Calling in Sick (Issue #41)
This week’s theme is the sick day – a collection of recommendations for when you’re feeling under the weather.
Hi friends!
Before we jump into our normal Sincerely, Celisia activities, I have a really exciting announcement. As you probably know, it’s always been and will always be a goal of mine to keep Sincerely, Celisia free to read. I love the community we’ve built, and I want to make sure to increase access and remove as many financial barriers as I can. It’s a model I value, both as a media creator and a newsletter fan myself.
That said, the sustainability of this project is only possible through the support of our paid subscribers. Each Monday, paid subscribers get access to a bonus issue of Sincerely, Celisia called P.S.! In it, I share targeted recommendations, final thoughts, reflections, and vulnerable shares each week. While my main newsletter will always remain free, P.S. is a special newsletter to say thanks for your support. <3
Up until now, I’ve set the yearly subscription payment to $50/year, but I know prices across the board have increased pretty drastically in the last few years. I always want to maximize accessibility, even when it comes to my bonus content.
I’m lowering the price of all paid subscriber packages!! Starting today, you can get access to bonus content for one yearly payment of $30 (that’s $2.50/month and less than a tank of gas)!!!
And when you become a paid subscriber, you’ll also get access to all past P.S. issues!
Here are a few of my favorites to catch you up on some of the highlights you may have missed:
P.S. - 30 Questions to Ask The Elders in Your Life (Bonus Issue #24)
Customizable prompts to open dialogue with grandparents, mentors, community leaders, and other important elders in your life.
P.S. – 🛒 15 Costco Products I Swear By (Bonus Issue #23)
The best deals on easy lunches, quick snacks, and weekly meal staples.
P.S. - 10 Amazon Purchases I’ve Been Loving Lately (Issue #20)
+ a bonus thing I didn’t buy on Amazon but included regardless :)
P.S. - Easy, Back-to-School Friendly Meals for a Busy Week (Bonus Issue #19)
Quick recipes that DON’T compromise taste.
PS -📚 Dive into My Top 7 Must-Read Memoirs 📖 (Bonus Issue #27)
+ 2 More at the top of my TBR! 🌟
P.S. - The Secret to My Productive + Relaxing Morning Routine (Bonus Issue #21)
My top tips, tricks, and products for the perfect start to every day!
Thank you, as always, for your support. And now onto our regular, free, Friday edition of Sincerely, Celisia!!!
I have an ongoing challenge with myself to see how long I can go without getting sick. I’m lucky to have what I perceive as a pretty strong immune system, even despite the constant threat of my elementary school teacher husband bringing something home. And yet, after months of dodging illness, I eventually found myself bedridden with ~the common cold~.
So today, in honor of winter weather and flu season, I’m coming to you with a little collection of recommendations for days when all you need is a full cup of hot tea, warm soup, and the comfiest couch bed imaginable. Enjoy!
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
I know how frustrating paywalls are! When possible, I’ll try to offer gift links through my subscriptions to support access to high-quality journalism.
Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise I’ll only ever share items I love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️
The New York Times Magazine: Climate Change Is Keeping Therapists Up at Night (gift link) by Brooke Jarvis
This article (which also has an available audio version), explores the ways climate change and associated climate anxiety is shaping their clients’ experiences and the therapeutic field more broadly. Check it out!
Book: *Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
I’m most interested in the audiobook version because it’s narrated by Meryl Streep!! Here’s the official description: “In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.”
Movie: Quiz Lady
As a longtime fan of Grey’s Anatomy, it was so fun to see Sandra Oh in this film! Here’s the description: “Anne (Awkwafina) and her estranged train-wreck of a sister, Jenny (Sandra Oh), must work together to help cover their mother's gambling debts. When Anne's beloved dog is kidnapped, they set out on a wild cross-country trek to get the cash.” The story is hilarious, and it was such a fun watch!
Questions for you + your besties <3
Whenever I’m sick at home, I always reach a stir-crazy point and the only relief is badgering my besties via text. Here are some questions to kick off a stimulating (albeit bed-ridden) conversation:
Would you rather have to travel everywhere via Razor scooter, or have a 2-minute long dramatic song play loudly every time you arrive at a new place?
Would you rather have all your drinks be a little too carbonated, or all your food be a little too salty?
Would you rather chug a gallon of milk or a two-liter bottle of soda?
Would you rather always have wet socks or always have a wedgie?
Would you rather have a commute that involves scuba diving or sky diving?
Would you rather be TikTok famous or YouTube famous?
Things to try + share in the group chat.
Connections from the New York Times is a game I look forward to playing every day! The game is a twist on word associations, wherein you have to group the 16 words into 4 equal groups connected by a shared association. The words are intentionally structured to include red herrings and double meanings to throw you off the correct grouping, making the game as challenging as it is fun!
I just finished watching One Day on Netflix and I just NEED everyone I know to watch it! The show, which is based on a novel by the same name, follows Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley who meet on July 15th, 1988 on their last day of college. Each subsequent episode catches up with the pair on the same day one year in the future. Over the twelve episodes, you’ll get them weave in and out of each other’s lives over almost 20 years. The ending reaaaally took me off guard, but the acting is superb and the storytelling was tender and beautiful. I truly enjoyed it from start to finish.
During my last illness, I started rewatching Sex and the City and decided it was the perfect sick-day binge. The show is full of late-90s and early-aughts nostalgia, and I love the little peek into a fictional life in NYC! Does the show have problematic moments? Absolutely. Has that stopped me from enjoying it in the haze of a low-grade fever? Absolutely not!
I tried RAO’S Homemade jarred marinara sauce after seeing folks raving about it across social media, and it was sooo good! It’s more expensive than other jarred sauce options, but my hack is getting it at Costco for a lot cheaper. When I made it, I followed the below TikTok recipe to help me slightly doctor the sauce and bring the whole dish to the next level:
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Did you see Monday’s bonus issue?
It’s a super special Valentine’s Day Q+A with my husband, Andrew. In it, he shares memories of our first date, who he thinks would play me in a romantic comedy, and what he thinks love has in common with Sinosauropteryxs. Check it out here!
Have a great weekend!!
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