The Little List | May 6, 2021
It’s May and I’m really happy about it. So in the spirit of a fresh month that brings with it the hope of sunny days ahead, here are some things that are making me happy, making me think, or helping me grow this week.
I have always done my skincare and toothbrush/floss routine right before crawling in bed, but for the last month, I have started doing my skincare routine as soon as I get Mabel down for the night around 8pm. It seems like an insignificant shift in routine, but it has been such a small, simple pleasure for me. I no longer rush through it because I’m tired and eager to crawl in bed, but instead take the time to really wash my skin and walk through my steps. It feels like a small act of self love. I’m definitely not a skincare guru, but I am pretty happy with my current nighttime regimen, which includes an oil cleanser for makeup removal, a regular cleanser with a cleansing brush for cleaning (similar), a toner, some retinol cream, and a gentle daily moisturizer.
I am currently knee deep into Schitt’s Creek and laughing my way through every episode.
This past weekend, Curt and I spent some much needed time working outdoors on our lawn and flower beds. He weeded, mowed, and laid some new grass seed in the patchy spots of the lawn while I raked the gardens and laid some fresh black earth to nourish them. It’s still too early for plants (the May long weekend is usually a safe bet), but I’m pretty much itching to get our usual red begonia hanging baskets, some ferns for the porch pots, and build and plant an herb garden box. I can smell them already.
I’m definitely in need of some fresh recipes in our rotation so I recently thumbed through an old friend - the Oh She Glows cookbooks. I once made a resolution to cook one vegan dinner every week and these books became my lifeline. They introduced me to so many good vegan recipes that we still love. The Favourite Veggie Burger recipe from the first book is such a delicious black bean burger if you top it with sliced avocado, tomato, and chipotle mayo (and yes, I know mayo isn’t vegan). We also love the recipe for the Mushroom Walnut Pesto Tart from the first book (I’m literally drooling thinking about it). I am going to cook both of those as soon as I can.
Mabel’s birthday is next week and even though I shared some of my plans for the day, the lockdown restrictions in our area tightened up even more since then, completely preventing us from gathering with people outside of our households - even outdoors. With these changes and some other things going on, we likely won’t do much of anything to celebrate, other than maybe get an ice cream cake. I’m thankful she is still young enough to not really know the difference, but I’ll admit that my mama heart is pretty bummed. We did get her this adorable balance bike as her birthday gift with a cute helmet and an adorable basket to hold her treasures, though, and the anticipation of giving it to her is keeping my attitude positive.
Speaking of birthdays, my own birthday is coming up next month and I decided I am going to challenge myself to complete a 30-day running challenge before the day. I’m going to follow this program and I’m hoping to feel a renewed sense of energy and motivation by completing this goal before I officially turn 29.
This scripture meditation podcast is my current lifeline. I have spent a good part of this year studying and meditating on Psalm 23, so this episode, in particular, has become a favourite repeat listen whenever I need a little rest.
This feels like a random list, but I suppose that’s what this series is all about. I’m grateful for it all - the simple pleasures, personal challenges, silver linings in the clouds, and the slivers of hope in this weird time of the world. It’s always the little things that make a world of difference.
