Current Mood


Whew this summer is flying by...

Reading...
The Boyfriend Project
I really enjoyed this book, a modern romance with some touches of mystery and action. The main characters are smart, likable and well developed. The strong friendships of the heroine and witty dialogue was a plus too.

Watching...
Was It Love?
With everything going on on the world, we prefer our entertainment to be light with some humor. This drama about a film producer who is also a single mom who finds herself pursued by 4 men fits the bill. Okay so it's not highly realistic but it's fun and there's a mystery element to it that is also compelling.

Listening to...
NPR's Code Switch
Code Switch explores the pervasive nature of racism, from language and workplace culture to social norms. It is put together by a multi-racial, multi-generational team of journalists and the way it tackles race, ethnicity and culture on many levels as well as how that plays out in our lives is fascinating. I've learned a lot from this.

Eating...
Homemade Pizza
Sure we can order pizza but sometimes it's fun to make it ourselves. I do use pre-made dough from Whole Foods though. My husband who worked at pizzeria when he was young has been teaching me how to toss it. We keep it simple with fresh mozzarella cheese, Rao's Marinara Sauce and basil that I've been growing at home.

Looking forward to making...
Spinach & Cilantro Soup With Tahini & Lemon
This vibrant recipe from Samin Nosrat sounds so bright and refreshing and it uses ingredients that I almost always have on hand and adore the flavors of! Mmmm cilantro and tahini.... And I’m a big fan of soups that I can make in my Vitamix or with my immersion blender!

Drinking...
AHA Sparkling Water
I basically alternate between drinking water and different types of tea so I like to work in some sparkling water to change things up. This brand has a great lineup of flavors. We especially like the Strawberry Cucumber, Lime Watermelon and Blueberry Pomegranate.

Protecting my skin with...
Pestlo Safe Recipe Sun Essence*
I recently introduced this sunscreen into my routine and I'm loving it. Check out my full review here.

Masking with...
Inna Organic Sheet Mask Set*
I've been using sheet masks more since it's painful to bend over the sink to wash my face. Inna Organic sent me their Best of Inna Set which includes five of their bestselling sheet masks. A pioneer in clean beauty, Inna Organic is the first and only brand from Taiwan to be both EWG-verified and COSMOS certified-organic.  Infused with potent botanical extracts like Frankincense, Myrrh, Neroli, Rose Geranium and Rose Otto, each mask is designed to target a specific skincare need from fine lines and visible signs of aging to dry skin, dullness and irritation. They include solutions for Brightening, Soothing, Revitalizing and Deeply Moisturizing. These masks have a nice amount of essence, enough to soak into the skin without dripping and they fit well with good coverage and adhesion. I have used the Brightening and both the ones for Soothing and they provide a lovely experience and work as claimed. The Soothing ones were a real skin saver when I had an allergic reaction. This set is available through Amazon.

Personal Update: I've been going to physical therapy for my neck/shoulder for two weeks and have seen some positive progress. While the pain is still present, at least I get some relief and it's not constant anymore. I've been diligently doing my exercises every day and look forward to getting back to normal again. I have so many home projects I've been putting off, like we were supposed to redo our kitchen backsplash this summer. I did have a dizzy spell and took a tumble while cleaning last week. I was lucky I didn't hit my head but I scraped the hell out of my arm and sprained my wrist slightly so I've been taking it easy. Thank you to everyone who has continued to check in on me!

Interesting Read: I Don't Feel Like Buying Stuff Anymore
This article just really sums up how I've been feeling about consumerism during the pandemic. Everything that's been going on coupled with our health issues really put things into perspective. I've never really engaged in excessive consumerism because that goes against my values but I've been extra mindful of my purchases lately. I haven't stopped buying things entirely but rather just focused on practical necessities, wellness/home items and things that improve our quality of life rather than frivolous purchases like makeup that I don't need or things I'll never use. Everything has an immediate purpose and benefit. Getting our groceries delivered is a luxury we've been taking advantage of. We're incredibly fortunate to be financially secure and  haven't suffered any financial hardship during this period and I'm not going to squander that and spend indiscriminately like nothing has changed. We've actually been  making an effort to save more and have been strategically investing our money because FIRE is still very much a goal. We have also been a little more active in charitable giving because we recognize how lucky we are and want to make a difference. It’s true that shifting focus from ourselves to helping others and contributing to causes we believe in does feel good in a way that is both meaningful and fulfilling. This cause and this cause are just two that we believe strongly in and have given to. There is so much more to life than accumulating stuff.

This post features complimentary products sent for editorial consideration (denoted with a *) and may contain affiliate or referral links.

17 comments

Pilar said...

Good selections Rowena! I haven't made homemade pizza in so long! That's pretty cool your husband is teaching you how to toss the dough! I just buy a can of Pillsbury dough lol! Have a wonderful week!

ALLIE NYC said...

A mom being pursed my four men, love it! And that pizza looks soooooo good!! I am glad you are feeling better and I hear you. It is truly amazing that during this pandemic and the worst economy since the Great Depression maybe even worse, that so many are doing well. They say that house sales are up, car sales are up, luxury designers are raising their prices due to demand.Yet %70 of Americans live pay to pay check and that was BEFORE the outbreak...

Allie of
www.allienyc.com

Hena Tayeb said...

So happy to hear you are having some relief in your pain.. but sorry to hear about the fainting.. hopefully with more time and treatment you will feel much better.

Emmylou said...

I'm so sorry to hear about the dizzy spell, chingu:( That's good to hear though that the pain is becoming more manageable. Sigh....this year has truly been something else. And thanks for the heads up about the show! Will add that to my to-watch list.
PS We've been making homemade pizza too, but alas, I still don't know how to do the toss!

Omaye said...

I've seen the NPR's Code Switch on everyones recommendation list. I've been saying I'll check it out and this is really a reminder.
I am STILL praying for you (if that means anything). I'm wishing you the best. I am sorry about the dizzy spell. Wishing you the best of life!
xxxxxxxxxxxx

Ivana Split said...

The Boyfriend Projects seems like a nice read, thanks for recommending this book. The movie about a single mum being pursued by four suitors sounds fun as well.
It's great you found a good sunscreen and are using lovely sheet masks.
I'm happy to hear that you have achieved some pain relief through physical therapy. I hope you'll continue to get better with each day- Sorry to hear about getting dizzy and injured, fortunately it wasn't more serious. I sometimes get carried away while cleaning and exhaust myself. I found that it is better to do one thing at a time then try to do everything in one day. Stay safe and take care.
I read a part of that article about not wanting to buy stuff anymore and I can relate to it. I love what you said about how life is so much more than accumulating stuff.

Paola Lauretano said...

Homemade pizza is always a good idea!!!
Happy August darling!
Kisses, Paola.

Expressyourself


My Instagram

R's Rue said...

Praying

Kinga K. said...

I love homemade pizza❤

Dressed With Soul said...

Thanks for sharing, dear Rowena! Like you I prefer home-made pizza and it seldom happens I find pizza from a restaurant or a shop better then my home-made pizza :)
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
www.dressedwithsoul.com

Paola Lauretano said...

Have a lovely day my sweet friend!
Kisses, Paola.

Expressyourself


My Instagram

Jyoti said...

Homemade pizza is always a great option! Have a great day!
Rampdiary
Beautyandfashionfreaks

Jackie Harrison said...

Love making homemade pizza great selection.

The Exclusive Beauty Diary said...

that book sounds perfect for reading at the beach during sunbathing. Thank you for recommendation.

New Post - https://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2020/07/armaniprive-rose-alexandrie-miss-dior.html

Lovely said...

Great post, I love eating homemade pizza!

xoxo
Lovely

http://mynameislovely.com

Doctor Anne said...

We had homemade pizza just a few days ago, I actually prefer it to some of the ones I can get delivered. Doing it myself I can get the toppings I actually want without much discussion.

little luxury list said...

Mmm, homemade pizza sounds great! Thanks for the podcast recommendation - it's definitely something I'll check out! I really hope you feel less pain and are more mobile. I wish there was something I could do, but wish you a relaxing and lovely weekend.