A Weekend Away + Introducing the Weekly Newsletter…

I had such a good weekend with my family up in the mountains – MUCH NEEDED. But I didn’t do all the work that I was supposed to (including writing yesterday’s and today’s post). WHOOPS. Listen,  I was too busy helping Birdie decorate her treasure box and watching Charlie intensely put together his Lego vehicles to write. It was wonderful and I feel so much closer to my kids than I did on Thursday. Funny how that works. 🙂 Turns out that when you spend quality time with your family, it feels like the quality of your family increases. We spend every weekend together but when we are in the mountains, we aren’t distracted by traffic, social engagements, and just this sense of go, go, go.  More on that later…..so that left a gap in our editorial calendar.

We are starting a new weekend newsletter full of my random recommendations, so I figured I’d just run that (and use it as an excuse to promote it so that any of you interested in it could sign up). I historically HATE newsletters. HATE. My favorite thing to do on Monday mornings is to unsubscribe from most brands (often ones I even like) that dare to fill my inbox on MONDAY MORNING with uninteresting marketing. The gall. It’s Monday for fork sakes…(yes, I’m also sending a message). So trust me when I say that my “newsletter” won’t just be for me to remind you that I exist. It’s a time/place where I can tell you, like I would any friend, what I’m really into right now. This could be products, experiences, articles, podcasts, beauty stuff, movies, ANYTHING that I like and would typically gab about (sans politics and religion because we know how that goes). Nothing here is sponsored, it’s just good stuff that I’m excited by and want to talk about. I have been resistant to do a newsletter for seven years because, through this blog, I write a daily newsletter and I simply can’t keep up with doing one more thing, but this feels good and fun and easy, and just makes sense. It’s extra for those of you interested, but those that aren’t into reading about the book I can’t put down don’t have to. We are also sending out one on Saturday that is a blog recap of the week for those of you who miss the daily posts (WHY??? ARE YOU BUSY WITH LIFE OR SOMETHING?)

So here you go:

“Into the Water,” by Paula Hawkins: This book is GRIPPING and I needed to be reminded that a book can be more entertaining than a TV show. Paula wrote “Girl on a Train,” which had its problems but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. This book is up there with Gillian Flynn’s; they are writers who have “reinvigorated the literary suspense novel by tapping a rich vein of psychological menace and social unease” (says Vogue). If you need a reason to get into bed early, pick this one up but know that it’s hard to put down. I haven’t finished it yet, but not because I’m not into it – I forgot to bring it this weekend and I was DYING for it at night.

Olaplex: If you are like me and bleach or highlight your hair, LISTEN UP.  I feel like this was kept a secret from me for far too long. I didn’t know that there was a re-bonding serum out there that all the celebrities were using to ensure that their bleached hair wouldn’t break off. Mine started breaking after my first real bleach and recently, I became freaked out at how most of it is honestly chin length at this point (without me cutting it more than a tiny trim). Justin Anderson (who just did my color at dpHUE) had told me about it, but in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep I googled how Kim Kardashian was able to bleach her dark hair and have it remain healthy, and some article said that she slept in it. If she can, then I CAN. I slept in it the next night and in the morning, my hair felt 30% stronger. It’s not moisturizing, it’s re-bonding. Anyway, I didn’t know about it before so I wanted to share (and yes, you can OVER Olaplex, so I’m told to sleep in it once every two weeks).

This might be old news, but I’m still OBSESSED with watching this. As you might know, I was raised LDS and this hit home and makes me SO happy every time I watch (which is often).

Anthropologie Navy Cardigan: I’ve worn this cardigan every day and have accidentally convinced two of my friends to buy it. It’s on sale now (almost half off) and I’m debating buying another to keep up at the mountain house because it’s just that good. It’s super comfortable but looks like a blazer because it’s so tailored. The collar has great structure and it’s so easy to layer underneath because it’s boxy, the crop of the sleeves is cute and the short boxy cut is flattering.

Orlando’s Book: If you like one of the following things, then you should buy this book: 1. Funny people. 2. Pretty photos. 3. Amy Sedaris. 4. Self-Depreciation. 5. Reality. 6. Learning new things or 7. Laughing a lot. This amazing person (Orlando Soria) and I used to sleep in the same bed when we were shooting our show together and couldn’t make it home (not sure the homeowners ever new that – they were always at a hotel). He’s still one of my favorite people of all time. THIS MANS DESERVES ALL THE SUCCESS THAT THIS BOOK WILL BRING HIM. I’m incredibly proud and I need you to buy his book because you don’t even know how much you need it.

Ban.do Planner: My friend Jen founded this company 10 years ago, the summer that I met her. I don’t buy or need these planners. I fear I’m too old for them and ironically use a google cal instead of “writing things down.” But when I flip through it, I LOVE IT as a product. It’s full of great illustration and exudes youth with a decent amount of cheekiness. All six of my nieces love this brand which makes gift shopping very easy. I personally just want one of her Anxiety necklaces as soon as they come back in stock. I’m anxious that they’ll get out of stock immediately but she told me she’d hook me up (Jen is very open about her mental health issues and is bringing awareness to it in a way that is full of humor, humility, pride and grace).

dpHUE Argan Oil Therapy: Last week, I went to the dpHUE salon where Justin Anderson brought my hair back to a more natural blonde and I was reminded to use this product on a daily basis. My hair is dry (what? Oh the bleach?) so for a day-to-day product, this is my jam/serum. It makes it feel soft without greasy and lightweight but calms the frizzy. There is a lot of good hair product out there right now but I’m into this one a lot and so is my hair. And no, I had no obligation to write about it, I just really like it and Justin (also a lot of argan oils add a tint to your hair but this one doesn’t).

Target Mules: As my sister says every time she talks to me (although last week it was in person), “Target is stepping up their game.” Oh really? NO SHIRT. These shoes are GREAT. I wore the mustard version last week for a shoot and they were so cute (and comfortable and affordable) and I had no idea they also came in a bone color. An affordable bone mule? YES.

Spanx Underwear: I mentioned this in my summer fashion post last week but it was kinda hidden amongst all the chambray and ripped denim so I want to reiterate. I thought my friend was exaggerating when she convinced me to wear them. She said that they make your stomach look flat and they don’t cut in at all. I thought that Spanx meant “discomfort in the name of looking 5% better” but I was wrong. These things are made to feel sexy and cute, and with no cut-in lines. YAY for life without bulging lines or discomfort. I just bought a few more pairs so that I can wear them more than one day in a row.

Perfekt Matte Tanning Gel: As you may or may not know, I’m a lover of the natural-looking spray tan. But it often fades on my legs in the first day or two which is really where I want it most as I personally don’t love a tan face on someone who is obviously fair skinned. This cream goes on chocolate brown, and you’ll freak out, but once it’s rubbed in, it looks relatively natural (a little darker than I think I could ever be) and washes off hands. It will definitely get on clothes so don’t wear white, but it’s also SPF 30 and stays on well, and showers off at night. Anyway, I LOVE it.

Lastly, the first Goop podcast, with Oprah: I heard it was good but it’s taken me months to listen to it. It’s inspiring in so many ways. The #1 takeaway is their “disease to please,” which turns out is common amongst women who are entrepreneurs in the public eye. Now, I’m obviously not Gwyneth or Oprah, but I too suffer from this. I care deeply about what people think of me, which I think is generally a good thing because it means that you are trying hard to consider other people’s thoughts and feelings, but trying to please everyone else (especially the wider your audience) can deplete yourself and your ultimate goals. Another nugget – “You are your own greatest competition” in a good way. Focus on you and what you want to do to the very best of your own ability. Anyway, I’m not Oprah so don’t listen to me, but if you are into intention, success and listening to two highly successful women talk about their lives and give advice, I recommend that podcast. Although, I’ll listen to Oprah in any format which also brings me to Super Soul Sunday – of which I HAVEN’T listened to but will this week. 

What’s got you excited this week? I want to hear about anything that you’ve been itching to gab about with a friend (we’re friends so GIVE IT).