Mini-Ep 449: These Are a Few of Our Favorite Microjoys
Doree and Elise share their recent microjoys and their thoughts on the Wirecutter Trader Joe’s list. They also hear from listeners about tennis-themed fashion, more great hair oil recs, and a tea towel throwback (and discount code).
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Transcript
This episode transcript is AI generated.
Doree Shafrir (00:10):
Hello and welcome to Forever35, a podcast about the things we do to take care of ourselves. I'm Doree Shafrir. And I'm Elise Hu. And we're just two friends who like to talk a lot about serums, and this is a mini episode where we hear from you, we share your comments and your thoughts, and we answer your questions to the best of our ability. But please remember, we are not experts. We are podcast hosts, and we always encourage you to seek support first and foremost from a medical and or mental health professional as needed. So here we are, our non-expert selves,
Elise Hu (00:45):
And I love these episodes because they truly go in the direction that they are completely dependent on your calls, texts, and voicemails. So we ended up spending a lot of time over the last couple of weeks on hair oil, for example, for thick curly hair, which we could have never predicted. It just depends on what you're into and what happens to be on y'all's minds. So you really make these shows.
Doree Shafrir (01:14):
And speaking of hair oil, I mean we keep hearing about hair oil. I love that this is a topic that really just has kept going, so never stop. I think we should set up a hair oil or maybe even like hair oil slash curly hair suggestions on shelf. Yeah, on shop buy. Yeah, on shop. Just to put all of these recommendations in one
Elise Hu (01:41):
Place. Also, now we have a newsletter idea.
Doree Shafrir (01:44):
Yeah, totally.
Elise Hu (01:45):
We've done book recs, we've done dish towel recs, we've done our listeners candles or our guests favorite candles. And so I think given the amount of hair oil recommendations, just the sheer volume of recommendations of hair oils we've gotten in that, we've got to cover that one. We also, I think at the end of one of our Monday episodes did a call out for your micro joys, because we do that every once in a while and it's around that time where we're calling out for micro joys. I've been thinking about my own as well, because it's been a tough year. This is kind of Schaden Freud. I don't know that it's a micro joy, but my micro joy of late has been watching Ted Cruz, Tucker Carlson clips.
Doree Shafrir (02:33):
Oh.
Elise Hu (02:34):
Oh my gosh. If y'all haven't seen them, they're so hilarious. They're just going at it with one another over Iran, obviously only tempered by the severity and seriousness and grave like moral decay of this whole situation. But my friend Justin is visiting and the two of us were talking about it this morning because we're Texans. And so my other Texas related is that in Texas, Texas is a flower tortilla land. It's the land of flower tortillas and not corn. And so we do flour tortillas very well. And one of the places that does flour tortillas best is HEB, the grocery store chain. And Justin brought 3 24 packs of flour tortillas from Texas to me. Oh my God. Which I've already consumed one wonderful pack. Yeah. So my micro joy has just been my buttery flour tortillas and then the memories of Texas that it conjures.
Doree Shafrir (03:33):
Yes.
Elise Hu (03:35):
Yeah. All of our Texas listeners will totally relate. Love that. HEB and Central market are owned by the same company. So you can call 'em HEB Flower Tortillas or Central Market Flower tortillas, but they are loved. They're loved by Texans everywhere. Yeah. What about you? Have you thought about the prompt at all?
Doree Shafrir (03:53):
Well, I wanted to share one that we got from a listener, actually. Okay.
Listener Voicemail (03:59):
Hi. I'm just calling to leave my micro joys currently in the dumpster fire. That is the world right now. My escape is Love Island or any other Bravo tv, like the Summer House, the Valley. I've been watching the mom talk stuff. It's all pretty brain dead television, but it's helping me get through and I'm also finding joy in my iced coffee. But yeah, I would say the biggest thing is reality tv. But I'm excited to hear other people's micro because I need any source of joy I can find. Thank you.
Elise Hu (04:46):
Can we stay on this one? Because my eldest daughter, Ava, has also gotten super into Love Island, and I'm not a Bravo TV girly, so I don't know the premise, but can you give me the whole Love Island log line? How does it work?
Doree Shafrir (05:04):
I mean, it's just a bunch of hot people going to an island, and it's almost like the Bachelor meets Survivor meets Big Brother because I guess to survive you have to become a couple.
Elise Hu (05:27):
Oh, okay. So you're on an island, you can get kicked off in the same way as
Doree Shafrir (05:32):
You
Elise Hu (05:32):
Get kicked off on Survivor.
Doree Shafrir (05:34):
Yes. So if you or Bachelor, yeah. As people couple together, you can get kicked off if you're still single, but you can also be voted
Elise Hu (05:43):
Off. Oh, wow. There's so many ways to lose at this
Doree Shafrir (05:47):
Game. Yes, yes. I think it's a peacock show, which is part of the Bravo family, but I don't think it's technically a Bravo show, but it was originally a British show. So the Love Island UK contestants have become true deal list celebrities in the uk. They're widely known. I don't think the exact same thing has happened with the US contestants, but they're definitely getting more famous probably.
Elise Hu (06:28):
Okay. Yeah, Ava's super into it right now. I guess it's airing, I guess there's the fresh episodes, and I learned so much about culture from her. And so I guess that's the thing. And then I was at one of my friend's Open Mic nights, my friend Matt was performing and kind of like an acoustic set, like Nirvana Unplugged, hugged,
(06:52)
And it was at this surf shop last Friday night and we went to go see him and then after he went on, this guy starts playing this guy. He's like, I'm from San Diego. And that's all I remember about him. But then my friends who I was with, one of 'em was like, oh, that guy was on The Bachelor. So for our listeners who like reality TV and watch The Bachelor, it's this guy named Logan who was on The Bachelorette. So he was actually one of the suitors of the Star, and I think it was the season of The Bachelorette in which they had two women. So actually you could be with one, but then I think what happened was he really liked the other, but he got the rose from Yeah. Yeah. The Bachelor has been going on for so many years that I guess you can't throw a rock without accidentally hitting somebody who's been on The Bachelor.
Doree Shafrir (07:49):
Right. I love that. No, I mean, reality TV is definitely a micro joy. That actually reminds me of something that came up this past week. I was in Connecticut for my sister-in-law's funeral, and I'll talk more about her at a later date.
(08:08)
But she was amazing and she also loved the whole Bravo universe. And I guess she said to my brother at one point, he said this in his eulogy that she was like, please never do a cancer run or walk in my honor. Please never do that. All I want people to do is lie in bed and watch Real Housewives in my honor. And that was just, she was not a big worker outer, you know what I mean? She really just loved lying in bed and watching tv, and she loved Bravo and she loved Real Housewives. So if you're so inclined, watch an episode of Real Housewives
Elise Hu (08:53):
In her honor. Okay. That's not a hard ask. I would much rather do that than run a mile or three or
Doree Shafrir (08:59):
Whatever. Totally. I don't want to run a marathon for her. I mean, I love her, but much rather do a Real Housewives marathon Marathon. Right, right.
Elise Hu (09:09):
Exactly.
Doree Shafrir (09:10):
Anyway, we should probably take a little break.
Elise Hu (09:16):
Alright,
Doree Shafrir (09:17):
Before we do that, I just want to remind everyone that our voicemail is 7 1 5 9 1 0 3 9 0, and our email is Forever35podcast@gmail.com. You can also visit our website Forever35podcast.com. We've links there to everything you mentioned on the show. You can follow us on Instagram at FE 35 podcast. Sign up for our newsletter at FE 35 podcast.com/newsletter and shop our favorite products at shop my us slash forever three five. And after the break, yes, we have more hair oil racks. I was also asked for my res on sun clothes, so I will share those as well. Okay. Can't wait. Alright, we'll be right back. Okay, we are back. And first someone texted us and said, Boden has a bunch of tennis patterned clothes this season, and I want someone to buy them all for Dory. And it's funny that they texted us this because I've been getting served these ads on Instagram and Facebook. Now you're get more. Yeah, totally. And some of this stuff is super cute. I love Boden. I love their
Elise Hu (10:38):
Pattern things.
Doree Shafrir (10:39):
There's a really pretty skirt. There's also a really pretty dress that I was like, okay, this is a lot. It's a bright colored dress with just tennis rackets all over it.
Elise Hu (10:55):
You could pull that
Doree Shafrir (10:56):
Off. You could pull that off. I would maybe wear this. It's a little expensive. I feel like Boden has a lot of sails. So I think I'm going to wait for, wait a sale and maybe get it. Okay. Well thank you for this tip. And if you have bought any of the boat in tennis clothes, let us know what they're really like in real life. I want a real person review of them.
Elise Hu (11:19):
There's a really cute, I almost got this for you too, but I didn't know if you had a spot for it. There's a very cute outdoor throw pillow from West Elm right now that has a tennis court on it across, oh my gosh. Front. Yeah. Funny. It's really cute actually. I thought, but then I'm like, I don't know if this goes with the rest of her kind of design and decor, so I don't want to just buy you a pillow and be like, now you have to deal with it. Rob is still upset about his ex-mother-in-law getting menorah hand towels for his bathroom. And he was like, I'm not going to use those.
Doree Shafrir (11:59):
That's so funny.
Elise Hu (12:01):
So yeah, I feel like interior design things I'm a little bit more careful about Be set before just wantonly buying you a towel set or That's fair pillow also. It's very cute. You can check it
Doree Shafrir (12:13):
Out. Yeah, it's very thoughtful.
Elise Hu (12:16):
Oh, thanks. I mean, it's very cute. We'll link that too. I'll find it and link it in case any of you all are looking for something like this.
Doree Shafrir (12:23):
Amazing. Okay, so the next text we got was wondering if Dory has any sun clothes wrecks. I've used sun hoodies for years, but they tend to be a little frumpy. So in my opinion, there's no fashionable UV clothing. Cooley Bar I think has probably the best selection, but I think it's all pretty frumpy. It's nothing that I would wear and be like, I look cute in this. It's stuff that feels like just not especially fashionable little. So I have a lot of workout, sun Protective clothing and actually there's some good stuff on Amazon that's not that expensive. But I personally don't think that the regular clothes that are UV protective that are sold by the likes of Cooley Bar
(13:38)
Are particularly attractive. So my suggestion is to just be covered up that is better than nothing. And so wearing a light colored long sleeve, loose fitting, long sleeve button down in natural fibers and long pants in the summer, I almost never go outside in a short sleeve shirt. And if I do, I'm slathering on the sunscreen. So I wish I had a great suggestion and I would love to say, oh, this is a hole in the market, but I feel like there must be a reason why there isn't cute UV clothing. It must be hard to make or something. I don't know. That's my
Elise Hu (14:29):
Theory. It totally makes sense. Yeah, it totally makes sense. I mean it must be some sort of special material. The science behind that type of clothing makes the clothing kind of difficult to make cute. I don't know if you scientists out there, if you chemists out there know anything, material scientists, I guess know anything, please do call in.
Doree Shafrir (14:53):
I actually feel like there are better men's options than women's options. There's some stuff that I guess is fine, but there's, and also UV clothing is expensive, so I don't know that I would be buying, I don't have a great option for specifically UV clothing. That is cute. Sorry. Yeah,
Elise Hu (15:16):
Because your function over form on this one,
Doree Shafrir (15:19):
Right? Yes. So yeah, I just try to be covered up, but it's not necessarily in UV specific clothes. Alright. Elise, do you want to read this text from a listener with some hair oil recommendations?
Elise Hu (15:40):
Yes. I just listened to the request for hair oil. I have similar hair to the listener, but often blow dry it straight. This oil has been an absolute game changer. I used to do keratin and I really don't need to do it anymore with this oil. And it is the pure Door four ounce organic Moroccan Argan Oil USDA certified 100%. It's a product available on Amazon Pure Door and that's D apostrophe or Moroccan Argan oil. And it's priced at 14.99 and the texter says still would probably need a curl cream or gel for shaping. But this has really helped my frizz.
Doree Shafrir (16:26):
Okay. Tip,
Elise Hu (16:27):
We do need to catalog all of these somewhere.
Doree Shafrir (16:30):
Yes.
Elise Hu (16:31):
We'll just put them on a shop my shelf I think.
Doree Shafrir (16:33):
Alright. We are going to take another short break and then we'll be back with a discount code for a dish towel brand that is a listener favorite.
Elise Hu (16:43):
Oh yes. Okay. We'll be right back.
Doree Shafrir (16:51):
Alright, we are back. And tea towels and dish towels. Were another topic like hair oil that we got a lot, a real fan favorite. I know we got a lot of recommendations for. And we now have a discount code for geometry, which is this amazing brand of dish towels that so many listeners recommended to us. And so if you use the code Forever 15 on Geometry's website, you can get 15% off. That website is Geometry House.
Elise Hu (17:31):
Geometry house. We will also put a link to geometry from our show notes, but the code is forever 15. We didn't ask for this. I don't know if they saw or heard the episodes in which so many of you all were calling in with your geometry TT towel recommendations, but if you haven't seen their stuff, the tea towels are super, super cute. The patterns are super cute and then they also make just a fine towel product. So yeah, this is very fortuitous that we have this code forever 15. That's number one and number five. So be sure to pop that in there when you're refreshing your dish towel supply this summer.
Doree Shafrir (18:16):
I'm waiting for a hair oil to give us a discount code. Yeah,
Elise Hu (18:22):
I mean we've basically spent the last three or four weeks on this top.
Doree Shafrir (18:25):
Someone I know, someone call us hair oil people, where are you at? Right. But seriously, thank you Geometry. And you can go check that out at Geometry house and use code forever 15. Okay. The last thing I want to talk about is wire Cutter recently did a guide to their favorite things at Trader Joe's. And Elise, I am curious what your thoughts are on this guide. Do you agree with their assessments? Do you feel like they have some things that they just totally missed? I'm very curious.
Elise Hu (19:03):
Yeah. I was really excited that there was a feature on this because I have wondered are the things that I love at Trader Joe's, the things that are empirically the most popular products or empirically what everybody loves.
Doree Shafrir (19:17):
Yes.
Elise Hu (19:17):
And it seems like that's certainly true for the chicken tikka masala frozen meal. Yes. Really happy to see that. Very happy to see the Gibo, which everyone gives rave reviews, so I didn't think that was going to be in question. And the Trader Joe's Taki, I like Trader Joe's talkies better than the actual talkies, like the original talkies. So they are the Es of the spicy chip, the Takis. But these are, so at Trader Joe's, they're called rolled corn tortilla chips, chili and lime flavored. But basically they're Takis and I think they're so much better. So those, oh, and then unexpected cheddar. I never make a charcuterie board without
Doree Shafrir (19:59):
Unexpected cheddar. Yes, the unexpected cheddar is so good.
Elise Hu (20:01):
And they did have that on there.
Doree Shafrir (20:03):
Yes.
Elise Hu (20:05):
What about you? What did you like from the list and what do you feel like they missed? I'll talk about misses in a bit.
Doree Shafrir (20:10):
Okay. So yes, the Korean pancakes.
Elise Hu (20:14):
Ah yes, the sweet ones. The hot
Doree Shafrir (20:16):
Talk. Yes, yes. Those are also really good. And then, oh, the Thai coconut pancakes are also quite good and they like those. But yeah, they had a few things on their list of their list of things that we didn't like that I was a little surprised by. And then other things that I agreed with, they said that the hold the cone tips, which I was so excited about, I also think they were kind of dry and I felt like the chocolate was stale. So those were also ais for me. I think their dark chocolate almonds are really good. So I was surprised that they didn't like those. So I have made the scallion pancakes a lot and I have not found them to be greasy or gummy, so I'm curious how they made them.
Elise Hu (21:19):
Well, greasy, I mean greasy, that depends on just how much oil you use. But they aren't gummy. They're very gummy scallion pancakes. But I'm such a scallion pancake snob because my mother makes them by hand and has since I was born, we have four generations of scallion pancake recipes that goes back. But their scallion pancakes don't have to be greasy. You don't have to make Right. Totally. They're just dough, so
Doree Shafrir (21:42):
Totally, totally, totally.
Elise Hu (21:44):
But yeah, the machine made ones are going to be coming. I mean, that just happens, but perfectly possible as a snack.
Doree Shafrir (21:51):
Well, exactly. And I also don't think they are worse than the vast majority of scallion pancakes you get from American Chinese restaurants.
Elise Hu (22:00):
Oh yeah. Possible. Yeah,
Doree Shafrir (22:02):
Probably. It's great that your mom makes amazing ones, but that's not accessible to the vast majority of people. So I feel like, I don't know, that felt to me a little bit
Elise Hu (22:13):
Unfair. Unfair, yes, there are good frozen ones. If you are in a place where you can get we delivery the We Asian Food, grocery delivery or H Mart, there are some frozen ones. I'll have to take a picture of the ones that I think are pretty good, but I think they're going to, first of all, that's inaccessible, right? Usually I'd have to drive to 99 Ranch. Yes. And then B, possibly more expensive. The thing that we like about the Trader Joe's scallion pancakes is that they're cheap.
Doree Shafrir (22:48):
Right, totally. But
Elise Hu (22:49):
I totally get why it wouldn't make a best stuff at Trader Joe's list on Wirecutter. Yeah. The thing that I thought that they missed was the ice cream, the mochi ice cream balls, because I think those are better than Asian food ones.
Doree Shafrir (23:05):
Oh,
Elise Hu (23:05):
Interesting. Or Asian grocery store ones. I'll get 'em at Mitsui sometimes for double the price and then I'll get 'em at Trader Joe's. And the Trader Joe's ones are so much better to me. Wow. And the mochi they get. Right. And then the other thing that they missed, I thought I only discovered because Washington posted a taste test of Raspberry Preserves after Meghan Markle Raspberry Preserve brand came out as ever. So they did kind of a raspberry jam off, and that's how I was introduced to the Trader Joe's Raspberry Preserves and they're excellent, or that jar is excellent. And I thought that was an oversight. That was my only real oversight that I thought that. And the mochi, because it's up to them. There's nothing that I love there. Oh, one other thing, they have a dill flavored smoked salmon that is very good, but it's not around all the time. And so maybe that's why it's not
Doree Shafrir (24:09):
On there. Yeah, they said they didn't do any seasonal stuff. They only did stuff that's available year round
Elise Hu (24:14):
Always. Okay. Okay,
Doree Shafrir (24:15):
Great.
Elise Hu (24:16):
Do you feel like there were any major misses or anything that they loved that you hate?
Doree Shafrir (24:20):
Well, I do think that their kung pow chicken is pretty good. Agree. And then also their shiitake mushroom chicken is pretty good. So I feel like they didn't do any of the bagged Asian frozen meals,
Elise Hu (24:43):
So
Doree Shafrir (24:44):
I was curious about that. I also think that their vanilla ice cream is
Elise Hu (24:50):
Really good. Oh, I know you love their vanilla ice cream. Yeah.
Doree Shafrir (24:53):
I am a bit of a vanilla ice cream snob, and there's this really good, since I started eating it, I've gotten other vanilla ice creams, including Van Lewin and unquote fancier brands. And I think the Trader Joe's ice cream is really good. So I like, I do feel like that was a miss.
Elise Hu (25:18):
A lot of their confections are really great, but I'm guessing there's a certain balance too that you have to maintain when you're putting one of these together of savory to sweet and then frozen totally to dry goods.
Doree Shafrir (25:29):
But the frozen stuff is available everywhere. So I don't know. There's a lot of Trader Joe's products. I just didn't feel like this purported to be the definitive, it was our favorite things from Trader Joe's, but I didn't feel like they cast an especially wide net, I guess that's what I'm saying. So anyway,
Elise Hu (25:52):
Let us know what y'all thought. Yeah, yeah. Let us know what you think. There's major hits and misses from that list. Folks, this is the wire cutter list.
Doree Shafrir (26:01):
It's headline, our Favorite Things from Trader Joe's. All right, everyone, thanks so much for listening and we will talk to you soon.
Elise Hu (26:09):
Okay. Talk to you next time. Bye.