The Elements of Life I’m Loving Right Now
Joy is being experienced in the here and now as I pause my Vestiaire Collective scrolling to start this Instagram poll induced blog post. It’s understandable that in our second year of a pandemic, people would be interested in what wills others to live. When it comes to this nosy business, I personally love to learn what bathroom products people are coveting (think - bath oils and dry brushes, more so than toilet paper and toothpaste). I’m also fascinated by random bits of technology people have around their homes, and anything to do with laundry. I’m on the hunt for a great cashmere/wool detergent at the moment, but that’s a whole other topic of conversation. 27 days into my No New Clothes pledge I’d say what’s bringing me a considerable amount of joy right now is the world of thrifting and consignment. Since I spend half my time working in a luxury consignment store and overflow my social media with second hand fashion related content, you’d think by the end of the day I wouldn’t want to come home and spend hours scavenging the internet for the perfect second-hand knitted vest top. I can assure you, this is exactly how I want to, and have been spending my evenings.
My research is often interrupted by a furry, barking little monster at my feet. Marty is without a doubt the most joyous part of my life right now. He, along with my nearly four month old nephew, leave me with a cuteness abundance I am grateful for every day. There’s nothing quite so magical as waving a rubber toy from side to side, watching Marty’s bum wiggle in excitement before tossing it across the room, sending him to face plant into the wall. Our nightly fetching routine makes me laugh and demand wriggly snuggles, whether he likes it or not. Perhaps one my favourite Marty rituals is getting him suited up for our morning walk. He knows he wants to go for a walk, yet he fights the harness and sweater because he simply cannot comprehend the idea of something so chew-able being so close to his mouth and not gnawing on it. I truly feel like a mother trying to wrangle her squirming kindergartener into a snow suit each time we do this dance. Something about it bonds me to this little creature even more.
As I said before, I’m strangely curious about the random bits of tech people use in their homes. What I mean by this is NOT Alexa, Google Home, or any other in house cyborgs that flush your toilet and play you Harry Styles’ Fine Line on repeat (or so I imagine). These devices are the life force of the scariest horror movie in my eyes. What I am interested in is the Fitbits, JBL speakers, electronic LED face masks - you get the idea. I recently introduced an IHome Health to my bedside table equation. It wakes me in the morning, acts as a speaker for my tunes, and best of all uses blue light to sanitize my belongings. When I come home after work, my phone goes straight into the IHome’s vessel for bacteria murder. It gives me peace of mind that I’m not wasting single use antibacterial wipes, not using any chemicals, and really don’t have to do any work myself. It’s brilliant - treat yourself to one here.
Yes, I go to work almost every day. I am not currently in a state of lock down, though work and the chiropractor are my only current outings. I can’t make the same claims of boredom or intense isolation as many of you may be experiencing. My UK friends have things especially rough right now and my heart goes out to them each day. Whether you’re in lock down or some form of stressful masked normality like myself, I can confidently say that you could use some zen in your life. We all could. For all the zen moments in my life, I credit the Calm app and the one and only Adriene. You know just who I’m talking about. The most inspiring yoga teacher out there, who has somehow managed to bring yoga to the homes of millions, while maintaining an humble, independent content provider energy. My friends love Adriene, the Youtubers I watch love Adriene, the world loves Adriene, and yet when I practice I have no doubt that in that moment it is simply me, Adriene, and the mat. She’s the perfect combination of guide, coach, leader, and friend, and the reason I’ve combatted so much pandemic anxiety and stress.
There you have it world! A wee update on the elements of my day to day that make me smile. Let me know in the comments below what’s bringing you joy in this crazy existence we call life. What tech fills your home? What makes you feel zen? What brand of detergent do you use? I very much want to know.
Thanks for reading.
Em
