i'm gonna get high

That’s right. I’m going to get high. On caramels to be exact.

It was my birthday earlier this month, which means I will turn 50 (!) in less than a year. It’s the most excited I’ve been for any of my birthdays. I’ve never wanted to celebrate any other milestones, except this one. I don’t have a clear reason why. I guess I feel like life has been so good to me and I’ve been able to do so much in these 49 years that I feel like it calls for a party. I also feel hugely optimistic and excited that I could do so much more in the coming years. True, I have creaky knees and menopause is knocking (more like banging) on my door. But, what a liberating time and age to be a woman - nothing to prove to anyone and owning all that is me, all that is good, bad and ugly.

So, I’m planning to make the most of it by celebrating every month leading up to my big day in April 2023. I would have started in April this year, but I have COVID as I’m writing this, so that didn’t seem like the right way to kick off my celebratory year. So, on to May!

Here’s a roundabout story as to why I decided to get high to celebrate me, myself and I. Own Your Wonder now has what I call a cool, speakeasy studio! It’s behind this cute little hemp shop at Tysons Corner Mall. When my superstar manager, Karina, told me to check out this salon space inside the hemp shop, I was skeptical. I couldn’t really put “salon” and “hemp” together. But, when I went to see it, I was blown away. A fabulous hair salon with beautiful, flattering mirrors, lights and ergonomic chairs had moved out of the space (thanks COVID) and this lovely Chesapeake Hemp Co. (sorry, no website yet) came to occupy just the receptionist space, leaving the rest of the salon sad and empty in the back.

You know where this is going now, right? I was talking to this charismatic, kind and generous-beyond-words owner, Michelle, about using her empty salon space, when I happen to ask her what is the store’s best selling product. She showed me a package of THC caramels that looked just like normal candy that my kids love.

I confess to you, I’ve been a total dork, nerd, or whatever else you call it, all my life. I hardly drink. I’ve never smoked, not even a cigarette. No drugs whatsoever. I may be a revisionist of my own history, but I feel like it wasn’t because of a principled choice or anything. I just don’t think I was ever around those things (I mean, nobody ever offered or asked me to do it with them). People talk about drugs being passed around at parties. Clearly, I did not go to the right parties (or enough of them).

So, the morning after I met with Michelle, I was in the shower, thinking about that packet of THC caramels and wondering what they would taste and feel like. The idea of trying this type of marijuana in my pajamas (probably with my husband, who’s also a newby like me) felt….hilarious…and somehow irreverent.

It’s not really checking off a box from some bucket list, or infusing a deep-meaning to these mini fetes. It’s just a fun way to have a laugh at myself. We all need more humor in our lives.

So, who’s ready to party with me?

(Look out for my next newsletter when I will report back on my virginal experience with these caramels. And, please send me some other celebratory ideas on the chat below, or share your own experience with edibles!)

(Speaking of Own Your Wonder, hit me up if you’re interested in doing a mother-daughter makeup lesson at our speakeasy studio.)

For my virtual Dream Box this week:

👛 Le Pliage Green: I recently bought this by accident (went into the store to change something, but, instead, came away with another purchase). It’s such a cute size (holds your car keys and phone - what else would you need these days). I feel like I should dress like Emily in Paris when I hold this. Did you know mustard yellow is one of my favorite colors? I even own a desk that color. See my next item.

📚 Strut 56” Table: My sweet husband got me this table for our anniversary. In mustard yellow. Everyday that I work on this table, it brings me immense joy. I sometimes pretend I’m Zaha Hadid designing away on this table. It even survived my 3-year old’s savage attempt to deface it with a very well-inked blue pen the other day.

🤒 Lenigola: One of my many COVID symptoms has been crazy, painful sore throat. I felt like I was swallowing a bag of thorns until I discovered this little souvenir my parents brought back from one of their trips to Italy. I’m not sure why my mom bought this in the first place, but this natural, propolis-based throat spray has saved the day for me. After a few squirts of this little magical potion, I feel like I might just live again. Grazie mille to whoever created this life saver.

🩰 Franco Sarto Vana Flat: I have a girl crush on my parents’ doctor. I see her often as I accompany my parents to all their doctor appointments. Aside from having the best bedside manners and being a superb physician, she is enviously fashionable. The other day, I saw her wearing these in lavender. They were so flattering on her that even her white coat looked stylish!