The Weekly Edit: Another Trip Around the Sun

My favorite birthday card that I’ve ever received was from my brother.  Outside it said, “You don’t look a day over whatever age you’re telling people that you are.”  Inside he had written, “Congratulations on the first anniversary of your 29th birthday.”

By that math, today is the 8th Anniversary of my 29th Birthday.

When I was young, I once told my Mother that she was too old to understand something. She looked me right in the eye and said, “I may be 40, but I don’t feel any different on the inside.”

At the time, I thought this was nonsense. How could you have spent four decades on this Earth, an amount of time that seemed incomprehensible at 13, and not feel any older? So I just rolled my eyes, and walked away.

Now, at 37, I can tell you confidently that my Mother was right. I don’t feel any different on the inside than I did at 27 or 33.

I don’t know where I thought I would be at 37. I probably never thought about 37 at all. But I can assure you that if I did, I did not think it would look like this.  And if we’re being honest with each other, I’m not sure how I feel about that.

I spent most of last year so depressed that getting out of bed was a challenge.  Coming out of that took a lot of work.  But here I stand, with so much to be happy about, yet feeling a bit like a stranger in a strange land.  Inside, I feel like myself.  Outside, not quite.

I suppose I have another trip around the sun to sort out these challenges.  To change.  To improve.  To try again, and perhaps fail again, but fail better.

I’m still working through all of the books I bought before I went to work in Montana.  So bare with me if you have already read them.  My latest is American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson.

American Spy is a modern take on the classic spy novel.  A young black woman — through a confluence of family ties and desire to serve her country — becomes embroiled in a deadly undercover assignment.  The book is written as an epistle, as she details her past for her sons.

I like the story.  I’ve always had a thing for spy novels.  The writing style isn’t my favorite.  I find it overly wistful at times, but as a whole, it’s an interesting book and I recommend it.

Speaking of books…do you listen to the Bad on Paper podcast?  Grace and Becca are hosting a live show in D.C., and I’m thrilled to be one of their guests.  Just 9 tickets left!  Get yours for June 7th, at City Winery.

My hair does not hold a curl that well.  I can wave it with an iron, and 10-minutes after I step outside, it starts to unravel.  Add in humidity, and you can lower that number to 2-minutes.

Earlier this year, a hair dresser waved my hair with a 3/4-inch iron.  At first, I was like, “Whoa, girl.  I am not Shirley Temple, and this is not working for me.”  But when she told me that waving bigger sections with a smaller iron can help hold a curl, I was curious.  No surprise, the professional was right.

I bought this Hot Tools 3/4 inch iron, and it works like a dream.  Instead of 1″ sections, I roll 2-3″ sections, hold for 10 seconds, and then let cool.  Once cool, I spray with a flexible hold hairspray, and brush through with a round brush.  Then, I spray with a firm hold hairspray.  The look is wavy, voluminous, and fab.

“Why do you post so much booze to Pinterest?”

It sounded more like an accusation than a question.  But the truth is, I post gorgeous, tasty cocktails to my Libations board, because I dream of a life where I stroll into the backyard in a caftan and oversized sunglasses and pour cocktails for people.  It’s all my Joan Didion dreams come true, but with a taller husband.

So if you need a cocktail recipe, that’s the place to go.

Chafing.  It’s a thing.  Recently, I wore a pair of Nike shorts (buy these at Rack for the best prices) on a vigorous hike.  Little did I know that when your thighs rub together in the desert heat, you could start a brush fire.

God Bless, Mega Babe Thigh Rescue for relieving this unexpected hell.  If only I had had this product when I was commuting through D.C.’s hot, humid summers.  Soothing, smells nice, and keeps the fire danger to a minimum.

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So what are you loving this week?  Any recipes or podcasts your fellow readers need to try?  Did you find a new wonder product?  Leave the thoughts in the comments.

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