Friday Thoughts
January. WHAT A MONTH. What a month.
How are you? That question has depth. I really would love to know: how are you??
It’s been a while since my last Friday Thoughts post, and considering they are some of my favorite posts (simply based on everything you guys share with me in the comments), I knew I wanted (needed?) to get one up today.
It might be just past midnight on Friday night but we’re still calling this a Friday Thoughts post! 🙂
1. New Year’s Resolutions
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s basically February, but how are those new year’s resolutions going?
Confession: I don’t set them. I learned years ago that I hated new year’s resolutions because they just made me feel guilt, pressure, and failure. I like goal-setting, but I don’t like the pressure of setting all.the.goals on January 1.
I started out this year young and full of hope. I was going to finally write a cookbook! And tackle several other projects (blog and not-blog related).
I was days away from signing a contract for a cookbook when January really hit. It’s hard to sum everything up, but let’s just say that 2022 hasn’t been the greatest start to a year in the history of ever for me and my family.
Unexpected illnesses. Unexpected job losses. Unexpected commitments. Unexpected reasons to take deep breaths and also look for blessings. Unexpected deep-reaching, soul-searching (and soul-sucking) challenges at every level, it seems.
So, I’ve had to regroup a little and really believe in the words: there is a time and season for everything. And right now, right in this moment of January 28, my time and season is to just make it through. And I can do that.
How is 2022 going for you? I REALLY WANT TO KNOW.
2. Microblading
Very unimportant question here, and yet I’d really love to know. Eyebrow microblading? Have you done it? Do you recommend it?
I have a history of thyroid disease (I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Disease and thyroid cancer in 2008; I had surgery, radiation, and have had a lot of struggles regulating my thyroid hormones since then).
Among the many (!!) areas of life it affects is my eyebrows. That might sound strange, but thyroid + eyebrow thinning or hair loss is really common. And it’s frustrating and annoying.
My poor little eyebrows have gotten worse in the last year and I’m considering microblading but I’m skeered.
My sister has had it done (she has many of the same thyroid issues I do), and hers look natural and amazing, but I’m nervous, because I just know I’m going to end up looking like Bert from Sesame Street (no offense, Bert, you’re my favorite).
Thoughts? Advice? Pros and Cons?
Any other eyebrow tips? I don’t wear a lot of makeup so trying to pencil in eyebrows with some kind of “tool” has me more nervous than microblading, tbh.
3. Things I’m Loving
This gurgle pot {aff. link} my mom gave me for Christmas. It is honestly the most clever and fun gift. My kids have never drunk (drank?) so much water in their lives. The pot gurgles as you pour, and that gluggety-glug sound apparently never gets old. So fun. I have a white one but there are some color variations online (here and on Amazon if you search “gurgle pot”).
These sugar cookies. They are next level delicious. I have made them probably eight times in the last two weeks for various events, and they just never get old. A sweet friend told me last week that when she eats one it is like taking a bite out of a fluffy cloud and a rainbow at the same time. So. I made an Instagram reel dedicated to that.
This sweet and sour licorice. {aff. link} I posted on Instagram about it last fall. But I’m still over here, four months later, inhaling bag after bag. Sweet and sour candy is my fave. And these little nubbins of licorice with their sweet and sour coating are just downright amazing. I buy 12 bags at a time on Amazon and occasionally share.
4. Winner of a Christmas Gift
While we are on the subject of winning items…this year for Christmas I decided to give each of the kids a 3-month subscription box. It was hands down the unexpected big hit of Christmas. Turns out, my kids get giddy at getting a package in the mail with their name on it (instead of the daily Amazon prime delivery updates all addressed to, ahem, me).
- Ramen noodle box for Jackson (17)
- SnackSack for Walker (16)
- Breakfast Club box for Cade (14)
- Eureka Crate (from Kiwi Co) for Ty (13)
- Doodle Crate (from Kiwi Co) for Camryn (9)
We’ve only gotten through one month but every single one has been a hit and perfect for the kid who got it.
The snack box has been SO fun and unique (and yummy!).
I’ll admit one of the ramen flavors in J’s box had me side-eyeing (but he loved it).
The Kiwi crates kept the kids busy for hours, and Cade, the resident chef around here, was thrilled about his make-your-own breakfast (although I should have thought this one through because I think there might be coffee in most of the boxes – we don’t drink coffee, although it’s one of my favorite smells ever, so it looks like he’ll be gifting the coffee to a few of his favorite teachers at school).
PS: the other big hit of Christmas was the homemade puzzle boxes Brian made each of the kids and the Comfy they each got on Christmas Eve. We’ve had to have a few talks about where and when it’s appropriate to where said Comfys. As in, not church.
5. Wordle
I almost don’t even dare ask, but have you gotten on the wordle train yet?
We are recent converts (it took me one day to become obsessed – I love word games). While we aren’t “those people” (haha) sharing our stats on social media…and actually since my teens don’t have social media…we are keeping the sharing to a family group text.
I have a feeling it’s about to get very competitive. 🙂
6. Wrestling + Volleyball
We are a wrestling family. And this time of year is busy, busy with high school wrestling.
All three of my high schoolers are wrestling. It’s the best of times (I love watching them, even if I cringe a lot and sometimes, even after 12 years of being a wrestling mom, still shout things like “rip his arms off!!” despite them telling me that is NOT helpful wrestling advice and could I please just watch quietly or stick with half nelson encouragements?) and the worst of times (this season has been plagued with injuries and a lot a lot of stinky wrestling gear).
Don’t worry, they’re much more excited than their facial expressions show in this photo. (Sidenote: teenage boys and photos, amiright?)
In case you follow wrestling and care (it’s ok if you don’t), we have a 98-pounder, 145-pounder, and 120-pounder.
It brings back memories of these years when they were much younger and had no qualms about running around our 950-square foot house in northern Minnesota in their singlets all.day.long. Oh wait, they still do. Again: TEENAGE BOYS, AMIRIGHT??
And while we’re on the subject of nostalgic wrestling pictures (this is my blog, and I guess I’m going down a wrestling rabbit hole today and no one can stop me), this is one of my favorite pictures of all time a few years ago when all four of the boys were wrestling in the club season. I think I’ll put this on my phone as my desktop to remind me that on the hard days of parenting and life, there have been a lot of great times, too.
In other news, little sis is playing volleyball for the first time and loving it! It’s a new experience for all of us (don’t worry, I keep my mouth shut and haven’t yelled the same alarming phrases as I do at wrestling tournies), and it has been so much fun.
AND she gets to be on the same team as her cousin who happens to have her exact same birthday so in the language of 9-year old girls: ohmygoshthisisthebestthingeverrrrr!!!! and I concur: it is the best thing ever.
7. Losing Friends
In the midst of everything January has brought to us, good and bad, we lost our incredibly dear friend, next door neighbor, and adopted grandmother this week. 💔
You’ve seen her here on the blog (on this cake post) and here on this Friday Thoughts post talking about her son, Jared, who was fighting a battle with early onset Alzheimers disease (and who passed away last fall).
Carol has been an integral part of our lives for the last 7 1/2 years since we’ve lived here.
Her loss was sudden and unexpected. I’m sitting here looking through teary, glazed eyes trying to write this. It doesn’t seem real yet. And it doesn’t seem fair.
Carol was the wisest and kindest of women. Over the years, she became a treasured friend and confidante. I will miss her tremendously (so will all of us, particularly Cam, who walked over and sat on Carol’s back deck several times a week to talk with her about kittens and school and how to deal with pestering brothers).
Her family meant everything to her. 12 children. Over 70 grandchildren. And 10+ great grandchildren.
I hope I can be like her as I grow up. She was remarkable and we will miss her fiercely.
8. Fill in the Blank
How would you finish this?
I WISH ________________________________
I think I’d go with:
I wish I could have the self-control to freaking go to bed before midnight.
And.
I wish I could take away the pain and injustices in this world for those I love.
This was a long Friday Thoughts post. If you made it to the end…well, like I always say, you deserve a prize. A cookie. 12 1/2 cookies! I appreciate you. So very much.
Yes, I had my brows micro bladed five years ago just before I had Mohs surgery. I might look more like Bert than you would want, but I like dark brows, ha ha! It’s expensive, but I definitely recommend it. I also had a thyroidectomy, but didn’t experience thinning brows. They were just really uneven.
Can’t remember what else I wanted to comment on, but just to say hi, Mel!! Also can’t believe our babies are double digits!!!
Just found you and loved reading this. My brothers wrestled so relate to all that. Wordle – love word games/puzzles also and find this a great way to keep in touch with my kids (young adults). We post among the four of us and it keeps us in touch.
Looking forward to your recipes, suggestions for family, etc. !
Hi Mel,
I feel your eyebrow pain! I naturally had eyebrows like burt from Sesame Street. However, since I hit 45 (almost 2 years ago) my brows and lash began to thin alot! I actually have places that won’t grow hair at all anymore. I’m not into the drawn in eyebrows or false eye lashes. I’ve hear that many lash and brow products can cause eye and skin irritation and discoloring (yikes). a couple months ago i found a product called Vegamour. Its a vegan product. It took a few weeks, but i started to see results and have not had any side effects. I may be worth looking into. https://vegamour.com/products/gro-lash-brow-kit. Good Luck!
Iove your blog!
I have been following your blog for a long, long time! Please take care of yourself and prioritize your well being, and when the cookbook comes out I will be so excited to buy it!
I got two bags of the Wiley Wallaby Sourrageous Drops based on your recommendation. Oh. My. Goodness! I’m addicted! I might eat the whole bag at once if my tongue doesn’t start bleeding first. 🙂
I love you Friday thoughts posts! Thank you for sharing your life and recipes! Love it! Yes to micro blading! Did it a few years ago and it’s been the best thing ever. Do your research and see peoples work and make sure where you get it done that the person really cares about cleanliness and sanitation. It shouldn’t be too painful. I had a little pain when the numbing cream was wearing off. But one of the best things I did for myself!
Mel I love your Friday posts! I literally thought the other day “I want to show up on Mel’s doorstep and Hang out with her!”
I remember seeing those young pics of your kids! So fun! I’m sorry about your losses. So hard to lose those close to us. Much love and thanks to you for sharing yummy food and putting your heart out/ even after midnight. Hugs! Ashlee from Utah
Mel, you are doing a great job. 🙂
*and I love Wordle too
Mel, would you ever post about how you handle smart phones, social media and teenage boys? I have 3 boys and will be entering that phase in life sooner than I’d like! I would love to hear about what has worked and what hasn’t for your family–knowing full well that every family/child is different. Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic!
I have had thyroid disease for about 30 years. I’ve been on medication the whole time and it’s under great control, but my eyebrows have never regrown. I’ve had microblading done for the past 4 years and I love it! They have a much more natural shape than when I drew them on. A few thoughts on microblading 1) Get a recommendation from a client whose eyebrows you like. 2) Ask for a more natural look—no sharply squared corners, not too close together, or too dark a pigment. 3) The first week you will feel a little like Bert. They are much darker and more prominent that first week, but then they scab up (just tiny scabs, not too noticeable, but don’t pick at them.) After the scabs fall off they look much more natural. 4) Even though they eventually fade, and need to be done about every year, it gives me a good template to fill them in with makeup. Mine fade pretty quickly since I have older skin. When they start to fade I fill them in with dark brown eyeshadow, then with IT eyebrow pencil in Universal Taupe when they need more help. Yearly touch-ups are cheaper and quicker then the original appointment.
I have had thyroid disease for about 30 years. I’ve been on medication the whole time and it’s under great control, but my eyebrows have never regrown. I’ve had microblading done for the past 4 years and I love it! They have a much more natural shape than when I drew them on. A few thoughts on microblading 1) Get a recommendation from a client whose eyebrows you like. 2) Ask for a more natural look—no sharply squared corners, not too close together, or too dark a pigment. 3) The first week you will feel a little like Bert. They are much darker and more prominent that first week, but then they scab up (just tiny scabs, not too noticeable, but don’t pick at them.) After the scabs fall off they look much more natural. 4) Even though they eventually fade, and need to be done about every year, it gives me a good template to fill them in with makeup. Mine fade pretty quickly since I have older skin. When they start to fade I fill them in with dark brown eyeshadow, then with IT eyebrow pencil in Universal Taupe when they need more help.
Microblading: yes! I also have thyroid disease and have lost most of my eyebrows. I did microblading in January of 2020. It’s supposed to be redone each year and mine is getting thin but it’s giving me a shape to fill in with makeup and I can live with it the way it is. I’m very glad I did it.
My eyebrows took a bad hit when I went through chemotherapy. (Age 44) Everything is thinner and my eyebrows are significantly lighter. I don’t even know what micro blading is, but I have been using a lm eyebrow mascara and it seems to do the trick. I’m not loving how high maintenance I’ve become post-chemo, but grateful for the little things that keep me feeling beautiful.
My daughter and I made your bagels yesterday! We doubled the recipe and added a tablespoon of cinnamon, then topped them with a bit of cinnamon sugar. Yumm!!! Thank you Mel!
I love your reading your Friday posts and getting even more of a personal peek into your life. I’m sorry January has been so hard especially with the passing of your friend.
January has been a rough one for sure over here too. Though Wordle has been a fun find! We are loving it. I have my oldest two daughter (7 and 9) playing every day too and it’s been so fun.
Maybe some has said this already but you should try Madluvv or The Brow Trio! I’ve used both and as soon as I started, everyone asked if I got them micro bladed! My sister in law used to microblade but got tired of the upkeep and switched to the brow trio and her brows look the same! There are also brow serums you can try that enhance brow growth.
I finally found a time to read every word. It is so difficult sometimes to understand the challenges that come our way. As I find myself to say Okay Heavenly Father what am I suppose to learn from this. It is so nice to look back and see what I learned and grew from. It has always helped me to address Heavenly Father and ask in prayer. That comforting arm has always been there to engulf me in his love. It is there for you as well. Find the good each day and laughter. You need both each day often.
Hugs,
Melinda
I’m laying in (Emily’s ) bed bawling at the beautiful tribute you gave to my mom. ❤ She loved you Mel, so, so much. It was the biggest blessing to have you be her neighbor! Your family has taken such great care of her and dad for so many years! Also, you have been AMAZING to us through all the tragedies in the family with your delicious dinners and endless service! (Especially the therapy sessions) Also, I can testify that your cookies do wonders for the broken heart!! Love you!
Now bring me some more of those cloud- rainbow cookies!
I wish… that we could meet IRL someday! And that I could express how much joy and light and laughter you bring to the world!! I’ve got kids exactly the same ages as you, and life is NUTS and AWESOME and HARD all wrapped together. 🙂 You have genius ideas for gifts, and I’ve got to say Goat Lords is now an all time favorite card game for our family.
I love your big heart – thanks for sharing it with the world. Prayers for you and your sweet friend’s family. Friends like that change our lives and encourage us to live better.
Wordle’s been haunting me ever since I looked it up yesterday. It reminds me of Bookworm Adventures from PopCap. My husband plays the minigame called Word Masters which is really similar to Wordle but you try to figure out as many words as you can to build points than just once a day!
I love your Friday thoughts! And especially when I get to my email on Monday and read through them :).
Thanks for being real & sharing. It makes all of us feel like we’re not the only ones! 2021 was hard… in so many ways that I’m still just not recovered from. And January… it’s always long! Lol.
Microblading.. YES!! I’ve had mine done and I LOVE them. I’m s redhead and so I had super light eyebrows that were hardly there. It’s been one of the best things! Do your research and look at the work of whomever you have do them. Make sure she’s good 🙂 and you will love them!!
Sorry for your loss of your friend Carol. She sounds like a special lady that will be missed.
And also…Thanks for sharing your recipes. I love them all!
It’s been a hard January for sure! Sending hugs to you!!! And I’m headed to the kitchen right now to make those delicious sugar cookies! ❤️❤️
Love your Friday thoughts posts. Thanks for sharing your heart. We made your grilled salmon recipe for dinner tonight before the snow storm hits Kansas City. It’s a favorite of every single one of us and with 6 different opinions at the dinner table every night it’s rare that we all agree. So sorry for your loss. Carol sounds like a really special friend and neighbor. Saying a prayer for you now.
Losing people that we love is so hard, and I am thankful for the many things that keep me busy and going. Hugs to you and I am glad that you have such a loving family and the memories to hold onto.
I have permanent makeup and love it. The other commenters are right about doing your research and having a consultation before fully committing. If it will add more confidence to your beautiful self, do it.
I wish the aliens would leave my teenager’s body.
I came to your site to tell you how much we loved the wild rice salad, so I guess I need to go rate that recipe. Oh, the English teacher in me can’t myself; it is “have drunk.”
Deep breaths and hugs.
Mel – I am so sorry about the loss of your friend and neighbor. The loss of someone close is very hard. Life seems to move on too quickly and I have been left wanting to shout “don’t you know the world is different now that she or he is gone?!!”
Anyway, I also wish I could get to bed earlier or that there were 4 more magic hours in the day just for moms or that every hour of sleep I got would count as 3. When I am really tired I ask God to please make the sleep I did receive be sufficient for my day.
Love that picture of you and your boys. Being a mom can be hard but as I focus on all the good and fun things about our day, I am amazed at how much more good there is than hard (not bad because the hard is just as important).
I’ve never heard of microblading until your post. My eyebrows are thin as well but probably from just getting older. I recently started using IT cosmetics eyebrow pencil. I think the color is universal taupe. My sister told me about it and she and I are NOT makeup people. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and I love it. It’s super easy to use. My sister and I both are using the same color and it works for both of us. She has light brown hair and I have dark brown.
If you want to do a cookbook, then I hope everything works out. If not, I hope you don’t do it. If you do, I will buy one and put it right beside my binder that is stuffed full of your recipes that I have printed off.
Thank you for all you do for us in this community you have built. You really are a wonderful person!
January has been rough. Like, lowest points of my life rough. I have spent many hours on my knees. Fortunately things have been better the last few days. Hopefully I can gain some momentum and have some time to breathe and renew. There’s so much to juggle, and I’m trying to learn to just deal with what I can and pass on all the rest.
Sorry for the loss of your friend. Losing someone close to us leaves a hole, but often they can be with us more from the other side than this one.
We are starting to get a taste of competitions/sports as my oldest just started Jr. Color Guard. She loves it so much. It’s a lot of work, driving, hair/makeup, practice, but it’s good too! I love that you support your boys in wrestling. I’m not sure I could handle the physicality of it (or the germs of it lol).
Lastly, thanks for being open and vulnerable. Online you can feel like everyone is healthy/beautiful/funny/got-it-all-together or everything is doom-gloom-despair. Your sharing reminds us that life is hard and has ups and downs. It’s not one or the other. We’re all in this together, and can relate to one another more than we think. And bonus– we get tons of wonderful and delicious recipes! You’re amazing 🙂
Thank you for being real! Thank you for sharing all the stuff! I have been around for a long time, making your recipes, enjoying your instagram fauxfarm posts, reading your blog post and have even listened to a podcast. In a world where social media/influencers show only the good or a modified version of the not so good, I appreciate your sharing real life. May you and your family find comfort from the loss of a dear sweet “grandma”. I love the reminder that the best is yet to come.
Oh, Mel! Is it weird I wish I could give you a hug?? You are a true light and I adore you. I am in the thick of young motherhood and that photo of you with your boys made me cry. My I wish is, I wish I could relax more and enjoy all the stages they are going through and let go of all the stuff that doesn’t matter. Thank you for sharing your heart about all the things and I hope you can feel the love and support from all your readers, but even more from Heavenly Father. I will say some extra prayers for you, friend. xoxo
I wish things could just calm down and stop being so stressful,
January 2022 seems to have lasted a year and I hope it ends soon. I am truly so sorry you have had such a rough time these last few weeks especially with the loss of your sweet friend. She sounds like she – like you – was a light to those who knew her.
i wish I were Tinkerbell, sprinkling glitter dust all over anyone that is sad, in pain, hurting, had a very difficult childhood, sick, etc., etc., etc.
I do know I so enjoy reading your blog.
You have way more eyebrows than I do. Mine are blonde and if I tried to do anything, I wouldn’t look right.
You are beautiful just the way you are. Forget about it. BBahahahaha…
I made you wonderful your yogurt tortillas. I cannot eat them, but Mr. Boopie can and that is what he had for dinner and he’s in space right now, he is so happy. I let the dough rest almost an hour and they were so light and soft.
I made them into Naans because it was easier, and He loves them.
I was already making a similar recipe, but your technique is better.
Take care…
So sorry for the loss of your friend, and all the other hard things you are dealing with. I hope you see more glimmers of light and hope in the upcoming months! As a longtime reader (clear back to your My Kitchen Cafe days), I feel like you are an old friend, and I can definitely say you bring light into our lives with your delicious recipes and real talk. (Also, I’m definitely crossing my fingers that you end up writing a cookbook still, even if it’s not this year!)
Thank you for you… for being real… and for making the world a better place… Keep the faith my sweet friend that I have never met. I hope to be more like you one day.
So very sorry for the loss of your dear friend. It sounds like this has been such a difficult time. Hopefully, the new month will bring healing and peace.
I have also dealt with thyroid issues for years, including thinning hair and eyebrows. I have considered microblading, but am also nervous. One thing that has helped is that I now get my eyebrows dyed when I get my haircut. It makes what little I have look much thicker, I have also learned to use a little stiff brush and eye shadow that matches my brows to fill in the ends. It’s much easier than those pencils and I think more natural looking.
Hang in there, Mel! Sending Hugs! <3
I love these Friday Thoughts posts, thank you for sharing your heart with us! I am so sorry for how heart-wrenching the last several months have been for you. As for publishing a cookbook—I have several cookbooks but there are really only two I actually use—two binders stuffed with recipes printed out from your blog and put into page protectors. I used to have only one but it got too fat so now I have two. I bet you have tons of similarly home-made “Mel’s Cookbooks” in kitchens of your readers all over the country. If YOU want to publish a cookbook, do it on YOUR timeline and we’ll buy it! But don’t feel any pressure from us—you’ve given so much and you don’t owe us anything. We love you and THANK YOU for all you do!!
As a fellow thyroid warrior, I just wanted to chime in about your eyebrows. Ugh. It’s one the most annoying symptoms. Mine were pathetic for years before I was diagnosed with Hashi’s. They have finally started coming back in over the last year or so now that I am on the right dose of medications. When your thyroid levels are optimal, they do improve!! Iron levels are also a big component as well. I highly recommend the book and website “Stop the Thyroid Madness”. Find a doctor that will run a full thyroid panel and not just TSH. And you want your levels optimal- not just in range!! B12 and Vit D are also so important! As someone with out a thyroid, you need both T4 and T3 containing medication. Levothyroxine is not enough!!
I am passionate about thyroid awareness and it makes me so angry to here stories of others who aren’t getting the proper treatment and still struggling with symptoms!!!
Rip his arm off that is really funny
Hang in there! January has been rough!
Feeling all the feels. We had what I term a sucker punch to the gut moment when my husband lost his job right before Christmas. Uncharted territory right there and only the hope of Christ carried us through. He starts his new job on Tuesday after 8 very long unemployed weeks. Changes my perspective on adversity. My heart is more tender and things that used to be so important just don’t matter anymore. God’s love is real. Sending a prayer up to Him for you! Your blog has helped me so much. Know that you do so much good!!
My thoughts…I’m sorry for your losses. Life is definitely 50/50 and as much as opposition helps us to grow and experience it all, it is still just plain uncomfortable sometimes.
If you get your eyebrows done, I want to see them. I literally laughed out loud on your Bert comment. Why do some ladies look good and some look not so good? It makes me nervous too.
Lastly, your neighbor…I hear you. I miss my neighbors (who became our family) and it hasn’t been the same since we moved 6 years ago. It’s apparent I need to go to work right where I am. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank Mel for all you do. ❤️
I look forward to your postings and recipes. Last year I followed your friend’s illness as my husband was being treated for metastatic melanoma too. I felt your heartbreak too as I’ve learned treatment is just a roller coaster of ups and does. He’s doing better now and we hope for the best in 2022. Hope your year gets better. Keep up the good work with melskitchencafe!
Hi Mel…I hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas. May God’s blessings be upon all of you in this New Year. Thank you for letting us see pictures of your Children…they are so dang precious and such Cute-pies! My deepest condolences go out to you for the loss of your dear friend Carol. I am sending a link re: micro-blading from Dominique Sachse whom I believe has awesome videos and appears to know a lot! https://youtu.be/2jaef2PQ5Kw
Take good care and God bless you, Brian and Family! Maureen
Hi Mel! I love all your Friday Thoughts posts but don’t ever comment. The microblading question spurred me into action this time. I had it done a few years ago and I’ll tell you my pros and cons. Pros: full-looking brows without any effort on the daily. Cons: cost and committment. I started out liking the look but you have to be committed to regular touch-ups, which I didn’t realize and then didn’t want to do. I thought it would just eventually fade but mine has not. A lot of it has disappeared but a few little areas (centres and tails) faded to an orangey-brown and 4 years later they’re still there. Pretty sure I’m stuck with them forever. If you get regular touch ups this may not be an issue. If you do go ahead I recommend finding someone who will do a good job of short, hair-like strokes only in areas where your brows are sparse, as opposed to within the existing hairs. My recommendation, and what I ended up doing after microblading, is finding a really good brow studio with a brow artist that can work with what you already have. A tint and wax can do wonders to bring out all the fine, lighter hairs you have and your brows might be fuller than you think! A brow lamination can help with more full-looking brows as well. If you want to go down a rabbit hole, check out the studio I go to on IG @laurabrows and you’ll see what can be done without microblading. It’s quite amazing!
Well, hope you got all the way through my essay on microblading. Good brows frame the whole face so it’s an important topic!
Thanks for all of your amazing recipes! My family thanks you too!
We sure don’t deserve you ❤️. Hugs of comfort and thanks for all you do.
I always love your Friday Thoughts posts, Mel. It’s so fun to get a glimpse into your family and into your life. I am sorry for the loss of your dear neighbor. ☹️ I love the idea of the Kiwi boxes! I might try that for my grandkids this next year.
As far as microblading, I am a fan! I, too, have Hashimoto’s disease and I also do not wear a lot of makeup. But you’ve GOT to have eyebrows! My recommendation is to find somebody that has good ratings. Ask friends, etc. The girl that does my microblading let me talk to her about what kind of brows I wanted to have, and then outlined what she thought I wanted and colored them in and let me make sure I liked what she was going to do before she did any of the actual microblading. She also made sure that I liked the color that she was going to use. Important! So I did not turn out like an Ernie!!! It is a great, wonderful invention! Now I just go once a year to have a touch up. So. Worth. It.
I loved this very heartwarming, real post. Touched on many of my loves, such as kids, cooking and family times. Keep up the good work.
The idea of subscription boxes is genius!!! I need to remember that for next year…
I’m sorry for your loss and the hard year so far.
The picture of your teenage boys made me laugh because one was smiling- the one wearing his Comfy!! Haha! My teen son wears his everywhere!
Mel, you probably don’t read every one of these, but I have quickly become a fan of much more than just your amazing recipes. ♥️ Thanks for sharing your thoughts on a Friday—and I hope you feel some solidarity. January seems to have been so rough on so many. My whole family came down with COVID, and my poor baby won’t stop coughing.
Best of luck with everything—I hope you can still sign that cookbook contract!! Sending love to your family!!
Mel, I never comment on anything (in writing) but always have an opinion on everything (typical woman I guess). Anyway… I just wanted to say how much you are loved and appreciated. I’m a foreigner who happened to move, stay and live in UT. If I could express how frustrating cooking/baking/you name it is here in UT, I would. How many recipes I’ve tried and have hated, HOWEVER, EVERYTHING that I’ve made from your blog has blown my mind away. I have loved every single recipe. I was wondering if you have ever thought about writing a book and oh my gosh, I hope you do (for selfish reasons really) because I want one and I want all of my family members to have one. You are an incredible cook and such a fun person to follow. Chin up, and I hope and pray that February is going to be an amazing month for you.
So sorry to hear of the losses in your life as well as all of the other struggles. Hopefully, there will be better days ahead. Listening to Christian music is always uplifting to me. Chocolate doesn’t hurt either!
There is a tv game show just like Wordle. It’s called ‘Lingo’ where contestants have to guess a 5 letter word. I think they get the first letter of the word, so it may be easier. But it’s fun to play along.
I wish……………….all of this Covid craziness would go away. I long for the days before Covid. I wonder if life will ever truly go back to normal.
I also wish police would be respected again. So many have already been shot (with some killed) and it’s only January.
I’m sorry your January has been hard. It has not been a fun time for me either. I’m in the middle of my bi annual Covid meltdown and it is starting to get old. My daughter was born with complex CHD and so all of this yuck is a real threat to her so we have basically been locked up for the better part of the last two years and I just want it to go away. Along with everyone I’m sure. So we push through and find things to celebrate between the mundane. Like Valentine’s Day!! Happy love day to you ♥️
My son has a complex condition that puts him at high risk with covid as well. You’re not alone. We’ve lived on lockdown the past two years too. It is agony, at times joyful, but mostly we’ve just been holding our breath. The worst happened and he came down with it. He was hospitalized for a week. We are fresh out and now I am down with covid. There has been very little attention to those families living with children under 5 with complex medical conditions. It has meant extended quarantine for most of us. We fought the beast this week and won, thank god. It was close though.
Much love.