Summer Book Club with Hales

It’s been a while since I’ve written a post on here, but what else is new? Luckily, I just went on a trip to Colorado, so stay tuned for that post lol.

When I travel I tend to pick up reading again. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Hales, what do you mean by “pick up reading?”

Well, I’m what you can call a picky reader. There’s the picky eaters of the world who have a very specific palate meaning their go-to at restaurants is usually something of the American “you can make this at home” cuisine choices such as chicken fingers/french fry basket. No sauce except maybe ranch, if they’re not too picky. (You know who you are.)

Though I am by no means picky when it comes to food, I tend to have a specific taste in books. It took me a while to get here, but at some point in time I realized that if I’m not interested in the book I’m reading, then why continue it? There’s literally MILLIONS of books out there available for me to read - about 145 million if you ask Google - so why waste energy and time on a book that isn’t keeping me hooked?

I’ve even developed a cool trick to help me identify books that aren’t worth my time: I fall asleep… lol (surprise!). Some of you may be thinking, “Well, duh, Hales. You have narcolepsy. Of course you’re going to fall asleep reading.” To that, my dear friends, I will reciprocate your “DUH” because if I don’t fall asleep reading, then clearly the book is holding my attention and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. :)

Over the years, I’ve done my fair share of reading, but like I said before, it tends to come in waves. I’ll go from being really into reading to not picking up a book for months. Honestly, I kind of blame our culture of constant stimulation. Whether it’s the newest binge-watchable series recently released on Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc., or it’s New Music Friday/ the latest episode of a podcast (of every topic) is finally up on whatever audio streaming service, or it’s the latest movie coming out in theaters — there’s just so many options to spill my attention and time into that books don’t always make the cut. (I’m sorry to all of my book nerd friends for hurting your hearts with that truth.)

I wish I could read non-stop like my brother. Steve read 27 books in 2018 a.k.a. 13,308 pages (source: his profile on the Goodreads app.) If you do that math, he read a little more than one book every two weeks last year or a little more than 36 pages per day - which is insane to me!

Anyway, over the last year or so, every time I get back onto the reading wagon, I find myself enjoying the same genre of book — autobiographies/memoirs written by comedians/actors.

Below, in no specific order (but kind of definitely specific), are some books you may want to pick up this summer on your way to the beach, park, bathtub, that cool new hipster coffee shop/microbrewery on the corner, the floor of Barnes & Noble if you don’t like to buy the book and just want to read it, or if you’re one of those people who listens to audio books in the car which isn’t technically reading, just listening (actually that’s probably really great practice for most men out there) and you need to download books - just wherever you do your “reading.”

(SIDE NOTE: DOWNLOAD THE GOOD READS APP AND FIND ME ON THERE.) :)))))

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood.

1. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

   Stars: FIVE FO-SHO

   I put this book first on the list because it has by far been one of the best books I’ve read in the last few years. This book is not only hilarious, but Trevor Noah also gives insight as to what it was like as a biracial kid growing up in South Africa during the Apartheid. It was really eye opening to me to tell you the truth because I obviously had an awareness of the Apartheid, but never really learned about it in school. After reading this book, I walked away with a much better understanding of the institutionalized racism and segregation that happened during those years in South Africa. Trevor Noah does a glorious job of painting a picture for you during countless comedic anecdotes starting from when he was a five-year-old kid shitting on some newspaper in his grandma’s house becasuse he didn’t want to use the outhouse, to post-high school when he and his friends started a deejaying business, all the way to landing The Daily Show. Not to mention there is also a real twist throughout the book about his mom that makes it a real page-turner. (That was a mild spoiler alert and I do not apologize).

Scrappy Little Nobody.

2. Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

STARS: FIVE

Now if you’re assuming one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book was to get Anna Kendrick’s tea on what it was actually like to be on the set of Twilight, then you aren’t wrong. However, this book is SO MUCH more than that. It is a collection of effortlessly funny, mildly self-deprecating short stories from Anna’s life that are actually incredibly relatable to even someone like me whose only theater experience was playing one of the three wisemen in a Catholic elementary school Christmas play where I had no lines lol. One of my favorite parts of this book is when she explains how the n00bs are styled for red carpet events (I think we owe some teen stars from the early 2000s an apology). Overall, it’s an extremely entertaining read with humor that kept a smile on my face throughout its entirety (which was probably either weird or a refreshing change from my RBF to people at work eating lunch around me in the cafeteria). So, if you appreciate my humor, you will definitely appreciate Anna’s (we’re on a first name basis now, obvi.)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)

3. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

STARS: FOUR

If you enjoy watching The Office (so literally anyone), then you will probably like this book. (Also, you can’t say you don’t like Mindy Kaling, but you do like The Office because she wrote a bunch of those episodes/jokes - fun fact.) Anyway, Mindy Kaling writes the same way she talks which helps you feel her authenticity through every story — like I literally read it in her voice. This book is a collection of reflections and lessons from her life starting from when she was in high school (her tip: don’t peak in high school lol we all know those people) all the way up to being a writer on The Office. Disclaimer: some of her humor is pretty inappropriate, so if you’re a prude, maybe just don’t…?

Why Not Me?

4. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

DEEEJAYYY KAAAALING — ANOTHA ONE.

STARS: 4 for Kelly Kapoor

This is the lovely book I mentioned at the beginning of this post that got be back into reading. I read this book in a mere THREE DAYS - that’s really fast for me, you guise. Most of the stories Mindy tells in this book are set post her days as Kelly Kapoor and a writer at The Office. She still gives B.J. Novak a big ole shout out because that’s her bestie, but I appreciated that this book was enough of its own entity that I didn’t feel like I was just rereading the one above. A few things that stuck with me from this book: she was describing a hypothetical situation/future and said “Elizabeth Warren is president” which I thought was oddly timely and wonder if she looks back on it now and says “HA! I TOLD YOU ALL!”, she dabbled in a relationship with one of Obama’s secret service agents which is just cool af to be able to say and in a culture where body dysmorphia is quite prevalent (even for men), Mindy dives into her take on her body and the media. It was an easy read with, again, some humor that some might find inappropriate, but I quite enjoyed.

Bossypants.

5. Bossypants by Tina Fey

STARS: 3.96 — It’s my blog, I can rate how I want to.

Tina Fey’s Bossypants is the O.G. book for me. It was the book that introduced me to this comedian/actor memoir genre. It was the very first one I read and made me realize how much I enjoy reading stories from people’s lives as told by those people. I read it in 2013, so it’s been a few years but even as a college student who didn’t have a lot of time to “read for fun,” I flew through this book in about a week. Tina touches on a little bit of everything starting with when she was five and got attacked by a stranger in an alleyway that gave her the scar on her left cheek (Google it.), her journey to becoming a comedian on Saturday Night Live including her time as part of the Chicago-based improv group The Second City where she met her BFF Amy Poehler, and of course, what it’s like being a working mom eating food off of the floor. All in all, I think this book offers something everyone can appreciate.

Yes Please.

6. Yes Please by Amy Poehler

STARS: Three. Just three.

So to be fair to Amy on my rating, after thoroughly enjoying Tina Fey’s book, my expectations were pretty high for Amy Poehler’s book. I mean she is Tina Fey’s BFF, u kno? I also LOVE Parks & Rec (highly recommend anyone watch it if you enjoy The Office (so anyone reading this)) and this was the second book of this genre that I read. Although it didn’t live up to my expectations, it wasn’t a bad book by any means. Similar theme to all of the other books mentioned in this blog, Amy offers up a plethora of personal stories about sex, love, friendship, parenthood, etc. with a little bit of advice intertwined (take some, leave the rest). I love Amy Poehler’s humor and learning about all of the improv groups she was in when she was just starting out as a comedian. It wasn’t my favorite book, but I liked it enough to include it on this list. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Welp, that’s it for now! Let me know if you end up reading any of them, so that I can start something that resembles an actual Summer Book Club lol.

To end this blog post, here’s a gif of Leslie Knope giving a shoutout to one of my favorite books/series. :)

Blogging or just distracting myself because T-Minus 14 minutes until the Battle of Winterfell?????

Yiiiiikes.

So, I realize it’s been more than a month since I’ve blogged, but hear me out. APRIL HAS BEEN QUITE THE MONTH.

Between Game of Thrones ABSOLUTELY RUINING MY EMOTIONS AND MENTALITY EVERY SUNDAY and then running back to Battle Creek literally every weekend for bridesmaid duties, house warming parties, etc., I just haven’t found the time nor energy to blog.

My sincerest apologies. But, also since no one has complained, then my expectations/predictions of those who actually read this blog are proven to be true. Those people include:

• My parents when they remember to check every so often

• A handful of friends who i know don’t mind when I say “hey can you read my latest blog post?”

• Someone who was probably hoping to use this domain name, realized it’s taken and wanted to see what it’s being used for only to be mildly disappointed, yet hopefully entertained.

Anyway, I thought about what I should do for this post and tonight’s Game of Thrones episode is the “Battle of Winterfell.” A.k.a. the MOST EPIC BATTLE EVER FILMED.

I’m not being dramatic. That’s actually a fact. You can read it here.

My initial thought was to do a live reaction blog while I watched the new episode. However, after some thought, I needed to be honest with myself. There’s no fucking way I’m going to be able to focus on anything but this episode. I may even need to write the words “breathe” and “blink” on the back of my hand so I don’t forget to do both after this episode tears me to shreds.

Instead I figured I’d do a little more of an uplifting blog consisting of nothing but tweets that sit patiently in my drafts folder because they sadly never saw the publish button. If you find any of them funny, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for more LOL.

ENJOY AND Mīsagon Ghost! :)

(That’s Valyrian for Protect Ghost).

Keeping the GoT theme going, a tweet from last summer:

Been waiting for GoT season 8 for a hot minute, ja feel?

In honor of my social sand volleyball league starting again soon, a tweet from last summer’s league:

I guess i misunderstood the whole “social” part.

The extent of how my dating life is going:

Hit ya girl up tho if you have any chiropractor friends who are 26-31 and aren’t high maintenance.

Other essential requirements for any potential suitors:

Because fuck Burpees, amiright?

I wonder if that family has since changed their last name since so many people loathe burpees.

I eat a lot of vegetables and it’s truly just about finding joy in the little things:

Aren’t they the cutest?

Nothing says I have my life together and strive for a well-balanced diet like digging into a full jar of Jif, amiright? :’)

How to tell people you're an introvert who lives alone and are mildly socially awkward:

Love a good house plan though.

Last, but not least, more proof that ya girl is truly a completely sane and normal person:

That’s all folks. T-minus 10 minutes until Game of Thrones literally ruins me as a person. My full reactions will be obnoxiously expressed later on, you guessed it, Twitter. So, give ya girl a follow if you’re ever so inclined! :)

What the fresh Hale is this about?

When I made a 2019 goal of starting a new blog and posting consistently to it, I knew it was going to be a challenge. I mean, why make a goal if achieving it doesn’t challenge you in the process?

Creating a blog was easy. The hardest part is figuring out what in the fresh hell you’re going to write about. Literally, ask any self-proclaimed writer and they will tell you the same.

I even started carrying a little notebook around for all of those “this would make a really great blog post” moments, so that I don’t forget the ideas that emerge from my daily life. (See cute notebook below. S/o to Cails for a solid birthday gift.)

A notebook fit for that grammar gargoyle in your life. :)

Though this notebook makes me feel more like a legit writer because it holds me more accountable to brainstorm ideas for blog posts, it unfortunately doesn’t help me write the actual posts. Plus, I have to admit that I live a pretty family friendly sitcom-esque life for the ripe age of 25. So, the lack of adventure and spice doesn’t necessarily help me generate hella exciting blog posts either.

However, since it’s been about a month since I’ve posted something (lol srry), I figured I’d write a blog post about how hard it is to write a blog post. (Shout out to my coworker Scott for the idea.)

Let me start by saying not only is it mildly intimidating to start your own blog because you’re putting yourself out there for the world to read, but there’s another element of pressure to write about topics people actually want to read (which is kind of the point of a blog). So, the fact that my life tends to have a spice level equivalent to parmesan garlic sauce on the Buffalo Wild Wings Sauce Scale, topics aren’t necessarily jumping out as much as I’d like.

Most people say you should write about whatever you want to write about. Although, I completely agree that the posts I publish to my blog shouldn’t be dictated by what I think other people would want to read, there’s still an element of wanting to make sure I provide some sort of value to those who read my blog.

So far, I’ve recorded the following potential blog post ideas in my handy dandy notebook:

• Hale’s Kitchen - Minus Gordon Ramsey and more like a kitchenette considering my kitchen is a wall of my living room. This would be a series of recipe posts based off my experience of cooking for one. I’d share some of my favorite recipes that don’t result in wasting food when you’re trying to make meals small enough for one person that are worth the maintenance.

• Dry Shampoo Reviews - Ya girl only washes her hair twice a week which means dry shampoo is a hair product I must always have on hand. As someone who has cycled through a few different brands, I can help those of you who are interested in washing your hair less by writing a review on various dry shampoos. :)

• The Art of Self Control - It’s taken years of practice, but my self control as it relates to cravings, impulses and in-the-moment decisions is a bit stronger than most. For those of you who have a hard time putting the thin mints box away after smashing the first sleeve or tend to buy random things when you’re stressed, I have a few strategies to help strengthen your self control.

• JOMO: You’ve probably heard of FOMO (fear of missing out), but have you heard of JOMO? (Joy of Missing Out.) I have a few friends who have a hard time saying no to plans because they don’t want to let anyone down, but in return, they burn themselves out. Ya girl has absolutely no problem turning down plans when it comes to self care and can explain why you should put your self care first too.

• The Library of Unpublished Tweets - Though @hollatyoburrill was retired a few years ago, I think I’m funny and have a whole drafts folder of tweets that never saw the publish button. For example:

Find me on Twitter at @haleyburrill

Personally, I think that’s a pretty solid list of blog topics However, even with a list of ideas, sitting down and actually writing the blog is a completely different ball game.

You have to plan out the flow of the blog, write and rewrite multiple versions of the same sentence or paragraph, constantly search on thesaurus.com for synonyms of words you’re repeating throughout the blog to make sure you’re not being too, well, repetitive, figure out where to put pictures and what pictures to use that will emphasize/add a strong visual component to the blog, etc.

Then there’s always that moment that you hit the halfway point of the blog post where you wonder “is this really worth the publish button?” and second guess everything you just spent 2 hours writing and rewriting.

There’s also the times where writer’s block becomes so frustrating that alternative creative routes are pursued such as sipping on some black cherry White Claws to relax the Type-A side of you that causes so many overly-critical writing road blocks. (Do not judge or @ me on that one. I know y’all used to write some of your best papers in college after pint night.)

Anyway, to wrap up this blog about not knowing what to write about on my blog, please let me know if you have anything you’d like me to write about. All suggestions are welcomed and appreciated, and I promise to publish more consistently. :)

Until next time, I’ll leave you with this photo of me from today because I think I’m finally perfecting the art of the “wavy-curl hair” and just want it to be seen by other people lol… pz out.

Appreciate the curl and the peace sign.

Chapter 25, Lesson 1: Shit Happens.

Let me preface this post by saying, I am a person who thrives off of routine. Bless my mother for passing along her obsessive compulsive nature. It’s not that I have to have everything happen the same exact way every single day, but when I have a general routine, I have some control over how things are going to go. I know that I’m not missing anything.

I pretty much follow the same morning and evening routine every day down to my skincare routine before bed. If my routine is thrown off, I immediately get an irrational anxiety that since this routine is thrown off then my next habitual activity will be disrupted, and it just becomes a mess that’s not a mess, but it feels like a mess to me… lol. That makes sense, right?

With that in mind, this past week was a rough run for me. There wasn’t necessarily one monumental moment that made it a struggle bus kind of week, it was just an accumulation of little things that added up to it being a week that threw me a little bit off my rocker. Let me start from the beginning.

Sunday

Michigan Men’s Basketball lost to MSU…

In addition to the loss, there were also 50 mph winds blowing across the Mitten state. These obnoxiously strong winds prevented me from driving home that night after the game which had been my plan for weeks because I had a doctor’s appointment at 9 a.m. the next day in Kalamazoo.

(Sidenote: I know the U-M loss isn’t a bad thing for some of you. Anyway, the real tragedy of that game was how Caili and I looked in the half time 360 photo… lol)

So photogenic.

Monday

I woke up with an awful cold. So, we’re already taking an L today.

Since I couldn’t drive back to BC the night before, I had to wake up early and gather the mountain of laundry I planned to do while I was home. Now, this already throws off my week because I usually work out first thing in the morning, but since I had to pack everything up and drive back to BC in an attempt to avoid the morning rush on I-94, I missed my work out.

Did I debate bringing home my gym bag in case I had time to run to the gym in BC? Sure did.

Did I bring my gym bag home? Sure didn’t.

Well, why not Hales? I’m glad you asked. This also happened to be my birthday week which meant my license expired on Tuesday. So, I didn’t think I’d have time for the gym because I planned to get it renewed in BC since I had the day off.

Now this is where Monday gets fun. When I got home from my doctor’s appointment, I quickly PUT ON A FULL FACE OF MAKEUP under the impression I’d be getting a new picture taken today because I wanted to upgrade my license to one of those “Real-IDs” that everyone needs by 2020. However, when I went to get “in line online,” I found that there was 114 people in line in front of me which meant it was a 5.5 hour wait…

Absolutely not. I’m not waiting 5.5 hours to get my license renewed and to all of you who are thinking “well, you can make appointments online!” I tried that and their next open date was March 4th.

So, now that I wasn’t getting my license renewed, guess what I had time to do before my hair appointment that afternoon? You’re correct, go to the gym…

To sum this day up, Monday was just annoying because it didn’t go the way I planned.

(Also, sidenote: I ended up renewing my license online because you can upgrade to the Real-ID at any time. :))

Tuesday

I’ll keep it quick on this one, but I was too sick to work out in the morning. The last game of the current season of my social volleyball league was that night, which I also had to skip because I was too sick.

If you can’t tell, I hate being sick. It’s such an inconvenience and you can’t push yourself through it or else you get more sick. It throws off your routine because you’re lethargic and hugging a box of tissues all day.

It left me feeling like a sick ball of lard because I wasn’t able to work out two days in a row.

Plus, a huge project I’ve been leading at work hit (another) big ol’ bump in the road. Mind you, this road has been about a year and a half and was supposed to end this week…

Moving on.

Wednesday - My Birthday!

That’s right! I celebrated my 25th lap around the sun on Wednesday. I was still sick though which meant I wasn’t able to go to the gym in the morning. Also was still stuck on the bump in that project from the day before.

(It’s weird how third-party vendors your company works with don’t mind delivering unfavorable news on your birthday???? Don’t they know? Isn’t that against some sort of work-ettiquette? )

Shout out to everyone who made this day pretty okay despite everything though. Especially, Caili and Carly. And, of course, my parents who sang Happy Birthday to me really loud and slightly off-key over the phone.

Cails is my work wife and dearest friend who had my birthday present picked out by the end of November… her birthday is in December lol. So, she already had my birthday present for the following year before she even celebrated her birthday for the current year. (Magical gift below.)

Caili is literally the best gift giver. Yes, that is a Pisces necklace and next to it is a Bob Ross mug that reveals a painting when you put hot liquids in it.

Carly is also one of my most wonderful friends and she nailed it with this freaking awesome baseball purse.

A purse perfect for Tigers games and for those times when you’re just feeling ~sporty~

Wednesday really wasn’t all that awful besides the hold-up on that project.

Thursday

Thursday is where my irrational anxiety comes into play. Woke up feeling better, but still not great enough to go to the gym before work. However, I could feel that this was the last day I would have to trade the gym for more sleep in order to fight off the cold. Friday would definitely be my first day back to the gym which would not only make me feel better, but also get me back to my normal routine.

Work on Thursday followed the same trend as the previous two days, but at least we had made some progress on it at this point.

Around 2 p.m. that afternoon, my friend Hanna Q won not only tickets to the U-M vs. Nebraska game that night, but A SUITE. A mother freakin’ suite at the Big House for tweeting about gluten free nachos. If that’s not the most Hanna thing that’s ever happened..

Anyway, as the sweet friend she is (pun intended), HQ invited me to join. What is the immediate reaction of any normal person who enjoys college basketball?

Yes.

What was mine?

If I go that means I won’t be able to go to bed early enough tonight to wake up early tomorrow to go to the gym, which was my plan because we are now on day four of not working out which is literally the longest I’ve gone in probably six months. Plus, I think I got sick at the U-M hockey game last Saturday because it’s a big space with a bunch of germs and I don’t want to get more sick, so maybe I shouldn’t go. At the same time though, I need to stop being lame and saying no thank you to these really cool opportunities because they don’t come up frequently. However, if i do go, then….etc. etc. etc.

That, ladies and gents, is how my brain works.

So what did I do? Well, first I texted my mom and, by texted, I mean blew up her phone lol. See below.

Bless my mother for understanding when I blow up her phone.

She always helps me sort out these thoughts that are fueled by my irrational anxiety that is stemmed from my routine-loving self. *insert eye roll emoji* It didn’t take long for my mom to do what all moms do and say the right thing which was:

“I think you need to just write off the whole week and commit to getting back into it this weekend. You are trying to juggle ALL worthy activities but SHIT HAPPENS.”

For those of you still reading at this point, thank you. I am pleased to report that I did, in fact, attend the game with HQ, her parents and a couple of our friends. I am also pleased to report that Michigan won that game. :)

Proof I made Zack and Cody proud living the suite life at the Big House.

Friday

Friday is the last day that contributed to this very long week. It also will be the shortest of this post.

Yet again, there were a few bumps in some projects that my team has been working hard on, but we made it through.

I didn’t get to work out again, but since it was Employee Appreciation Day, our boss bought us lunch, so that was a plus. I tried Bibimbap for the first time - it was good, but needed more sauce.

Week in Review

If there’s one lesson I learned this week, the first lesson learned as a fresh 25-year-old, it’s that I can’t control everything. Or, in the words of Susan, shit happens.

My routine was thrown off multiple times this week due to everything that was out of my control:

-Getting sick

-Long lines at the Secretary of State

-Vendors not doing their part in projects

-Hanna winning a suite due to her gluten intolerance lol

ETC.

So, if you’re a routine-lover like me and can relate to my irrational anxiety, this post was for you. Routines aren’t bad by any means. They provide consistency in our lives and keep our days moving at a comfortable pace. Sometimes they’re okay to be broken though. It’s okay to step out of your comfort zone when life doesn’t go the way you planned. You’re going to get through it, I promise. This week was so far out of my normal routine and it definitely threw me for a whirl, but yanno what? Today is Sunday. The start of an entirely new week. And, yanno what else? My happy ass is going to get back into my routine this week because that’s where I thrive and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But, if something does pop up again this week that interrupts my routine, I know it’s going to be okay. :)

Until next time, pz out.

A Big F.U. to the Winter Blues

Most people say the best thing about living in the Mitten state is that you get to experience all four seasons. Though it’s a very valid statement that we do have four seasons, and that concept is nice in theory, I personally could do without the winter. Yes, yes, give me snow during the week leading up to and on Christmas, but after that, we gud.

(Kind of like putting up Christmas decorations a few weeks ahead of time is totally chill. Get into that red, green and nutmeg-scented spirit you Cottonheadedninnymuggin, you! But, once we hit December 26th, put that shit away. Don’t @ me.)

Michiganders know that winter here usually starts November, if not earlier, and can last through literally late April. That is damn near SIX MONTHS of the dreary, cold, wet, cold, gray, gloomy weather. And, with every winter comes a little something called the winter blues. Now, the winter blues is a phrase someone started using to make “seasonal depression” sound a lot less, well, depressing, and it’s inevitable that while we endure this vitamin D-depriving weather, the winter blues will hit.

This year, the ‘aha my winter blues are getting the best of me’ moment happened a couple of weekends ago. I found myself at Target debating whether or not to buy a lotion I really didn’t need simply because the bottle said “smells like summer.”

I know there’s other people out there feeling a little more lethargic, isolated, unmotivated, etc. than usual, I figured I’d share some of my favorite ways to say fak you, winter blues.

Mix up your music

One of the easiest things you can do is something you probably already do every day — listen to music. When I start feeling a little bit 90’s emo, lethargic, and uninspired with all of the gloomy weather, I’ll listen to music that helps get those “feel good” chemicals in my brain moving again. So, press pause on all of those James Bay, Hozier, and Lana tracks and make a playlist of songs that remind you of the warmer days or find the O.G. songs from back in the day that will literally put a smile on your face no matter what.

If you need some inspiration, you can check out mine here.

(Side note and shoutout: the title of this blog post was inspired by a Spotify playlist my musically-inclined friend, Emilie made - fuck your winter blues.)

Phone (or FaceTime) a Friend

It’s easy to get into the habit of isolating yourself from others when you’re just not feeling yourself nor have the energy to socialize, especially when you live by yourself. Plus, when it’s cold or snowy or rainy, the last thing I want to do is change out of my sweat pants, put a bra on and go out in public. So, instead I opt for calling or FaceTiming a friend I haven’t talked to in a hot minute. Catching up with one of your besties who’s doing his/her own thang in another city or state can be such a solid mood booster. Not only are you technically socializing, but you are doing it in the comfort of your own sweats. :)

Note: I do want to clarify, though, there is one hundred percent nothing wrong with politely declining an invite to plans with your friends due to self care or plain personal preference. If you just want to stay in because you don’t thrive in large groups or it’s been a long week, then girl, I’m about it. Smear that Lush oatmeal mask you’ve been waiting to try on your face and Netflix it up!

Rock Your Body, yeah.

Okay, so although listening to the Backstreet Boys (or Justin Timberlake - whichever came to mind first) can definitely be a mood booster, this tip is more about what you’re putting into and how much you’re moving your body. I know this is an overly-saturated message around this time of year, so I’ll go through this as quickly as possible.

It’s incredibly common for people to put on a little winter fluff. The cold weather is a prime reason to break out our biggest woobie sweaters, curl up on the couch for a Netflix binge and enjoy our favorite comfort foods. And, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! We all do it.

We also want to make sure, though, that we’re getting in some sort of physical activity at least a few days a week - even something as simple as taking a walk. Part two of that is finding balance between those winter comfort foods and nutrient-dense foods that our bodies need to function. Even if it’s just making an effort to eat a healthy breakfast every morning, that’s better than totally neglecting fueling your body with what it needs.

Side note: my favorite breakfast lately involves Van’s Waffles. They are so freaking good - even Leslie Knope would even approve of them. My favorite flavors are apple cinnamon and power grains chocolate chip.

To wrap this section up, when your body feels good, there’s a better chance that you will feel good.

Leslie Knope would totally approve.

Clean Up Your Space.

I don’t know about you, but I immediately feel a million times more relaxed, at ease and motivated when my apartment is clean. Winter is a really great time to Marie Kondo all of your spaces. (You’re already spending all of your time inside, why not clean it up a little bit?)

Start with something easy like going through your closet. Any piece of clothing that doesn’t “spark joy for you,” thank it, and get rid of it. (Credit to MK on that process.) I know this can be a hard task because there’s always that ~one shirt~ you’ve never worn but may need to hold onto for some very rare (a.k.a. probably won’t happen) occasion. Girl, just channel your inner Ariana Grande and say thank u, next.

Trust me. Decluttering areas of your home will not only provide you more space physically, but also give you a little relief from feeling like you’re surrounded by chaos.

Also, if you have no idea what I’m talking about or are unconvinced this will help, then go to Netflix (let’s be honest, you’re already watching it) and find the show “Tidying Up.” Watch a few episodes and let me know how you feel afterwards. :)

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo - the Queen of Clean Up.

Pack Your Planner

Whether you’re a huge sports junkie looking forward to opening day or just got into EDM and want to go to as many concerts as possible (@James), filling your calendar with events you’re genuinely excited about will help keep you motivated and looking forward.

It always feels like the weeks/days go by faster leading up to an event I’ve had marked in my planner for months because I’m so excited for the day to come. For example, my birthday is smack dab in the middle of prime winter blues season, so I always try to plan something with friends to celebrate. This year, I decided I want to hurl sharp objects at a giant wooden target, so we’re going ax throwing next weekend and I could not be more jacked about it…. (lol. get it? lumberjack? axes? lol.) :))))))

Start packing your planner (or Google Calendar for you tech-savvy people) with events you’re truly excited about for the upcoming months. That way, you have something to look forward to and keep you pushing through this gloomy weather.

Last but not least - March 20th.

That glorious Wednesday is officially the First Day of Spring.

Which means we are only 25 days away from, hopefully, the last signs of winter.

Who knows? Maybe the six-month stretch of gloom will even subside a little early this year, so we can trade in our sleeping bag coats for light jackets in preparation for April 25th. :)

Lease for one, please.

We’re going on three years since I started living by myself. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect because I’ve always had roommates since moving out of my parents’ house. There’s always been someone else to talk to, help problem solve, make the space feel more like a home instead of a temporary place, keep everything running smoothly, etc.

QUICK SHOUT OUT AND THROW BACK TO MY GIRLZ HANNY AND STERPH. I miss y’all and Cat Cat One.

Bless.

(Also, honorary shout out to my girl Hanna Q. We were only roommates for 3 weeks, but you’re an awesome roommate too and not just because you also go to bed at 8:30 p.m. every night lol.)

ANYWAYS.

Recently, I was asked if I like living alone and what my experience has been. After some reflection, I realized these past few years have taught me quite a bit about myself and life lessons in general.

Hales Lessons

Being my own roommate has been quite an experience. You learn a lot about yourself when it’s just you hanging out with you for the majority of time.

Lesson 1: I can kill bugs and spiders. (Most of the time.)

To this day my family will tell you I have “insect fear.” Though I only agree to an extent, I have two childhood memories that will mildly justify this irrational fear. One time, after swimming in my aunt’s pool, I could feel something moving in my ear canal and to no surprise because I was a melodramatic little shit, my dad thought it was just water. However, even if i wasn’t moving, the thing in my ear was. So, to humor me, Johnny gently stuck a hydrogen peroxide-soaked cotton swab in my eAR AND OUT CRAWLED A FREAKING BEETLE. TO WHICH MY DAD SAID, “OH MY GOD.” CORRECT, JOHN. OH EM GEE THERE’S A MOTHER FREAKIN BEETLE IN MY EAR LIKE. I. SAID. Story two, we had an earwig problem at my childhood home one summer. Those fuckers were just EVERYWHERE. I was having cereal out of one of those bowls that had a built-in straw, so that you could drink the cereal-infused milk afterwards (cue “90s kids will remember” Buzzfeed article). Welp, as I was about to dig into the cereal, guess what came crawling out of the MF straw…? Correct. An earwig. SO, I know I’m a bit bias, but I think my irrational dislike/fear of insects back in the day was justified. However, living alone, I’ve learned no one else is here to kill the little crawly shits. It’s on me to remove them from my home. So, ya girl has become a decently-confident bug killer. The only one that threw me for a whirl was a silver fish. If you don’t know what those are, Google it. I dare you.

Lesson 2: I don’t like to wear shoes in the house.

I won’t lie, I have become a mild germaphobe in the recent years. Not Howie Mendel level, but if you need hand sanitizer, I’m your girl. Which leads me to shoes in the house. Do you ever think about all of the places your shoes go throughout the day? Salt-covered sidewalks, gym locker rooms, PUBLIC FREAKING BATHROOMS! The bottoms of your shoes are an atrocious mess of bacteria that, personally, I don’t want to bring into my tiny apartment. Think of it this way, you walk around the house in your shoes for a bit and then a few hours later you’re walking barefoot through that same grime your shoes left behind. THEN, you get into your bed. Technically, you just brought bacteria from a public bathroom into your bed… How’re you going to sleep tonight knowing that?

(Also, I want to take a moment to apologize to Steph lol. I’m sorry I wore shoes at Copper Beech which made walking in the kitchen only 789843x louder in your room. Karma has done its job tho and put the loudest MF walker in the apartment above me…)

Lesson 3: I am an ambivert.

I know this one may surprise some of you due to how outgoing I can be, but it’s true. After living by myself for a while, I realized I am an ambivert, borderline introvert. I always used to think I was an extrovert. Not only because my Myers Brigg’s test usually comes out as ENFP, but I have a track record of being fairly outgoing and social. What I’ve learned though is just because someone is outgoing, doesn’t mean they draw their energy from being around other people. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out and having fun with people, but I can literally pinpoint the moment in time when I can feel my energy draining and all I want to do is go home and be by myself. I recharge by being alone, which is a perk when you’re living that sans roommate life.

Lesson 4: I function way better when I go to bed at 8:30 p.m.

This isn’t really a lesson, just a theory that I’ve had for a while and can now confidently say it’s true. :)

General Lessons Applicable for Life

Lesson 1: Make your needs known.

It took me a while to learn this one. When I moved into my quaint lil apartment, the water pressure from my kitchen sink was pathetic. I figured it’s just that it was just one of those “quirky Ann Arbor” things I had to deal with living in an old apartment. So, I just went about my way for almost a year and a half hand washing my dishes with the saddest water pressure ever. Last summer, I finally put in a maintenance request that my sink’s water pressure was pathetic. You wanna know what happened…? Turns out, my pipes were old and bad, so they replaced those as well as gave me an entirely new faucet with a built-in retractable handle. I know this one might sound like a no brainer, but I don’t think enough of us voice our needs enough. No one should ever feel guilty about voicing their needs either. It doesn’t make you demanding, it makes you transparent and the situation better for all of those involved. So, if you’re uncomfortable with a situation or maybe you need more from someone in a relationship (platonic or romantic), be transparent, speak your needs and see what happens.

Lesson 2: Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap is magic.

This one I actually learned yesterday while I was cleaning my kitchen (which happens to be more of a kitchenette as it is only one wall of my living room). My sink is white and can start to look tan or brown towards the end of the week as things like coffee, tea, etc. stain the bottom of it. Usually I use a small drop of bleach to clean it, but in this new year, I am trying to be more mindful about the chemicals I use, especially ones going down the sink. So, yesterday I grabbed the random bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap that was left behind by the girl I took this lease over for, and poured a bit into my kitchen sink. And by golly, WOULDN’T YA KNOW, it cleaned that thing better than any other chemical I’ve used in there to remove the stains.

So, moral of this story, if you’re trying to find safer cleaning products, Dr. Bronner’s is bomb.

Lesson 3: How to properly and effectively insulate a window air conditioner for the winter.

This was a “third time’s the charm” kind of lesson lol because it took me three years to perfect. This is the first time I’ve ever had a window air conditioner (really not a fan. (no pun intended)) and when winter rolls around you have to cover it on the inside to prevent the White Walkers from seeping through. (Because winter is here… get it? lol or should I say GoT it? LOL) The first year, as a novice, it was a disaster. The indoor cover I ordered from Amazon never came, so instead I decided to SARAN WRAP THE SHIT out of this thing. It was literally a mess of saran wrap and packing tape - kind of like one of Dexter’s victims but without the blood. After about a month of that not working as well as I hoped, I decided to tape a few unopened garbage bags over the saran wrap which sufficed. Year two of this sad series, I just went straight in with the garbage bags and packing tape. I think it probably had about 5 layers of garbage bags over it.** Way more successful than year one, but room for improvement for sure as I was missing one key component. Fast forward to 2018, I felt like a pro walking into JoAnn Fabrics with my 10% off coupon to buy scrap fabric to use as an insulator. The purple tie-dyed fleece went underneath the layers of trash bags this year, and that, my friends, is how you insulate your window air conditioner on a budget. :)

**I carefully take down the trash bag layers in the spring and use them as intended. I don’t waste them.

Ain’t she a beaut?

So, to wrap things up, I do like living alone. I also like living with roommates. There’s pros and cons to everything, but I figured I’d share some of the lessons I’ve learned through this experience. Honestly, there’s about 3243920 other lessons I’ve learned like how to grocery shop when eating for one, what are the essential tools everyone should have on hand (Philips Head screw driver fo’sho.), etc. but everyone’s experience is different. So, if there’s something you’ve learned while living alone, please share! I love learning life hacks/lessons from other people too.

Until my next sub-par written blog. :) pz. out.

Spilling that Sleepy Time Tea

“I’m tired.”

A phrase most of us hear daily and have definitely used in a few different contexts. According to my handy dandy Google search, the word “tired” can mean:

• In need of sleep or rest

  • As in: I’m tempted to take a nap in my car at lunch because I’m so tired today.

• Bored with/fed up with

  • As in: I am so tired of people saying pineapple shouldn’t go on pizza.

• No longer fresh or in good condition

  • As in: The Uggs you used to wear in middle school looked tiiiired.

Gave ya some examples in case you needed it used in a sentence. :)

Today though, my friends, we are going to focus on the first definition — needing sleep or rest.

Most people who have been in my life for a while or that I’m close to know that I have a chronic sleep disorder called Narcolepsy. For those of you who are unfamiliar or are quickly jumping to the wrong assumption that it’s the same thing as epilepsy, no need to worry. Hales is here to educate and inform.

Narcolepsy is excessive, uncontrollable daytime sleepiness.

It’s an incredibly overlooked, under diagnosed disorder and is more common than you’d expect. Though I eventually plan to dive deeper into my own experience with the disorder in a future post, I figured I’d start out with some of the facts.

So, today we’re going to bust some myths and spill some tea on this chronic sleep disorder.

*Cue Sleeping Beauty in Ghost Busters uniform because why not?*

Masterpiece drawn by my girl, Dilly Dalian.

All right, y’all. Let’s bust some myths.

Myth 1: Narcolepsy is a comical disorder that has been portrayed 100% accurately in the movies.

I remember watching Rat Race as a kid and the one character was so excited to be ahead of everyone else until all of a sudden, he’d stop dead in his tracks and fall asleep standing up. Though falling asleep mid-conversation is something that can happen, it’s not necessarily a daily occurrence. Plus, narcolepsy comes with an array of not-so fun symptoms in addition to all of the annoying sleepiness.

Myth 2: People with narcolepsy fall asleep all the time and can sleep whenever.

Even after being diagnosed with Narcolepsy, there was about four years where I was free balling the nighttime without a medication. Once I was put on a medication that puts me out at night, I realized how little I had been sleeping and how often I was waking up at night. Though people with narcolepsy struggle with extreme sleepiness during the day, a huge issue also experienced is disrupted nighttime sleep. It’s truly doing the most to make sure we aren’t getting sufficient sleep.

Myth 3: Being able to nap/sleep whenever would be nice.

False, my friend. So incredibly false. I was watching Family Feud not too long ago (last night. It was last night.) and one of the questions was something along the lines of “Where is the worst place to fall asleep?” and to no one’s surprise, “Work” was the number one answer. The incredibly strong physical feelings that come along with a sleep spell (or micro nap - whatever you want to call it) are so uncomfortable and unwelcome. Imagine having to excuse yourself from a meeting at work, so that your will eyes quit going out of focus, your speech will stop slurring and you don’t fall asleep on the table in front of your colleagues. It’s definitely not a luxury, especially when you cannot control the timing of your next micro nap.

Myth 4: Sleepiness = laziness.

I was never great at math, but I’m confident in calling some bullshit on this one. Go without sleep for about 2-3 days straight and that’s how a person with narcolepsy feels every day. It’s something we cannot control and is definitely not a sign of laziness. Besides, narcolepsy aside, one thing I learned a while ago during an internship in college from my mentor, the wonderful Erin, if you see someone who you know is normally a hard worker struggling to stay awake, maybe you should ask if he/she is okay. Maybe he/she is having a hard time at home or isn’t feeling well. You never know what someone is going through, so before assuming the sleepiness automatically means laziness, maybe check on the person first.

And, last but not least.

Myth 5: There’s a cure!

Though scientists are learning a lot more about this neurological autoimmune disorder that causes the gradual loss of neurons called hypocretin (or orexin), they haven’t quite found a cure for it yet. You cannot detect it from a blood test and the experience is incredibly different for everyone. So, what might work for one person (medications, etc.) may not work for the next person.

Well there ya have it. Five high-level myths about narcolepsy. If you’re ever interested in learning more, I highly recommend the book “Wide Awake and Dreaming: Memoir of Narcolepsy” by Julie Flygare. It’s an incredibly accurate and detailed book that helped people in my life understand truly what I’ve gone and continue to go through daily. s

Available here on Amazon, if you’re interested in a quick, but informational read. :)

Shout out to JF for her incredibly helpful website that inspired me to write this post as well.

For the record, I love talking about my experience with narcolepsy since most people aren’t very familiar with the disorder and I still plan to write a future post about my own personal experience with it. In the meantime though, please feel free to ask me questions and I’d be happy to spill some more of that Sleepy Time Tea. :)