, as is freshly grated cheese (seriously, skip the pre-shredded stuff). We topped ours with fresh avocado, salsa, cilantro, green onions and tomatoes, and it was delicious. Even the reheated leftovers two days later were standouts.

Playing

beats to relax/study to (Lofi Girl)

When I needed to be able to concentrate last week, I knew I needed something other than dead silence to keep me focused. My mind had been scattered all week, barely able to finish tasks, and to get actual work done, I needed some sort of background music that would block it all out. This “beats to relax/study to” playlist has been a godsend. Listening to this with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones single handedly fueled any productivity I had and I’m so grateful that I found it.

Obsessing

Planting Vegetables

If I’m being honest, I’m still obsessing about the New Balance 1906r’s. I’m really trying hard to hold off on those until a birthday coupon pops up to bring the price down a smidge. In the meantime, I’ve been focusing all of my time on the outdoors, buying and planting herbs and vegetables wherever I can. Did I overdo it? Oh, absolutely. Is five different varieties of tomatoes too much? Probably. Did I go back and buy an eggplant plant yesterday? You betcha. I’m loving getting my hands dirty and growing my own veg, here’s hoping to a plentiful harvest later this summer.

Recommending

Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner (The Ordinary)

TikTok recommendations strike again. As the temps warm, and our toes start creeping out, those ugly feet callouses can get in the way of sandals looking their best. Enter glycolic acid. First recommended by Liv Judd to help with armpit smell, this powerful little acid can do more than just kill underarm bacteria, it can help eliminate pesky feet callouses too. I’ve been using The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Toner for the last few weeks, swiping it on my heels and toes every couple of days, and I’ve noticed a significant improvement. It’s not pedicure level smooth, but at only $8 a bottle, its much more economical.

Treating

Tina the Musical (Broadway)

Do you really know how many hits Tina Turner’s had in her career? Like really know? The musical about her life, aptly named Tina, the Musical, weaves a bunch of them into the storyline of her career, in the most elegant way. Most musicals that are over two hours long I find myself looking at my watch every now and then, this musical has so many recognizable tunes, you forget how long you’ve been watching. I thought I knew how awful Ike Turner was before watching this, but man, was he worse than I ever thought. It makes you appreciate Tina’s full career even more.

Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: April 29-May 5, 2024

I found myself laughing on my walk the other day.

No, I wasn’t listening to a funny podcast or audiobook, and none of the neighbours were around doing anything of particular interest.

I was laughing because I realized as I was walking that I was reciting NSYNC’s first album WORD FOR WORD. Not the “It’s Gonna Be May” album - though I will participate in that meme until I die. I was singing every, single, song from their 1998 debut, all 13 of them. And when I realized this, that’s when I started cracking up.

Isn’t it hilarious that our brains retain this stuff? I couldn’t believe it.

Here’s this week’s Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.

Reading

Scholarship Applications

I don’t have anything scholarly to share that I read this week, other than my annual read of scholarship applications for the Ohio State Alumni Association. As I age further and further away from my college days, I do enjoy volunteering to be a reader every year to see what life is like on campus for students and the pressures they face. And man, those personal sections always get me. If I had unlimited funds to disperse, everyone would be getting an award.

Eating

Ginger Lime Mule Seltzer (Polar)

@sareishh Now all my drinky drinks are in one place ✨✨✨ #colorfulhome #minifridge #homegadgets ♬ original sound - Dobby Club

Speaking of unlimited funds, but ultimate bougie dream is to have a fancy sparkling water fridge. You know those fridges that are all over TikTok, the clear glass, the fun colours, the ridiculous price tag - I want one for all my fancy carbonated beverages. In the meantime I’ll settle for a new Ginger Lime Mule flavour I tried this week, it’s almost as delish as my beloved Ginger Ale Sparkling Water from Canada, almost.

Playing

The Idea of You (Amazon)

I’ve been waiting for this movie to come out ever since I finished the book and finally hit play this weekend. The Idea of You is a super fun watch, Anne Hathaway looks amazing as Solene, and brings a sort of self depreciating side out of her that the book didn’t. Nicholas Galitzine is dreamy as Hayes and it the chemistry between the two leads was on fire. Of course the movie isn’t going to go into the emotional depth that the book did, but it does a great job of staying near the plot, but not exact. Oh, and the movie’s ending is 1000% better than the book, just sayin.

Obsessing

1906r Metallic Silver with Metallic Gold (New Balance)

image courtesy New Balance

The metallic dad sneaker still has me enamored. I’ve fallen in love with Nike’s version, Asics version, and now New Balance’s version. It’s funny, when I rediscovered this shoe a few weeks ago, I already had it bookmarked for a back-in-stock notification months earlier. Which was comforting to know that these 1906r’s weren’t a flash in the pan influenced buy. If we’re girl mathing this purchase - I do only have one other pair of New Balance’s in my sneaker wardrobe. And I do not have a pair of metallic dad sneakers. I’d wear these all summer with crew socks and a black skort, or bike shorts Princess Diana style. Or I’d wear them to work with a pair of wide leg trousers and a trench for the ultimate business casual. Adds to cart….

Recommending

Waffle Bed Blanket (Boll & Branch)

image courtesy of Boll & Branch

The temperatures hit 70 a few weeks ago and I knew it was time, time to flip my bed linens and retire my thick winter blankets for my airy summer sheets. When I pulled out this waffle bed blanket, it reminded me of what a good investment it’s been when I purchased it many moons ago. It’s substantial without being heavy, and light enough to add just enough warmth over a sheet when sleeping. It also adds a textural layer to your bed that not only looks good, but feels soft too. I can’t recommend this enough.

Treating

Haircut (Nurtur Salon)

Getting your head shampooed at the salon is definitely one of life’s little luxuries. As is the blowout and style that usually follows. A salon visit is like one of those movie montages - you walk in with hair pulled back and walk out ten pounds lighter, a spring in your step, and a new ‘do that you’ll never be able to recreate at home. But I’ll try. After going down a wormhole, with no avail, trying to find a hairstyle inspiration, my stylist nailed the look I was going for, a long textured lob, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Now to learn flat iron waves…

Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: April 22-28, 2024

“Karma’s a relaxing thought…”

In hindsight, it really is. But it’s also a serious ass-kicker.

As I write this intro this week, I’m laughing at my “self-care sermon” I wrote last week. Shortly after thinking I had it all together, everything snapped, including the muscles in my neck.

Isn’t if funny how our body is just goes “Nope! Not holding it together anymore!”. Like it’s reminding you that pushing yourself to your limits isn’t going to bite you in the butt later. At least I learned that I internalize stress WAY more than I thought I did, so maybe, just maybe, this won’t happen again.

That’s karma.

Here’s this week’s Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.

Reading

Trends: Dupe the Vibe, Not the Look Pt. 1 (The Creative Pragmatist)

Like last week, I spent the majority of this week staring at two large computer screens, heads down in work. So taking time to read anything, was a bit of a stretch this week, especially reading anything on a computer. My Substack app on my iPad once again was my reprieve, and there’s no one better to get you out of a funk than Amy Smilovic. If money was no object, my closet would be filled with her Tibi line, but in the meantime her Substack, The Creative Pragmatist, is great inspiration to get that cool-girl Tibi look. She shows how to lean into the vibe of spring trends, without having to buy the whole look. By focusing on the trends elements, instead of the literal pieces of clothing brands and influencers are trying to sell. Her outfit formulas are a great start at reimagining my own closet, and I can’t wait to get started.

Trends: Dupe the Vibe, Not the Look Pt. 1 by Amy smilovic

Diving in to key trends without losing yourself. Of the moment, not lost in it.

Read on Substack

Eating

Buttermilk Banana Bread (Two Peas & their Pod)

My buttermilk banana bread. c 2024.

Good intentions me bought bananas early last week, with every intention of having them for a healthy snack. Stressed out me noticed they were almost brown on the counter over a week later. What does one do with a bunch of over ripe bananas? Why make banana bread of course! Having tested a few different recipes in the past, I find the banana bread I enjoy most has buttermilk as an ingredient. This banana bread recipe from Two Peas & their Pod utilizes the magic ingredient, and it couldn’t have been easier to make. Oh, it’s delicious too.

Playing

Taylor Swift and the Tortured Poets Aesthetic (Culture Study)

Swiftie is a word I have a hard time categorizing myself as. I love Taylor’s music and have seen her in concert multiple times, but the obsessiveness that comes with that moniker isn’t for me. With that said, I love a good pop culture deep dive on Taylor’s immense power, and this podcast fit that bill perfect. Joined by Sarah Chapelle, of @taylorswiftstyle, Ann Peterson’s latest Culture Study pod dives into how Taylor does, and doesn’t, use fashion to promote her music and image. Some favourite parts of the episode for me were chats on Taylor’s inner cringe, her street style, and is she the ultimate cheugy millenial? It’s a fun super listen.

Obsessing

White Velodrome Cat Eye Sunglasses (Le Specs)

image courtesy of Nordstrom

I’m not sure when it happened, but all of a sudden I’ve been obsessed with white cat eyed sunglasses. Maybe it’s a desire for La Dolce Vita, maybe it was this B-list substack - I don’t know, but I can’t get the idea of this frame out of my head. And of course, Le Specs, one of my favourite sunglasses brands, has the perfect pair. I love how sharp the lines are on these Velodrome style, they look more like the Prada version, and less like the other trending rounded shapes. Now to resist that ever prevalent “add to cart” button.

Recommending

39.25 in. Stainless Steel Weeder Aluminum Handle (Fiskars)

Homeownership is great, isn’t it? Am I officially a lame homeowner because I’m recommending a weeding tool? I was seriously debating on whether or not to put the Fiskars Stainless Steel Weeder in the obsessed column this week, that’s how much I love this thing. Dandelions, be gone! Stubborn weeds, goodbye! I won’t stretch and say weeding the yard is actually fun, but this tool helps prevent hours of frustration and pain and really does remove those big suckers.

Treating

Dylan Clog (Crocs)

My new Crocs! c 2024.

In 2024, I officially joined the Crocs crew. But don’t worry, I’m no where close to dipping my toe in jibbets world. Having just waxed poetic about a weeder above, it made sense that I needed to add a shoe to my gardening ensemble. But not just any shoe, something that I can hose down at the end of the day, but also something where mulch can’t creep between my toes. These Crocs Dylan Clogs are perfect. And even better? They barely look like Crocs!

Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: April 15-21, 2024

Don’t pour from an empty cup. Put the oxygen mask on yourself. We’ve heard all the sayings for taking care of yourself.

And then exhaustion hits you like a freight train.

To say this week was tiring would be the understatement of 2024. But thank goodness I found myself relying on “muscle memory” of sorts, activities I’ve tried that have helped reset my brain in the past. I leaned heavy into my Daily Burn subscription this past week, punching out frustrations and forcing my brain to tap out with rounds of yoga. My kdrama obsession came to good use this week too, the subtitles alone force me to pay attention, and I always love escaping to another world. Lastly, nature is always the greatest escape. From lunches outside on my new front chairs, to long walks around the neighborhood to calm down.

Those sayings wouldn’t be sayings for a reason. Just another reminder to take care of ourselves.

Here’s this week’s Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.

Reading

Is It Even Fun To Constantly Want Things? (Totally Recommend)

Ever find yourself nodding in agreement when you devour an essay? That exactly what I noticed I was doing when reading Total Rec’s substack Is It Even Fun To Constantly Want Things? She writes about our brains confusing wants with needs, relating to a vintage buy she (almost) regretted. I also love her callout of the lack of “third spaces”, of places where we could gather without having to buy, and the lack thereof in this day and age. Wanting doesn’t always have to be good - this read makes it okay to not hit checkout on your cart.

Is It Even Fun To Constantly Want Things? by Totally Recommend

Indulging Desire Vs. Letting It Go via Rick Owens fur

Read on Substack

Eating

Marinated cherry tomatoes with “Drizzle”

When the temps hit 80 degrees this week, the last thing I wanted to eat was anything heavy. Craving fresh vegetables in April is tough, their not yet in season, so grocery store will have to do. Turns out a little patience, and a tip from Pinch of Yum does the trick. All you need is a handful of cherry or grape tomatoes, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a good tasting olive oil. Slice the tomatoes in half and marinate them in the oil and spices for at least half an hour, if not more, and the tomatoes will come out nice and sweet, with a great little tomato sauce as well. I ate these for lunch at least three times this week, twice with kale and avocado in a giant salad, and once over ricotta and rosemary bread for a toast lunch.

Playing

The Tortured Poets Department (Taylor Swift)

Who wasn’t listening to this album this past weekend? Anticipation ran deep for Swifties for this release, with theories about who, and what, would make the album. Two of the tracks are standouts for me, loml is so achingly sad, and the beat on I Can Do It With A Broken Heart makes it easily my favourite of the whole album. The Anthology songs are fine, but in my opinion, largely unneeded, Taylor has yet again cemented herself as the poet of our generation.

Obsessing

This Colorful Mississippi Home Has the Best Affordable Art (Cup of Jo)

image via

Saturday morning I spent an ungodly amount of time clicking through every artist linked in the feature while drinking my morning coffee. The art in Erin Austen Abbot’s Mississippi home is so finely curated, and so expertly placed, its a joy to scroll through the paragraphs and discover artists I’ve never heard of. Artists like Frances Berry Moreno, whos humour and boldness are in every work, to Heather Sundquist Hal who’s nostalgic pieces and 4x4 mini prints reflect on golden hour, that magical time of day.

Recommending

Diamond of the Season Wallflower (Bath & Body Works)

I normally don’t fall for gimmicky partnerships like this, but when you’re at the Outlet Mall, a strange sense falls over you. After striking out at the Pottery Barn outlet, a stop by Bath & Body Works was in order, mostly to check out their viral TikTok body sprays. After striking out on locating the sprays, I moseyed over to the Bridgerton display and started sniffing. I can’t speak for the rest of the scents, but Diamond of the Season is a great spring scent, especially in a wall flower. It’s subtle and fresh, and perfect for perking up my bathroom.

Treating

Aurora Earrings (Jenny Bird)

It’s been awhile since there’s been a Jenny Bird mention in this space, but alas, that break has come to an end. When Miss Jenny threw a four-hour-sale last week, I pounced, purchasing a pair of earrings I’ve had my eye on for awhile. I picked up the Aurora earrings in silver, an oversized sphere stud that lays flat against my small ears. I love how modern it looks, with plans to wear it all summer when my hair is pulled back.

Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: April 8-14, 2024

On Monday, I lost count on how many times I said “I’m so glad we did this.”

Nature is awesome. And witnessing a total solar eclipse was extraordinary.

I’ll never forget the temperature drop, seeing the stars in daylight, the eerieness of the horizon, and most of off the complete awe of staring at the rings of the sun while the moon passed.

Just as impressionable was the collective experience of watching the eclipse in a county park. The cheering, then silence, the birds freaking out, and the overall appreciation everyone had for the moment was awe-inspiring, it’s so rare now to experience things at the same time with the rest of the world.

I’m so glad we made time for it and so glad to witness a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Here’s this week’s Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.

Reading

Canadian Home Decor Magazines (Libby)

My Libby app, and my iPad, got quite the workout this week once I discovered Libby carried my favourite Canadian home decor mags. Current, and past, issues of Style at Home and House & Home are both on the app, and I flipped through them ravenously during down time this week. My screenshots grew exponentially and I already have a bunch of new stores to hit up in a couple months when we make our trip back home.

Eating

Lavender Oatmilk Latte (Starbucks)

Lavender is one of those herbs that I love in candles and essential oils for it’s calming effects, but it’s not really something that I’ve tried in baked goods or other food items. So with time to kill, and desperate need of an afternoon pick-me-up, I stopped by the Starbucks drive thru between meetings downtown and picked up a Lavender Oatmilk Latte to try. I’ll be honest, the latte had more of a lavender essence than a lavender flavour, and upon finishing it I noticed the syrup had congealed to the bottom on my cup. While the latte tasted great, with better execution, I’m wondering if it’s something I’d enjoy again.

Playing

Only God Was Above Us (Vampire Weekend)

Vampire Weekend’s sound reverts all the memories for me. Memories of my twenties, when I was making a gazillion mistakes, but they didn’t matter, because I was young, optimistic and having fun. Their latest record, Only God Was Above Us, is like a grown up version of that famous sound, it’s floaty, it’s buoyant, and most importantly, it’s really, really fun. It’s been especially great to listen to as the weather warms up, on blast from speakers all around the house.

Obsessing

Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask (K18)

If I’m being honest, Queen of Tears is the number one thing I’ve been obsessing about all week, the Episode 10 epilogue and ending was everything. But in between obsessing over that, I’ve been noticing how smooth my hair has been lately after using K18’s Molecular Repair Hair Mask for two weeks. My hair is thick, so it can handle a sturdy product, and I love that this is a leave-in that I don’t have to rinse out. I really notice how soft my hair has become when I blow dry it straight, but even after wearing it curly for a few days, it looks a lot healthier than it has in the past. I might have to spring for the full-size here soon.

image courtesy of Sephora

Recommending

Clue (Broadway Columbus)

Laugh out load funny. Better than the movie. If I had to write a marquee length summary for Clue on Broadway, those two phrases still wouldn’t do it justice. Running just under and hour and half, Clue was full of every kind of humour you could think of, from dry to slapstick, deadpan to physical, all of them were there. The cast was small, but insanely talented, and I’m still laughing at the chandelier scene.

Treating

Vana Flat in Silver (Franco Sarto)

I love the look of the higher vamp mary janes that some designers are doing (The Row, COS, etc). But I’m not convinced that mary janes are going to stick around for much longer, and have been looking for something similar to what Rose (@The Creative Classicist) has been wearing, but at a lower price point. I finally found this pair of silver Vana Flats from Franco Sarto that hit all of my requirements. The vamp comes up to the middle of my foot, but the square/almond toe leaves plenty of room for my toes. And there’s even padding on the insole! Not a lot, but even some is better than nothing. These are on sale at Nordstrom right now if you’re looking for a pair yourself.

image courtesy of Nordstrom