Real Girls Obsessions Part 4
What’s actually earning its place in our lives right now!
To keep the tradition alive, we’re back with Part 4, our first Obsessions list of 2026.
These are the accounts we actually stop scrolling for, the products we keep within arm’s reach, and the reads and listens we send to friends. Nothing aspirational. Nothing sponsored. Just things that earn their place by being genuinely useful, funny, sharp, or calming.
People We’re Following
The Midst (@the_midst_life) - The questions we’re all asking without the panic.
Why we’re following: The Midst names the thoughts most people keep private: identity shifts, ambition fatigue, relationship recalibration, and deciding what stays versus what goes. The writing is reflective without spiraling, thoughtful without preaching, and always feels like it’s coming from someone paying attention.
Mitchell Little (@mitchlittleacademy) - Familiar humor with a side of sanity.
Why we’re following: Mitch’s content works because it feels real. He shares everyday moments with his wife, honest dynamics, and humor that lands and is totally recognizable. Underneath the laughs is a steady message about movement, food, and habits that fit into actual lives… not influencer fantasy. It’s light, grounded, and quietly reassuring.
BONUS: Colleen Landry (@colleenlandrycomedy) - Midlife comedy that hits because it’s true.
Why we love her: Colleen pivots midlife like a mic drop, turning everyday chaos into perfectly timed, laugh-out-loud sketches. After years teaching English in New Brunswick, she transformed her side-hustle humor into a full-time career, building a massive following fast. Her signature “sniff” lands every punchline with a sly wink and a gut punch. She tackles mammograms, lost keys, and midlife meltdowns with deadpan comfort that makes you laugh and think, oh thank god, it’s not just me.
Products We’re Obsessed With
Shebang - Well-designed. Grown-up. No embarrassment required.
Why we love it: Shebang was built to normalize pleasure, not package it as a trend. Thoughtfully designed, science-backed, and made to support women through real life stages, their products do exactly what they promise without gimmicks or awkwardness. Everything feels intentional, confidence-forward, and refreshingly grown-up.
And as a bonus, founder Laurie Mintz generously shared her story in the Real Girls Guide to Midlife, which makes loving this brand feel even more personal.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash™ Extensions Tubing Mascara - Lengthening, thickening beauty that holds up in real life.
Why we love it: Thrive Mascara understands what beauty needs to be now: easy, dependable, and wearable. The tubing formula lifts and defines without smudging or flaking, and it comes off cleanly at night. No drama. No raccoon eyes. Just lashes that look good and feel effortless.
The values behind the company are what truly set it apart. Thrive is built on the belief that beauty can be high-quality, intentional, and meaningful. Every purchase helps support one of their 550+ nonprofit partners across the U.S., turning a daily routine into something that gives back. Thoughtfully made, science-backed, and purpose-driven… this is beauty that works in the real world and does some good while it’s at it.
BONUS: Tweezer Guru Pro Illuminating Eyebrow Tweezers - Because daylight is no longer enough
Why we love them: These lighted tweezers were a Christmas gift from one of my Real Girl besties, and they’ve become an unexpectedly essential part of my routine. Even with microbladed brows, there are always a few rogue stragglers and the occasional facial gray that appears overnight like it’s testing me. The built-in light exposes everything, which is equal parts helpful and rude, but it gets the job done. A little humbling. Extremely effective. Zero regrets.
What We’re Reading
Geezer Magazine - Aging, examined, not softened.
Why we’re reading: Sharp, funny, and culturally aware. Geezer doesn’t romanticize aging or wrap it in clichés. It examines it. Essays and interviews that feel current, intelligent, and refreshingly uninterested in tidy narratives. And if you want more context on how it came to be, I recently sat down with founder Laura LeBleu for a candid Q&A.
Life Branches by Ellen Scherr - Quiet clarity that stays with you.
Why we’re reading: Ellen Scherr writes with restraint and precision. Her work explores change, self-trust, and recalibration without motivation-speak. The kind of writing that slows you down and lingers after you close the tab.
What We’re Listening To
20 Minutes with Bronwyn - Smart conversations that respect your time.
Why we’re listening: Hosted by Bronwyn Saglimbeni, who also shared thoughtful insights in my book, 20 Minutes with Bronwyn is grounded, thoughtful, and refreshingly free of fluff. Bronwyn brings a sharp communications lens and real-world perspective to conversations about work, confidence, and leadership, many of which she also explores in her Substack.
In a recent episode “Just Because You’re Afraid Doesn’t Mean You’re Disqualified,” author Patty Azzarello talks candidly about fear, credibility, and why discomfort isn’t failure but often is proof you’re doing something meaningful which are ideas she explores in Why Is SHE Still Here?: My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom. Practical, validating, and grounded in lived experience from two badass women.
Gen X Juggler Podcast with Deb Foster - Real conversations for the next chapter.
Why we’re listening: Deb brings curiosity and warmth to every episode, whether she’s unpacking happiness, exploring holistic retirement planning, or talking resilience with guests who know how to start again. Insightful, useful, and delivered with humor and heart, and I was honored to be a recent guest.
That’s it for Part 4. No trends. No hype. Just the people, ideas, and things that are genuinely earning their place in our days right now. As always, we’ll keep paying attention, sharing what holds up, and leaving the rest behind.
Got an obsession we should add next? Tell us… we’re listening.
The full RGG Obsessions lives here here. No gatekeeping.
#RealGirlsGuidetoMidlife #MidlifeObsessions #MidlifeTips #MidlifePeople #MidlifePodcasts #MidlifeReading
We’ve earned every wrinkle. Might as well make more laugh lines together.
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And if you’ve read the book and loved it, a quick review on Amazon helps keep it moving.
"Equal parts helpful and rude" 😂 💗 💗
We appreciate you too! Thank you so much for spreading the word about The Midst. We're looking forward to spreading the word about you! — Amy Cuevas Schroeder