Things Everyone Is Obsessed With Right Now—And Why I’m Not
Every once in a while, something becomes so popular that it’s impossible to avoid. It’s everywhere—online, in stores, in conversations—and people genuinely love it.

And then there’s me, standing off to the side thinking… am I missing something?

This isn’t a critique. This isn’t a proclamation.
This is just a short list of things that are very hyped right now that, for me, didn’t quite live up to the buzz.


 Stanley cup tumblers

Stanley Cup tumblers

I understand the appeal. They’re sturdy, they come in pretty colors, and they apparently hold enough liquid to hydrate a small village.
What I don’t understand is how one cup became a lifestyle, a collection, and a personality trait.
Also, I’m going to need an entire cabinet just for tumblers, and I’m not prepared for that level of commitment.


 Iced drinks in winter

Iced drinks… in winter

I see people walking around with iced coffee when it’s freezing outside, and I just have questions.
My hands are cold. My nose is cold. My spleen is cold. Why would my drink also be cold?
No judgment—I just don’t want my drinks matching the thermometer.


 Apps for things we already know how to do

Apps for things we already know how to do

Drink water.
Breathe.
Stand up occasionally.

I appreciate the reminders, but at some point I start wondering who’s actually in charge here—me or my phone?


 Walking pads under desks

Walking pads under desks

I admire the ambition. Truly.
But the idea of walking, typing, thinking, and not face-planting all at once feels like a skill I was never meant to master.
I’ll just sit. Or walk. Separately. Like nature intended.


 Filming normal daily life

Filming normal daily life

Cooking dinner. Running errands. Folding laundry.
Somehow, these things are now social media content—and honestly, I’m impressed by the dedication.
I just don’t feel the need to document my trip to the post office for future generations.


 Minimalist homes that look uninhabited

Minimalist homes that look uninhabited

They’re beautiful. Calm. Serene.
They also look like no one actually lives there, owns things, or has ever relaxed on the sofa with a blanket.
I like a home that shows signs of life—maybe even a little cluttered evidence that humans exist. I mean, where do y'all put your stuff?!


 Final thoughts

Final thoughts 

If you love any—or all—of these things, please carry on.
Truly. I’m not here to yuck anyone’s yum.

This is just me opting out of a few recent trends. What would you add to the list?







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✨ My blog exists because I know what it feels like to keep everything jumbled in your head — like a messy pile of clothes you can’t sort through.
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Honestly, that’s why I keep showing up to write — it helps me make sense of things. 

 Even if you have no intentions of ever publishing your work, I highly recommend writing stuff down. It doesn't have to be a literary masterpiece or even full, grammatically correct sentences... just dump those random thoughts onto paper... you'll see what I mean.

*This blog centers the GenX experience, simply because that’s the lens I live through—but anyone looking for connection, natural wellness, grief support, or a little real-talk in this messy stage of life is more than welcome.

6 Comments

  1. So many people talk about buying cheap stuff on Temu. I don't trust it!
  2. AJ, I just have one thing to say....a big, fat AMEN.
  3. Yup. I get it... buying into today's incredible market of gadgets-gidgets, fads, plastics, technology, media sales, hype, new diets, old diets, mental health remedies and political confusion is overwhelming and life consuming... but often I wish I could just let go and enjoy all the silly and sometimes useless things that humans do to keep happy and amused... just saying... my biggest enemy is my overthinking brain that picks apart and critiques all that life may have to offer... in the end I might have just been better off to laugh smile and buy into a few more crazy albeit crazy human fads and silliness...(keeping in mind environmental cost, corporation greed, and excessive waste)..... yuppers we are living in confusing times... try it on and see if it makes you smile... and yup I wear crocs and socks... why not... lol
  4. Jennifer Bohnhoff  12/21/2025 07:11 AM Central
    I'm not into any of these trends either. The one additional one that comes to mind are curated Christmas trees. I've been in a few houses lately that have artificial trees with color coordinated ornaments, sometimes a different one in each room. I have just one tree, and it's filled with a lifetime mishmash of memories. It's not a decoration, it's a museum of sentiment, hung on a less than perfect tree we went into the forest and cut ourselves. It will never make the cover of a designer magazine, but each and every ornament tells a story, and the tree itself invokes a lovely day spent trecking through the snow
  5. I fall for so many of these trends, then regret spending my cash for one more thing that just clutters my life.
    I’m working on decluttering and trying to avoid these traps.
    (Ie, I don’t need 10 or more mugs that I don’t use!)
  6. I fall for so many of these trends, then regret spending my cash for one more thing that just clutters my life.
    I’m working on decluttering and trying to avoid these traps.
    (Ie, I don’t need 10 or more mugs that I don’t use!)

Leave a Comment

✨ My blog exists because I know what it feels like to keep everything jumbled in your head — like a messy pile of clothes you can’t sort through.

 Writing it all down brings clarity, calm, and sometimes even healing answers I didn’t know I was looking for.


Honestly, that’s why I keep showing up to write — it helps me make sense of things. 

 Even if you have no intentions of ever publishing your work, I highly recommend writing stuff down. It doesn't have to be a literary masterpiece or even full, grammatically correct sentences... just dump those random thoughts onto paper... you'll see what I mean.

*This blog centers the GenX experience, simply because that’s the lens I live through—but anyone looking for connection, natural wellness, grief support, or a little real-talk in this messy stage of life is more than welcome.

Hi! I'm AJ Flanagan.

 
Hey there — I’m AJ.

I’m an empty-nester and a widow who had a wake-up call about the hidden toxins in everyday products most of us grew up using. Our parents didn’t know. We didn’t know either. But once you start paying attention, it’s hard to ignore.

Life shifted in 2018 when my husband, Eric, was diagnosed with leukemia — and again in 2023 when we faced a second cancer diagnosis. Supporting him through treatment changed how we looked at just about everything, including how we cared for our home, our bodies, and our day-to-day routines.
We didn’t aim for perfection or extremes. We focused on simple, meaningful changes — reducing toxic load in our home, choosing better ingredients, prioritizing nourishing food, and building calmer rhythms into daily life. Tools like aromatherapy, music, meditation, and intentional rest became part of how we coped and stayed grounded.

Caring for Eric deepened my commitment to living well — not as a trend, but as a way of showing up with intention and grace, even in the hard seasons.

Now I share our story, the lessons we learned, the small changes that made a big difference, and how I'm moving forward. My hope is to make wellness feel more approachable, less overwhelming, and rooted in real life — especially for anyone who wants healthier options without pressure or perfection.

If you’re here to find what actually works for you, you’re in the right place.

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