Monday Mix #3

I realize it's technically Tuesday, but it's my first day of the work week. This week, mostly chatting about my new ethos of "fiercely editing," along with milling my own flour and sneaker shopping.

This Ralph Lauren sweater from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi is one of my most prized possessions! You can see that blast-from-the-past blog post here. Also, I’m LOLing at the absolute chokehold these Karen Walker sunglasses had on bloggers (myself, obviously, included) during this era.

You’ll learn why both these designer sunglasses and this Ralph Lauren sweater feel relevant for this post, twelve years later…

What’s On My Mind

Fiercely Editing … (No Cherry Picking)

A new mantra I’ve been thinking about lately is “fiercely editing.” Along the same lines of “if it’s not a f*ck yes, it’s a no,” a way to think about what items, people, and/or energy you allow to be in your orbit. It can be small, like a sweater that doesn’t fit just right, a bra that makes your boobs look weird, or cute socks that were a gift that unfortunately stretch out and suck to wear. Or, it can be bigger — like your eye doctor that somehow always makes you feel like shit.

I mentioned this as my ‘thorn’ from last week, but I left my eye exam appointment last week in SUCH a foul mood. For a bit of back story… I found this eye doctor when I had a massive stye-turned-eyelid-infection the week of my wedding and needed help FAST. He could get me in that same day, which was the most important thing, but thinking of longterm eye health (I had been putting off getting my eyes checked for a couple of years), he has an office both downtown and in the suburb that Dave is from. We have no plans to move to the suburbs anytime soon, but if we ever did, it would likely be to Dave’s hometown.

I was in/out of his office at least two, maybe three times, that week of my wedding. From the initial exam, I had to get on oral antibiotics to reduce the swelling before he could do a treatment that would manually express the glands on my eyelids. Once the antibiotics kicked in, I went back in later in the week for the ‘iLux’ treatment, which he had never mentioned was $700 and not covered by insurance. What option did I have, though?? It was an obvious yes.

A few months after the wedding, I went back in for my vision exam and to talk about getting glasses. Most of what we chatted about, though, was the new IPL laser treatment he recommended I get, which would help with my dry eyes and proneness to styes. Just a casual $2200! Having just had a wedding (or really, two weddings) and our expensive honeymoon coming up, I was able to punt the conversation.

I got the conversation back to my eyesight and if I ‘needed’ glasses, to which the response was just “Well, would you like to see better?” Trying on glasses in his office after the appointment didn’t go well… I didn’t have makeup on (because I was getting my eyes checked), bad lighting, and it was the middle of January and the winter uglies were definitely out in full force. I took a picture of a few pairs that were my best options, which I later showed to my girlfriend and I believe I got an, “oh my gosh, NO.” Not to mention, every single pair was designer: Tom Ford, Oliver Peoples, Saint Laurent, Gucci, etc. So every pair of glasses that I didn’t even like would be at least $500 with lenses, and that was after the $200 credit provided by my insurance. Cool, cool, cool.

These were the best four from the designer options at his office in January 2025

Semi-related tangent — I used to adore designer sunglasses. They were all I bought! Chanel, Tom Ford, Dior, Celine, Gucci, Valentino — I splurged on them all. But then I realized that 1. I always scratched them somehow, even when I was careful to put them back in their cases 80% off the time, 2. they would loosen up and need to be fixed constantly, and 3. losing a pair of $500 sunglasses feels like a swift kick in the stomach. Over the last seven or eight years, I’ve learned to love inexpensive sunglasses. Amazon, Quay, DIFF, Target… I love being able to have 20 different pairs that I can pull out to enhance an outfit.

I may be repeating myself from posts over the last few weeks, but I dragged my husband to Warby Parker over the holiday break to help me pick out a pair of glasses. (Almost a year after going to the eye doctor last.) Turns out prescriptions expire and since I was a few weeks from that expiration date, I figured I might as well get a fresh eye exam to make sure my glasses are exactly what I need. We ended up purchasing three pairs of glasses at Warby Parker that day and I was to simply upload my new prescription after my appointment. Easy peasy! I felt pretty good about finding a few pairs that I liked and having options for different outfits and occasions. (I don’t think I got any pictures of the glasses we bought, but I’ll share once they arrive.)

So, I go in for my eye exam last week and lead with the fact that “Somehow it’s been a year and I never got glasses, but I finally bought three pairs and just need my new prescription!” He scoffed at the fact that I went to Warby Parker and said that “they can be fine for someone without astigmatism, but he would strongly advise against it” for me. Welp shit, good thing I already bought three pairs. But also, I have astigmatism?? News to me.

He then gets into the eye exam part and is doing another hard sell on the IPL treatments. I’m trying to get information on how urgent this really is… I would love to do it at some point, but would I be screwing my eye health by waiting a few years? Is there anything else I can be doing (or not doing) at home to help with this? “Well, you can get the treatment.” That doesn’t answer my questions at all…

“How long have you had the cherry hemangioma on your forehead?”

Panicking, I say, “This red spot?? Why? Does it look abnormal or cancerous??”

“No,” he says, “but I could remove it for you with the IPL machine when we do the treatments.”

I’m sorry, what?? I don’t know how I even responded, but all of these thoughts were swirling through my head… Pretty sure you’re an optometrist, not a dermatologist. What makes you think I would trust you to remove something on my face? NOT TO MENTION, it doesn’t bother me and I’m not even looking to get it removed. Honestly, I’m still in shock thinking about it.

I try to assure him that I definitely want to do the series of four laser treatments at some point, but I’m not able to do it right now. I’m bummed I already ordered glasses at Warby Parker if they’re not going to work for my eyes, but it was important to me to be able to afford multiple pairs. “Well, have you ever thought about contacts??”

I didn’t know contacts were on the table??? Now that he had told me about my astigmatism, I was remembering my mom could never wear contacts, only glasses because of her astigmatism. “Well, now they have contacts that work with an astigmatism.” Okay, contacts seem a lot better for someone who doesn’t love the look of glasses on their face! Definitely something to keep in mind. But again, why is this the first I’m hearing of this? All of my questions are answered with vague questions and blanket statements. I feel like I’m learning nothing about my vision or eye health, or even if I ‘need’ glasses or contacts, but it’s always just a sell… How can I get more money from you today?

I’m finally out in the waiting room, pay my $60 copay, get my prescription printed. As soon as I get in my car, I open up the email from Warby Parker and submit a picture of my prescription. The system alerts me that my prescription doesn’t have my “PD” on there, and to do some type of face scan to figure it out. I figure since I’m still outside of his office, I might as well go back in to try to figure this out. When I go back in he says, in the most petty of ways, “That’s something Warby Parker will have to help you with, but that’s the measurement I told you to be cautious of.”

Are you kidding me? It’s so obvious that he has no intention of actually helping me get the care that I need, just how he can collect cash from me. I end up calling Warby Parker and asking if I can come get this measurement done IRL instead of doing the face scan app, but it turns out the nice person that helped me in-store already did the PD measurement in person that day we bought the glasses. So I was all set — the glasses should be to me in ~two weeks.

I was honestly just like fuming in the car though… Feeling so put off by his demeanor, feeling like I just lit money on fire at Warby Parker on glasses that won’t work for me, and honestly feeling let down by the fact that I chose this doctor based on the fact it could be a longterm relationship. Typing out all of this now, it’s like DUH, this guy sucks, find a new eye doctor. But somehow I had gotten it in my head that this would be the eye doctor I would see for years to come, even if I were to move out of the city.

Honestly, ChatGPT is great for little emergency therapy sessions, along with providing more information about the problem.

And to make me feel even better, it helped me find a few options for highly-rated eye doctors that carry the same IPL machine for any future appointments. Because I will NOT be giving that man another dollar or minute of my time. Fiercely editing!!!

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Read, Watch, Listen

I can’t remember how I came across this article, but I enjoyed reading it. “I don’t want a job”

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In the Kitchen

We’ve made this easy turkey chili recipe twice in the last two weeks! We made this when we had friends over for the Bears game this weekend and it was a hit. The first time we made it, it was a very classic-tasting recipe. The second time, Dave subbed half of the chili powder with chipotle chili powder for more of a kick. It was great both ways!

I mentioned this last week that we were considering, but we bought a grain mill! And I just ordered organic wheat berries from a farm in western Idaho. 🌾 I recognize I sound like a tradwife on a homestead, but I’m on a quest to learn more about inflammation in the body. Every health issue I have (metabolic syndrome, rosacea, meibomian gland dysfunction, carpal tunnel, just to name a few 😅) seems to stem from inflammation in the body. This is not a notated health journal, but it’s the best one-pager I could find that discusses the epidemic that’s white flour and why I decided to get a grain mill.

We also just got the pasta attachments for our stand mixer, so I’m quite excited to mill my own flour to make homemade pasta!

These Raisin Bran muffins are also on my baking list!

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Open Tabs

Have you seen J.Crew’s collaboration with the US Ski & Snowboard team? So much vintage ski nostalgia that would be perfect for upcoming ski trips!

Ralph Lauren has a collection, too! I’ve been adding all of my favorite USA-inspired finds to this collection here. Can’t wait to start watching the Olympics in a few weeks!

How darling is this little shirt dress for spring and summer?! The same print comes in a maxi version, as well.

I’m obsessed with this bracelet stack! SO fun for spring and summer to add a little personality and pop of color.

I was very excited to shop the Zara Home sale online, but I’m shook by the lack of information on product pages. A pillow cover (without an insert, mind you), but “We do not have size information for this item.” 🤔 Dafuq. This one, too. We need a new pillow cover for one of the rectangular pillows on our couch, but not having measurements is wild. Is it somewhere I’m missing?? UPDATE: When you click the “add” button, the measurements pop up. Whew! Not the size I need, but at least it’s there.

I was chatting with my girlfriends over the weekend about water filters (#thisis36) and telling them about this filter I came across that’s on my wish list once we have an actual pantry. I love having our Brita in the refrigerator because I love ice cold water, but I keep reading that room temperature water is better for your nervous system.

How fun are these dining chairs for a funky accent?! If our walls weren’t already green, I would definitely consider.

I love the look of this cropped hoodie and these wide-leg pants, but I fear I’m too messy for the light color. (Always be spillin’ is, unfortunately, my life mantra.) The set is also available in red, but it feels too specific.

I’ve been on the hunt for a new pair of athletic sneakers (mainly for walking) and I keep coming up short. Question for you, if you’ve tried Salomon — does the little drawstring cord bounce around and tap your laces every time you take a step??? I feel like it would, which (I think) would drive me crazy. I’ve had countless pairs of Air Max sneakers over the years, so I kind of want to try something different. I ordered two pairs of Asics (these in white/clay canyon and these in cloud grey/oatmeal) and think that maybe I don’t love either of them?? I feel like “Fiercely Editing” applies to what I bring into my closet, too — I’m not buying or keeping something if it’s just ‘meh.’

I used to have these in grey and really liked them (comfy for walking!), so maybe I try the blue (new spruce / sea salt)?! Goes with nothing, so it goes with everything, you know??

Also considered this Flower Mountain pair (not sure which color way), but they’re ~3x the price, which doesn’t really feel worth it for sneakers that get dirty with city walking?

I like these New Balances in the dark olivine / silver metallic, but apparently everyone else did, too, because they’re sold out in almost every size.

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