adults losing their minds over a snow day
5-4-3-2-1: outfits, favorites, activities & a q&a with a derm
Have you heard there was a big winter storm coming?
The number of grown adults out here doing snow dances, wearing their pajamas inside out, and manifesting this environmental phenomenon was… honestly adorable. I’m a teacher and the joy adults feel about a snow day is usually 100x more intense than the students’. I’ve had people showing me snow day calculators, casually leaving work giggling, “I WILL NOT SEE YOU ON MONDAY,” discussing jet streams like they’re meteorologists, and panicking because every grocery pickup slot vanished.
I realized Thursday afternoon panic had officially hit, and I sent the Four-Shirted-Husband™ to the grocery store with an aggressively annoying list. As he walked out the door, I screamed:
“DO NOT FORGET THE MINI MARSHMALLOWS!”
Priorities.
At dinner that night, my son forbade us from even saying “snow day.” Every superstitious bone in his body was vibrating, while my daughter whispered it repeatedly just to send him into an emotional tailspin.
Here’s the thing: I am a queen of routine. Same lunch for years energy. But scheduling a doctor’s appointment or choosing from a new menu? Immediate stress. So not knowing whether or not I’ll be reporting to work next week is… a lot.
It takes me right back to the ’90s — waking up early to watch the ticker crawl across the bottom of the news, desperate to see my school’s name appear. Sure, robocalls are more efficient, but it genuinely irritates me that my kids don’t have to work for that snow day joy the way we did.
WE WALKED MILES IN THE SNOW JUST TO GET TO SCHOOL!
(jk, I absolutely did not)
I have prematurely announced a snow day to friends and family. Only to be met with rain, mush and genuine saddness. But my most epic misforecast? The day before the world shut down for COVID, when I confidently told my students there was no way in hell we’d be home doing remote learning.
Very wrong.
Why do we love snow days so much?
I don’t shovel, so it’s easy for me to see this day as purely glorious. My frequently mentioned herniated discs get me out of shoveling (despite my husband thinking I’m the Hulk), along with my other kryptonite: roller coasters.
But really — snow days are a rare, unexpected disruption to routine. A guilt-free pause. I’ve seen so many people online saying they couldn’t wait to be stuck inside, in their jammies, doing absolutely nothing. Snow days hit that perfect overlap of nostalgia and slowness we’re all chasing. Sydney Wingfield gets it:
Whether you’re outside building a snowman (god bless — the thought of wet socks alone keeps me smiling from my window) or curled up by a fire with a book, may your snow days be full of quiet, rest, and pure, unbothered joy.
Let kids go outside. Let the adults do whatever the hell they want. Let us be oddly free yet trapped at the same time, lol. Let us all bask in that rare moment when the universe aligns with nature and says: you deserve a break.
What’s Inside: Here’s our gameplan for today - a 5-4-3-2-1 countdown, you know the drill!
👚5 recent outfits
💜4 things i tried & liked
📙3 things lately
🧴2 Q’s with a derm (ft. Erin Santa, MD from Derm Views)
⌛1 giggle
P.S. - This may be too long for your inbox. Click “View entire message” at the bottom of this e-mail or read the full post here! 🔗
LOOK 1
Found this button-up in the men’s section at Marshalls and had it tailored so it would tuck just right. I planned to ditch the socks once I hit my toasty office… but à la Kelly Williams, I decided they were actually too cute to take off.
LOOK 2
A more casual work week was the perfect excuse to wear my never-fails-me grey crewneck. Spiced it up with leopard ballet flats.
LOOK 3
Last week felt weird without my trusty stirrup leggings. Usually I go oversized button-up + sweater-over-shoulders, but this time I switched it up with a chambray top and houndstooth blazer!
LOOK 4
I mean, why not wear two sweaters? Experimented this week with both layers and adding some colors when appliable.
LOOK 5
Off to youth basketball in a polar vortex. With two German Shepherds/Shedders at home, I could lint-roll my coat 1,262 times and still leave looking like a woolly mammoth. Send tips… or a miracle.
Got this mask as a sample. It claims to resurface skin for a smoother, brighter look. I put it on and exfoliated a little—it felt like a mud mask. Then I read the reviews and panicked that my face was going to burn off. Rinsed after a few minutes, a bit red, but woke up with skin feeling like a baby’s bottom. BIG fan.
I tried this beauty on at Saks in NYC. True Substack fashion civilian moment: I thought I pronounced the brand wrong, but after a little hyperfixation research, I realized I was actually right. Woo, go me! I sized up from my usual and was obsessed. Feels just as good for a wedding as it does with cowboy boots. Absolute dreamy splurge. (Similar versions [less $]: 1, 2, 3 [second hand]: XS, S, M)
3. LACE SHORTS
I tried the Reformation version of these lace-trim shorts at Anthropologie and loved them. The price for these shorts felt more reasonable, so I was determined to find them in-store. I snagged my true size and actually liked them even better—the extra length was perfect for my sun-deprived legs.
These are a perfect vacation staple for me. Clearly thinking about Spring Break rn.
Tried these jeans on at Anthro and ughhh, they were so good. Might slide into PAIGE’s DMs and beg to be their spokeswoman. Went with my usual size and loved the stretch and fit. Used to have several in other washes - loved that this pair didn’t have the usual raw hem. Perfect with flats or sneakers.
1. SAVORING - EUROPEAN HOT COCOA
It’s not easy to surprise someone with very specific taste. The Four-Shirted-Husband™ exceeded expectations with this decadent hot chocolate velvetiser. Turns real chocolate flakes into the most silky delight! Here’s a video so you can see how easy it is in action, obsessed,
When was the last time you played the game SORRY!? We played the German version (literally from Germany, from my grandma) and laughed our pants off.
3. READING - ROCK PAPER SCISSORS
Since I loved His & Hers on Netflix (based on an Alice Feeney book), I jumped into Rock Paper Scissors by the same author—apparently in the works as a Netflix limited series. Like the Netflix series, I absolutely did NOT see the plot twist coming.
The number of times I go to a doctor’s appointment with a game plan to ask 52 questions and leave not asking a single one is… quite often.
A fun treat this week: I actually asked my Substack dermatologist, Erin Santa, MD from Derm Views (yes, a legit board-certified dermatologist) two questions I’ve always wished I had the courage to ask my regular physician.
Meet Erin Santa, MD 🤝
Dr. Santa’s Take: 2 Skin Tips
My Q: Why do some of us still get breakouts in our 30s & 40s, and how should we treat them?
Erin’s A: The short answer is: hormones. As females, our hormones are in flux for most of our lives, and acne can be a part of the journey at any point. The tricky thing is that classic anti-acne ingredients (benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sometimes retinoids) can be too aggressive and make the inflammation worse. Hypochlorous acid and azelaic acid are gentle, but effective alternatives. If you’re really struggling, see a dermatologist. Meds like spironolactone can be life-changing (as long as you’re not pregnant or trying to get pregnant!).
My Q: Are there any must-have products you think every woman should have in her 30s/40s? I know you have written about this before!
Erin’s A: YES! First is a sunscreen that you actually LIKE. Early and diligent sun protection makes the biggest difference in skin aging and health by far. I swear by RMS for the face, and I love Vacation for the body. Second is a daily body moisturizer. It’s a simple step that prevents SO many skin issues, especially as our skin gets drier and more sensitive with age. I love CeraVe in the jar, and the Kate McLeod stone–it makes moisturizing an experience.
If you’re looking for expert advice from one of the kindest humans on the planet, check out Erin’s Substack: Derm Views, or follow her on Instagram: @drsantaderm!
Everyone knows I STAN Celine Dion. It’s All Coming Back to Me is my karaoke anthem. My toxic trait is I truly believe that I can hit the same notes as her, sadly, my family disagrees. This video is proof that when the Queen of Dramatic Ballads is doing her thing, nothing else around us matters.
🎵Here’s a Celine-Packed playlist if you need a pick-me up or motivation to mop your floors.
Fun fact: I wore this Celine Dion shirt almost every day as a kid. Might buy it again… could be worth more one day than my Beanie Baby collection.
💬Let’s Chat: Tell me: tried anything new lately that you loved (or hilariously hated)? What’s your ideal snow day (or weather-closure) activity?
Alrighty, that’s all for this week! As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my work. Your support means the world to me!
May your socks stay dry, your cocoa stay creamy & your snow days feel glorious,
If this made you smile, hit the heart 💗, re-stack it 🔁, or share it 📤—those tiny taps make a HUGE difference.
Feeling generous? You can also buy me a coffee to say thanks! ☕
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you
I love your newsletter so much! 100% open rate from me.
THANK YOU, DR. SANTA!!! (And ofc to Traci for another fun one as per usual.)