Every Friday, I send out the Weekender, which is essentially a list of all my favorite random AF things to try, see, and do. Think of it as a quick high-five for anyone looking to feel good in their own skin.
To build on something I wrote about recently, my greatest hope for myself and for all women around me is to feel confident and comfortable in the choice to live an alcohol-free lifestyle. To say it another way, I want us all to feel good in our own skin. Nothing feels better than feeling comfortable with other women who are comfortable with themselves.
That said, I go through waves of feeling like I have finally figured myself out, almost 50 and all, and then on the other side of the pendulum, there are days when I think, How the hell have I not figured this out yet? I sometimes feel I am alone in this, but once I start digging and other women join me in going deeper in conversations, I realize we are all in this together in one way or another. And no matter what our worlds (IRL and socials) try to portray to us, we are all still trying to figure it out. I honestly don’t know any woman in my life who has it all together, and if someone does, please do tell :)
WAYS TO FEEL GOOD IN YOUR SKIN THIS WEEKEND AND BEYOND.
I came across this interview podcast with Emma Grede interviewing Tracee Ellis Ross. I was immediately delighted with the candor, elegance, and humor in this conversation. It was also quite comforting to hear a woman several years older than me discuss how she feels like she is just now figuring herself out and living in her truth. I wish more women (especially the stoic Gen Xers) would be more open, vulnerable, and honest about navigating life. VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE, AUDIO HERE.
Six comforting truths I felt when first reading and then rereading my favorite QuitLit book, The Sober Lush.
I unapologetically want to explore this world and have new adventures that have absolutely nothing to do with drinking alcohol. If people don’t want to join me, I will happily do it on my own. In fact, I feel most like myself when I am traveling alone.
Celebrating yourself or anyone/anything does not mean you need to destroy yourself with alcohol while doing it.
Even if you are not physically addicted to alcohol, it does not mean you are fine.
Having the ability and the wherewithal to pay attention to the world around us can be one of the most exciting feelings of all time. When you remove alcohol from all the situations we use it, it’s like having the lights turned on.
Pleasure comes alive when you no longer use alcohol to seek out pleasurable experiences. How ironic :)
Pleasure and luxury are often found in the smallest and simplest details. It’s in pouring yourself a cup of your favorite oolong tea. It’s watching the stars in the middle of the desert on a hot summer night. It’s taking the time to make yourself an excellent meal, for one. It’s in recognizing that there is no greater luxury than the ability to take good care of yourself.
Q- What books remind you and inspire you to take the best care of yourself?
I found myself perusing the aisles of Sephora during their recent annual sale. This sort of perusing is always fun for me. I don’t know much about makeup other than I am a no-makeup, makeup girly. But skincare, and keeping good care of my skin - that’s always been my thing. With the sale, I tried a few new skincare and makeup products. I kept what felt and looked good on my skin, and returned what didn’t.
Kept Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk (24M). Returned REFY Lip Blur Lip Liner in Opal - I was unable to get this color to transfer onto my skin.
Kept Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow in Wood (36M) and Ebony (99M). Returned colors Shell (12C) and Cashew (22M). Tip: Use with a blending brush. Kept Makeup by Mario E6 Dual-Ended Eyeshadow Brush.
Kept LUX Unflitered N°36 Supernatural Self Tanning Mousse in Blood Orange in Deep. I panicked when I first put it on because it was a green liquid foam, and it was messy. But pleasantly surprised with how it looked when I woke up. TIP: Use a self-tanning mitt applicator (!) and don’t use it on your face.
Returned Charlotte Tillbury Airbrush Flawless Hydrating & Waterproof Setting Spray. Personally, it just left a sticky residue on my face.
Kept Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz® Ultra-Slim Precision Detailing Eyebrow Pencil in Ash Brown. It is very easy to handle and not messy at all. Returned Anastasia Beverly Hills MicroStroke Detailing Brow Pen with 24-Hour Wear in Soft Brown. I don’t have the skill, time, or patience to fill in individual lash marks.
Kept Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel with Lamination Effect. I was turned off by eyebrow gel because an influencer once swayed me to buy something that left a crusty white trail behind, until this one. Benefit flexible and dries invisibly.
Even if conversations between people you don’t know personally, quitlit books, or skincare are not the things that make you feel good, what is? What makes you feel your best? What brings you comfort in being yourself?
This weekend, enjoy those things, and if you are unsure of what does, explore the above questions and lovingly figure it out.
XX, MM.