Friday Flotsam

Freeeeeeeederrrrrrrrrr.

lovely fall scene

I THINK I WANT A TREADMILL.

Actually, I know I do. I 9238763435735% want one.

It hit me the other day, I’m going to be a winter treadmill person. Because a) I’m a total sissy in the winter when it comes to running outside. Hello, frostbite. And b) I’m a massive baby and refuse to go to a gym at all ever. Hello, botulism.

So there’s really no other alternative for me –  TREADMILL. In the basement! It’s perfect!

Are you into treadmills? I’ve never said those words in my life. It’s so 1980s infomercial, I can barely deal with how excited I am. A treadmill!

BUT THIS IS THE THING – I know nothing about treadmills. I definitely don’t need anything super fancy pants that costs a pancreas, but I also don’t want total garbage. I’m seeing some ‘mills (should I call them ‘mills? is that what the cool kids say? no? oh.) on Amazon, but I have no idea where to begin. Do you have a treadmill!? Can you guide me to something not overwhelming and wallet-friendly? I basically just need it to make my legs run for 40 minutes. And not fall off it.

Oh no.

I’m going to be that turd that ends up on America’s Funniest Videos, aren’t I?

white on gold on white

You guys, I can’t get into Stranger Things.

Stop punching your computer!

I’m talking about Season TWO. Not the first one. I loved the first one! Because someone was MISSING. There was a case to solve. A person to FIND. But this second season has me like yaaaaawn. And I mean literally. I fall asleep during every single episode. It’s just too sci-fi for me.

Obviously I love the ’80s theme, and the bikes and the hair and the sweaters on Nancy. (I want her face on my head.) But I just need mooooooooraaaaa. Less aliens, more people drama.

Should I keep going? I’m only two episodes in. Aaron’s two ahead of me (and begging me to keep watching and catch up so we can move on for the love of Pete), so I either need to catch up this morning while he’s at work, or throw in the strange towel.

What’s your vote?

WAIT, DO THEY FIND BARB? If they find Barb, I’ll keep going.

Tell me now or forever hold your shoulder pads.

gremlins in the leaves

Can we talk about hair dryers?

(by the way, if you need to wring out your uterus and hang it to dry ^^^, I understand.)

I need a new hair dryer. And the only reason I believe I need a new hair dryer is because a friend of mine told me on Halloween night that she bought a life-altering hair dryer and found a new religion in said hair dryer.

And this gal has a lot of hair. And it looked GUD. Super straight, shiny. Slick. I think it even licked its lips at me.

And then it dawned on me, it takes me almost 25 minutes to blow dry my mane. And it takes her FOUR.

FOUR MINUTES. Is she yankin’ my chain?

Guys.

It’s this hair dryer.

I think I need it. Because when I blow dry my nest, it’s unruly, fizzy, frizzy, pissed off, and giant. And it takes me 76 years to straighten it after that, and another 49 years to put some simple waves in it. This is why I only do it ONCE A WEEK and update my living will the entire time.

Thus leading me to a titanic life advice plea:

If you have giant, angry hair, is the trick THE HAIR DRYER? What do you use? Do I need this dryer? Or something like it?

WHERE MY MAMMOTH-HAIR BAES AT? (<–none of that felt right.)

mini pumpkins

I already have my Christmas gift wrapping paper look and theme figured out. Is that obnoxious?

Don’t answer that.

grains in the sunlight

Weekend plans?

It was supposed to be in the 70s both tomorrow and Sunday, but every time I check the weather (which is a lot. you do know I’m irrationally weather-obsessed.), it drops by like, 500 degrees. We’re still gonna get these yards RAKED, man. That’s the goal. I mean #goal.

Ohhhhhh you know what! Remember when I pressed the last of my garden zinnias in some books with parchment paper and hairspray, like you suggested? I need to go thrift a glass frame for them. Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow. They look pretty good! Of course they did lose some of the color (I probably did it wrong), but I’ll keep you updated on the final look, if I can get my hiney in gear.

I’m also making a red wine and chicken stew thingy tonight from one of Mary Berry’s kagillion cookbooks (legit obsessed with her), and going to push Aaron to get his new CUTTING BOARDS on Etsy tonight. You guys, they’re stunning. Ya needsy.

THEY FIND BARB, DON’T THEY.

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34 Responses to Friday Flotsam

  1. Dana November 3, 2017 at 7:26 am #
    Yes, get the hair dryer! I have a BaByliss and it's so professional and make s a difference in the end result!
    • Meg November 10, 2017 at 9:27 am #
      Dana knows what’s up. The Babyliss rules! Love Meg!
  2. Carla November 3, 2017 at 8:23 am #
    They find Barb in the first season. She was dead in the upside down world. It was sad. :(
    • Bev Weidner November 3, 2017 at 8:29 am #
      Well, I remember that! But I thought they eluded to her being alive in the second season! Did I make that up? I made that up.
  3. Shannon November 3, 2017 at 8:38 am #
    I am liking season 2 better than season1! :) I thought season 1 moved a little more slowly. Keep watching! :)
  4. Natalie November 3, 2017 at 8:40 am #
    I have that very same blow dryer and I found mine at TJMAXX for $20. I shit you not! And it really is pretty great.
  5. Kaye L November 3, 2017 at 8:44 am #
    Treadmill - buy a used one first and see if you really do like it! There are tons of them on Craig's list or perhaps one of your friends has one that has become a clothes hanger! Keep up posted! Those photos - GAH! Gorge!
  6. Kerry November 3, 2017 at 8:54 am #
    I have an older babyliss model dryer (4ish years old) and it still takes me a half hour to dry my hair. Maybe this model is better than mine though? I've been eyeing a t3 hair dryer but not ready to sell a kidney to buy it!
  7. Amanda November 3, 2017 at 9:02 am #
    Sesaon 2 picks up AFTER episode 2, hang in there. I am an outdoor runner and just cant do a treadmill, not sure why but I have tried. Suggestion.... move to California, house down the block for sale, run outside year round :) (Its a 3/2 rancher style fixer-upper for 1.3 mil) Real estate in Cal sucks
  8. Manisha November 3, 2017 at 9:26 am #
    I just bought the harry josh dryer, and I LOVE it. It’s worth every penny - omg, I can blow try my hair in 5 minutes, and it looks like a professional blowout. It’s been life-altering. Seriously.
  9. Brandy Utter November 3, 2017 at 9:26 am #
    Keep watching just to be blown away by Wynona Ryder's amazingly energetic acting and to find the secrets of Steve's hair. Those two things are worth the 9 or so hours of your life, alone. : ) I kept up outdoor running in St Paul until it was under 10 degrees - the tricky part is ice, so I got some yak trax. I trip too much on treadmills and no yak trax will save me there. In other news, I made your sausage/kale soup last week and it was divine. Have a wonderful weekend, Bev!
  10. Becky Zea November 3, 2017 at 9:51 am #
    A) Keep watching!!!! Someone DOES disappear! Just wait for it! It gets better! B) FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GET A DYSON!!!! I have been doing hair for 11 years professionally and this is by far the best blow drier I have ever used. It blow dries the hair SO fast! You will LOVE it! xoxo
  11. Bryn Broussard November 3, 2017 at 10:07 am #
    I’m in Saint Louis area and we have several stores that sell used treadmills/elliptical trainers. They have been fully rehabbed and the prices are great.
    • Bryn Broussard November 3, 2017 at 10:10 am #
      Oh! And you can run on them in the store. Definitely recommended running on the exact one you have in mind before you buy. Even if it means going to sports authority or dicks and running on it before buying somewhere cheaper online.
  12. Christy November 3, 2017 at 1:34 pm #
    Living in Alabama, we definitely have to have a good hairdryer because we havie 2-zillion% humidity most of the year - it's worth it. And for the same reason - humidity - and living in a hilly, hilly hood, we have a treadmill. It's a Sole F63, had it for years and had no problems.
  13. Nancy November 3, 2017 at 2:29 pm #
    I have had my Proform Pro 2000 treadmill for 3 years and I love it! It's one of the few on the market that actually has a decline so you can run "downhill". It's kinda spendy but it has quite a few bells and whistles to make it worth the investment. It even handles teenagers running full speed at full incline because they are insane.
  14. Caitlin November 3, 2017 at 3:02 pm #
    I did not expect to see my exact hair dryer when I clicked the link...but I have that exact hair dryer! And I have super thick, frizzy, wavy hair. It came in a set with my super duper flat iron, and combined, they are life changers. I do let my hair air dry for about 45 minutes before blow drying, but it does dry pretty quickly and my hair is very smooth (although flat ironing/curling is still a requirement). I think anything with tourmaline is the key for angry thick frizzy hair. :) At least, that's what's worked best for me!
  15. Jessica November 3, 2017 at 3:44 pm #
    So weird...right before I clicked through your post I was having thoughts of buying a stationary bike for the same reasons you listed! I was reading amazon reviews and getting overwhelmed with options. So these other comments have been incredibly helpful! I now have a weekend goal. :)
  16. Lisa November 3, 2017 at 6:05 pm #
    I'm a runner, but refuse to run in the million degree heat here in the AZ desert. It's a Sole F80 brand and I've had it since 2009. It was my mother's day gift (per my request) after having my first baby because I figure I'd never leave the house again (I was right) ;-) . It's an amazing treadmill and a huge eye sore in my living room, BUT I use it daily...for running, not as a clothes rack. BUY ONE! You won't regret it ;-) .
  17. Stephanie White November 3, 2017 at 7:44 pm #
    Girlfriend. Get that hair dryer. I cut mine from 20 minutes to 4. FOUR. I use the Rusk Speed Freak (was on sale at Ulta) and refuse to go back. Worth it 100% during the freezing winter we have coming up. Or you know, just whenever you’re sick of blow drying your hair. Get it.
  18. Megan K November 3, 2017 at 8:19 pm #
    Geez.... never would have thought u had hair troubles! Try fine thin lifeless going grey hair..... sucks. Is there a hair dryer for that??
    • Meg November 10, 2017 at 9:29 am #
      Yes! The Babyliss pro plus Dry bar mousse. I’ve never had volume in my life and the above combo gives super fine hair life!
  19. Ben Myhre November 4, 2017 at 6:49 am #
    Re: Treadmills. IMO, go to the gym and run for a month or two. First, it will give you a hint if you really gonna stick with it. Whether the treadmill is in the basement or at the gym, for most people it really isn't about the location, but the motivation. Even if the dang thing is connected to their bed and gives shoulder massages while running, many will opt to skip out after a few weeks, preferring to have a really expensive and heavy paperweight than a treadmill. Second, it will let you know what you like, and don't like, in a treadmill. If you run 5 miles on a few different treadmills, you will figure out what annoys you. So, when you shop and take a few steps, you will get a feel.
    • Denita November 6, 2017 at 10:08 am #
      I would think about pulling my treadmill out of storage if it would give me a shoulder massage...I still wouldn't run on it, but I would spend some time with it. As long as it was a good massage and not a subpar one. Treadmill advice: look for a used one - facebook marketplace, craigslist, whatever...they are usually barely used. You can come and get mine but it is old so wouldn't be my top recommendation.
  20. Alexis November 4, 2017 at 3:23 pm #
    Are you going to be blogging about running soon? I think you may have hinted at it recently.
    • Bev Weidner November 4, 2017 at 3:45 pm #
      I am! November 16th is when that post goes live. And it's a GUD ONE.
      • Anonymous November 4, 2017 at 8:20 pm #
        awesome possum...
  21. Sarah November 5, 2017 at 9:28 am #
    Bev, To be honest....I am not much of a Stranger Things fan (the horror on many faces as they probably read my comment); once someone disappeared or got eaten my a swimming pool (something like that)...I lost interest in it. I may have to try watching it again. I too need a new hairdryer...I believe I saw mine spark a week or two ago.....I will definitely keep the one you post about in mind when I decide to purchase a new one. <3
  22. Denita November 6, 2017 at 10:04 am #
    Borrow your friend's hairdryer and see if you love it, if so buy it. Definitely buy a fancy hair dryer - I used to have the same experience, dry dry dry forever, have crispy not awesome hair when done, find out it's not really completely dry...annoyed. Then my husband bought me a stupid expensive hair dryer for Christmas last year and I am done in 3 to 4 minutes and it is slick and straight and I don't need a straightener. I still refuse to wash and dry my hair more than once or twice a week but this hair dryer guarantees it looks better those non-washed days. I have a dyson hair dryer, after owning it, I totally think it is worth it...but I had never tried another one that worked so well. I mean, my hair is dryer faster than when I get my hair cut and styled by a professional. If there is a cheaper version of completely awesome, go for it.
  23. Kelly @ Turned up to Eleven! November 7, 2017 at 8:11 am #
    I'm not giving anything away about ST2 - No Barb info, nada, BUT if you miss seeing her face, she appears every once in a blue moon as a character on Riverdale! And she's still adorable, and delightful and sort of the class goodie goodie so it's like Barb time jumped into the future and lives near Archie and Betty! Treadmill - do it - I can't wait to start using mine again. We got one on the cheap from Bargain Hunt, not sure if you have them there but my biggest word of advice is go to a store and try them out. Most actual fitness stores will have them on the ground so you can use them - unlike Walmart where they are on a shelf, and not within reach. I stopped running over the summer, it got too hot in the garage, and frankly I'm not coordinated enough to run outdoors (think Phoebe but worse)... so I like to run in the privacy of my own garage and toss up my hands to whatever rock song I'm listening to - or do a few dance moves in during a hip hop song... yeah, I totally 'mill dance!
  24. Emily aka The Three Bite Rule November 7, 2017 at 3:30 pm #
    I have a crappy hand-me-down treadmill (a free if you'll move it yourself kind of deal) that was supposed to be the test of "will I use this" and while I'm no marathon runner, I haven't yet seen a reason to pay for a better one! I can't wait to see your running post!
  25. Dee November 9, 2017 at 12:47 pm #
    Don't give up on Stranger Things 2. I finished it a week ago and now I'm sad I didn't have the willpower to watch it more slowly!!
  26. helix jump May 17, 2019 at 3:10 am #
    Well, thanks for the suggestions.
  27. Sheila K. March 6, 2023 at 11:53 am #
    Amazing piece of content, Thanks for putting everything under one roof!

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