Thursday Things #111

The book I've been not-so-patiently waiting to share, a real good list, and about the closest I'm going to come to a "beauty influencer" (gah).

Every other Thursday, I share a handful of good things I'm loving, reading, watching, listening to or just discovered. AKA the random good stuff we’d talk about over coffee or text if we had one another’s phone number. I'm glad you're here!

Hello from the land of writing all. the. words. all. day. long.

Your response to this announcement has been so kind and I’m for real really grateful. “Here, in the week of it all” is stretching me, but it’s also been a fun surprise—even to me!—as themes emerge and stories go somewhere I didn’t see coming at the start of Line One. Yesterday I finished up a day that combines something I don’t usually write about (anger) with the place in Israel that brought instant tears. It took a turn, but I’m glad it did. (More on that in IG Stories today, if you’re interested.)

I hope you love this as much as I’ve loved creating it for you!

Day One goes out this Sunday! Click here for all the info. I’d love to send it to you!

My head is swirling with All Things Holy Week Writing + I have a couple days left to draft for you/pictures from Israel to comb through, so this Thursday Things is a little shorter than usual. Still a handful of Good Things, and more saved in a list on my phone to include next time, but I’m hitting send on these and going back to the world of Word documents and the photo album that instantly transports me across an ocean back to the place that went from black and white to living color.

But before I forget → I’m so pleased to report back to you that we DID remember to take a picture. TT #110 fail, TT #111 success. 😂 (And the cookie dough held up just fine. I think I’ve now converted my entire family, other than my brother who is apparently too healthy for cookies and to that I say, his loss.)

I’m sold on these.

What I’m never going to be is any kind of ‘beauty influencer’. This much should be obvious, seeing as I wear makeup approximately 7 days a year, give or take.

But I’m here to tell you that I bought these last year and waited to mention because I wanted to make sure I really liked them after several times . . . turns out yes, I do.

Do they take away puffy eyes and dark circles? I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know. I didn’t see a magical, drastic difference. But what I will say is that I’ve had a bordering-on-migraine-level headache once a week for three months now and these strangely help every time. (I keep them in the fridge. Highly recommend.) Also my skin feels refreshed + looks healthier the rest of the day. Also they cost less than $0.35 each so I’m sold.

The “hair tool” that saves me on a regular basis.

While we’re checking the “anything remotely related to beauty products” box…

Side note: isn’t it strange and a bit alarming that we call them beauty products? an entire beauty industry? Ugh. I better not wade into those waters tonight, there’s a day in an email series waiting to be written and Holy Week won’t exactly be pushed back on the calendar.

I mentioned this nifty gadget in 2019 (anyone been around since The Table newsletter???) and in Thursday Things in 2021, but it’s worth the re-share today specifically because it’s 51% off. It has nearly half a million reviews and an average of 4.6/5 stars, and I’ll just say that when mine got tired after three years of consistent use, I promptly ordered another.

There are very few beauty/hair items that I use—again, I’m just not your person for that¹—but this is one that I love enough to happily buy again in another year or two, if needed.

Note: I have the regular one, but I’m linking the 2.0 version of the “Revlon One Step Volumizer 2.0 Hair Dryer and Hot Air Brush” since it has the detachable handle.

The Small and the Mighty.

Mark my words, this will be an instant New York Times bestseller.

Instantly pre-ordered the day I saw it on Amazon? Check.

Long-time paying subscriber to her book club? Also yes.

Sharon’s account is one I shared in Thursday Things several years ago, and I’ve continued to learn so much from her about government and history (not my personal fave topics, but she makes it legitimately fun while sharing non-partisan information).

I’ve been counting down the days to reading this since actual December. Only six more months to go! (LOL)

Here’s a direct link to The Small and the Mighty on Bookshop (currently the lowest price) to learn more.

P.s. I know, I know. I pre-ordered months ago and didn’t say a word. But you know how I feel about spilling the beans on someone else’s news—a big no thank you. I have—not kidding—54 titles bookmarked that release later this year. But until it’s closer to release day and the author says something (many of the books have been up for months and the authors haven’t said a single word, which is just wild)? I see it as both easily find-able and not my news to share. Now that this is making the rounds, I’m happily sharing. 😉

All of this.

Do you ever talk back to your Instagram feed?

“Yes, so true.” “That too!” “Mmhm.”

I love this list so much. Via @LisaWhittle:

lisawhittle

A post shared by @lisawhittle

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Your turn! Would you share one of your recent good things in the comments? I always enjoy hearing the songs/books/items/shows/posts (etc) that you’re loving!

And don’t forget → Day One of Here, in the week of it all goes out this coming Sunday. To receive the full series, subscribe to All The Things (you can cancel at any time). You’ll receive, well, all the things—the Holy Week series plus other ATT extras that are already planned for March/April. If you’d like to gift it to someone, sign up for your friend and just be sure to set a reminder on your calendar to cancel on your end after the series concludes on Easter.

Note: Bookshop affiliate links are used in this post, but anything going to Amazon is just a regular ol’ link pulled straight from Amazon search.

1. Once up a time, I walked into the living room and my roommate, after glancing up, smiled and said “Your hair looks so good today!” My instant and honest reply: “Thanks, I brushed it.” So maybe my “beauty influencer” hot tip is to not do much on an extremely regular basis so that when you do, it’s a whole moment.