Hi Everyone!
It is finally March! The days will be getting longer and the weather will be warming up and I cannot wait! The time between the holidays and spring are always a little challenging as the weather is often cold and grey. Thankfully I have found a few things that I am loving that have helped my days feel a little less grey. Here are my Five Faves for Jan/Feb 2024:
Try – Salt & Stone Hand Cream
I have been a Salt & Stone fan for a few years now. It started when I read about their clean deodorant. I soon graduated to their body wash and I have been devoted to both ever since. Recently I picked up their hand cream and now I can’t imagine not having a tube with me at all times. My favourite scent is Santal Vetiver but I intend to try out the Rose Oud scent very soon.
Watch – Kin
One of my favourite things about visiting my parents in England (aside from the obvious) is an opportunity to discover tv shows that I may not have known about otherwise. I love binge watching a series with copious mugs of tea and a snack or two. On a recent visit I discovered a few tv series that I enjoyed but Kin is the one that I really got into. Based in Dublin, this Irish series is about a drug dealing family that goes after a cartel when their son is killed. While it starts out a bit slow, things pick up and I was hooked until the end (there are two seasons and I am now hoping for a third). If you are looking for a new show to watch, I highly recommend this one.
Read – The Murder After The Night Before
I used to read a lot when I was younger but over the years my reading habit slowed down to a snail’s pace as I let other things in my life take priority. After making a half hearted effort and failing to get back to my love of reading, I decided to set a reading goal for 2023 of 16 books. I knew that it would be challenging but I was determined to achieve it. I finished 2023 having read 24 books and have set a similar goal for 2024. Passing thru Heathrow while travelling is a great opportunity to discover new books and my most recent visit was no exception. The Murder After The Night Before by Katy Brent was a spur of the moment pick up that turned out to be a really enjoyable read. It’s about a woman who unwillingly becomes infamous on social media during a night of drinking. The next morning she discovers that she is trending everywhere and shortly after discovers her best friend has drowned in the bathtub. Convinced her friend was murdered she sets out to discover the truth. If you are looking for a good beach read (or something lighthearted) this is a great option.
Listen – The Mel Robbins Podcast, The 51% Rule (and 3 more Strategies to Think Like a Millionaire)
I love listening to podcasts especially the ones that are focused on self development. The Mel Robbins Podcast and The Diary of a CEO are two of my favourites so when Steven Bartlett (the host of Diary of a CEO) was on The Mel Robbins podcast I was thrilled. This was such a good episode and one that I will referring back to again and again. The past couple of years I have kept myself small, trying to avoid any attention and just feeling miserable due to a challenging work environment. I spent a lot of time feeling like I wasn’t good enough and down playing my intelligence. I was clearly in the wrong environment. Thankfully I am no longer there, and I am working on rebuilding my confidence, finding my voice again and reassessing what I really want my future to look like. This episode got me excited to try to re-evaluate, to jump before I feel 100% ready. It also reminded me that life is short and I don’t want to have regrets. If you are feeling like you are at a crossroads in life or you just need a reminder to seize the day, then this episode is a worthwhile listen.
Try – Threads
Another day and another new social media app to try out. I never got into Twitter (now known as X) as I always preferred more visual apps such as Instagram. After listening to the podcast episode that I mentioned above, I decided to try Threads. It’s a text based conversation app similar to X but it is from Meta. I make an effort to post almost everyday, normally just random thoughts and feelings that I am feeling in the moment. It may not seem like a lot for some, but for me it requires courage to randomly put my thoughts out to the world. As I am getting more comfortable, I am really enjoying Threads. I only follow accounts that I resonate with and I often feel inspired by the words of wisdom that have appeared on my feed. If you are looking for a place to practice your writing without commitment, I highly recommend Threads as a good place to start.
I hope that your March is off to a wonderful start. What are you loving lately? Let me know in the comments below!
I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS
I love to enjoy a chilled drink on the balcony when the weather is warm and sunny. My two favourites being an april spritz or a glass of rose. Le Pive was recommended to me a few years ago when I was on the hunt for a good but not too expensive rose and it has been one of my favourites ever since. This year, I am loving it even more as it is now certified organic. Clean, fresh and not overly sweet, Le Pive is the perfect wine to sit back and relax with during the warmer months.
I have not yet read the book but I got hooked on Big Little Lies last year. Despite the fact that it was produced as a limited series, it is back for a second season and it is sooooo good! Just when I thought that the cast couldn’t get any better, they add Meryl Streep to the mix and as always she is fabulous! If you have yet to watch Big Little Lies, there is no time like the present. It is the perfect excuse to head indoors and enjoy a bit of air conditioning while you get lost in the lives of the Monterey Five.
If you have not yet watched Brene Brown’s Netflix special A Call to Courage you are missing out. Motivating and insightful, it is a must watch. I am currently reading her latest book Dare to Lead which carries on the message that we need to learn how (and when) to be vulnerable and how to successfully work with and lead others. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in self improvement, impactful leadership and collaboration.
I hate wearing socks and closed toe shoes, so as soon as the weather starts to warm up I happily pull out all of my sandals. While normally I alternate between high heels and leather flats, lately all I seem to want to wear are my Brikenstocks. They are comfy, cute and they go with many outfits (or so that’s what I have been telling myself). It may even be time to invest in a new pair! While the new Birkenstock Valentino version is not in my budget, I plan to admire them from afar as I add a new pair to my shoe collection.
Stylishly Zen 