Favorite things. For me.

As promised. A list of my favorite things! I’m going to do my best and try not to have every single thing related to coffee, but I can’t make any promises. 😉 I have to tell you that one thing that has changed for me during this quarantine is that I have started to care a little bit more about me. I have tried to practice self care, even though days are crazy long and I’m exhausted. Aren’t we all? It’s been a helluva time trying to be all the things to all of the little people in the house. School teacher. Therapist. Assistant. Nurse. Playmate. House manager. Chef. And much more. But here goes…

1. My milk frother. Of course, an addition for my daily cold brew (self care) has to be number one. I love this thing and use it almost daily! Even T has to have his own “coppee,” aka cold foam. I usually add a little bit of heavy whipping cream, 1% milk, and caramel syrup or simple syrup and let it whip! The cold option is what I use the most often. This has definitely saved me money by eliminating trips to Starbucks, and it’s been fun becoming a pretend barista.

2. Rodan + Fields Lash Boost. Let me be honest with you. I’ve had this product in my bathroom for quite awhile but I am terrible at being consistent! But a couple of months ago I decided I would really try to remember to use the product nightly. And whoa! I’m so glad I did. I have received so many compliments and questions about my long lashes. I have had extensions before, but guess what, I couldn’t be consistent on getting them filled. Ha! I was always the lady with 3 long scraggly lashes hanging on for dear life. Not anymore! They’re all mine now.

3. These melamine mixing bowls from Williams Sonoma are used almost daily. I use them for homemade waffles, baking bread, and popcorn at night while perusing Netflix. The handle works perfectly when I remind Theodore to hold the bowl while he’s helping me whip up a batch of pancakes. Although, these bowls with lids are in my shopping cart. I love the rainbow colors and having a lid would be so convenient. I dropped my largest melamine bowl and it did crack, so just a reminder you do have to be a little bit more careful with them.

4. Epsom salts with lavender are a great addition to a hot bath. I love to sneak away and take a bath; sometimes it’s the only time of the day I get to be alone. Although, more times than not, T is knocking at the door or asking dad where I am over and over. After carrying Christopher all day, doing home exercises, and getting down and up off the floor numerous times, a hot bath is a great end to the day! I love my overflow drain cover too. I can be fully submerged without listening to the gurgle of the water draining out. 😉

5. Any tumbler with a straw. Why is it that you drink so much more water throughout the day when you have a straw? At least that’s true for me! I am constantly filling my Starbucks tumbler. I love these color changing tumblers from Amazon and might have to get them for summer. They look fun, so why not? The boys would love them. Occasionally I do change things up and add a flavored seltzer water with limeade to my tumbler. Yum. One of my favorite combinations is Good and Gather Tropical Cherry with Simply Limeade. Try it, you won’t regret it!

6. I love and use almost everything from Organic Burst. These superfoods give me more energy, curb my cravings, and overall make me feel better. I occasionally drink the turmeric with a half of a lemon to start the day, and take spirulina, chlorella, maca, and baobab at some point throughout the day. Personally, I like the capsules over the powder. It’s so much easier for me to take them all in that form. I’m no expert on the products, I just love how they make me feel. Check out their products; I know you’ll find something for you! And rumor has it that chlorella will help cure a hangover. You’re welcome.

7. I haven’t been washing my hair very often during quarantine. Now before you say ewwwww and get all worried, I am showering, just not washing my hair. My hair tends to get greasy very quickly when I wash it too often. I actually have been able to wash my hair a couple of times a week while using dry shampoo in between washes. I love the Batiste volumizing dry shampoo. It does the trick and isn’t too expensive. I like the smell of this one better, but it doesn’t give my hair the ooomph the other one does.

8. I have to add my favorite cold brew concentrate to the list. I have a cold brew pitcher that I do use often, but the Chameleon cold brew coffee concentrate is so delicious. I love them all. Vanilla, black, and caramel. I have yet to try the mocha, but I’m sure that wouldn’t disappoint. The concentrate is so convenient and easy. Paired with the cold foam on top it’s the perfect afternoon treat. Self care, remember?

9. Baking has been my therapy and enjoyable hobby while we’ve been stuck at home. I don’t know what I would have done without yeast! I’ve baked crusty bread, pretzel bread, english muffin bread, calzones, cinnamon rolls, cheesy bread, and more. If baking with yeast scares you, just try the crusty bread first. It’s so easy and delicious. All it takes is 3.25 cups warm water, 1.5 tablespoons dry active yeast, 6.5 cups bread flour, and 1.5 tablespoons of salt. A warm slice of this bread with my mom’s homemade raspberry jam is mouth watering. Although I have hard time stopping at just one slice!

10. Quay sunglasses. I can’t stop buying them. They are so reasonably priced and so far they’ve held up to my very gently care of them. 😉 Ha! I throw my sunglasses in bags without a case, accidentally sit on them in the car, and have a two year old who steals them whenever possible. So, yeah, real careful. You can get three pairs of Quay’s for the price you’d pay for a more expensive brand. Run to the website – for a limited time they have buy one get one free!

I have so many more favorite things now that the days have turned into summer fun days, so maybe that’ll be my next list for ya? Should have saved the sunnies, but had to share the sale with you, it’s too tempting…

I hope that you’ve found your groove during these unprecedented times. For me, it’s been kind of nice to slow down and enjoy family time at home. I’ve never baked so much in my life! But definitely not complaining. I’ve actually done things on my Pinterest board instead of just “pin” it. I know many have tried to resume “normal” life and things are opening up, but for families like us, we are still staying in a bubble that we’ve opened up slightly to see family. Please. Stay safe out there! And don’t forget empathy. I think the world could use a little (or a lot) more of that these days.