Using My Space (A rant and some Favorites to distract you right now)

It’s been (more than a) hot minute since I’ve given the blog any love, but this week I thought we could use some Favorites on a day that is not even Friday, am I right??

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Before I get to the fun stuff to distract you from the pain of the past few days, though, I have to use this space to speak my mind. After all, that’s what I created it for.

I’m not going to get political here, because here’s the thing: this election wasn’t about politics — it was about HUMAN DECENCY. I am stunned and shocked at the number of people who, with their vote, supported and encouraged hate, racism, inequality, dishonesty, disregard for human lives and rights, and oppression. What is wrong with people? What has happened to our country? The complete lack of humanity that is ongoing and rooted in ignorance is frightening, and the “living above the rules” mentality that is being perpetrated is alarming.

Listen, I’m all for celebrating and accepting differences and can overlook and accept a lot, and I’m happy to agree to disagree with many people I know on a variety of topics, but this is a whole different game. I cannot and will not accept a vote for qualities and issues that adversely attack and affect my family, many people I love, and millions of people I don’t even know. These issues and what’s at stake are far too important and meaningful to me to agree to disagree on.

via GIPHY

Moving on.

Since I haven’t posted any Friday Favorites in a while, I’ve got some good ones saved up for you, so grab something to take notes with, maybe a refreshing beverage and a snack that isn’t good for you (because after the week we’ve had you deserve all the Cheetos – wait, who what?), and let’s get to some good distractions.

The Unicorn (Netflix)

Instead of me telling you what this delightful show is about, just watch the trailer ~

I discovered this cute CBS show on Netflix about a month ago and quickly binged all 18 episodes. You guys, I couldn’t recommend it more highly. It’s the perfect quick escape and has everything: heart, humor (a LOT of humor, especially from neighbor friends Delia (Michaela Watkins) and Forrest (Rob Corddry), my absolute favorites), great acting (see: Delia and Forrest), fantastic writing, and kids who can actually act.

I love it when I discover a show late in the game because that means I don’t have to wait months or a year+ for the next season. Season 2 of The Unicorn is set to premiere November 12th on CBS, so get caught up now on Netflix!

Another show I’m super happy I missed the boat on when it first aired a year ago because now I don’t have to wait forever for the next season?

The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

I know you all know the premise so I’m not going to waste time recapping, but holy hell was I shocked at how much I was obsessed with everything about this show. I’m not a huge fan of Jennifer Aniston’s acting and only recently warmed to Reese Witherspoon’s (Big Little Lies made me a fan again), so I had very low expectations. But damn, I was blown away, not just by the way they (mostly) disappeared in their characters — which for each of them is really difficult to do anymore — but by the writing and the brilliant way the touchy topic (no pun intended) was handled as complicated: more “shades of gray” than black & white, which is often how so many people tend to think it is. Steve Carell is amazing — the entire ensemble is amazing. I’m going to watch it all over again with my husband (who didn’t watch), and am anxiously awaiting Season 2, which is rumored to drop in early 2021.

Other shows I’m watching:

The Voice (so glad this dream coaching team of four is back together)
Dancing With The Stars (Vote for Johnny and Justina!)
The Undoing – HBO Max (We watched the first two episodes last night and had the entire season been available we’d have stayed up all night watching. SO good. So intriguing. Plus, Hugh Grant.)
This Is Us (Good gracious gravy, who else watched that season premiere??)
Ted Lasso (Already watched once, am watching again because right now we all need a little Ted Lasso in our lives.)
Sappy Christmas movies (’tis the season for predictability and happy endings)

Cozy indoorsy (inexpensive) new clothes

Because I spend 99% of my life now inside my house — and will for the next six months thanks to COVID and winter — I’m updating my loungey, comfy inside clothes (and spending far less money than I would be on my usual new fall sweater(s) or pair(s) of sassy boots).

Here are some of my new favorites, all from Target, all “Stars Above” brand:

I love these soft joggers! I got them in this blush pink and in a light gray. I’ve been living in them! Find them HERE.
As you can see from the first pic, I’ve been wearing them with a Stars Above deliciously cozy chenille pullover (HERE). I’m wearing a size Small in the blush pink (above), but I also got a cream one like the one below in a size Medium that’s a bit roomier and snugglier.

I also have been living in these pajama pants (below). I can’t sleep in pants unless it’s really, really cold (thanks a lot, HORMONES) so even though these are technically PJ pants I wear them all day long. They’re flowy and loose and lightweight. It’s hard for me to find PJ pants that are long enough (I’m 5’8″) but these are, and bonus! — they have POCKETS. I have them in the navy striped (HERE) as well as a soft, gray.

As long as we’re at Target, let me tell you what else I just discovered and may or may not have already scooped up —

Target Christmas trees!

I look forward to Target putting out their Christmas stuff as much as I look forward to Christmas itself, I think. Even though they start filling their Christmas shelves around Halloween, I wait until it’s all out — the trees are up and decorated, the wrapping aisle is stocked, the annoying musical toys are there to annoy me as I walk by — and in pre-COVID days I’d get a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha and stroll leisurely along the rows, making multiple loops, examining every new ornament and decoration they have.

But as we know, this year is different.

While my girls and I have already scheduled a weekday morning later in the week to peruse when the store isn’t crowded with COVID germs, I’ve cheated a bit and already checked out the Home Decor section (where the Magnolia stuff is). And it’s a good thing I did, because look what I found!

You guys! I love me some good nostalgia, especially at Christmastime, and these gold trees (there are two sizes) are straight from the 1950s … and quite possibly the 60s. I snatched up this tall gold metallic Charlie Brown-ish one for my bedroom dresser, and these frosted little retro trees will live on my sofa table.

Seriously, if you like them, you better act fast. Especially if you live near me. I’m already wondering if I need more of them in my basement.

My New (Top Secret) Project

And speaking of nostalgia and retro stuff, I’ve been working really hard with two of my friends on a fun new project we’ll be unveiling sooooon! (Like, in the next few days soon!) If you’re a child of the 70s and early 80s, and you also enjoy this blog, I promise you’ll like it! (Well, actually, I can’t promise you’ll like it, but I can promise you’ll be excited to make your own mind up about it!) Stay TUNED on Instagram in the next day or two for a big reveal!

Costco Lava Pots

What would a Favorites list be without a carb or sugar-loaded indulgence?
USELESS is what.
But friends, look what Costco has back in stock —

Our family discovered these a couple of years ago and very quickly collected a teetering stack of new ramekins … and diabetes.
Kidding. (About the diabetes; we actually do have a teetering stack of Lava Pot ramekins from the past two years, which is both a blessing and a curse.)

These are seasonal, so get yer booty to Costco and stock up (they go fast). I think the cost is like $11 for four of them, which isn’t super cheap, but I mean you do get a “free” ramekin with each lava cake, so it’s basically like the cake part is free.

Summer: The Return

After a few weeks of unseasonably frigid weather and about 10″ of snow in early October, summer was like “Hold up, bitches, I got more to say” and returned with six days of temps in the upper 60s and 70s here in Minneapolis.

It couldn’t have picked a better week.

However, I’d already said a tearful goodbye to my beloved bicycle a few weeks ago when the snow hit, and we’d both already gone through most of the stages of grief. Today we’re going on a little bittersweet gift of a field trip where we’ll once again enjoy each other’s company for one final, glorious day before having to be cruelly separated for the next six months.

Long story short, I gotta ride, friends.

Have a lovely weekend, be kind to yourself, wrap yourself in cozy clothes, eat all the lava pots you want, watch a Christmas movie with a happy ending, and don’t forget to inhale … and exhale.

*Oh, and these fun, colorful, uplifiting cards like the one above and the one way up at the top? They’re from the wonderful Vicky Barone, and I got 25 assorted inspirational little cards for FREE. She’s given away over 100K Kindness cards! Get yours — and a lot of other cute stocking stuffers! — at www.vickybarone.com! Huge Favorite!