Last year around this time I shared this post with some of my favorite Netflix picks… because I’m a TV junkie.  Truth be told, I spend a lot of time at my home office, at my desk editing photos, putting together collages like the one above, writing blog posts, answering emails, etc., so I often have something on TV in the background.

My ideal pick for days like this are things that don’t require my full attention (which is why I’ve yet to sit down and watch Bird Box – I know I need to give it 100%!).  Anything too intense doesn’t work for my daytime marathons since I only give about 40% of my attention, but I save the more dramatic ones (like Ozark, House of Cards, etc.) for evenings when I can really concentrate on them.

With that being said, let’s get into some January goodness!

1 | Friends from College, Season 2 | Christian and I randomly discovered season 1 when it came out years ago and we binged it in two days. I LOVE Keegan-Michael Key on a spiritual level.  It’s hilarious, such a talented group of actors, and we loved both seasons so so much.

2 | Private Life | I heard about this movie from Sundance, and when it hit Netflix, I think I watched it the first day it came out. I love both lead actors, so I knew it would be worth the watch. And WOW. I was blown away at how raw, honest and heartbreaking it was, while still having laugh-out-loud moments.  It really helped me to understand more about women who have gone through IVF, and I feel more empathetic than ever about the process.

3 | Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat |  My friend Jennifer Rose recommend this four part docuseries and it’s both fascinating and adorable. The host may be the most enthusiastic and likable person I’ve ever seen in a documentary. If you love food or cooking – I think you’ll love this!

4 | Atypical |  I’d seen this on my Netflix homepage but I never watched the trailer.  On the first week of January when there was nothing going on, I dipped my toe in.  I watched both seasons that week. I can’t express enough how much I love shows like This Is Us, Atypical and Modern Family that highlight family dynamics that are anything but cookie cutter.  It’s insightful, endearing and helps us all be more understanding of each other.

5 | Queer Eye |  I LOVE these boys. It’s impossible to watch one of these episodes and not fall in love with them.  What’s great about this series is that you don’t have to follow anything in a particular order. You can just grab a quick episode when you feel like it.

6 | Sebastian Maniscalco |  My favorite shows of Sebastian’s are here and here, but this one is still worth a watch! I find myself saying “what’s wrong with people?” perhaps a little too often.  His small annoyances and observations are truly hilarious.

7 | You |  So many of you recommended this show and WHOA. Penn Badgley plays one convincing creepy guy.  Warning: it makes you want to do a background check on anyone you go on a date with.

8 | Gaga: Five Foot Two |  I’ve always been a Gaga fan, but this documentary revealed things about her I never would have known had she not been so vulnerable.  If you already love her, you’ll love her even more.  If you don’t, I think it will show you how talented and big her heart really is.

9 | Schitt’s Creek |  Ok so I have to confess I’ve only seen one episode of this show. My best friend Katie told me to watch it years ago, and I watched the first episode. I have no idea why I didn’t stick with it! Now my parents and so many friends LOVE this show. So I’m going to pick it back up. Everyone says it’s hilarious and it seems like the perfect show to tune into while I work. I’m on it!

For more recommendations, be sure to check out this post from last year.  And if you have a show you love that isn’t on either of these lists, I’d love to hear about it!

Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

In October, I was gifted a Mirror workout system (also called the “Mirror Home Gym”) to try and share my experience with over Instagram.  I’ve been sharing little bits about it here and there (all of which are saved in the “fitness” saved stories on my Instagram profile), but I still receive lots of direct messages and emails about my experience with this unique fitness device.

SO, I wanted to answer all of the most commonly asked questions in one place that could serve as a resource for you guys!

I will also be sharing my personal experience with this machine and the kind of person that I think this type of workout is really built for.

How much does the mirror cost? How much does the monthly subscription cost? What kind of workouts are offered?

All of this can be found on their website, here!

For all costs-related questions, click the “shop” page of the site and at the bottom you’ll see Q&A’s they have listed. They share the monthly subscription is $39 a month and comes with a one year commitment.  You’ll see tons of other helpful questions and answers there as well.

You can get your first 3 months of your subscription free with the code KATHLEEN3!

For workout related questions, click the “workouts” page of the site.

What was the installation like?

It was so quick and easy! A man and wife couple came to my apartment and set it up, white glove service, so polite. They unpacked everything, helped me choose a spot, made sure it was working, showed me how to use it and took all of the trash with them.

I mean… it doesn’t get better than that.

What is your favorite class?

I have actually only taken the pilates and yoga classes so far.  I take a lot of Rachel’s classes!

Christian really likes the strength classes. And I’ve watched him do some of them and they look really tough. The great thing about the class subscription program is that the classes are broken up by level 1-4, so you can pick how intense you want your workout to be.

Do you have to take a class at a certain time or can you take them on demand?

Great question! You can do BOTH. I’ve actually never taken a live class because the best part of an at-home workout for me is being able to do it whenever. I also like being able to pause the workout if a package is being delivered or someone calls, etc. But if you want to tune in live to keep yourself accountable, that’s totally an option!

The live classes do not cost any extra!

Do your downstairs neighbors complain about the noise when you workout?

This is one of the reasons that I stick to the yoga and pilates classes.  I’m not going to be kicking and jumping when I know three sweet girls live beneath me!  We also have each other’s numbers, so I tell them to text me if we’re being obnoxious.  I do NOT want to be that neighbor!

Can it be transported?

No. I mean… I guess I can’t technically say no, but it’s very heavy, requires an outlet and is mounted so it stays in place. I would definitely not recommend transporting it, wherever you have it installed is going to be where you want to keep it.

I mean, think of like a legit piece of heavy exercise equipment. You could move it if you need to, but it’s not ideal.  It’s best to have an idea of where you want it before you have it installed.

When it’s not turned on, can it act as a normal mirror?

100% yes. When it’s not turned on, you would literally have no idea that it’s actually a fitness machine. It still blows my mind!  You can see what it looks like as a normal mirror in the photos.

Can you still access the workouts when you travel?

To my knowledge, no you cannot. It’s like a Peloton – you have to have the machine. I think a YouTube workout would be better for travel!

Can you compare it to Peloton or Melissa Wood Health?

I’ve only used a Peloton once at a hotel gym and I’m unfamiliar with Melissa, so I can’t really speak to this. I liked my Peloton class I took and it’s very similar in the vibe that you’re solo, using WiFi to connect with a teacher teaching in a class-like setting. Except this is not spin, it’s at-home workouts that don’t require much equipment.

How much room do you need to do the workouts?

I’ve found that I need as much space as I need in any at-home yoga or pilates workout. You can watch an example class under the “workouts” page of their site to get a better idea!

Someone specifically asked if a hallway was enough room and my answer would be… no, I don’t think so!

Is it easy to see the workout videos in person?

Yes, very easy! I know it’s hard to tell in the videos I’ve shared because of glare from natural light, but if you watch the example class under the “workouts” page of the site, you’ll see exactly what it’s like.

sports bra | leggings | mat

Is the music good?

I’ve found the music to be good and you can adjust both the volume of the instructor and the music volume in your app that controls the workout classes. BUT if you wanted to mute the music altogether and play your own music, you can do that too.

Does it automatically turn off?

The screen will eventually black out after a class but there’s an on/off switch at the base of the mirror (easily accessible) that you’ll want to turn off when you’re done with your workout.  The installation team will also walk you through this when it’s being set up.

Are you really using it?  What’s your real opinion on it?

I have shared with y’all many times that I like working out from home. I also love a spin or lagree pilates class, but I’ve been doing workout dvd’s (my favorites shared here) from my apartment or house since I was like, 17.

This device is for the person who doesn’t have the time or desire to go to fitness classes, but still wants variety.  If you love trying new workouts and mixing it up but you’re a busy working gal, mom or you work unique hours and classes won’t work with your schedule (this is Christian), this will be your new best friend.

If you like doing the same kind of workouts from home, then I don’t know that this is worth the investment for you.  The subscription allows you to have access to so many different teachers and classes, so if you’re going to take advantage of it, then you are saving so much money vs going to classes. That can cost 2-300 a month which annually costs over twice as much as this device.

Is it worth the price? 

Based on the information above, the answer is going to vary person to person.  For someone people, it’s 100% worth the price and more convenient and less expensive than packages of classes. For others, if they’re not going to use it regularly, it would definitely not be worth the investment.

Knowing your workout preference and style is what determines if this device is right for you!

I hope this Q&A helped! Again, there’s a TON of info on specifics of this device on their website, so be sure to check that out thoroughly if you’re considering purchasing! Thanks so much for submitting these questions, and for more fitness-related content, just search “fitness” on this site. XO –

I’ve been going to therapy for the past few months, and while I’m fairly new to it… I’ve really had a great experience.  I shared on social media that I had chosen to venture into therapy, and since then I’ve gotten a lot of questions about how I found my therapist, what made me decide to go, what I thought about it, etc.

It definitely felt like a larger conversation, so I thought I would round up some of my most commonly asked questions surrounding it!

What made you decide to go?

I’ve lived in seven different cities in my life.  And four of those were since I’ve graduated college, so moving is nothing new to me.  That being said, I’ve never had such a tumultuous, inconvenient, frustrating yet extremely expensive move as this past one.  It rocked my world and took me completely by surprise.

I was definitely feeling blue and unlike my usual self, so I made sure I was taking care of myself. Eating right, exercising, making plans with people to get out of the apartment (when you work from home sometimes you’ll realize you haven’t done anything social in days).

I gave myself three months to attempt to turn things around on my own.  If I wasn’t feeling better after three months I would pursue therapy. The months went by… and I felt the same.  I would still have emotional meltdowns which would occasionally trigger anxiety attacks, and it wasn’t pretty.

Afterwards I felt embarrassed of my behavior. In my brain I knew this was a temporary situation and that a year from now everything would be different, but my emotions and my brain were not connecting.

So onto therapy we went.

How did you find your therapist?

I chose to go to the mental health division of my health insurance first.  From there I was provided a website where I could find options of counselors and therapists in my area.

I called six different people before I found someone who would take me.  Keep in mind each therapist I attempted to connect with had about 30 minutes of background work.  I would first research therapists near me that were walkable.  Then I would do additional research on their training, therapy styles, reviews, etc.  Then I would take the plunge and call.  The website would say the person was accepting new patients and then when I called, they would tell me that the website must not have been updated because they were full.  Or no one would answer or call me back.  It took several hours over many days, and it wasn’t an easy search for me.

Honestly… I wasn’t surprised as it felt perfectly appropriate and totally represented what the past six months of my life has been like… a time consuming struggle.

BUT on my sixth attempt I found someone who not only would accept my insurance but also was willing to accept a new patient, so we scheduled our first session and took it from there.  Hallelujah!

If you have recommendations from people in your city, definitely look into that route!

How much does it cost?

I’ve heard of therapy costing $150 per session and up.  It can definitely get pricey and fast.  I really wanted to find someone who would accept insurance and try that first, and thankfully my copay is only $35 a session.

What is it like?

I had no idea what to expect other than what I’ve heard from friends or seen in the movies. But when I walk into her office, I sit on a loveseat and she sits across from me in a chair.  There’s a clock beside her so I can always see how much time we have left together.

One thing I have learned and my biggest piece of advice: use the time before your session to think about what you want to discuss and what you hope to gain from your session.

The first time I went, we did the whole introductory session, in which I was a total cliché and got teary, grabbing a tissue from the box placed next to the sofa.  I mean… what is happening.

The second session, I went in with nothing in mind specifically, and I felt like we shot the breeze the whole time.  On my walk home I realized that I was going to get the most out of our short time together if I went in with a few bullet point topics in mind.

Now when I visit her, I spend the 30 minutes before my appointment thinking about what I want to take away, and I walk in the door with themes in mind to discuss.

How long do appointments last?

My appointments last 40 minutes.

How often do you go?

I try to go every other week but sometimes I go less when I am traveling a lot.

And during those times I often think… I wish I had therapy this week!

Any tips for someone trying therapy for the first time?

I’ve always been interested in talking to someone, but I never felt a strong reason to go.  There wasn’t something happening in my life that necessarily made me want to hash it out with an unbiased person like that.

I knew it was time when I moved to a new city that I didn’t really jive with and was feeling overwhelmed, disappointed, frustrated and sad that these feelings were being projected onto Christian.  He is following his dreams and passion and is doing his best to work hard to provide a great life for us.  When I left my corporate job to pursue this blog, he was the one who pushed me to do it and supported me the entire way.  Now that it’s his turn to be supported, how am I doing that for him if I’m having these uncontrollable meltdowns?  That’s not the kind of person or partner I want to be.

I needed to discuss all of these feeling with someone who could help me seek healthier, logical and calm ways to react to my frustrations, so that I can be a balanced, happy and supportive wife to the man who has been by my side for the past 11 years.

SO, all of this to say, know why you want to go and what you want to get out of it.  I am not ashamed to be in therapy and I am happy to share my journey if it helps someone else gain the courage to look for help.  It’s there for you, and no one should feel guilty or embarrassed to seek it.

I actually love to be in conversation with someone and be all, “try not to worry about things you can’t control, it will take away from what could be a really special and memorable experience… or at least, that’s what my therapist would say.”  I don’t feel the need to keep it a “secret” that I’m talking to someone.

I think I’ll be the kind of person who will always be in and out of sessions when big life changes happen.  I actually strongly dislike change, so I think God has really be challenging me by constantly shaking me up and moving us around, forcing constant change.  I can’t wait for the day we commit to a location and have more stability.  And I’m a-ok with seeking guidance from licensed professionals along my journey.

If you have any questions that I didn’t answer, please let me know in the comments!  I’m happy to help in any way I can. Thank you so much for reading and sharing – XO –