Ouai Detox Shampoo: As someone who relies quite heavily on dry shampoo several times a week, by my weekly wash, my hair is packed with product. I used to rely on a double shampoo to get it sudsy and clean, but it still felt sort of weighed down and lackluster. During a recent Sephora haul, I bought this detox shampoo, which has a ton of nearly five-star reviews that I can confidently claim are worth the hype. Not only does it smell incredible, but it leaves my hair squeaky clean, with a ton of shine and great body after just one rinse.
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle: I can’t remember the last time I had the desire (or time, frankly) to read a book in one sitting until recently. But when I had Norovirus in January, the one silver lining during that week-long stint in bed was this book, which was such a pleasant surprise. I immediately became invested in the friendships, relationships, and future of Dannie, a successful lawyer in New York, whose life takes an interesting turn one night that has her questioning everything.
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu: Ooof! This book! It’s only January, and I’ve already read two books this year that could make my favorites of 2023, and this one is in the lead. A stunning, devastating pandemic novel with a climate change twist, How High We Go in the Dark will really punch you in the feels, if that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for right now. Follows several interconnected stories that span over 30,000 years, centered around a virus that is unleashed on the world as the ice in Siberia melts around the year 2030. Perfect for anyone who loved Sea of Tranquility or Cloud Atlas.
Olio E Osso Tinted Lip Balm in “Berry”: I bought this during the big Credo beauty sale last fall, and have used it almost every day since. I’ve tried a lot of tinted lip balms in my day, and although I have to say I find the packaging on this one to be strange (?), it’s quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites. I love the sheer, moisturizing formula and this particular color definitely makes a big difference on my lips, without being so much color that I need a mirror to apply it.
Kopari Natural Aluminum-Free Charcoal Deodorant: I’ve been on the hunt for a natural deodorant for years. In the past I’ve had success with a few different brands, but over time they stopped working. A couple years ago I tried this Kopari deodorant with charcoal and I haven’t looked back. It smells a bit strong in the container, but once it is on it’s barely noticeable. And while it doesn’t keep moisture at bay (it is not an antiperspirant) it does a great job of keeping bad smells away even after a one hour pilates session.
SkinnyDipped Lemon Bliss Almonds: I love snacks, and my current favorite are these lemon coated almonds. At first I thought they sounded bizarre, but I’m always up for trying something new. These are the perfect balance of sour and sweet, and are a great pick me up come afternoon snack time. I have already turned multiple friends on to these, so thought I would share with all of you too.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask: This is THE holy grail hair product for me. If you’re a fan of Olaplex No.3, you will LOVE K18, a leave-in repairing hair mask for dry and damaged hair. As someone with fine fair, I was initially nervous about K18 leaving my hair feeling heavy, flat, and greasy, but I had the exact opposite experience with K18. After showering, I towel dry my hair and work a pump of this product in from the ends to the roots. It’s super lightweight and you can literally feel your hair start to feel healthier in minutes, if not seconds. After letting it sit a few, I blow dry and style my hair as usual, and I swear it makes me feel like I just stepped out of the salon. My hair is feeling stronger, softer, smoother & shinier than it has in a long time. This mask is moving to my list of essential beauty products.
uni POSCA Paint Markers: I’ve always loved doodling for fun, but I didn’t quite understand how fun it could be until I discovered these POSCA pens. I found them via Pinterest in the early stages of the pandemic, and I immediately fell in love. They’re paint markers available in a million different colors and SO satisfying to use. The best part about them is that the color is incredibly opaque, allowing you to layer colors on top of each other—for example, white will show up completely opaque on top of a bright blue. I can’t recommend these pens enough. They make adult coloring feel *elevated*.
Speks Magnetic Balls: Even though I am closing out my 30s this year, I am still buying toys. Okay, so they are to help me focus, but they are still considered a toy! I bought these Speks Magnetic Balls for my niece’s birthday last year, and I bought some for myself this year. They help to keep me off my phone, to keep my hands busy when anxious. I find myself reaching for these during brainstorms or just while watching TV.
Golden State Cider: I don’t drink as often as I did when I was a bit younger, but when I do lately I have been craving something lighter and less prone to giving me a headache the next day. I love beer, but sometimes it makes me feel full. My sister introduced me to Golden State Cider, which is refreshing, delicious, and light. This California-based brand uses 100% recyclable materials and gives back in a major way – check out their About Us page. My favorite is the Gingergrass flavor, but all taste excellent!
The Mindy Project: Ok, I realize I am literally 10 years late to watching this show, but I recently started watching it for the first time and now I am wondering where it’s been all my life. It is hilarious, smart, the right kind of insensitive and was born in the era of 24 episodes per season (what is with these six episode seasons of TV these days!?). I have seen over 50 episodes in two weeks, and only scratched the surface in the series. I can’t get enough of Mindy Kaling and would highly recommend you jump on this bandwagon if you have also been putting off this show for the last 10 years.
Ballerina Farm: I first discovered Ballerina Farm last year and ever since, have been looking forward to seeing Hannah (@ballerinafarm) and her husband, Daniel’s (@hogfathering) content which ranges from milking their cow, Tulip, kneading stunning loaves of sourdough bread, cute and busy moments of their family of nine, or just simply taking us around their farm and showing how they operate and take care of their animals on a daily basis. Hannah is a Juilliard ballerina and former Mrs. Utah, and I just find her content to be so interesting and wholesome and it has inspired me to do more home cooking and make my own sourdough starter (which I ashamedly admit, I am on my fourth one, after three failed attempts.) I am on the verge of just buying the Ballerina Farm starter, ‘Willa’, but I am laser focused on this fourth round to make a successful starter!
Astra Lumina Art Experience: I’ve loved being able to explore different places all around LA, and one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had was visiting the show Astra Lumina in Palos Verdes. I’m a bit of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy nerd, and this immersive art experience at the South Coast Botanical Gardens just completely blew my mind! It was truly money well spent.
Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation podcast: I’m usually listening to a good true crime podcast while working, but I recently found “Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation,” and I am hooked. The two hosts are actually surviving cult members themselves. It really dives deep into people’s experiences in a cult and how they got out. Such an interesting and intriguing podcast!
