What do you want to know?

Plus, my fave Thanksgiving recipe!

November 24, 2025

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Happy Thanksgiving week, friends! 

Whether you’re spending thanksgiving at home or traveling to see friends and family, or spending back-to-back-back days at a high school basketball tournament (that would be me 🤣), I’m wishing you many blessings, buttery mashed potatoes (I have the best recipe for you below) and elastic waistbands. 

We just took our family photos over the weekend but I’m doubtful we’ll actually turn them into a holiday card to send. I just can’t ever seem to get myself in gear. That said, enjoy this sneak peek of the kids. :) 

If you have boys, watching them grow from year-to-year is wild. I can’t believe how big all my babies are getting, but especially the boys. They can look like a completely different human being in a short period of time. 

In the meantime, John and I are gearing up for our annual end-of-year ask-us-anything podcast episodes and—because I value you—what do YOU want to ask us? Send a question, any question, our way below. 

What do you want to know?

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These are our favorite episodes of the year because we love hearing from you and giving you our honest take on life–the ups, downs, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Have a great week and happy shopping! PS: Keep reading for your comments from the last poll!

-Paula xo

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FARIS FAVORITES 🤎

1. My FAVORITE Recipe For Mashed Potatoes

The easiest way to make your holiday mashed potatoes is in the CROCK POT. This is how I’ve done it the last few years and I made them for our Small Group’s Friendsgiving last week, as well. I’ll never make them any other way! Check out the recipe HERE.

2. Something To Read

I mentioned on the podcast that I’ve been trying to challenge myself during midlife by learning new things. Right now, I’m into a book called Word Power Made Easy. It’s a book I’ve had in my library for over a decade, but this time, I’m committed to finishing it. Wherever I’ve started in the past, I’ve noticed that not only will I learn and implement new words into my daily conversations, my thoughts and words become MUCH easier to formulate. And let’s be honest, sometimes finding the right words can be tough the older we get. Check it out HERE. 

3. A THRILLER To Watch!

John and I just finished a phenomenal limited series on Netflix, The Beast In Me, which is a psychological thriller featuring Claire Danes and Matthew Ryhs. It’s rated TV-MA, so I don’t recommend watching with your family. The acting was really strong and it had us on the edge of our seats with suspense.

THE PAULA FARIS SHOW 🎙️

MIDLIFE: Top Signs You’re In It (and the Weird Things We Do)

Midlife hits, and suddenly you’re doing things you swore you’d never do. I’m talking about tending a plant army like it’s a full-time job, nurturing a sourdough starter like it’s a child, obsessing over pickleball like it’s the Olympics, and thinking a “quiet night in” is a vacation.

In this second episode of our month-long series on MIDLIFE, John, Liz, and I confess the weird, hilarious, and sometimes borderline embarrassing habits that come with hitting the middle lane of life. We talk about rituals, obsessions, and tiny victories (like finally finding the perfect reading glasses or the right high-protein snack combo) that make midlife…well, weirdly satisfying.

If you’ve ever caught yourself Googling “is this normal in midlife?” or just stared at your growing collection of random hobbies and thought, yep, this is me now, this episode is for you.

MIDLIFE: It’s Not A Crisis, It’s An Evaluation

Some people call it a midlife crisis. I’m calling mine a midlife evaluation.

Continuing our month-long series on MIDLIFE, we’re sharing the unexpected (and slightly hilarious) ways our “evaluations” have shown up: from tattoos, to a concealed weapons permit that’s never been used, and a Jeep lifted high enough to require a stretch routine.

Liz, John, and I unpack why this season hits so hard—especially for women—and why the language we use to describe it actually shapes how we experience it. Instead of imagining midlife as the beginning of the end, we talk about reframing it as the beginning of the good stuff: the part of the rollercoaster where the ride gets fast, wild, and surprisingly fun

POLL RESULTS:

Well, I guess we can continue being friends :) I polled you about me buying a senior discounted movie ticket once I turned 50 (I was pushing it, a bit) and 97% of you said you’re with me… only THREE of you said you judged me. Haha. Enjoy some of your comments below. 

➡️ “It's really cool when they just give it to you without asking! I don't care, I've earned this discount!”

➡️ “You go girl! I’m with you ALL the way dear.”

➡️ “Take it wherever you can! Why not?!”

➡️ “I only claimed my age in my 50s and 60s when it was for the discount!”

➡️ “Sounds good to me! I haven't been 50 for a while but when I was 50, I also bought an AARP membership. I don't recall seeing many discounts during those days so I stopped getting a membership. However, there may be more discounts currently so good luck!”

➡️ “Every discount I can get is awesome.”

➡️ “I'm not age 50 just yet, but I will save a penny anywhere and in any way that I can. (I guess I need to change that phrase to "save a nickel" now that pennies are no longer being produced.)”

➡️ “Hey Paula, I’m totally with you! Embrace your age cause you don’t look 50, and both you and your daughter are beautiful! Grace and peace”

➡️ “If they are offering it at your age, feel no guilt and go for it!”

➡️ “I am right behind you, sister, on the age train! Turning 50 in April (with a hubby who is four years younger), so please share all of your 50 and over tips and tricks!”

➡️ “It's available. I've worked for years and paid full price for my family. I appreciate the gesture from businesses!”

➡️ “We’ve earned the discount!!!”

➡️ “Life’s expensive these days!!! Take advantage of all the discounts you can!”

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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