1. Ladybug and Bumblebee trays by Rae Dunn
I found the cutest trays at HomeGoods! They’re these Rae Dunn rectangle trays, and each one has a hand-drawn pic of an insect with its own little bio, like in a nineteenth century biologist’s field guide.
I’ve got Ladybug and Bumblebee. ???
I like that they’re equal parts cutesy and science-y at the same time.
Is that nerdy of me?
Plus, rectangle trays are so useful around the house. I keep one in my kitchen for ingredients I use often, like olive oil, salt, pepper, that kind of thing. I also keep one on a table in my living room that I put jewelry and my glasses on, because I’m the type of person who will naturally set things down, like, anywhere… And then forget about it.
When I designate places for things, though, and I know that, “OK, this is where I put my glasses, and this is where I put my rings,” it just makes my life easier, and these trays are great for that.
They’re also good in bathrooms, too. I have a tray by the sink for my watch or my ring before I wash my hands.
2. The Five-Minute Journal
I’ve been lovin’ on a lotta things lately, and I think it’s partly because I’ve been doing The Five-Minute Journal every day.
I got this as a gift, and it’s so wonderful!
All you do is casually fill out the prompts, listing things you’re grateful for, things you think would make your day great, things you’d like to work on, and things like that… I hope I’m not making it sound hard, because it totally isn’t. I really look forward to it now. I do five minutes in the morning after I wake up and five more minutes before bed (from in bed).
It’s supposed to help you prime your mind so that you can focus more on the positive side of things instead of the negative.
I’ve been doing it for almost two weeks, and I’ve actually notice myself having a better cattitude now. I really do. It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.
3. The Marvelous Mrs. Masiel
This is what I binged last weekend. It’s on Amazon Prime Video, and — brace yourself — it’s from the creators of The Gilmore Girls!!!! Yes, it’s by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino.
It. Is. So. Good.
The main character is Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a 1950s housewife from a well-to-do Jewish family in New York. When her marriage falls apart, she forced to figure out what she’s going to do with her life, and it may or may not involve stand-up comedy. It’s witty, thoughtful, and it has that same fast, snappy dialogue like Gilmore Girls.
I don’t even know if this is the way it really was, but the makeup, the sets and the clothes make me wish everyone still dressed to nines just to run to the grocery store.
4. My good morning playlist
I’ve been bumping these songs right after I get up, while I’m making the bed, washing my face, brushing my teeth and putting on lotion for the day.
They set a good tone for productive butt kicking. 🙂
The Rascals, It’s a Beautiful Morning
Natalie Cole, This Will Be
Kylie Minogue, Stop Me From Falling
Michael Jack and Justin Timeberlake, Love Never Felt So Good
5. Bioluminescent Stamps
I used to collect stamps when I was a kid, and I still love buying stamps with special designs at the post office.
I just got these yesterday — stamps of bioluminescent life!
SO COOL.
There’s even a slight holo effect when you look at them and move your head.
Cuteness!
Before I go, the cutest thing happened to me at the post office yesterday. So, the one by my house is always crowded. There’s always a line, and the people are super grumpy. It’s usually at least a 20-minute wait, so when I go I like to just stand there and zone out. I even kinda look forward to it like it’s my relaxing time.
Anyway, when El Hub got home from work yesterday, I left Connor with him and went to the post office because I needed some stamps. While I was standing in line, there was a little girl there with her parents. She was half Asian like Connor and looked to be two or three years old. She walked right up to me, slowly looked me up and down, then slowly raised her arms, as if she wanted me to pick her up.
It was the cutest thing in the whole wide world! Her mom and dad were there, and they were like, “Are you cool with this?” and I was like, “Oh, my gosh, yeah!”
I gave her a hug, and then she went on her merry way. It was one of the best things that happened to me this week. 🙂
How about you? What have you been loving lately?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Shin Ae says
I LOVE The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel! It’s so good. Also, very excited about those stamps.
I’ve been loving two things that are old news, but recently acquired by me: Diptyque’s L’Eau de L’Eau scent, and Clinique’s Amp’d Up Apple Chubby Stick blush thinger which I got in a bonus, never ever would have tried on my own, and found it’s perfect.
Shannon says
That is The BEST post office story!! Simply love it.
I need to check out that journal, too – seems like a really lovely way to spend the start and end of your day.
Rachel says
Ok first I love the bug trays because science+cute is my whole aesthetic. On the same note, I got a water sample in the mail at work (I am a scientist) with those bioluminescent stamps and I am like “I need those!!!”
CL says
I bought a journal/coloring book the December before I was diagnosed with lymphoma (diagnosis came the following February, but I sensed I had a serious problem in December). When I started treatment I thought I would use it while undergoing chemotherapy, but I really couldn’t, because the treatment I got simultaneously kept me on edge and made me almost pass out. You have to watch the nurse to make sure they don’t give you the wrong thing – they switch out bags of drugs repeatedly all day. Then one of the drugs they gave me made me so sleepy I couldn’t really even pay attention to the little crummy TV they had there. I didn’t do the journal when I came home, either, due to feeling pretty lousy, and also having to go to work most of the time. Oh well, maybe I’ll do some kind of memoir if I live long enough and get to retire.
Lulle says
I totally copied your idea to make my own “5 things I’ve been loving lately” post (with proper credit of course) because I love this series so much!
Those stamps! I don’t collect stamps but I’d buy and keep them for sure. I hope I receive one on a letter. Isn’t it sad that 90% of the mail we get nowadays doesn’t have actual stamps but a machine print? I love getting letters from my mother-in-law because she always uses collectible stamps.
Kuz says
Your post office story was so cute, Karen! Thank goodness for super sweet moments like that that come out of nowhere! 🙂 Also, happy St. Patty’s Day!
Diana says
I love this post -the adorable bug trays (I have the ladybug one ?) the stamps and especially the sweet story at the end. Don’t you just love these random moments that totally make your day?!
Katie says
Aww Karen this is so cute!! It makes me so happy to go on this site. Thank you 🙂