FMG Newsletter: A Good Week for Music, Podcasts, and Also For Me

+ the story of the time I went to the Men's Final Four approximately 10 years ago

Happy Friday and happy Cowboy Carter Day!!!!! I could cry with joy that we get to witness Beyoncé’s genius in real time, and I’ll be spending the day/weekend/foreseeable future listening to the queen (plus Miley!? An actual dream!!).

On my mind this week:

• Podcasts: What a blessed week for podcast content! Not only did we get to hear from The Bachelor’s Joey and Kelsey on Thursday’s episode of my beloved Viall Files (did you know I’m in the top 7% of Spotify’s Viall Files listeners? #blessed), but Kristen Stewart also graced us peasants with her presence on NSBNF this week. It is such a joy to hear from SUCH a likable and self-aware celebrity — it was so fun to listen to her speak very fondly about Twilight but also to clearly have so much else going on (aka she’s in actual new movies instead of just making her former movie(s) her entire brand, cough cough). (Also, KStew and I do have the same birthday, which is coincidentally coming up VERY SOON.) And yes, I do occasionally listen to podcast episodes that will help me bEtTeR mYsElF, but also, quite frankly, I know no joy like what I feel when sipping on an iced americano, walking along the lakefront, and listening to Nick Viall’s voice in my ears.

  • Side note: I tagged Nick Viall in my Instagram story two weeks ago, he reposted it, and I literally told no one until now. Can you believe the restraint?

  • Second side note: Every clip/interview I see/hear of Kelsey and Joey is just SO delightful. It’s almost TOO delightful in that it’s making me feel more single than ever. If you want to hear just them on Viall Files and skip the other stuff (it’s literally a two-hour episode so I’d understand), their part starts at 45:15.

• March Madness: I love March Madness SO much, mainly for the following four reasons.

  • First, it goes without saying that it is the most fun, unexpected wild ride of a time, and it makes me so emotional to watch dreams come true and to watch underdog teams bring so much joy to their fans and schools.

  • Second, I love basketball and I have many happy memories from my childhood of getting to stay up late to watch the games.

  • Third, I don’t know if this is a legitimate television programming thing or if it’s some kind of a placebo effect, but it feels like the non-March Madness channels are playing PARTICULARLY good movies in an attempt to sway my viewership. Thankfully for me, the end result is me flipping back and forth between TCU and Harry Potter 6 (last Friday) and Clemson/Arizona and Pirates 1 (just this Thursday night!!). I’ll admit, Orlando Bloom captured my attention more than Clemson/Arizona did — I’m an honest woman.

  • Finally, of course, I love the excuse to tell the story of my own visit to the Men’s Final Four, when (during my junior? senior? year of college?) I took a shot (or two) of Crown Royal and made a pact to kiss one fan from each of the four teams. I kissed one Wisconsin fan, frantically panicked, then abandoned the goal. Regardless, it was a dream come true to watch one of basketball’s biggest nights, and I’ll happily remember the experience forever. To that one Wisconsin fan, I hope you reminisce on our time together equally as fondly.

• Stuff: A few items that have dramatically and irrationally improved my life as of late…

  • Dibs Desert Island Duo: This makeup stick has cream bronzer on one end and cream blush on the other, and it’s so delightfully lovely and makes my skin SO glowy. I got shade 3, but my understanding is that you can’t go wrong. I don’t love doing my makeup (and I mean that in a lazy way, not in a pick-me way), but this is so easy and the results are so good that I get excited to use it.

  • Blue Light Glasses: Because I’m a thirsty girl (once dubbed “The Thirstiest Girl in Vail,” while at a wedding in, you guessed it, Vail), I posted a selfie in my new blue light glasses on my Instagram story on Thursday, and I was thrilled by the amount of story likes and flame emojis I received (not one single one was from a man, but a win is a win). In case you’re interested, here’s the link to the glasses.

  • Sneakers: My Air Force 1s, my favorite shoes I’ve ever owned, are currently on sale (mine are the White/Peach Cream/Light Liquid Lime/White colorway, but lots are on sale). I know I don’t neeeeeed another pair, but the heart wants what it wants. In addition to the sale price, you can also stack the code “SPRING” on top for an additional 20% off. Yay!

• TikTok: This is an accurate representation of who I have been for the last 15ish years and who I will continue to be until I’m sitting in a movie theater on November 27, 2024.

I’m so excited to head home for some family time this Easter weekend, and I hope you are similarly looking forward to the holiday (however you’re spending it!). I never want to sound preachy, but please know that I am always available to share a link or rec for a church service (on holidays and otherwise), so don’t ever hesitate to ask — and I’ll always accept a link or rec in return. Cheers!

XO, Gail

And as a reminder (I know this disclaimer is getting old but it’s only getting more and more important!!!!!):

It’s an election year, and it is my duty to remind you that while newsletters like this are crucial for maintaining sanity and levity, I am not a news source and am in no way a replacement for staying informed. For every newsletter you read that makes you smile, I hope you also read an informed take on politics, world events, and social issues (then fact check it!) — and for every heavy piece of news you take in, I hope you also consume and/or create a piece of art that promotes light, laughter, and joy.

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