Issue #63: February 2025 Favorites
A wellness scammer, a wild true crime story & a pre-spring clean activity
We are experiencing Fool’s Spring in Seattle, but I love it. Sixty degrees in February with the sun out is a welcome sight, even if it will be ripped away from us again with a rain cloud any minute. I am adding extra blocks to every dog walk to soak in the sun. I don’t want winter to be over quite yet since we have a ski trip in March, but more sunshine and warmer temps in Seattle are just fine.
February was a good month to hibernate whenever possible. There were a lot of pre-9 PM bedtimes with the sun setting in the late afternoon. Those days are coming to an end soon, so hopefully, I got a good amount of rest. I cannot wait to get back outside for more daylight and fresh air.
So, let’s dive into my favorites from the last month. Let these suggestions inspire you to watch or read something new. Enjoy those last few weeks of cooler temps and longer nights before spring arrives in full force.
📚 The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
When I started this book, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it. There were a lot of characters, plus the main character has three different names. But once I got about 1/3 of the way in, I was hooked and loved the character development. It felt like Daisy Jones and the Six, with the jumping around on perspectives.
Cate Kay is an author of a wildly successful book, and no one knows who it really is. The story follows her backstory and how everything unfolds to expose her in the end. It’s a great book if you’ve been a little stuck (like me), but don’t give up too early.
Grab a copy here and support your local bookstore (or grab a Kindle copy here).
🧥 A New Day Loungewear
Hear me out. I’m not a fan of buying cheap stuff that falls apart within a month, but I will never tell you that you need pajamas that cost $400. Target’s A New Day line has some lounge sets that are among the most comfortable I’ve ever owned. It’s possible that I’ve worn them multiple days in a row, and I have no regrets.
Here is the sweatshirt I bought, and here are the shorts.
🥬 Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar
If you watch Real Housewives of OC, you’ve seen a storyline about someone faking cancer, but this series was wild. Apple Cider Vinegar is based on a real story of an Australian wellness influencer claiming to beat stage 4 cancer using unconventional measures. There are six episodes, and the storyline jumps all over the place, but it’s interesting to see how this plays out. With RFK Jr joining the cabinet, I feel like there have already been some wild claims about healthcare, and this was a good reminder of how some of these things get attention and can be incredibly dangerous.
🥪 Ayoh Sando Sauces
I have been a Molly Baz fan for a while. I reviewed her cookbook last year here and loved it. She built the most beautiful house and recently moved in, only to lose it in the Altadena fires in January. With her resources and contacts, she worked at putting together a community pantry to help residents restock their pantries. I remembered seeing her share a release of her own mayo line and immediately purchased the whole set. I love supporting a small business that supports others. Now that I’ve tried them, I can say that they have improved my sandwich game (especially the dill pickle mayo).
Order some for your sandwiches. I recommend the full four-pack to try each option before committing to just one flavor. Grab a copy of her cookbook, too.
👨🏼🦰 The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of Southern Dynasty by Valerie Bauerlein
If you love true crime, I’m sure you’ve already consumed all kinds of content about the Murdaugh family. There have been podcasts and TV shows, but this book was worth reading. Bauerlein perfectly laid out the history of this family in South Carolina and all the strange incidents that have surrounded them over the generations. The book takes you all the way through the courtroom drama and is so interesting and well-organized. Highly recommend it.
Grab a copy here and support your local bookstore (or grab a Kindle copy here).
🛋️ Rearranging Furniture
Soon, you’ll be seeing spring cleaning content everywhere. I love a fresh start with the season. I highly recommend doing a furniture rearrangement if you’re craving a change. We moved our living room around last Sunday, and it felt wonderful. This is probably our 4th layout of the main floor of the townhome since we moved in two years ago, and it might be my favorite yet.
🎭 SNL 50th Anniversary Content
Sunday mornings in the winter are usually reserved for SNL, and there have been some boring episodes, but there’s always enough to keep us coming back. I think that’s what is special about this show and made it so long-lasting. A lot of content was produced for the 50th anniversary, and we loved it. Peacock had four documentaries, each covering a different part of the show. They did an entire behind-the-scenes on the More Cowbell skit, which was fascinating. You can find everything on Peacock. And if you know the Domingo skits, those are now my favorite.
👗 Nuuly Rentals
I hate shopping for clothes. I wear the same things repeatedly and am so happy with that strategy, but I desperately need some new pants. My biggest problem is trying on jeans in the store and then realizing hours after wearing them that they stretch or fit differently after wearing them for a bit. Nuuly sends six things that I pick out, then I wear them for a month and return them. This is the perfect way to try jeans and other pants in different situations. Plus, you can choose to purchase the rentals if you love them. It’s not something I would always do, but it’s a great experiment for me.
I rented a few sweaters and two pairs of pants. I’ve learned that Levi’s look great, but they have zero stretch and are only comfortable when I’m standing up. If I had tried these on in the store, I would have bought them and then let them sit in the closet after one dinner. I did get this Free People sweater, and it came with the tags still on and was so comfortable. It got the most use, and I might purchase it using the discount (60% off). I also loved this sweater but wouldn’t buy it because I wouldn’t wear it enough to make the price worth it.
Give it a try and get a $30 discount using this link.
Catch up on anything you missed this month:
I did a little (re)introduction using a MySpace quiz, covered the romantic comedy genre, and kicked off a new monthly series focusing on travel destinations I’ve been to and cannot wait to share. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss a thing.
Not watching the current SNL? Meet the hilarious ladies on the show in this feature.
The host and musical guest photos each week on Saturday Night Live are always incredible, and it was cool reading more about the person responsible.
I don’t browse New York City real estate often, but this stunning townhouse is in our old neighborhood, and it was love at first click.
If you haven’t seen it yet, here is my neighborhood guide to my favorite corner of Brooklyn. Plan a trip there.
This cruise story is wild and pushes me further away from taking a cruise than I already was. Imagine just being stuck somewhere and no one cares. There has to be a better way to handle these situations.
We have so many friends heading off to Southeast Asia on vacation in the next few weeks, and I love helping with tips and questions when I can. If you need some inspo, here are 20 reasons to plan your trip.
I cannot get enough of this song right now, and I have no idea how I found it.
I’m off to pack for our ski trip, enjoy the 60-degree day, and probably watch Love is Blind. Enjoy your fool’s spring if you’re experiencing the same, but don’t get discouraged when you have more cold spells in the coming month.
Cheers!
Steph
**Reminder: Some of the links included are affiliate links. Purchasing through them may give me a few pennies, but it won’t cost you any extra. The pennies help me justify the amount of time I spend watching bad TV to share with all of you. Another way to help is to share this, hit the like button, or even drop a comment with something you have loved this month. And if you’re really inspired, you can pledge your support.
We got the ayoh mayo 4 pack as a Christmas present for my mayo loving kid, and we love them all! You're right about the dill pickle, delicious!
That's a good song! Saved.
I loved Cate Kay.