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Hot Flashes & Hot Takes

@nikkielaine.bsky.social

47 followers 29 following 110 posts

Just a 40+ woman navigating midlife chaos with coffee, sarcasm, and a plan. Genealogy nerd, fitness dabbler, finance geek, spicy book addict, and always planning the next trip. https://hotflasheshottakes.substack.com/ www.etsy.com/shop/StrongSassStudio

hotflasheshottakes.substack.com

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Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 14h

Taught my 12-year-old nephew how to write stories with ChatGPT. Now he’s sending me his own and talking prompt strategy.

This is the future of creativity—kids using AI as their co-author.
Don’t fear it. Encourage it.

#AI

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 20h

Mid-workout thought: the “peaked in high school” crowd must be exhausted trying to relive the same four years forever.

At 42, I’m still chasing better - physically, mentally, all of it. I don’t think I’ve peaked yet.

What age do you think was your peak? Or are you still climbing?

#gymsky

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 1d

Just set up Trello boards to organize my house stuff and side hustle chaos — and wow, the free features are chef’s kiss.

As a girly who loves a good kanban list, I’m thriving. I even made a quarterly goals board because apparently, I’m taking an iterative approach to life now!

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 1d

"That rug really tied the room together." Can you name the movie?

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 1d

If your IT project ‘has to be Waterfall,’ you probably just think your scope won’t change.

Spoiler: it will. Requirements rot fast, users revolt at big-bang rollouts, and ops teams need evolution, not revolution.

#projectmanagement #productmanagement

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 2d

You know it, just getting started!

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you! ❤️

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Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 2d

I came. I saw. I Zoomed. I barely survived.

Happy Friday to everyone who gave 55% effort and somehow made it look like 110%.

#WorkWeekSurvivor #TGIF

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 2d

This is what losing 30 lbs and gaining 8 lbs of muscle looks like on a 5’0” frame. It’s been months of consistency, lifting heavy, and fueling right — and I’m finally seeing the body recomp results I’ve worked so hard for since April. 🔥

#gymsky #fitnesssky #bodyrecomp #fitover40

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Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 3d

We went to Barcelona on a budget—which means more mojitos, fewer museums, and a hotel shower that deserves its own OnlyFans.💦

Part 2 of our Italy & Spain adventure is live!
👉 hotflasheshottakes.substack.com/p/barcelona-...

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 3d

Another day, another workout down. I always feel so good after a workout, like I can take on the world without losing my shit. 🤣💪

#gymsky #fitnesssky

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 3d

Beginner investor here. My portfolio’s up 200% over a few years, but I freeze when something I own takes off — I can’t bring myself to buy more. Feels like tempting fate. Anyone else struggle with this mindset on the stock market?

#investing

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 3d

Get it girl!! You look amazing!

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Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 3d

Look at all that destruction in war torn Portland 🤣

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 3d

I started this book last night and I am already 50% through it. I forgot how much I love Susie Tate. Everybody in this series has been great, but this one maybe my favorite!

#spicybooks #booksky

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 4d

From the top of Pikes Peak. It was a glorious view until the out of nowhere snow storm and rush back down the mountain.

Next time, I'll just stay the night up top. 🤣

#travel #colorado

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 4d

Excited to see what Zohran Mamdani does—I have no doubt he’ll get elected. I don’t know how anyone on either side could hear this mission and not support it.

It’s time to get our humanity back by helping each other. I'd love to see a Republican do the same. That's real unity.

#USPOL

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 4d

In the country's richest city, more than 140,000 kids don't have stable or permanent housing.

"Every Child and Family Is Known" — a small pilot program that pairs school staff with students and families in shelters — has shown real promise. I will double its funding and scope.

Mamdani education plan would focus on helping NYC homeless students

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, said Wednesday he wants to double the size of a program for homeless students at public schools in a plan shared exclu…

www.nydailynews.com

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 4d

Their smug outrage is theater. The real crime? The cover-ups and the sacred norms they trample. Every act of impunity is precedent. We’ll have to wait, but justice is patient — the reckoning will come, and it won’t be quiet.

#USpol #EpsteinCase

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 4d

Check out the details and other spicy book recs on my substack! ↓
hotflasheshottakes.substack.com

#booksky #spicybooks #mafiaromance #darkromance #fantasyromance

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 4d

'Just put exempt on your W-4!’ they say. Yeah, don’t — that’s illegal.

Want the easiest, legit ways to keep more of your paycheck until tax time? I wrote the dirty little legal secrets. Check out the details on my substack!

#Taxes #W4 #PersonalFinance #TaxationwithoutRepresentation

How to Pay the Least Amount Possible to the Government (Legally)

Because the IRS doesn’t need another donation.

hotflasheshottakes.substack.com

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 5d

900 books later, I’ve found the romance series worth losing sleep (and self-respect) over. 🤤

Spoiler: none of them are on BookTok’s front page.

💋 Get the details! ↓

#spicybooks #booksky

Underrated Romance Series You Need to Read (Like, Yesterday)

Hidden gems, dark obsessions, and spicy fantasy worlds you won’t see all over BookTok — but should.

hotflasheshottakes.substack.com

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 5d

Italy on a budget? Yes, it’s possible! ✨

From Rome’s ruins to Naples’ pizza and the Amalfi Coast’s views, here’s how we did it without breaking the bank. 🍕🌊

Read the full adventure on my Substack! hotflasheshottakes.substack.com/p/5-days-in-...

#ItalyTravel #BudgetTravel #Napoli #Rome #Travel

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 6d

Let's check back in 7 years and see if any of them still are....🙂

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 6d

The original fake news. 😆

Hot Flashes & Hot Takes @nikkielaine.bsky.social · 6d

WWII taught us the cost of patriotism—but did we learn anything? My uncle survived Bataan only to be forgotten at home. As the world teeters on new wars, will today’s soldiers meet the same fate?

Read more on my substack. 👇

Patriotism’s Fine Print: What WWII Taught Us (and We Ignored)

How my uncle’s story reveals a cycle of war, neglect, and history on repeat.

hotflasheshottakes.substack.com