Three months have passed since I last posted something here. If you ask me, they actually felt like three weeks, but time moves sneakily fast. Nonetheless, I’ve wanted to write again, brewing ideas during my commute but never truly working on bringing them to life. So while I work on those, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites from April —the ones that kept me sane, engaged, and brought a bit of joy every day.
Eating & Drinking:
Tea Trays: my Youtube feed has been a pathway to the best discoveries. A video about tea trays by Julyssa Rose randomly popped up in my recommendations and I immediately knew I was about to be hooked. She explained the idea and beauty of a tea tray with so much interest and detail. So I got to work right away. I used a Target gift card to buy a wooden tray with gold accents, found a dreamy shell plate at the thrift store, and brought out my flower teas, cups, and knitted cup holders. It’s been so fun and rewarding to prepare these. It makes the simpler things inherently more beautiful. Now, my breakfast, afternoon sweet treats, and late night tea have turned into a fun ritual.
Rose Sugar: let’s just say my late April trip to Orlando ended up giving me more souvenirs than I expected. Although I was in a rush during this day, once I found a tea shop in Winter Park I could not resist going in. They had such a great collection of spices and sugars, I ended up purchasing this one and Chai Sugar which I haven’t tried yet. But so far the Rose one has made my hot matcha lattes feel so much more comforting.
The Qi’s Shangri La Rose and Blooming Tea: I’ve talked about my love for these teas several times and I don’t think I will ever stop. These are such a go-to for me and can make my days feel calmer in just a few seconds. I love taking my Shangri La-Rose tea on the go during my morning shifts (and as a loyal customer, I use their glass bottle). On the other hand, their blooming tea is perfect for when I want to sit down and take a moment. It’s a wonderful ritual that makes me feel grounded and at peace.
Green Apples with Almond Butter: nothing more to say. It’s just a heavenly mix.
Reading:
Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali: a short and powerful book that reminded me a lot of Vladimir Nabokov’s Mary. I wrote a short review on my Instagram here. But in a few words: it’s an unconventional love story about longing, comfort, and running away from happiness.
The Atlantic Yearly Digital Subscription: my go-to for when I want to read a great (or sometimes controversial) take on any current theme. There are so many articles diving into culture, current events, and even art and literature. It will always have something that will stick out to me.
Vogue Spain: the cure when I’m overwhelmed. When I feel life is a bit too much, I go into the Vogue Spain website or borrow a copy through Libby. I love going through their fashion articles, but also the ones focused on film and literature. It always makes me feel at ease - reminding me of the time when I would look through magazines at my grandparents house (when newspapers and print media were still the norm).
Listening:
Fuimos los dos by Ainda: I consider myself one of the least adventurous people when it comes to music. If anything, I enjoy listening to the same songs over and over again. I like some of Ainda’s previous songs but this album has been an obsession for me. I love its softer ballads and more upbeat melodies inspired by the seventies. Favorite songs: No es amor, Algo en tu mirada & Lo importante.
Fragrance:
Blooming Fire by Orebella: I’ve been wearing this scent for about a year now and I’ve never got more compliments! From the girl sitting next to me the time I watched Heretic to a customer at work who asked me in awe what I was wearing. I’ve never had a perfume that I loved so much and felt this long lasting. I love its warmth and how gorgeous the packaging is, as well as how it’s oil-based (which surprisingly hasn’t damaged my clothing yet). The first time I was gifted the biggest size, but now I also love having the 10ml version in my purse so I can reapply anywhere.
Places:
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum in Winter Park, FL: I found this museum while looking through the Maps app and it became an unexpected treasure. It was filled with lots of gorgeous Tiffany lamps, glass-stained windows, classic art, a wonderful chapel, and a dreamy garden. They also had a special exhibit about the art of letter writing which had lots of writing utensils, letters, postcards, and secretary desks. It was so enjoyable and charming!
Miscellaneous:
Fountain Ink Pen: my notebooks often feel lonely because I never found the perfect pen for them. Muji pens are wonderful for my day-to-day but I craved something special. So once my mom gifted me a white fountain ink pen I became excited to journal and write in my other notebooks. Handwriting has never felt so effortless!
That’s all! I’d love to know if we have the same favorites or if you have any recommendations I would like. Happy rest of May!