Weekend Reads #223
Weekend Reads
Young women broke hard for Democrats in the midterms. (The Hill)
You might go through hell for your post-Ozempic body. (The Cut)
Thousands were released from prison during covid. The results are shocking. (Washington Post – gift article)
Growing old online. (Wired)
Cancel culture may not exist, but canceled culture does. (Ijeoma Oluo: Behind the Book)
Carrying out executions took a secret toll on workers — then changed their politics. (NPR)
How to reduce food waste at Thanksgiving dinner. (Washington Post – gift article)
Wasted food, hungry Americans – is donating surplus produce a solution? (The Guardian)
I'm wearing tunics now. (McSweeney's)
Shein’s new resale program won’t make it any more sustainable. (Vogue Business)
At 75, Judy Woodruff, “the last grown-up in Washington journalism” prepares to sign off after nearly a decade as an anchor of “PBS NewsHour.” (New York Times – gift article)
Jennifer Aniston has nothing to hide. (Allure)
The Velveteen Rabbit was always more than a children's book. (Vulture)
I think the butter board may have broken me. (Food & Wine)
She has 13 cats in a two-bedroom condo. Here’s her litter-box advice. (Washington Post – gift article)
H&M facing another lawsuit over “misleading” marketing of “Conscious” collection. (The Fashion Law)
It's never too late to write that novel. (Ladyparts)
The ugly story of how corporate America convinced us to spend so much on water. (Vox)
It could be Millennials vs. Gen X. Or it could be you. (New York Times – gift article)
Hosting Thanksgiving has inspired us to look at our home with fresh eyes and update some parts of it. One of the easiest ways is thanks to my sister's recommendation: plug-in dimmers. I never considered these before, but essentially you plug any light into this and then use the dimmer tool instead of the lamp switch to turn on, off, and control brightness. It has made the house cozier and given me more creative freedom with lights. For example, I moved a little lamp to the dining room to gently brighten a dark corner. If like me you never thought about such gadgets, they're also very reasonably priced (I got this exact two-pack for around $20).
The Best Sales This Weekend
We're in the time of year where REALLY GOOD sales are happening, and with it no longer being Black Friday/Cyber Monday and now Black Friday Week/Cyber Week a lot of the REALLY GOOD sales are this weekend. The ones that caught my eye:
- Banana Republic Factory is one of my favorite factory stores because the quality is quite good, the fit is consistent, the style is classic yet elevated. And this weekend they have 60% off EVERYTHING. Men, women, baby, and gifts and free shipping on orders $50+! I am eyeing this $52 dress which could dress up or down for work, for cocktail… and it's machine washable. And this $40 alpaca Fair Isle sweater is stunning
- As I mentioned in yesterday's blog post, Colleen Rothschild Beauty is offering 30% off sitewide with promo code BF22. Visit yesterday's post for my recommendations of one of my favorite skincare brands!
- Credo Beauty, the best destination on the web for clean beauty, is offering a fantastic 21-piece clean beauty bundle with $290 with every purchase of $175+. This sale ends Sunday, and FYI Credo Beauty carries brands like Jones Road, Westman Atelier, Ilia, RMS, and more.
- Dirty Labs, my favorite eco-friendly laundry detergent just came out with dish soap and to celebrate, they are offering 30% off sitewide with promo code GIVINGTHANKS.
- Equilibria, my favorite CBD company (woman-owned, organic, high quality) is offering 35% off sitewide this weekend only with my promo code WARDROBEOXYGEN. I'm pretty sure this is for new and existing customers, if you use this code report back and let me know.
- Girlfriend Collective has up to 70% off everything at this link. While known for their size-inclusive activewear, Girlfriend Collective also carries bags, hair accessories, and some athleisure.
- J. Crew has 50% off your purchase with promo code SHOPEARLY. J. Crew has a lot of really nice holiday plaid pieces that could make for great looks this season and many years to come and check out their Fair Isle sweaters; this one during the sale is under $50 and comes in three colors up to 3X.
- LUS Brands, my choice of products to manage my curly hair (read my LUS Brands review) has up to 35% off. If you have been curious about this brand, their three-step system (the system I use) is 30% off. I am not sure if it works with this sale, but I have promo code WARDROBE10 for an extra 10% off, be sure to try it at checkout and report back if it was successful for you!
- Madewell started Black Friday early with 40% off sitewide with promo code OHJOY.
- Summersalt is known for swimwear in a nice range of sizes, but they also have fantastic casual apparel and outerwear. I type this wearing their French Terry Joggers which come in 10 colors and up to size XXL (I'm usually a 14 and wearing L). They are offering 30% off sitewide with promo code THANKFUL. On top of that, Summersalt is offering an extra $15 off if you buy 2+ French Terry pieces, $10 off each sweater you buy, and $15 off each piece of outerwear.
- Urban Outfitters, my favorite store when I was a teen and now the favorite store of my teen, is offering an extra 20% off orders of $100+ with promo code LTK20. Carrying brands like Levi's, Adidas, and Free People you may also find gifts for other folks on your list. They also have a gift department, where I have in past years found great stocking stuffers and quirky presents unable to find elsewhere.
And having this separate because I know so many of you are fans… Universal Standard is having their PRISM sale with their iconic t-shirts on sale PLUS I HAVE A PROMO CODE!!! Promo code INFS-ALISON10 will give you an extra 10% off not just this weekend, but through December 5th! WOOOO!
Hear/See/Read
If you are already thinking about New Year's resolutions, or are looking for a book gift, you may wish to consider Breath: The New Science of an Old Art by James Nestor. I recently finished the audiobook and am considering the paper copy so I can reference it over and over and possibly gifting it to other folks.
James Nestor dealt with chronic nasal congestion and sleep apnea. Looking for a solution, he ended up going on a journey learning about how the breath and how we breathe can affect far more than seasonal allergies and our sleep. He shares many of these theories and methods in this book, from simple to complex, recommended by doctors to concepts from those ostracized from medical and dental communities.
Just because it's in the book doesn't mean it's the best decision for all. One of the methods shared had me go down a research rabbit hole. I originally wondered if it was a good choice for me and after a half-hour with Google, I was questioning its inclusion in the book and wondered if I should continue reading. I'm glad I did, it became more clear that Nestor wasn't preaching what to do, but more what is possible.
The point of Nestor's book is not for everyone to take on all of these methods, but to show how we may have a very narrow concept of what it means to breathe, and how our breath can affect so many aspects of our physical and mental health as well as our appearance, sleep, and temperature tolerance. This isn't a replacement for modern medicine, but an addition, some food for thought. Breath: The New Science of an Old Art isn't mouth-dropping info; if you read it you'll find it keep your mouth closed unless speaking info!
So what have I've been watching? We've started the new season of The White Lotus (intriguing but not as fun as the first season), the new season of Yellowstone (The Duttons become the Trumps and I am not ready to discuss it), and my guilty pleasure, The Real Housewives of Potomac (how can I resist a reality show taking place virtually in my backyard where I often recognize where they eat, where they go, and who they hang out with?).
My daughter is going through every episode of Gilmore Girls, a show I never watched when it was originally on but I knew the general idea and cast of characters. She is halfway through Season 4 and I end up catching an episode or a portion of one to have a general idea of what's going on (we're at the return of Jess). All of the characters are self-absorbed and exhausting but it's interesting to see who my daughter thinks is the worst (at first she admired Rory but now is so annoyed by her) and who I do (Lorelai by far, and I'm now an age where I understand Emily).
The only good thing about this show is Melissa McCarthy as Sookie. Why did it take so long for her to gain worldwide fame after this episode? She is the bright spot of this cast, funny and sweet and utterly gorgeous even though they gave her the worst hair and wardrobe. Oh yeah, Hollywood fears larger bodies, and was positively terrified and disgusted by them 20 years ago. This show is a seven-season study in Pretty Privilege. If you want quick and witty banter, instead check out The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel which is also an Amy Sherman-Palladino production, but with far better fashion, acting, and decor. Even the last season of Mrs. Maisel is better than any Gilmore Girls episode.
I saw the Lindsay Lohan Christmas-themed movie on Netflix (I'm not the right generation to feel a lot for LiLo so I found it mediocre; those younger may love it). Wealthy woman gets amnesia, charming non-wealthy person takes her in, she gets back her memory and with it and new outlook on life. The best thing about the film was seeing Jack Wagner play her dad.
And it may have taken two weekends to get through it, but I saw RRR and it was one of the best films I have seen in my entire life.
RRR (which stands for Rise, Roar, Revolt) is an Indian Telugu-language film that came out in March of this year and became a megahit. Now available on Netflix, it's offered with a range of subtitles and dubbing so more of us can experience it. And even though it's just over three hours in length, it's worth your time. It's okay to break it down into smaller segments; you will want to come back and find out what happens next.
The movie is about two real-life Indian revolutionaries, but this exact story is complete fiction and fantasy. Director and co-writer S.S. Rajamouli came across the stories of these two historical individuals and dreamed up what would have happened if they met and became besties. If that doesn't sound appealing, please understand this is the most vibrant film that will make this bromance positively riveting.
These two strong yet sensitive men who look phenomenal without shirts defy reality with their battle skills while being charming, loyal, and kind. CGI is used in the best way to make fantastical moments, especially with animals. It can occasionally be violent, but that violence is tempered with… musical numbers! Dance scenes! And a powerful story of loyalty, honor, and good vs. evil. Loved this film.
For Your Entertainment
For those who were raised on rock & roll and wonder where this genre is in 2022… check out Dorothy, a Los Angeles band that formed in 2014. Led by singer Dorothy Martin, Dorothy is badass rock that feels classic yet modern and their latest release, “Black Sheep” will have you banging your head.
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I loved Gilmore Girls when it was first on and looping reruns kept me company through many a house painting day. But no longer — I just can’t with Lorelai and Rory anymore now. However, none of my sympathy transferred to Emily or Richard! I think they are in the wrong most of the time. (Probably because I have somewhat authoritarian parents and a rebellious brother they drove away.)
Not enjoying Yellowstone this season. Darker and less entertaining IMO. So many shows only have one or two good seasons.
The McSweeney’s tunic article is hilarious. Lots of truth there, though.
Thank you for the Universal Standard discount code! So excited that it works even with the sale items!
I completely agree with your Gilmore Girls analysis. I never liked it; I never liked FRIENDS either for kinda similar reasons (even though the shows are different, obvi 🙂 ).
I spent 9 months on Ozempic, from Oct. ’21 to July ’22. I was really, really lucky to have no side effects apart from some light constipation which was alleviated by taking metamucil. I lost 40 lbs (~15-20% of my body weight), and as someone with PCOS who can diet and exercise and watch the scale still go up, it was incredibly affirming.
I stopped Ozempic because I wanted to try to conceive, and I can definitely attribute that the weightloss helped my fertility break through my PCOS and I got pregnant my second month off the drug.
It’s not a miracle drug, but it did significantly impact my life for the better.
Some real big hitting reads this weekend. Thank-you for helping to clear my brain of the superficial and replace it with some thought-provoking articles.
I’m so happy that I’m not the only person who doesn’t like The Gilmore Girls. I was beginning to feel like something was wrong with me!
I love your Weekend Reads, thank you! I also love Lus, so great for fine wavy and curly hair. I think your link to Lus Hair might be broken? I tried to access the site to buy and got “an error occurred.”
I am having the same problem with the LUS link – I even went to Alison’s link page and that link is broken too. :/
I am so sorry about that! Here’s the link and the post has been updated: https://glnk.io/r5o54/wardrobe-oxygen
Loved this article & all the good info in it. Will be gifting several of theses books this holiday season. Thank you for all the research on & insightful opinions on our behalf.
Thanks for so many good things to think about. I really appreciate the gift articles.
Yah, Gilmore Girls. After a while I just want them to quit talking.
Thank you for this post loaded with information and great ideas! You are amazing and I appreciate you!!
Loved the piece on Judy Woodruff — such an amazing professional, whom I will miss seeing every evening. She was a calm voice of reason and objectivity, plus, as the article mentioned, such a good listener. Ask a question, get an answer, mull it over and respond thoughtfully.
I’ve been on Rybelsus, another form on semaglutide like Ozempic for a year and a half with a couple of short breaks.. I can attest to some of the misery of side effects. I was too sick to enjoy a weekend destination wedding last year. These effects have now gone away and much of the appetite suppression and glucose control remains. I lost 60 pounds, more than 35% of my body weight. When I went off the meds, I gained weight even though I was still eating very little. Now I seem to have leveled off at a point fifteen pounds higher than I’d prefer, but I’ll take it after thirty years of trying to starve myself.
This is a serious drug and probably shouldn’t be used by someone looking to lose those ten stubborn pounds, or to reach an unrealistic goal. It can mess with your pancreas and other systems. Still, for treating glucose intolerance, borderline diabetes and PCOS it’s tremendously effective for some.
What I hate is seeing the celebrity surge making this seem like a miracle drug. It’s already hard enough to obtain, to pay for, and to find a medical professional who is thoroughly familiar with its use. This is NOT the new miracle three-day detox diet. If you need it, investigate thoroughly.
Weekend Reads makes me so happy! My time off for Thanksgiving starts now, so I’m excited to delve into these articles over the next few days—thank you for continuing to share WR with us. Gilmore Girls was never on my radar either when it was out, but for some reason, I decided to watch it on Netflix a few years ago. It seemed funny & witty at first, plus the little town was pretty to look at. I agree with you, though—Sookie was the best character & it’s sad that Hollywood wouldn’t let Melissa McCarthy shine there. The mom & daughter—ugh—so spoiled & full of themselves. My younger self might have enjoyed all of it, especially if it was parceled out over seasons, rather than binging it. I’ve never seen Mrs. Maisel, so I need to give that a try. Hope you & your family & friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving!