All The Things My Group Chat Has Influenced Each Other to Buy
Shipyard Pumpkinhead beers with maple syrup and cinnamon sugar rim
On March 14, 2020, I was planning to have a bunch of my girlfriends over for a “Treat Yourself” party. I was going to have spa treatments (face masks from Target) and bottle service (a bottle of prosecco in an ice bucket). Buuuuttttttt, well you know the story. The world shut down.
I sent the girls a group text and said, “Hey, I don’t think I’m going to have people over this weekend just because of this Covid situation. I’ll re-schedule for later this month!”
Needless to say, we never re-scheduled. But the group conversation lived on!!!!
My favorite part about this group chat is that it’s my girlfriends from growing up. I’ve known them all for 20-30 years. And I’m only 34. 20-30!!! We have literally gone from children to women together, but NOT as a collective group. We haven’t really hung out all together in years. Actually, some of them had never hung out before. But now, we’re the best of friends and it makes me so happy to see all of my favorite girls bond and form their own relationships with each other.
Here’s the cast of characters:
Ashley: 35/F/Billerica, MA - have known her since I was 4, bullied me in second grade, recovering dental hygeniest, married to Edwin, current mom to 2 children (and 1 on the way!)
Jaten: 34/F/Medford, MA - real name is Janine but asked to go by a pseudonym, best friend since 2001, married to Jeff, mom to Evangeline and Dustin the cat, used to work with my dad, listens to my sister’s weird books on Audible
Kathy: 36/F/Stoneham, MA - met in dancing school, is a nurse, has spent a lot of time working in old age homes, mom to Winnie the dog, has a lot of plants
Cristina: 34/F/Boston, MA - met her in 3rd grade, we both loved Winnie the Pooh, was a teacher but is now a boss bitch, mom to Luna the Lovepup
Patty: 34/F/Everett, MA - this is me
Here is a fantastic, random list of things we have influenced each other to buy during the pandemic:
Supergoop Glow Screen- Expensive SPF is just the kind of random garbage we should be buying during a pandemic, right? I love how glowy it is - and how smooth it goes on. It feels like you’re put together when you’re definitely not! It is also the only makeup I wear most days.
Kitsch hair towels - Instagram influenced us here, but they’re so cute! It is like a fun update to the Turbie Twist and they dry your hair super quickly.
Oat milk - I just haven’t found the right one to convert me, but the group cannot stop talking about oat milk. They all like different brands (Califa, Oatly, etc.) and Janine says, “whichever one Dunks uses.” A classic Boston response.
Pillows - People have opinions on pillows. Janine is a loyal Squoosh fan, and only JUST replaced hers after ten years. (She says they have changed it… for the better!) She likes a soft pillow and her husband prefers a more firm pillow. They both recommend it! Kathy got one too and is a fan. Cristina got the Casper pillows. Ashley says, “just get a maternity one, and wrap it around you.”
Pink champagne - On the night of the election, I got a bottle of pink champagne. I hoped that I’d have something to celebrate. But then, election night became election week… and every night I’d have more pink champagne. It was finally announced on Saturday, and I had a pink champagne palooza! Honestly, I haven’t stopped drinking it since. Even Janine, who hardly drinks, enjoyed the pink bubbles. This is a good, dry cheap option, and this is a good mid-range option. I do not buy wine over $20.
Reebok/adidas products - OK, so I work there and get a discount but also I hype our products all the time. I’m a huge fan of these Reebok leggings and these adidas sneakers. But mostly I’ve got everyone a pair of these. They’re classic.
Abercrombie sherpa pullovers - I have never shopped at Abercrombie and Fitch in my life because the stores intimidated me too much when I was in high school. I got this sherpa pullover and it’s SO COZY. I also got this sherpa jacket. I couldn’t stop talking about them so Ashley picked a few up too.
Coffee - We have ALL switched up our coffee routine this year because let’s face it, coffee is an act of self-care. I decided to buy this subscription coffee from Grounds and Hounds. Janine goes for this Black Rifle one. Ashley is a Nespresso fan, but doesn’t like keeping up with the pods. Kathy likes nespresso. Cristina just wants coffee now.
Maple syrup (for coffee) - This one is lost on me as I’m not a huge fan of maple, but they’re all putting maple syrup in their coffee and loving it. They add their oat milk, too. *shrugs*
Humidifier - Both Kathy and I bought this Homasy one. Kathy says, “Make sure everyone knows mine is still in the box.”
Vitamins - Vitamin D has been a big topic because it apparently builds up our immune system and saves us from Covid, but also since we’re not in the sun as much it’s a good one to take. Janine was influenced by an Instagram ad and went for some Mary Ruth’s. I got the probiotics. I felt no difference.
Steam cleaner - My mom got a steam cleaner and I borrowed it. Do you know how satisfying it is? Very! I got a portable Bissell one so I can use it on my rugs when my pets vomit or on my couch when I spill wine. Just kidding. No I’m not.
Love Bug moccasins - For tiny baby feet.
Mr Pumice Callus Terminator - OK seriously, it’s magic. I haven’t got a pedicure in over a year because these work so great! However, you’re not supposed to let the gel “touch your skin” which is scary, but oh well!
Weight Watchers - Everyone at one point signed up! I’m still paying for the app and using it, sort of. Ashley got pregnant and had to stop, and that pretty much sealed the deal for me and Janine.
Sweat arm bands- During our WW kick, Ashley got these and influenced Janine.
Weighted Blanket - I got this sherpa one from Target because it’s the first one I found that was cute, but not $200. Cristina also got one… but then her dog had an allergic reaction and she ended up in the ER overnight. So, maybe don’t listen to me. My pets LOVE IT. I’ve actually never been able to sleep with it because they love it so much.
Mascara - Benefit Roller Lash and Ilia were the winners. I can attest that they’re both great! I’ve used Benefit for years, but got an Ilia sample. I would wear them together with two different eyes and saw no difference and they held up similarly (no clumps or flaking) and washed off with ease. Ilia is a clean version!
O’Keefe’s Working Hands - A tough hand lotion for a hard day of farming, or construction. Or, in my case, typing.
HBO Max - It has the best programming right now! But Ashley says she refuses. She’s mad at HBO and won’t elaborate, so… I think they had an affair.
Rosehip oil - I swear by this one from Amazon. It looks like pizza grease, but my skin is amazing. Janine has loved it for years as well. Ashley liked it, but thinks it gave her acne. She has a history of acne, so NOT MY PROBLEM.
Pregnancy tests - Welp, after a great summer of drinking wine and getting in shape, Ashley got knocked up. Now that she is pregnant, we all assume any weird feelings in our bodies are either Covid or pregnancy.
That was not an exhaustive list, but it was an exhausting list. Get your pregnancy tests and Vitamin D, folks! It’s going to be a long winter.