Friday Favorites (are my favorite again)

You guys.
I’m not even going to look back to see when the last time I wrote an actual Friday Favorites post was because I know it would throw me into a guilt-induced spiral that I don’t need in my life right now.

I do occasionally post YMFT Friday INSTAfavorites on the Instagram page (which you probably already know because you’ve been following that page for years, right? RIGHT??) so I’ve been using that to make me feel better and help ease the self-induced shame.

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And for like the 80% of you who are going, “Wait. What the hell’s a Friday Favorite?” scroll way down to the bottom of this page to the categories box and click on “Friday Favorites” — just please don’t tell me what the date of the last one was.

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I’m actually excited to write this post. It’s like now that it’s been so long I remember why I started doing them in the first place. I loved these silly posts and honestly don’t think I missed a Friday from about 2012 – 2014.
Impressive, I know.
Especially if you ignore the what the hell were you doing from 2014 – 2019 part.

But really, I started this blog, in part, to share my favorites — things, TV shows, books, snack foods, family members — because, much like Oprah, I figured there were people out there who’d give a damn.
Like me.
No lie, I’m a sucker for other people’s favorites, not to mention a gullible target audience. If you need proof — segue alert! — let’s get to the first Friday Favorite.

Live A Good Story tee

The good people at Live A Great Story knew they’d snare me, I think. All it took was like a month of constant ads on my Instagram feed and I was theirs. I loved the simple tagline and logo from day one, but my drawer full of graphic tees was putting up a fairly valid argument against having yet another new friend stuffed in with them. Plus, I’ve been burned by online ordering way too often lately, where the shirt that I order either isn’t the right size or as described and I’m stuck with it because I’m too lazy to do the return.

This one, though, is perfection. It’s that thinish, stretchy cotton (a Bella Canvas tee, which is my favorite) that just fits so well and is soft and comfortable.
(FYI if you want to order, I’m wearing a size S and I’m 5’8″ and 14*cough*0 pounds.)

It’s not just the tee that’s a favorite today, though. I just love this company’s story so much (and if they need a new ambassador I’m ready). Seriously, check it out – I’m definitely ordering a bag of buttons to wear on my jacket and pass out to people who compliment them next. (They sell everything on their site — tees, stickers, flags, mugs, pins, patches, magnets…). Perfect Christmas gifts!

“We’re all on our own journey. No matter where we came from, what language we speak, the color of our skin or anything that seemingly makes us different, in the end, we’re all just humans living our own story. And it’s up to each of us to be the hero of our story, which inspires other people to do the same.” ~ Live A Great Story

 

The Politician (Netflix)

We’ve been looking forward to this one for almost a year, mostly because we’re big Ben Platt fans in this house.

My husband and I binged the entire season last weekend. It’s a Ryan Murphy show, and it’s totally a Ryan Murphy show: campy, exaggerated, sharp, smart, a bit odd, and brilliant.

https://youtu.be/6-kdBlzCG7w

It also stars Gwyneth Paltrow (a perfect role for her), Jessica Lange (totally creepy), and Laura Dreyfuss, who is also from the original cast of Dear Evan Hansen and another one of our family’s BFFs.

 

The Voice

My four year ago self would hate me for saying this, you guys, but I’m gonna say it anyway, thank God Adam Levine is gone.

My husband and I are big fans of The Voice…but only the audition part. It’s weird, I know, but what we really find entertaining about the show isn’t the singers but the interaction of the coaches during the audition process. We almost always stop watching once the battles start. We get some good TV for like a month and then move on. It’s fine. We’re fine.

However, the past few seasons we’ve been inconsistent with watching because the combination of coaches wasn’t really working (*cough* Adam Levine has been a bitchy baby *cough*). This season, though, is ON (clap) FIRE (clap).

We are loving the hilarious camaraderie of these four and want to be friends with all of them. Last night my husband was like, “damn, I don’t really know anything about Gwen Stefani but she’s like the coolest person I know.” Who knows, maybe this season we’ll actually keep watching until the end.

 

The Kelly Clarkson Show

I’ve always thought Kelly Clarkson and I would get along famously … if either one of us could get a word in, that is. And now that she has a talk show I’m even more convinced of it. I just love her realness, her self-deprecating humor, her unapologetic word vomiting, her covers of great songs … really, just how much she enjoys life.

The only problem I have with her show? Now when I’m on the treadmill I have trouble choosing my go-to for the past 15 years (Ellen) or hers.
Watch both and get twice as long of a workout, you say?

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Lucy Wyndham-Read 7 minute workouts

Speaking of hating workouts, here’s some I don’t.
I’ve loved Lucy (and yeah, her workouts too) for over a year now. Honestly, they’re the only online workouts I’m motivated to keep doing on a consistent basis because they’re doable and yes, because DING DING DING they’re each about 7 minutes.

She has over 100 videos (I estimated because I’m too lazy to count) on her wildly popular youtube channel (which she’s constantly adding to) which target just about every part of your body you’d ever want to target. I usually cobble together a few 7 minute workouts or do one of her 20 minute ones plus a 7 minute.
Or, let’s be real, I just do a 7 minute one and call it a success.
At any rate, she’s lovely and very motivating, and because she’s British, is also fun to listen to!

Now for the question I know you’re all dying to ask: Do they work? 
Well, I’ll be honest, since I hate to work out (a fact I believe I’ve established on here many times before) I’m not nearly as consistent as Lucy wants or needs me to be. (Sorry, Lucy.)
Also, since I love a good glass or two of red wine and a few squares of dark chocolate most nights, I basically am just in it to cancel things out and keep things level. Keep myself from having to buy new jeans, you know?

But check out these amazing before and afters from people who have much stronger self control than I do — it’s inspiring!

Also check out Lucy’s website here (lots of great stuff to order if you want to spend $) and her fabulous YouTube channel here.

And hey, speaking of which, it’s about time for me to go spend half an hour with Lucy and another half an hour with Kelly so that the dessert I know I’ll order tonight doesn’t make me sad.

It’s been fun spending time with you again, friends! Let’s do it again soon!

xo,
Michelle