Currently Loving . MAY 2020
Life is looking a bit different as of late, but it hasn't stopped me from looking around, being grateful for what I have and enjoying the little things in life. Let's get into the things I've been loving lately.
STYLE
Cropped Sweatshirts and Sweatpants Outfits
Let's be honest, these are not the days of dressing up and looking our fanciest. Lately, we're all about comfort and coziness. That's why I've been obsessed with matching or monochromatic sweat sets. I'm loving the cropped sweater trend as it defines the waist an otherwise baggy, loose silhouette. Typically, I'll wear a comfy sports bra underneath and of course finish the look with slippers.
BEAUTY
Gua Sha
Gua sha is basically like a massage for your face using uniquely shaped facial tools usually made from jade or quartz. The practice has many benefits, including improvements in skin tone and texture, reduction of the signs of aging, and making the face look more contoured. It is said to carry away toxins and congestion, result in less breakouts, improve acne and rosacea, balance skin tone, fade acne scars and age spots, as well as improve blood flow. Need I say more? I've been slowly implementing this massage into my skincare routine and am absolutely loving it. Unlike micro-needling, which I've shared previously on the blog, gua sha is incredibly relaxing and soothing. Typically every Sunday evening as a bit of self care, I'll take a shower then complete a full skincare routine with toners, serums, moisturizers, oils and finally a gua sha massage. The biggest difference I've noticed is that my facial muscles just seem warmed up and more stimulated, which is amazing. I find that staring at a computer for the majority of my day can make me look tired and droopy. This technique wakes me up. It's like a workout for your face!
LIFESTYLE
Cooking Shows
Anyone else a little tired of cooking for yourself during Covid? I know we are. I desperately miss going out to eat and exploring our cities amazing restaurants. When you're bombarded by new content on Netflix all the time you can get easily distracted and I was ending up watching things like Tiger King rather than show I would actually enjoy and find value in. What I realized once I started spending my downtime watching more cooking shows again is that they encouraged me to cook more, inspired me to try new dishes and ingredients, and cook healthier. Cooking shows like The Final Table and Nadya's Time to Eat have re-inspired me to get in the kitchen.
HOME
Backyard Designs
As the temperature warms up and summer approaches, we've been focusing a lot more of our time and attention on the outdoors. More specifically, our backyard. Which means, I've been scouring the world of Pinterest for tons of backyard patio inspiration. We're so lucky to have a great yard to begin with. I've been loving having my morning coffee out on the deck and soaking in a bit of sun before I start my day.
PLANNING
Monday Morning
My planning routine has stayed relatively unchanged for quite a long time now. I've found my planner peace and a system that just works for me. That being said, I've taken the pressure off of getting my week planned on the weekend and really enjoyed planning first thing Monday morning. I'm lucky that I have the liberty to define my own schedule and I absolutely love easing into the work week. I don't jump into a project right away, instead I have a slow Monday morning with coffee and my planner.
Is there a theme here? I think as a result of the current world situation, I'm drawn to comfort and slowing things down.
As always, I want to hear from you! What have you been absolutely loving recently? Let me know in the comments.
-Emilee