About eighteen months ago, I read a book about Jean Nidetch, the founder of Weight Watchers, and it remains to this day one of the most depressing literary experiences in my life. I was still processing the book weeks later, particularly the part where Jean advises that on one’s birthday, every single birthday for the […]
Nifty, Fifty
April 21, 2025 by 64 Comments
Today is my fiftieth birthday! I can finally say I’m Nifty and Fifty! When I was very small, I had the thought process shared by many small children with regards to what “growing up” entailed. What do you want to be when you grow up is a ridiculous question to ask a three-or-four-year-old, and yet […]
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Not Quite In Style Edition
March 27, 2025 by 51 Comments
One of the best things about aging is that I no longer care about being in style. I said this to my husband, who vehemently disagreed that this was the case, leading to an involved conversation about semantics. I maintain that having personal style and caring about how a person presents oneself is very different […]
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (a meal plan)
March 17, 2025 by 58 Comments
I had the most delightfully social week, with visits and connections and gatherings every day, culminating in the most wonderful girls’ night out on Friday night: a candlelight tribute to ABBA, as played by a string quartet. I love music generally, almost all genres, but I really love disco, and ABBA specifically. We all dressed […]
Feeling Salty
March 10, 2025 by 72 Comments
Grumpy McGrumperson How are we all doing with the transition to Daylight Saving Time, I ask as I drink my third cup of coffee and glare angrily off into the dark morning? I swear to god, I swear to GOD that the next person who says “we do this for the farmers,” I will murder […]
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Entering My Tankini Era Edition
February 28, 2025 by 51 Comments
About four months ago I was purposefully striding down the hall with my arms full, heading for the donation bags I had set up in the laundry room. My older son was home at the time and observed my unusually stern expression. Whatcha doing, Mom? he asked and when I informed him that I was […]
Cold, Cold, Cold, Warmer, HOT
February 10, 2025 by 58 Comments
Cold As Ice We are in the midst of a cold snap around here, but I use that term very loosely. It’s more “cold” than COLD, or even Cold, but still, it’s the most winter we’ve had all year. I took the opportunity to look out my snow pants and heated mittens, and I’m winning […]
