I threw my back out the last two weeks
So here's all the things I bought and got online.
Remember how I threw my back out right before Thanksgiving? (From bending to feed my dog Miles?) It turned out to be really, really bad. Like I haven’t had a back injury this bad in over a decade. The last time this happened, my doctor literally handed me a written prescription for “Pilates.” And as someone who hates to sweat, I admit I have not been focusing on my core strength... at all… but I will! I promise!
For now, I’m just trying to recover. The recovery has been slow and humbling. I’ve spent the last two weeks standing, walking, or sitting up straight for only 5-10 minutes at a time. Tuesday was my first time venturing anywhere other than my chiropractor’s — we went to see Zootopia 2 which was only 1.5 hours but I spent the entire time shifting positions because my back was so uncomfortable and sore.
Thus, when I’m not on the floor using my new foam roller, or hobbling around with my new back support belt, I have spent a lot of time on my couch, alternating between an ice pack and my beloved heating pad. I watched a lot of movies, read a lot of books, played a lot of video games, and listened to a lot of music.
I also did quite a bit of retail therapy — I bought stuff for others, but also a lot for myself. I’m only human. And also, I got to open some early birthday and Xmas gifts too! Here’s what I thought was worth sharing.
Sorry this is going to get random.
📚 I usually only listen to audiobooks these days, but since I need something else to do while I’m lying horizontally, I’ve been reading physical ones too. That’s when I realized I was getting a lot of papercuts on my ultra dry fingers so I bought something I didn’t even know existed until a week ago — a wooden book holder! You can get a bunch of custom ones on Etsy, but this one I grabbed off of Amazon — it’s shaped like a dog! BTW the book I’m reading is First Person Singular, a collection of short stories by Haruki Murakami and I just finished listening to all of The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai, which is 25 and a half hours long!
🚽 When Abe saw this Urea Cream Stick on my nightstand he was like, “Uh, why don’t I just pee on your foot?” which sparked a very educational discussion about whether urine and urea are the same thing. I’m embarrassed to say that even after a lot of googling, I still am unsure. No matter, I love this little stick because I hate rubbing things into my foot and it has softened and soothed all the little dry patches. And I don’t just put it on my foot! I rub it on my cuticles too.
🚫 I did want to mention two things I bought that I did not love — the very over-hyped Biodance Collagen Mask which you have to keep on for so long (and is unpleasant to eat in) and did NOT give me glassy skin. At all. And also the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum (I blame the product placement in Nobody Wants This Season 2). My mom used to yell at me for using hers so maybe I subconsciously was still afraid I’d get in trouble — it also made me break out a little.
🧴 Speaking of zits, I want to applaud this product: Ordinary’s Sulfur 10% Powder-to-Cream Acne Spot Concentrate. It seriously is amazing, like replaces pimple patches! It doesn’t smell like anything, and goes on like a powder but then rubs in like a cream. It has stopped about 3-4 deep ones from forming.
💛 I wanted to get myself a little necklace that was gold or gold plated to wear regularly without worrying about it breaking or falling off. I was surprised how charmed I was by this 14k Gold Plated Heart Necklace from Target, of all places, marked 79% off from $70 to $14. I think it’s technically for children, but who cares? It fits!
👻 One of my nightgown goals has been to look like a Victorian ghost. I have been eyeing all of Eileen West's many, many options since the summer, so when my mother-in-law asked what I wanted, I told her about my ghost goals. She very generously gave me an early birthday/Hannukah gift with a set — a sleeveless nightgown AND the matching robe — but the bonus is that you can just keep the robe buttoned and it’s a long-sleeved gown!
🎀 I got this giant bow clip from Target and it really completes the romantic vibe I’ve been looking to achieve.
🤨 I’ve been loyal to Tweezerman since JHS and usually send them off to be sharpened (which I’ve done, twice). But I didn’t want to wait (it can take months) so I just bought this set of 4 for $10. They work great!
💡 The gorgeous vintage lamp you see belonged to Abe’s grandmother, but it doesn’t work very well as a reading light. This Wee Scoon Cordless Lamp can be moved around and is impressively bright!
🕯️ I wanted a big candle to burn while I hung out doing nothing, so I bought myself this giant unscented one from Nordstrom.
🎁 Gift cards are great, but I prefer to send something physical. Especially food gifts. If you have last minute gifting to do, I recommend using Goldbelly because they offer an email to schedule so that the recipient can fit the delivery to their availability. In the past I’ve ordered Giordano’s Deep Dish Chicago Pizza which worked out great, and if I could still eat gluten I’d love some of my favorite NYC Knishes. I also like using Sugarwish because it allows them to choose exactly what they want, and all you need is their email address.
🛁 This bath mat from Quince came in a set of two and is sooooo soft. They also go perfectly with the bath towels that it took me three years to find.
💄 Here’s everything I used for the makeup look above.
👚 J. Crew gave me $20 for my birthday so I got myself this red turtleneck, plus this Crewneck Sweatshirt in Merino Wool that I’ve had on my wishlist for a while. Both are on sale for an extra 50% off!
🎄 A total impulse buy, but I have been coveting this Fair Isle fleece from Cider. I knew it wouldn’t arrive until January, well after the itch to wear it was gone. So instead, I got the next best thing, which is this Target sweater at almost half the price.
Holiday Gifts From PR
🍿 I have only watched Keeping Up With the Kardashians when I’m on a plane with TV (which hasn’t been for a long time) but I have to admit I really like some of those sister’s products. Both Abe and I are big SKIMS underwear fans, and now I got to preview the new flavor of Khloe’s Khloud Protein Popcorn, Cinnamon Roll, which I believe launches today! I have liked everything I’ve sampled so far — they’re all gluten-free and have this velvety-puffy texture to them (from the protein I’m assuming) that is kinda addictive. Watch my blind taste test reaction here!
🎂 I love not wearing a bra so when Cakes offered to send me their grippy nipple covers to try, I was like YES PLEASE. They’re not sticky — they adhere to body heat — so I put them in tighter tops — and the triangle shape makes the good for v-necks. Plus, I think that they will last forever since they don’t have any adhesive.
💊 Perelel is OB-GYN-founded and makes supplements to support hormones — whether it’s for fertility or menopause or just getting horny again. I’m pretty set on my current regime so I got some protein powder to add to my Ninja Creami recipes.
💈 I mentioned I got a T3 Aire 360 recently so I was very excited to try the Glassy Smooth Blowdry Spray from Chris McMillan (the hairstylist responsible for “The Rachel” haircut). I’ve only used it once, but the result was smoother/less frizzy hair.
Gifts For You!
And finally, I’m also about to pick/email the winner for two reader giveaways — a custom Prose regimen and Jukebox’s I’ll Be Home for Cookies soap. All you need to do is have a paid subscription and you’re automatically entered for the drawing!
Have you tried you hand, back, at one of those vertical traction tables? They work. Extremely well. Shockingly.
Wishing you a speedy recovery!