Sometimes it’s nice to just chat, right? It’s the end of the month (SCREAM how did that happen) and I’m feeling a chat day. It’s our February coffee date!
I’m drinking a Royal Tea Latte that I did not make at home because no matter how many times I ask at Sencha, they won’t tell me how they make it, which means that I am destined to continue to going there day after day, spending my money on this creamy miracle of a drink.
What are you drinking? Coffee? Matcha? Hot chocolate? Or maybe that yummy turmeric ginger tea from Trader Joe’s? Have you tried that?
Alright, coffee date. So here’s what’s up.
Eyelash Extensions
Help! I got eyelash extensions for the first time ever and now I am about to lose all my money. They are amazing.
Before / After:
Downsides:
- The actual appointment took forever. It seems really awesome to lay on your back, totally still, with your eyes closed for 2+ hours… until you actually try to lay on your back, totally still, with your eyes closed for 2+ hours at which time you realize HELLO THIS IS ACTUALLY KINDA HARD.
- It is the equivalent of throwing your money out the window. They are so expensive! The first installation (can I call it that?) was $250 and – oh, bummer – you have to get them filled every 2-3 weeks?!? for another $75?!? I mean, I like them and everything, but I have a hard enough time paying $50 for a haircut once every six months.
Upsides:
- You look like a queen.
- Wake up and go.
- Low maintenance.
- You look like a queen. (x2)
Have you had extensions? Do you know of an affordable place to keep up this new habit in the Twin Cities? Please spill.
Yoga, Kinda
I’ve been doing yoga lately! Except it’s not *real* yoga, it’s technically called “yoga inspired fitness.”
For about two months I’ve been using an app called Asana Rebel and I really love it. I am working my way through the 7 Week Full Body Toner set, which, for me, is basically a live set for creating a How-You-Think-You-Look-While-Doing-Yoga and How-You-Actually-Look-While-Doing-Yoga meme. But still. I like it. It’s a nice calming workout where I can a) usually break a mini-sweat, and b) be feel-good-sore the next day.
Highly recommend!
Do you guys use fitness apps?
Grocery Delivery
OMG! This is the future! Bjork and I have been using Instacart for almost a year now (both in personal life and also for the studio groceries), and I am not going to lie: it is one of my favorite things about my life right now.
We paid $100-ish for free delivery for one year. When I need groceries, I just put in an order on my phone, schedule delivery, and wait for it to arrive, usually in pajamas.
Things I’ve done with the time I saved by not going to the grocery store:
- Yoga
- Cleaned out fridge
- Laundry
- Walked Sage
- Worked
- Read a book
- Watched TV
- Painted my nails
- WHATEVER THE HECK I WANT
We tip our drivers, usually 10%, so in that sense, it costs more than if we didn’t do delivery. Also a bummer – shoppers seem to REALLY struggle with finding certain things such as orange sweet potatoes. Come on, guys. But, on the other hand, I’m not impulse-buying a few throw pillows during my grocery runs (thank you very much, Target) which means maybe we’re saving money in some weird way.
I still love to peruse the grocery store in person from time to time to get excited about food and recipes, but when I do, it’s not in a frenzy to get 101 groceries, and that feels really nice.
Grocery delivery – yay or nay?
Seasonal Sads
Here in Minnesota we are hitting that point in the year that really brings out the Seasonal Sads for a lot of people. Did you know this is actually a thing? Seasonal Affective Disorder. For me, motivation is low, anticipation of warm weather is high, and general feeling as we wait for the seasons to change is meh.
It’s funny, because I love Minnesota, and I love snow, but February is about the time when my winter love dries up. A person can only take so many cloudy, cold days before needing an actual warmth lamp blasting on their face. Wait, isn’t that a thing? I can’t remember what they’re called but… do I need one? Can someone talk to me about this?
I’d love your thoughts on this. What do you guys do to work your way out of those wintery sad feelings?
Speaking Of Sad
The school shooting. It’s too much. I hesitated to even mention it because it’s so heavy. But I don’t think silence honors their lives.
I have vaguely followed the news, most specifically and importantly, the list of those who lost their lives in this tragedy. I am supporting Everytown for Gun Safety, because as a nation I feel strongly we need to see a move towards more common sense safety laws. I’m also excited about what’s happening with the students at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School as they rise up and make their voices heard. So there is hope, always. But I hate that it’s in the context of something so heavy and sad.
To the families and friends of everyone effected – I’m so, so sorry. Our hearts are with you.
As I’ve been processing this heartbreak, I found this article insightful (Brene’s whole book, actually, as it relates to agreeing and disagreeing on polarizing issues), and this one, too. But articles and books can only help so much when the loss is this significant.
How do you all process the news when it is so devastating?
That’s all. From the fluff to the hard things. This is what I would talk about if we were actually on a coffee date, so that’s what’s here. The real stuff.
Before we go, one more thing. You know what? You are doing a really good job. I know sometimes it feels hard. But you’re doing it, one day at a time. Keep it up. ♡
Sage would like to look deep into your eyes to let you know that she’s cheering you on.
I LOVE Asana Rebel! I use it almost everyday and it helped get me into wedding shape before my wedding last month! XO
Hi Lindsay,
I LOVE Instacart, too. I have now been a member for 2+ years, and it is $100 of heaven that I am purchasing every year, I feel. And, not sure if this works for you in the Twin Cities (I am in LA, CA), but Amazon PrimeNOW will also deliver lots of groceries for you, too, for little to no delivery charge (although there’s a minimum per order). You have to be an Amazon Prime member, and you have to use the app on your phone, but it also rocks!
Here are the things that I have more time for because of not grocery shopping:
1. sleeping
2. taking my dog to the dog park
3. meeting up with friends for a drink
4. catching up on “The Crown” and other shows…
5. reading
6. cooking and baking (losing the grocery shopping-time cuts out A TON of the time spent on cooking for myself–IRONIC).
I wanted to say thank you for acknowledging the events in Florida. I am a teacher, and we have all been walking around for the past month worried and stressed about this tragedy and the aftermath. There are no easy answers here, and very little comfort in the meaningless sacrifice of lives where there should be “safe” spaces–schools, churches, parks, etc. I think we all have to make sacrifices for our communities to be free from gun violence. I hope that more people are realizing that as we continue to process tragedies such as these. Hopefully, it will not take another one before change happens.
Hope March has brought more sunshine–I am behind on my blog reading, but I always try to catch up on Pinch of Yum when I have the chance!
I just love this blog it’s always really interesting and have some really unique ideas about things. I love Coffee, so that got my attention right away and my favorite place to buy coffee is Starbucks. I literally go to Starbucks 5-6 days out of the week! Keep up the really great blogs I really enjoy reading.
Welll, I’ve been thinking about those heat lamps. Interesting to read what others say. Maybe I’ll try it! Still cold here and its March. Aren’t we supposed to get gentle warm winds?
I was excited to try Instacart today after reading your blog. I ordered early in AM and was notified groceries would be delivered by 3PM. I was charged $80 for $50 of food and received notification my food had been delivered at 1:51PM… but it never was. I contacted Instacart. They could not get a hold of the driver. They suggested I try again… I will not.
Ahhh I hear you about the SADS! I live in British Columbia in the Okanagan Valley.. and so we get a TON of overcast, grey days in the winter. Usually we only have snow from around Christmas until February, but this year it’s been suuuuper long. We’ve had snow on the ground consistently since November.. and it’s now March. Thankfully – this year my future hubby took me away to California last week so I got to see some sun and feel some warmth, but typically I will try and head up into the mountains to a local ski resort, since it sits above the clouds. I snowboard, terribly, but doing that or snowshoeing up above the clouds to get some of that lovely vitamin D for a day really helps. If I can’t get up there, then I usually curl up with a book or a good movie on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate (marshmallows included) and read or watch something cheery.
ALSO – eyelash extensions.. the best. I started getting mine about a month ago and while I haaate spending so much on them – I love them. I wanted to try them out (since I’m getting married in June and wanted them for that) and I’ll probably keep it up until after the wedding and then let them go.. sad. Haha. Just not an expense I can afford to keep up with!
Grocery delivery is a 110% YES!!! I’ve been using Amazon Now for the past half year and it’s life-changing. Delivery is free if I order over $50, and I have to add a 10% tip as well, but I feel that saving a couple hours and stress each week going to the store is 100% worth it!
Love grocery delivery. I didn’t set foot in a grocery store in more than 3 years. I have 2 grocery chains that deliver in my neighborhood so I have great choice. I shop from their weekly flyers and get everything deliver to my door.
Lindsay I just really hope someday they can come up with permanent lash extensions. I’d pay $250 for that, for life. LOL. As for the seasonal sads… I just get as much fresh air as possible. Even if it’s cold fresh air. And I look up pictures of puppies. Also, I totally treated myself to some of this Seaweed Bath Co. lavender bath salt: https://www.target.com/p/the-seaweed-bath-co-lavender-powder-bath-16-8-oz/-/A-51061354. It made me feel awesome.
I was getting my car serviced when I saw that shooting on the news, and I just remember sitting there gaping at the TV. So, so heavy. Our fire alarm went off at work the next day, and it was just a false alarm… but the first thing that popped in my head was the shooting.
Anyway, thank you for always bringing up the hard stuff in such an authentic way. Love your coffee date posts. Keep being awesome!
This is what carried me through the day today: You are doing a really good job. I know sometimes it feels hard. But you’re doing it, one day at a time. Keep it up. ♡
Thanks so much, it’s exactly what this first grade teacher needed to hear 3 weeks before spring break.
Also…
1. R+F Lash Boost is the best answer for your lashes. Hands down. Check it out.
2. RX for SAD in MN= Vitamin D lamp (whether it’s real or placebo, I don’t care) plus getting outside in the cold. Running, skiing, skating, whatever.
3. #armmewith is an awesome movement by teachers, about what teachers REALLY need to combat violence in our classrooms. Solidarity helps in times like this.
Thanks for lifting us up! XO
This may have already been mentioned but have you looked into Rodan + Fields Lash Boost? It’s not cheap but boy does it deliver on the longer lashes. I had to cut back using it to only twice a week (instead of the recommended nightly application) because my lashes got too long. I’m a slightly past middle age mom and it looked like I was trying too hard 🙂
I just want to say that I really love the tone of every post you write on your blog. It’s personal and funny and honest. Love your blog!!
I grew up in seattle, lived in Minnesota for 10 years before moving back and I use a Happy Light that I found on Amazon. I keep it on my desk at work and for my first 20 minutes in the morning I have it cranked on while I catch up on email and stuff!! It’s made a huge HUGE difference.
Hi Lindsay,
I’ve been getting lash extension for over 3 years now and can’t quit them! I go to Beth @ Fringe Benefits, she works out of her home in Minnetonka. She has a sliding price scale, depending on how many weeks in between fills. I usually get fills every 3 weeks for $65 and am out of there under an hour. Hope this helps 🙂
Hi Lindsay,
I did the lash e xensions but the time and expense just weren’t worth it for. Especially since the lashes would fall out in between the upkeep appointments. Then I’d look really silly with half long and short eyelashes.
Recently I have tried Rodan+Fields eye lash boost. Amazing! It took probably 45 days before I noticed a difference, but now I’m really pleased with long length…I use just a bit of mascara is needed. So I’m hooked!
Love your coffee chat! Your welcome to come visit California if you need a break from the cold:). Love a fellow blogger, betty
You need to schedule a yearly February visit to Tucson! Endless blue skies, cool temps (55 for us is COLD), and a UNESCO-designated World City of Gastronomy. What more do you need to banish the SADs??
Did Sage get eyelash extensions too?!? $250? No way José.
No SAD here in Mexico, 60-80º year round. But I paid my dues in Rochester NY for 40 years!
Sencha’s Royal Tea Latte is my absolute favorite…I hope you figure out a copycat recipe 🙂
I’m a huge fan of your blog and recipes!
Sometimes, you just need those Starbucks coffee days and wallow around in resting up and turning off the TV , phone, internet, and ignoring everyone and snuggle up with your spouse. Those days + coffee are mentally and emotionally relaxing.
Yep. My SADs hits in February as well. It’s usually semi-sunny where I live until Feb and then it’s grey and gross and I wind up with crushing insomnia.
Vitamin D pills and forcing myself outside helps. 10000% making sure I’m out seeing friends/doing things even if I don’t feel like it at the time makes the BIGGEST difference.
I also just got a sunlamp because those are supposed to help with SADs and keeping your circadian rhythm in check. This year my insomnia has been almost non existent compared to last year!
Also take a trip in March to somewhere sunny hahah
What a great idea, Lindsay! Coffee Date!
1. I don’t wear makeup but I could really use lash extensions (yours are beautiful!!)! TMM for me! (Too Much Money to expend on a regular basis for proper upkeep).
2. I’ve been wanting to start yoga for strength and weight loss. Thanks for the app idea! I don’t currently use fitness apps (but will be…) but I do use an app to help me fall asleep at night. It is called “Relax Melodies” by IPNOS. It has 100+ sounds (I bought the lifetime subscription for $19.99 to capture updates and new sounds–totally worth all the good night sleeps I’ve had ever since!!) that you can select and combine for a unique sound that helps bring you peace as you are going to sleep; and it has meditations you can choose from. So the sounds and meditations combined are what makes this app so cool for me. The sounds also include “isochronic tones” or “binaural beats” that you can combine with your choice of sounds. By the time I am 85% of the way through a mediation (laying in bed), I am asleep.
3. We have seasonal sads in Seattle too but ours are about constant rain, dark clouds, and chilly weather for 9 months out of the year. What do we do about the sads? Eddie plays the guitar and I play drums and keyboards so we try to do more of that together and not isolate ourselves. We try to go out to dinner with friends more often and go out riding our quads with friends too. We also project out into the future about the beautiful, sunny, warm weather we will experience when we move away from WA State to NV when I retire from my job soon! It helps to know that sunny 75 degree days are ahead for 9 months out of the year with super hot weather 3 months out of the year (we will stay indoors in the summer and play music)! Also, the thought of NO rain (well, 9″ a year) sounds wonderful! BTW, LOVE the pic of Sage on the chair!
4. I used to teach 4th and 5th grade in the late 70’s/early 80’s! I can’t even imagine what the students, teachers, and parents are going through with every one of the school shootings that have occurred over the last too many years. The “only” thing we had to deal with back when I taught school was the occasional student sassing the teachers! My heart goes out to all of my tragically affected fellow Americans. Resolution is needed in meaningful ways…NOW!
Thank you for ending the Coffee Date with such a WONDERFUL picture of you, Sage, and Bjork! Your family is always welcome in our home whether it be by Coffee Date or if you happen to be visiting Seattle (and soon to be Nevada)!
Kitty
I grew up in upstate NY. My mother always forced bulbs (usually paperwhites) during the Jan-Mar period, as well as forsythia later on (she’d cut it when it was just turning green, and the branches would bloom in the house).
Hi. Not to rub it in, but spring has sprung in North Texas. I moved from Minneapolis to Texas almost 25 years ago and must admit one of the things I love the most is the early spring here. The asparagus is popping up in my garden. I just started AmazonFresh grocery delivery and love it. I recently wrote about it on my blog. And finally, thank you for supporting Everytown for Gun Safety. I am walking in the March for Our Lives in Denton, TX on March 24. I, too, am for sensible gun safety laws. Loved chatting with you on our coffee date. Bye!
Loved “having coffee” with you this morning. I, too, am staying vaguely aware of the shootings…I know that if I get too involved, I will get sucked into the deep vortex. ‘Cause that’s what I do. My OWN life is a challenge and to spend a lot of time concentrating on what has happened to these poor kids…well, there’s nothing I can do but pray for them and their families. In the meantime, we just have to go on and deal with our own messes and thank God we have another day to have our messes.
Love your eyelash extensions! I’d have a really hard time with the 2 hour thing. Oh, and the $200+!! But they do look amazing!!
Give Sage a smush (that would be burying your face in his furry neck) for me and tell him thanks for the encouragement. I needed someone to tell me I was doing good and appreciate his loving looks! 🙂
I love the Coffee Date!! Austin, TX is having a super yucky January/February too … we are usually sunny and getting warm by now! Can’t wait for your next Coffee Date!
What?! I was thinking Austin would be a good place for a getaway from this weather! lol!