This week on Off the Shelves, we get into the wild, frustrating, and hot conversation around menopause. Where’s the healthcare? Where’s the support? Why is it still so hard to get help in 2025? We read The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver—OBGYN, badass, and a woman on a mission to create the resources she and her patients never had.

As two women entering this next chapter of life, this book was equal parts eye-opening, maddening, and deeply validating. We wish we’d had it earlier... but we’ve got it now, and we’re talking all about it.

So—grab your protein, collagen, and fiber smoothie. Throw on your weighted vest, pop in those earbuds, and take your hot midlife girl walk while you listen to this one.

We are celebrating a major milestone—Carey’s graduation from Johns Hopkins with her MPH (yes, really—send her a belated congrats!). There’s also a little humble brag about our kids on their academic grind and a fun personality test reveal to round things out.

Let’s get into it.

What's for dinner:

Butternut squash and chicken situation: https://thenaturalnurturer.com/maple-dijon-chicken-and-butternut-squash-dinner/

Viral Hot Honey/Beef/cottage cheese bow: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/ground-beef-bowls/

What to buy/what do we love:

Stay hydrated: First Endurance, EFS Hydration mix https://firstendurance.com/products/efs-drink

Bag update - here's a dupe that less than half the cost and I love it!

Quince https://www.quince.com/women/italian-handwoven-leather-mini-shoulder-bag?color=taupe&productPosition=1&searchQuery=purse%20&tracker=searchPage__search_section__search_results