A Few Links I Love This Week (Feb 15 - Feb 21)

Since I can't possibly share all the many links I enjoyed over the past week (there's just so darn many of them), I'm narrowing them down to a handful of my favorites.

1.  This year is a big year for me, more specifically THE BIG YEAR.  Yep, I will be 40.  *gulp*  A great article keeps popping up on my newsfeed time and time again lately.  I read it every time I see it because it's all about being forty.  Forty is a big transitional period and I find myself oftentimes feeling fairly panicked about it all.  This article helps me breath a bit better about it all.

2.  Are you a fan of personality quizzes? They are fascinating to me so I gobble them up.  Taking this one will inform you which of four tendencies your personality falls within.  The four tendencies are: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers and Rebels.  (FYI - I am an Upholder)

3.  John Hughes is one of my favorite directors.  He made many of my favorite movies...Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club...just to name a few.   Have you ever though about taking the music from all his great movies and making your own John Hughes playlist?  This post will help you do just that!  I don't know how I never thought of doing this before.  It's brilliant! 

~Chrissy

A Few Links I Love this Week (Feb 8 - Feb 14)

Have you ever sat back and thought about how much information we are bombarded with during the course of a day?  It is truly insane when you stop and think about it.  I check my Facebook newsfeed multiple times a day to see everything my friends are sharing, which is a heck of a lot.  Then there is Twitter.  Twitter can really be exhausting.   I am guaranteed to have hundreds of tweets to scroll through whenever I log on, only to have hundreds more pour in on top of those.  It's darn right never-ending.  There is physically no way you could see everything.  And Pinterest....don't even get me started on that! Whoever said that the internet is the Information Highway was not kidding.  Since I couldn't possible share all of the many links I enjoyed in a given week, I'm narrowing them all down to a handful of my favorites. 

1.  Hot Chocolate and wintertime go hand in hand.  These 14 recipes I found on PopSugar will take that plain old cup of cocoa and kick it up a notch.  I have got to try all of them, asap! 

2.  I drink a lot of water everyday, a lot of water.  I thought this infographic on the benefits of drinking water everyday is really interesting. 

3. You absolutely have to watch this achingly beautiful dance to the song"Take Me to Church" by Hozier.  The dancer, Sergei Polunin is amazing.  I was absolutely stunned by his performance.

~Chrissy

A Few Links I Love this Week (Jan 30 - Feb 7)

"Why did you do this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it.  I've never done anything for you."
"You have been my friend" replied Charlotte "That in itself is a tremendous thing." 

- E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

I am trying to make some blogging goals to help inspire myself to continue writing weekly posts.  Inspiration seems to be my blogging downfall lately however I hope this will help change that.  My first blogging goal is to share a few of the links I love every week.  This week, by some strange twist of fate, friendship was an underlying connection tying all my links together in a bright & shiny themed package.  I am not sure if the themed links will become a trend or not. Only time will tell.  

1.  Did you know the average person only has 7-9 tried and true, close knit friendships. True friends take time and energy to foster and develop but the rewards for your efforts are priceless.   This link includes an infographic about the importance of friendships and how they ultimately effect your overall health and happiness.  It's no wonder we love our friends!

2.  Ever wonder how the characters on the tv show Friends always managed to sit in best seats (a comfy couch, no less) of their favorite crowded hang-out all the time?  How I never noticed the reason why is beyond me. Check it out for yourself here.  Now I feel as if I need to go back and watch every episode to see if I can spot it!

3.  Friends come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, species...Android got me good with this commercial.  I dare you not to smile!



~Chrissy

Thoughts About A Book: "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail" by Cheryl Strayed

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

 
I normally don't pick up non-fiction books, I'm not sure why but ever since I was a kid I have been extremely fiction-centric.  My enjoyment of reading comes from escaping reality, so I shy away from those books about real life.  There was something about the previews I'd been seeing for this movie that intrigued me enough to pick this one up.  I am happy that I did, because I devoured it!   

As the name of the book suggests, Cheryl Strayed wrote this about an extremely pivotal point of her life.  She was a lost soul, that much is very clear from the very get-go. She makes some really, really self-destructive life choices after the death of her mom, which ultimately lead her on a solo journey hiking across the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT).  Her journey is both physical and mental, her will to continue day after grueling day is nothing but inspiring.  

I am not outdoorsy, in any way, shape or form but while reading about her trek I felt a stir, deep inside, to set out on my own soul searching hike along the PCT.  Upon completing the journey with Cheryl through her words and thereby closing the book for the last time, my urge to actually hike alone through California and Oregon also came to an abrupt end. Yet, the flame it ignited inside of me for a journey all of my own making has only just begun to burn.  

~Chrissy

Searching for Inspiration

When I'm talking about searching for inspiration, I am purely coming from a writing point of view.  I have been on a long hiatus from blogging because of a general lack of inspiration.  I just don't know what to write about, which sucks because I enjoy writing.  Writing makes me happy.  I miss it terribly and would really like to start posting on a regular basis. 

There is a quote from Bob Marley which says, "Inspiration is hard to come by.  You have to take it where you find it."  I wholeheartedly agree with his first sentence.  Inspiration can be almost impossible to come by, discouragingly so.  What I'm struggling with at the moment is in the second sentence.  When it feels like I'm standing in the middle of an inspirational wasteland, how do I find it again? Or, maybe more importantly, where do I find it?

Any and all advice on tried and true ways to find inspiration for blogging would be immeasurably appreciated!

~Chrissy

My Subscription Addiction #MSA02 Quarterly Co. Subscription Box Review

If you've never heard of the blog My Subscription Addiction, it is essentially the home-ship for fellow subscription box addicts like me. The blogger, Liz, subscribes to every subscription box imaginable and provides her readers with what I find to be very honest reviews of their contents.  I probably check her website a few times a day and have found it an invaluable resource for making my own decisions on what subscriptions to purchase for myself.  

The Quarterly Co. is a really unique subscription box service.  They offer a wide variety of curated boxes from different celebrities and cultural icons.  Each box will have products which reflect that curator, along with a description card detailing why the curator selected each product in their box.  It's a fun way to learn the thought process behind everything in your box and really gives you a better understanding of the curator.

This is the second My Subscription Addiction box I have purchased from Quarterly.  You can check out the first box I reviewed here. 

The Quarterly Co. My Subscription Addiction Box #MSA02:

*Cost: $50/box.  Boxes are shipped every three months.
*Products: "Thanks to subscription boxes, Liz is now ingredient-conscious. Her picks in the categories of beauty, fashion and lifestyle will be free of ingredients like parabens and paraffin, and full of natural ingredients to keep you healthy and beautiful." (Quote via Quarterly Co. website)

Each box comes with a letter from the curator detailing the story behind the products chosen for that particular quarter.   The theme behind this box is "Everything you need for a cozy day at home," which I think is absolutely perfect for a winter box.  

Bauble Bar Ice Circle Pendant ~ $32  

This 14K gold plated necklace is really delicate, simple and beautiful.  It's 16 in. with a 2 in. extension.  You can wear it by itself or as a layering piece.  I love getting jewelry in subscription boxes.  I always seem to get something I love but I would likely have never purchased for myself.  

Au Naturale Creme Eye shadows (full size) ~ $20 each

Au Naturale make-up is "Organic, Non-Toxic, Gluten-Free, Paraben-Free, Vegan, Non-Nano,  and is Made in the USA at a certified USDA Organic Facility."  Each box included two eye shadows!  They are cream shadows and are very easy to apply.  I really like how smoothly they go on but I will say you need to apply an eyelid primer first or they will rub right off.  

The colors included are: White Quartz and Addiction.  The White Quartz has a touch of shimmer to it that is really subtle, with a brightening effect.  It is great to use as a highlighter for around your eyes  or to blend over another color.  Addicition is an exclusive color created just for the My Subscription Addiction box!  It is a beautiful metallic, antique green-gold shade that I simply love.  I've worn it pretty much every day since I've gotten it!
 

Yes To Carrots Fragrance-Free Intense Hydration Night Cream (full size) ~ $11.69
This product is made with 96% natural ingredients.  It is paraben, SLS and petroleum free.  I've used this night cream for a couple of weeks now and I don't really know what to think about it.  It feels kind of drying on my skin when I apply it which is weird because my skin isn't looking like it is drying out in any way.  There aren't any dry patches on my face at all.  I think my hang up is that I want something which says it is intensely hydrating to feel like it is, in fact, hydrating my skin when I apply it.  I can't get over this fact, so it makes me hesitant to say it is a great product.

Foot Traffic Non-Skid Fuzzy Slipper Socks ~ $9
I live in slipper socks during the winter time so I was very happy to see these socks.  They have a non-skid tread on the bottom so they are perfect for walking around on my wood floors.  They're also nice and warm!  The socks I received are a light pink.

Faribault Woolen Mill Co. Recycled Wool Throw ~ $64
This was immediately hijacked when I took this out of the box by my little dog, Lily.  I actually ended up wrapping it up and giving it to my husband for Christmas. One thing I love about subscription boxes is they are always have great items in them for gifting. I am always finding things that make me think, "Such and such would just love this!".  My husband did love this wool blanket.  It's super warm and is made of 65% recycled wool so it is also very eco-friendly! 

Exclusive offer for the Next Issue App ~ $14.99
Next Issue offered the first month of service for free to customers and the next 2 months for 50% off.  It's regularly $14.99/month and you get unlimited access to 140+ magazines from your tablet, phone or PC.  I am not a big magazine person, so this really wasn't my cup of tea.  The idea behind it is really cool though.

My Final Two Cents: 
This subscription box is definitely a winner in my book.  I paid $50 and received $171 worth of goodies. There was a great mix of beauty, fashion and lifestyle items.  It was a box that lived up to it's cozy winter theme.  I can't wait to see what's in my next box.  *UPDATE:  I am sorry to say that this is the last box from My Subscription Addiction for Quarterly.  :(  

~Chrissy