Currently Loving: the February Edition

This month has come and gone. I started the month of February thinking this is a short one and I should make every day count. It’s a nice thought, but then life happens. There are ups and downs and things that are constantly changing and that are outside of our control. But what’s within our control is our attitude. Attitude is everything in life. It dictates whether life works or doesn’t work. So in stressful situations I remember that nothing lasts forever in this life. Whining and complaining are no longer an option for me, as they don’t serve me in a positive way. Instead I choose to focus on things that I love and enjoy doing.

I’ve curated for you my top five picks of things I’ve been loving and enjoying this month. So grab a cup of… insert here the name of your favorite drink (mine would be tea)…, snatch a blanket and curl up on the sofa with the electronic device of your choice (laptop, phone, ipad, you get the point).  Here goes February…

Favorite App

My favorite app this month has been Calm. I’ve read about and researched meditation for years, but actually practicing it consistently is something I only started a few months ago, around the same time I started journaling (read more about my journaling here).  I give myself 5-10 minutes every morning before I get up and get going with my day. I’ve found tremendous value in sitting alone in stillness and learning to calm my mind, especially when times get hectic and life gets stressful. Being aware of our state of being, our feelings and intuitions, is a skill we all need to learn. It is a drug-free way of feeling better.  It helps us recognize what it is our bodies and mind are in need of in order for us to fully participate in life. While I’m no expert in meditation, I try my hardest to understand my emotions and the way I react to different situations. When you stop and still your thoughts, it gives your brain time to sort thru everything that’s going on in your mind.  I find this improves my productivity, keeps me more focused throughout the day and increases my ability to tolerate people and situations by being less reactive.  There are a number of great apps with guided meditation, but the one I use regularly and really enjoy is Calm. The reason why I prefer to use guided mediation is the ease to which you can tune in and turn off the world around you, while soothing words guide your mind to a place of serenity. The Calm app uses a mix of mindfulness, relaxation and meditation techniques.  Some of these techniques are free of charge and some you have to subscribe to. Some are pure guided practice (no commentary) and you have the option to select how long (the amount of time) you would like to meditate for.  You can fit in a session during your lunch break at work even when you don’t have much time. With each option you chose, you get to pick a scene that plays in the background such as: the sounds of rain on leaves, waves crashing on the beach, the soothing sound of a fire place.

Favorite Drink

My love of tea is no secret here. It’s something I discovered while being pregnant with my son and I haven’t stopped drinking it since. It’s what starts and ends my day, as well as my drink of choice in between. There’s something so calming and soothing about sipping on a warm cup of tea. My favorites this month are the Yogi Detox and Yogi Skin Detox, both available at healthy food stores and online. As I’ve shared with you at the beginning of this post, February has been a crazy, hectic month for me. I felt exhausted mentally and physically on most days and my skin looked tired and lack lustered. Whenever I tend to feel out of balance, I reach for teas that help me achieve a healthy balance from within. The Yogi Detox tea uses a blend of Organic Dandellion, Juniper Berry, Ginger, Black Pepper, Long Pepper, Licorice, Cinnamon, Cardamom and Clove to cleanse from inside, reduce internal impurities and help with the overall wellness of your body. I strongly believe our skin reflects our diet and lifestyle choices. Yogi Skin Detox was formulated to support a healthy skincare regimen. It uses Rose Petals, Hibiscus, Organic Green Tea, Burdock, Yellow Dock and Red Clover. All these ingredients combined cool and sooth the skin, supply antioxidants to stimulate a sense of rejuvenation, support the liver function and promote an overall healthy glow to the skin. I don’t drink these teas every day, only when I feel my body and my skin could use a pick me up.

Favorite Candle

My most used candle this month has been The Urban Collection by Chesapeake Bay in Sandalwood. It’s a subtle, musky, woodsy fragrance packaged in a beautiful faux marble jar, which is what attracted me to this candle (sorry Jo Malone, you know I fall for pretty packaging). I’ve been obsessed with adding white marble touches to my home décor lately. I find that white marble looks very clean and luxe and it’s easier (not to mention more economical) to add a few touches throughout the home, rather than redecorate the whole house. The scent is not overpowering, but subtle and warm. It doesn’t linger around the house much longer after burning, but most candles within this price point and in general, don’t. The elegant faux marble jar is made from ceramic and can be re-used, which is what I intend to do. It’s a good size so I think I will use it as storage for some of my larger makeup brushes. If you consider the price point, the candle scent, and the chic faux marble jar, this is a great purchase and can make a beautiful gift as well. The candle is available primarily at Target, but sometimes Amazon, Kohl’s, TJ Maxx and Home Goods carry it as well.

Favorite Book

This month we tackled a project we had put off for a while: redecorating our living room to make it more kid friendly. My son is 19 months old and in need of a space of his own where he can read, explore, play, discover, all the while under our watchful eyes. It’s been challenging to find the right kind of balance and create a space that everyone can enjoy and feel comfortable in. I don’t like clutter and an abundance of stuff, as I feel it creates a cloudy and cluttered mind. The book I turned to for help is Feng Shui That Makes Sense by Cathleen McCandless. I’m not a professional interior designer or a feng shui expert, but I wanted to learn about the things I could do to create a beautiful, relaxing, and inspiring space for my family. Feng Shui is a set of ancient Chinese principles developed thousands of years ago that explores how the placement of things and objects within a space affect the energy flow and well-being of those inhabiting the space. Much of the traditional Feng Shui is based on superstition, but that notion aside, I find there is tremendous value in understanding how to create a good flow within a space.  The book is well written, very easy to follow and has images that help you navigate the world of decorating with a purpose. The author also explains the root of certain superstitions associated with Feng Shui and why certain practices are no longer applicable to modern western living. There are some easy to implement, inexpensive suggestions that can help you make a positive change in your environment right away. The book offers tips for every room of the house, décor items, floor choices, choosing art work, picking paint colors. For instance, the book mentions that when picking a paint color for the kitchen, a cool tone such as a blue makes people feel less hungry because blue food is rarely found in nature. Whereas red and orange colors stimulate appetite, which is why many fast food restaurants use these colors in their logos.

Favorite Beauty Item

Only one beauty item this month (I know, pretty shocking): Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Quad in Golden Goddess. I must admit I’ve been pretty smitten with Charlotte Tilbury makeup. It is expensive, but I think the quality speaks volumes. Nordstrom is the only major retailer in the US to carry the line and sadly, most of the stores do not have the products readily available to swatch and try out. That also means it puts people on the fence about taking the plunge and investing in these high price point items without being able to test them out first. I was one of these people. I waited and waited before I decided to use one of the Nordstrom gift cards I received for my birthday to invest in one of the eye shadow quads. I chose Golden Goddess based on swatches and reviews I read online, as it seemed to be a collection of warm golden tones, very daytime appropriate colors, and all within my comfort zone. The colors are very pigmented and buttery, glide on and blend beautifully. The darkest of the colors appears more on the glittery side in the pan, but I was pleasantly surprised to realize that it’s not glittery at all: it just adds a little subtle pop of shimmer. The shades in the pan appear similar to some MAC single eye shadows I already own, but when you apply them on the lids, they’re very unique colors and very velvety in consistency. You can definitely build the colors up for a more dramatic look, if you so desire. I thought initially that the packaging looked a little too plastic-y and cheap, but as I’ve used it every day, I’m realizing how convenient it is to hold (it’s very lightweight) and how it would be the perfect companion to any on the go makeup bag and for traveling.  The colors are arranged in the palette in a strategic way indicated on the back of the quad (you prime, enhance, smoke and pop) that makes the palette very easy to use for anyone, regardless of how skilled you are in applying makeup.

What are some of your favorites this month? Do share, I would love to hear from you.