A brand new newsletter for a brand new me. I just deleted 6,800 subscribers from my account, and that wasn’t even the craziest thing I did this week. I finally had my iron infusion, and I would be lying if I told you it was smooth sailing. But I am so happy I finally got through it. I’m so ready to stop living off of fumes.

Because of the storm, we actually missed my son’s family weekend at college, and I spent most of it in bed, sleeping. We are making plans for another visit.

Let’s Talk About Iron For A Second

New evidence-based guidelines from the American Society of Hematology, published September 16, 2026, have raised the adult ferritin cutoff for iron deficiency from 15 to 30 ng/mL. In other words, a ferritin level that might have previously been flagged as “normal” could now be considered iron deficient. Read about the new thresholds

And here’s where it gets personal: my ferritin was a 5. FIVE. And I had no idea just how low that was until we started digging into my labs and symptoms. I just had my first iron infusion, with another one coming up, and I’m very much in the “let’s see if I finally start feeling like myself again” phase.

So, if you’re tired, run-down, or just not feeling like yourself, check your actual ferritin number. Not just whether your lab report says “normal.”

Apparently, numbers in our bloodwork deserve a LOT more attention than we give them. And trust me, I’m paying attention now.

Have you had your ferritin checked? Reply back to me and let me know what your numbers are. I’m curious!

A Great Deal From Amazon

This newsletter contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.

If you’ve been meaning to listen to more books, this is your sign! Audible is currently offering 4 months for just $0.99/month, which is such a good deal. I love having audiobooks ready for car rides, walks, errands, or those moments when I want to “read” but don’t actually have time to sit down with a book. If you’ve been curious about Audible, now’s the time to try it for less than a dollar a month. Grab the deal before it’s gone! Ends 10/7.

My Favorite New Blush

I get a lot of items sent to me, especially in beauty. I HAVE to tell you that I just LOVE ciele’s flush and protect buildable powder blush. Dusty Rose is THE perfect color. I use it on my eyes and cheeks.

Let’s Talk About Hormones

A 20-year study followed 2,737 women as they moved through perimenopause and menopause, and researchers found something pretty fascinating: women who started hormone therapy within 10 years of their first hot flashes or night sweats had 27% fewer heart attacks and strokes than women who never used HRT.

Now, before we all run out and demand a prescription, there’s an important caveat. This was an observational study. So, it does not prove that HRT prevented those heart attacks and strokes. The lead researcher also stressed that the findings do not mean women should start HRT specifically to prevent heart disease.

But as someone smack in the middle of the whole “what the hell is happening to my body?” phase of life, I find the conversation around when we start HRT just as interesting as whether we start it at all. Timing, symptoms, personal health history, and individual risk factors all seem to matter. There’s clearly still a lot researchers are learning. This is not medical advice. I’m a 48-year-old mom living through it and an avid reader. Bring this up at your next doctor’s visit if interested to truly learn the details.

Starting Fresh

Here’s the thing about starting over: it’s actually kind of freeing.

This weekly newsletter is my new favorite corner of the internet. It’s a place to connect on a more personal level and share what I’m loving, learning, and laughing about in midlife. The beauty finds worth your money, the health conversations we should all be having, the little joys that make a week better.

A personal way to connect in your inbox, once a week.

Thank you for being here at the very beginning. That means everything. If you haven’t signed up yet, here’s the link.

Thank you for coming along for the ride.

XOXO,
Vera