I’m still on my positive-vibes-only kick, so let’s talk about random things I’m currently obsessed with (that makes life feel a little more bearable). Be warned: when I say ‘random’, I mean RANDOM.
Lyons Irish Breakfast Tea
The thing I have to explain upfront is that I am a former Diet Coke girlie (that is to say, a decades-long DC ride-or-die) who switched to coffee last year. Coincidentally, or not, it happened around the time I got serious about writing, and coffee is now ingrained in my writing routine. For most of that time, I’ve stuck to iced coffee, but recently I’ve rediscovered the joy that is Irish Breakfast tea – specifically Lyons.
Making regular (hot) coffee at home is a hassle to me*, but brewing a cup of Lyons is easy peasy – it comes in disposable tea bags. And if you steep it for 3-4 minutes, it’s almost as dark and flavourful as coffee, except less bitter, which I prefer. I add milk (the protein-rich kind, which is almost like cream) and one of my coffee syrups (see below) as sweetener and voila: the perfect cup of hot not-coffee that feels like drinking coffee (to someone who loves iced coffee, LOL!).
If you’re tempted to try this at home, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to make sure you get Lyons, not some other brand, if you want that put-hair-on-your-chest experience. I have been reliably informed that other brands’ Irish Breakfast teas are much weaker (so that you would need several tea bags to get the same amount of flavour).
[*I don’t have the equipment and don’t want to spend money on it. I buy the Costco brewed coffee for making my iced coffee, and that’s the kind of convenience I love.]
Coffee Syrups
This goes along with the item above, but also with my love of iced coffee. I used to put flavoured creamer in my coffee to sweeten it (and I like it very sweet, lol) until I discovered coffee syrups. Sugar-free and fun flavours? Sign me up! Plus, if you buy them at Winners like I do, they’re hella cheap. The brand I buy most often is Matteo, and my fave flavours are Caramel Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cup, and Dark Chocolate Orange. I tell you, I have the palate of a toddler. Peanut Butter Cup goes really well with my Lyons tea, but I think I’m going to try some sort of Mocha flavour next, to really give my Irish Breakfast that extra coffee kick.
Nest Lychee Rose Perfume
I have always had a weakness for rose-forward perfumes. It’s one of my fave notes. A while back, I spent many months searching for the perfect ‘jammy rose’ perfume. I ended up with a few fragrances I love, but none that completely scratched that itch. Well, a few weeks ago, I randomly found a travel size of Lychee Rose at Winners for $17 and thought “why not try it.” Readers, I’m obsessed. It’s the perfect sweet (but not cloying) jammy rose. I spray it before bed most nights now, and it dries down overnight to a beautiful soft rose so I wake up smelling like … well, you get it.
I’m so happy that I snapped up two (travel) vials of this when I had the chance, because I have a feeling the first one won’t last long. And the downside of Winners is that you’re never guaranteed to find the same amazing bargain twice. As much as I love this perfume, I’m not sure I can bring myself to pay full retail price for it 🙁
But let this be your PSA: do not sleep on Winners’ beauty and make-up aisles. It’s where I buy almost all of my skincare because you can find everything from sold-at-Sephora brands to Korean brands for a fraction of the price.
Ring Stack
With the exception of my engagement ring/trinity band combo, I don’t really wear any jewelry on a daily basis. Or, I should say, I didn’t used to. Because now I have this stack … and I am obsessed. I never take it off*. The gold (wedding) band belonged to my dad, and he gave it to me after my mom passed away to keep for my kids; I started wearing it and now it’s too sentimental to take off.
The other two rings I thrifted on the same day and I have a feeling they were always meant to be worn together. I mean, they just look made for each other, don’t they? The only markings on them is a 925 stamp, but I suspect they are vermeil or gold-filled because the finish hasn’t worn off even a little bit after months and months of daily use (even after I stopped taking them off in the shower). I’m especially impressed that none of the small stones in the band have fallen out or been damaged; they go all the way around, and in the past I was always worried about damage with this particular style. I only wish I knew the designer or brand who made them because I love both the aesthetic and the quality so, so much.
These rings have completely sold me on the benefits of fine/semi-fine jewelry. I love being able to wear pieces every day without worrying about taking them off to do daily activities, or else risking tarnish and damage.
[* unless my fingers are doing their weird thing where they randomly shrink in size and then I have to take all my rings off because they swivel too much and drive me crazy. I think it’s connected somehow to my Reynaud’s, but I’m not sure. Aren’t bodies weird and grand?]