Paralyzed by Perfection
PIPER, NO!
LYFE
ScanCafe Debacle: Now that I am able to see through my haze of grief, I’ve been highly motivated to accomplish tasks that I’ve been avoiding; i.e. scanning the multiple photo albums from my parents that are cluttering my back house.
I discovered this company, ScanCafe, that takes your photo albums/videos/film etc. and digitizes it. Because I have #controlissues, I decided that I would scan all my photos, but they could digitize the video tapes that I found.
The titles included:
“Bringing Lisa Home From The Hospital.”
“Cabo 1994.”
“Mother’s Day 1992.”
I had never seen any of these videos FTR. The process is they ship you a box, you stuff all of your photos/video/film in, they then digitize, and they send all of the items back to you within a few months.
After sifting through dust and family mementos, I had my cassette tapes ready to go, and was going to mosy over to my local UPS store. Alas, I had purchased some unflattering lilac (should have known) workout pants, and needed to submit a return. So I thought I would kill two birds with one stone. Look at me, efficiency qween.
I always feel this level of satisfaction when I complete an annoying errand like a return, mailing a package, dry cleaning etc.
That night, I was telling #chefjordan all about ScanCafe drop off, and realized I had made a major error. I gasped. I nearly choked on my Goop Kitchen salad.
The unflattering lilac pants were USPS, but the Scancafe box was UPS. I had placed the Scancafe box in the USPS pile at the UPS store.
PIPER, NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Immediate dread washed over me. Priceless video archives of my family. Gone. I immediately went to the place of feeling like a failure. Logical #chefjordan tried to rationalize that this “happens all the time” and there was “definitely a protocol for this.”
But I couldn’t process that. This was not an Amazon return that could afford to get lost in the delivery ether, this was irreplaceable memories.
This debacle happened on February 18th.
I submitted a claim into the USPS universe and never heard back. Emailed my local UPS store. Never heard back. Went into the store multiple times, but the box was not traceable.
I checked in with the ScanCafe customer service weekly.
But then. A miracle email came through on March 20th.
ScanCafe had received my videos. VICTORY!
We’re live and we’re viral: I am blown away by how many people have commented and shared their moments of grief and loss, and like, also just feel this joy that over 1.6 million people have gotten to see how great my parents were.
In many of my videos, I keep original audio because I want people to hear them and know who they were as people and get a sense of their personalities.
I grabbed a drink with a friend after I posted the video. “I saw that video you posted about your parents. Are you okay? It was pretty emotional, and I just want to see how you’re doing.”
What I think might be the misconception is that I am making these videos sniffling and curled in the fetal position.
Yes, there are times when I get emotional in the creation of them, but it is because I AM doing okay, that I am able to create this content. I could have never done this a year ago, but because of the healing, and processing of the trauma, and loss, I am able to take what I’ve experienced and hopefully turn the pain into purpose.
I am sharing my real stories and it has been beautiful to see the reaction.
Giggles goes on a podcast: I am also going to be on a podcast. So wild. It comes out in the next few weeks and will share more as we get closer to the date.
Products
Alo workout top: I’ve been wearing it to Pilates when perhaps it is not the day for a sports bra #toomuchpastaovertheweekend and enjoy how light the fabric is.
Magna Electrolytes: I have tried LMNT and Liquid IV, but both are a little too sweet for me. My health and wellness friend suggested I try Magna, and I am a fan.
Athleta Linen Pants: I feel like a stuffed sausage link in my jeans and workout gear, and just bought these flare linen pants. They have a nice large waistband. Always the best. I am 5’4 and got the petite size, and they are the PERFECT length for my little links.
LiTeRaTuRe
“Let Them” by Mel Robbins: It’s a light uplifting book that basically discusses how you can’t control what other people say/think about you and how you should not let the emotions of other people have power over you. The book is famous for the “Let Them” theory, and is a nice listen for a walk.
“My personal home edits for reducing microplastic exposure” by Peter Attia. Jordan’s hero is Peter Attia. If you do not know who he is, click here. He shared what products he uses to avoid microplastics like water bottles, etc.
Misc.
Dinner Party Playlist: My friend Melissa curates the best playlists and she created this one for a baby shower last year. I use it now for Sunday mornings, dinner parties, showers at my house. It is so happy and light.
Jessica Simpson 2025: She has a new album. “Leave” is a great summer bop.
xo,
Giggles