This week, we’re switching things up with a very different kind of book—one Carey picked entirely by its cover (and because BookTok wouldn’t shut up about it). We’re talking about John Green’s Everything Is Tuberculosis. Green educates the reader about a disease that still kills over a million people each year, despite there being a cure since the 1950s. Through the story of Henry, a young man who’s battled TB for years, he blends education with a call to action.

Of course, it’s not all serious—we’ve got updates on the great sourdough saga (are the babies still alive?), stories from Carey’s California birthday trip, and plenty more chaos along the way.

So grab your headphones, your coffee, and that sourdough starter—and let’s get into it.

What's for dinner?

Grilled Chicken & Chopped Veggie Salad with Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/grilled-chicken-and-chopped-veggie-salad-with-sesame-ginger-vinaigrette-2105595

Get the products we love:

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day: www.mrsmeyers.com

Maui Jim Sunnies: https://www.mauijim.com/US/en_US/shop/sunglasses/fashion/starfish

This week, we’re stepping away from banned books and diving into a story that’s been sitting on Deb’s shelf for a longtime—a gift from Carey that finally got its moment. We’re talking about Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, her modern retelling of Dickens’ classic David Copperfield. This unforgettable novel follows Damon—aka Demon—a boy born into poverty who faces the harsh realities of foster care, child labor, drug addiction, and the opioid crisis. It’s a book that was both impossible to read and impossible to put down.

We’ll also chat about the chaos of summer break, the start of our sourdough adventures, a full-on kitchen disaster, and yes—Carey’s birthday celebration (plus a brand-new hobby we’re testing out).

What's for dinner:

Spicy garlic noodle stirfry - MUST TRY ITS SO GOOD: https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-chili-garlic-noodles/

Taco Bowl FTW: https://simplyscratchmade.com/ground-turkey-taco-bowls/

What we're loving:

Carey's Nike Leggings: https://www.nike.com/t/swift-womens-high-waisted-7-8-running-leggings-with-pockets-6FGPQ6/HJ2252-233

Deb's quick dry polish: https://www.opi.com/collections/rapidry

This week on Off the Shelves, we get into the wild, frustrating, and hot conversation around menopause. Where’s the healthcare? Where’s the support? Why is it still so hard to get help in 2025? We read The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver—OBGYN, badass, and a woman on a mission to create the resources she and her patients never had.

As two women entering this next chapter of life, this book was equal parts eye-opening, maddening, and deeply validating. We wish we’d had it earlier... but we’ve got it now, and we’re talking all about it.

So—grab your protein, collagen, and fiber smoothie. Throw on your weighted vest, pop in those earbuds, and take your hot midlife girl walk while you listen to this one.

We are celebrating a major milestone—Carey’s graduation from Johns Hopkins with her MPH (yes, really—send her a belated congrats!). There’s also a little humble brag about our kids on their academic grind and a fun personality test reveal to round things out.

Let’s get into it.

What's for dinner:

Butternut squash and chicken situation: https://thenaturalnurturer.com/maple-dijon-chicken-and-butternut-squash-dinner/

Viral Hot Honey/Beef/cottage cheese bow: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/ground-beef-bowls/

What to buy/what do we love:

Stay hydrated: First Endurance, EFS Hydration mix https://firstendurance.com/products/efs-drink

Bag update - here's a dupe that less than half the cost and I love it!

Quince https://www.quince.com/women/italian-handwoven-leather-mini-shoulder-bag?color=taupe&productPosition=1&searchQuery=purse%20&tracker=searchPage__search_section__search_results