Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: May 28-June 2, 2024

I had my first estate sale heartbreak last weekend.

I’m still a relative newbie to the estate sale/antiques game. To me, it’s still kind of like HGTV in real life, part shopping for furnishings, part nosing around other people’s homes.

I still haven’t figured out the balance of when to pounce at a sale. Do you go the first day to scope it out? Get there first on the second or third days hoping to score a better deal?

the estate sale house that broke my heart

My heart was broken last weekend with a piece of art. I knew at the sale’s full price it was out of my budget, but thought I’d take the chance it might still be there, marked 50% off, on the third day as some sort of kismet situation. Alas, it wasn’t, and I was bummed, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

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

Reading

Detroit sees population growth for the first time in decades (The Week)

Finally, the world is discovering what we’ve known for awhile, Detroit is alive and well. After years of ruin porn from outsiders dominating it’s reputation, the articles this month about Detroit’s population gain were full of words like “comeback”, “hidden gem”, essentially everything the locals already knew. I loved the year I lived in Detroit, and still stop in frequently on my way up north. If you haven’t been - go - you won’t regret it.

Eating

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Who knows if it’s the new potting soil, the Miracle Grow starter, or the hot, rainy spring we’ve been having, the leaves on my basil plant are enormous. The plant is growing so well, we’ve been forced to pick it early this year, to keep it from flowering. Not that I’m complaining, it’s just means I’ve had an early start making my favourite salad that requires fresh basil, Barefoot Contessa’s Tomato Feta Salad. Freshly salted room temperature cherry tomatoes covered in ribbons of basil, mixed in with a healthy portion of cheese. For me, I sub mini pearl fresh mozzarella, it gives the salad a more caprese taste than the salty feta does. I can’t wait to eat this all summer long.

Playing

Lovely Runner (Viki)

I thought it would take me awhile to get obsessed with another kdrama after Queen of Tears. But I just knew once I started seeing clips of Lovely Runner on my fyp, that I’d eventually get sucked in. And I officially have. I’ve been a ridiculous amount of episodes in a very short time this past week and can’t wait to sit down and finish the rest. Lovely Runner is heartwarming, adorable, and everything you love about kdrama romances.

Obsessing

Lip Snuggle High Pigment Oil Balm (Half Magic)

I love a hydrating tinted lip product. From lip oils to lip jellies, glosses to balms, any time a moisturizing lip product contains a wash a colour, I want to try it. That’s not to say I outright avoid lip sticks, I totally think matte lipsticks are coming back in, but the ease of applying a lip balm is more my style. That’s why I’m so intrigued with Half Magic’s new Lip Snuggles. They’re the texture of a balm with a pigment of a lipstick, and I can’t wait to get to Ultra to try them out.

Recommending

Digital Countertop Oven (Kitchen Aid)

Now that the air conditioning has kicked in, the last thing I want to do is turn on the “big oven” to bake anything. I really can’t justify heating and cooling the house at the same time. That’s where my toaster/countertop oven comes in. I picked up this KitchenAid oven on Black Friday last year and it’s easily become one of my favourite kitchen appliances. Sure, it browns a mean piece of toast, but it’s size is large enough to roast a bag of mini potatoes for potato salad, bake two fillets of fish for weeknight dinner, and even french bread pizza for a Friday night. Plus, it looks pretty great sitting on the counter too. This thing is a workhorse and I highly recommend.

Treating

Tablet Floor Stand (Amazon)

This is the most extra thing I’ve ever purchased. It also might be the biggest game changer. The amount of times my iPad has crashed into the floor during the night is too high to share, and this tablet stand from Amazon might have fixed that. It’s also the biggest enabler of lazy there ever was. My tablet can be placed at the perfect angle to watch all my kdramas in bed, making for the comfiest weekend mornings ever. You don’t think you need one of these, until you get one.

Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: May 20-27, 2024

Cheers to a long weekend!

I logged off this weekend and really took advantage of the extra day off. So sorry, not sorry, that this week’s Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T is one day overdue.

Reading

How Gun Violence Spread Across One American City (New York Times)

Normally this excerpt of my weekly report is fun, interesting, or full of reading fluff. But this week, the number one thing I read this week was this sobering piece about the city I live in. How Gun Violence Spread Across One American City is hopeless and hopeful at the same time, showing how areas in central Ohio once deemed “safe” are not anymore, while profiling community advocates putting in the ground work to take back their city.

Eating

Macarons (Mjomii)

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A post shared by MJOMII (@mjomii)

Tucked into a nondescript Walmart shopping plaza on Bethel Road might be the city’s best macaron. Yes, I know that’s a bold statement, but Mjomii’s macarons are THAT good. The Korean bakery specializes in the sandwich cookie, serving up traditional flavours like coffee and pistacio, while also serving up traditional Asian flavours like yuzu and taro cream. The macarons are all individually wrapped ensuring maximum freshness, and taste like a dream. Stop in to pick up a box, or stay awhile and enjoy their drink menu as well.

Playing

Gemini Season Playlist (Apple Music)

Gemini SZN, This time of year I’m obsessed with all things zodiac, just like any Gemini would be when their birthday is around the corner. And maybe I’m biased, but gemini’s duality is great inspiration for some of music’s best songwriters, the back and forth always keeping lyrics interesting. This playlist is full of some super fun bangers inspired by the best zodiac sign, the twins.

Obsessing

Essential Leather-Trimmed Canvas Crossbody Ecru (Kindersalmon)

*chants* “save money for furniture”. Being a fashion lover sucks when you’re also in need of furniture. Previously it was the New Balance 1906rs (still obsessing, btw), now its Kindersalmon’s Essential Leather-Trimmed Canvas Crossbody. This is the perfect summer bag for minimalists, the canvas screams warm weather, and the leather trim wrangles it in. I’m currently carrying a bag of this size and love the versatility of it, its perfect for carrying multiple pairs of sunglasses, extra sunscreen, and can even stash a paint sample or two. Alas, I’m going to lust from afar (W Concept’s $40 off is really tempting me). I really do need furniture.

Recommending

Ingrown hair pads (First Aid Beauty)

With shorter hemlines and hotter weather, come all the trappings of being a woman. And sadly, no matter how much I moisturize, an ingrown hair or two emerges everytime I wear a shorter skirt. First Aid Beauty’s ingrown hair pads have been a godsend, a quick swipe on my leg after a shower keeps my sensitive skin from flaring up when I least expect it. Highly recommend.

Treating

Zymic Sandals (Teva)

You know you’re getting old when you getting influenced for shoes because they’re comfortable. Kate @wearsmymoney recommended the Teva Zymic sandal after wearing them for over 10,000 steps a day on vacation and I couldn’t add them to cart fast enough. I love this feather gray colour, they’re a cool tone nude that almost melts into my fair skin. Combined with the off-white sole and the pop of colour at the ankle, these sandals work great with shorts and a tee, but also look fab with my mini and maxi dresses. And yes, I can confirm, they’re ridiculously comfortable.

Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T: May 13-19, 2024

I’m officially a hotel room hoarder.

Thank goodness for rewards programs, loyalty points, and all the other travel pledge programs, that allow last-minute indecisive folks like myself thrive.

Rarely do I decide on an itinerary weeks in advance when I travel - its not until I do a deep dive of google, Instagram and reddit that I feel comfortable committing to anything. Add in TikTok now too - in typical Gemini style I like to explore every opportunity when traveling.

Don’t let the procrastination mask my excitement for vacation, I can’t wait to get out of the city and enjoy a few days off.

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

Reading

It Costs A Lot to Look This Poor (Total Rec)

If you read one Substack this week, and you’re even remotely into fashion, read Total Rec’s It Costs A Lot to Look This Poor. She does a complete takedown of the quiet luxury trend, tearing into designers who charge a ridiculous amount of money for garments with ethical questions. I won’t spoil her big reveal, nor her big comparison, but its safe to say my jaw dropped when she pointed it out.

It Costs A Lot To Look This Poor by Totally Recommend

Peasant Pieces at Princely Prices

Read on Substack

Eating

Canoe Dill Pickle Vodka (Dillon’s)

What better way to celebrate the end of the work week than with a nice, cold martini? Martini Friday has become a new ritual for me as of late, gin or vodka, I don’t discriminate. When I’m in the mood for a martini a little left than tradition, I like to reach for Dillon’s Canoe Dill Pickle Vodka to mix with my vermouth. If you’re remotely a fan of pickles and find yourself in the Niagara area, stop in and pick a bottle up. It’s even better in bloody marys/caesars.

Playing

Maxton Hall (Amazon Prime)

Scheming teenagers at a private school? A too beautiful for their own good cast? A story of the haves and the have nots? It’s pretty much guaranteed I’ll binge any tv show that features those characteristics. And it’s no surprise I flew threw Season 1 of Maxton Hall in two days. Set in England, but shot in German, it’s like the European version of Gossip Girl, and so easy to watch. As someone who regularly watches shows with subtitles, I found watching it in German (with subtitles) was so much easier than the dubbed English version.

Obsessing

Harris Reed In Good Hands Stacking Ring (Missoma)

I’ve been picking up a few pieces of Missoma jewelry here and there over the years, and I’ve consistently been impressed with their quality. I’ve been a fan of the Harris Reed in Good Hands line for awhile now, stalking from afar, never quite ready to pull the trigger on a necklace. I might be ready now, now that they’ve launched the design in a ring format. I love that the ring looks minimal from afar, but up close you really get the essence of the hands coming together.

Recommending

Hybrid Cocktail Shaker (Elevated Craft)

Speaking of cocktails, you might remember I treated myself to the Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Shaker earlier this year. After using now for a couple months, I’m proud to move it to the “recommend” section of this column this week. The measurement in the lid make it ridiculously easy to prepare cocktails, and more importantly, I’ve never had the lid or the pourer freeze up. Ever. It makes preparing cocktails easy and fun, and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase.

Treating

Bucket Bag in Mocha (Kaan)

Another repeat mention in this week’s report, this time moving from obsessed to treat. I finally purchased the tote bag I’ve been lusting over, the Kaan Bucket Bag. In a shock I purchased the mocha colour, instead of the black, you really don’t want to know how many black tote bags I own. I’ll be trying it out for the commute this week, it’s roomy enough to fit my laptop, planner, notebook and pouches with room to spare.

Cover Photo by A65 Design on Unsplash

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…