At the Altar of Epsom Salts + Prebiotic Sodas (The Things I Bought in February)
Tempted by the fruit of another [free people sweatshirt]
I’M SO GLAD TO BE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE MONTH OF MARCH. I’ve tried Wintering with the best of ‘em. I really do try. But I am a Spring girlie, completely, and an April baby, at that. I’m !! Just !! Happy !! TO BE STANDING AT THE PRECIPICE OF THE SEASON OF NEWNESS & RENEWAL. Let’s look at what I got my lil paws into in February:
This post contains some affiliate links. Normal girl links, too. <3 Thanks for supporting me! Reading this! Being here!
Amazon Storefront | LTK
Food (let her cook!)
In February, we still We Have Food At Home’d ourselves.
Eric made Philly cheesesteaks for the Super Bowl, I got back into Tot Bowls, avocado toast with goat cheese was SOOOO BACK ON THE MENU, BABES, and I’m romanticizing my work lunches. Adult lunchable vibes.
I’m currently ranking prebiotic sodas I’ve tried. I’ve tried a lot. I decided to start my list over in 2024 for a fresh ranking. I’ve received a lot of messages to “try the Strawberry Vanilla Olipop”. Reeeeespectfully, we lived 800 steps from our co-op natural grocery store in 2021. I often found myself standing in front of the Silly Little Expensive Drink display waiting to see what questionable financial choice I was going to commit that day. That is like, the house mom of all prebiotic sodas. But yes, I have tried, and it’s good! But it’s not in the top five. I go out of my way to find the grape or ginger ale. I tend to like flavors with a little more bite; the super-sweet cream soda-esque ones are dece, but not top dog. I’m excited to try Culture Pop and any others I run into on my quest.
Here’s where I went when I did go out, just in case you’re like me and realize “oh dang, I like [Indian/Mormon soda/hand-cut fries] and haven’t had that in fOrEvEr, let me go to my local spot this week!!!!” or if you’re in Northwest Arkansas and you like the local love:
Yeyo’s for nachos before an author event at the public library (needing these again ASAP)
Khana to split a platter with E (perfect amount of food ahead of Sitting At The Movies) before seeing The Zone of Interest (yikes)
I honestly got Chick-Fil-A at least three times, possibly four. I think I went twice in all of 2023. I don’t know what to say, the vibes were off, and chicken nuggets w/ Polynesian sauce were the cure.
Las Margaritas in Springdale to get a Steven Special with some coworkers (cheeks hurt from laughing so hard), then Black Apple taproom to make some Valentine’s Day cards and laugh some more. Sober or non-drinking pals, their hibiscus NA soda is super tasty.
Swig - Dirty SOP (Dr. Pepper, coconut, peach)
The Pedaler’s Pub for the first bowl of hand-cut fries of the season (on the patio!)
Exercise & Wellness —
Peloton membership (every month, but feels weird to not include it because it is $50, after all) - Planet Fitness membership (easy to forget, especially when you go twice a month, LOL STOP DON’T LOOK AT ME I AM GOING MORE NOW) - [Didn’t pay for yoga because the whole thing is like, you pay upfront and then pay again after you finish your first month, and the studio’s not open yet, it was a promotion, yadda yadda, that’s how they get ya, etc. and so forth]. You can judge me. I can’t care. I’ll be napping somewhere. Or responding to DMs during my 12/3/30 time. Or possibly in a hot yoga class before the month is up. As of today, there’s a new pilates/barre studio opening steps away from my front door and I’m all shook up about it. My weakness has been exposed.
AG1 - OH HECK, I’m back. Tried it for a few months last year and really noticed an improvement in digestion & energy! Tastes sweet and a little bit like the ground in a way that’s tolerable and not like beets (bleh). I don’t have a code, but I love my girl Meg Nunes so much, so I’m sharing hers.
Beauty & Skincare
Been a minute since I had a Target re-stock: Elf primer (that broke me out — 0/10), trying Telescopic mascara again like it’s 2011 because they were out of my usual (terrible, hate it, booooooo), nail files, and THE ORANGE NEUTROGENA BARS to wash my face in the shower. My esthetician in high school & college (it’s true — the brows were wack, the acne was present, and my mom’s an icon) introduced me to double- or triple-cleansing using those bars and it really does work for me. I moisturize well afterwards of course (this is my favorite everyday moisturizer), and don’t do it EVERY day, especially during colder/drier months, but I do notice if it’s been a few months without the orange bars in my life. If one of your biggest complaints is casually clogged pores, it will help soooo much (and it’s budget-friendly)! This one’s for you, Ewa.
MORE DR. TEAL’S EPSOM SALTS. I got a few Dr. Teal’s bubble baths + salts for/around Christmastime, and I told myself I couldn’t restock until I went through everything I had. It took about 8 weeks, so I’m coming to you humbly with the nine pounds of scented epsom salts cradled in my arms and swaddled like a baby. I honestly like every scent (the hemp one is a little strange), but this month we’re rocking with Vitamin C and Himalayan Sea Salt.
(MANIFESTING A SPONSORSHIP BECAUSE I AM FOREVER IN THE BATH.)
I also got my hair done. (Locals, I go to see my friend Emily at Freshair in Rogers. I love her so much!!! She NEVER MISSES)
I stopped by the Sephora in our Kohl’s with the intent of getting the non-aerosol dry shampoo by Dae. They weren’t stocking it, so I picked up some Sol de Janeiro body butter and blue eyeliner (???? idk bro). The employee threw in a sample of the Saie slip tint because I was eyeing it & am scraping product out of my current foundations/tinted moisturizers (ItCosmetics and Kosas, both purchased at least a year ago, lol). I’ll probably grab the full size version next month!
I used the last of my Christmas money to get a set of acrylics (& chrome). Honestly, they didn’t even make it to March. I couldn’t do it. They were really cute, but not for me right now.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
I think I exist somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between completely chewed off, sad nails & almond-shaped pink chrome claws. This happy medium is, I’m thinking, a real-live manicure with soaking and cuticle clipping every few months and painting my nails at home in the meantime.
Entertainment (Boring and Proud!)
I didn’t mention this last month, but I suppose now’s a good time to share that I was able to attend Jagged Little Pill at the Walton Arts Center in January. I partnered with them as an influencer (bye!!! so cool), and it was incredible. Such a fun way to spend a Tuesday!!! I loved it so much.
Saw The Zone of Interest, went to two free author events (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah & Kiley Reid), spent two more days at our (free) local museum, and many more days walking the trails. I spent a lot of time keeping myself busy with my hobbies and just enjoying the company of my loved ones. And tbh, spending a lot of leisure time alone. Slow, cozy evenings and lots of sleeping! I feel equal parts boring and unproblematic/in my lane. Also, I was under the weather for what felt like half the dang month. Also also, work was most certainly LIVE, so let’s not pretend that didn’t contribute to my late-winter blahs.
Stationery, Books, and Hobbies
I bought a book1 and I’m glad I did! Come and Get It by Kiley Reid — takes place in Fayetteville, so I’m obviously biased, but SO GOOD.
Camp Snap camera. Eric loves using his B&W disposable camera every now & then, so I thought I would treat us to something fun to try out this year. We just got it last week, but I’m so excited to bring this out on hikes and bowsing around town this summer.
Hobonichi Cousin Spring Start!!!! THE RETURN!!!! (I used gift card money — long live girl math)
I DIDN’T BUY ANY PENS OR WASHI TAPE OR STICKERS OR WHATEVER ELSE THIS MONTH. I’m Using My Shit. In addition, I’m still NOT AFRAID OF PAPER.
Clothing & Accessories
Nuuly box for February through March (I’m a mid-month girlie) — especially loving a very cozy & soft Free People top that is already off the website. I bought it for 75% off!
Note: Free People tried to GET ME in my Jan/Feb box with the Sidewalk sweatshirt. It was so cute, and I would have done it for $90, because I make poor financial choices. But ONE FORTY?! AMERICAN?!
Abercrombie haul: Sloane pants in this pretty green, YPB workout top, and a seamless tee. Watch my cute little video!!!
Nike Legacy shoes (I have worn them nearly every day since I got them!! COST PER WEAR TRACKERS FEAR ME)
Finally, Printfresh reached out and gifted me a pajama set and a new robe!!!!! LIKE???? HULLO? I feel so lucky! They have been on the list for a loooooong while.
Thanks for reading! In the absence of a Hobonichi Weeks dedicated to tracking my spending, this has been a fun way to wrap up my purchases & links at the end of the month. This is not a line-by-line monthly budgeting dashboard; there will always be bills, essentials, gifts, and things I didn’t include. To see what I spent my money on in January, check out last month’s post.
Love,
Claire
Shoutout to the Bentonville Public Library for the free copy of The Chain Gang All-Stars!
I love this new setup/recap!
I just hit my four years with Peloton this week! Love love love! Also I looooved Chain Gang All Stars. It was one of my favorite books last year. And Come and Get It is on my list – loved Such a Fun Age a few years back.