Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend. We had dear friends visiting and I was so thrilled to see warm weather and bunches of happy kids playing in the yard. The only problem seeing people you love is that it’s so hard to say goodbye; we miss them already. The taste of sunshine outside gave us a dose of spring– just about one more month and I’ll finally feel like myself again once those warm temps are here to stay!
One of the posts I most love as a blog reader are when other bloggers share their favorite products and recent finds. It’s always fun to find something new recommended by someone you trust and who’s style you admire. I can’t tell you how many things I’ve purchased after reading an honest review on a blog I adore. This spring weather got me thinking– what are my favorite things right now? What’s been keeping me happy the past few months, and what would I dish about to a trusted girlfriend over coffee talk on a Monday morning? Here’s what I came up with, a few favorites to carry you through spring! Can’t wait to hear how you feel about them, and your favorite things too.
1. Yoga
I’ve always wanted to try yoga, and finally braved a night class at my gym. Low lights, soothing music, and fast enough paced to sweat– I’m hooked. After my second class I walked right next door to Tuesday Morning and bought a yoga mat. I’m such a beginner I have no idea what I’m doing but it’s challenging and wonderful at the same time, and I’ve found I CAN do it! Any yoga tips to share for this hopeless newbie?
2. Touche Eclat by Yves Saint Laurent
For years I’ve been hearing about this miracle product that conceals and brightens– magazines from Cosmo to Lucky to Real Simple have sung it’s praises. It’s been on my wish list for years so I finally bought it for myself. While I won’t say it takes decades off my skin and makes me look like I get 8 hours of sleep a night, I will say it takes off a few years and adds an hour of sleep to the circles under my eyes. Consider me a new fan, it’s gong to stay in my makeup arsenal for a very long time.
* usually it’s $40 in stores but I found it for $25 on Amazon, which made it well worth the investment for me
3. Lady Jane Bottle Neck Vase from Willow House
I’ve been on the hunt for a large blue glass demijohn to use as a vase and was thrilled to find this one on sale. Apparently Willow House is clearing out it’s entire home inventory, so I was more than happy to snag it for half off. It’s huge and perfect for displaying spring branches, though my husband is a bit confused as to why we need it. Isn’t he always.
4. Stash Licorice Spice Tea
For the 80% of you who hate licorice, skip this one. But the rest of you will love this caffeine-free herbal tea made from a delicious blend of licorice, cinnamon, star anise, and orange. It’s been my companion all winter long, and lately I’ve been having a mug after dinner; it has a subtle yet sweet aftertaste and doesn’t need sweetener so it’s been a great replacement for dessert in my attempt to wean myself from sugar. I get it at the grocery store for just a few dollars, too. Those licorice haters don’t know what they’re missing. 🙂
5. Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Perfume Roll On
Found this citrusy scent in the personal care section of Whole Foods. I don’t like overly floral perfumes so finding this crisp, fresh scent was perfect timing. Except that it makes me want to eat an orange every time I smell it, all in all not such a bad thing, right?
6. Neutrogena Body Oil
I suffer from wicked dry skin, and by the time spring rolls around I’m often in terrible discomfort– and my OCD regarding handwashing doesn’t help the situation. Instead of giving up nightly baths, I find adding Neutrogena Body Oil to the water keeps my skin super soft. I also use it after showers. This has been my best winter yet skin wise, despite how cold and windy it was!
7. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Darn my sister for buying me this book! I’ve been up until 2am because I simply can’t put it down. It’s historical fiction meets romance meets epic novel, and really well written. I was hesitant to read it because it’s massive in size (and, ack, a series!) but now I’m glad because truthfully I don’t want it to end. If you get it, don’t say I didn’t warn you– and be sure to set your alarm because morning comes early when you go to bed at 2AM. 😉
8. Herbed Potato Salad
Woe is me, Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food Magazine is no longer being published. It was a GREAT little magazine, I so hope they’ll bring it back! But this Herbed Potato Salad recipe lives on, and it’s delicious. A great spring/summer recipe, perfect for picnics and lunches. I made 3 pounds of it yesterday in anticipation of guests and as an Easter side dish. Let’s just pretend I didn’t eat like a pound of it for dinner tonight. Oooops.
9. Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee
I’m a New England girl at heart, and nothing tastes as amazing as the first iced coffee of the season. Oh DD, how I love you!
10. Black and White IKEA Pillow Covers
Even though Bee told me they were “yucky” when he first saw them, he now has a truce with these awesome $10 graphic black and white IKEA pillow covers (formal Swedish name: LAPPLJUNG RUTA). Best part, aside from the kickbutt name? The inserts for them were just $2.99! I love IKEA!
There you have it, a few favorites I’m digging this spring. I’m going to start scouting out new favorites for a summer edition, got anything you swear by to share with me? Let me know in the comments, I love recommendations!
Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, and my opinions and reviews are 100% honest (as always). Links are provided simply so you have a source for more information about the products, however the Amazon links are affiliate links and any purchases made through them offset the costs of running this site. Thanks so much for your support!
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Carrie, I love favorite things lists! Turns out, we have number 2 in common. Except that I’m getting my highlighting pen from Grace Butler, my Mary Kay lady. I’m always asking her to help me look like I’m well rested. LOL It is one of the few makeup tools that actually works! But I think I’m paying less than $20 for my highlighting pens. Maybe check it out when you need a refill. (I go through mine like candy, but don’t tell, okay?)
Ooooo, thanks for the tip Darla! I’ll have to check it out! (and yes, I’m going through mine like candy as well, shhhh…)
I’m so glad you love the book! And, sorry about the late nights 😉 Last night, I fell victim to the last book in the series (for now — a new one will be published in September). Gotta go get some D&D iced coffee to help me recover!
DD iced coffee is free on Mondays with a coupon down here, do you guys have that too? I already chugged mine. 🙂
WHAT?!?! There’s a coupon I don’t know about? LOL.
I just love finding new cool stuff! I’ve been looking for a decent under-eye concealer for awhile now. Most of the stuff I find gets gooey or isn’t the right skin tone for me (I’m uber pale) I’m going to have to check out the Yves Saint Laurent stuff.
I am a huge fan of licorice spice tea – and it’s so healthy for you too. Good find, my friend. 🙂
Oh I will have to try the Licorice Spice Tea. Sounds like something I would like and I totally agree with you about the Ikea pillows. Love them!
L-O-V-E the Outlander series!! Keep on reading! I’m also a fan of the body oil (and the vases are cute!!)
Fun post!!! Licorice hater here but brings back memories of bringing you Good & Plenty box when teaching! 🙂
Do more Favorite Things posts!!
I have the whole Outlander series on my kindle. I was told it was really good. I may have to read that one next. I will also be looking to the eye cream. My eyes are in desperate need of a pick me up.
Great list!
Word for word my response to #7 was “”Damn it all to hell I’m never going to be able to get any sleep” 🙂
HA! Seriously, I actually hauled my two kids to the bookstore yesterday because I simply HAD to get book #2. And, of course, I was up until 2AM again. I should start sleeping normally starting in July when I finally finish the series!
How did I miss this?! The vases are GORGEOUS (like I need another new vase, but when they’re this pretty….), I’m a sucker for anything ‘age-defying’, and I happen to love licorice. So- trifecta. Also, it looks beautiful…. tell me it’s not photoshop since I STILL haven’t gotten around to figuring that puppy out! Great post!
xo
Charlotte
Not photoshop, just good ol’ PicMonkey. Love the ‘collage’ function over there! So glad you are a licorice/vase/concealer fan like me. 🙂