Sunday Summary - 2.19.23
Whew! It’s been a few weeks, but I’m committed to holding myself accountable for doing this newsletter more consistently moving forward. I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I finish it, and I like sharing what’s going on with all of you. (Plus, I pay for this platform, so I definitely want to continue getting my money’s worth .)
Reading and Watching
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Do you ever get something or hear about something, forget about it for a while, and then all of a sudden you get reminded of it at every turn through the most unexpected outlets? That’s what happened to me with this book! I went into my Amazon archives and found that I got this book via the free Amazon First Reads program in January 2021. I read the first 14 pages right when I got it and never finished it. It now has almost 63,000 reviews averaging 4.7 stars and was recommended to me by two totally unrelated co-workers in the same week! Needless to say, I picked it back up and have enjoyed reading about the cross country trip of two giraffes, their two unexpected handlers, and the people they meet along the way.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Emily Henry quickly became one of my favorite author’s with one of her earliest books, Beach Read. In fact, all of her books could be classified as “beach reads,” one just happens to actually be named that! Book Lovers is my absolute favorite, and I’m anxiously awaiting the release of her next book, Happy Place, on April 25th. I’ve already pre-ordered the Kindle version! I RARELY buy books, so you know I’m serious about an author if I’m paying for something before it comes out.
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test
If you’re looking for a reality show that has nothing to do with people attempting to fall in love (aka, get famous on Instagram) or rich real estate agents with really unrelatable lives — this one’s for you! 16 celebrities signed up to go through a modified version of Special Forces training, and it’s actually really impressive. It’s been refreshing to watch reality television without manufactured conflict and to walk away with an appreciation for how incredibly strong the real members of this elite group are, both physically and mentally. I watch it weekly on Hulu the day after it airs on Fox.
Birthday Discounts + Freebies
I turn 31 in just a few weeks, so last weekend Kesler (whose birthday is the day after mine) and I took advantage of several birthday discounts and freebies. Many retailers offer this perk, but the ones we tend to take advantage of most are:
Aerie - Depending on your “level” within their rewards program you will be sent a coupon for a percentage off your next purchase. I received a 15% off coupon, and I’m in their lowest rewards tier. I got a couple of comfy shorts for the upcoming warm weather and a fun graphic tee. Kesler got a 20% off coupon, since she shops there more frequently! All you have to do is sign up for their email list.
Madewell - Offers $25 off your next purchase if you’re part of the Madewell Insiders program. We popped in the store, but nothing jumped out to either of us.They still had a lot of their winter clothes out, so I may hang onto my coupon until the spring clothes hits the shelves!
Nothing Bundt Cakes - Free bundtlet on your birthday for eclub members. FYI, they also send coupons once a month for buy one, get one free bundtlets. White chocolate raspberry, snickerdoodle, carrot, and confetti are my favorite flavors.
Kendra Scott - Offers 50% off a full priced item during your birthday month. You used to be able to show your ID at check out with no sign up necessary, but you couldn’t use the discount online. They’ve fixed that! Enter your birthday here for a 50% off code to use during your birthday month. I got these earrings.
Sephora - Free trial sized set for Beauty Insider members. Their birthday gift options are usually much better than Ulta’s, and I like that everyone has the same gift options for the entire year. I got the Ouai set.
Paula’s Choice, Anthropologie, Fresh, LOFT, Rifle Paper Co., and more retailers offer birthday discounts, too. Check to see if your favorite store offers a birthday perk, because it’s definitely worth wading through the promotional emails all year to get a hefty discount on purchases around your special day!
Weekly Favorites
I got this 10 lb weighted ring for Christmas, and I’ve loved it! It has a really nice soft touch feel, and it’s easy to handle. I use this the same way I would a kettlebell (swings, curls, etc.), but it’s also great for tricep work behind your head that sometimes puts a lot of stress on my elbows when using traditional dumbbells. It keeps your arms spaced and aligned nicely, and it’s been so much more comfortable for me! I used it for weighted clamshells in lieu of dumbbells during a strength workout the other day and it sat nicely on top of my hip without digging in like a 10 lb dumbbell typically would.
I know I’ve mentioned these approximately 900 times before, but I go in waves with wearing my hair in a clip, and right now I’ve been using these a lot. I love that they don’t crease your hair, and are able to hold thick hair easily even though they looks small! If it’s your birthday month, you could get this set of 3 clips 20% off. The full price is $18, so even if it isn’t your bday it’s still a great value.
After feeling like we were in a recipe rut (hence, no Cooking section this week), I challenged myself to break out a dusty cookbook to find some inspiration. I don’t know why I’ve been sleeping on this book, because I went to town with sticky notes on its pages and am excited to cook some out-of-the-ordinary recipes. We’ve been keeping our lunches and dinners simple lately - think turkey sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, spaghetti, chickpea salad, etc. That way, I can cook fun breakfast recipes, like these biscuits, and not have to spend my whole day in the kitchen cooking lunch and dinner, too.