Humor, Life, Things I Want to Remember

things i want to remember – part 31

Kari

if you’re here for the first time, welcome! you’ll be able to find the other parts of this series here.

1- last month, i spotted drakkar noir in two different places within 48 hours, and it made me (and mike) laugh so hard. so random. that cologne was everywhere in the early 90s- and they still make it! what perfume or cologne did you wear back then? i rotated through a few, but the ones i remember most were sunflowers by elizabeth arden, CKone, heaven by gap, and jessica mcclintock.

2- driving on the left side of the road (ie-in england) goes back to when they used to ride horseback and wanted to keep their dominant hand (typically right) closer to oncoming traffic- originally for sword fighting, but also, let’s be honest, for hand signals like the middle finger. 😊

3- i haven’t worn a real bra since lockdown—just comfy sports bras. 2025 feels like the year for oversharing. life’s too short for uncomfortable underwear.

4- i’ve been going to an in-person restorative yoga class since early july, and it’s been such a positive experience. each pose lasts about 3–5 minutes, and let me tell you—i never truly appreciated how long that can feel until i had to actually hold a position. it feels amazing once i’ve settled in, but it definitely takes some getting used to.

source

5- a while back i was on etsy, scrolling through a shop packed with the most charming artwork—english cottages, kate bush, mcdonald’s foods. extremely niche, extremely delightful.

naturally, i started wishing she made prints of the things i love—gilmore girls, bruce hornsby, and maybe some tacky real housewives quotes. then i wished i had a talent like that. my friend rebecca does.

but then it hit me—writers do have a talent like that. if someone asked us to whip up a little story about anything, we probably could. not everyone can do that. and yet, when writers (especially bloggers) ask to be paid, it somehow feels unreasonable to people. why is that?

anyway, my point is: we need an etsy for writers.

6- i used to think my very first memory was from when i was a toddler—going to the art museum in chicago with my parents. it’s such a lovely memory, full of sunlight streaming through the atrium above the food court. i also remember riding the train. it’s been vivid for as long as i can remember.

but then i realized i have another memory that’s just as clear—from kindergarten, learning patterns. we had worksheets with lines, and we had to connect them in ways that made shapes or something like that. it was more of a math thing, and i dreaded them.

so maybe my first memory was actually failing math. that checks.

7- lisa kudrow’s dad was a headache doctor. i just found this out and i thought it was a pretty cool factoid (thanks, mike!)

8- speaking of, for a long time i’ve been searching for a candle that doesn’t give me a headache or smell toxic. i just can’t find one anywhere. they’re either way too expensive or come in scents i wouldn’t love.

does anyone have a favorite candle they really like?

9- a couple of years ago, i discovered a monkees song that doesn’t sound like a typical monkees track at all. it was released to celebrate their 50th anniversary and features mike nesmith and micky dolenz singing. mike passed away in 2021, and micky, now 80, is the last surviving member.

when i was little, i had a little crush on the monkees—plural, the whole band. i remember watching their tv show in the mid-70s, so it must’ve been reruns somewhere. i absolutely loved that show.

so glad mike and micky recorded this song—written by the lead singer of death cab for cutie.

just another little thing i want to remember.

enjoy.

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52 thoughts on “things i want to remember – part 31”

  1. What would we call the writer’s Etsy? Wetsy? Regardless of the name, we’ll make a big splash, I’m sure!

    Speaking of Drakkar Noir…ahem…I used to wear the stuff in my late teens/early 20s. Haven’t thought about it in years, but you’re right: it was all the rage.

    I’m not a huge Monkees fan, but that is one of their better songs.

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    1. Wetsy! Omg- I love that! Let’s do it!

      I love that you wore it! I can’t quite remember the scent—I may have to take a sniff next time I’m at the drugstore.

      It’s a lovely little song. 💜

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      1. I haven’t worn it in decades (obviously), but just the name triggered a scent memory. I’d know it again if I smelled it, even with my eyes closed!

        (Drakkar Noir was basically our version of Axe.)

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  2. Re: driving on the left-hand side of the road, I guess the benefit of the North American mode is that it favours the left-handed? 😂

    I really liked the Monkees song.. I think I may have heard it recently, but don’t remember where and not sure I knew it was them/written by Ben. It’s lovely… think I may just use it!

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  3. Yes to bra lite living! I haven’t worn “real” ones since the shutdown, either. And I wear those as little as I can comfortably get away with. Have never worn perfume (well, since my Love’s Baby Soft days back in junior high) and only burn candles that don’t have a scent. Can’t tolerate artificial smells. 

    I’m going to choose to believe that the art museum memory is your first memory. I hope you will, too. And I love the etsy for writers idea; I think Substack or Medium is probably pretty much what you envision. But I agree, we seem to place less monetary value on writing than on visual arts. Of course, AI is changing all of that, so quickly. (Don’t get me started.) I appreciate the writing you share here. I like to think that we pay each other through our words, if that makes sense.

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    1. Me too! It’s nice to be free.

      I typically use oil diffusers, and only oils like peppermint or lemon. My daughters both love strong-scented candles, which is funny since I don’t.

      I choose to believe it too—it’s a happy memory.

      I LOVE the idea of paying each other through our words. 💜

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      1. Kari – have you ever tried other essential oils? I don’t know if I’ve ever shown you, but I have an entire case of essential oils! You can either make your own blends or there are some really nice blends out there. I lean towards NOW essential oils since they’re a trusted company and their prices are reasonable.

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      2. You got me hooked on NOW essential oils! That day I came over and asked what smelled so good, and you said it was Clear The Air. I’d love any other suggestions of your favorite NOW oils, if you have any.

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      3. Oh, yes! Besides their “regular” oils, the other blends I like are Mental Focus, Peaceful Sleep, Bottled Bouquet, Peace & Harmony & Naturally Loveable. <3

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  5. I found so many “old” colognes from back in the day still on store shelves when I went shopping with my boys. CK One, Drakkar, Tommy, etc. I still wear sunflowers; anytime I try to change it up my husband asks me very nicely to switch back. I guess that’s the downside of marrying your high school sweetheart. I’m stuck in the 90’s!

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  6. DRAKKAR NOIR. I thought that was so sexy back when I was in junior high. Did I ever tell you about my sons’ story about their friend who brought Axe body spray to school and sprayed the entire boys’ change room with it, so it smelled like sweat and Axe? Actually, that’s not much of a story. But just imagine. Imagine being a gym teacher.

    I was just commenting on someone else’s blog about bras! I know this is an unpopular opinion but I love wearing a bra. I even have soft sleep bras to wear to bed. My BFF thinks this is insane, she takes her bra off the second she gets home from work. I don’t know, I guess I’m just not a loose and free kind of gal.

    I used to teach restorative yoga and some of the postures I’d have the class hold for ten minutes! I thought the longer the pose, the better. I still think that way, on weekends I give myself a restorative practice and that might include a max of three postures.

    I am no help on the candle as I am terrified of having open flame in the house. But now I’m thinking of that SNL sketch about the Yankee Candle that makes it around the world.

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    1. OMG! That is so funny! I remember when Anna was in middle school and she said the hallways smelled like Axe and sweat—this made me laugh so hard. I feel so bad for middle school teachers. 🤣

      I love that you have a sleep bra! Listen, do what makes you feel good—that’s what life is about. 💜

      Ten minutes? WOW. I could hold child’s pose easily for ten minutes. Oh man, I love that pose so much.

      I only light candles when we have company, or very rarely when I do soul homework, but it’s always on the table in front of me. I’ve never seen the SNL sketch, but now I feel like I need to look it up.

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  7. i was gonna recommend Aunt Sadie’s Candles (come in a tin, hand poured, from Vermont), but when i looked ’em up to send the link, the company was SOLD in Dec 2024. apparently purchased by a craft store in VT, but all links are dead. SO SAD! these were some of my favorite candles (fresh cut grass smelled like my dad just finished mowing the lawn). dang, totally bummed out right about now. i can’t stand anything powerful or perfume-y. and anything with vanilla gives me an instant headache (so many candles have vanilla).

    one option i like is using a diffuser– and putting in about 4-5 drops of organic oil. i like rocky mountain essential oils– they have several blends that i enjoy (like stress relief, purify, breathe easy). they used to have one specifically to help with migraines, but i’ve never tried it. i also love to put the diffuser on when doing yoga– makes my room smell like a spa :). and people always comment on how fresh my home smells, and want to know what i’m using. unfortunately, with the high humidity, i haven’t been using the diffuser recently. but looking forward to cooler days when i can start it back up again.

    i love Natori bras (my favorite is Natori Feathers). yes, they are expensive, but comfortable, and look great under clothes and also when you’re just wearing your bra. :) very pretty!

    i love the monkies and death cab for cutie. … speaking of cuties, thanks for sharing, cutie! xx, ren

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    1. I’m so sad about Aunt Sadie’s candles! They sound exactly like what I would love—and I love the smell of freshly cut grass. I get instant headaches from so many candles, even the so-called “good” ones.

      I use diffusers every day! You’re like the third person to recommend Rocky Mountain Oils—headed there now. I usually go for peppermint or lemon, and sometimes palo santo. Those scents always make me feel lighter. I love that spa smell too!

      Ooh, thank you for the bra recommendation!

      Aww, you’re welcome, cutie! 😘💜

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  8. Kari, it’s so ironic you mentioned Drakkar Noir because although I never wore that fragrance, I really liked the smell. I once worked with a theater director who wore it and whenever I see a bottle or smell the scent, I immediately think of him and how popular it was in the 80s and 90s. Same thing with Calvin Klein Obsession. I also wore CK One.

    They drive on the left side in Japan too.

    So happy to hear that you’re enjoying your yoga class. Isn’t yoga so powerful? It works on everything – body, mind and spirit.

    Speaking of candles, I used to manage a candle store from California called, “Illuminations”. A-mazing soy candles in the most a-mazing scents. They no longer sell in stores, but I think they still sell online. Check them out.

    Fun and fabulous post, my friend! Hope you’re enjoying the start of a great week!

    X

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    1. Aww, I love that we both wore CK One! I love how scents—especially perfume—can remind us of people we used to know, sometimes in good ways and sometimes not so much.

      Yes, they do! I did a little digging because I thought we were the only country that drove on the right, but it turns out about 140 drive on the right versus 50 on the left. I had no idea!

      It really is so powerful! I love my yoga instructor too—I think that can make or break a class.

      Illuminations! Yes! I loved that store. I didn’t know they were still in business—I’ll definitely check them out.

      Thank you, friend. I hope you have a great week! xoxo

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  10. Omfg… drakkar noir. I think I used that all through high school. Too bad I can’t remember the scent.

    The Monkees pairings with contemporary artists is really clever. I listened to the ding and like it. I may go down a rabbit hole for the rest.

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    1. I think you should take a sniff down memory lane—it’s right there at the drugstore! 🤣

      I’d had that song saved in one of my playlists for years, always thinking it was from the 60s—maybe some lesser-known track of theirs. Then last week, while working on another post about playlists, I stumbled across it again and went down a full-on rabbit hole. I’m so glad I did.

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  11. I haven’t thought of Drakkar Noir in forever. I had a bestie in college who always wore men’s cologne. It did smell better than women’s fragrances! Remember the Liz Claiborne red triangle bottle? So many triangles in the 80’s!

    I quit wearing regular bras since 2020 as well. The underwires would dig into my sides and I’d have breast pain that would last for a week. I don’t know why that suddenly started happening to me. Something else I quit wearing is regular socks. I only wear sports socks now, but I still have issues with the elastic bands that hold them up around the ankle. Why so tight?? I have zero fat on my ankles, so it makes no sense.

    I’m sad that your new memory is a bad one. One of my few kindergarten memories is the little playhouse that had a pretend iron and I so wanted to go in there and play during free time, but I was scared of the kids who got there first. I had zero courage as a young child.

    The only candle aroma I can handle is food related. I can’t do floral or any other scent like that. The best candle I ever found was at a discount store (so never found it again!). It was Thin Mint Cookie. So freaking good!

    I sure enjoy these posts, Kari! XO

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    1. I loved men’s cologne in the ’90s—I wore CK One and remember being obsessed that it was a unisex cologne. I also remember the triangle bottle!

      I wear slippers all summer around the house because I don’t like how the floor feels under my bare feet. In winter, I love wearing socks, but I’m picky—they can only feel a certain way.

      I love your little memory, though—I get what it was like to have no courage. I didn’t either. I still don’t. 🤣

      Yankee had a brownie candle in the ’90s, and it was so good. They don’t make it anymore. Grrr.

      I’m so glad you enjoy these. I love writing them. 💜

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  12. So much yes here!

    Drakkar was huge when I was in school and I’m certain I had more than one bottle over the years. In that memory of scent I remember my mother’s joy receiving a bottle of Obsession. I found the oblong shape of that perfume bottle so fascinating for some reason.

    I need to find a restorative yoga class, stat.

    Speaking of obsession, I’m now super digging the work of Noah Verrier.

    Yes on Etsy for writers!

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    1. I love that thanks to this post, I know what a lot of you smelled like in 1990. This is making me so very happy. 🤣

      OMG—I wore Obsession in 1987. I love that your mom wore it too and that you loved the bottle. Makes total sense—you have an eye for design.

      YES YOU DO.

      I clicked on your link—I love Noah’s art. I’ll be exploring his work all afternoon- thank you for sharing it.

      Okay, Chris—you get on that! I have faith in you.

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  13. That IS a beautiful song! I remember watching the Monkee’s as a kid. Not sure if it was reruns, or fresh?

    Kari, I wish I had more vivid memories from my childhood. A lot of mine seem to be just flashes of moments, nothing long enough to feel like a concrete memory. But like you, I always sucked at math.

    I recall everyone wearing Obsession in the late 80’s early 90’s. I think I might have had it too, and in hindsight, it was SO strong, so putrid. Ughhhh. I still have fond thoughts about Love’s Baby Soft.

    Did you see Nance’s new post about bras? I noted that I’ve worn an underwire ONCE since 2020, and I believe I complained about it the entire night. Soft bras for the win!

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    1. Isn’t it? I love it.

      I’m losing my memories too, friend. I notice when I journal in the morning that the more I write, the more memories start to float back. But yeah, a lot of things are fading.

      Obsession! Yes—I wore that in 1987, and I remember it because my boyfriend at the time bought it for me. I do think scent and song are amazing memory triggers.

      I don’t know who Nance is, but now you’ve got me wanting to read her post. Do you have a link?

      Soft bras for the win!

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  14. The fact that I, a left hander, can surprise stab some unwary driver in a joist style engagement has made me happy in a way that speaks ill of my fundamental character, frankly.

    Also the Palo Santo candles from New Braunfels Candle Company are my favorite and never gave my husband headaches… but of course cluster headaches are very different than migraines. Beware their other candles though- I have retched like a disgusted dog over a couple of their sickeningly sweet ones in their store. (Unintentionally and I sincerely hope unnoticed by the staff…)

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    1. 🤣🤣

      I love the smell of Palo Santo, so that’s where I’m headed now. I really hate sweet-smelling anything—except real food.

      Thank you so much for the candle recommendation.

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  15. Cologne/perfume…loved it when I was a teen and in my 20’s, then couldn’t stand the strong scents anymore. I remember wearing Love’s Baby Soft in Jr High. In high school, I wore several expensive perfumes, but off the top of my head, all I can remember is Red Door (Elizabeth Arden). When Brian and I first started dating (1982), he was wearing Pierre Cardin. And he doused himself in it! It became a joke in our family. One time my dad, who was the serious, quiet type with a dry sense of humor remarked, “Brian must be getting closer…I can smell him coming!”

    Lately I’ve been wearing a spritz of Zum patchouli orange. Natural and “light”.

    Oh, I wish I could wear nothing but sports bras! I have a couple of them, but they don’t offer enough support. I wear them at home under my pajamas if Tim is here. Otherwise, I have to wear underwire bras. And I know I need a professional bra fitting, but I don’t know where to go (Soma?) and I dread it, so I always put it off. In the meantime, I order bras from Amazon even though I know the ones I get are not the best fit and style for me.

    Like you, I can’t do artificially scented candles. I like Goodlight – either unscented or lavender. They use essential oils instead of fragrance oils. You can get them on Amazon.

    I love the Monkees when I was growing up! Never heard the song you posted though. Really like it; quite different for them.

    xoxo

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    1. I remember Love’s too—so many of us girls wore it. I bet the halls of middle and high school all over smelled like Love’s Baby Soft in the ’70s and ’80s.

      I wore Red Door in 1989, and your writing just made me remember it! My boyfriend gave it to me for my first Christmas living in Illinois.

      OMG—that joke your dad made about Brian made me laugh. That’s so funny.

      You always smell good to me—you and I like a lot of the same kinds of scents.

      I’m very lucky that I don’t need a bra, but if I had to go to a formal event, I definitely would.

      xoxo

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  16. My perfume of choice was essential oils. I had fun blending my own to fit my moods.

    That’s wild they still sell the perfumes of your kidhood! Wild and totally awesome. Fragrance def unlocks powerful memories.

    THE MONKEEES!!!! Squeeee!

    Saw their show in reruns a few times as a lil one when my fam was on vacation. The show baffled me but I loved the songs.

    Memorized the opening song along with other childhood classics like The Bare Necessities, C is for Cookie, Say say my enemy, etc.
    So I knew they were “The Monkees” (“hey hey”) & they, like, existed. But they didn’t exist where I lived! Found a few of their songs in HS to my great joy. Actual songs! Not just me singing!

    Do kids today experience this? The thing where you hear a song once at age 6. Love it. Memorize parts of it. But have no idea the artist, the band, etc. Youtube has solved so many musical mysteries for me. I will miss it when it becomes evil.

    Recently found The Monkees singing Riu chiu (Christmas song). It is so good! Best part is towards the end of the video – Micky is singing solo & the guys exchange glances with each other – so obv proud of him. They filmed it for a Christmas special. Maybe live? And at the end they call the crew up. Very warm and fuzzy.

    Love the song you linked! It is new to me. Also omg Death Cab! What a random connection!

    Did you watch The O.C.? My friend group was very into Death Cab when they started and it blew our collective minds that a random TV show was into them.

    So sorry you remembered a scarring maths memory. Maybe you’ll keep journeying backwards & remember an even earlier memory that’s happier?

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    1. I don’t know why I never think of essential oils—I use them every day in diffusers, and I can tolerate them just fine.

      Right? I loved that show so much as a kid. It was completely nonsensical, which is probably why I loved it.

      When I think about how Shazam exists—where you can hold up your phone to a song and it tells you the artist and title—and then remember how we used to write down snippets of lyrics, hoping we’d hear them again, I realize this is the technology I actually find useful. This is STEM I can stand behind.

      I’ll miss it when it becomes “evil”—man, that thought makes me sad.

      I just listened to Riu Chiu performed by The Monkees—OMG. That is so impressive, and it’s such a beautiful song.

      I never watched The OC, but I do love Death Cab for Cutie.

      I have several good math memories. One is of my dad always being patient with me while helping me with homework, and another is from 7th grade with Mrs. Anthony—her class was where I got my first ever A in math. I truly believe my math phobia has less to do with actual math and more to do with who taught it to me.

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  17. Once I got hay fever, I found many perfumes and aftershaves caused me to react badly. Before that I used to wear Dior perfumes – Miss Dior and Diorissimo in particular. Since then, nothing, even though my hay fever is almost gone. I just don’t want to risk being made to feel nauseous and unable to wash it off!

    I’ve worn crop top bras for the same period of time. I do have proper bras (with no underwire since breast cancer) for when I’m being a grown-up and dressing up, otherwise it’s comfort all the way.

    Etsy for writers? Love the idea – I’m in!

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    1. I can relate to this. I get headaches from so many scents that I can only wear a spray with a soft scent now. I’ve been wearing the same one for two years because it’s the only one I can tolerate.

      I love my comfy bras so much. I will say, though, if I had a formal event, I’d have to buy a different bra for it.

      I think it would be a fun idea!

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  18. Hello!!! I don’t remember what perfume I wore but my first serious boyfriend wore Polo. It will forever remind me of him. A writer’s etsy..yes! I write much better then I speak and would love to make a few bucks. I used to love all candles but the past year, most of them are just yuck! It might just be me or the ingredients are just getting bad. I do like ones made from near my hometown called 1820. They are not overpowering. On a side note about this company, my hometown hosts the biggest county fair in the state, the Canfield Fair. 1820 always creates a special scent that is only available during the fair. Last year it was caramel corn and was fantastic! Curious what this year’s will be?!! Good marketing!

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    1. Yay, you’re back—I missed you.

      I love that you remember what your first boyfriend wore.

      I definitely write better than I speak. 🤣

      Do they sell the 1820 candles online? I’ll go look. I love that marketing, and I also love that the Canfield Fair is the largest county fair in Ohio—I didn’t know that!

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  19. I’m cracking up your math-mistakes-was-my-first-memory and that checks. Hilarious. Life is too short for uncomfortable underwear. Amen. I have one shelf bra cami and I love it. I feel like I’m cheating when I wear it without a bra, but I (thankfully I have such a small chest I can get away with it) don’t need a bra when I wear it. I should probably invest in more of those. I do like candles, but I absolutely cannot stand overly fragrant things (candles, soaps, lotion, perfume on other people) – makes me nuts.

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    1. I feel the same way about my bra—like I’m cheating. I’ve always hated wires, so this is so much better. And yes, overly fragrant things (and people)? Gah.

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  21. Oh, gosh, the Monkees! My friends and I used to pretend to be them and be in our own show. I was always Davy because I could do a pretty good British accent. So funny, but we had a great time.

    And I’ve given up on bras completely as of this summer. If I’m wearing something a bit sheer, I’ll wear a cami, but otherwise, I’m au naturel. I’m sick of those damn things, and I’ll not torture myself with A) finding one that is truly comfortable; B) finding one that fits truly correctly; or C) finding one that works with everything I wear. The search and struggle are OVER. I’m free and happy.

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    1. I’m so glad to see you in my comments this morning! I love that you used to pretend to be in The Monkees.

      I am 100 percent with you on bras—I’ve never found one comfortable either. Here’s to being free and happy!

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