What I’m Digging Wednesday 11.16

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Hey friends! Welcome to What I’m Digging Wednesday 11.16. This will be, most likely, the last true WIDW of the year. I have some “Best Of” lists planned for the next few weeks, but I also will be taking some time off from creating new content over the course of November and December. Like the rest of you, this is the time of year when things get a little hairy with commitments, family, and school events, and when my calendar isn’t packed, I want to leave breathing room for good things like rest and peace.

So, in this last WIDW hurrah, we’ve got more of the random, fun, and quirky things you’re used to. We’ve got a book that is so good it will be the perfect winter holiday read, the elastic waist pants you need in your life on heavy eating days like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the workouts to help you stay mobile and somewhat healthy during the heavy eating season, and the winter polishes you need in your life.

All the WIDW randomness you’re used to, one last time in 2022.

What I’m Digging Wednesday 11.16

1. We Are The Brennans: One of the defining characteristics of my life, especially in my younger years, was my East Coast Irish heritage. With a maiden name like McCann, you kind of can’t get away from it. But more than that, it just fit with the idea of myself that I had in my younger years. Now, that identification has somewhat faded with time and distance from the East Coast, but it still exists in my love of all things Ireland-related, my bucket list dream of taking a month-long Ireland tour, and my adoration of Irish families in literature. We Are The Brennans, then, hits my Irish heart just right. It’s about an Irish American family in New York and is so richly painted with detail and characterization that you’ll fall in love with the quirky characters, the sweet yet strained family ties, and the lush writing. It’s a great winter break novel that will engross you and leave you feeling all the warm and fuzzies when it’s over. I highly recommend this one. It’s available at local libraries everywhere or use this link to grab yours.
2. Olive and June Winter 2022 Polish Collection: One of the best gifts I received last year was the Olive and June Manicure System. I have been a lifelong nail-biter and for all of my adult years, my hands were an embarrassment. I had ragged cuticles, often bloody and gross, and my nails were just ratcheted. I am too cheap and impatient to get regular manicures and if my nails aren’t painted, they become my anxiety’s playground. Olive and June changed all of this. With the mani system, I set a weekly date with myself to get a little self-care time in, and believe it or not, my nails have started to look human again. Even if you are not a steady hand and painting your own nails seems foreign to you, this kit helps and can bring you up to speed in no time. Plus, the polishes stay on for nearly a week and look salon-worthy. It sounds dramatic, but it kind of changed my life. Anyway, every season Olive and June releases a new set of colors, and I am crushing their winter set, hard. Filled with moody dark greens (almost black), a vibrant red, deep purple, and a hazy coffee and cream-type color, this set is filled with the best colors for winter. I am obsessed with the gold sparkles and can’t wait to get my new set. Perfect for gifting, either to yourself or others, this set is a winter polish wonderland. Get it for yourself HERE. (And get the mani system with it if you don’t have it. It’s a game changer.)
3. JCF Jamie Elastic Waist Pants: Y’all probably know by now that I love me some comfort wear. I have always been a sensory-type of gal with my clothes. I need my sleeves to fit just right, can’t deal with tags, and worry more about how clothes feel than how they look. Now, as age and fashion have dictated I’ve moved past this, of course, however, I will always prefer form over fashion. Enter in amazing pieces like these Elastic Waist Jamie pants from J.Crew Factory and I don’t have to. These pants are so comfortable I forget I’m wearing dress pants. They have a looser, relaxed fit with a bit of a wider cropped ankle (read: they’re not skinnies) with a front crease and slash pockets, they fit like a dress pants. Except they’re a soft poly material and have an elastic waist so you’re not pinched or uncomfortable. They’re perfect for Thanksgiving (I’m wearing them then), the office, or if, like me, you work from home and value comfort but still like to look put together. I highly recommend these comfortable, versatile pants. I just have a feeling they’ll be the gift that keeps on giving. Grab them HERE. (PS: they’re currently 50% off so grab yours NOW!)
4. Nourish, Move, Love: It’s no secret that I am a devotee of online workouts. I don’t go to the gym and I don’t have fancy equipment. What I do have is a healthy love of YouTube, a dog who needs walking, and some self-motivation. My workouts have, for years now, consisted of walking the dog, taking short solo runs, and doing Yoga with Adriene YouTube videos. Lately, though, I’ve decided that layering in some strength training is good for my bones and my body in general so I did a little research and found Lindsey Bomgren of Nourish, Move, Love. Her workouts are free on YouTube and she is amazing, friends. Built specifically for women with modifications for pregnant, post-partum, and beginners, she makes strength training accessible to those of us who don’t know which moves to do for what. She’s upbeat; her workouts are quick (30-40 minutes), and somehow she even makes it dare I say it, fun. You can find her on YouTube, Instagram, and subscribe to her newsletter which dumps a weekly workout plan in your inbox. Women have been afraid to strength train for decades because we’ve been told we’ll get big and bulky. The opposite is true. Strength training helps burn more calories and, as we get older, it’s vital because we lose muscle mass starting at age 30. Check her out and get your strength on, people. You’re going to love her.

Thank you so much for hanging with us on this last official What I’m Digging Wednesday of the year. Stay tuned for some “best of” editions where I cover my favorites of 2022. It’s been a fun ride and I can’t wait to see what 2023 brings us!

Peace, love, and Wednesdays,
Meg

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