u/NatAttack3000

I remember using scrubs when I was a teen (about 20 years ago). And then about 10 years ago chemical exfoliants overtook the scrubs on the market. Scrubs damage your face. Chemical is more controlled, safer, gentler. I stopped using scrubs on the face, just on the body (I have KP). I have some AHA serums and toners that I use maybe a couple times a week. Sometimes buff with a flannel. Before events I do the DDG pads (which are great to be fair).

And then a few weeks ago I got a face scrub for cheap from a Korean beauty site. I think it has fig.

Reader, I loved it.

It was a really nice process to use, but the main thing was afterwards my mid-30s skin was glowing and bouncy like it hasn't been for yonks. It lasted about 3 days.

I'm sure you can overdo a physical scrub. I'm sure you can overdo a chemical peel too. But really why did we stop this? I can do this in the shower. Its so much easier to remember than a serum IMO.

So are you scrubbing?

I'm wanting to prepare a roast dinner for some colleagues (about 16 people). We have a retreat every year where we go to a remote area and play games, sightsee etc, and I am helping with preparing a dinner.

It's this month so we are doing a 'Christmas in July' theme, with the goal to make a Christmassy roast dinner. We are in Australia - so a roast turkey or other meat is very common with roast veg (despite the heat). Another person will roast some chickens and I was wanting to bring a red meat - pork, beef or lamb.

What cuts of meat and techniques lend well to cooking, slicing and reheating? I'm wanting to avoid pulled meat/bbq style type dishes, but more a British roast style you have with gravy, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding etc

I was thinking of a rolled and spiced porchetta but it might be hard to reheat it whole, and I'm concerned it will dry out presliced.

I've tried to look up recipes but I've been finding mostly prepare ahead but cook on the day recipes. I'm wanting to precook because we will only have 1-2 hours to have dinner ready on the day.

I read a lot more as a teen and when I was younger. But now it's like I don't know what to pick. I've tried recommendations from friends and found them... Fine.

How can I find my 'thing'? Be excited about what to read? Should I try a bunch of classics and then go 'if you like this try xxx' or are there easier methods? Happy to take recommendations.

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About my reading history:

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I've mostly read audiobooks recently, because I can listen to them easily on the bus. But 90% of my books in the last 5 years are all novels that have movie adaptions - I figured if it was good enough to turn into a movie enough people must have liked it (?). But that doesn't seem like a good way to find books to read. I've picked books based on covers and blurbs at airports and bookshops and found them fairly middling. Like made for tv films.

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I read a lot of scientific papers, I think my reading comprehension is good. But my attention span is not as good so I feel like I need things that move at a reasonable pace. I like drama/thriller, crime, realistic sci fi, period novels, romance, horror (I've read about half of Stephen king's novels). I find fantasy hard (why can't the elves just be humans?).

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Here is what I have read and enjoyed:

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Andy Weir - The Martian and Project Hail Mary (I've actually re-read these, so really enjoyed)

World War Z - maybe my favourite thing I've read as an adult?

The Help

Rebecca

Stephen king - 11/22/63

Pride and prejudice

Wordslut

Hidden Figures

Harry Potter series

Misery

Carrie

Gone girl

I Am Legend

The Dry and Force of Nature

Memoirs of a geisha

The hatchet series (read them at school)

Tomorrow when the war began (ditto!)

Song of ice and fire series - probably helped I read them after 2 seasons of the show and had a bit of an in with the characters that way

I read the Stephanie Plum (one for the money) series as a teen and loved them, but never felt the need to pick them up so I'm not sure if id like them as an adult

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I didn't like

The hobbit - too much walking in a forest

The gunslinger - too out there, I think I need a more grounded story

Pillars of the earth - also very slow but I think I will pick it up again

IT - good characters and creepy vibes but that ending sheesh

Mythos narrated by Stephen fry - lovely narration but myths are just hard to pay attention to for me

Hitchhiker's Guide to the galaxy - I had a lot of fun with this series but the actual story was very winding and directionless I kept stopping it and having to pick it back up so I would say not for me.

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Recently I have gotten complete works of Jane Austen (audiobook) and also HP Lovecraft (I've enjoyed some games/tv with Lovecraftian themes and wanted to check it out). So that might tide me over for a bit.

I want my hair to smell amazing, and I love using a nicely scented shampoo in the shower. I like woody, herbal and citrus smells, but I also quite like fruity/sweet smells in the shower too.

What are your favourite recommendations for quality shampoo and conditioner with nice scents?

I have fairly straight hair that can look a bit flat, so nothing too moisturising that could give me a greasy look. Currently I am using the Redken volume line. I really enjoyed the scent of the klorane mango range, but the shampoo itself didn't do much for my hair. I remember using a whipped cream leave-in conditioner from milkshake which smelled amazing, so I haven't tried their shampoo yet so I'm not sure if it would be good for my hair.

So what are your great smelling hair recs?

Im looking at opportunities outside of academia and identified I have a good technical knowledge that could be applied to patent law, and there is an opportunity to train as a patent attourney in my city. I am not in the US - our system is basically the UK system in that patent attorneys do not need a law degree, but essentially a postgrad masters qualification.

Has anyone moved from lab based research to this field?

What do you like about it? How do you go with missing the lab?

I'm liking the environment and stability of this opportunity, and the focus on new inventions might be enough to keep my curiosity sated. However I'm worried I will miss being in the lab, to which I don't really have a good solution (as it's looking increasingly unlikely that I can find a long term lab position anyway and I don't like the stress and uncertainty associated with research). It just feels like a good thing to 'do' with my skills that can be fulfilling and interesting.