friday cool/dumb shit: antho 1
this is a little bit of lazy content but potentially still valuable
I’m on a bit of a self-imposed spending hiatus. And by “a bit,” I mean a very little bit, like maybe I’m just avoiding Old Navy sales and Amazon wishlists. I obviously still go for my almost daily latte so “spending hiatus” is pushing it but whatever.
So anyway my so-called spending hiatus means I haven’t bought anything worth adding to cool/dumb shit lately, plus I’m in a weird mental place and only listening to spy novels vs. reading interesting substack subscriptions or otherwise enriching my brain with interesting podcasts or intellectual New Yorker articles. All of this together gave me the idea to compile everything on these lists into one big categorized list once in a while, and v10 seems like a nice interval. So here you have it, the listicle of listicles, an anthology. Snarky commentary on each item removed and/or edited for brevity, which, lol on brevity here. Brief, I am not.
Before I get to the giant listicle, I need something from you! If you read or purchased anything that I’ve posted over the past 10ish weeks, I would love for you to drop it in the comments so I can get some feedback! AND/OR take this poll and tell me: do you like this series? Do you hate it? Is it the most mediocre thing ever? Votes are private, so say what you need to say!
If you clicked “I have a suggestion,” send me an email snarkysara@substack.com or feel free to share it publicly in the comments if you’re comfortable. This IS a safe space! Though anyone being a dick will be deleted, duh.
Ok AND NOW:
It’s 53 things to read, listen to, buy, or do, which are either cool, dumb, or both! How delightful!
read: articles + substacks
The trap of “too much,” by Emma Gannon
“Main Character Energy” thread on Emma Gannon’s Substack
21 Completely Subjective Rules for Raising Teenage Boys, on Cup of Jo
Why the Mental Health of Liberal Girls Sank First and Fastest, from After Babel Substack
You Deserve to Feel Fine About Your Pelvic Floor, from Evil Witches substack
Mind Body Brand substack, for entrepreneurial rest and wellness
Epiphany in the Baby Food Aisle, an excerpt from I’ll Show Myself Out by Jessi Klein, on The Cut
10 ways to avoid Mother’s Day disappointment, from Evil Witches substack. Not relevant at the current moment, but still a funny and important read.
15 great reader comments on parenting, from Cup of Jo, and more awesome reader comments on parenting
If the AMPTP Wants to Replace Comedy Writers with AI, They Have to Start Bullying AI Now, While It's Young; from one of my fav Substacks, The Grudge Report
This article on not being a mom was fantastic
Less anxious parenting, from the New Yorker
Swimply, and the Public/Private Pool Divide, from Dwell
Me Without You, from Things Worth Knowing with Farrah Storr on Substack
listen + watch: podcasts, videos
Elevenses, the podcast. My favorite daily listen.
The Gray Area podcast episode Poetry as Religion, on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify
Reflections on trauma and dealing with it, in a generic context and then interesting story on trying to publish a book Listen to episodes 159, 160, and 161 in order; from the You’re Welcome podcast, with Hilary Rushford
A very cool short story reading from a friend. Watch or just listen on Youtube.
Duped podcast, on small business and business coaching scams
Sold A Story podcast / apple / spotify about how we teach reading to children here in America
Very fun video of a checkered wall paint project, and my tiny experiment with the method.
Ted Lasso, season 3, episode 6 in particular
more to read: but books this time
Living Over Existing, by Alisha Robertson, friend, former business coach, entrepreneur encouraging us all to take rest. Preorder at that link, releasing towards end of summer.
The Success Myth by Emma Gannon. I just received my copy, can’t wait to read it.
A Very Gay Book, by my favorite internet gays and muralists
consume: for girls, mostly
that is, stuff to buy but probably only if you do or buy things traditionally associated, however incorrectly or stereotypically, with girls: makeup, clothes (I wear women’s clothes, so yeah haven’t posted any men’s items), accessories, etc.
Press-on nails from Olive + June and Chill Tips // get them in Raleigh
Neck thing! I confirmed with my chiropractor that I am not messing up my neck by using it! She said I could continue using it as long as it continues to feel good. But as usual with medical related stuff, ask your own trusted professionals ok?? like, duh.
Boxy linen t-shirt for summer
Tiny “fuck” stud earrings. Also they now have “queer,” which is cute for the last day of Pride month!
Wrist towel scrunchies, to make face washing feel v bougie.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta daily peel, probably the most impactful skincare item I use.
Headband in the shape of sunglasses only it’s not sunglasses. When I posted these, I hadn’t received mine yet and I can confirm: they are…ok. I have a small head and they don’t come in different sizes so they don’t work great for me unless my hair is down, curly, and like, very fluffy from humidity. Otherwise I give it a solid mediocre. If you don’t have a child-sized head, you might love them.
Makeup remover cloths: the smaller name brand ones, and these bigger, cheaper Amazon knockoffs
Spray tans, because I’m new. Raleigh locals try Oak City Sunless, h/t my friend Jordan for this rec!
Fun lip jelly mask thing that I use daily before bed. You haven’t lived if you haven’t applied lip stuff with a tiny lip-sized spatula.
Really great after-shower wet lotion, which I still hardly every remember to use on wet skin, but I still like it even after I’m dry.
consume: for anyone, mostly
this list is for everyone, though as I already said, even the “girly” stuff can be for everyone and anyone, I’m just trying to categorize things the most logical-to-me manner.
Aspirational bookshelf lamp, for when I can have nice things again. What age do my kids have to be to do that? 25?
Pelvic floor band and exercises. Posting this here because even though pelvic floor health is talked about mostly in the context of pregnancy and child birth, did you know that men have the *exact same* pelvic floor muscles as women, so YOU DO YOU, BOO.
Inkbox tats, to practice before the real thing
Something to send to new parents, or anyone who might need a pick-me-up
Overtone colored conditioners; and an apology because I found this in two different editions and I want to promise never to have dupes!
apps + follows
only the good stuff, obviously.
Voxer, for chatting asynchronously with friends. After I posted this one, I started a new chat with an old friend, and it is lovely!
Tall Tale App (an insta account, for now), “storytime reimagined,” a creation from a fellow Hokie that looks like a very cool and practical use of AI.
other?
I hate “other” as a category but the last few items don’t fit nicely into the above sections and there are too few of them to justify anything else. So, here’s the end:
Aspirational greek villa
Really cute house in Edenton, NC on Airbnb
A dress from an unexpected place: Walgreens! There’s no link, just a lesson: you can get cute shit anywhere?? Don’t discount bodega clothing??? idk. Pic below!
Coffee with friends, on a weekday: underrated. Used to assume I could never, that no one would ever be available. Don’t assume! Ask! It’s enriched my life.
Bonus: this one wasn’t in a previous version, but I want to suggest coworking with friends. Not everyone’s job will be conducive to this (perhaps very few people’s jobs) but: if you work from home and could feasibly leave your house with your laptop for some period of time, don’t assume no one could join you - ask! Meet up for an hour or two, do your own thing, chit chat a tiny bit, insert fun into the work day.
fin
What a list, y’all. I do feel just a tiny bit of pride that a LOT of this list was articles and interesting things to read. I’m like, so intellectual and stuff!
Hopefully everyone has a safe and fun weekend for Independence Day. It’s not my favorite holiday and I don’t love fireworks, nor will I be at the beach or on a boat, but I do hope to have a popsicle and a good night’s rest, maybe some grilled meat and potato product. One can hope!
Since July 4th is next Tuesday, Tuesday Memoirs are on hold until the following week. You can go back and read the last one, a rant about father’s day, if you’d like.
kbye!
