Current Mood

Reading...

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar
This book is a compendium of a popular advice column and it takes you through a gamut of people's problems while evoking a range of emotions as you feel their anguish and sorrow, but also their joy, hope and optimism. While I couldn't personally relate to all of the letters/advice, I have found this book to be touching and full of life lessons. The author of the advice column doesn't claim to be an expert but she has life experience born out of a hard life and provides advice like a real person with empathy while also sharing her personal experiences to show that she understands. 
One piece of advice that stood out to me: "Don't lament so much about how your career is going to turn out. You don't have a career. You have a life. Do the work. Keep the faith. Be true blue."

Watching...
The Light In Your Eyes
I meant to watch this show earlier since I had heard about all the critical acclaim around it. It's not an easy watch because of the way it realistically portrays hardships that people face everyday yet if you look past the sadness there is a poignant sense of hope and humanity. The cast led by veteran actress Kim Hye Ja is excellent and every time you think you have it figured out, the story takes a different turn. I like how this one keeps us on our toes.

Listening to....
Upbeat Music
We always have music on in our house and lately we've been into more upbeat music and it is a real mood lifter. We're partial to a little BtoB and Infinite. Since my husband has been working from home, we sometimes take dance breaks throughout the work day when the mood strikes.

Eating...
To Boost My Immunity
While it would be nice to indiscriminately eat whatever I want, I know from firsthand experience that good dietary habits have a significant influence on health and aging and I feel my best when I eat well. I try to stay away from white foods like white flour, white sugar and white rice as they cause inflammation and may trigger health conditions. I've been concentrating on a lot on vegetables as always and I'm constantly looking for different ways to prefer them. Right now I'm a big fan of roasting everything and throwing it together in a tasty bowl and topping it with this delicious avocado sauce.

Drinking...
I don't drink coffee or alcohol but I like to try different kinds of teas and sparkling waters. Recess is a sparkling water infused with hemp extract and adaptogens for balance, clarity and stress reduction. One can contains 10 mg of cannabidiol from full-spectrum hemp extract and an adaptogen blend of American ginseng, L-theanine, and schisandra.  It has a crisp and refreshing taste and makes me feel relaxed and focused at the same time. We will break out a can and find it really helps with our productivity. Favorite flavors: Pomegranate Hibiscus and Black Cherry.

Getting Daily...
Exercise
I graduated from physical therapy last month. Since then I have been making an effort to move my body daily with a workout that incorporates some of my PT exercises which my therapist recommend I keep doing, yoga and pilates and cardio in the form of riding our new exercise bike which we are enjoying. I feel like this is really helping my energy levels and yes I'm also doing this to boost my immune system and build muscle. I'm loving using my foam roller post workout again as well.

Trying...
Powder Shampoo
Le Nouvou Natural Powder Shampoo* is not a dry shampoo but a lather and rinse type shampoo in an innovative powder form. Formulated with 300 nutrients and amino acids, this shampoo is designed to calm scalp sensitivities while providing a deep and conditioning cleanse. Using it takes a little getting used to but it works up into a light, frothy lather and leaves my hair feeling clean, soft and manageable. And a plus for me is that it's unscented as I try to avoid products with added fragrance if I can.

Preparing...
For The Winter
This pandemic isn't going away anytime soon in the US and we're preparing ourselves to spend even more time indoors this upcoming winter. This means stocking up on food, home essentials and medical supplies while making sure our home emergency kit is up to date.  In a bout of prescience, I replaced our old oral thermometer with a forehead thermometer last year (it's gotten plenty if use!) and we also recently added a pulse oximeter to our medical kit because it seems like a good thing to have with COVID-19 cases on the rise again. This device measures blood oxygen saturation levels and it can alert you to a possible coronavirus infection even before a thermometer since a fever isn't always a symptom for all people. I also topped up our supply of face masks with a box of 50 KN95 masks.

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

11 comments

Eli Dou said...

I have heard so many things about the powder shampoo I'm thinking of trying it. And avocado is such a good food for the body and skin :)
xx

Eli | Curly Style

R's Rue said...

Yes to all this.

Corinne said...

The exercise bike is so pretty! I can't wait to get back on mine after the baby comes!

Corinne x
www.skinnedcartree.com

FashionRadi said...

Me too! I've always got music playing. Can't live without it!

Emmylou said...

The Light In Your Eyes sounds like a geat show! Thanks for the heads up:) And yes....so crazy how people think that the pandemic is over. Like, what?! My hubby has been busy preparing for the winter too.
Have a great weekend:)

Ivana Split said...

The book sounds interesting. I like the advice about having a life as opposed to having a career. While it is great to find fulfilment in work, ultimately we are more than our jobs. Our personal life is important. Good that you're keeping up your exercise even if you graduated from physical therapy. Human bodies are made for movement, we need to be aware of that. Cute bike btw.
Recess seems like a great refreshing drink.

The Exclusive Beauty Diary said...

I really like this posts because they are so interesting. That book sounds amazing, I need to check it and also I need to start exercise.

New Post - https://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2020/11/ysl-rouge-volupte-shine-oil-in-stick.html

Omaye said...

I love your life updates.
I'm currently listing to Made in Lagos by Wizkid. I think it encapsulates my current mood. It usually happens to be during this time of the year. An album always comes out that encapsulates the way I feel. Strange.....
Daily exercise is something I commend you for. I started walking everyday for about an hour and it truly changes my mood. I feel like my mind is clear after the walk.
Have a great week!
xxxx


https://ooomaye.com

Express Yourself by Paola Lauretano said...

I love your current mood, my beautiful friend, I would like to read that book!
Kisses, Paola.

Expressyourself


My Instagram

Hena Tayeb said...

The avocado sauce sounds delectable.
I am intrigued by the idea of a powdered shampoo. Will look into it.

Jackie Harrison said...

Yes please to the salad and yes a great immune meal. Have a lovely weekend.