02.13 The FEB Favorites Edit

We're romanticizing even the most unwell days of days...

What I’m Having:

It appears as though I’ve caught a bug…and no, not the love-bug… The boogie man has hit me… the boogie man who infects people with mucus and snot. I take pride in the fact that I rarely get sick, however once a year, I fall victim to the dreaded viral rhinitis — the common cold. To be completely honest, I don’t mind spending a week surrounded by snot-rags, half-drunken tea cups, and bottles of OTC meds that don’t actually cure my cold. These days of self-bedridden behavior brings back an overwhelming rush of nostalgia; a warmness (not from the fever) I felt when I would hibernate in my bed and watch cartoons or movies that made me smile, all while being waited on my family — endless ginger tea, chicken soup, and stream of unnecessary compliance to my every needs. When you’re sick in the Stockwell family, there is an unspoken rule that those well must tend to the unwell’s every need. Being that I rarely get sick, I am frequently in the caregiver role, and I’ve come to quite enjoy the position. There is something so wonderful about curating a lovely tray full of everything my unwell patient could need. My standard layout would go as follows:

1. The Tea:

   1. A cup of warm water with saucer on top of cup to act as lid

   2. Provide three options of tea: black, green, herbal

   3. A side of lemon and honey (never bring a full bottle of honey)

2. The Soup:

   1. A fat bowl of chicken soup, piping hot (will most likely be slowly consumed)

   2. Small plate of toasted bread

   3. Provide a napkin, spoon, and fork

3. The Extras

   1. Two clementines for natural vitamins

   2. A little card or drawing to make the unwell smile

   3. A side tray (small) of every OTC med available … A “choose your own adventure” of drugs

With all that being said, I am NOT thrilled to have the sniffles this week, solely because it is Valentine’s Day. Nar, I don’t have a date with a suppósed man, but I do have a destiny to fulfill — I must live out my single main character fantasy…

I’m running around the loved-up streets of Greece, my friend grasping one of my hands while the other is clutching a bottle of half-drunken wine given to us by the taverna owner who sat at our table to enjoy the first half of it.

So you can imagine I am currently doing everything in my power to rid myself of this cold. By February 14th, I will be free from this virus. I’m manifesting it. ;)

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The Weekly Report:

This week, I’m turning the R.E.P.O.R.T to you…

R Apply to the jobs you want… not the ones who “qualify” for… not the job that will make others happy.

E Eat on a pretty plate.

P Practice self-compassion.

O Obsess over

R Read a “trashy” magazine, like People, Us Weekly, or dare I say J14 (do they still exist?)

T Take yourself on a date.

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The Favorites Edit:

Tis the season of love and chocolate! I love many things: morning matcha, Pho Viet’s #9 chicken salad, Scandinavian design, and earth-toned interiors… I realized there is one thing I love to do, regardless of whether it relates to health and wellness, movies, fashion, food, or matcha: curate.

I don’t want to sound too forward, but I have a really great sense of aesthetic. Before you are quick to judge, well, actually, I’m not here to tell you what to do or think, so be my guest, I suppose…

I’m thinking of starting a series where I curate a list of my “favorites” of the month. This includes anything from brands, influencers, colors, smells, movies, books (fat chance)....

February Favorites

1. The blue light glasses that make me feel more academic // Warby Parker Percey Glasses

2. Messy chic bun // Inspired by Karina Krebs

3. “The Uniform”

4. Balaclavas // Boi Studios Tini

5. TV Show Shoutout: Parks and Recreation

6. Home workouts while the sun is still rising // Form

7. Candles for the scent (not lighting) // Diptyque Classic Cyprus

8. Sheet Masks that melt into your skin // Biodance Collagen mask

9. 12:3:30

   1. I’ve mentioned “12:3:30” before, but Feb. Fav’s list would not be complete without it; this is such a great low-impact workout that takes little to no thought — I always put on a show or Youtube and end up walking for longer.

10. Sudoku //done in a way you’d envision your grandfather doing one

The Feb. Influentials  

1. Emma Chamberlain

I love her raw relatability in her podcast, Anything Goes. I felt most seen in one of Emma’s recent episodes, where she shared that she also sucked her thumb until too old — 12 years of age.

2. Cartia Mallen

Australian content creator and (matcha) business owner who has really inspired me to expand myself to the wonderful world around me. Why I love her so much this month is because of the openness of struggles surrounding self-image and life paths, and the big and small successes in her life too. I’m learning how to celebrate all types of wins and turn the dreary moments into a brighter light.

3. Eva Meloche

The demure & mindful content creator and model has been posting some archival footage from her summer travels on Youtube, clips which have shown me the beauty in everyday delights no matter where I am in the world or in my life. Eva also has amazing style and shares a love of Scandinavian fashion with me :)

4. Mel Robbins

I feel like Mel Robbins is the name on everyone's lips right now (at least in the wellness industry), and at first, I was hesitant to listen to her podcast, but then I listened to her podcast episode “13 Things I Wish I Knew in My 20s.” While Mel’s advice was nothing new per se, it was something I needed to hear at this moment in time.

5. Ron Swanson

A man of few words.