I can't believe we made it this far...

Plus, why things are so heavy right now

September 26, 2025

Hi Friends-

Life has felt heavy lately…there’s so much going on in the world that’s been unsettling. Not sure about you, but it’s been almost paralyzing. 

Some of us have been really outspoken the last few weeks. Others of us have chosen to stay silent. I’ve been quiet because it’s honestly been too much to process. Silence is okay. So is speaking up. 

My prayer for our country is that we can agree to disagree respectfully, choose to see people as people instead of reducing them to their policies and start having respectful dialogue. We were never meant to agree with one another on everything. And when we insulate ourselves and only listen to our echo chamber, we do ourselves a major disservice. I had a whole conversation about this with my former GMA co-anchor Dan Harris a few months back, in case you missed it. You can listen here. The conversation is about why we need friends in our life who aren’t like us. 

Dan and I grew up in two different worlds. But, we cherish our friendship, despite our differences. I’d even venture to say our differences deepen our admiration for one another. I’ve learned a ton about his world. He’s learned a ton about mine.

How have you processed the news lately?

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In other news, John and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this week! It’s a minor miracle we made it this far. If anyone tells you marriage is easy, they’re lying. Peaks. Valleys. More valleys. More peaks. If I’m being reflective and honest, the secret for us has been to forgive QUICKLY and not hold on to things. We really struggled early in our marriage to the point where I moved out. But we have learned to give one another lots of grace, not hold things over one another’s head and to LAUGH a lot.

Enjoy this flashback from our early days…just two crazy kids who had no idea what we were doing. 

If you’ve been listening to this month’s podcast series about perimenopause, we’ve tackled the conversations a lot of people aren’t addressing. Most recently, we talked about the controversy about Weight Loss and GLP1’s and what no one’s saying about both. I shared some things publicly about my own perimenopause journey, especially in regards to weight gain–-please be kind and remember it’s a no judgment zone. We wrap it next week with a topic surrounding perimenopause that might surprise you. Share the series with your friends because the information is so helpful and relatable. Keep reading to hear your comments about perimenopause from our last poll. Would you also mind writing a review of the podcast? It would mean the world and it’s important to keep these conversations going. 

Also, asking for a friend…how do you get stains out of WHITE baseball pants? Our youngest just started playing baseball again and I’m struggling getting re-acclimated to life as a #BaseballMom. Ha. 

Have a blessed weekend, friends. A reminder that people are good. I’ll leave you with this quote: "The world is full of good people. If you can't find one, Be one". 

Hugs,
Paula XOXO

FARIS FAVORITES 🤎

1. Because we’re talking about it on the podcast this week…

We’re discussing the benefits of creatine for perimenopausal women, benefits I had no idea about. I always thought creatine was what you took to bulk up. And it is, if you take too much. But taken in the right dose, it’s incredibly beneficial for women, for our brain health, gut health and metabolism. For my money, the best place to buy it is Sam’s Club. I realize not everyone has a Sam’s Club membership, but THIS brand is the best price out there. Only $17 for 100 servings!

2. A Show So Good I’m Watching It TWICE

I’ve told you guys about this before, but I wanted to share it again because it’s become an opportunity to bond with my daughter! THE GILDED AGE is a period piece about life in high society New York between 1870-1900 and the characters are so strong. It’s opened my eyes to what was happening during that point in history (I know, they’ve taken creative liberties as most shows do). But, it’s honestly gotten better the second time I watched it! I highly recommend it and it’s a great watch with your partner or your teen. Even my husband and 16-year-old son pop in to watch it.

3. My FAVORITE New Knife Brand!

My daughter recently started working as a sales rep for CUTCO, and she may be the greatest salesperson of all time! Just joking LOL, but she definitely is in my eyes 🙂 We already owned CUTCO knives before she started this job, but we purchased brand new flatware from her and we are LOVING it! CUTCO is more expensive then your average knife brand, but they have a forever guarantee, meaning you can pass the knives on to your kids and their kids…till the end of time. :)

What I’ve come to love about their brand is that most of their sales reps are students—85%! They are committed to equipping students with valuable communication and sales skills (which our youth are lacking), to better equip them for the real world.

That said, if you know of a CUTCO rep in your area, give them a shout. Or if your student/teen is interested in working for CUTCO, this mama highly recommends.

And if you’re interested in buying CUTCO, I’m happy to connect you with my favorite sales rep. Just DM me.

In our last poll, a whopping 66% of you say you’re in perimenopause! Ladies, we need to keep talking about this!  Here are some of the comments that caught my eye: 

 ➡️ “I think I am but haven't confirmed it with a doctor. Several symptoms so my guess is yes.”

➡️ “I’ve been living in full blown menopause for the last six years- in which we’ve moved to a new house- started a new job- and helped our daughter as a new widow! So I got all the things going - but like Paula asks “but did you die?” NOT YET! I’m still putting one foot in front of the other! ”

➡️ “So crazy with hot flashes and then they stop and mood swings. It’s a part of life but tough to navigate. And at least we have friends!”

➡️ “I had a hysterectomy 13 years ago, I thought I was in perimenopause then, boy was I wrong! The hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, bloat, its no joke!”

➡️ “It's been miserable. Brain fog, amped up anxiety, depression, fatigue. I'm seeing a peri/menopause specialist in a couple weeks to get help. I saw my gynie a few months ago but she explained away every symptom. She said it was just part of aging. It is, but that doesn't mean we can't get help with it! It's horrific that even women are dismissing other women in their struggle.”

➡️ “I'm post menopause. Is that just called menopause? ”

THE PAULA FARIS SHOW 🎙️

PERIMENOPAUSE: What No One’s Saying About Weight & GLP-1s

Why does weight management feel impossible during perimenopause? In this raw and honest conversation, Dr Jen Ashton, Aarti Sequeira, and I are pulling back the curtain on our own weight struggles–PCOS, Hashimoto’s, inflammation, and the emotional toll of it all. We’re sharing things publicly that we’ve never shared before.

From the stigma of GLP-1s and other weight management drugs, Dr. Jen breaks down the science (and the myths) behind these controversial meds, Aarti shares her first-ever public story, and I get candid about my own next steps. This isn’t about being “skinny”—it’s about being strong, healthy, and honest about the choices women are facing in midlife.

This conversation is part of our month-long series on PERIMENOPAUSE and women’s health.

PERIMENOPAUSE: Is Testosterone the Game Changer Women Need?

For decades, testosterone has been prescribed freely to men—yet when it comes to women, there’s no FDA-approved dose, little medical training, and a whole lot of stigma. I’ve been on testosterone for a couple of months, and I’ll be honest: for me, it’s been a game-changer. More clarity. More energy. Even my husband says my brain is on fire again.

So why are women forced to fight for access, pay out of pocket, and justify their choices? In this episode, Dr. Jen Ashton, Aarti Sequeira, and I break down what testosterone can (and can’t) do for women in perimenopause. We talk about the benefits, the risks, the stigma—and whether this overlooked hormone could be the missing piece in your midlife health.

👉 This is part of our month-long series on PERIMENOPAUSE and women’s health.

Join the Conversation!

If you’ve made it this far, I invite you to join (or start) the conversation in our comments section. What would you like to share? -Paula

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