5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

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