Jessica's Friday Five: Stop buying skincare on Amazon
Published about 9 hours ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader,
I am having the BEST time getting The Joyfully Managed Life Society going - thanks to those who have already hopped in from the waitlist! What a dream come true. Today's the last official day of spring break for my kids, and we spent 5 days of it housesitting in Lake Tahoe - the kids got to try snowboarding, and we did lots of dog walks, board games, and movies, and we got our best-ever time at an escape room. I hope your week has been okay and that there is at least one tip in this week's Friday Five to help you feel more ease and joy.
Let's get into it!
April Fools' Day Ideas! OK, this is happening next week (Wed, April 1).Last year, I shared this little printable (cut into pieces and then tell someone, "there are brownies if you want some in that container over there"). My friend from college, Erica, shared a prank her kid played on her: "Mommy, there's a mouse in the pantry". Erica: "A WHAT!?" Erica goes to look: her husband's computer mouse is on the pantry floor. Hehe. If your family uses milk, put a few drops of food coloring in it the night before. Draw mustaches on the glass of framed family portraits with a dry-erase marker. Take the batteries out of the remote control. Have fun and tell me any good ideas you've got before Wednesday!
Eek, warning about buying skincare online: I read this Wirecutter article/investigation a few weeks back and wanted to make sure y'all saw it too. TL;DR: buying skincare and beauty products from resellers (like on Amazon or Walmart) means you're highly likely to get fake products, even if they look like brand-name packaging (every single example they tested had a problem). And if you're buying from the actual brands, join me in using this extension, because I get a check for over $100 every few months just for having it in my browser.
Spring ideas: If you're in the Northern hemisphere and spring is arriving, I thought I'd share a few ideas that help mark the season. Maybe you can get yourself some fresh flowers this weekend. Perhaps it's a good time to open up the windows or doors and let a little fresh air in. This week, we took off our heavier comforters and put on some lighter blankets for the warmer nights (these are supposed to be beach blankets, but we love them for bed comforters FWIW). Maybe you can make a nice spot outside that you can sit in the mornings with coffee or tea? If you celebrate Easter, here's a free resource from me for anyone with kids under 12 (or so).
Great recent reads: Here are a few books I've enjoyed lately: I'm currently about 25% of the way into 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People. I think it'll be one of the more impactful books I've read this year - good for anyone mentoring or parenting folks in that age range. I'm almost done with Judge Stone by Viola Davis. I love her writing (and acting), and this book is one you'd love if you're a John Grisham fan. My book club recently read The Golden Gate by Amy Chua - a fun read for anyone who likes historical fiction and/or the SF Bay Area (where it's set). If finding time to read is tricky (especially if you're into nonfiction), you might consider Short Form (see the image down below), which is a really high-quality way to learn some of the best content available.
You're probably undervaluing your "yes": As a chronic overcommitter, I loved this article from my friend Alexis with the smart frame of "paying yourself first" with your non-negotiable time commitments before adding other things. She also links out to a great resource for saying no more often. These days, I literally have a place (in a notebook) where I'm keeping track of things I've said no to as a way to help myself do it more often.
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