Working Towards Wellness: March 2026

[itsfi]

Whether this is your first time tuning into wellness bingo on BIC or you've tried your hand at this before, welcome! 👋

What is this about?

Simply put, it's about focusing on our personal wellness, in a fun way à la a game of bingo. 

Self-care can be a very personal thing - what works for one person may not work for someone else. Practicing wellness is a process - it takes time and effort. We have our good days and bad days - moments when we are thriving; and others where we need to pause, take a deep breath (or multiple ones, for that matter) and reset. But even as our self-care journey is a personal matter, support, encouragement and just knowing there's something there doesn't hurt. 

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Spoiler

@adamsev @ather @blackkitty2014 @caitbird @CorgiMommy @curlychiquita @danielledanielle @eshores 
@missjeanie @nuinui933 @Samtian @shaeschaeshea @Shosh85 

[Samtian]

@adamsev Heated Rivalry and a concert?! Can't beat that!

[nuinui933]

@adamsev 

Whoa, so many squared, good for you! A couple of my coworkers say that they really like Heated Rivalry. I add to my list.

[Shosh85]

@adamsev  You've almost filled the whole board - great job! 👏 

I've never had a job quite like that, but have been in similar situations, so I can totally understand! With my ADHD, I'd be doing the same as you! Those margaritas are well deserved! 😊

[eshores]

Celebrate small wins: My husband likes to think he's the great fixer and I'm like sure, hon. With little things it's fine but there are some things that it's just better if we call the professionals from the start, but it doesn't always happen that way. He's always like I got this and I'm just gonna let you all know that I think he does think he does but I love him but he doesn't. LOLOLOL. The other day the garage door wouldn’t open and he ended up calling someone without me having to ask him to just call already. I don’t know what made him do it but I don’t care. I take my wins when it comes to this whenever I get them. LOL

Celebrate me / stretch / gratitude: I have been going to physical therapy for some back issues and I’ve gotten more mobility and flexibility that I can get back to regular group yoga classes and only have to get to physical therapy once every other week now, I was having to go 2-3x a week every week. My PT team is a great bunch of people but I don't mind not having to get to their place at 5:30 in the morning.

Welcome spring - got my toe nails painted a robins egg blue for spring.

Quiet time - did some reading on my lunch break and sat outside on one of the picnic tables

[Samtian]

@eshores Oof good for you! I have to get up at 5:30 to feed animals, I can't imagine having to do physical stuff at that time 😫 I'm cranky enough as it is ha! Glad you are getting better!

[itsfi]

@eshores, happy to hear your PT has been working and you recovery is coming along so you don't have to go in as much. Whoa, 5:30am, that's early. Going every other week sounds a lot better and it signals your body is healing. Your robins egg blue  toenails sound perfect for spring!

Congratulations on your BINGO!

[eshores]

@itsfi thanks doll! I am ready for spring!

[Shosh85]

@eshores  So you got one of those husbands too, huh? Glad to know I'm not alone 😅 Bless his heart for always trying, but I'm not even sure how many times I've said, "maybe we should call someone now?" 😬

So happy to hear your back has been doing so much better! That's great that you have such a great PT team to help you out!
Great job getting that BINGO! Keep up the great work! 😃

[eshores]

@Shosh85 do I ever! 🤣 I wonder if they go to like a school for this, because my bestie's husband is the same way. Don't even get me started when something starts acting up or breaks down and they're both together. 🙄 I got a new washer and dryer last year because they were sure they "got this" Yep, you sure did guys. We get the extended warranty on every big ticket household item now. 🤣

[Shosh85]

@eshores  Hahaha! Too funny! 😂 🤣

[itsfi]

Catching up with a few self-care focused activities dating back a couple of weeks ago to now.

Seasonal fruits & veggies: Attended a lovely dinner a couple of weeks ago, which included a light, refreshing and delicious citrus salad with romaine, grapefruit, goat cheese and almonds. It's probably just a smidge early for romaine but grapefruit is in season. 

Read - Podcast - TV/Movie: One square, two different activities at different ends of the week. The first falls under a quasi-reading - quasi-journal activity and is something I've been doing off and on for the better part of a month now.

The other, a podcast, was during a trip to SEPHORiA this past weekend. On the Lyft ride to session 3, the driver had on the Stuff You Should Know podcast and it was about gin (for anyone interested, it was the March 21, 2026 segment Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Gin). For the record, it wasn't so much the topic of gin that caught my attention but I agreed a lot with what at least one of the parties to the conversations was saying about it and from what glimpses of it I caught, it was a good conversation in general, and I learned that Ireland makes a gin from fermented milk. There you go, folks! Random fact for a potential future trivia win, a cocktail party, or to just slide into an everyday conversation with friends or coworkers. Best believe I'll try to make it happen in my life with scenario 2 or 3. Oh yeah!!

Thank you Rodrigo from Lyft, for the ride and the new podcast recommendation. @missjeanie, note Stuff You Should Know Podcast - March 21, 2026 segment - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Gin. Oh, and fyi, I haven't listened to it yet, but the following day's segment was supposed to have a bit on bourbon. *adding to my "to do" list.

Healthy Meal: It was a weekend of balance when it came to food. Therre were drinks and chips, salsa & guacamole. As well as soft serve 😋, but there was also the Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl with half shredded kale / half spinach, roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa (instead of warm wild rice), chopped apples, toasted almonds, goat cheese, blackened chicken (instead of roasted chicken) and balsamic vinaigrette. 

And a chia pudding from Room Service before heading out for SEPHORiA Session 3.

Gratitude: Grateful for: 

• That first sip of coffee in the morning ... even better if all is quiet when that happens
• The sound of children laughing
• Moments to slow down and smell the roses
• Sacrifices made by others that allow me to have or afford me the opportunities to pursue what I have - humbled and grateful for family, friends, first responders, soldiers, caregivers, those who donate their time and resources, etc.
• Fresh starts, new opportunities
• Blessings in disguise
• Eye drops, Kleenex, Flonase and OTC allergy medicine - IYKYK
• The joy and respite that long weekend of laughter and catching up with friends over eats, drinks and beauty treats brings (and, of course, grateful for the friends)

Digital Detox:  My digital detox the last few days has been taking place more often during the day, and unplanned too, so I'm not entirely sure that counts, but I'm going to count it anyways, ha! I've used my phone to call for rideshares or text with folks, but there's been good chunks of time throughout the day when I've been off my phone, being present in the moment whatever those moments may be. 

Hydrate: I've been upping my water intake with the warm temps we've been having, and I also tried the Hydration Station juice from Joe & The Juice, which, per the company, is made with Vita Coco coconut water, lemon, spinach, ginger, apple, olive oil, and ice. It was energizing and indeed hydrating. Also had a lot of water during the heatwave along with an amazing green juice on my last day in LA. So good! And the lady gave me one for the road, on the house! Thank you Apryl at sweetgreen Beverly Hills! Seriously the best green juice I've ever had ... and I've had a lot of green juices. 

Spring into skincare: Spring is San Francisco is mostly highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s, with cooler mornings and evenings. How my skin feels though will depend on what's going on with my allergies. I'm planning on rotating between a couple of different skincare regimens this season, including this one with a lighter moisturizer. The other is the routine I used while at Sephoria, which primarily consisted of Tatcha, Rhode and Aestura products, and a heavier moisturizer in the evenings to help with dryness from air conditioned rooms and air travel. Also picked up some new-to-me sunscreens for spring. Talked more abou them in the National SPF Day ☀️ thread.

Prioritize sleep: While there have been a couple of insanely early mornings this month, including one a couple of weeks ago, I've been sleeping well through the night. For me, really making an effort to unwind, even if it's just for a little bit, has been helpful. My brain may not slow down as much as I'd like it to but even just a little has helped make falling asleep and staying asleep better. 

The INKEY List Mini Oat Cleansing Balm 1.7/50 

Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser 3.38 oz/100 ml 

innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Korean Hydrating Moisturizer for Skin Barrier Repair​ 1.69 oz / ... (SEPHORiA 2024 Atlanta, GA, and a mini tube was also included in the SEPHORiA 2026 Los Angeles General Admission swag bag)

rhode Mini Peptide Glazing Fluid Dewy Gel Serum 0.5oz/15ml 

LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask – Intense Hydration Lip Treatment with Vitamin C Vanilla (this one is in a special collab packaging)(part of Pan It! - 2026 Challenge)

Typology Repairing Lip Mask

[Samtian]

@itsfi What a great catch up for you! 

[itsfi]

@Samtian, I'm trying to remember to keep up with self-care / wellness activities not just when I have the time but when I'm busy and they'd be even more beneficial. 😂 And to find ways to get in a little here and there whenever I can, which is newer for me, but I've found it helpful when I can do that.  

[nuinui933]

@itsfi 

I am on board with that allergy med gratitude tho I might have to add prescription med to my list. I just got back from the doctor's office for an allergy panel. Mine are bad this year and I decided it was time to go in. That chia pudding looks delicious, so many fruits. 😍 I didn't know Aestura had an spf, I'll have to check our stores.

[itsfi]

Ouch, I'm so sorry to hear about your allergies @nuinui933; hopefully your allergy panels will give you a better idea of what's at the root of them for you. Hang in there!

Ohhh, I bet the stores near you probably have that Aestura sunscreen. It's really good; a teensy bit of a white cast but it fades away quickly as you massage the produt into your skin. 

[nuinui933]

@itsfi 

Thank you, found out I'm allergic to a couple of things including something that's in a new plant we got 😪 There's a girl in our building that likes plants and is moving away next month so I gave it to her. I saw the sunscreen and got it, one of the women at the counter said it was good, and I also got some of their Cica toner pads too. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Wow even with a busy week look at you go!!! That’s so amazing! I am impressed how you are able to fit everything in! Especially keeping hydrated when you are away! That sweet green salad looks delicious!!! And the green juice so good!!! 😊 Your skincare lineup looks amazing! 

[itsfi]

@ather, there was a heatwave for most of the time I was in LA, so part of staying hydrated was just to stay cool, lol. The salad and juice were really good; it just felt healthy too. I just did the skincare routine, and had to add a layer of rhode Mini Barrier Butter Intensive Moisture Balm 1.35oz/40ml tonight - it's cooler here and I think traveling has made my skin barrier a teensy bit sensitive. All good though. I can go with just the innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Korean Hydrating Moisturizer for Skin Barrier Repair​ by itself in the daytime. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Awww that’s to bad. My skin has been so angry lately. I’m not sure what caused it or if it’s a dermatitis. But focusing on skin barrier is a great plan! 

[itsfi]

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that @ather; I wonder if it's your confused spring that's to blame - constant shifts like that in the weather can play a big part in that. You'll be able to get it on track, I know you will. Just takes time but getting back to basics will help. And, hopefully the weather will settle in to something more consistent (and spring-like, too!)

[ather]

@itsfi  so update on my skin issue. It was shingles. Lucky it was a small area on my face. And I just had a week off so it’s calmed down. I was too late for medication but all good. It’s on the mend. I didn’t use any products for the time I was off and a few days before. 

Update on the weather. We had a full blown winter storm all day yesterday. And all night. Woke up to so much snow! So we had another fake spring 😂 but we have a high on Friday of 55. So will this be another fake spring or a real one.