Category: Just me being me

While I’ve never been one of those wake-up-early-and-camp-outside-a-store people for Black Friday, I am quite the internet deal finder. So, each year I make myself a little ‘watch list’ for items that I want to purchase utilizing those Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals.

Here is what I have on my watch list this year:

•  L.L.Bean Slippers: I love L.L.Bean slippers and have been wearing them for decades. My latest pair of moccasins are nearing the end of their life, even with replacing the interior fluffy insole a few times, so I’d like a new pair. I usually get the Venetian style, but I’m thinking this year I may mix it up a bit with either the Women’s Mountain Slippers, Boot Mocs ($89.95) or the Women’s Wicked Good Slippers, Boot Mocs ($120). They are both pretty pricy, so I’d love a good sale!
• Dog Hoodie: Here’s the thing, Ollie is NOT a dog who enjoys wearing clothes. However, Cooper might be…! Jack and I have been eyeballing this dog hoodie and if it drops in price a little, I’m going to buy it. And yes, I will absolutely post a photo of how cute it looks on Cooper. So, maybe I need one for Ollie too, so they can match?
• Nespresso pods: I love my Nespresso machine (blog post here) and I always keep my eye out for pod sales. I already receive Nespresso emails, so I’ll be sure to do a quick check to see if any good deals pop up.
• Hulu Subscription: We got a Black Friday deal last year, which gave us a subscription to Hulu for $1 a month for a whole year. I’m hoping they are running another great deal this year so we can keep up with our Hulu shows.

Are you planning to do any online Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping?

Disclaimer: This post contains Shop.My links and an Amazon affiliate link. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Each year for my birthday, I post an annual birthday photo… and on Friday I celebrated turning 48. But this photo is a little different than previous years…

This year on my birthday, I had a fun pinup photo shoot with Atomic Cheesecake! Longtime readers may remember my first pinup shoot from when I was 40 (you can find it here). Well, a month or so before my birthday, the photographer opened up some additional slots for an amazing background I had been drooling over. It was giving screen siren + gorgeous black widow + a sprinkle of Taylor Swift’s showgirl era. And she had a slot open on my birthday, so I figured WHY NOT!

And that is the energy I’m bringing to 48.

“WHY NOT” energy. Bad mamba-jamba energy. Owning myself energy. Get in my way and I’ll run you over energy. Down with the patriarchy energy.

Last year, I said that I felt change coming. It was too early to say in writing then, but I had interviewed for my new job and was excited for the switch. I’ve been loving the new company and it feels so great to be appreciated for my work. I also enjoy the work-life balance of having a mostly remote position.

Also in last year’s post, I said:

I want to spend my energy on people and activities that ‘fill my cup’ and focus less on the unbalanced relationships in my life. And travel. Of course. Traveling with Travis and Jack absolutely fills my cup and I hope to have the opportunity to explore more places this year.

And YES TO THIS again. Yes to this always. Life is for living and I feel most like I’m living my life when I’m exploring new places and having new adventures with the people I love.

If you feel like doing a little clicking, here are my previous birthday posts: 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, and 36.

2025 has been a year of much needed changes on the medical front. Over the past six months, I’ve moved our whole family to a new dental practice, and after more than a decade with the same primary care doctor (Travis went there too!), I finally decided I’d had enough of that office’s endless incompetence and jumped ship.

Here’s the thing about switching healthcare providers: even if you end up loving the new place, the process is still a giant pain in the butt. There are forms to fill out, records to hunt down, and a million little details you don’t realize you’ll need until someone asks for them. Totally worth it once you’re settled, but actually making the change? That part takes work.

Through this process, I’ve learned some tricks to make it less stressful:

Tip 1: Don’t Forget Your Insurance Card

Sounds obvious, right? However, our health insurance companies no longer send physical cards and you need to have the app to access them. This can be kind of a pain when the doctor’s office is in a dead-zone and the app won’t load. For me, I screenshot the benefits card I need so that it’s ready to go.

Tip 2: Bring a Medication List

Write down every single prescription, over-the-counter med, and supplement you take, including dosages and how often you take them. When the nurse asks, you can just hand over the sheet instead of scrambling to remember if your vitamin D is 1,000 or 2,000 IU. EVERY TIME I do this, it is very much appreciated.

Tip 3: Keep an Appointment & Surgery History

Before your first visit, jot down the dates of key appointments from the past year, including mammogram, dermatologist check, eye exam, whatever applies. That way you’re not scrolling through your phone trying to remember when you last had a mole check. Same goes for the dentist: when switching to a new provider having your last cleaning date handy makes it easy to schedule the next one without risking an insurance overlap.

Tip 4: Bring a Questions List

Some intake visits might feel rushed, or you may just get nervous or distracted while you’re filling out a million forms. If you have anything you want to make sure to discuss, write it down so you don’t forget. Bonus tip: if you’re seeing a specialist, bring relevant info with you. I’m currently keeping a food diary so that I have it ready for when my allergist appointment comes up.

Healthcare transitions rarely feel seamless, but a little prep work makes a big difference. Once you have everything gathered, you can focus on the reason for your visit instead of fumbling through your phone trying to fill in the blanks.