I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is ready for December to be here! Here are a few more things that I have been loving lately, in no particular order.
Shampoo Bars. My favorite one is this one by Body and Earth, but I also like the Love Beauty and Planet two-in-one, and it smells fantastic. If you are new to these, you may sometimes miss the foaminess of your regular shampoo, but people, that is just a tactile add on and does not do anything to get your hair clean! I have found these great for traveling, as they do not count toward your one quart rule, plus you can also use them as soap, so technically they are three in one. Some of the 2-in-1s are better than others with the conditioning part of the bar, so you may need two different ones depending on your hair type. I have thin hair so I don't really use a lot of conditioner anyway, so these are perfect for me.
Tuesday runs. I have been running in the city before going home after work on Tuesdays and it has been great. If I go home, it is a lot harder to get back out of the house so I decided to do this, even if it is just a couple of miles, as a way to keep myself motivated regarding exercise. I always feel better afterward, plus my route goes right by the water, so if I had a bad or unmotivating day at work, it is a great way to clear the mind and focus on the beauty of the day.
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| Tuesday Run Day - Fort Mason |
Bertha. Since my car got broken into in July, I have not driven to work once and the old bag (Bertha) has really held up well! It is only about two miles each way, but I haven't had any issues and just like the Tuesday runs, sometimes the ride back home at the end of the day is just what I need after being stuck in the office all day. I highly recommend getting a cheap or second hand bike and doing a few mile loop a couple of days a week if you can; the feeling of the wind in your hair really is priceless sometimes.
This peeler. I know that a peeler seems like such a housewife thing to gush about, but this peeler is great! I am sure you have all had those moments where you wonder if the peeler you got is for left handed people, or if it was made for people without thumbs, because it is so much work to peel a potato or even a carrot with it. This peeler had a good handle, it peels without having to be manipulated and it has a sharp end to get rid of bruises or eyes if needed. It is the most I ever spent on a peeler, but (1) you get two so you can gift one of them and (b) it was totally worth it!
The library. I know I have said this a million times but I would be lost without the library. I have had a card in pretty much every place I have lived in, including London and New Orleans, and have used it voraciously. Not only do they have books, but most libraries also give you free tickets to museums, but they have book clubs and Spanish classes and resume writing seminars. There are a plethora of things to use the library for and it is definitely something that I am happy to pay taxes for!
How was your Thanksgiving? What are you loving lately?
Well you know how my Thanksgiving was... it SUCKED. At least I had some yummy food before heading home with our feverish toddler, though. I am loving that he will willingly take fever reducers? Paul absolutely refuses to. He hates fruit-flavored stuff (and fruit, besides applesauce) so if his fever gets really high, I have to give him a tylenol suppository... Probably TMI but you are a sturdy gal that probably isn't grossed out by much.
ReplyDeleteBesides that, I'm loving the library, too. And I love that I can use my holds + Phil and Paul's holds for my Libby account. I am not using all of them right now but it's nice to have up to 45! Yes, I am greedy about library holds!
I love that you have 45 holds. I go through audiobooks pretty fast, like sometimes a couple a week, so I don't really have as many books on hold as I used to for some reason. I have two libraries with 12 loans and 10 (or 12?) holds each, so I have found that having 22 on loan and ~ 22 on hold is enough for me. I also am happy to just take an "available now" book if I am in a pinch. I also think your holds take longer than mine in some cases; I find that usually (I am probably jinxing myself) mine are around 3-6 weeks, which actually lines up nicely with a 21 day loan period.
DeleteI will comment on the suppository in private. :)
I'm very curious about shampoo bars. I feel like I need to try one just once. There was a time when I would work out right after work when I was single, and it was fabulous. Work hard, workout hard, have a nice dinner and the rest of the night was mine. Yes to all the bikes (though not for me right this moment because it's 30 and very windy...I'll hook up with Bikie next spring). And OMG the library!!!! I cannot even begin to comprehend how much I personally have gotten out of libraries in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteYou should try the 2-in-1 bar, it really is an all-in-one if you don't have thick/curly hair. Of course I have no idea what you even look like? Do I? I don't think I have seen a pic. In my mind, you have straight brown hair... anyway, the Love's is good and it is not too expensive and it smells good, so I would go with that one for a first shot. If you feel frisky, I have also heard good things about the Ethique, but have not tried them myself, so if you do, you must report back!
DeleteHave you ever fat biked? I have not but it seems like it could be a fun way to get out in the winter.
Runs after work sound fun, especially with this route!!! I love shampoo and conditioner bars for travel. I still have the conditioner bar and travel with it all the time because hotels' is pretty bad.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are great for travel. I actually am liking that a lot of the hotels now (the nicer ones at least) are putting dispensers in the shower, so you can't take it with you anymore, but it is so much less waste! Also they normally have pretty good brands. Some of the cheap hotel soap/shampoo is pretty gross, but if I am trying to pack light, I sometimes just use it anyway!
DeleteI just am not sure I can use a shampoo bar. I've been gifted them and I have yet to use them. Not because of the suds part but more because my hair is so long and I feel like it would be hard to get it all the way through. Maybe I'll try them at some point. The friend who gave them to me loves them! How was the trail race? I love a good peeler! It makes such a huge difference!!! I use C's library card at my local library because I don't want to give up my card that I have in Meck county. Although I'm terribly guilty of just buying books instead of using the library app.
ReplyDeleteYou should give the shampoo bar a try; you may be surprised. I definitely agree that some are better than others and I know that I do like a little bit of suds and for my hair to smell clean and fresh after, and some miss the mark on both of those points, but there are a lot of good ones. I don't know which one your friend gave you, but will be looking forward to hearing how it goes when/if you do use it!
DeleteI went on a no-book-buying year after I moved into my current house and I had to move boxes and boxes of books that I had not read yet! I do love having books, but I decided that I needed to read the ones I had first before buying more. I have only bought a few books with gift cards since then and have been very happy with my choice.
I have seen a lot about shampoo bars and I wonder if it would be for me. I think I'd be more worried about the conditioning aspect! Love that you're biking in so much. I love the library too. Where would I be without it?
ReplyDeleteI would be lost without the library! I did a lot of long term travel before eBooks and I carried around several books at a time! Then when I was done, I would still carry them around because they were like currency; you would often have to swap them out if you wanted a new one, AND it was hard to find books in English sometimes. Thank goodness for hostels, as they often had book exchanges, but I did read some pretty bad books, basically ANYTHING I could get my hands on.
DeleteI am so picking about my shampoo that I don't know if I can do shampoo bars, but I'm glad it's working well for you!
ReplyDeleteWhat would we do without the library?!
I understand; they may not be for everyone. I was pleasantly surprised, and it is always nice to not have to use up the liquid quotient when traveling and to have a product that works for several different things. I am not that picky about my hair stuff, although I really do love Biolage and that one thing I used to splurge on!
DeleteOh, I love posts like this. It makes life so much more enjoyable when you identify the little things making you happy. About the bike- last year when I banged up my car and had to ride my bike to work for a couple weeks, I actually loved it! Like your commute, it was just a couple miles. I thought I would start riding all the time, but of course when I got my car back I put the bike in the garage and it's stayed there ever since. Hmm.... it would feel good to ride again.
ReplyDeleteI also LOVE the library!!! I could never afford to buy all the books I read. I just recently learned that our library offers free services like teaching adults how to read, and teaching English to people who are hoping to become US citizens. Not services I need, but just two examples of the incredible things that are available.
Exactly! There are a ton of things at the library that I do not even use. They will help you with your resume, there are classes on how to use the computer or fix your car or do random other skills! They also have museum passes and hotspots and language lessons...the list is endless! It is the coolest thing ever.
DeleteRe the bike, I think you have to start small, maybe just try it one day a week. Because sometimes I have to carry something larger or drop something off or go grocery shopping on the way home and that does add an extra element of difficulty and planning to it, which begs excuses to just drive. But if you make it easy on yourself, I find myself more likely to follow through.
I feel you on the peeler. I may have stolen my parents peeler when I moved out. It may still be the best peeler and I still use it. It's very similar to what you posted so if when my breaks finally I may need to have you remind me of it hahaha. I mean I have a much newer one but it sucks. No way. I put it in my camper.
ReplyDeleteI have used so many crappy peelers. I used one at my friend's house and I literally thought that it must be for left handed people, because I could not get it to work by using my right hand. Finally her daughter ended up doing the peeling, but I think she is getting one of these peelers for Christmas because nobody should have to work that hard to peel! It is just not fun!
DeleteI am very particular about my peeler LOL (I actually brought one from Germany because I couldn't find the same style here... like this: https://i.etsystatic.com/22471498/r/il/e24357/4537105725/il_fullxfull.4537105725_pi33.jpg)
ReplyDeleteI am also intrigued by the shampoo bars. I do like a little foaming, but I am willing to try.
Interesting peeler; is that a...can opener on the side of it? Or is that thing for jabbing out potato eyes and stuff!?
DeleteI finally replaced my mom's awful peeler, and then my own. I can only use a y-peeler (hand and arm issues), so that's what I've got. Also? A good can opener is worth its weight in gold.
ReplyDeleteNo more biking or running for me. :( And I have to say it, I hope you're feeling the wind in your hair that sticks out below a helmet? Please?
I have never tried a Y-peeler! Why is it better? It is because you can lay your hand more flat when using it?
DeleteAs for the wind it my hair, I mostly wear my hair in a tight bun when exercising, but I definitely feel the wind in my hair regardless! I love the feeling of working hard on the uphill to get a nice reward of a fast downhill. You don't get that from running and so this is where biking is extra fun sometimes!