The Shortlist Vol. I, No. One
Five Things I Loved This Week
One week at a time. I’m just taking it one week at a time. Here are the best things that filled my week.
A Riveting Podcast // A glamorous D.C. socialite is shot dead while out for a walk near the C&O Canal. In a city filled with scandals, and conspiracies, few can rival the murder of Mary Pinchot Meyer. Interweaving the story of the white woman found dead and the black woman who represented her accused killer, this podcast from Luminary and journalist Soledad O’Brien is a fresh take on one of the District’s oldest mysteries. Listen to Murder on the Towpath.
A Simple Workout // My body didn’t heal after Sloane was born. I didn’t seek out physical therapy for a birth injury, and I still struggle with hip pain. Rebuilding has been difficult, so when I found the Gentle 7-Minute Workout, it felt like a gift.
I’ve since graduated to the traditional 7-Minute Workout, which is effective and quick. There is also an Advanced version for those who need a quick workout to keep in shape. There’s also an app to make it even easier to use.
An Easy Recipe // Never in my life did I think that half of my weekly grocery budget would go to fruit. So when my tiny princess decides that the giant honeydew in the fridge is “grossy,” but I can’t bear to throw away $9 worth of melon, I search Pinterest for a solution. And behold, this nutty, citrusy, spicy, sweet salad — the Honeydew Salad with Peanuts and Lime. I served it with rice and Trader Joe’s Bool Kogi.
A Transfixing Read // I was told that God of the Woods would be a difficult read, but this story, about the disappearance of a young girl from a summer camp in 1975, was absolutely gripping. I will warn you, as I was warned, that this is a book about a child in peril and that hits hard sometimes. But I was so captivated by the underlying mystery that I found myself unable to put it down.
A Relaxing Gummy // I have a confession to make: At 42 years old, I have never used drugs of any kind. They just never interested me. But a few months ago, my Xanax prescription ran out and doctors in Spokane, even with a decade-long history of sporadic, responsible use, are unwilling to prescribe more. So my husband recommended that I try gummies, and frankly, with a pot shop on every corner, I figured why not.
Around the same time, High Confectionary dropped me a note on ShopMy asking if I would be interested in receiving some of their low dose gummies (1mg per gummy, 10 gummies per bag). So I said why not? The gifted gummies showed up about a week later in Sour Peach and Sour Watermelon.
First off, I have never in my life eaten a more delicious gummy candy. The Sour Peach were so good that I had to stop myself from demolishing the whole bag. The Sour Watermelon were also delicious.
Second, did they work? Was I relaxed? Yes. Not Xanax relaxed or even two Martini relaxed, but a little softer around the edges.
Third, but there was a problem. My God was I hungry. 2mg worth of THC gummies and I ordered Panda Express at 10PM on a Thursday night. This is not a side effect that I need or want.
Sadly, these gummies were not the solution for me, but if you use THC or CBD products to chill out or sleep, try these.
I split the leftovers up between some friends and my husband. Everyone agreed they were delicious, and one of our friends loved the Chill Out gummies so much that she’s been gifting them to family members.
Have a productive Thursday and a great weekend.
xo, aB