Weekender #162

💔 Seven years of grieving—what one widow learned about loss and healing.

💬 A casual 150 (!!!) questions to ask your boyfriend on your next date night.

📄 Master the art of proposal writing to get clients to say “yes” every time.

🧘‍♀️ Five powerful reasons to make reflection a daily habit—and how to get started.

The female body is complicated and medically underfunded and studied, so it’s no wonder sometimes we’re unsure what’s going on down there.

Infections & Bacteria

• Bacterial Vaginosis: An imbalance of bacteria in the vagina, often causing a fishy odor and a thin, white or gray discharge.
• Yeast Infection: Caused by an overgrowth of yeast, leading to itching, burning, and a thick, white, clumpy discharge.
• UTI: An infection of the bladder or kidneys, often causing a burning sensation during urination, frequent urination, and a strong urge to urinate.

Thania says: “I once had a UTI and yeast infection and didn’t know until I went to the hospital for food poisoning. Since then, I’ve made sure to change out of my workout pants immediately after working out instead of running errands and sitting through WFH calls. “

Joanna says: “I stick to the pee after sex rule. It helps flush out bacteria that can enter the urethra when you’re doing the dirty. Not peeing afterward gives that bacteria a chance to multiply, which can lead to a UTI.”

Cameron says: “I swear by Happy V Prebiotic + Probiotic and their D-Mannose + Cranberry pills. Once I started taking both of these, I have not had an infection or any vaginal abnormalities (and I had chronic UTIs and yeast infections)! They were recommended by my OGBYN; I always recommend talking to your health care provider before starting anything new.”

Kristel says: “I used to get UTIs every other month and thought washing down there multiple times a day would help—it didn’t. In fact, it caused a major imbalance in my pH. When I stopped over-washing and stuck to once a day, started using the pH-D boric acid foam wash, drank more water, and avoided anything with fragrance down there, my symptoms disappeared. It’s been almost a year now, and I haven’t had a single UTI!”

STDs

• Trichomoniasis: A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause inflammation, itching, and a frothy, green or yellow discharge.
• Chlamydia and gonorrhea: STIs that may not have noticeable symptoms but can lead to serious health problems if untreated, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): An infection of the female reproductive organs, often caused by untreated STIs, leading to pelvic pain, fever, and abnormal vaginal discharge.

Thania says: “Planned Parenthood always has great women’s care if you ever find yourself thinking you have an STD and need an empathetic physician and healthcare center.” (P.S. Consider supporting your local PP.)

Joanna says: “Get tested regularly, even if you’re in a monogamous relationship. Peace of mind is worth it, and it’s part of taking care of yourself.”

Cameron says: “A partner being asymptomatic doesn’t mean they’re not a carrier. Having honest, open conversations about sexual health is a must—it’s about protecting both of you.”

Hormonal Changes

• Vaginal dryness: Can occur due to hormonal changes, such as menopause or certain medications, causing discomfort during intercourse and itching.
• Menstrual irregularities: Issues with the menstrual cycle, including heavy bleeding, painful periods, or irregular cycles, which can be caused by hormonal imbalances or underlying health conditions.

Thania says: “I found out I had PCOS after high testosterone and hirsutism symptoms. It’s more common than you think!”

Cameron says: “Switching to a hormone-free birth control option helped me feel more balanced and less anxious. It was a whirlwind to get to this point but it was what worked best with my body. Definitely worth discussing with your doctor.”

Health conditions

• Vulvodynia: Chronic vulvar pain that can be caused by various factors, including nerve damage or inflammation, often leading to discomfort and difficulty with sexual intercourse.
• Endometriosis: A condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, often causing pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, and pain during sex.
• Ovarian Cancer: A type of cancer that forms in the ovaries, often with no early symptoms. As the cancer grows, it may cause symptoms like bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, and changes in bowel or bladder habits.

Kristel says: “When I noticed irregular periods, I started tracking everything with an app. It made a huge difference in helping me explain what was going on to my doctor.”

Cameron says: “Don’t ignore persistent vaginal discomfort or pelvic pain—it could be more than just stress or changes to your routine. I was instructed to journal my symptoms by my OGBYN and had a scheduled appointment after 3 months to review the patterns. It led to some important tests and changes to my health plan that I’m really glad I trusted my gut and fought to figure out what was wrong.”

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📚 Read: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

The Housemaid follows a young woman who takes a job as a housemaid, only to uncover disturbing secrets within the household. With unexpected twists and an eerie atmosphere, this novel keeps readers guessing until the very last page.

📺 Watch: Killing Eve on Netflix

Killing Eve, a thrilling cat-and-mouse series, follows the tense relationship between a clever MI5 agent and a charismatic assassin. Packed with drama, dark humor, and unforgettable characters, this show is completely bingeable.

🎧 Listen: The Guy Who Studied Buffett for 25 Years on My First Million

This podcast episode provides insights from a seasoned expert who has spent decades studying Warren Buffett’s investment strategies. Offering lessons on value investing, patience, and business fundamentals, it’s a compelling listen for anyone curious about financial wisdom from one of history’s greatest investors.

Slack isn’t just our communication tool—it’s our team’s secret sauce for staying connected, productive, and yes, even a little playful. Here’s why we can’t get enough of it:

• Organized Channels = Organized Minds: Whether we’re brainstorming the next big thing in #ideas, celebrating wins in #teamgoals, or sharing pup pics in #teamfun, every conversation has its place. No more digging through endless threads.
• Huddle Magic: Got a quick question or need a spur-of-the-moment chat? Slack Huddles let us hop into real-time convos without scheduling yet another meeting. (Bless 🙏.)
• Next-Level Integrations: Google Drive? Zoom? Notion? Slack links with all our favorite tools, so we can update tasks, share files, and jump into calls—all without leaving the app.
• Search That Actually Works: Forgot where you dropped that genius idea? The search tool is here to save the day, making it easy to find messages, files, and links in a flash.
• Custom Notifications, Zero Overwhelm: Customize your alerts so you can stay in the loop on what matters without the constant ping—balance = restored.
• Work, but Make It Fun: From emojis to GIFs, Slack brings a splash of personality to every convo. Because why just reply when you can send a /giphy.

Watch a demo to see how Slack keeps our team connected, efficient, and on the same page.

Bear is a 4.5 year-old Havanese (the official dog of Cuba!) who has been his mom’s ride-or-die since day one. Havanese dogs were bred to be circus performing animals, and Bear has channeled that performance energy into his very own PAR-KOUR routine.

He spends his days and nights as the neighborhood security watchman, and when he’s not keeping everyone safe from the dreaded blowing wind, he’s working on his jumps and wall spins for his PAR-KOUR routine. Bear’s battery has exactly two settings; 10 or 0, and there is absolutely no in-between.

🐾 Got a cute fur baby? Submit them to be our pet of the week in an upcoming issue.

🚨 Open Jobs: Visit our job board here.

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