My Favourite Things - Lockdown Edition
"Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,
Silver white winters that melt into Spring
These are a few of my favourite things."
***
I'm a big fan of the melt into Spring part if someone could tell me exactly when that might be coming.
Speaking of which, isn't there a groundhog due to show soon?
I can never remember whether he's supposed to see his shadow or not, but I would like him to do whatever is required that allows me to see warm weather as soon as physically possible.
(And if he screws this up, can someone send him back into his hole to come out and try again?)
Just saying.
Anyways, until that point, here we are.
Locked up yet again, in Paradise Prison, for the second time in twelve months.
It's so easy to get caught up in the frenzy of misery this time of year. The days are short, the light is minimal, the screen time is abundant, the size of the world shrinks to the fishbowl we are operating out of, and all routines, habits and relationships on all levels are being challenged and tested as we ride this second wave out.
There is growing unrest globally, extremes in opinions over vaccines, herd immunity and questions on political protocol, as we all venture deeper on the path of this giant science experiment we are all active subjects in.
I find myself fantasizing often about walking along a white sandy beach with that gorgeous Caribbean breeze blowing away all my troubles and cares, and sounds of my favourite trashy new pop songs blasting through my ears, as the waves crash against the shore.
(Without question, I will be the first person boarding a plane when the travel restrictions lift.)
I keep that vision close enough to bring to life, but far enough to detach from it at the moment, and I try and focus on what I do have that is going well or what brings me happiness without traveling anywhere at all.
And on that note, it's been a while since I've paid tribute to my favourite things, so here are my newest additions.
***
1. Chakra Himmeli (in English, this means colourful stones on a hanging mobile that holds an air plant)
I am in love with my new chakra mobile from @Healing Cocktails in Guelph.
I think I look over and smile at this thing at least twice a day (while wondering how long the plant will last before I drown it or forget it's there).
$30, curbside and contact-less pick up available.
Every single one of these is made my hand and there are loads of other options on her Instagram site (link below). @healingcocktails
(Look at me getting fancy with pricing, photos and links. Fingers crossed the links work or you will have to retro type it into a browser. I know. The Horror.)
https://curiousandcourageous.com/
3. Butterball Lush Bath Bomb
For the low, low price of $5.95 per bath (plus tax, so low, low price of closer to $7), you too could bask in luxury with the Butterball Lush Bath Bomb.
I am an addict.
Please note that I picked this one because it doesn't require me to un-do the relaxation from my blissful soak, scrubbing the bright blue or hot pink ring from the tub after some of the more colourful options.
https://www.lush.ca/en/bath/bath-bombs/butterball/9999900012.html
4. Lemon Thriller Tea
I cannot believe I'm posting about any form of tea.
Even after being born in the UK and making tea for my Father for most of my life, I have never been a tea drinker.
(Did you warm the pot? I can tell if the tea is not hot enough, you know.)
(Yes Dad. I warmed the pot.)
I don't even have a pot.
I swished the hot water around in the cup, but hardcore tea drinkers seem to have a sixth sense if you don't use a "proper teapot" and totally call me out on it every time.
This beautiful pretend tea is fabulous because it's doesn't taste like tea!
It tastes like lemon and hot water, and currently is probably cheaper than the price of actually dropping citrus into a cup of boiling water.
So it's a win.
FINALLY I drink tea.
Sort of.
5. "Because when you stop and look around, life is pretty amazing" fridge magnet.
I bought a $4 fridge magnet from Etsy that was made in Australia, that did not cost me $4 by the time I shipped it, and took almost 3 months to arrive.
But isn't it awesome?!
And it is actually on my fridge.
Because in the midst of all this surreal existence we are living in at the moment, it reminds me we are still alive to take each breath, and I will see the ocean again. (preferably by May).
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/888945196
6. Sage "Goddess" Essential Oil
I am obsessed with aromatherapy and I run a diffuser all day.
There is this sound of trickling water and soothing nature to it running that attempts to keep me grounded each day. (Some days better than others).
During work, I use "Mountain High" which is a peppermint based oil that lends to focus, and there is a "Stress Release" blend that is lovely I use in the evenings which is part of the Well Balanced kit below that is blended of lavender, sage and chamomile.
I have recently opened the Goddess one which is a blend of rose, negroli (not Negroni to be clear) and jasmine - and I am dearly missing the hand soap that they used to make in this same scent.
7. Authentic Mosaic Lamp
Perhaps I should have called this the Global Edition since this lamp came from Turkey.
I should also probably note that it doesn't exactly light up the room with a kaleidoscope of colours on the wall like I hoped since it's about the height of a ruler, but it is beautiful and every tiny bead is glued on this shade and the quality is 10/10.
I just wish I could multiply it by about 10 and divide the price by that much too.
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/839561100
8. Melinda's Zoom Stretch Yoga Class
Melinda is such a favourite of mine that this had to make the list for a second time - this time in the form of guiding a stretch class, instead of yoga.
After a virtual work week, there is nothing I look forward to more than my Saturday morning class. My hips, glutes, hamstrings, shoulders and back all get to feel bendy like Gumby (slight exaggeration) after 60 minutes of zoom instruction.
Well worth the $15 to be part of this community - and there's an option for free meditation, followed by a free Hatha yoga class on Wednesday mornings.
Try it. Turn your camera off - check it out and see if it's for you.
(Oh, for the stretch class you need a strap and 2 blocks - but you could totally sub in two books and a bathrobe belt. Be clever. Improvise.)
Mentally and physically, this is money well spent.
Come join us!
https://www.7thwaveyoga.com/class-schedule
9. Arbonne Makeup Primer
This is an odd tribute to make during lockdown because I'm fairly certain I could count on one hand the number of times I've worn make up since March.
But last week I had an important video conference we call a "teach back" where I had to present in front of all my peers, as I thought it was fairly appropriate to actually dress for camera presence that day, so I dusted off my make-up bag. (full of expired cosmetics that probably need to be thrown in the garbage.)
As I was using my Benefit primer, I thought "nope, not the same" - you just cannot beat the quality of the primer from Arbonne and I need to get myself some more. It truly is the best on the market and I dare anyone to tell me that they could find something better. Cheaper, yes. Better, not a chance.
https://www.arbonne.com/pws/homeoffice/store/AMUS/product/Makeup-Primer
10. The Cloud
Oh, the Cloud.
I would chalk this purchase up on the scale somewhere next to my Mini Cooper and my Vitamix.
Let me prep this one.
I have no couch.
A couch was really the one piece of furniture I needed to buy for my place when I moved in, (September) and today as I'm writing this post, I still have no couch.
The Cloud from Restoration Hardware (RH if you are cool) is basically their signature item of guaranteed eternal bliss. Their tagline is that it's the world's most comfortable sofa and it is hand crafted with 100% down (which I will likely be allergic to once it arrives).
To say that I've wanted the Cloud for a long time is a complete understatement.
I ordered the fabric samples, I sat on the showroom one about 20 times and I just wasn't able to ever pull the trigger on it.
So I went to another furniture store and ordered what I call "The Poor Man's Cloud".
(Obviously that's not what it's called, but that's what I fondly referred to it as.)
My Poor Man's Cloud went on back order, originally 8 weeks, then eventually became the "end of March".
Um, how about no?
So I cancelled the order and bit the bullet.
Today my credit card was charged for the Cloud.
Which means it's on a truck and close!!!!!!!!!
It is completely impractical, not stain guarded, the colour of the sand at the beach and I probably will be terrified to sit on in in case I spill something and therefore I will need to cover it in plastic.
But it is on its way.
So I wait and dream about the last thing on My Favourite Things list because I KNOW I'm going to love it. (If it fits in the elevator, and fits through the door, and fits in the space I've measured 18 times out of sheer fear that after all this time, I may have measured incorrectly and I won't be able to get it in here).
But I have to love it.
After all, it is the World's most comfortable sofa and it's from RH.
And if this lockdown doesn't end soon, it likely is where I'll still be sitting until Spring.
***
"When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling bad
I simply remember my favourite things and then I don't feel .... so bad."
💖
Comments
Post a Comment