The Weekend Edit No. 23
Thoughts from the week, including the pushback we've been getting online, and hi from the beach!
Happy Friday! How was your week?
We are reporting to you live from the beach! We came down to our little beach shack, like we do every year, to celebrate PJ’s birthday and spend a few days here. So far, the weather has been absolutely perfect, which is an improvement from how it was when we were here in March (cloudy, rainy, and cold).
The plan is to celebrate PJ’s birthday his favorite way: quietly. He doesn’t like to make a big deal out of his big day, which is exactly why we escape to the beach and celebrate it with just the five of us. He much prefers something small than anything big or showy, and it’s taken me years to finally believe him and honor his wishes. I just have a natural inclination to always want to go big and celebrate my favorite person in the best way possible. But I’ve truly learned that, for him, the best way possible also happens to be the simplest way possible.
So easy and simple is what we’ll do!
We had plans to take off work this week and have a true vacation, something we haven’t done in years, but with a few offers coming in last minute, there’s no such luck. But, like always, since we’re technically freelance, we’re grateful for the work and grateful we get to do what we love from wherever we want to. We’ll be posting updates from the week over on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, so if you want to keep up with us, pop in on any of those channels and say hey!
On the home front, this has been a weird week work-wise.
I don’t want to get too much into it, because we’re still in the middle of sorting everything out, but long-story short, we posted a brand partnership last week that we contracted months ago (you can click here to read more about how our job and social media partnerships work), and since then, there have been boycotts and protests for one of the companies involved. We were supposed to go live with it last month, but it was delayed because of the boycott. Well, it went live last week and we didn’t feel great about posting it, and neither did a lot of people who saw it. Immediately, it was bombarded with negative comments from people expressing disappointment and anger with us for promoting this company. And the thing is, we agreed with everything they were saying and everything the boycott stood for. We were contractually obligated to post, but after the brand saw the comments, it was mutually agreed upon for us to take it down as soon as possible. So we did. Like I said, we are still working through the logistics of everything, but needless to say, we have learned a valuable lesson here and will be more thoughtful going forward.
In a similar vein, we received a little pushback for posting a shirtless photo of ourselves the other day, something that kind of took us both by surprise. One of the comments said something about how they were less interested in our posts these days because of all our half naked photos, which we shouldn’t be posting because we have children now. Something about that was confusing to me because 1. We have always posted shirtless photos and have explained before how PJ is truly always shirtless around the house, and that he actually has to put clothes on in order for us to film anything most days. And 2. I don’t agree with the idea that just because someone has kids that they should stop posting shirtless photos of themselves or stop working out or feeling sexy. If anything, since becoming dads, we need to feel more of all of that after sleepless nights and early mornings and handling everything that parenthood has to offer. We don’t want to lose ourselves after becoming dads, do we? We want to blend both worlds and realize there is a time and place for it all.
I am not one to ever dwell on negative comments for very long, especially after doing this for 10 years, but this week was an especially weird one in that regard. We typically don’t receive negativity on any of our channels, but I think we struck a nerve this week, and for that, we are truly sorry. Nothing life-shattering, but definitely feels appropriate to mention here.
Lastly, we launched our new advice column last month and have loved reading over your thoughtful questions! A new issue of Ask Away is coming out next week, so if you want to submit your questions for us to answer, you can fill out this form.
Also, and this happens pretty much every Weekend Edit- this newsletter is too long for email, so you may want to click through to Substack see the whole thing.
Have a cozy weekend, friends.
Welcome Distractions
Something to Watch
The Pitt on HBO Max. It felt like every single person on Substack was writing about The Pitt, so after months, we finally decided to give it a try, and we are officially hooked. It’s an absorbing medical drama, but unlike Grey’s Anatomy or ER, each episode unfolds in real time, capturing a single hour in a high-intensity Pittsburgh ER. The doctors bounce from one patient to the next, new cases roll in constantly, and the pace never lets up. It’s fast-paced, emotional, and completely addicting—we haven’t been able to stop watching.
&
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Hulu. We don’t really do reality TV—except for The Kardashians, of course—but PJ started The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and now we’re both suddenly obsessed. Every husband seems just a little too... familiar (you’ll see what we mean), the women are absolutely addicted to the drama, and we’re completely addicted to watching it all spiral. It’s campy, chaotic, and somehow even more unhinged in season two. We binged the first season in a weekend and are currently deep in season two, living for every absurd, can’t-look-away moment.
Something to Read
writes a brutally honest, beautifully written piece about why so many of us carry shame around our bodies, especially in queer spaces. He unpacks how diet culture and internalized fatphobia sneak into our thoughts and shape the way we move through the world. It’s raw, reflective, and surprisingly freeing. If you've ever looked in the mirror and felt not enough, this is a must-read.Something to Listen to
Angie K. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, let us introduce you to Angie K—a queer country singer who refuses to stay in one lane. She slips effortlessly between country, pop, indie, and even rap (yes, seriously), and somehow makes it all work. You might know her voice from Happily Ever After, the duet she sang with Jordan Fisher that closes out the night at Disney World. PJ discovered her recently and is fully obsessed—especially with “Real Talk” and “Laredo.” Start with those, and thank us later.
SALE ALERT
Old Navy is currently having a huge sale, where almost everything is 50% off, including my striped button down above. It’s only $19 right now, which is the lowest I’ve seen it. I’m wearing a large, and I love the easy breezy fit and vibe of it.
My linen shorts are also on sale and only $12!!!
You May Have Missed…
Have a wonderful weekend. We’ll see you on Tuesday. If you feel up to it, please like this post and share it! It helps get the word out and lets others discover Okay McKay. Thank you, friend!
Anyone complaining about you two being shirtless can kick rocks! Smh
Your content has been the same the entire time I’ve followed you, which has been years. It’s well known that PJ hates clothes basically, and we love that about him! Filter the negative content out of your brains and keep the good stuff coming!