Well… we knew this day would come you guys.

Mercury is unfortunately in retrograde. Which explains why I’m feeling so burnt out and exhausted this week - ugh have you felt this way too??

I’m having a major case of the wanna-stay-in-bed-itis this week, and I hate to say it but while I LOVE the Olympics I’m also getting a little burnt out with the Olympics too?? I just can’t keep up THE CONTENT IS TOO GOOD AND COMING TOO FAST!

For that reason, this week I decided to give us a break from the hardcore self help communications advice, and a break from Olympics news as well, and feature some silly small talk news stories to remind us that there is more to life than work (and apparently women’s gymnastics).

These are the FUN stories that you’ll want to share with patients/coworkers, and can have fun getting lost in. Hit it writing connie! (for anyone new here, editing Connie is my podcast alter ego that is also writing connie and also is recording connie for the podcast… she’s underpaid and reminds me all the time so be sure to subscribe to the newsletter so I can support all these unpaid intern Connies).

1. Auntie Anne’s is launching a pretzel scented fragrance!

All you mall rats out there REJOYCE!!!!!! I freaking love mall culture - it’s where I used to ride the carousel as a kid, have independence with friends as a teen, and now where I go as an adult to forget the crippling weight of my responsibilities and pretend I’m a kid/teen again.

Moving on,

The scent is called Knead, and it’ll feature notes of fresh baked dough, salt, sugar, and butter. Available August 14th, it’s the closest thing to pretending you’re 14 again.

I’m really curious who decided to create this, if it was some master grand plan from the marketing team or if maybe someone from the pretzel factory called the higher ups, worried because they had too much pretzel oil this month. Either way I’m like 60% sold on trying this so email me back if you want me to try this. Read full article here

2. Teflon Flu is on the rise.

Ok so I went through 4 years of pharmacy school and 4 years of dental school, and tbh I have never heard of this so take this all with a massive grain of salt lol.

But apparently there’s something called Teflon Flu on the rise?

So Teflon (what a lot of cooking pans are made out of) is short for a chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) - and also side note an ingredient in a lot of flosses - and is normally not bad

unless…

if it’s left on a burner or overheats/dries out, can cause what’s now known as Teflon Flu / Polymer Fume Fever.

Classic symptoms are fever, malaise, shortness of breath, chest tightness and dry cough a few hours after exposure. If significant exposure, it can cause pulmonary embolism or leukocytosis allegedly, and is very toxic to birds in particular with the first symptom often being sudden death.

Experts say this can be avoided by using a vent hood, adding butter or oil to pans while they’re heating/not heating just the pan alone, or investing in a cast iron pan.

I don’t really know what to make of this information, I could research more but for now I’m just trusting People magazine (full article here) and just add it to your list of new fears unlocked ok?

3. Life sized Polly Pocket House coming to Air Bnb!

Air BnB is launching a Polly Pocket overnight stay experience in a life sized plastic house replica of the popular toy. For only $89!??!?!? per night, guests can stay - as a nod to the brand’s year of being founded (foundational year? Year of foundation? what do people call this) in 1989.

The experience includes the chance to get ready at Polly’s vanity, filled with 90’s hair and beauty products. Guests are also able to try on human sized versions of Polly Pocket outfits - YES with the gummy texture! And raid a fridge filled with nostalgic 90’s slumber party snack items.

The home is another addition to Air BnB’s Icon Series, with 11 unique pop culture/film related homes such as an Up replica house that floats and X-Men mansion. Full article here!

4. Dolce and Gabbana launches dog cologne

Dolce and Gabbana launches $108 dog cologne called “Fefe” - named after Dolce’s poodle! The scent is described as notes of ylang ylang, musk, and sandalwood, and the scent comes with a dog collar and dog tag.

Veterinarians have brought up concerns that the scent may be disorienting for dogs, since scent is how most dogs navigate the world - in addition to masking health conditions that normally veterinarians use scent as part of the diagnostics for.

While it’s a growing niche, the pet owner community seems divided between those who think this is a great way to add spice and fun to every day and those who think it is an example of the human-ification of animals (apparently this is a word??? idk, full article here!)

Idk would you guys try this? Let me know

That’s all for this week’s newsletter, be sure to check out this week’s podcast episode with Dr. Octavia Miller - she shares about how to maximize life’s unique opportunities and rise to the occasion. We chat about how modeling led the DEAN of her dental school to email her to apply, and how she became a solo lead doc of an office just 7 months after graduating!

Tune into next week’s for more fun! Reply if you are dental, pharmacy, medical or anything else! Would love to hear from you!!

Thanks for reading - if you liked what you read please share this with a friend! See you next week,

xoxo, Connie